The following Monday, funding and their acquisitions requests for the portal project were easily approved. That meant Kaelen and Einstein were busy on their new tasks down in the SPL. Leah instructed Einstein to begin translating the alien materials to their Earth equivalent, while Kaelen worked on the program for the supplemental nanobots and queen they would inject once Leah’s spinal cord and muscles were returned to 100% function.
Leah wasn’t able to come down for her weekly trial tests until later in the day. Ellie joined her in the SPL for the discussion regarding the reprogramming injection. “Are you sure about this, honey?”
“Ellie, the science is sound and I’ve made huge strides already. I’ve got an appointment with a private physical therapist at noon tomorrow. It makes sense to repurpose the bots that will be hanging out once the primary task has been performed.”
“NDAs for the therapist?”
Leah smirked. “Of course. I don’t want news of my recovery to leak before we unveil the project at CES.”
“What is CES?” There was much about Earth that Kaelen still didn’t understand and half the things she did were made even more confusing by the prevalence of acronyms within the English language. She hypothesized that it was some sort of conference.
“That is an aggressive timeline to run through phase one and phase two trials.” Einstein turned to Kaelen. “CES is an acronym that stands for Consumer Electronics Show. It is the most influential tech event in the world, and Leah was invited to speak at the upcoming one in January.”
Leah moved her gaze around the group. “It runs from Tuesday the third to Friday the sixth, and I speak on the opening day. Can we do it? Phase one officially began with the rest of the volunteers two weeks ago. Everyone involved with the project has signed iron clad agreements not to disclose the results, and all the volunteers agreed to continue using assistance in public no matter their progress.”
“I heard from Doctor Vaughn that each one has responded exactly the same way as Leah.”
Ellie tapped her top lip. “From a medical standpoint, it is incredibly aggressive, but I can’t deny the results. When you stood for a minute earlier—well you saw my tears so I don’t need words to say how I feel. I’m so happy we’ve reached this point for you and everyone else with a spinal cord injury. We will have to move swiftly if we want this to be the presentation you make. But it is possible. I’ll have a marketing team put something together, similar to what they do for our other sensitive launches.”
“Is there a reason you are pushing to unveil the NeReNaSe at this event?”
All three of them gave Kaelen a curious look. Einstein asked, “Nee-reh-nah-say?”
She shrugged. “You have yet to officially name it, so I shortened it for casual reference. Nerve regenerative nanobot serum.”
Leah answered Kaelen’s question with another. “What is the thing that CES is best known for?”
“The wide range of fantastic technologies?” Einstein suggested.
Ellie suddenly grinned. “A show. The flashier the technology the bigger the audience.”
Leah pointed at her. “Exactly! Wellness sciences aren’t usually a huge draw, but I want Lockheed International to be the absolute talk of the conference. Think of what this will do for our stock. If profits go up then we can put more guilt-free money into R&D on things like the desalinization project.”
Her passion was contagious and Kaelen appreciated that Leah’s reason for doing it wasn’t to make more money for the sake of profits alone. She was doing it to be free to spend on those technologies that could help less fortunate countries solve major problems, such as making sustainable agriculture possible in dry climates to help cure world hunger. “Think of what this will do for Earth when people learn what’s possible.”
“It’s true. This will fuel medical breakthroughs for decades.”
Ellie rubbed Leah’s shoulder. “I know it will. Patents?”
“You didn’t raise me to be a fool. Utility patent applications were filed for all relevant processes and tech involved, for both the serum and the nanobots.”
“Fantastic!”
“Once word gets out of your full recovery and Lockheed’s new technology, I predict you will be inundated with interview requests.”
Leah scowled. “You know I don’t talk to reporters, Einstein. I have never given a private interview and I’m not about to start now.”
He held up a placating hand. “But think on this. You wish for the news to spread far and wide, but you will want to control the narrative, yes?” She nodded. “What if we bring Nalla in for the interview?”
“Doesn’t she usually write about human interest topics?”
“She covers a variety from what I’ve gathered, and this definitely has a human-interest angle by giving the world technology to help people walk again. But Nalla is also talented, and I am not saying this as her significant other. It could be beneficial for you to interview with a friend rather than someone looking to score a win against the Lockheed who has refused all one-on-one interviews.”
“He’s right.”
“Not you too, Ellie. You know I hate this sort of thing.”
“I know, dear. But I think this will be good for both you and the company. Either way, you have plenty of time to think about it as you won’t be asked until after the unveiling.”
Leah sighed. “True. Okay, I’ll consider the idea. Give Nalla a heads up that I may personally tap her for an interview, but don’t tell her the details of my recovery yet.”
He grinned at her. “Stellar, and I won’t. If we’re finished here, I would like to continue my translations.” Leah waved him off and he wandered back to his desk.
Ellie beamed with happiness. “Today’s results were so incredible that I look forward to next Monday’s scans.”
* * * *
A few days later, Ellie walked into the lab while Kaelen, Leah, and Einstein were hard at work. It was near the end of the work day but Kaelen was intently focused on her nanobot queen project while Leah and Einstein were talking about Charlie’s portal design. “Look at you three, solving the world’s problems down here.”
“Hi Ellie,” Kaelen said brightly.
Ellie addressed her and Leah. “Are you two busy tonight? I thought it was time I got to know Kaelen a little better since the fact that you are dating won me a fair amount of money.”
Leah rolled her eyes. “How much?”
“Everyone bet fifty.”
A bark of laughter echoed through the lab. “Maybe you should treat us then.”
Kaelen disagreed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I eat more than what is considered polite.”
“Darling, I’m kidding. And you eat as much as you need. Let me leave a message for Maddy to see if she and Tasha are off tonight.” Leah retrieved her cell phone from the special holder on her hoverchair and pushed the speaker button before dialing Maddy.
All three of them were surprised when Maddy answered after the first ring. “Hey, Leah! You calling for pointers with your new girlfriend?”
Leah snorted. “Like you didn’t learn everything you know from the internet.”
“Oh, fu—”
“Hello, Madison. Nice to know my daughters treat each other with such love and respect.”
Silence followed Ellie’s comment, though Kaelen could hear Maddy’s heart rate increase through the phone. “Uh, hi Mom. Sorry. I didn’t realize that you’d be there or that Leah would put us on speakerphone.”
“I am, and she did. Are you and Tasha free tonight? I know it’s a Thursday but I’d like a family dinner with all five of us.”
Clothing rustled on the other end of the line. Kaelen could hear Tasha whisper, “We should get dressed,” before Maddy spoke again. “Actually, today is our day off so we’re free for dinner. Where would you like to meet? Forewarning though, we’re not really, uh, presentable for upscale dining.”
Kaelen suggested, “Leah and I both enjoy Thai Guys.”
“I’m drawing the line at Asian food, that’s all you two ever want!” Maddy complained.
Kaelen clearly heard Tasha say, “Babe, I could totally go for some Pad Thai.” She called Maddy out on the lie. “Tasha disagrees with you. She likes Asian food and would eat at Thai Guys.”
“Dammit, Kaelen! Stop listening to private conversations.”
“Sorry, Maddy.”
Leah turned to Ellie. “What about you, Mom, anything in particular you’d like?”
“You know what I’ve been craving?”
“Walker, Texas Ranger reruns?”
Even Leah laughed at Maddy’s answer. Ellie sighed and shook her head. “I could go for a burger and fries.”
“Beast Burger,” Leah offered.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m craving. Something terrible for me.” She looked at Kaelen and winked. “It’s one of my guilty pleasures.”
Maddy responded a few seconds later. “That’s good for us. How about the location on the corner of Locust and Main, will that work for everyone?”
“What is Beast Burger?” Kaelen had tried many restaurants all over the city, but for some reason, despite its prevalence, she hadn’t eaten at that one.
Silence reigned for a few moments until Maddy spoke with obvious disbelief. “You mean to tell me that you’ve been on this planet for…uh, how long have you been on Earth, Kaelen?”
Kaelen looked back and forth between Ellie and Leah’s astonished faces. “I landed exactly one year ago today.”
“What? Kaelen, why didn’t you tell me?”
She looked at Leah. “I didn’t realize it was significant.”
Leah took her hand. “Darling, you mentioned the other night that you didn’t celebrate birthdays because of the multistep, artificial Argonian birthing process. I think since you didn’t have an official date, we should make the date that you landed on our planet your rebirthday.”
Maddy laughed. “Re-birthday, that’s great.”
Tasha interrupted Maddy’s laughter. “And because today is the day, we should celebrate your birthday as part of our family dinner.”
“Okay, change of plans.” Leah smoothly took over. “Mom, Maddy, and Tasha, if you don’t mind, let’s eat at my place. We’ll play some games and see if I can order a cake to be delivered. I’m afraid options will be limited this late in the day so it will most likely be pre-made.”
Kaelen was uncomfortable that they’d go through so much trouble for her. She never wanted to be a burden. “You don’t need to do all that. I already feel more than welcome with your family and on this planet.” She paused. “With the exception of the CORP agency that wants to incarcerate me.”
Maddy’s sure voice brooked no arguments. “Nope, we’re doing this, Ra-Evon. You are part of the family now so you better get used to it. We’ll meet you all at Leah’s in an hour. You want us to pick up the burgers?” Leah smirked at Kaelen. “No, send me your order. I’m going to have it delivered by Fleet Eats. I want Kaelen to try one of everything from the menu so she can never again say she doesn’t know what Beast Burger is.”
“One of everything?” Maddy said with disbelief.
“She’s an alien, remember?”
“Fair enough. Okay, sis. We’ll see you within the hour.”
Leah hung up then looked at the time. She called across the room. “Hey Einstein, it’s after five, why are you still here?”
“I started late today and was hoping to make up some ground. Leaving early doesn’t set a good example for the other labs—”
“Einstein,”
“Yes?”
“I’d say you’ve stayed enough late nights on the nano project to earn a few early days. Say hi to Nalla for us.”
He nodded once. “That’s an astute observation and a wonderful gift. Nalla should be finished covering the fall equinox festival at Grand Park for MNN by now. I shall surprise her with Thai Guys for dinner.” He shrugged when all three of them stared at him. “Your conversation incited a powerful craving that only their pot stickers can satisfy.”
Leah laughed. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
Kaelen found the comment strange. “His sense of humor and twelfth caliber intellect wasn’t enough of a reason?”
“More than enough.” Leah said to Ellie, “You want to ride with us?”
“No, I’ll take my car. That way I can go straight to my city apartment and not have to come back here after. I may be a little late because I’ve got to make a stop on the way.”
Hearing that they were all leaving, Kaelen rushed around the lab and shut down various machines and other equipment. Einstein took care of the rest, and the group made their way to the elevator together. Once in the parking garage, Kaelen insisted that she scan their level to make sure no one was around before letting any of them leave the elevator. Ellie deposited a kiss on Leah’s cheek then surprised Kaelen by giving her the same. “See you girls shortly. Leah, you already know my order.”
“Of course. Bye, Ellie, see you in a bit.”
An hour and a half later, the five women sat around Leah’s dining room table. Maddy stared at Kaelen with an expression that wavered between disgust and amazement. “I don’t know whether to be jealous you’re able to eat like that, or feel nauseated.”
Kaelen had already eaten half of what Leah ordered. At least one of the burgers was listed as “wild style” on the wrapper. She grinned at Maddy. “It tastes amazing. And you say this food is unhealthy for humans?”
Tasha snorted. “All fast-food is.”
“That’s unfortunate for you then. Beast Burger is warm, salty, savory, sweet, and packed with protein. I especially like their fried Frenches.”
Maddy snickered. “French fries.”
“Yes, those.”
Luckily for Kaelen, she ate significantly faster than the rest, else she’d still be eating after Maddy, Tasha, and Ellie went home. “This food, our dinner tonight…it makes me feel—” She stopped because she was unsure how to form words from her emotions.
“What is it, darling? How does it make you feel?” Leah reached out to lay her fingers across Kaelen’s left wrist.
Kaelen met her gaze, then looked around the table at the other three women and sighed. “It makes me feel happy, as happy as when I was a child on Argon. Like I belong and that my found family is now my real family.”
“Kid, we are your real family now and don’t let anyone tell you different,” Maddy said.
Tears threatened but not ones of loss. They were a sign of how large she’d grown compared to the past she left behind on that long trip away from Vos. “Thank you, Maddy.”
“Anytime, kid—”
Leah’s phone rang and she pointed at Kaelen. “No listening.”
Kaelen nodded and focused her hearing on the loudest sound near their location in the city. She was vaguely aware of Leah’s responses over the phone but was unable to hear the other side of the conversation with her attention split.
Leah hung up and smiled at the group around the table. “Two minutes.”
Ellie prompted, “Until?”
“Until we sing.”
“Ah, gotcha.”
Confusion brought Kaelen’s concentration back to the room. “Sing? Like the music I was listening to?”
“Music? What are you talking about?”
Kaelen elaborated. “I can hear a show playing music somewhere in LA. A woman is singing with other instruments in the background and people cheering.”
“Holy shit! Are you talking about ‘Resurrection’? They’re performing at El Rey Theater tonight. I tried to score me and Tasha tickets but the show was sold out within minutes. I’m so jealous that you can just,” Maddy wiggled her fingers, “tune in like that whenever you want.”
“It is nice when it’s something I want to hear. But more often than not I wish for silence. For instance, I can hear every conversation in the building if I choose. I can listen and hear every siren across Los Angeles, as well as every cry, laugh, or shout of anger. It’s more overwhelming than beneficial.”
“Oh, Kaelen. I’m so sorry.” Tasha gave her a look of compassion. “How do you cope with it all?”
“Wex taught me how to control my hearing before I moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Until that point, I’d been relying on the filtering program in my communicators. Sometimes, when things seem especially loud or I feel vulnerable, I’ll put the communicators back in and ask Wex to filter for me.”
Her gaze was drawn to Leah, who in turn looked thoughtful. “You also mentioned that high decibel frequencies were a weakness. Perhaps we can find a better way to help muffle the ambient sounds for you. I’ll make a note to dive into the topic later this week.”
“Thanks, zhee.”
The elevator gave a ding and broke up the heavy moment. Everyone turned to look, then Ellie, Maddy, and Kaelen all stood from the table when the doors opened to reveal a woman pushing a cart loaded with three boxes. Leah turned around and waved the woman forward. “Hi Val. Can you set it up over there? And thanks again for the late request. You’re a life saver.”
“It’s no problem, really.” Val pushed the cart across the apartment to the large kitchen island.
Maddy said to Leah, “I can’t believe you scored LA Cakery on such short notice. Kaelen, you’re in for a real treat.”
A sweet scent perfumed the air as the five of them watched Val carefully assemble the dark pink frosted layers of cake on the cleared surface. When the three layers were stacked, Val removed multiple bags of frosting from a cooler and touched up the edges around the base of each cake. She finished it off by adding fresh raspberries.
“The smell reminds me of donuts. Does cake taste similar?”
“Oh, for the love of fu—”
“Madison,” Ellie gave her a stern look.
“Uh, fudge.” She looked at Leah. “She hasn’t had cake yet either?”
Leah shrugged. “Apparently not. She had pie at The Bean Bag, and donuts from nearly every donut shop in Los Angeles.”
“Kaelen,” Tasha said, “you’ll like cake. Trust me.”
Once the cake was assembled with the decorative touches added, Leah removed the wallet from her special drawer and gave Val a few hundred dollars tip. “Thanks for the last-minute setup. I wanted Kaelen’s birthday to be special, but we didn’t know about it until a little while ago.”
Val smiled at her and pocketed the cash. “You’re lucky I had the layers already made up in the cooler.”
Leah gave her a worried look. “This isn’t going to cause trouble with another order, is it?”
“No, I was working ahead. I’ll make more tomorrow morning when I open the shop. It’s all good. Pleasure doing business with you, Leah.” Val pushed her cart back into the elevator and called out to Kaelen, “And happy birthday!”
Kaelen smiled and waved back. “Thank you.” Then the doors closed, leaving them with a three-tier cake, fully iced and ready for someone to cut. Kaelen moved nearer to the beautiful creation. “That smells delicious. What flavor is it?”
“Double chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream frosting.”
Maddy groaned and turned to Tasha. “Babe, we are so taking some of that home with us.”
Leah smirked at her. “You’re assuming there will be any left.”
“Why wouldn’t there—” Maddy stopped speaking and glanced down at the pile of empty burger wrappers in front of Kaelen. “Dammit.”
Ellie spoke to Maddy. “You don’t even know if Kaelen will like it.”
“Sure. Pull the other one, Jan.”
Ellie snickered. “You’re too young for that show. Heck, I’m too young for that show since it was your grandma’s favorite when she was growing up. And you never know about Kaelen’s tastes, stranger things have happened.”
“Mom,” Maddy groaned. “Kaelen is like a garbage disposal, or like…some kind of eating machine.” Kaelen was finishing the rest of Leah’s fries when Maddy gestured toward her. “She’s a human version of a Labrador retriever, with the appetite to match.”
Tasha smiled at her. “More like a golden retriever.”
“While you have an excellent point about my girlfriend, can we stop comparing her to dogs?”
Kaelen perked up. “I love dogs. I have a lot of pictures of dogs from around Los Angeles in my phone. I can show you later if you like—”
Leah covered her lips with a slim finger. “Later, love. Right now, we have a song to sing.” She moved her chair into the kitchen and sorted through one drawer until she came up with two boxes. Leah pulled out two tiny candles from one of them and pushed them into the top layer. Then she opened the other box, removed a small wooden stick, and scraped it along the side until it produced a flame. She lit the candles and smiled at Kaelen.
“Why are you putting romance flames on the cake?”
Maddy and Tasha snickered as Leah gestured for Kaelen to come closer. “Darling, candles are a way to make celebrations more festive.”
“Oh, like the night we—”
Maddy clapped her hands over her ears. “La, la, la, I don’t want to hear about any bedroom stuff between you and my sister!”
“You’re such a child, Maddy. And Kaelen, it’s part of the birthday celebration. As for why two, I chose one candle to represent Argon, and one for Earth because you are a woman of both.”
“Well said, Leah.”
Leah smiled at Tasha. “Next, we’ll sing you a song, then you make a silent wish in your head, and carefully blow out the candles. We don’t need you to freeze the cake.”
Kaelen looked around the assembled members of her Earth family. “You know that wishes are highly illogical, right? It wasn’t something that was encouraged within members of the Thinker Guild. When I discussed the topic with Einstein, he said his people felt the same and any wish coming true would be a simple mathematical configuration of probability odds combined with the inclination of nature to repeat itself.”
Maddy burst out laughing. “That sounds exactly like something Einstein would say.”
Leah shook her head and gave Kaelen the smile that always made Kaelen’s stomach flutter. “Apparently Argonians and Donbothians are alike in that way. Must be the twelfth caliber intellect thing.” She winked. “Illogical or no, you should still make a wish. It doesn’t have to come true, make sense, or even be possible. Wish for what the heart wants.”
Maddy suggested, “You could wish for money.”
“Or wish for love.” Tasha gave Maddy a pointed look.
Ellie added, “You can even wish for health and happiness.”
Kaelen looked at them all, surprised that Leah hadn’t called out her own suggestion. “But I already have what I would wish for, the thing I want most on this world.”
“What’s that?”
Kaelen moved her gaze to the person she referred to. “Leah. Her health, happiness, and affection are my only wish.”
“Aww, that is so cute!”
“Dammit, Kaelen! You’re making me look bad in front of my girlfriend.”
Kaelen shrugged, feeling as if she kept getting in trouble with Leah’s older sister. “Sorry again, Maddy. But it’s the truth.”
“Fine then, let’s sing and you can wish for her or something else. Either way, let’s do this so I can put a piece of that cake into my face hole.”
What happened next was a first for Kaelen. As one, all four of the other women began singing a simplistic song with a repetitive tune. They looked at her expectantly when it was over, and she took that as her cue to blow out the candles. She was careful not to strip it of frosting or freeze the cake. They all clapped and Leah removed the candles and dropped them onto the counter.
Kaelen looked around the small gathering. “While I love the ceremony and thought behind this tradition, that was the most unimaginative Earth song I’ve ever heard.”
Even Ellie chuckled. “She’s not wrong.”
“Kaelen,” she glanced at Leah, who gestured toward the small top tier of cake. It was about six inches in height and six inches in diameter. “Remove this for me and you can take the entire thing as your piece. We should have plenty left to send home with Ellie, Maddy and Tasha.”
Leah cut the second layer and placed slices on saucers while the rest of them cleaned off the fast-food debris from the table. Despite Maddy’s seeming desperation to eat her piece, they all waited so they could watch Kaelen eat her first bite.
She stabbed her fork down the tall layer and removed a long strip, counting six separate dark layers with more dark pink frosting between each one. Kaelen managed to cram the entire forkful into her mouth and moaned as the rich mix of flavors hit her tongue. She savored the explosion of sweetness. “This is the most amazing thing I’ve tasted since I landed on Earth.”
Maddy laughed and pointed a fork at her. “I told you so.”
Once everyone was finished with their cake, Leah packed two containers for when the others left and had Kaelen put the rest in the refrigerator. Kaelen made mental plans to eat more after they were gone. At first, Kaelen didn’t understand why Ellie handed her a decoratively wrapped package. Then Tasha and Maddy handed her an envelope. Maddy added, “You’re hard to choose a gift for, especially on such short notice.”
“You didn’t have to give me a gift.”
“It’s birthday tradition, Kaelen. Of course, we did.”
Kaelen’s face grew warm. “Your company and the wonderful cake were more than enough.”
Maddy shrugged. “Even so, you’re still getting gifts so deal with it.”
Kaelen opened the envelope first. Inside were two tickets to the Los Angeles Museum of Science and Industry. She looked at Maddy and Tasha, delighted. “Leah and I were talking about going here soon. Thank you.”
Tasha laughed. “Where do you think we got the idea?”
Ellie’s gift was next. Inside the box, Kaelen found a folded double frame. When she opened it, there was a photo on each side. One of her and Leah on the left, and the one on the right was a selfie that Leah had taken during their first group lunch in the Special Projects Lab. Leah, Einstein, Ellie, and Kaelen were all smiling at the camera. She looked up at Ellie, unsure what to say.
Ellie said, “You didn’t seem to have much in the way of personal items at your apartment. I thought that might look nice on the table closest to the TV.”
Kaelen cradled the frame to her chest, more than a little overwhelmed at the gesture. “Thank you. That’s exactly where I’ll put it when I get home. Is—is it okay if I give you a hug?”
“Oh, Kaelen. You never have to ask.” Ellie came around the table, meeting Kaelen as she stood as well.
When they pulled back from the hug, Kaelen wiped the tears from her eyes. “Ellie Tuck, you’re nothing like my liu. But if I had to pick a mother here on Earth, it would certainly be you.”
Leah let the emotional moment play out for a minute before she spoke. “I have something for you as well, Kaelen, but I’ll give it to you later.”
“I bet you will.”
“Madison!”
“Maddy!” Tasha slapped Maddy’s arm.
“Okay, I get it. Jeez, why is Leah everyone’s favorite? I came along first.”
“Stop picking on your sister.”
Maddy sighed. “Fine.”
Leah snickered. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I’ll tell you now since Maddy is incapable of controlling her curiosity. I planned to take you and Einstein, as well as the team in Lab twelve, with me to CES at the beginning of January. After all, it’s the fruit of your labor that has worked in conjunction to make this project possible.”
“Blah, blah, blah, work stuff. Is that really all you’re giving her?”
“Ellie, will you close your eyes for a second?” Ellie smirked but complied, allowing Leah to wave her middle finger at Maddy, prompting a lot of grumbling from across the table. Tasha and Kaelen locked eyes and giggled at the Tuck sisters’ antics. “But to answer your question, no, that’s not all I’m giving her. I’ve also arranged for the two of us to go a few days early to celebrate New Year’s Eve and attend some of the shows in Vegas.”
Maddy looked back and forth between Leah and Kaelen. “Will she even like Vegas shows? No offense, Kaelen, but you’re very…science-y.”
“That’s not a word, Maddy.”
“Says you.”
Kaelen interrupted what was sure to be another debate between them. “I like anything as long as I’m with Leah.”
“Aww, babe!”
Maddy grumbled, “Dammit, Kaelen.”
Leah laughed and took Kaelen’s hand. “You’ll have to program a few formal Earth outfits into that suit of yours.” She must have picked up on Kaelen’s confusion because she added, “I’ll show you some examples later. It’s only the fall equinox, we have a few months still.”
“Okay.”
They played a variety of games for the next few hours until everyone agreed to call it a night. Kaelen and Leah exited the game room with the other three and made sure they got their containers of leftover cake. Hugs were given then Maddy, Ellie, and Tasha were lost to sight as the elevator doors closed. Leah and Kaelen turned to face each other and Leah asked, “Well, what did you think?”
“I’ve had many good days since coming to Earth, specifically when I’m with you. But I have to say that today is my new favorite.”
Leah raised her chair and pulled Kaelen into a hug. “Oh yeah? Well, you’re my favorite.”
Kaelen sank into the embrace. “Thank you for everything.”
“Vrildif, nes gahv i zhetinao imolaht.”
That earned Leah another squeeze. “Always? And if anyone is a lovely scientist, it’s definitely you. I never expected the one I courted to be so physically appealing. It is certainly a bonus. I wonder if the bonding program would have matched us if you’d been Argonian?” Leah’s cheeks grew pink and Kaelen delighted at the sight.
“I could only hope. Come along, darling. Let’s get ready for bed. I assume you’re staying?”
“Of course. I always sleep better with you.”
“Really?” Kaelen nodded. “And why is that?”
“Because Wex usually wakes me with the rising sun, explaining that a proper Argonian starts the day early as it’s the most efficient way to guarantee good work. It was a common practice where I’m from.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Wex is a dick.”
Kaelen began to protest, intent on explaining, yet again, that Wex was an inanimate AI, then stopped. She contemplated each time the AI had woken her from a pleasant night’s dream. “You’re right. Wex is a dick.”
Leah paused long enough to pat Kaelen’s cheek, then directed her hoverchair up the stairs, calling over her shoulder, “Of course I am. And I already know you’ll eat more cake while I’m in the shower, but don’t be too long.”
Kaelen grinned even as she raced into the kitchen to cut another large slice. She called after Leah as she retrieved a clean fork. “I won’t.”