"Oh, Maysa, you have no idea." Her early hesitation forgotten, Mac turned to face Maysa. "They are this thick, fudgy confection that is ooey and gooey and chocolaty... You have to try it." Mac started to stretch for the pan Jen had moved out of her reach.
"It's still too hot." Jen pulled the pan even farther away. "You don't want to ruin Maysa’s first experience with a true Earth food, do you?"
"No, but..."
"That means you don't get any more either, so stop trying to snitch some and behave."
"I am behaving," Mac countered. "If I wasn't, I'd be stuffing my face with what's in that pan."
"It's that good?" Maysa asked.
"Oh, Maysa, you've never tasted anything like it. At least I don't think you have if what I've tasted of Kaliszian food so far is truth."
"It is. Although there are some sweet foods that Luol tells me they never receive when they are off planet."
"Well, brownies can be sweet, but it’s the chocolate that makes them."
"What is cho-co-late?" Maysa asked and watched Jen and Mac just looked at each other. "What?"
"I... I don't know how to explain it to someone who’s never had it before," Jen told her. "I mean on Earth we might say it’s smooth and sweet, dark and a litter bitter, silky and luscious. But those terms don't mean anything unless you have a reference point, and I haven't tasted anything during my time on Pontus to compare it to."
Maysa looked at the pan that Jen continued to move farther away from Mac, then asked. "Is it only ever eaten in this form?"
"No!" Jen and Mac said in unison then looked at each other and laughed.
"It is served in many forms, Maysa," Jen told her. "In bar form it can be eaten like your nutrition bars. And while not as nutrient filled, it is extremely enjoyable. When melted properly, it can be enjoyed as a drink. On Earth that is usually done when it is cold outside. Other times, fruit is dipped in it and enjoyed."
"And all those things can be done with this... chocolate?"
"Yes."
"And she didn't even tell you about cookies," Mac interjected.
"Cookies?"
"Yes, they are like biscuits but..."
"They are not anything like a biscuit, Mac! Seriously? Just because they are both baked you think they are the same? You can bake a ham too! Is that the same?"
"Of course not! I was just trying to give Maysa some type of reference.”
"So cookies aren't as good as your biscuits?" Maysa asked carefully.
"They are, but in a different way," Jen told her.
"Then I would very much like to try your cookies."
"Well, once I see how these brownies go over, I might make them. I have what I need to but I'm warning you. I'm going to need your help to make enough to satisfy this crowd."
"I would be more than willing to help you, Jen. Especially if you teach me how to make them. I have yet to hear my Luol say one disparaging word about the meals you have served. And my offspring are anxious for me to return home so I can show them how to make the biscuits I keep going on and on about when we comm."
"The directions I gave you didn't make sense?"
"They were uncomfortable attempting it and possibly wasting their food stores."
"I can understand that." Jen knew how precious those supplies were to the Kaliszians and tried to think of how to overcome their fear. "What if I make a recording, visual and audio, showing and describing it step-by-step. You can do it with me, and if for some reason my terms are strange to them, you can explain it too. Do you think that would work?"
'I... yes. I think that would."
"Good, then that's what we'll do. Then after the storm passes you can send it to your offspring."
"Thank you, Jen."
"That's what friends are for." Jen looked sideways at Mac. "So, Maysa, tell me about offspring."
"Offspring?" Maysa frowned when she saw Mac stiffen. "What about them?"
"Well," Jen turned as she spoke, planning on getting the ingredients for her frosting only to pause. And after eyeing Mac for a moment, moved the pan of brownies even farther away. "Let's start with the basics. How long were you pregnant?"
"How long?" Maysa gave her a confused look.
"Yes, it wasn't in the educator. On Earth it’s usually nine months, moon cycles, from the time a female gets pregnant until she delivers the baby."
"Delivers?"
"What word do you use?" Mac asked. "For when the baby comes out of the mother?"
"Presentation. A female presents the offspring. None of this was in the educator?" Maysa couldn't believe it.
"No."
"Well, I'll talk to Luol, that needs to be corrected. But to answer your question, once a Kaliszian female conceives, it usually takes eight moon cycles until presentation."
"It's different for different species?"
"It is the same for Tornian females, but for others like the Jerboaians it is only six moon cycles. It is said it is longer for a Ganglian."
Jen shuddered to think about what it would take to conceive a Ganglian child and was glad neither she nor Mac had to experience it.
"Ganglians can only breed with Ganglians," Maysa told her quietly, seeing Jen shudder and knowing where her thoughts had gone. "Ever since the Great Infection struck."
"Well that's good then... I guess. So tell us more about offspring," Jen said as she measured and mixed her ingredients together.
"I'm not sure how to explain it."
"But don't you have a daughter? I mean female offspring?"
"Yes, the Goddess blessed Luol and I with two female offspring."
"So how did you explain it to them?"
"I really didn't have to, not until they conceived themselves. As they grew, they saw other females that had conceived and how their bodies changed. Our females do not go into seclusion once they are with offspring like the Tornians ones do."
"They go into seclusion?"
"Yes. Tornian females will allow no male to see her once she's conceived until after the presentation. They worry it will reduce their desirability and worth to other males."
"What... wait... other males? What are you talking about?"
"Was that excluded from the educators too?" Maysa shook her head disgustedly. She would have to personally review what was going into those things. "Tornian females no longer stay with a single male. They Join with the one that most benefits them, stays with him until she presents him with a fit offspring, then must move on to another male."
"Must?" Mac questioned.
"It is expected, although I have heard there is one on Betelgeuse, that has refused to leave the Lord there, even though she has presented him with four fit and worthy males. Then, of course, there is the Empress. She's never allowed to leave the Emperor."
"These Tornians sound terrible," Mac whispered.
"The Great Infection has caused them to have fewer and fewer females. They also can't have fit offspring with any female that isn't Tornian," Maysa told them quietly. "They are desperate to survive and sharing the females they do have is the only way they can."
"Then I'm glad it was the Kaliszians that found us and not the Tornians," Mac said, "because there's no way I'd willingly become some breeding machine."
"It is highly improbable you would be compatible," Maysa gripped Mac's hand reassuringly. "So are you going to tell me why all the questions? I have a feeling it isn't just idle curiosity."
Mac's gaze shot to Jen and the slight shrug of her friend's shoulders told her it was her decision.
"I... I think I might be pregnant, have conceived," she whispered, her uncertain gaze returning to Maysa.
"And you are scared," Maysa's said quietly, her grip tightening on Mac's hand.
"Yes, wouldn't you be? I mean I've never been pregnant before and even if I had, we're nowhere near Earth. What if something goes wrong?!!"
"Nothing will go wrong," Maysa told her firmly quelling the rising panic she saw and heard from Mac.
"You can't
be sure of that." Mac argued back even as she desperately wanted to believe her.
"I can be and do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because of this." Maysa reached out and lifted the braid that held Nikhil's Ashe and True Mate beads. "The Goddess wouldn't have allowed you to be Nikhil's True Mate if you weren't able to present him with fit offspring. And you have my Luol. He cares for you, both of you," her gaze touched on Jen for a moment, "as if you were his own offspring. He will make sure nothing happens to you or your offspring."
"Truth?"
"Truth." Maysa leaned forward pressing a kiss against Mac's forehead. "Oh, this is such a blessing. I assume you haven't said anything to Nikhil yet."
"I haven't, but why would you think that?"
"Because if you had, not only would he have carried you directly to Luol to be examined, but he would still be at your side."
"What?"
"Mac, a Kaliszian male is always protective of his Ashe, especially when she is with offspring. But you are more than Nikhil's Ashe, you are his True Mate. You are not Kaliszian and you are with him on one of the most desolate planets in the Known Universes. Every protective instinct he has will surface and he isn't going to want you out of his sight."
"What? No, wait. You can't mean he's going to get even more protective." Mac eyes widened in disbelief.
"Oh I most certainly do." And Maysa gave her an understanding smile. "You will have to be strong and understanding with him. He won't be able to help himself, especially in the early moon cycles."
"So you're saying I'm going to have eight months of an even more protective Nikhil... great."
"Would you prefer he not care?"
"Of course not," Mac instantly denied. "But do you know how long it took for him to let me walk here by myself? I'm not going to become a prisoner in our quarters just because I'm pregnant."
"Then you need to tell him that. But do it gently, for he has never gone through having a True Mate that has conceived either."
"So it will get better?"
"It will."
"But you do need to tell Nikhil as soon as possible."
"I thought maybe I'd see Luol first, just to make sure I'm not wrong."
"And do you not think Nikhil will be hurt if Luol is the first male to know that his True Mate has conceived?"
"I... I guess I hadn't thought about it like that. I just... he'll worry because he's so much larger than me and I don't want him to worry if it’s nothing."
"That is part of sharing your life with another being, True mate or not. Worry. Are you telling me you don't worry about Nikhil?"
"Of course I do."
"Would you want him to keep something important from you just because you would worry?"
"No," Mac admitted.
"Umm, Mac, Maysa." Jen tried to interrupt them, her gaze going to the door but they ignored her.
"Then tell your True Mate," Maysa said.
"Tell me what?" Nikhil asked walking into the room.
Chapter Thirty-Two
"Umm," Mac bit her lip as she turned to face her True Mate. "Hi, sweetheart. What are you doing here?"
"It is time for Midday meal and I wished to share it with you," Nikhil told her, but his eyes narrowed at her evasion. He knew his Mackenzie, knew her moods and expressions and right now he saw on her face something he never thought he would. She wasn't happy to see him. A pain speared his heart unlike anything he had ever felt before.
"No!"
Mac's anguish filled cry had both Maysa and Jen's gazes going to where she sat, but Mac wasn't there. She was across the room leaping at Nikhil, her arms wrapping around his neck, knowing he would never let her fall.
"Don't think that! Don't you ever think that!" She'd felt his pain exploding across their True Mate bond. "I love you."
"Then what?" he asked gruffly, his hurt easily heard, his arms wrapping around her.
"I... I think I'm pregnant," she told him, her eyes searching his.
"Pregnant?"
"Conceived," Maysa interjected quietly.
"What!" Nikhil paled as his glowing eyes went from Mac to Maysa, who just nodded, then back to his True Mate. "Conceived?!!"
"Maybe," Mac admitted, "I'm not... Nikhil!"
Jen and Maysa barely heard Mac's screech because Nikhil shifted Mac in his hold so she was cradled in his arms and took off running.
"Do we follow? Or not?" Jen asked looking to Maysa.
"Oh, we follow," Maysa told her smiling. "Mac is going to need us to help her control Nikhil when Luol tells them she's conceived."
"You truly think she has?"
"Don't you?" she asked. "Females instinctively know these things, Jen. It is only because of where you are and everything that has happened that Mac is doubting what her body is telling her."
"What did you mean we are going to have to control Nikhil?"
"Come on. I'll explain on the way." Maysa linked her arm through Jen's and led her toward Medical. "As I said, Kaliszian males become very protective when their Ashe conceives. It is said that before the Great Infection, when there were still True Mates, that the male sometimes became irrational when it came to their mate's protection."
"Irrational how?"
"By trying to seclude them in their homes and allowing only the most trusted to visit."
"Mac's not going to allow that."
"No, especially here, where the quarters are so small. But Nikhil isn't going to concern himself about something like that. No, he is going to concern himself with Mac's safety, especially after Spada's attack on you."
"Spada's in lock up," Jen said. "And will be transported off planet as soon as the storm's over."
"Yes, but that won't matter to Nikhil. Not when it comes to Mac. He will see every male as a threat and try to isolate her."
"Mac's not going to let that happen."
"I know, but it's how she goes about getting him to do it that matters." Maysa stopped and gave her a sharp look. "You've had a Dasho, Jen. Did you learn nothing from your time with him?"
"I..." Jen faltered.
"Oh, Goddess. I am so sorry, Jen." Maysa covered her mouth with her hand. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"I..."
"Jennifer!" Treyvon came charging down the corridor toward them. "What is wrong?!!"
"It's nothing, Treyvon," she tried to reassure him but the hand that gripped his vest trembled.
"Don't tell me that!" he growled pulling her into his arms. "I can feel your pain."
"I..."
"It is my fault, General Rayner," Maysa spoke up then shrank back when his gaze pierced hers, but she forced herself to continue. "I spoke of something without thinking."
"No," Jen pushed back to look at Maysa, but didn't move out of Treyvon's arms. "It's my fault. I overreacted. And you," she looked up to Treyvon, "need to stop reacting like that with every little emotion I have."
"I will not. When I feel you are upset, I am going to find out why."
"I know and I appreciate that. I really do." She ran a comforting hand over the exposed skin of his chest. "But not every situation needs you reacting as Treyvon the Terrible."
"Treyvon the Terrible?" He growled at her. "You did not think me so terrible when we woke this morning."
"Treyvon!" Jen felt the heat creep up her face. She couldn't believe he said that, especially in front of Maysa.
"What? Am I not speaking truth?"
"You are, but I'm sure Maysa doesn't want to hear that!"
Maysa just laughed, "Oh believe me, Luol has done many terrible things to me in our time together." And she laughed harder when she saw Treyvon's cheeks start to darken. "But I do apologize, Jen, I would never intentionally say something to upset you."
"I know, Maysa. We were both distracted by the situation with Mac."
"With Mac," Treyvon was frowning again. "What has happened to Mackenzie?"
"Nothing has happened," Jen reassured him, "but Nikhil has taken her to Luol to see i
f our suspicions are right. Come on, we might need you."
• • • • • •
Luol was just coming out of his office when the exterior doors to Medical opened and Nikhil rushed in carrying Mackenzie.
"Luol, you must help her!"
Luol immediately jumped into action. "Put her on the bed over there," he gestured, his trained gaze scanning her after Nikhil laid her down with the utmost of care. When he found no hint of blood or injury he demanded. "What has happened?"
"Nothing," Mac told him. "Nikhil is just overreacting."
"Overreacting? To what?"
"Scan her, Luol," Nikhil growled.
"Scan her?"
"Yes. Do it. Now!"
"What am I to scan her for?" Luol asked, but reached for the hand held scanner when Nikhil's growl only deepened.
"Stop growling, Nikhil," Mac ordered. "It's upsetting me."
The growling immediately ceased and Mac turned her attention to Luol and took a deep breath. "I think I may have conceived."
"What?!!" That roar came from Treyvon who had just entered the room with Maysa and Jennifer. Maysa immediately went to her Dasho's side.
"Mackenzie is nervous about her condition, my love. Apparently there was nothing in the educator about the Kaliszian reproduction process. We were discussing it when Nikhil arrived and discovered our suspicions. He, of course, brought her directly to you, as any True Mate would." She gave Mac a sharp look and Mac closed the mouth she had started to open. "So would you please scan her so she and Nikhil know if they are having offspring."
Luol immediately did as his Maysa demanded because even with the please he knew that's what it was. He studied the results for several moments then looked from Nikhil to Mackenzie seeing both excitement and fear in their eyes.
"Congratulations," he told her smiling gently. "You are with offspring."
Mac's eyes went wide as she looked to Nikhil who had dropped to his knees like a felled tree next to her. "Nikhil?"
"Offspring," his voice was deep and gruff, his words barely discernible as he placed a trembling hand on her still flat stomach. His eyes filled with tears as he looked up at her. "Our offspring is here..."
Surging to his feet, Nikhil wrapped his arms around his Mackenzie and gave her a long, hard kiss filled with all his love.