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Ellabee got up from her captain's chair and headed towards my cockpit. "Come on, let's do this. You don't want to keep her waiting."
"What?"
She smirked, clearly enjoying my confusion. "Heather is waiting for you in the spaceport terminal. All you have to do is unlock your work station and pack your things, then your shore leave can begin."
"But..."
"As much as I like seeing you speechless, I have other things to do today. Hurry up."
"But Heather... She..."
"She called me to let me know that she'd accept the job as long as she gets to take regular leaves of absences to return to her farm. Something about needing to help her animals have baby animals. I didn't want to know the details of how that's done. Obviously, you won't get as much leave as she will. I can schedule our cargo runs around whether we have her to look after live animals, but I can't fly without a pilot. This month of shore leave is an exception. And I'm happy to shorten it to a week if you don't unlock your console this very moment."
My hands shook slightly as I keyed in my passwords to authorise others to use my cockpit station. As much as I tried to stay calm and professional on the outside, inside my thoughts were racing. Heather had come back. She was waiting for me. She was going to work on this very ship. We'd be together. This wasn't the end after all.
I finished the job as fast as I possibly could, then hurried away as soon as Ellabee was satisfied that my temporary replacement would be able to log into the console. There were always a bunch of pilots hanging about spaceports waiting to be hired in cases like this, so I was sure the captain would find a partner for Katak quickly.
I was already on the way to the airlock when I realised I had to get my things. I ran to my cabin, threw a few clothes into a bag while Jiji released curious chirps. I put my beloved companion on my shoulder and rushed back towards the exit. I didn't want to keep Heather waiting for any longer than necessary. What if she changed her mind? I couldn't let that happen.
The ship suddenly felt a lot bigger than before. Had the corridor to the airlock always been this long? By the time I finally stepped onto solid ground and passed through the security gates, my hearts seemed to burst out of my chest with worry and excitement. But there she was, sitting on a bench in the main terminal, standing out among all the Kyvens not just because she was alien, but also because she was mine. My mate. At least, I hoped that this is what it meant.
I stood there for a moment, dumbfounded and afraid to approach her in case it would break the spell.
Jiji squealed in excitement, bouncing up and down my shoulder and drawing Heather’s attention. Her eyes brightened and pink blushes bloomed on her cheeks like the sun rising on Kyven and my hearts swelled looking at her. She was a vision and I couldn't believe she was here.
The beautiful human jogged towards me, slightly panting as she paused in front of me. "Hey."
"You came back," I whispered, breathless in her place. "I don't understand, I thought you couldn't leave your animals, your cousin. I thought... that you didn't want me."
Heather captured me in a mouth kiss that made my ears tingle and glow so hot, they might as well have caught fire. I embraced her as wholly and fully as I could, still not believing that she was really here.
"Of course, I want you," Heather said when she pulled back, her cheeks even redder and her eyes slightly darkened. "That was never the problem. It was my old life."
"What changed?"
"I spoke to Rachel and she was... fine. She missed me and she was glad to see me, but she doesn't need me. Or rather, not all the time. I'll still be needed for lambing and calving season but her mate has stepped up while I was gone and we'll look for someone to help out as well." Heather spoke so fast, I was worried she wasn't breathing. "But driving away made me realise how much I wanted to stay. If it's not too late."
I shook my head. "I never blamed or resented you for staying. I actually admire you for having somewhere to return to. I wish I had that."
She laced her fingers through mine. "Now you have me."
"And you're sure?"
"Yes." She looked up at me, her arms still warm around me. "Atina, I have a really important question to ask you."
"Okay?"
"Will you be my mate?"
I didn't have to think twice. My hearts virtually beat out of my chest and I could only nod, tears welling up in my eyes.
"I accept." I gently tickled Heather's ear, running my finger along the rounded shell, a gesture only meant for the most important person in one's life.
Heather kissed me again, softer and sweeter.
Jiji chirped in protest and we broke apart, laughing.
"I can't wait to introduce you to my cousin and show you all our animals,” Heather murmured, reaching up to tickle the demanding qoark. “You're going to love it, both of you. Especially Timo. I bet he and Jiji will get on."
"We'll see about that," I said, not entirely convinced. Her earth animals were weird but I looked forward to figuring them out.
"I'm sure you will." She took my hands in hers? "Shall we go home, then?"
Emotion overwhelmed me and I could only nod. All these journeys and adventures through the stars searching for somewhere to belong and finally I found it, standing right in front of me with the most beautiful adoring smile I'd ever seen.
I was already home.
