After leaving the washroom with Aselia safely tucked in his arms, he gently placed her on the bed and grabbed his phone. Taking out the contact of Dr. Wanstine he dialled her. She picked up on the third bell.

"Señor! It has been a while," there was a hint of surprise in her tone.

"Indeed, Aselia is sick. I am bringing her in, please be prepared," he informed her.

"What are some of the symptoms? Brief me in a few words so I will be more prepared," she asked.

"She has nausea and is puking her insides out," his words made her smile but she kept her tone neutral.

"I see, bring her to the clinic. I will check her thoroughly. She will be alright, nothing to worry about," Her words were reassuring and he found himself heaving a sigh of relief.

"We will be there soon," Xiran ended the call and diverted his attention to Aselia.

She seemed exhausted, her hair was in disarray, and her eyes closed as she laboriously breathed out. His gaze slid down to her nightshirt which had hitched up from her stomach and he noticed that it wasn’t that flat anymore.

Something seemed to have stuck in his throat as he stared at her belly, his hand moved and further lifted her shirt, revealing more of it to his eyes. A warmth settled inside him and yet his heart restlessly thudded. Wanting to touch her belly he was about to rest his hand on it when Aselia stirred and her eyes opened.

He shook his head and discarded all those thoughts from his mind.

"Leia! I have spoken to Dr. Wanstine, let’s get you checked up," he softly spoke while gently lifting her.

"Ok," she meekly answered and let him carry her, snuggling close to him.

Xiran helped her dress up in a comfortable dress. He called Zirius to take them and he promised to be there soon.

"Would you like to eat something before we head out?" Xiran asked, helping her sit down on the sofa.

"No, even the thought of eating anything is making me nauseated. I guess I have caught some food bug or my stomach messed up during our travel back," she naively answered, leaning back on the sofa and placing her arm above her eyes.

"Leia! When did you bleed last?" He just wanted to be sure. Maybe it was some kind of bug.

"A few days before our bonding ritual. Why? What has that got to do anything with this?" she removed her arm and stared at him in confusion.

The horn outside informed them that Zirius was there. Xiran exhaled in relief and meandered over to pick her up.

"Just asking, let’s go," he collected her in his arms and made his way outside. Zirius had stepped out of the car and kept the door open for them. A cheeky smile had spread on his lips seeing the couple.

"Good morning and welcome back. I am so so so glad you people are back here," he beamed, his feet itching to start jumping from the excitement.

"Good morning, and good to see you, Zirius. How is Arimie?" Aselia answered as Xiran settled her inside the car.

"She is good and expecting. We are going to become parents," he chirruped like a lovebird about to do a happy dance.

"Congratulations!" Xiran and Aselia blurted out in unison. Seemed like everyone was busy making babies.

"Thank you! Thank you! You people are right on time," he bowed, his happiness emanating from each action.

Xiran couldn’t help but breathe in satisfaction. He was able to help restore a couple and now they were about to become a family. A flicker of hope ignited in his heart too for he wanted a family as well with his Leia. Praying to any deity that might listen that her heart might change.

Soon they were on their way and Xiran was completely lost in his train of thought until Zirius stopped the car and Aselia lightly shook him.

"Xiran! Are you alright?" Her eyes reflected her concern.

"Yes, sorry I spaced out. Should I carry you?" He tried to take her in his strong arms again but Aselia shook her head.

"No, I will walk. My legs are fine," they exited the car and headed inside while Zirius waited for them.

Xiran had helped build a separate clinic for Dr. Wanstine near Hotel Cafris. So when she was not needed at the hotel she could keep practicing at her clinic.

Reaching her office they knocked and entered. The elderly doctor shook hands with them and offered a polite smile. She was a woman of few words. After the pleasantries, she went straight to the topic.

"Aselia! The condition we discussed last time. Has that been resolved and have you discussed it with Señor or do I need to ask him to step out again?" she asked without any hint of hesitation, wanting to know where they stood.

"It’s fine, we have mated," she slowly answered, her ears crimsoning in the process.

"Congratulations. I am pleased for you both. So the symptoms you are experiencing, when did they start? And how long ago did both of you mate last?" Dr. Wanstine directly asked, keeping a straight face.

"Umm, I have been feeling nauseated since yesterday and we did it about two or three days ago. But we did it for the first time about two weeks ago," Aselia explained, clutching her shirt.

"Actually, if I may interrupt," it was Xiran who spoke out and both women turned their heads towards him. He began to explain to Dr. Wanstine the events of the last month and the time difference that was on both planets.

Her eyes widened in shock and that straight face she always kept was submerged in curiosity.

"Oh! That’s quite interesting, then. But it messed up all the calculations. I would need to thoroughly inspect Aselia."

"Of course! But this information is confidential. No one can know we visited another planet," he seriously warned.

"You have nothing to worry about. Aselia if you would follow me," Dr. Wanstine got up and took Aselia to another room to have a complete check-up. She took her vitals and checked her weight. Everything seemed normal.

"I would like to do a blood test and an ultrasound, please lay down on the bed. Do you want Señor to be here with you?" she inquired, guiding Aselia to lie down on the bed.

"I don’t mind having him here," Aselia answered, feeling uncomfortable about why she was having an ultrasound.

Dr. Wanstine called Xiran to join them as she would carry out the ultrasound. She wanted him to be there with his wife, knowing what was ailing Aselia.

He seemed surprised and went to stand near Aselia. Dr. Wanstine lifted her shirt and could see the small bump forming on her stomach. Aselia saw it too for she drew in a sharp breath. She was sure her stomach was flat yesterday when they had left Tromalius.

"What’s wrong with my stomach? Is there something inside it? Why it’s bulging out?" she babbled in a panicked state and Xiran held her hand and affectionately squeezed it. Trying his best to keep her calm.

"We are about to find out," Dr. Wanstine winked at her as she pressed her stomach with the transducer. The screen lit up as moved it and her smile widened.

Aselia stared at the screen in utter confusion while Xiran drew in a sharp breath, his heart almost stopped as his surprised gaze was glued on the screen, not believing what he was seeing.

"Congratulations to both of you. Aselia you are pregnant," Dr. Wanstine moved the transducer up and down, inspecting everything in detail.

A hushed silence fell over the room, the ticking of the clock was the only sound that followed Wanstine’s words. Aselia instantly withdrew her hand from his grasp, the emotional dam breaking inside her.

Pregnancy???

The word echoed loud and clear in her brain. No way was she ready to have a child just yet. They had just started their journey together and there was so much that needed to be done, seen and said. And now she was pregnant.

She didn’t even know how all that worked.

Xiran was rooted to the spot, tongue-tied. His heart sank as soon as she ripped her hand from his. The change in her facial expression informed him that this was not the news she was expecting. Although he had gotten a clue that this could be it, he was not the one who wanted to break this to her.

"Is the baby alright? How is the growth?" Xiran had to ask to break the awkward silence that had shrouded them. He knew Aselia was too lost to inquire about anything right now. And most probably she had no clue about pregnancies.

"Baby? It’s babies. You guys are having twins," Dr. Wanstine turned her head and found two pairs of shocked eyes staring back at her in utter disbelief.