Chapter 19

"Is that tight enough?" Zyair asked, tucking the blanket in around Layla as if strapping her down for takeoff.

The problem was, though, they weren't actually going anywhere. In fact, they'd stayed put for days now, grounded on Kona, and Layla was going stir crazy. They were docked at Darina's estate, but had decided to take advantage of the Top Asteroid's facilities and privacy.

"Zyair, it's fine. I'm fine," she told him, trying her best to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

She could see he was just trying to help, to look after her, but she was beginning to feel like she was a child, not like she was going to have a child.

"Is this how you treat pregnant women on Lorr?" she asked, gesturing around her.

Despite it being the middle of the day, Zyair had insisted she stay in bed—not just that day, but for the three days prior as well. She was surrounded by soft pillows, small tables full of food and drink, and innumerable flowers.

Zyair had even found something resembling a teddy bear at one of the local Konian stores, though it didn't look like any teddy bear Layla had ever seen. She figured it must have been a local animal—something like a cross between an elephant and a ferret, perhaps, but purple.

It was all getting a bit too much for her, though. Zyair, on the other hand, grinned.

"Actually, I don't know. I've never gotten anyone pregnant before," he told her and she could see the sparkle in his eyes as he said the word pregnant. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Layla sighed. She wasn't used to being treated like this—like some precious, fragile object. In fact, at home it had been the opposite. And as much as she appreciated Zyair's care, it was entirely foreign to her. It made her feel weak, which was not a sensation she enjoyed. In fact, weakness was a feeling that was all too familiar. Weakness was exactly what she'd hoped to shed by starting a new life away from her family.

It wasn't just that, though. She knew they still had a mission to complete, and every day they sat around on Kona was a day they were missing out on finding the Desolation Stone. She was itching to get back to work. Even if it wasn't technically her job, she'd long ago started thinking of it that way.

Zyair must have caught the look in her eyes because he sat on the bedside and took her hand. "Layla, I know this is frustrating for you, but please just try to relax and rest." He gave her a kind smile and placed his other hand gently on her belly.

As much as it chafed her to be stuck there, she knew Zyair was right. The baby was the most important thing now, and she let herself melt a little under his touch. For a moment, she even allowed herself to close her eyes and sink into the overwhelming joy that came along with the future they were now building together—the future that was literally growing inside her.

Her thoughts were interrupted, though, by the sound of Astrid's voice ringing out across the ship.

"Zyair, Layla. Doctor Kolep is here for Layla's daily check-up."

Layla's eyes shot open, hoping the day's doctor's appointment would finally be the one that cleared her for travel.

"Let him in, Astrid," she said, immediately before realizing Zyair had his mouth half open, ready to speak.

"Sorry," she said, feeling her cheeks flush warm. "I didn't mean to cut you off."

Zyair just smiled and waved away her apology. "I'm glad you're feeling so at home on the ship," he told her, grinning.

Layla could see he meant it, even if it was laced with jest.

The doctor made his way into the bedroom where Layla had been holed up since his visit the afternoon before. She knew the routine by now.

How are you feeling? Are you still vomiting? Are you feeling lightheaded? Squeeze this. Breathe on this. Pee into this, and so on and so on.

When the examination was over, the doctor gave her a broad smile.

"Everything seems to be in order," he said. "It's a good thing you've taken my advice so seriously, too. The last few days of proper rest and relaxation seem to have done the trick! You're cleared to travel if you choose."

With a nod and the Konian gesture that signaled a respectful goodbye, the doctor left the room.

Layla was overjoyed. "Did you hear that?" she asked, though Zyair had been in the room with her the whole time. "We can go!"

Zyair smiled softly, but she could see he still had some concern in his eyes. "I heard," he told her, his voice serious, "but don't get ahead of yourself. You're still pregnant. Remember?"

Layla just smiled and acted as if she hadn't heard him. But in the back of her mind, she had her own concerns for the baby. She was excited for the mission ahead, eager to get going after days of stagnation, but as she jumped out of bed and hurried toward the bridge, she let a hand rest on her own belly.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Zyair called out, chasing after her. "You still need to take it easy!"

She turned back to see her baby daddy catching up to her with just a couple of strides, and soon, his hands were closing softly around her shoulders.

Zyair gently turned her toward the jump seat, strapping her in with the same care he had tucked her into bed with. He checked the straps at least a dozen times to make sure she was safe.

"Zyair…" Layla warned.

He looked up sheepishly. "Wait, almost ready for takeoff."

He rushed away and into the bedroom, reappearing a moment later with the teddy bear, which Layla had started thinking of as a ferrephant, and placed it gently in her arms.

"Okay," he said smiling. "Now we can take off."

Before she could respond, he rushed to the bridge. Within a few moments, the Top Asteroid was lifting off Kona and rising toward the vast expanse of space.

Layla was lost for words, clutching the ferrephant with a fiercer joy than she could have possibly expected. So much had changed since she first met Zyair, and she could hardly believe how lucky she was to have a partner who cared for her so deeply. Her heart felt full, and for a moment, she wished they didn't have a mission to complete. For a moment, she wished they could just enjoy the beauty of starting a family together.

As the ship stabilized, she met Zyair on the bridge and slipped her hand into his. The ferrephant was tucked tightly under her other arm. Now that they'd left the safety of Kona behind, it was suddenly dawning on her that their future was painfully uncertain.

"When will we reach the Jorvlen ship?" she asked as she stared out at the stars and planets rushing past them.

What she really meant was, when will this bubble burst?

"Not until tomorrow," Zyair answered, turning to her. "Until then, we have this." He leaned down and kissed her softly, and Layla felt herself pushing aside all thoughts of the impending danger to enjoy one last night of normality with her love.

She didn't know when they'd next get that chance.