“I just need to use the washroom,” Ella said as soon as they entered their suite. His brothers were directly across the hall in their own room with two double beds. Although his brothers had not complained once, Dhiro couldn’t help but feel guilty about their predicament. It was all his fault, his attempt to save his mate. They weren’t supposed to be part of the equation. They should be back home on Trenu Zel, living their best lives.
Once they were all settled and safe, his priority would be repairing the ship to help his brothers return home where they belonged. Their mother was alone. Besides, this was no place for Trenuians.
Ella came out to join him shortly after. There was an unrested air about her.
“Do you not like our room?” he asked.
Ella walked to the large windows at the end of the living room. The mountains in the distance were snow-covered. “It has a beautiful view.”
“Then why are you troubled?”
She turned and smiled up at him. “You mean besides the fact we’re all stuck on Earth with no clue what tomorrow will bring?”
He frowned, running his fingers through her hair on both sides of her head. “Tomorrow will have its own challenges. We are best to live in the moment until our lives are more stable.”
“Do your brothers want to go home?”
“I haven’t spoken with them about their thoughts. I imagine they would rather be on Trenu Zel, but our males are slow to complain.”
“They must love you a lot to sacrifice everything for your mate.”
He didn’t answer. His guilt was too heavy. Before Ella, he only had his mother and two brothers. They were very important to him. He would fix the ship and ensure he sent them home with haste.
She kissed his cheek, so in tune with his emotions, then returned to the bathroom. When she reappeared, her demeanor had improved significantly. Perhaps her stomach had been sour from their earlier meal.
“I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
“Okay,” he said.
She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. He liked where this was going. Ella climbed on the oversized mattress and sat, crossing her legs in the middle of the bed. She patted beside her.
“How do you feel about me not getting pregnant? I mean, that’s why you originally came to Earth. Now your own people have outcast us because I couldn’t deliver.”
“I am disappointed. Not for me, but for my race. They will go extinct in time.”
“So even if I never became pregnant, you’d still want to be my mate?”
He felt insulted, squaring his shoulders. “I’ve crossed space to keep you safe. I plan to live on this primitive world for the sole purpose to be with you, Ella. I do not require offspring to love my mate with my whole heart.”
“Well, I have news, Dhiro. Big news.”
“Please tell me your news.”
She handed him a white, plastic stick. He studied it briefly, unable to identify the item.
“It’s a pregnancy test,” she said. “It can detect if a woman is pregnant or not. I used it in the bathroom a while ago.”
“And what does it say?”
Ella placed his hand on her stomach. “I’m pregnant with your child.” Then she chuckled. “With an interspecies baby. Is that what it’ll be?”
“It will be a miracle.” His heart jackhammered in his chest. This news was unexpected. He’d resigned to not having a child, to not saving Trenu Zel. Somewhere along the line, he’d slipped into survival mode, focused on enjoying the rest of his life to the fullest. Now everything had changed. He could give his mother the grandchild she craved, save his people, and become a father.
“You’re not saying anything.”
He hadn’t realized he’d been silently reflecting. This was sudden news and a lot to digest. “You don’t understand the significance of this.”
“Dhiro, you don’t have to convince me. This is huge. I’ve been researching myself for months. I understand the plight of your people. Our child can save your entire world.”
“I—I am speechless.”
“We have to go back, don’t we?” she said.
“They don’t deserve your help after they cast you aside for not conceiving sooner. You have no obligation to Trenu Zel.”
“Everyone I met on your planet was kind, honest, and welcoming. I could see the hope in their eyes. I wanted to help them so much. Just because your government screwed us around doesn’t mean we should abandon the people.”
“This decision is yours alone. If we stay or go is entirely up to you, and I will support your decision. My place is by your side.”
Without delay, she answered, “We have to return.”
“They will require the umbilical fluid from our child after it’s born to create a remedy and mass inoculation.”
“Then we have to return before I give birth. That’s less than eight months. Less if I go into early labor. I have no idea if your DNA will affect my pregnancy.”