Page 62 of Close Encounters of the Hot Kind

Aileen floats down the aisle on her father's arm, wrapped in white silk and lace. The dress hugs her curves before flowing out like ocean foam around her feet. A constellation of tiny crystals sparkles in her dark hair.

My image inducer flickers. I force myself to breathe. To focus. But how can I when she steals the air from my lungs?

Sam beams with pride as he guides her forward. Aileen's eyes find mine and her smile outshines every star I've seen in my travels across the galaxy.

Each step brings her closer. Each second stretches eternal. I memorize every detail - the way her dress catches the light, how her cheeks flush pink with joy, the happy tears glittering in her eyes.

I came to this backward little planet by accident. Crashed here through a temporal anomaly while chasing Grolgath raiders. But now I understand. The universe itself conspired to bring me to her.

She reaches the altar. Sam places her hand in mine. Through the holographic projection, I feel the warmth of her skin against my scales.

"Hi," she whispers.

"Hi yourself, little delicacy."

The priest drones on about love and commitment. My translator struggles with the archaic English, but Aileen's hand in mine anchors me to this moment.

Her thumb traces circles against my palm. Even through the hologram, her touch sets my scales tingling.

"The rings?" The priest looks expectantly at us.

Sam's nephew toddles forward with a velvet cushion. Two golden bands gleam against the fabric. Simple circles of metal - nothing like the ceremonial battle tokens Vakutans exchange. But these mean everything.

I take the smaller ring. Aileen's hand trembles as I slide it onto her finger.

"With this ring, I thee wed."

The metal catches the light as she places the second ring on my holographic hand. The band phases through my scales, settling against flesh made solid by technology.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I cup Aileen's face in my hands. Her eyes sparkle with mischief.

"Your inducer's flickering," she whispers against my lips.

"Worth it."

I kiss her as the church erupts in cheers. Someone wolf-whistles - probably Sam. Aileen's arms wrap around my neck, pulling me closer.

The image inducer sputters and dies. For a split second, red scales flash beneath my human disguise. But Aileen just kisses me harder, hiding the glitch from view.

When we break apart, the inducer stabilizes. Aileen grins up at me.

"Ready to face our future, Mr. Varakian?"

"Lead the way, Mrs. Varakian."

A shower of tiny seeds pelts my head as we dash toward the waiting limo. The humans cheer and throw more of the stuff. My translator picks up shouts of "Congratulations!" and "Best wishes!"

"I don't understand this ritual." I brush seeds from my shoulders. "Why pelt the newly bonded pair with plant embryos?"

Aileen's laughter rings like music. "It's birdseed. We used to throw rice, but that can make birds sick if they eat it."

"That explains nothing. Why throw any form of grain?"

"For fertility and prosperity." She grins up at me, radiant in her white dress. "Though I guess we've got the fertility part covered already."

My hand finds the slight curve of her stomach, hidden beneath layers of silk. Our child grows there, impossibly perfect.

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