Asche was discharged from the hospital the following day.

He stayed in there for a day before Dr. Reynolds decided that he was doing okay to go home. Felicia called earlier that day to check up on me, promising to stop by later on. She had no idea that Asche was in the hospital and I refrained from giving her the details. She was more difficult to deal with than Falcon. Falcon and Stephon went home and he said he would pass through when Stephon calmed down.

I carried Asche in arms and into the penthouse much to his disgruntlement. He was strongly against me toting him but I couldn't risk anything. If I'm able to, I'll lift him. When we got inside, I gently placed him on the sofa and took the fruit basket that Falcon bought him from his arms and rest it on the center table. During his brief stay at the hospital, I bought him flowers and Falcon got him a fruit basket. He actually thanked Falcon. Falcon preened. The self-centered bastard.

After our talk, he warned up to me just a little. He actually fell asleep in my arms, emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. His eyes were swollen and his skin was pale. I mentally noted that I'll bring my chef in to cook up daily meals so that Asche can eat on time. I had no need for a chef because I barely spent my days at home. She was only on call. I was either at the office, Falcon's, or on my yacht. One of these days I'll take Asche out sailing.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, sitting beside him. He curled his legs beneath him and snuggled with a pillow wrapped in his arms. He shook his head no and buried the bottom half of his face into the pillow. Seems as if he wasn't in the mood to talk but we needed to come to an understanding.

"Mind if we chat a bit?"

"Even if I did mind, you still would push me to talk." His mumbled into the pillow.

"Asche..." I sighed. "You know that's not true."

"What's true, then?" He looked up at me sadly. "Is this all for real? You? Me? What you are? What I'm carrying? It all feels like a dream or a nightmare. Sometimes I think I'll wake up and this would all be nothing." He sighed, "But that's just wishful thinking. I'm not trying to argue," He quickly clarified upon seeing my deep frown. "I'm only stating how I feel. I have the right to do that, right?"

"Of course you do, baby." My expression softened. "We're starting over. Whatever you want, whatever you need, I'll make it happen. But you mustn't stress or worry yourself. Our child is depending on you to nurture it and if you malfunction, it will too. Please, understand." I stroked his chin with my thumb and he nodded slowly in agreement.

"Okay," He hugged the pillow tighter.

I watched him carefully for a few seconds, in that moment he stole a glance at me and quickly looked away with a blush. I should be now that I tell him everything that he needs to know. I'd rather get it out before he gets further into his pregnancy.

"Baby," I turned, directly facing him. "Remember our discussion in the bedroom a few days earlier?"

He eyed me warily, "I try not to."

I licked my lips, "Well...you see...there's a reason why we're here and not where we came from. Our home planet was raised and destroyed. I know this is still sitting fresh in your mind and it may disturb you and I can understand that but if you can look past our mishaps and recognize that I mean you no harm and this means so much me, we can get through this. I'm the last of my kind, Asche. Actually, Felicia and Falcon are as well. I tried so many times to have a child that I feared I was infertile. But I met you, and unexpectedly, you conceived. It gave me much joy, oh you do not understand the agony I suffered." Pain filled my tone.

He tilted his head up and his eyes met my anguished one's with sympathy. "I felt as if I was reliving my horrible past when Dr. Reynolds told me you miscarried. I was rendered to tears. I know you think I only care about our child, but that's not the case. I care about you. I want to get to know you. I want to take you on dates. I want to wine and dine you, spoil you and I want to make a mess out of your body in that order. So do not question my feelings for you because they are right here at the forefront, pouring out for you, desperate for your love. I'm sorry for all the pain I've put you through, if you'd allow me to do it all over again, I will prove to you that I am not a figment of your nightmares."

His lips parted and he blinked rapidly. "I--I don't know what to say. I'm not a heartless man and now that my head is clearing up a little, I can see how I overreacted. You don't know what I went through. My life was shit before I started selling my body. Nobody cared about me, I was like a slum rat. My parents abandoned me, I was mistreated and abused, It was so much! The guy who I thought loved me, sucked me dry and fucked me until he got tired of me. Do you see where my insecurities originated from? Do you see why I'm fucked up in the head!?" He screamed in tears and I held him, rocking him in my arms.

Tears welled up in my eyes at his emotional outburst. Oh my beautiful boy has been through a lot. There's no wonder he doesn't trust a soul. I should have reined in my desperate desires and considered his feelings. I closed my eyes and released a shuddering breath as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry. So, so sorry." I kissed his forehead. "Forgive me."

"Stephon was my only friend! You took him away from me, made him turn against me! The betrayal hurts so bad, I feel it painfully in my chest!" He wailed.

"I was so foolish and arrogant," My voice shook. "Not knowing you were a delicate flower that needed to be treated with the utmost care. Asche, I can atone for my wrongdoings. Please, stop crying. I don't want to see you or our child hurt."

His cried for several minutes until his sobbing subsided to hiccups and I wiped his tearstained face with my shirt sleeve. He closed his eyes as I continued to rock him in my arms. His breathing became even and he continued to hiccup. Soon after, he drifted off into slumber.

I kissed his eyelids, nose and finally his forehead. Nuzzling him.

"Forgive me," I whispered, sinking into downheartedness.

****