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“She knows you hadn’t seen it yet.”

“I love this. I need to tell her.”

“She is probably sleeping, Ehlealah. You can tell her tomorrow.”

Vivian nodded, then swiped at her eyes to wipe away the tears. “I love this,” she said, crossing her arms over her belly and gazing contentedly at the carving.

“Do you want to see the rest?”

“I do,” she said, nodding and still sniffling.

“Come. Let’s explore together.”

Quin took her from room to room, where she remarked and oohed and ahead over every little detail Eula had painstakingly added to their home. She touched all the delicate decorations. Laughed delightedly when she found a second nursery upstairs with full wall murals of depictions of Earth and Earth’s wildlife, did a little dance when she found their upstairs personal kitchen stocked with apple juice, peaches, actual cornmeal, and best ofall cheeses and pepperoni from Earth. “Where did she get all these?” Vivi exclaimed.

“Bart. He sent them so that you’d have some of your favorite things from Earth.”

“I’ll have to thank him, too. I’ll holovid him tomorrow. I think. Can I do that? I don’t have Vennie to connect me at will anymore.”

“Of course. I’ll show you where the communications office is and introduce you to the officers who man it tomorrow. You can contact anyone you like. The only exception may be if Father is in the middle of an address or an important meeting. You’ll have to wait until he’s done.”

“Oh, well yeah. Even I know that.” She looked around at the personal touches Eula had put on their home, even down to the foods she’d love and appreciate because they were from her home planet. “You arranged all these things for me so that I’d feel more at home. Eula took care of it all, but you planned this,” Vivian said.

Quin smiled indulgently at her. “I did. I wanted you to feel safe and welcomed and that this is your home, too.”

Immediately Vivian’s expression went from one of delight to one of deep sadness and regret. “And I yelled at you. I’m so sorry,” she said, as tears streamed down her face. “I don’t mean to yell at you. I don’t know why I yell so much. I never did that before! I don’t know why I get so upset so easily,” she said, throwing herself into his arms and crying as he did his best to soothe her.

“It’s alright. I understand, my Vivi. You are growing a whole being inside your body. You have many emotions all at once. It is not your fault.”

“But you’d think I would still be nice to you, even if I was mean to everyone else.”

“You are not mean. You are easily upset. You are kind and good and loving, and almost ready to have our youngling. You cannot help the changes it forces on you.”

“But I’m not fat! Or round! And I can’t help that I get out of breath easily!”

“You are not fat. You are expecting. And you are so beautiful. You are full of life and strength and power and soft and nurturing all at once. I love you more each time I look at you. Only a female could bring new life into being. If a male had to do it, we’d have all died out thousands of years ago.”

“I know! That’s what I said!” she exclaimed, her tears drying almost immediately.

“I heard you. And I was offended, then I realized you were right.”

“I was, wasn’t I?”

“Without a doubt.”

Vivian yawned deeply, her eyes squeezing closed with her yawn.

“You are exhausted. Let’s go to bed.”

“Can we sleep up here?” she asked.

“Of course. The downstairs bedrooms are for after our youngling is born so we and our nanny will have an easier time reaching the nursery to care for it. Once her services are no longer needed during the night, we will move back up here. Until you have our youngling, we can remain up here if you prefer.”

“Okay. I just really want to go to sleep right now.”

“Whatever you say, Ehlealah,” Quin said, taking her hand and leading her back toward their bedroom.

“Don’t we need to lock the door downstairs?” she asked.

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