Zas quietly closed the door behind him and moved over to the wall so he wouldn’t be seen. He just needed a breather. Not that he didn’t love his sons, but dang they were hard to handle. He could remember being called rambunctious as a child, but these two we’re downright mischievous to their very core. They must get it from their Mother. 

“Stop that! Now listen boys, there are certain things that gentleman just do not do. Pulling a lady’s pigtails is one of those. Especially if she hasn’t said you could, or she’s not sharing your bed after an expensive dinner- you have to pay for by the way- with certain expectations.” Cameron started lecturing the boys. 

“Cameron! They don’t need to know that, they’re just babies!” Ezza said as she came into the living room. 

“Now, now Pretty Baby, it’s never to early to learn how to be a gentleman. Look at my Nigel Su, why he treats your Tixxis like the angel she is. Where do you think he learned that from? Thin air? It certainly wasn’t my Muffin.” Cameron said.

Outside Zas was mimicking Cameron, then he rolled his eyes. If it was that easy to teach his sons, he’d have done it by now. Ezza’s genes ran strong in those two. Sighing he listened to the  two of them argue for a few more minutes, and then decided to head back in. 

 

 

“Look all I’m saying is, we haven’t had anytime together in a long time.” Ezza said while laying out the silverware for dinner.

“I know, but it’s not like we need it. We’re together all the time; you me and the kids, including Cameron; who’s the biggest baby.” Zas replied with a shrug placing the cups down as he followed Ezza around the table. Ezza sighed.

“I know and don’t get me wrong, I love our closeness as a family. Don’t you ever just miss the days of us though? Just the two of us going out and bumming around? I’m just saying if Cameron feels up watching the kids for an hour or two alone tonight, why don’t we take him up on it?” Ezza said finishing setting the table. Zas placed the last cup and smiled at her.

“I guess. I mean we’ll be right across the street, and can come back in a hurry if needed. Plus I miss the old days too. It’s been awhile since we went out to a bar and I picked up random women while you just watched.” He said with a smile.

“Hey!” Ezza laughed and slapped him lightly on the chest. Laughing he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Looking down with a mischievous look in eyes, he smiled.

“Is that not what you meant? The good old days, when you were a man and we’d hang out?” Zas teased her.

“You know it wasn’t!” Ezza said with a giggle, snuggling into his chest as she embraced him back.

“Oh please! Just leave already. The kids and I are getting nauseous.” Cameron said coming into the room followed by the whole gang. Nigel Su was holding Tixxis’ hand, while the boys walked behind them, picking at something on Nigel Su’s back.

“Are you sure?” Zas asked. He honestly felt bad leaving Cameron with all the kids. He knew what his progeny could be like- after all they were just like their mother. Except Tixxis, she was angelic. It was obvious she took after him.

“He’s sure. Thank you Cameron. We’ll be right across the street, the Romance Festival is on again. I wonder if it’ll be like it was the first time we went.” Ezza said helping to put the children in their chairs and strapping them down. They did like to try and escape and then run like free range chickens- courtesy of their fathers’ genetics.

“No problem, besides it’ll be more fun for you guys this year, you have an idea now of what it’s supposed to be like. The kiddies and I will hold down the fort here and see you in the morning.” Cameron said smiling as he started placing the food down in front of the children. Ezza walked over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to their room to get ready.

Zas looked at Cameron as he waited for Ezza to close the door and start getting ready.

“Thanks.” Zas said, it wasn’t a lot, but he put everything he felt into that one word. Cameron leaned back to make sure Ezza wasn’t coming, then reached down the back of Nigel Su’s shirt and pulled out a small package.

“Don’t screw it up, Lover Boy.” He said patting Zas on the shoulder. Then he went back to feeding the kids. Zas quickly stuffed the package in his jacket pocket. Just in time too, Ezza came waltzing down the hall looking spectacular. Then she grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the door, thanking Cameron and telling the kids she loved them and they’d see them soon, the whole way to and out the door.

 

 

Ezza sat on the bench with her eyes closed, listening to the sounds of people laughing and chatting all around her. They’d been here for an hour already and she was feverish from all the excitement. They’d drank the tea, ate the food, and gossiped with each other, and just about everyone else here. She had looked over the plants, and Zas had tried his hand at painting again. For some strange reason, he enjoyed it. Ezza didn’t understand it, what was the point in wasting resources to make something you wouldn’t be keeping? Frowning a little she waited for Zas to return; he’d gone to get more tea, muttering about needing the boost for something. 

“You know, if I were to just lay there out in the open, women would be all over me in a hot second.” Zas said sitting down beside her.

“Are you calling me ugly?” Ezza asked opening her eyes to look at him. Zas stared at her for a few minutes, his gaze hungry and intense. Leaning forward he brought his lips close enough to hers that only a breath separated them.

“Never. I’m just saying if you want to attract another man, your womanly beard needs to be trimmed a little first.” He joked. Ezza let out a snort and gave him a playful shove. Zas laughed as he straightened up.

“Look I’m not saying it’s a bad thing Love. Saves me having to beat up other men all the time. I’m just saying if your going to flaunt it, style it first. I don’t mind it all unkempt, but put a little more effort in for the men that don’t know you.” Ezza laughed and gave him a kick in the leg.

“Stop it. You know I can’t grow facial hair, not after Nilix’s little lab accident, none of us that were there can.” She sat up, and then touched her face. “I’m not am I?” Zas snorted with laughter, shaking his head. Ezza gave him another slap for good measure. He could be impossible at times.

“Look Ezza, there’s something I want to ask you.” Zas said rubbing the back of his neck. Ezza just smiled until she noticed him sliding his foot back and forth on the ground. It was his nervous tick, and it was never a good sign. She focused a bit more.

“I love woman. I’ve loved tons of women in my life, I’m not trying to brag my friend, just state a fact. I love everything about them, their smell, their touch, their taste, how they feel in my hands, the noises they make-“ Zas started.

“Is there a point to this?” Ezza asked him. Startled out of his train of thoughts, Zas looked up at Ezza for a moment in bewilderment.

“Oh. Yeah. I love women, there’s something about them that just makes my motor run.” Ezza made a rude noise and motioned for him to continue. “I’m getting there my Love. Like I was saying there’s just something about that that drives me nuts, but I’m never with them for long because they drive me nuts. I have to let them go before I hurt them. With you it’s different. It’s like your a woman, but I’m not like a weasel in heat with you, and no matter how many times I hurt you; you just stay; like a faithful dog.” 

Ezza just looked at Zas in shock for a moment. Is he trying to be a jerk? 

“So, let me get this straight. You LOVE women of all sorts, they make you into a weasel and get your motor going, but you don’t want to hurt them so you let them go like little butterflies, so they can remain beautiful for someone else. But me, I’m not beautiful enough to get your motor going, and you don’t mind hurting me because I’m a dog.” Ezza tried summing up Zas’s thoughts for him.

“Yeah, exactly! Now you see Ezza.” Zas was relieved he’d explained this properly the first time. It was important to get this right from the get go, or it might not work.

Ezza started at Zas a moment in contemplation. Had he met someone at work? She knew she’d kind of let herself go a little bit after the triplets were born, but they needed so much work! She was just so exhausted all the time, most days she didn’t have time to doll herself up. Now that they were toddlers, it was even more exhausting. Was he disgusted with her, had he turned to another woman. Was he going to leave her, stranded and alone on this planet with Cameron and their children while he ran off with some humanoid bimbo and started over.

“Are you an idiot?” Ezza asked getting angry. Zas looked up in shock, why was she angry? She said she got it, so why was she mad at him?

“Ezza, Love. What’s wrong?” Zas asked. Ezza couldn’t believe her ears.

“Just get it over with, I want to go home. You’re unbelievable you know that!? I thought maybe you had changed after everything we’d been through and with the kids and all.” Ezza got up off the bench and began to pace. “But no you’re the same! Nothing ever changes you does it? Not even yourself.”

Zas sat nervously as Ezza paced around in front of him. He listened to her rant, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Is this how it was supposed to go? In the movies he’d watched it didn’t happen like this. It wasn’t even close to what happened on their planet. I guess I just go for broke here, he thought.

Ezza had her back to turned to Zas, she heard him move off the bench and squeezed her eyes shut. Here it comes. After a few seconds she reopened them, she held her breath as she waited for him to tell her he was leaving. When he didn’t, she turned around. He wasn’t there. He had just vanished. He didn’t even tell her goodbye, he just left her! Ezza could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, she didn’t think he’d ever be this cold. What would she tell the kids? Oh Mates, would Cameron still want to be saddled with her and the kids? He’d probably leave her too and take Nigel Su, and she’d be left alone, destitute with the kids while Zas lived it up with some man eating witch. 

“Love, I need you to back up a little. Were a little too close for this to work.” Zas said. Ezza gasped and then looked down. There he was on the ground, on one knee looking up at her. If she’d walked half an inch forward she have tripped over him. 

“What are you doing?” She asked him, her voice thick with tears. Dammit! I need to be strong for this. 

Zas licked his lips nervously as Ezza backed up a step. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small box that Cameron had given him. He opened the box and held it out in front of him. 

Ezza looked at Zas stunned. Was he not leaving her? But he called her ugly, and told her that he wanted to hurt her.

“Sezzad Exilpeh, we’ve been friends since we were children, and you’ve become a woman unlike any other in this universe or any other. I want to bond us together for life, marry me.”

Become my Mated.

Ezza stared at him in disbelief. Mates? He wanted to Mate with her? 

“But I’m ugly, and a dog.” Ezza stammered at him, as the tears fell down her cheeks. She was so confused.

“Who said that!?” Zas asked outraged. He would hurt whoever had made her feel that way.

“You did! You told me I wasn’t beautiful like other women and that I was like a dog you could hurt because I stayed.” Ezza was starting to get angry all over again.

“No, I didn’t!” Zas said feeling his temper start to come out. “You’re more beautiful than any other woman I’ve ever met, and you drive me crazy, and I screw up a lot and no ones ever wants to stay with me after that except you. You’re one of a kind. Ezza I-“

Ezza wiped her face off and held out her hand.

“Zas,” she said cutting him off. “Just shut up and give it to me already.”

Zas smiled and took her hand in his, then he placed the box on his knee and pulled the ring out. He slid it on her finger, and then kissed her hand. Ezza laughed in joy. She held her hand up to look at the ring on her finger.

Zas stood up and the two of them embraced each other and kissed.

A whistle tore through the air, followed by cheering and clapping. Ezza and Zas broke apart with embarrassment. They’d forgotten where they were. Ezza blushed, Zas waved.

“Way to go buddy! I was worried there for a moment.” Someone in the crowd called out. Loud laughter followed behind the comment.

“Yeah, thanks for showing me what not to do!” Came another shout. 

“So how are you going to do it then?” Cut through the laughter, the crowd ooo’d as they forgot about Zas and Ezza and moved on to the next spectacle. 

“Let’s hurry before they get bored again” Zas said taking Ezza’s hand and heading for home. Ezza laughed and wrapped herself around his arm as she followed behind him.