“Welcome,” Marguerite says as we all step inside her home. “The party’s downstairs.”
Sure enough, in her basement, there is a wide room full of pillows, some big enough for an entire body or three to lie on. Fiona flops down on one of these enormous pillows, sinking into it. She waves for us to join her, and I sit beside her, also disappearing into the pillow. It is filled with small objects that cushion us.
“Beanbag!” Fiona exclaims, sprawling out on her back as Khesan joins us on the other side.
“A bag full of… beans?” My translator supplies a small starch in an odd shape.
“Not real beans. I don’t know why they call it that.” She beams at each of us with her blunt white teeth. “I’m so happy I got to do this with you guys. I had the best time. I am having the best time!”
She curls an arm around each of us and tugs us in closer, so now we are both up against her sides. Another happy giggle tumbles from her lips. Khesan grins over her chest at me, and I smirk back. She is our lovely mate, through and through.
We are joined in the basement by Amara, Roth’kar, Kendall, and Marguerite, who all take up different positions in the lounge room. Roth’kar and Amara are making out while Kendall and Marguerite chat.
“Amara!” calls Kendall. Amara detaches from her husband’s mouth long enough to look up. “What if Zono moved in with me? I have an extra room, and I’d be happy to have some company.”
Roth’kar sits up abruptly. “You would allow that?”
“Of course. You want him off that ship, right? And he needs a sponsor?”
Roth’kar nods.
“Then I’ll be his sponsor. Maybe we’ll hit it off.” Kendall looks delighted by this prospect.
Relief courses through me. For now, I can keep my room in Fiona’s home. Not that I use it anymore except to store my belongings.
“Sounds like a good plan, then,” says Amara, clapping her hands. “We’ll tell him right away. Then we can organize his travel.”
But I am no longer interested in the conversation. The zik is moving through my veins, and all I want is to hold my wife, to kiss her and keep her close to me—so I do, enveloping her with my arms and pressing my lips to hers. She hums with pleasure, and her hands curl around my neck as we deepen our kiss.
The night goes on like this for a few more hours, all three of us cuddling on the beanbag as soft music plays. Marguerite brings water and juice to rehydrate us, then offers snacks, too. But soon, she grows tired and retires upstairs. Kendall has fallen asleep, and so has Amara. Roth’kar sits beside her, simply looking down into her face with love in his eyes.
How I envy them, so assured of their happily ever after.
It isn’t long before Fiona, too, fades. When I glance at her again, her eyes are closed and she’s breathing slow, even breaths.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” whispers Khesan, stroking her hair.
I have to agree. She is the most beautiful creature that exists. And she looks even better with Khesan spooning her, his hands cupping her tenderly. They are both so lovely together, his yellow eyes peering down at her, his strong hand trailing up and down her side.
Just then, something inside me breaks.
How can I leave this? How can I possibly return home with this memory following me as long as I live?
I get up from the beanbag, my emotions suddenly overwhelming. I cannot look at them any longer. So I head for the stairs, when Khesan’s voice stops me.
“Where are you going?”
I shake my head, unable to speak more than one word. “Outside.”
Without hesitation, he rises and follows me. I don’t know how I feel about that, but I need to extricate myself from this place before my tumultuous feelings undo me.
We both slip on our new jackets, and Khesan follows me out into the cold. Marguerite’s deck is covered, so at least we do not have to wade into the snow. I find a chair to sit in, and it’s all I can do not to roar my misery at Earth’s single moon.
“What troubles you?” asks Khesan as he takes the chair beside mine.
I don’t even know how to put the anxiety I feel into words.
“At least when I return home, I will see my friends again,” I say, my voice hitching as I speak. “At least I will be on Arshur.”
