"But what about my ceremonial gauntlets? Do they look okay?!"

Vax runs back and forth across our room, hurling heavy metal gloves over his shoulder like a panicked teen before prom. It's three weeks since we fought off the Horkax invasion, and Vax is being honored for his actions. "I liked the silver gauntlets to be honest, why can't you go with them?"

"I've never killed anything in the silver gauntlets, now the golden ones... those are gauntlets that have seen bloodshed!"

I can only turn away from my alien companion and roll my eyes. "Whatever you want honey, just hurry up and pick, the shuttle is going to be here in five minutes."

I leave Vax to fret on his own and make my way downstairs to put my shoes on in the hall. Punky skitters across the marble floor as I enter the hallway, pounces across the tiles and jumps up to greet me with an affectionate hug. "Hey Punks!" I laugh as Punky scampers around my torso, across my shoulders, and up my arms. He vaults through the air and lands on the stair banister. I was a little worried that Punky might not settle in here on the mothership, but there's plenty to explore in Vax's house, and there's a big garden out back too, where Punky can play to his heart's content. He seems happy here, and I have to admit that I'm happy too. 

Vax's house on the mothership is a little fancier than his ship dwelling, and there's more room too, which is good, considering that we'll be expanding soon. I pause at the front door and look at myself in the mirror to check my look. I've opted for a long sleek black dress; tall red heels and I've even pulled my hair up into some fancy up do. I know. Two months ago, I was standing in a gas station back on earth, sweating my cheap deodorant through a polo shirt. A lot has changed since then. 

Another strange tide of buzzing rolls across my stomach and I look down to see the mysterious lights flaring under the sheer black of my dress. It's both a pleasant and unpleasant feeling, I hold one hand on my stomach and steady the other against the wall to brace against the sensation, wincing slightly as I do so.

"Drexer giving you trouble again?" Vax asks as he comes down the stairs, he places his hand on the small of my back to comfort me. 

"A little. It's uncomfortable, but also kind of cool." I smooth my hand over my belly and smile at Vax. "The Argonian equivalent of kicking?"

He smiles and looks down at my swollen belly, which dances with the chorus of strange lights. It's really something to see on bare flesh. It looks like a network of fairy lights are under my skin. It's actually Drexer, our baby (though I'm still not sold on the name Drexer).

"That's right," Vax says with a proud smile. "We call it flashing. All Argonians do it, it's a sign of bonding. Our little one is bonding to you. That's a good thing."

And I'm happy about it, but flashing was still definitely very weird. The mysterious phenomenon had started just a few days earlier and was the first clue that Vax and I were pregnant. Things have been kind of crazy since then.

The shuttle arrives a few minutes later and escorts Vax and I across the Argonian cityscape to the grand ceremony hall. I'm a little startled when we get there, the hall seems to stretch on forever in every direction and it looks like everyone in the galaxy is here to witness the grand victory ceremony. As we fly by I stare down through the windows of the shuttle and look down at the sea of alien people below us. There has to be tens of thousands of people here, and it's not just Argonians, there are even Riga people too. 

We pass over the crowd, landing on the side of the goliath stage at the center of the proceedings. Vax and I exit the shuttle and step onto the wide stage. There are lots of people in the crowd, but there are just as many here too, and everyone is dressed so smart. Vax informs me that this is the 'high society' in Argonia and Riga culture. I look around and instantly recognize a few people from our travels. I see Loola, Lady Bonnix and a whole horde of powerful Riga women. "Everyone is here!" I say to Vax.

A graveled voice comes from behind us. "Not forgetting me of course."

We both turn and stand in absolute shock at seeing Orbis in front of us. His walking is assisted by an exoskeleton, and he uses two crutches to support his upper half. "Orbis!" I shout. "You're alive!"

He lets out a laugh that looks slightly painful. "Takes more than a clip full of laser fire to kill this stubborn bastard. Wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Rose here of course. You humans have done miraculous work with our medicine tech." Orbis nods to the raven-haired girl on his right.

"Please. My medical skills are rudimentary at best. You can thank your stars I just happen to fly with the best doctor in the galaxy."

"It's good to see you up and well commander," Vax says with a respectful nod. 

"And it's good to see you both well too," Orbis says back, nodding at me in particular. "I've heard the miraculous news Piper. Congratulations. The first Argonian pregnancy in a quarter of a century. It is most amazing."

Loud trumpets blare in the air around us and we all turn at the sound. "Looks like the ceremony is getting started," Vax says. "We better get to our seats."

* * *

"For services to the nation of Argonia, for helping to fight back the evil Horkax and defending three great races, I present you, Piper Denzel, the White Star, our third highest military honor."

I bow my head gracefully and the Argonian ambassador slips the medal over my neck, we shake hands and he offers a few private words. "I hear you are also with child as well. Congratulations. You will truly become a beacon for our people."

The ambassador moves down the line and presents Orbis and Rose with medals too. At last, he comes to Vax, who is stood at the end of the line, looking oh-so-handsome in his official gear. The massive crowd falls quiet, and the elder Argonian male stares at Vax in momentary silence. 

"So, this is the famous Vax Enzala," he says, his voice booming over the colossal hall. "The famed warrior. The legendary infiltrator. The exiled warrior."

A sound of surprise whispers over the crowd at the mention of Vax's exile. Vax keeps his head held high, but I can see the shame in his eyes. A meeting had been scheduled with the high council in a weeks’ time to determine his future fate here in Argonia. It seemed that no one among his people could decide on what should be done about his unique situation. Vax had disobeyed direct orders from Raka, and he had broken the terms of his exile, coming back here before his Remvita was complete. I didn't agree with the 'scandal' surrounding Vax, but I understood the Argonian's point of view. They were a race of stubborn men, and rules had to be upheld. Whatever happened to Vax, I would go with him. 

The ambassador turns to the crowd. "I've never been a fan of ceremony. So, I'd like to keep this short. Vax Enzala is not the first Argonian male to breach the rules of exile. Normally the punishment for such a betrayal would be death, and in rare instances offenders are exiled again. In this case I think both traditional punishments are overreactions. For Vax Enzala broke the terms of his exile to help save our people."

Rallying shouts of support come from the audience. I lean over to Orbis and whisper under my breath. "What is this?! What's going on?"

"The ambassador is Cholan Tritus, he is the head deliberator on the council. He is the one that decides Vax's fate in a weeks’ time. It seems he wants to decide it now."

Knots wind in my throat and my stomach goes cold. Vax's date is being determined now? Drexer must find that very exciting, because my stomach buzzes again, lights flashing through my black dress. Not now Drexer!

Cholan Tritus turns back to Vax. "To you, Vax Enzala, I declare that you are officially unbound from all punishments and exiles put on you before this date. You are a free man, and I award you with the Silver Star, our second highest military award!" Cholan places the medal over Vax's head, they shake hands, and the crowd goes absolutely wild. I'm taken up in the moment myself, because hot tears break down my face. He's free. He's really free!

"If I may Ambassador?" Vax says, gesturing to the microphone in his hand. Cholan passes the mic to Vax who steps forward to address the people. "I'd like to thank you for your support, and I'd like to thank Ambassador Tritus for his mercy in the battle of diplomacy. When I was exiled I was assigned a Remvita to find the Argonian warriors and mates that were lost in the Horkax invasion. Though my exile now may be over, I declare that my Remvita is not. I will commit myself now to fulfilling this task set before me and will not stop until our great nation has returned to glory."

The crowd goes wild again, and my heart surges with pride for Vax. I think he's done, but then he walks across the stage and stops in front of me. "And to you, Piper, my eternal mate, my light among the stars, the mother of my child." Vax takes my hand, glides down to one knee and pulls something out of his pocket. My heart stops in my throat. Even Drexer stops. Is this—what the—it can't be.

"Piper has taught me a lot in our short time together. Argonians are headstrong creatures. We believed in war among all else. Strength came before emotion, sense came before feeling. Mating came before love. In our short time amongst earthlings we have had no success in bringing about our next generation, but today, before us, we have evidence of that in the miracle inside of Piper."

I can't hold back the tears at this point. He looks up at me with those sparkling blues. "You taught me to feel Piper.  You taught me to love, and that is the reason I think we were successful in our union. I'd like to take another cue from your people now. This is something I have observed amongst the earth people. It is a traditional ceremony, held between two people that love each other. Piper Denzel, will you marry me?"

The words floor me, and for a few seconds, it feels like everything is completely silent. My heart drums in my ears, my breath stills in my mouth. I manage to find air somehow and choke with laughter, tears pouring down my face. "Yes! Yes! A million times yes!"

Vax slips the ring on, a gorgeous thing which is a bouquet of brightly colored alien gems. He stands up, takes me and we kiss. I melt there in his embrace, brimming with happiness, the world exploding around us in a chorus of triumphant cheering. He pulls away and we join hands, lifting them to the ceiling of the impossibly tall hall, standing before the people as a beacon of hope.

We stand there as one. Today, tomorrow, and forever more.