“Shh, it’s going to be alright baby,” I said, soothingly. Things are going to be different now…your daddy, well he’s a king. That means you’re the prince I always knew you were, and it looks like we’ll have to live on your father’s planet. Of your people…I’ll be with you always though so don’t worry.” Eventually he calmed down and stared at me with a surprisingly steady focus, even though his head wobbled as he was still learning to hold it up on his own. He was so cute I had to kiss him on the nose. That made him smiled. Then he started to make that sucking noise with his mouth and I got him into position to breast feed.
That’s of course, when Jesper simply barged into the room and he stopped short when he saw LJ and I sitting on one of the sofa chairs.
“I—I apologize, I should have announced my entry,” he said, looking flustered and unsure.
“Yeah it would’ve been nice if you knocked…but can you at least close the door?” I asked. He snapped out of it and hurried to shut the door. Then he stayed put and looked everywhere but at me.
“I’d imagine you would have to get used to this, so…why don’t you just take a seat and explain things please?” I told him and Jesper nodded, though he still wouldn’t look. He slowly approached the other chair across from the one I was sitting in.
“LJ is my heir, there is no getting around that fact. So he should be raised here. Of course as his mother you would have all the respect and honor as is your due. I would not think to separate you from him,” he said. That lifted a great weight off my shoulders for sure.
“But there is a custom, in fact law that states the mother of an heir to the throne must be officially wed to the king and therefore made queen. The fact that you are human is weighing heavily on the council back there. They believe they should relieve you of that obligation. Since you do not know our people…”
“So to them…and you I’d just be that human woman who happens to be LJ’s mother?” I asked, feeling a little offended by what he was implying, but not outright stating.
“Of course not, as I said you’d be given the proper respect and honor as his mother, and as the once subject of my affections,” said Jesper. In that moment, was sounding like a complete guy. I wasn’t sure if my boob being out and LJ sucking at it made him so uncomfortable that he couldn’t think about what he said before he said it. Or perhaps all Abalonians were passively rude…?
“As the once subject of your affections?” There was a bite to my words that I usually didn’t have, but his words stung me whether he meant it that way or not. LJ finished feeding and looked up at me with wide eyes. He’d never heard me speak like that either and it was as though he wanted to gauge the rest of my reaction. Meanwhile Jesper finally looked at me and backtracked.
“I did not mean this as an insult, it is simply how you would be viewed by others…” I shifted LJ in my arms and started to fix my shirt. Jesper began to reach out for the baby, but I snapped at him that I was fine and his hands fell limply to his sides. “Truly I meant no offense Clarice.”
“So you don’t have to marry me because I’m human then…and what if you find someone to marry and be queen, then what? If you have other children will LJ and I just be cast aside? Or God forbid your other children grow up and see LJ as unworthy of the throne and make him a target?”
“Our people are not so volatile as humans. Things like you describe have never happened on Abalon,” Jesper said in defense of his people.
“Until the half-human heir showed up. They seemed pretty volatile back there just now. They already don’t want you to marry me,” I said. I sat LJ on my lap to burp him once my shirt was back in place. “Look I’m not trying to be queen of a people I don’t know, I’m just worried about possible dangers popping up in the future,” I explained and Jesper nodded in understanding.
“I won’t let that happen, I give you my oath I will protect you and LJ both. He is my son and I wish to be a part of his life for always,” Jesper held my gaze steadily and spoke with grave sincerity. I felt in my heart that he was telling the truth.
“…okay then,” was all I said in a low voice. My gaze drifted over to the huge bed as a wave of exhaustion swept over me.
“You are fatigued, are you hungry as well?” Jesper asked in concern. He stood up and glanced at the door as voices could be heard outside.
“I’m all of the above,” I breathed, and continued patting LJ’s back.
“I will take you back to my private quarters then and there you can rest and recover from the night’s events. I simply nodded and then stood up, continuing to burp LJ. I followed Jesper out and breathed a small sigh of relief. The source of voices had moved on and only Rockwell was there standing next to the door.
“Thank you my friend for aiding me this night. You may return to your regular obligations,” Jesper said to him. Rockwell bowed low before he bowed to me – or maybe LJ actually – and then wished us a goodnight and left.
I followed Jesper through the palace, not really tracking much until we stepped into a larger than life bedroom. I noticed an ornate white crib next to the huge bed at the far end of the room.
“I figured you would not want to be far from him right now,” Jesper said and I wondered when he had the time to order this done. “Also I will have your measurements taken so fresh clothing can be brought for both of you in the morning. In the meanwhile, there is some rudimentary nightwear in the closet over there, which you may wear tonight. The…bathroom is through there and you should find everything you need for both him and yourself.” I wondered if the bathroom was called something else since he paused before saying it.
“Um…can you stay to watch him while I shower?” I asked Jesper almost cautiously.
“Of course…what will he need while you are away?” Jesper asked and I chuckled.
“Just hold him, talk to him that sort of thing,” I said. Jesper nodded. He seemed unsure though as I handed LJ over and walked slowly towards the bathroom. But my worries were eased as I watched Jesper walk over to the enormous wall of glass at the right of the room, and show LJ the city below. Then the low rumble of Jesper’s voice sounded and I felt it was okay to leave them alone.
The bathroom was what one would expect to find in the White House maybe…or actually something much grander. Marble and glass everywhere, a recurring theme in the palace I was finding.
After a luxurious shower I perused through the hair products I found in a little shelving system next to the vanity counter. I found a thick moisturizer, which is what my hair needed, and then ran it through my curls. Once they were tamed into damp tousles I wrapped a simple robe around me and walked over to the closet. Or I intended to anyhow…I got distracted by the sight of Jesper making faces at LJ and the baby smiling wide whenever he made a new face.
“Well he certainly likes you,” I said softly as I walked over to them. Jesper glanced at me as though I’d startled him. Then his eyes traveled down the length of me and back, leaving me feeling a little exposed, but a lot flushed. Jesper shifted LJ from his lap to his arms and then seemed to have trouble shifting his gaze back to our son. I didn’t think I’d forget the look of heat in Jesper’s eyes for a while.
“I think I love him already,” Jesper said, surprising me completely.
“Well…well um LJ is hard not to love,” I answered, briefly flustered and definitely moved. I had hoped that he would be in LJ’s life, and even though it was at such a drastic cost, moving to another planet, it was worth seeing the love in Jesper’s eyes as he looked down at a smiling LJ. I knew that he loved his dad already too.
“I’m just going to ah…go change then,” I said once the lump in my throat receded. Jesper nodded and glanced at me briefly.
“Food is being brought here for you,” he said. I thanked him before hurrying off to get something other than a robe on. The closet was cavernous and then I realized that there was a decidedly male set of clothing on one half of the closet…was this Jesper’s room? I glanced across the room and saw
there were a lot of nice female clothing, yeah okay ‘rudimentary’ sure. I wondered what the clothes he had ordered for LJ and me would look like. I found something vaguely pajama-like, a nightgown that didn’t show off too much underneath. I also found some clothes for LJ. There were diapers and such in the bathroom so he was set there. When I walked back into the bedroom, Jesper seemed to be having a deep conversation with LJ, who was staring at him with an equally serious expression. It was too funny not to laugh.
“What are you talking to him about?” I asked when Jesper glanced at me from the bed. He had LJ on his lap again.
“It is between the two of us,” was all he said and I smiled at him crookedly.
“Can I ask you something?” Jesper looked at me expectantly and I went on. “This is your bedroom?” Jesper nodded slowly and looked like he was about to explain things.
“I am having a proper suite set up for you and LJ. I hope this will suffice until then,” he said almost apologetically.
“Oh, okay then,” I said and pointed to LJ. “He needs a bath.”
“Can I?” Jesper asked almost eagerly and I giggled and handed him the change of onesie and socks.
“Sure...you know for a king…or an entire planet I have to say you’re not acting like I expected,” I said, as he walked over to me to take the stuff for LJ.
“How were you expecting?” he asked me. I shrugged slightly.
“That you’d be too busy to pay him any attention and suggest nannies watch him, that sort of thing,”
“On Abalon it speaks to a king’s versatility and character once his children are born to be an active part of their lives. That means no caretakers other than mother and father wherever possible,” Jesper explained. I nodded in understanding. I was definitely grateful for that tradition. “Can you teach me how to bathe him?” he asked with a small smile. I nodded and walked with him into the bathroom.
*****
Bathing LJ with Jesper was an oddly nice experience. After his bath Jesper actually got LJ to go to sleep while I discovered that dinner had been delivered to the balcony beyond the glass wall. Sitting at the table I marveled at how…normal the food looked. But what would it taste like? Would I be allergic to anything?
“You look as if you are attempting to solve the unsolvable,” Jesper chuckled as he joined me outside. I glanced through the glass and saw LJ sound asleep in his crib. “He is fine, no one else is to enter here until morning,” Jesper assured me.
“I’m just wondering if I can eat all this without getting sick,” I asked Jesper and he laughed.
“Yes you most certainly can. I wouldn’t have had this food brought to you if it would be harmful to you,” he said. I chewed on my bottom lip.
“Because you know I’m breast feeding and I can’t have certain things…” Jesper nodded, as if he knew all of this.
“That is all accounted for,” he said and gestured to the plate of what looked like steak, rice, and vegetables. There were some bread rolls on the table as well as salad and a pitcher of water.
“Also…should LJ have any vaccinations? Should I?” I asked. Jesper seemed thoughtful.
“Yes I suppose you and he should be administered certain vaccines. I will confer with the royal doctor and have her create solutions to suit your system,” he said and I nodded slowly. We talked more about practical stuff like than while I ate and I was kind of surprised that we got along so well, that I felt so comfortable with him.
“So have I done a well job of extinguishing your concerns?” he asked me and I nodded then yawned so badly my jaw cracked. The sound alarmed Jesper. “Stars above! When was the last you slept?” he said, almost scolding me. He then stood up and offered me his hand. I took it and he led me to bed. Once I was standing right in front of it, I hesitated.
“Where are you going to sleep?” I asked him and he waved his hand dismissively.
“Do not worry over it, I will respect your space,” he said, as his eyes swept down the length of my body once again.
“Sure…okay then,” I mumbled and then climbed into the comfortable, luxurious bed. I sank into a deep sleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.
* * *
I woke up to the sound of LJ making bubbling noises right next to my ear I opened my eyes to see him lying down on his back right in front of my face. It wasn’t the most terrible way to wake up…I smiled and he mirrored my expression as I leaned forward to kiss him on the mouth.
“Good morning baby,” I said softly.
“Good afternoon. You slept for a long while,” said Jesper from somewhere near my feet. I looked up to see him seated next to LJ, who was changed into a comfortable-looking, light grey onesie, the same color that his father wore.
“You got him changed and everything?” I asked as I sat up and took LJ into my arms. He immediately started up with the sucking noises and I settled against the headboard. “He didn’t eat all day did he?”
“No, we have a formula as a suitable substitute for a mother’s milk, but he would not take it,” Jesper said, I had to give him some credit – he was at least looking in my general direction while I fed LJ that time.
“I wish I could stay with you now, but food will be brought out to the balcony and you can feel free to explore the palace grounds. I must attend to some things for a few hours and then I will find you,” he said.
I nodded. “Okay then…”
He surprised me by bending down to kiss LJ on the head, before he quickly turned away and strode towards the double doors. I finished feeding LJ, and went out onto the balcony. The table out there was already set for lunch. How did people keep bringing food there without me noticing? Then I spotted a set of stairs in the corner of the balcony and it made sense. I had to find a stroller or something, because carrying LJ around everywhere was going to be a hassle. But I held him without problem as I ate a fancy sandwich and some fruit.
“Alright LJ let’s explore,” I said. We went down the steps to a small, intimate courtyard with not many people walking around. I figured most of them were staff. They all stared at LJ and me, but never said anything. Then if I walked close enough to someone they would bow and I never knew how to react to that. Once I found my way to the palace proper though, I ran into people dressed more ornately and who would stare…and keep staring.
“You must be the human female the king lay with,” said one. The hateful tone startled me. I turned around to see a tall, model-looking woman with blonde hair and a long white dress, not dissimilar to the one I had chosen to wear for the day.
“Excuse me?” I asked and tilted my head to the side a little and her eyes fell down to LJ
“He may be raised as a true Abalonian, but it will be difficult for you to be accepted here,” she said and I recoiled.
“Who are you to confront me like this? I mean, even if we were on Earth it’d be distasteful,” I said and her arched brows disappeared into her hairline.
“Spoken like a true queen of Abalon,” she scoffed and then walked away from me at a fast clip. I was so utterly confused by the encounter that I decided to avoid any other confrontations and hid in the garden with L.J Soon I knew I’d have to get him back to Jesper’s room for a nap though.
Just as I was hoping the labyrinth-like garden would hide LJ and I from confrontation, I recognized Jesper’s mother from the night before walking towards us. Her eyes were trained on me and they didn’t really look all that friendly.
“Clarice, I was hoping I’d find you here,” she said. I didn’t know what to do with that comment. Her face shared few features with Jesper, but she was definitely beautiful and held herself regally.
“LJ and I were just exploring. I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to meet you formally last night, you have me at a disadvantage,” I said and she quirked one perfectly arched brow.
“A disadvantage indeed. I am Judith, Queen Mother,” she added the last bit with emphasis. Wonderful, the last thing I needed was Jesper’s mother already hating me. She add
ed, “Why don’t we talk? I’d like to know you better.”
I nodded and reluctantly fell into stride with her. LJ was agape, staring at her intricate, braided-up do. A bit of drool was forming and his head wobbling on his shoulders. I tried not to laugh and simply made sure he didn’t wet up the front of his clothes.
“Jesper hasn’t given us much detail as to how your son came about. How did you meet him?” I ignored her haughty tone and wondered what she was like when she was nice.
“He walked up to me in a park and…well things just went from there,” I said…only a little awkwardly.
“He walked up to you…in a park. Tell me, what do you think that says about your character that you’d lay with a male only moments after meeting him?” I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t.
“It wasn’t like that…Jesper was—is different,” I said and Judith actually did roll her eyes at me.
“I don’t think your presence here in the palace is good for my son’s reputation as king. Frankly the fact that he is making your half-breed child heir could be grounds for a rebellion, and it would be the first in all of Abalon’s history.” I recoiled at her borderline hateful tone and stopped walking. She turned to face me with one raised eyebrow.
“I’m not here to start wars, I can’t help the fact that LJ was born and all Jesper is trying to do is do right by his son. The least you can do is support your son and not attack the mother of his child in the middle of the day,” I said crisply and then turned with LJ and left Judith standing there, shocked at my having stood up to her. The farther away from her I got, the more worried I became about what she said. I didn’t know what power the ‘queen mother’ had on Abalon, but if she didn’t want me on Abalon that couldn’t be a good thing.
Not too long after that fun encounter, I found a picturesque gazebo at the edge of the garden and Jesper found us.
“There you are,” he said with a happy smile. I stood up with LJ, who as soon as he saw Jesper started to complain. I handed him over and then began to pace around. “What is the matter, what happened?” Jesper picked up on my mood instantly and I sighed deeply.
Pregnant to an Alien King Box Set Page 4
