“Are you listening to me?” asks Fiona, her voice rising as she gets angrier. “You have to let them both stay. Please. I can’t?—”
“You’re going to blow my ear off,” Gazargo grumps, distancing himself from her. “What are you so upset about?”
Fiona frowns. “Well, you said I had to choose one of them. And I won’t. I refuse to choose.” She runs back to us and takes one of our hands in each of hers. “We… we’re all together. We’re fated for each other. You can’t tear us apart.”
Gazargo cocks his head. “The two of you managed to get along?”
Khesan and I glance at each other, then Khesan affectionately rubs my head.
“I suppose we did,” I say.
The Frahma stands up straighter and clears his throat. “Within the Intergalactic Association of Civilizations, there is no limit to the number of partners in a marriage. Perhaps on Earth, but this union is overseen by us.”
All of us stop moving at once. I can’t believe my ears.
There’s no way we would get so lucky, is there?
“Truly?” says Khesan, his voice hopeful. “You will let us both marry her?”
The matchmaker shrugs. “Why not? Let me add a new line to the document.”
He picks up the tablet and starts tapping it. Fiona sinks against me, and I pull her into my arms to keep her upright.
“Oh my gosh,” she wipes off the tears that have just started falling. “Really? You both get to stay with me? For… forever?”
I smile down at her because it’s all I’ve ever wanted.
“We need to get another ring,” she says with a sniff. “So I have one for both of you.”
After a minute, Gazargo is done, and he presents the tablet to the three of us. First, Khesan takes it and signs his name. Then Fiona, and then at last, me. Once we’re done, we hand it back to the Frahma, who files everything away.
“Well, that is all, then,” he says, clearing his throat. “You’re finished.”
“We’re married?” squeaks Fiona. First she throws her arms around Khesan’s neck, and then mine. I make sure to bring them both in against me, kissing their perfect lips.
I am the luckiest Arshurian who ever did live.
Chapter Thirty
Khesan
The matchmaker looked somewhat smug as the three of us left together, hand in hand. I wonder if he knew all along that we would end up here.
Mysterious little alien.
Marguerite offers to take us out for a celebratory dinner, and everyone agrees. We drink wine, eat delicious food, and talk about what our future holds. Fiona has now decided on getting a larger bed so all of us can easily sleep together, and of course, do other activities.
We will also go on something called a “honeymoon,” which I gather is a post-marriage ritual that involves a long vacation to enjoy each other’s company, in more ways than one. Fiona has money she inherited from her mother, which she’s been saving for just such an occasion. I offer to put some of my own funds in, as well. Then, Shathar and I will go look for jobs of our own, now that we have residency on Earth. We’re already eyeing positions down at the dock loading and unloading ships as they arrive. Then we can contribute to the household and hopefully have many more honeymoons.
We gather over a map and decide where we would like to go. Fiona has always wanted to visit a place called Japan, and I must admit I enjoyed their food when we tried it, so I agree.
“But it’s going to be a long trip,” says Shathar. “We will be cooped up in one of those, what are they? Planes?”
“You came here from halfway across the galaxy,” I remind him. “I think you can travel halfway across Earth.” I rub his shoulder. “We will be with you the whole time.”
He visibly relaxes. “I suppose you’re right.”
We plan our “sightseeing” trip, with a few days to spend in many locations. I’m excited to see more of Earth, which is so diverse in culture and climate. Though I had wished that perhaps, we’d go to the desert.
