Page 90 of May the Stars Have Mercy
(Content heads up: Mentions of being Pregnant)
Aphroditespuninthemirror of the medical bay, catching her dress in the light as she waited for Vivian to be dressed. It was a little unorthodox to have the Mphronatch running through the halls in a ballgown to collect her friends and loved ones for the ball…but also many Vroz didn’t know the human traditions of a wedding reception. They heard ‘fancy party with food and fun clothes and dancing’ and were instantly on board.
Kiefgr sat on a medical table, swinging his legs back and forth. Grooug leaned against one of the counters, either asleep or pretending to be. Kinsi and Cinn were speaking amongst themselves at the doorway, mostly there for moral support.
“Alright, I think I’m ready!” Vivian proclaimed as she came out from behind the massive curtain. Aphrodite cheered, snagging her arm immediately. Unlike the Mphronatch, Vivian was in a simple satin gown. It was powder blue and draped her dangerous curves like a dream. It’d been ages since Aphrodite had seen her friend in less than button ups and a pencil skirt. A wicked thought crossed her mind and almost made her snicker.Reevar’s going to drool.
Xexis had been a smidgen upset he wasn’t allowed to see Aphrodite dressed up until the event. Thanks to Xnasis and Quagmor teasing him it was human tradition that the partners donot see each other until the ceremony. After Aphrodite corrected them that it was just a myth, they insisted it more.Lovingly of course.She’d had the run of the station while Xexis was sequestered to the Council chambers and ballroom with his brothers and a few others.
Aphrodite couldn’t believe in a few short days since getting home that Kinsi’s staff not only whipped up a princess ballgown, packed with fluffy tulle and silk fabric, but had decorated the whole station. Even the docking bays were glistening with black and crystal garland. As was the color scheme for the Kannatch. A crystal tiara sat woven into her hair that Cinn wrangled into a beautiful mess atop her head.
She felt beautiful. She felt safe. And best of all she felt at home. It once terrified her, the idea of being mated to Xexis…what would his people think? Did she know what she was doing? Was she even good enough? All those doubts died a few days ago when she left the medical bay and hundreds of hunters rushed up to ask her about the hunt. They wanted all the gory details, the funny lines, and glorious recounts of the event. Xexis spread most of the rumors that Aphrodite took out a swarm of the infected with a crowbar and a broken foot.Because there is no doubt, she is the best mate for the Kannatch.
“You look beautiful.” Vivian stroked the side of Aphrodite’s poofy skirt. “How did they even get silk here?”
“Kinsi won’t tell me,” Aphrodite snickered softly to Vivian, “I’m not sure how but I think she may have strong armed some from a few human traders. She’s scary when she’s determined.”
The two shared a knowing look between each other as the ‘bridal party’,dubbed by Kinsi, left the medical bay. The herd proceeded to parade through the station, waving to people who stopped to see the Mphronatch before the big party. There were three ballrooms,all in varying stages of décor with alcohol, food, and music. Even planet side it was said that they’d decorated a massive tree in their colors and would be celebratingheavily. If there was one thing she’d learned, it was the Vroz loved food and drink just about as much as they love the hunt.Any reason to party, Quagmor said earlier.
Aphrodite sighed, leaning her head against Vivian’s tenderly. “I wish you didn’t have to go back to the Council.”
Vivian snorted, “I told you, this was a vacation. I’m still obligated to train a replacement before you can steal me officially.”
“I’m the Mphronatch, doesn’t that count for something?” Aphrodite rolled her eyes, snickering as Vivian jabbed her in the rib with a tickling finger.
“It’s just for a little while. Don’t worry, I’ve already been training a replacement as I had my eye on a promotion inside the Council building before you called for me. So, it shouldn’t take forever before I’m here permanently.” Vivian pressed a loving kiss to Aphrodite’s hair.
“Oh,” She blinked rapidly as she stood up straight. “I didn’t…I didn’t rob you of a promotion, did I?”
“Please,” Vivian laughed, shaking her head. “This ismuchbetter. I’m my own boss, the pay is better, and outside of tending to you and the baby, I can make my own hours.”
Aphrodite laughed only for the laugh to slowly die off and the whole group stopped. Her grip around Vivian’s arm tightened slightly. “Wait…baby?”
“Oh please, I saw the scans. I was wondering when you’d tell me, but then again, I figured, as your personal physician that maybeyou’d let the files talk for you.” Vivian shrugged. The station, the stars, the very air stood still as Aphrodite stared at Vivian in shock. Vivian laughed nervously, “Youdo knowyou’re pregnant, right? Like they scanned you ages ago and put them in your file.”
Aphrodite blinked once.Pregnant?Her heart was sluggish, barely able to beat as her eyes dropped to the stomach hidden behind layers of tulle and silk.Pregnant.All that nonsense about weird scans in her torso. It made so much sense but none at the same time. No symptoms at all? That can’t be right! And yet…None.
“Are you sure?” Aphrodite blurted out, “I didn’t pee on a stick or anything.”
“Are you fucking serious right now,Aphrodite Kerso!” Vivian hissed, grabbed up both her biceps and holding tight. “You don’t need those anymore. This station alone has the most advanced tech there has ever been and you think you need a piss stick to tell if you’re pregnant?”
Aphrodite’s mouth flapped like a fish before she realized the whole party’s eyes were glued to her. Kinsi’s lower lip wavered, hands clutched in front of her chest. All of her tentacles were dreamily curled up around her chin. “Is it true? The Mphronatch is pregnant?”
Her heart rapidly sped up as she looked to Vivian for a final confirmation. The blue haired, befuddled physician laughed breathlessly. “The Mphronatch is pregnant.”
An army of Vroz, those she did and did not know, swarmed the party. It took her a good ten minutes of thanking people for their kind words to catch Kiefgr and Reevar’s shocked expression and remember…Xexis wasn’t with them. “Oh shit, I need to tell Xexis.”
“On it,” Reevar and Kiefgr smoothly snatched her out of the crowd and used their body as a crowd bulldozer to clear a path to the top-level ballroom. Kinsi, Cinn, and Vivian raced to keep up with the hunters on a mission. Aphrodite’s feet only touched the floor a few feet from the massive doorway. Xexis froze in the middle of the floor, Xnasis, Reevar, and Xreck to his sides, clearly caught in the middle of a story. Thegroomsmenwere all stunned as Aphrodite grabbed up the front of her skirt and scurried inside.
Xexis’ face broke out in a massive smile, pincers writhing with glee as he rushed to meet her halfway. His arms wrapped around her first, twirling her around him. “My mate, you are very early! We haven’t even put out the cake yet.”
“I’m pregnant.”
The words just exploded out of her chest and into the air around them. Everyone in the ballroom, even the band, went quiet as Xexis set her down. He stared at her in complete awe as she panted for air. Her cheeks blistered as she confessed it again. “My mate, I’m pregnant.”
“Oh,” he breathed, eyes darting to her stomach then back up to her face. “Is…is that what you want?”
“Xexis.” There was a warning from Xnasis that was cut off with a sharp look from her mate. Xexis steadied his attention on Aphrodite once more.
