"And?" His voice was strained.
I met his eyes, saw the concern there, the fear. "And that made going back to Earth impossible."
His whole body tensed, every muscle coiling tight. "What did they find?" The words came out sharp, dangerous, his voice dropping to a growl. "Did those Kwado bastards—did they do something to you? Infect you with something?" His tail lashed violently now, and I could see the fury building in him, the same rage that had saved my life once before.
"No," I said quickly, my own fear making my voice shake, my hands trembling so badly that coffee sloshed in my mug. "No, Cristox. It wasn't the Kwado."
He stared at me, confusion replacing anger. "Then what?"
"It was you." The words came out barely audible, a whisper that seemed to echo in the small room. "You did."
For a long moment, he just looked at me, not understanding. Then I watched as comprehension slowly dawned, his eyes going wide, his face draining of color beneath his pelt.
"I couldn't go back to Earth," I whispered, my voice breaking, "because I was pregnant."
The mug slipped from his hands, hitting the table with a dull thunk. Coffee sloshed over the rim, spreading across the wood, but neither of us moved to clean it up. Cristox swayed in his seat, his eyes rolling back slightly, and for a terrifying second, I thought he was going to pass out. I bolted from my seat, rushing to his side.
"Cristox!"
He bent forward, putting his head between his knees, his breathing harsh and ragged, each exhale sounding like it was being torn from his chest. His tail had gone completely still, lying limp on the floor.
"Breathe," I said softly, my hand hovering over his shoulder. "Just breathe."
Several long seconds passed. Finally, he lifted his head, his face still pale, his eyes wild. "The cub," he managed, his voice hoarse. "What... where..."
"His name is Teddy," I said, and despite everything—the fear, the anxiety, the uncertainty of the moment—I couldn't help the warmth that crept into my voice. "Theodore, actually. After my grandfather." A small smile tugged at my lips. "He's wonderful, Cristox. He's so smart and funny, and he has your eyes, those beautiful honey-brown eyes that light up when he laughs."
Cristox made a sound that might have been a sob or a gasp, something raw and wounded. His hands were shaking, his claws scraping against the table.
"Is he..." He couldn't seem to finish the question, the words dying in his throat.
"He's here," I said quietly. "He stayed with Mei to give us time to talk."
Cristox stared at me like I'd just told him the planet was about to explode, his eyes so wide I could see white all around the golden irises. "He's here. Right now. On Tau Ceti."
"Yes."
"I have a cub." He said it like he was testing the words, like he couldn't quite believe they were real. Like speaking them aloud might make them disappear. "We have a son."
"Yes," I whispered, my own tears finally spilling over, running in hot tracks down my cheeks.
His tail began to move again, slow, uncertain movements. He looked at me with such raw emotion that it made my chest ache. Wonder and fear and joy and longing all tangled together. "Ruby, I..."
"I need you to know something," I interrupted, needing to get this out before I lost my nerve. "I don't want anything from you. Not money, not support, nothing. I just... I wanted you to know. I never knew my father. He left when he found out my mom was pregnant with me. But I had my grandpa, and he was wonderful, and I just thought..." I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "I thought you deserved to know you have a son."
"Can I meet him?" The words came out hoarse, desperate, pleading. "Please, Ruby. Can I meet him?"
My heart clenched, squeezing so tight it hurt. I'd expected this, but hearing the raw need in his voice still made my resolve waver. "Yes," I said carefully, forcing myself to stay firm. "But on one condition."
His ears perked forward, his whole body leaning toward me. "Anything."
"You can't tell him who you are."
The hope in his eyes flickered. "What?"
"You can't tell Teddy that you're his father." I forced myself to hold his gaze even though it hurt. "You said you're only here for a few weeks. It wouldn't be fair to Teddy to meet his father and then lose him again. I won't have him hurt like that."
Cristox's tail went completely still. "Ruby..."
