“He’s adorable.”

I smiled wide. “He is.”

She shook her head. “It’s just so amazing. My brother… I mean you know?”

I smiled as she thought. In another time, it would’ve been a perfect way to embarrass me. Still, I had to acknowledge the strangeness of the situation. Before the Volardi arrived, men on my planet did not give birth. Even now it was rare or at least uncommon.

I got the feeling she wanted to ask me the obvious question; “What was it like?” Maybe one day I could tell her. We weren’t close growing up. Sharing didn’t come naturally but hopefully it would.

Still, she smiled, and it wasn’t from an insult like it would’ve been in the old days. “Wow… we’re both growing up,” she said.

It was true. She wasn’t looking so much like a teenager anymore. Her face was fuller than mine, and I just had a kid. I spoke for a few minutes and gave her a rundown on the changes and recent events. All the while, she listened in silence as I told her about my kidnapping, the Ryba and my Oma’s improved health. I confirmed that Pa was okay and offered to send him my message and videos of his Grandson.

I already heard he was fine. All good things to hear but I wanted to make sure he was okay. When I left, it was minutes after Nate attacked me. It was the first time I asked about him, but I didn’t want him to have trouble with Nate’s father. The Volardi wouldn’t do anything bad to Pa. To them, he was a hero that rushed to my aid – and thus saved a Volardi Femeni. Becky was on their good side too I suppose.

I wondered if my constant questions were a desire for the old days even if a little. I had a man that loved me, I didn’t have to ‘pretend’ I was straight, and I had a tiny incredibly precious treasure in my arms. Still, I wondered if we would ever be that same father and son as we were before. I was incredibly lucky, but I missed memories of that time.

Once reassured he was fine, I answered her questions about the adventures. Things she didn’t get at first. Her nose wrinkled as I told them about the slugs they put on our Oma.

I watched Becky’s eyes narrow and an expression I couldn’t interpret flash over her face. Perhaps if we still had our old adversarial relationship, I would’ve used my stories against her. A sort of ‘Take that’ against somebody still stuck in a small Tennessee town. Although that wasn’t her.