Free Ice Planet Holiday by Ruby Dixon

whispers. He pulls her closer to his chest, holding her against him like she’s the most precious thing on the planet. Heck, she is. The look he gives me is soft with wonder and adoration. “You’ve done well, my mate.”
    I start to cry all over again, because he’s being so nice and I was so awful to him earlier. “I didn’t mean what I said,” I tell him between sobs. “I love being here with you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You and our baby. I’ve never regretted a moment of landing here. I—“
    The baby stirs, and Vektal gives her a little jiggle to comfort her, shushing and humming as he does. A moment later, the baby settles down again. He grins at me, and hands her back. I take her, surprised that he’s returning her so quickly, especially when he’s clearly good with babies.
    He crawls into the furs next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders, hugging me against him. “Are you worried over what you said to me earlier?”
    I sniff, because the tears threaten to return. “I didn’t mean it. Any of it. There was just weird stuff happening with the birth and I didn’t want you to see me in pain and so I just said whatever I could to get you out of the room.”
    “Why did you not want me there?” His big hand squeezes my shoulder. “I am your mate. I should be at your side at all times, especially when you are hurting.”
    I swallow back my words. Truth is, I didn’t know if I’d live through the next day, if they couldn’t get my baby out. I wanted Vektal to remember me happy and healthy, not screaming in pain and with Tiffany’s hand shoved up my girl parts. After a long time, I say, “It just wasn’t my best moment. Please don’t think I hate you or this place. I love you. Even if I could go home, I would stay here with you. I meant none of it.”
    “Of course you didn’t, my mate.” Vektal gently brushes the tears from my cheeks. “You were stressed and our kit was arriving. You were in pain. You said things you did not mean. I never thought for a moment that your words were truth.”
    He’s not holding it against me? I am the luckiest woman alive. “I love you so much,” I tell him, the knot in my throat enormous. “You’re my world.”
    He caresses my cheek and I know I’m forgiven. I tuck my head against his shoulder and we are calm and quiet, watching our new baby sleep. He strokes my cheek absently, and neither of us speaks for a long time.
    Talie wrinkles her nose and screws her face up as if she’s going to wail. I hold my breath and her little fists fly in the air. Then, she lets out a loud fart and settles down again. Babies. Even when they make gross noises, they’re adorable.
    Vektal takes her from my arms again and holds her close. “She’s beautiful,” he murmurs. “Just like her mother.” Just as I get all weepy again, he lifts her tiny hand and she wraps four itty bitty fingers around his big blue one.
    I totally melt.
    “What did you name her?” he asks.
    “Talie,” I say softly. “For Vektal and Georgie. It’s the last part of both of our names.” Mine’s actually Georgina, but no one ever calls me that.
    “I never thought it would be a girl,” he muses as he holds her tiny hand. “But now that she is here, I cannot imagine anything else.”
    I lean against him, tired but happy. “Pretty wonderful, isn’t it?”
    “She is.” He kisses my head. “You are, too.” When I rest my head against him again, he sighs.
    “What?” I ask, curious.
    “I am not convinced these human holidays are worth it.” He gestures at our small cave, still leaf-strewn from his earlier efforts. “Look at all the work I did, and not a single kiss on my cock from my mate.”
    My snort of derision turns into giggles, and I punch him in the side. “Your mate was a little busy today.”
    “So she was.” He grins, and I realize he was teasing.

6
    CLAIRE
    A few days later after Talie was born, Nora, Dagesh, Vektal, Georgie, and a party of