Chapter 357

The Retreat

Jesse and Alesha walked up the ramp, hesitated a second, then stepped through the hatch, both feeling the tingle.

"What's that tingle for?" Alesha whispered to her Alpha as they slipped out of their coats.

"It has many uses, but primarily," Ship answered, "it rids each person's body and clothing of contaminants, both internally as well as externally, which, of course, includes the snow you just walked through on the way out here."

Alesha had started when Ship spoke, and this had not gone unnoticed by the great mind, but she did not comment on it, not wanting to embarrass Alesha. "What brings the two of you to visit? May I be of assistance?"

"Uh, we know it's getting fairly late, but could we speak to Jeff for a few minutes?"

"Of course. I took the liberty of notifying my Prime when I saw you approaching. He said he would meet you in the lounge in a few minutes. May I offer coffee, hot chocolate, or some other refreshment? If you have forgotten the way to the lounge, just follow the light," she finished even as one appeared on the deck, blinked twice, then moved on ahead of them.

As they entered the lounge, Jesse looked a question at Alesha who answered for both of them. "Hot chocolate," she responded. "I think it has less caffeine than coffee, and I suspect we should get all the sleep we can tonight." Then, in a much quieter voice to her mate, "If this works out and I'm fertile tomorrow night, I doubt that either of us will get much sleep."

Jesse squeezed her hand, then walked up to the counter where two cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows floating in them appeared on the counter. "I remember that you ordered marshmallows with your hot chocolate the last time..." Ship said, letting her voice trail off.

"That's excellent," Jesse said as he picked the cups up. "Thank you."

"Certainly," Ship responded. Jesse turned to find a place for them to sit when Ship added. "I have been studying colloquialisms in your speech patterns. If I..."

"You were perfect," Jesse quickly injected.

"Thank you. It has been a challenge to adapt from concepts, with all the associated thought that goes with the subject, to a few sentences of speech at a time, but the Prime and the Clan Queen insisted that I learn speech in order for me to be able to converse with anyone. Unfortunately, it has taken far longer than I would have first expected."

"You do have a wee bit of southern accent," Alesha said with a giggle, "but ... it just makes your voice sound even more, uh ... sexy. Heck, I'm jealous, so please don't change it."

"Thank you. I am flattered. The Prime will be here shortly should you wish to find a seat."

A slightly curved, overstuffed seat for two appeared a short distance away. It was low and seemed to be upholstered with soft, dark leather with a high back. There was a round coffee table in front of it with a matching single seat facing the double seat.

"Oh, nice," Alesha said as she sank into the buttery-soft leather. "Maybe we need to have her furnish our new home. This would certainly go well in our great room."

Before Jesse could answer, Jeff strolled in, stopped at the bar for a cup of coffee, then joined them. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I went by the simulation room to check on Diana and Selina."

"Are they okay?" Alesha asked, concerned. "We were only gone for two hours."

"Yeah, they're fine. Most are two hour sessions, which translates into several weeks at the academy or on missions, but Ship says that there are reasons that Selina and Diana's mission has lasted longer. When I began to question her about the mission, Ship asked me to wait and let the two of them tell me themselves. She seems very pleased with what they have been doing. She has brought them partially out of the simulation to allow them to use the restroom several times and to eat and drink, but they were not fully conscious."

"So, how much longer are they going to be there?" Jesse asked.

"Ship assured me they should be awake within the hour. She said the mission is over, but it would be a shame to bring them back before they receive their awards – whatever that means."

After chatting for a few minutes, mostly about the new lodge and the beginning construction of their home, Jeff finished his coffee and set his cup on the table between them. "So, what brings the two of you out here at bedtime? Not getting cold feet about marrying tomorrow night, are you?"

Jessie glanced at Alesha. "Never. But, well, we have something to tell you, and Allie has something to ask you."

"That sounds serious," Jeff responded, crossing his legs and looking at them expectantly. "Need a pay raise? Did the architect screw up the design of your new home..."

"Oh, no, no," Jessie hurried to say. "Everything is great."

Alesha took a breath. "We were married at the courthouse today." Before Jeff could respond, she went quickly on. "We still want you and Diana to marry us tomorrow night, but I wanted to have my name changed officially, since ... uh, I mean we want to have our first child soon, and well, I'll be exposed to the public on a daily basis. I wanted my name to be the same as Jesse's."

"Hey, no problem. But I'm glad you decided to allow Diana and me to marry you also. I think you will know why by the time the ceremony is over."

Jesse spoke up. "Everybody has told us how it feels. We surely don't want to miss that, and we appreciate all you have done for us ... but Allie has something she wants to ask you."

"Ah ... a trip to the moon for your honeymoon? Now that would be appropriate, wouldn't it?" the Prime asked, kidding, but more than a little serious if she should want the trip.

Alesha was shaking her head even as a blush began to steal across her features. "I ... I mean ... Could you have Little One, uh, turn me back on?"

Jeff raised an eyebrow.

"Have Little One make it so I can get pregnant?" Alesha asked in a rush. "Jesse and I want to start our family as soon as possible. With his extra salary from the security position you have given him, plus the great salary you are paying me, well ... there's no reason for us to wait. I want to have his baby," she finished, the blush now full-blown.

As Jesse put his arm around Alesha, Jeff sat back and chuckled even as fresh coffee appeared in his cup from his mental request to Ship. "More hot chocolate?" he asked the two, stalling just to tease them.

Jesse looked at Alesha. "Uh, no. We're good."

"You two are sure about this, I assume?" When they both quickly nodded, he took pity on them and quit stalling. "Little One tells me it is a very minor procedure and will take only a short time. You need to be lying down, Alesha, and Little One needs access to your bare tummy. She says she can do it with you awake, but it will feel odd, and suggests that she put you to sleep for a couple of minutes." With a chuckle, he continued. "Actually, she said one minute and twenty-five seconds, but I kinda rounded things a bit."

"I'm ready," Alesha said, "but can Jesse be with me?"

"Sure," Jeff returned with a chuckle. "She can do it right here. My wives are in our suite, so you won't be disturbed." Then, nodding toward their left, "Why don't you lie on the couch over there? I'll leave Little One with you and step outside the lounge until you call me."

Even as he was talking, Little One flowed from under his collar, forming into her solid configuration. After handing her to Alesha, Jeff turned and walked out of the lounge.

"Ohhh," Alesha said as she felt Little One's mind touch hers. "She is sooo sweet."

Alesha handed Little One to Jesse while she reclined on the couch and pulled her pants down some exposing her lower abdomen. Jesse placed Little One on her, but as he wondered if she were positioned properly, the blue glow appeared under Little One and Alesha faded into sleep. He watched as the tiny alien and the blue glow settled near the area where he suspected Alesha's womb was. Less than two minutes later, the glow stopped and Alesha's eyes popped open. She, with tears in her eyes, picked Little One up and gently kissed her. "If you can understand me, thank you. Thank you so very much. I want to have my husband's baby, and I know that it will be perfect because of you. Thank you, oh, so much."

Jesse took Little One while Alesha straightened her clothes, then he hurried out to find Jeff who was leaning against a wall. "Successful?" the Prime asked when Jesse handed the Healer over, knowing the answer.

"Well, if that grin she has is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes," but Jesse's grin was every bit as big.

Back in the lounge, the three returned to their seats, everyone with refreshed drinks and Little One now returned to Jeff's back. "She tells me that your egg might not be fully developed by this time tomorrow night, but if not, it should be ready by the next night. She cautioned that you should revisit her after the baby is born unless you want to remain fertile."

Jesse looked at Alesha for confirmation before responding with, "We only want one baby to start with. If we're to have extremely long lives, we have plenty of time to spread our family out."

"Good thinking," Jeff agreed.

Jesse stood, offering a hand to assist Alesha. "Well, we've kept you long enough..."

Jeff laughed and motion for them to sit. "You have got to be kidding. No way am I going to let the two of you leave without sharing this with my wives. I've just asked Ship to let them know. They'll be here any minute now. Be ready to be hugged to death."

Nat, Nicki, and Whitney must have been closest to the bedroom door when Ship told the wives what had happened, because they beat the others by a few seconds, rounding the corner and racing across the lounge to come to a near sliding halt in front of Jesse and Alesha.

The three, excited, spoke in rotation – Nat, Nicki, then Whitney.

"You're gonna be fertile..."

" ... on your wedding night."

"That's sooo cool."

Then the rotation began again.

"Whatcha gonna name the baby?"

"Can we offer suggestions?"

"Can we babysit?"

Alesha was giggling, but Jesse was the one blushing. The three were dressed for bed – or pretty much undressed as the case may be. Technically, they were covered, but the material was sheer, and there certainly were no bras. Being a man, he wanted to look at their breasts bouncing from the young women's enthusiasm as they practically danced around with happiness, and that same excitement meant that their nipples were very much extended, also. The deputy diligently tried to keep his eyes on theirs, but the strain was evident on his face. Jeff, not caring how much Jesse looked as long as he didn't touch, just sat back and smiled.

The rest of his wives had been nude, but they all came in together wearing robes. Much like the outfits the three girls were wearing, the robes were meant to emphasize rather than conceal, so Jesse got more of an eyeful. When the hugging started, they, of course, didn't leave him out. Jeff doubted he had ever seen a man blush more.