They hugged each other, held each other, cried together. Even Mira's brother, who she had only seen cry twice in her entire life, sobbed like a little baby as they flew into a group hug. Mira kissed the top of her little sisters head over and over and squeezed her so tight, Ava couldn't breathe. When the hugs and kisses and crying finally settled down, Mira noticed that Ezra had disappeared, leaving her to have the reunion with her family.

She looked around the apartment, noticing that their father was nowhere to be found. She didn't have to ask. She already knew that he either didn't want to come, or he wasn't allowed due to drinking issues.

"My gosh you're big." Ava said, touching Mira's belly. "Are Jayku babies bigger than human babies?" She asked.

Mira shrugged. "They can be. Usually they start out the same size but then they grow faster than human babies do."

"What's it like?" She asked, a sparkle in her eye that worried Mira. "Being pregnant, I mean."

"Uh," she though for a moment. "Uncomfortable and wonderful," she laughed. "She kicks me all night long and then it's exhausting carrying her around all day. Really does things to my spine. But it's exciting."

Jax gave her a serious look. "Are you okay, really?"

She nodded. "I'm fine, honest." She smiled. "It's all been a bit like a fairytale actually."

The two of them sat down on the couch, and Ava sat down at her feet, looking up at them.

"When they said we could come here, I didn't know if it was safe... but with the war, I thought anything was probably better than Earth."

"The war?"

"Countries fighting over clean water and food. Things are getting pretty bad there."

He hadn't mentioned that during their phone calls. But maybe he did that because he didn't know there was anything she could do aboutit. It would have been pointless making her worry.

"Well," she reached to take his hand. "I'm glad you guys are safe... Ezra and I will be overseeing this entire colony."

Ava bounces onto her knees, looking like a puppy dog wanting a treat as she gazed up at her big sister. "You mean, you get to rule this place like a Queen?" She was in awe. Mira could tell exactly where the thirteen-year-old's mind was going. She wanted what Mira had, and the thought made her uncomfortable. Just thinking about a Jayku doing to her what they did to Mira. She didn't want that for her. She wanted her to have a more... human life.

"Sort of..." she finally answered.

"And then your baby, she will rule Akaari when she grows up, right?"

Mira swallowed hard. "I suppose so." She hadn't even thought about what they might do to her female child. What kind of life would she have when she grew up? Would she be expected to pop out as many babies as she could, or would she have a position of power like her father?

"Hey," she said, putting her hand on Ava's shoulder. "How about we go hit the food court? I'm starving." Changing the subject seemed to be the best idea at the time. Ava agreed and Jax trailed along outside their little apartment, only to find a mob of Jayku men working their way around the balconies, carrying in furniture and other materials into the other apartments.

"Did you guys come with other humans from earth?" She asked as they made their way towards the food court, heading down a set of spiraling stairs at the end of the balcony.

"No, but we were the first to board and the first to exit. We were given a lot of special treatment since you're practically a princess now."

Mira took a deep breath, trying not to let the thoughts of what she had to do to become that princess show on her face. It wasn't like it was some terrible thing. She actually enjoyed it a lot, but now, being with her family was like waking up from a long dream—a fantasy world where the sexual culture of the Jayku was becoming normal to her.

"Apparently, they sent for other families," Jax added when he saw Mira's expression. "Everyone being brought here is related to one of the girls..."

He itched the back of his head uncomfortably.

"Jax," she paused, stopping just before the entrance to the food court. Colorful shop signs lit up like a fair, tossing rainbows of colors over his face. "You know that I did this. Me and Ezra designed the plans for the colony to be for the families, that's it. There are no strings attached, nothing like when I signed up."

He gave her a serious look, leaned in and whispered, "you mean I'm not expected to bang some aliens?"

"Ew," she pushed him away, and he burst out laughing as she turned to follow Ava into the food court.

"You should have seen your face," Jax laughed, following close behind.

"What's so funny?" Ava asked, and both of her older sibling shook their head.

"Nothing," they said in unison.

"You should try their noodles," Mira said, changing their attention by pointing to one of the first stalls. Little white picnic tables were scattered along the wall way, and trashcans made of shells from Akaari sat every few tables.

Mira and Ezra had worked with the best chefs on the planet, devising the menus. All fertility fruit and foods were eliminated or mixed with human food to water them down. Farms for human food had also been started, large greenhouse bubbles were created as an extension of the main living area. That was one of the places Mira had wanted to tour before she knew her family was here. But it could wait.

They ordered food from three stalls before they were all stuffed and returned to the apartment. Then, sitting in the kitchen with Jayku's version of ice cream—fruit flavored ice shavings, her brother and sister told her all about the last several months on earth without her.

It had seemed like a lifetime ago when she first arrived on this planet, it was hard to believe it was only 8 months ago. Now she was twenty-five weeks pregnant, and a future queen of not one, but two planets.

She looked across the table at her family, Ava laughing hysterically as she smeared ice over Jax's face.

Maybe things would be okay after all, she thought. It was as if everything was falling into place, and now that her family from earth was here, she could finally allow herself not to feel so guilty for being happy with Ezra.