"And then how long at your friend's?" She looks over at me. "Jerrok?"
"Just long enough to get the Sister up and running. Jerrok's not a big fan of company…and he's probably still mad at me for leaving Sophie and the carinoux on his doorstep for as long as we have." I grimace at the thought, because I can only imagine how pissed he was when he found out about the carinoux that we neglected to mention. I hope it hasn't torn up his entire station. "Sophie will be joining us after that, I imagine."
She looks at me thoughtfully. "I hope she doesn't feel I'm taking her place."
"Sophie?" I make a choking sound even as I power down the pod. "How are you taking her place?"
Jade shrugs. "She might feel threatened if another human shows up with you."
"I doubt that. Sophie's the mildest little thing. You won't have to worry." I hope Jade isn't threatened by Sophie, though. Sophie's pretty enough, as humans go, but I've never felt anything for her other than sympathy and responsibility. She's a good kid…whereas I feel completely and utterly different about Jade. The feelings I have for this female are decidedly not brotherly. "It's going to be fine," I say again. "Are you worried?"
She considers for a moment. "No, I don't think so. Just thinking aloud."
A horrible thought occurs to me. Jade's been acting a little odd since we got onto the Jabberwock, and I initially attributed it to all the changes, but a new worry's making itself known. "You…do want to go with me, right? If you don't, I'll understand." I practically choke on the word. "I'll take you somewhere safe if that's what you'd like—"
"Adi," Jade says softly. She takes my hand in hers and rubs her thumb over my palm. We probably should be getting out of the pod to go and help with the others, but I don't want to leave until we get everything straightened out between us. "I love you. Of course I want to go with you. I don't know why you'd think otherwise."
I shrug. "I'm not great at reading people. I think my past relationship with Shaalyn shows that." I give her a wry smile. "But you just seem a little distant in the last day or two and it's worrying me."
"I'm fine. I promise."
"I don't think you are." I clasp her hand between mine and rub it. "Like I said, I'm not good at reading people, but I know you. "You've been worried about something…and with the sickness…"
Kef me. A horrible thought crosses my mind.
I study Jade's face, looking for answers. What does a human look like when they're sick? Do they look haggard? Circles under the eyes? Because Jade has both. I thought it was because of what we've been through, but now I'm wondering. "Are you dying?" I choke out.
If she's dying, she's going to take me with her. I can't imagine a life without a happy, healthy, smiling Jade.
Her eyes go wide and her mouth drops open. She squeezes my hand, shaking her head. "Adiron, I'm not dying—"
"You wouldn't tell me if you were," I point out. "You don't like it when I worry—"
"Adi—"
My mind is racing. If she's sick, we can fix this. There are doctors out there that know about treating humans. "Change of plans," I say abruptly. "We have the Jabberwock abandon the Buoyant Star. We can get to Jerrok's asteroid a lot faster that way, and once we get the Sister, we can find a doctor—"
"Adiron," Jade says softly. She reaches out and touches my chin, directing my gaze to hers. "I'm not dying."
"Jade—"
"I'm pregnant."
I blink. "You're what?"
"Pregnant." The worried look crosses her face again. It's the same expression she's worn for the last day—the slightly pinched, slightly distant, stressed expression. "I think they did something to me when I was sleeping. Modified something. At any rate, I'm pregnant, and you're the father, and we're going to have a baby."
I stare at her. "You're not…dying?"
"No." Her expression is grave. "I found out when they did a medical scan on me before they put me into stasis, back on Shaalyn's ship. I'm pregnant, and that's why I'm sick. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about being a father, and so I've sat on the news, but I figured it was time to tell you—"
Before she can finish, I reach over and haul her out of her seat, tugging her into my lap. She sprawls against me, her arms going around