***AUTHORS NOTE***

This chapter has slight mature content.

***END AUTHORS NOTE***

I smacked Xai'an's hand when he reached for me in the healing pod after I woke. I was still a little pissed at him for that insane fucking. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't mad because he pulverized my hooha for seven-YES, SEVEN-hours straight. I was mad because he refused to let me sleep or eat for the duration of it. After running to his rescue, fighting for an hour straight, he fucks me for SEVEN HOURS. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT SHIT? SEVEN! Nevermind he had a fucking rhino worthy viagra running through him, a girl has to draw the line somewhere!

"Z is mad." Not a question. The big guy looked like a kicked puppy and it sucked a lot of my fight right out of me. Not fucking fair...

"I get rather bitchy when someone refuses to let me sleep, Xai'an." I grumbled as I climbed out on my own. When I slipped, he tried to catch me, but I again slapped his hand. "Keep your perverted hands off me!"

Xai'an seemed to droop a little, obviously hurt at my rejection and I felt guilty for making him look so taken aback. "Z said Xai'an could mate. Z mad about mating."

I sighed and went to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. God damn it! How can an alien male standing nearly 9 fucking feet, weighing 400+lbs of pure muscle make me feel bad about what just happened? Xai'an was strong enough to yeet a fucking truck like a Spartan yet he still looked so vulnerable right now. Not fair man...Not fair at all. "I'm not mad about the sex, Xai'an. Granted I had no idea you were going to John Wick destroy my vagina, but that's not why I'm mad. I'm mad because you wouldn't give me a damn break. Yes, you were drugged, but you need to respect me better than that."

"Sorry…" He said softly. God, he really did look like a kicked puppy and it made it incredibly hard to stay mad. This fuckin guy…

"I'm not going to say it's okay. Because it isn't. But I forgive you." Those words brightened his face and he leaned down to nuzzle mine. That meant he had to squat with me in between his thighs.

"Xai'an take Z home now."

"Does that mean I get to call my mom?" I felt my heart swell. I really wanted to let her know what was going on. I couldn't leave Earth without letting her know her first born wasn't dead or lost under the crumbled town.

Xai'an nodded. "First, Z must eat."

"I'm not hungry, Xai'an." I was too excited to talk to my mom to even think about food.

I tried to step away with the intent to leave the healing room, but Xai'an held onto me. He stood up and reached over to the pod. A few clicks of his claws pulled up a holographic screen and he guided it with his hand to hover at my level. I looked at it in confusion because it was in his language. A chart of some sort.

Xai'an pointed to a specific cluster of characters as if that explained everything. "Z must eat. For young."

Call me stupid but I had no idea what he was talking about. "I need to eat to stay young?"

"For young." He repeated bearing down at me with an intense amber gaze.

"For young...what?" Yeah, I still didn't get it.

Xai'an ran his large hand over his face and he heaved a sigh, clicking something in his language. Probably calling me dumb, who knew? Finally he squatted down to balance on the balls of his feet and lightly palmed my stomach. A soft purr came from his chest and the soft horror dawned on me.

Oh...my...god...

"ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT I'M PREGNANT?!" Oh sweet mother of skittles…

I shook my head at him in instant denial. "That's not possible, Xai'an! I have birth control and we JUST had sex last night! There's no way you could have possibly-"

Xai'an shook his head and pointed to the hologram again. "Z device gone. Need no more with Xai'an's blood. Yautja technology far superior to ooman. Can instantly detect conception. Z with young."

Holy fuck… "You...took my birth control out? What the fuck, Xai'an!"

He cocked his head to the side confused at my sudden anger. That hurt look was back and it frustrated the hell out of me that because of it, I felt guilty again. "Z is Xai'an mate. Device make Z sick. Z not find Xai'an suitable sire?"

Oh, god, no…

He thought I was angry because he wouldn't be a good father? Shit! Of course that wasn't it! This was so fucking twisted I didn't even know where to begin unraveling.

"I...I just don't think I'm ready to have a fucking baby, Xai'an! That's such a big commitment!" Why was the room shaking? Oh wait, that was me.

"Z must eat. Yautja young require energy." Had Xai'an not been kneeling right there I would have fallen over. Oh, my god! I was pregnant? Oh, my god! I was pregnant? Oh, my god-

Xai'an cupped my face with his large warm hands and he forced me to look into those beautiful amber eyes of his. "Z good mother. Xai'an worthy sire. Not hurt Z. It is okay."

I don't know how he knew exactly what to say to get me to stop spiraling, but he did. He started nodding and I just instinctively nodded with him. I suddenly just felt so much better and I had no idea why this calm enveloped me. All I knew was that looking at this massive male, I knew I'd be okay. He'd always protect me and he'd always take care of me. "I'm scared…"

Xai'an's mandibles moved as he studied my face for a moment. Then he gently bumped his forehead against mine. "Why?"

My spiraling came back with a vengeance. "I've never had a baby before, Xai'an and we're not even the same species! What if something is wrong with it? What if my body is too weak to carry and-"

Xai'an covered my verbal spew with his hand. "Ooman and Yautja can have young. Young are Yautja. Healthy. Strong. Z strongest ooman mate. Make Xai'an proud with strong young. The strongest."

My smile was so big that it nearly hurt my damn jaw, but I couldn’t help it. A baby with Xai'an, huh?

"You're telling me that I'm going to have a mini Xai'an? It's going to look like you?"

Xai'an nodded and rubbed his face against mine. "They will be Bad Blood…"

He trailed off, clear doubt in his voice. It made me want to kiss away that insecurity. "Don't do that to yourself. I've not said this to you before, but you're fucking beautiful! So what if you have 'Bad Blood' genes? That's why you look prettier than the others, Xai'an. At least, I think so. I love your black and cream coloring." I traced my fingers over his bare rough shoulders. "It's so much more attractive than green or yellow. I love how long your hair is compared to theirs." I grabbed a tube strand in my hand and gently pulled it down the length of it. "Your mouth is not freakishly large like theirs is." I placed a gentle kiss on his mandibles and he opened them for me so I could plant my lips over his fanged mouth. It was then I realized I have never kissed him on the mouth before.

I smiled when his chest rumbled with a sexy growl and his tongue snaked out between those sharp teeth. He meant to lick my lips, but I did one better. I opened my mouth to meet his tongue with my own. I hadn’t expected for it to turn me on as much as it did, but good god my lower body tightened painfully. He tasted faintly sweet, and I felt as he ventured his tongue further in my mouth that it could twist in ways that are simply impossible for humans. Oh god, I wanted to rip my clothes off right here and hop on his-

Xai'an retracted his tongue and slowly stood to tower over me and I found myself half laughing through my sharp exhale. "Wow! That was actually hot as hell!"

Xai'an cocked his head, confused by my phrase. I forget that he didn't fully understand English sometimes but he had just successfully made my knees weak so thinking wasn't a priority right now.

"Xai'an mate Z, but Z must eat. Now." He held out his large clawed hand to me. I took it and made sure to lace our fingers together. A sudden wave of overwhelming giddiness made me beam up at him as he led the way out of the room.

Holy fucking toleetos, Batman...

A baby...I was having a baby with Xai'an. This godly creature who, for some fucking reason, fell for me of all people. Protected me. Got injured for me. Killed for me. Made love to me...and we were going to have a fucking baby together! What would a baby Xai'an even look like?

My free hand went to my stomach and I giggled. I actually fucking giggled. Xai'an looked at me curiously. "What is Z doing?"

It took me a second to realize what he was talking about, but I was skipping as we walked. I felt my face brighten, but I didn't really care to hide it. "Skipping, I guess. It's something humans do when they are really happy."

Xai'an seemed content with that answer and I think he laughed at me. I didn't ask. Once we got to the kitchen, Xai'an loaded me up with so many fruits and dried meats that I knew there was no way I was going to be able to eat it all. I thought about arguing with him, but he was only trying to take care of me. Afterall, I wasn't eating for just myself anymore.

A fucking BABY!

He ran his fingers over the middle of the table and I was amazed to see it light up with symbols. It started to shrink as if melting into the floor while a bench seat started to form. It was too small for Xai'an so that meant that he specifically made it that small for me.

I was guided onto the bench directly in front of the platter of food. Xai'an settled on the floor next to me and at first I was confused why, but then he circled my waist with his arms and his face was nuzzling into my belly. My heart melted when he started purring. This sweet, sweet guy…

"Eat." He suddenly reminded me. So I did. The mix between sweet and salty was always one of my favorite combinations and today was no different. As I ate, Xai'an just sat there purring against my stomach while his claws traced my thighs. I adored that he was being so loving and gentle when I knew better than most just how savage he was.

I was halfway through the plate when the door to the kitchen opened. It was Baaul. I smiled at him because I was happy that he came out of that place okay. Xai'an hadn't exactly been patient last night. "Oh, hi Baaul! I'm glad to see you're safe!"

Xai'an's purr turned into a growl as his arms tightened around me. He was glaring at Baaul. The smaller Predator bent to one knee and eyes cast down to the floor. It was a clear sign of submission. They exchanged a few words in their own language before Xai'an's growling calmed.

"Is everything okay?" I slowly put a strawberry into my mouth.

"Yautja males are very territorial around their pregnant females. Xai'an was simply reminding me of my place." Baaul said, still from his kneeling position. "I came to let him know that I will be taking my leave shortly."

"Oh...we'll see you around again, right?" The second it was out of my mouth Xai'an snarled.

"MY MATE!"

He was so loud that I jumped and dropped my strawberry at the same time. "Jesus, Xai'an! No one is saying I'm not! Don't be so mean! He helped me save you!"

"If Xai'an permits me, I shall, but I dare not challenge our Enforcer while his mate is pregnant. He is your male." Baaul lifted his head just a fraction. He was testing Xai'an to see if the big guy would charge him.

I had to turn a bit so I could wrap my arms around the top of Xai'an's head and I placed a ton of kisses on him. "I love you Xai'an. You can trust me to let you know if I'm in danger. But Baaul is a friend."

He turned those amber eyes up to me so I planted another kiss right above them. He was calming down.

"The oomans have been dealt with. There are no survivors and all digital files have been corrupted. Even if they have physical copies somewhere, it will take them decades to make a small advancement. Anak is pleased and he wanted me to tell you that your dwelling is ready when you get back." Baaul stood up as his eyes fell on me. There was a longing there that I recognized instantly and I knew had Xai'an seen it, it would have sent him into a fury. Jealousy. Baaul was jealous of what we had.

I wanted to reach out and comfort him. But I feared that would only make Xai'an aware that maybe his friend wasn't so innocent as I thought he was. Not that I blamed him. Baaul wasn't the first male in history to fall for a friend's girl. He won't be the last.

Baaul left us in peace after that and Xai’an resumed his cuddling purr as I did my best to finish the platter. I really did. But there's only so much a human stomach can hold. "If I eat anymore, I'm going to pop."

Xai'an didn't say anything. He just stood up and took the plate from me. I watched him push it through that hole in the wall. As he walked I couldn't help but look him up and down. The muscles on his back rolled with every movement and I found myself salivating over it. When the hell did I find backs sexy? Then there was that ass...it was almost perfectly round and I had to lace my fingers together so I didn't reach for it.

I shook myself and slapped my cheeks because now was not the time to get him, or me, all jacked up again. I had to call my mother.

"Do not hurt yourself." Xai'an appeared in front of me and pulled my hands from my face.

I smiled, more than a little embarrassed. "It's okay, Xai'an. I'm just distracting myself because I need to call my mother."

He cocked his head in confusion and I simply didn't have the courage to tell him why. Call me dumb. I don't care. I've had sex with him numerous times. I loved him. I was having a baby with him for fucks sake and I still couldn’t tell him I lusted something fierce for him. Nope. Just can't.

"Come." Xai'an held out his hand to me and I took it.

We walked in silence to the control room, but it wasn't one of those uncomfortable silences. I used it to steel myself for what was about to happen. Having to tell my mother that I was never coming home was going to be the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. I was never going to see my sisters again. I was never going to see my friends again. My life was forever changing due to meeting this creature next to me. But I didn't regret it because I loved him.

Xai'an held my hand as he ran his claws over the keyboard of the ship and ultimately brought up a screen as I heard ringing. My heart dropped to my stomach and tears pooled out of my eyes. I wasn't ready for this…

After the second ring it went to voicemail. My mother didn't answer numbers she didn't know after she had nearly been had by that IRS scam a few years back. Xai'an pulled up the ringing again and again we were sent to voicemail.

"One more time." I whispered to him. If she didn't answer this time, I would have to leave her a voicemail. Though I wanted to actually talk to her it might be kinder to leave her a voicemail so she could always listen to it-

"Hello?"

My mother's aggravated voice was thick with sleep and I could hear a shuffling.

Barbed wire constricted around my heart and Xai’an pulled me into his lap so he could nuzzle the back of my neck. It helped a little bit, but not enough to stop the choking sob, "Mom…"

There was nothing but silence for a few agonizing seconds before I heard her breath catch as realization dawned on her. "Zena? Oh my god...Zena! Oh baby girl…Thank God! You're alive! They said you died on the news..."

She was weeping now and the sound of her tears only made me cry right along with her because that relief she felt was about to be taken away from her and it was going to be my fault.

"Where are you? I'm still in Florida fighting with the fucking insurance company over the damn house-"

"Mom." I leaned my head back into Xai'an's chest and squeezed his wrist. He was oddly comforting just silently being there with me. My mother hadn't heard me interrupt her so I had to be louder. "Mom! Listen to me okay?"

"O-of course, Z. What's wrong?" She always knew my tone of voice. I guess 'mother's always know' wasn't entirely bullshit sometimes.

"They said I was dead on the news for a reason. Something big happened in Harrisburg. I'm talking about a world altering big event and they took me for it. The government. Because of what I know. I…" I looked up at Xai'an for confirmation on how much he was willing to let me tell her. He nodded. "I met someone that they want and because of my closeness to him they did terrible things to me."

"Z, I don't understand...what could possibly be so big that our own government would kidnap you? You're not making any sense…"

I sighed heavily. "Well then this next part is going to sound straight insane, but I swear to you I'm not off my rocker, nor am I lying. I met Xai’an before the town collapsed and he saved me from these monsters that were killing people. He came to try to kill these things before they got loose, but a few got out. Mom...Xai'an...isn't human. I'm talking an alien fucking species from space. If that isn't big enough to get the government involved, nothing will, am I right?"

She was silent for a good long while and I almost thought that she had hung up. But she finally gave out a shuddering laugh. "If only your father were still alive…"

That confused me. "I'm sorry what-"

"He always believed that we couldn't be the only intelligent life out there and he'd have no problem believing you. I'm trying here...it's just hard."

"Would it help if you heard Xai'an? He understands us just fine, but his English isn't the best though." I looked up to Xai'an again, hoping I hadn't overstepped a boundary. He simply nuzzled my face.

"He's with you?"

I found myself nodding and remembered she couldn't see me. "Yes. After I was taken, he rescued me from being tortured in the name of 'science'." My voice dripped with disdain at the last part. "I love him mom…" I don't know why it was so important for me to toss that last bit in there.

"Do I want to know what they did to you?" She asked softly and I knew she was on the brink of tears again. It summoned my own and I squeezed Xai'an's wrist again.

"No. You really don't…"

I heard her sniffle and try to collect herself. "Xai'an? Was it? Are you there?"

"Yes."

"Do you love my baby girl?" My mother's harsh tone was coming out and I had a feeling that she understood exactly what this call meant. That this was a goodbye.

Xai'an looked down at me and we locked eyes for a few heart pounding moments. Finally he said, "Yes."

My heart nearly exploded because he had never expressed that he loved me before.

"Will you take care of her?"

This time he did not hesitate. "Yes."

"You're taking her with you, aren't you?" She was trying so hard to be strong right now and it only made it harder for me to keep my own composure. We knew this was goodbye.

"Yes. Xai'an's planet Yautja Prime is much like Earth. Z will be safe from oomans. Young will be safe." Xai'an nodded his head and I felt my face heat up. I hadn’t expected him to tell her that much.

"Young? Z…" There was no getting past my mother.

"Yeah… I'm pregnant." I answered sheepishly.

"Will I ever get to see my grandchild?"

I sighed heavily. "I don't know. They will look like Xai'an and he is not human. To bring them here would put a target on them…"

"Z's mother come to Yautja Prime for birth." Xai'an suddenly said and he couldn't have shocked me more if he had hit me.