Archive of Our Own

Living with an alien roommate had its quirks, but it wasn’t all too bad.

Having Rocky around quickly became comforting. We built a routine of taking turns watching each other sleep, watching things together in the Don’t-Go-Crazy-Room, talking about each other’s planets, and sometimes just existing in the same space as we worked on our own projects.

Rocky was always working on a dozen or so projects at a time, skittering back and forth throughout his ‘workshop’ area on the Hail Mary. If it wasn’t for his perfect memory, I’d have no clue how he’d juggle so many different things.

Lately he’s been branching out into more exotic, ‘human’ related creations. The last project he finished was an honest-to-God blender. It worked much better than the one I’d gotten second-hand from a thrift store, now long left behind back on Earth.

“For Grace,” Rocky had said as he’d demonstrated how it functioned. “Turn coma slurry into coma slushy!”

I’d been touched he had not only made something for me, but also that it was something related to eating, a topic I knew he found ‘disgust disgust disgust’. I had even told him as such.

“I really appreciate that, pal. I can’t wait to try it.”

Rocky had let out a melodious hum. “Important Grace eat. Grace getting smaller. Soon as small as pebble.”

I had lost some weight, especially after I started rationing what was left of my food and the coma slurry a few weeks back. I’d talked with him before about the whole potential life-threatening vitamin deficiency situation, but he had assured me each time the scientists on Erid would have it covered. 

I would, and have, trusted Rocky with my life, so I believed him. But I also knew my luck had to run out eventually. So just in case I’d marked and locked up a little bit of everything edible (coffee included) for the Eridians to study and hopefully synthesize once we arrived at the planet in question.

Anyways, the slushy machine actually had helped with gagging down the taumoeba. A little mixture of coma slurry, ice, and Adrian’s native extraterrestrial microorganisms, and I was able to swallow it down quickly enough to pretend it was just a slightly expired, gross-flavored slushy from good old Sonic back home. What an improvement!

I tried making things for him, too, sometimes. Rocky seemed to understand my talents lay more in science than engineering, but still seemed to appreciate my gifts nonetheless. 

“What this, question?” Rocky asked, his carapace tilted down as if he was looking at the braided Kevlar string bracelet I’d presented. I knew he was just doing it for my benefit, since he could ‘see’ everything on the Hail Mary anyway.

“It’s a friendship bracelet. Humans give them to each other as a token of affection.”

Rocky had let out a hum that I recognized as a little judgmental.

“Why need jewelry as proof of affection, question?”

“You don’t need it as proof. It’s just a reminder. Like every time you look at it, you remember the person who gave it to you.”

“Rocky always remember Grace. Rocky can’t forget.”

I had rolled my eyes and let out a playful huff. “Well, you have five arms to choose between if you want to wear it. If not, that’s fine too.”

Rocky was quiet. After a minute of silence, I just shrugged and went to go poke around on my laptop. I thought the conversation was long over and got lost in my research when Rocky finally piped back up a few minutes later.

“Rocky will wear. Thank you.”

I gave him a thumbs up (or a thumbs down, technically.) “No problem, bud, glad you like it!”

Rocky let out a small trill that didn’t really mean anything in response before starting to poke around at a project of his own. 

Man, I do enjoy some parallel play.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Rocky had been a little weird lately. 

Just a little more quiet, a little more observant. I hadn’t questioned him about it, willing to give him his space. Like I said: living with an alien roommate has its quirks. And one of those quirks is probably just getting obsessively stared at sometimes.

I mean, I totally get it. Sometimes I’ll be totally doing something and then just glimpse Rocky in the corner of my eye, then I’ll turn and just watch him. Watch the way his hands work, how his body moves. How his limbs can be so graceful despite having so many, despite literally resembling a rock. How pretty and captivating the patterns that dotted his legs and carapace were. How cute it was when he loafed up like a cat, or laughed, or teased me. Or how beautiful his voice sounded or-

Anyways.

I could understand being fascinated with each other. We were different species! Literally alien to each other! And we were both nerds. It totally made sense that we were into each other’s bodies. Scientifically. For science.

Rocky was currently trying to see if there was a way to upload some Eridian songs to sing along to in karaoke. He’d put together some kind of instrument (that resembled a mix of a xylophone and a guitar, if I was being honest) and was in the middle of some type of recording process. I was excited to see the results! Apparently it was extra complicated because he was modifying each song from the original to fit into my hearing range. How thoughtful!

“How do you know how to play that, Roc?” I asked curiously as he took a short break.

“Learn in school. Part of required learning. Music important to Erid.”

I found myself smiling. “What? That’s crazy! Us humans have something similar. We had to learn to play an instrument called a recorder.”

Rocky had paused, clearly interested in what I was saying. “Grace can play instrument, question?”

I scratched my cheek, a little awkwardly. “I don’t know, maybe? I liked it as a kid, but it’s been so long. I don’t know if I’d remember it.”

“Grace try, question?”

I laughed. “Rock, I don’t think the Hail Mary was packed with any instruments. The wonderful hobby of music definitely wasn’t on their minds when they were preparing Mary for a one-way trip.”

Rocky let out a small hiss from his vents. He was always a little touchy around the whole ‘suicide’ part of the Hail Mary’s suicide mission. “Grace statement stupid. Rocky make for Grace.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, bud, you don’t have to-“

Rocky held up one finger. “Grace wait. Rocky search on thinking machine. Will not take long.”

Despite my protests, Rocky rushes away and is busy assembling for the next half hour, to my increasing horror, a recorder.

Sooner than I know it, it’s in my hands.

I scratch my head nervously. Maybe it’ll come back to me if I just get started? I fiddle with it for a few seconds, trying to think of a tune to start with.

“Why Grace do nothing, question?” Rocky asked, almost sassily.

“Give the amnesiac a minute!” I replied with the same energy.

Finally, a tune resurfaced in my mind that was familiar and simple enough. My fingers found the holes, and after a few blows to make sure the notes were right, I gave it a go.

It was a little tricky, and definitely a lot slower than the original was meant to be, but I got through it decently enough. If someone from Earth were around, there’s probably a 60% chance they could’ve guessed it.

“Rocky like. What song name, question?”

“Thanks, pal! It’s a really common song on Earth. It’s called ‘The Wedding March’. People usually play it at weddings when the bride walks down the aisle.”

“Need word. Before ‘march’.”

I felt a little surprised. Had we not talked about weddings before? As I thought it over, I suppose we hadn’t. Most of our cultural discussions were more scientific in nature. I guess we’d have to branch out more! There was so much to learn from each other.

I spent the next couple of minutes explaining what weddings were, what an engagement was, and other important symbolic things important to a wedding.

“Usually, the bride wears a white dress, or something white in general. But not always. For some people and couples, a wedding is really significant. They throw a big party with lots of friends and family. But other people like to keep it intimate and more private, maybe just have a few family members, or even just themselves.”

I quieted down after realizing I’d been rambling for a few minutes. I ask Rocky what he’s thinking.

“Human mate culture…interesting,” was what he said after a moment or two. “Grace ever want wedding, question?”

I let out a hum, thinking it over. “It’s nice to think about. Having a whole day to celebrate being together with the person I love. Back on Earth, I’d always joke I’d want a small wedding but a big honeymoon.”

Rocky perked up. “Remember last word. Grace said before!”

So, of course, I then had to explain the concept of a honeymoon (as well as the honeymoon stage, because Rocky wouldn’t let that one go.)

“Where Grace want go for honeymoon, question?”

I thought about it for a second. “This is kind of silly, but I had always wanted to visit this place called the Galápagos Islands. I had a professor in my undergrad who had visited, and he was obsessed with the Galápagos tortoises. Those are a type of animal on Earth that live in a shell and can live really long.”

“How long live, question?”

“I think they can live up to around 175 human years?”

Rocky let out his cute little chirping laugh. “That all? Rocky live much longer. Rocky better.”

I let out a laugh of my own. “That’s true! Rocky is the coolest. Much cooler than a Galápagos tortoise.”

Rocky froze for a microsecond. I swore I saw some steam hiss out of his carapace.

“Rocky go work on something now,” he said quickly before scurrying away. I watched him run off, a fond look in my eye. What a silly guy Rocky could be, the little alien I was living with. 

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

We were watching a show in the Don’t-Go-Crazy room. We had been cycling through different reality TV shows, trying to find one that clicked. I’d been slightly surprised that Rocky seemed to enjoy them so much. He had admitted, almost shyly, that he also liked such dramatic shows back on Erid.

“Adrian would say ‘show is bad for Rocky’. Rocky ignore. Then Adrian watch, too.”

I let out a laugh. “It’s almost like junk food, in a way. Unhealthy, but delicious.”

Rocky moved his carapace in a way that was the equivalent of an eye roll. “Everything with human have to do with food. Disgust. Show is not food.”

I’d shrugged, turning my attention back to the show that was playing. We had been them at random. Today, we somehow ended up on some sort of insane mixture of house flipping meets The Bachelor. A couple of different girls remodeled a space, and the guy of the hour picked the best one, and the two then got to go on a paid date together.

It was currently down between two girls and the guy, whose name I forgot, but I’ll just call him Brad, was talking about the pros and cons of the last two contestants.

One was named Angelica. The only reason I knew and remembered that was because she had made ‘angels’ her entire personality. She was engulfed by a flowy white dress and wore large, almost gaudy earrings shaped like angel wings. Her entire remodel was based on angels, too.

The other girl seemed quite normal in comparison. The only thing that potentially could have stood out as ‘weird’ was that she had a pet iguana named Lizanardo Da Vinci. To be fair, the iguana seemed cool as heck. I wonder if they made good classroom pets?

I’d zoned out long enough for Brad to make his final decision, and I let out a disappointed tut when Angelica let out an excited shriek at being chosen, practically jumping on the guy. Whatever sells, I guess. The iguana Mom could do much better than Brad, anyway.

“Do humans usually pick mate based on how nest looks, question?”

I turn my head towards Rocky to let him know I heard him before speaking.

“This is just a show, Rock. Homes can be important in relationships, but they aren’t usually the deciding factor in who you date or marry.”

“Not common for suitor to build nest, question?”

I shook my head. “No, couples usually plan out their homes together. It can differ based on the individuals. But I feel like if two people are going to share a space for their entire lives, they should both get a say in how it looks.”

Rocky’s fingers clicked, like he was deep in thought. I wondered how the whole housing-nest situation was for mates on Erid. I was just about to ask when Rocky piped up first.

“What Grace perfect home like, question?”

I let out a huff of air, thinking about it for a second. 

“I’m not too picky, I think. Somewhere that’s foggy would be nice. Maybe close to the beach. A cozy bed. Windows for natural light. Maybe some plants. I didn’t use to be a plant guy, but now I kind of miss them.”

Rocky nodded his carapace in understanding, a human-like trait he had picked up for me.

“Understand. Grace like fog, beach, and bed.”

“What about you, Rock? What’s your perfect home like?”

Rocky perked up, going high on all his legs. It was so cute. I cracked a smile, feeling a rush of cuteness aggression go through me. 

“Rocky like having bed in main room. So mate can watch Rocky sleep while do tasks. Like having big room for Rocky tools and projects.”

“Ooh, like a workshop!” I exclaimed. “That makes sense! That’s pretty cool.”

“Yes. Also would want somewhere with less people. Before, Rocky live in big city, much noise. Loud. But now…Rocky used to quiet. Too loud would be too much.”

I swallowed past a lump in my throat, trying not to lose it over remembering how long Rocky had been alone on the Blip-A. How long was silence the only thing to greet him? How lonely he must have been. 

“What do you think my house on Erid would be like?” I asked, curious if Rocky could give any specifics. Of course, the priority upon reaching Erid was delivering the Taumoeba to Threeworld, then figuring out my food, then figuring out where I’d live and how. If I survived that long. But it would be fun to think about.

“Grace home can be anything Grace want.”

I moved to lie down, the house-flipper-bachelor show now over, and a bright blue sky had taken over the screens. It was nice that I could still cloud watch and find silly little shapes in the clouds.

“I think it would be nice to have a place for you and Adrian to hang out. Maybe even sleep. I’m so used to us watching each other and hanging out so much, it would take a while to get used to not having you around all the time,” I halfway joked, like I wasn’t aware I was admitting to the almost unhealthy level of codependency we had developed.

“Room for Rocky in Grace home, question?”

I nodded.

“Well, obviously. Anything you’d recommend?”

Rocky tapped one of his claws on the ground, thinking.

“Place to sit. Watch movies.”

I nodded. “A cozy living room, got it. There would need to be a space too, for you to tinker with things, as you said earlier.”

Rocky swayed back and forth slowly, a mixture of happiness and excitement. “Would need place for Grace to do science.”

“Oh!” I piped up, an idea coming to mind. “We should have a soundproof room. It can be for when I need to use the restroom, or when you or visiting guests want to eat. For privacy.”

Rocky let out an annoyed sound. “Why have other people at Grace Rocky home. Ugh.”

I laughed, poking at his xenonite ball playfully. “What? Not even Adrian? What about your friends? What if I make friends and want them over?”

Rocky’s vents huffed. “Fine. Room for visitors. But most of home for Grace Rocky only.”

A cloud passed on the ceiling that to most people would look like a blob. But for me, in that moment, it looked quite like a heart.

“Sounds like a plan,” I replied. We fist bumped through the xenonite.

“Fist my bump,” Rocky said. He knew the right phrase at this point, but he still said it like that to mess with me.

“Still not right,” I said anyway, a smile settling on my face.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

A few days later, I was getting ready for bed when Rocky approached me, almost shyly.

“Grace sleep soon, question?”

I nodded, wrapping the well-worn and quite loved quilt around my shoulders, placing my glasses on a nearby table for the night (sleep cycle? It was always night in space.) 

“You’ll watch me as usual, right, bud?”

Rocky hummed in the affirmative.

“Yes. But…hmm…” He fidgeted a little. It was strange seeing Rocky so nervous about something. 

“You okay, Rock?”

He nodded before straightening up, puffing up his carapace. It was quite cute.

“Rocky sing Grace a song.”

Despite my drowsiness, I sat up a little. We’d done karaoke before, and Rocky had even tried his best to sing some of Erid’s top hits. Rocky speaking alone was already quite melodious, but his singing was otherworldly. It was always a treat. 

I nodded my head, encouraging him to start. He fidgeted a little before finally starting, letting out some quiet hums to begin. His song slowly shifted, increasing in intensity, then slowing back down. It reminded me of waves, lapping at the shore. Back and forth. I closed my eyes.

Rocky’s song continued for a few moments more. When it finally ended, on a long, soulful note, I opened my eyes and was surprised to find my face wet.

“Rocky…” I turned to face him. He was extremely still, as if holding his breath and waiting to hear what I had to say. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”

Rocky swayed back and forth quickly in joy. “Rocky happy happy happy Grace like!”

I smiled, wiping the tears off my face. “I really, really like. What’s it called? I’d love to hear it again sometime.”

Rocky perked up, his voice pitching higher in a squeal. “Song for Grace. Sing for Grace whenever Grace wants!”

I raised an eyebrow, 

“You mean that song was for me? Like you sang it for me, or-”

Rocky made a noise. “No. Rocky wrote for Grace.”

I felt my jaw drop. “Oh my gosh! Rocky! That’s so…that’s so sweet of you? Thank you, pal. I don’t even know what to say.”

Rocky’s vents let out a small hiss of steam. It felt like the human equivalent of blushing.

“Seriously!” I continued, still in awe. “Like, Beethoven has nothing on you. How are you so amazing? You’re an engineer, but you totally could have a job as a composer.”

Rocky shyly rubbed the front two legs facing me together. “Grace being nice.”

I shook my head. “Grace being honest,” I emphasized. Rocky seemed like he was about to say something else, but my body betrayed me and let out a big yawn that I was unable to stifle.

“Grace sleep now. Statement.”

I settled back into bed, laughing. “Yes, yes, of course. So bossy!”

It was quiet for a moment (well, as quiet as a spaceship hurtling at near lightspeed through space could be) before the sound of Rocky fiddling with his tools filled the silence. My eyes felt heavy, and they began to droop.

“Rocky?”

He let out a noise to let me know he heard me.

“Can you sing that song again? As I fall asleep?”

The first few notes started right away. I quickly drifted off, a feeling of coming home settling in my chest.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Despite my expectations, time seemed to really fly by on the way to Erid. It definitely helped that Rocky was there. Actually, if I were being honest, Rocky was the only reason I was currently sane. I can’t imagine how I would have survived the entire trip back to Earth without him, years of only talking to Armando and Mary. 

It was like Rocky had a detection system for whenever I started to get bored or a little stir crazy. He’d pop up whenever it would occur and ask to do something, whether that be a game of chess, discussing whatever projects we’d been working on, listening to an audiobook together, or working to find the most interesting cultural differences and similarities between humans and Eridians, among other things. 

It was because of this that we somehow stumbled upon the topic of ‘tattoos’.

Eridian markings were important. Sacred. Every marking meant something significant. Rocky had pointed out different marks, some that resembled his family tree, one that represented his career as an engineer, and one that I was obviously able to recognize as the Petrova line that all the volunteers on the Blip-A had gotten before the mission.

I had explained to Rocky how tattoos worked for humans. How some were maybe just as serious and important as the Eridian markings, but also some tattoos were just silly, or even gotten by someone getting caught up in the whims of a moment. 

“Grace have any markings, question?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t. Not that I didn’t want to get one. Nothing ever really just stuck out to me enough to want on my body forever.”

This seemed to send Rocky into deep thought. He rubbed the blue-green dots on his arm that represented his and Adrian’s bond.

“What about mark for mate, question?”

I let out a hum in thought. “It’s funny you ask that. It’s actually a thing on Earth for some people to get the name of their partner’s tattooed on them. I don’t think I’d want someone’s name, though; that feels weird to me. Maybe matching tattoos instead? That could be cute.”

Rocky let out a pleased noise. “Similar to Erid mate mark.”

I nodded. “Yeah.” Suddenly, something popped up in my head. “Oh! I don’t have any tattoos, but the closest thing to it would be your handprint, I guess,” I rolled up my sleeve to show Rocky the imprint his hand had left on me when he had saved my life. Rocky had initially felt guilty upon seeing it, that he had hurt me in the midst of saving me, but I had quickly shut that down.

“No, I like it! It reminds me that we’ve touched. It feels like we’re connected in a way. When I was missing you and worrying about you when I was coming back to find you, I’d rub it all the time. Every time I touched it, it was like I could feel that you were still alive. That I was going in the right direction.”

Rocky was quiet for a moment. “So, Grace like mark Rocky left on Grace, question?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, bud. That’s what I just said!”

 “Even though permanent? No mark Grace wanted on Earth. But Grace want Rocky mark?”

“Yes. I’ve liked everything you’ve given me Rocky, even this mark. It’s like I always have a piece of you with me.”

Rocky let out a hum. “Rocky understand.”

I ruffled his xenonite ball playfully. “Good.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

A couple of days later, Rocky rolled up in his ball next to me. I was deep in my work, quite preoccupied, and simply gave him a ‘hi bud!’ That clearly wasn’t enough for him, so he bumped into my leg a few times before I put the tools I was holding down and gave him my full attention.

“What’s up, Rocky?”

“Want show Grace new mark.”

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. We had just had the whole mark-tattoo discussion just a couple of days ago, so I knew how important and significant marks were to Eridians. What would cause him to suddenly get a new one?

“I’m all eyes, bud.”

Rocky held up one of his limbs, rotating it slightly. I leaned in to get a closer look as Rocky pointed it out. I blinked a few times, a bit shocked.

“Is that a handprint?”

“Yes. Grace handprint.”

It matched up exactly where his handprint was on my arm. If one were to compare an Eridian limb and a human arm, that is.

“Wow! Bud, I’m speechless. It didn’t hurt, right?”

Rocky shook his carapace. “No. Painless. Grace Rocky have matching marks. Rocky always have piece of Grace now, too.”

My heart flutters. If it were anyone else, this would almost sound like a proposal. But it was Rocky. My best friend, my bud, my pal, the one with a mate waiting for him back home. So I swallowed down the butterflies and pretended everything was normal.

“I love it! We’re the first Erid-Alien pair to have matching tattoos!”

Rocky let out an adorable trill, spinning in place. I wanted to squeeze him; he was so cute!

“Rocky happy that Grace happy.”

I stopped myself from letting out a lovesick sigh. Of course, the guy had to be thoughtful, caring, and empathetic, too. Ah, whatever. I would survive this, too. Remaining co-dependent, unhealthily close roommates for now seemed not that bad.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

It was in the final stretch to Erid that I started to get sick.

Really sick.

I honestly don't remember much of it. When I think about it, I mostly remember pain, pain, Rocky worrying, pain, long stretches of dark, deep sleep, pain, and then finally, relief. 

I had felt terrible that I had put Rocky through the trauma of watching another crewmate get sick again. I clung on to the hope that this time it would be different. That this time, I would get better. That Rocky wouldn’t stay up watching someone else ‘sleep’, only for them to never wake up. 

Of the few memories I remember when sick, one was waking up feeling boiling hot, only to look over and see Rocky snuggling me. I felt like I had either died or gone insane, seeing Rocky in my atmosphere. I must’ve mumbled something in my confusion because Rocky quickly explained the new xenonite suit he’d made, to be able to get closer to me and have more dexterity in my atmosphere. I had wheezed out a ‘Cool!’ before passing back out. I definitely had some non-PG-related dreams after that, but thankfully, my body was too sick to react to them. I was not feeling up to explaining what a wet dream was to Rocky.  

Another memory that stood out was Rocky throwing a tantrum. At one point, some loud banging noises had woken me up. I turned over to see Rocky in his xenonite enclosure, throwing some things around and breaking them. He was banging his fists on the floor. I’d never seen him like this. 

“Rock?” I croaked out, confused and worried.

His body had stiffened and turned towards me.

“Apology. Rocky not mean to wake Grace up.”

I shook my head, letting out a hiss when my neck twinged. Rocky twitched at the pained noise I’d made. “S’okay. What’s wrong?”

Rocky’s vents huffed out air as he stomped his foot. “Rocky angry angry angry. Nothing working.”

“What’s not working, bud?”

“Rocky try make Grace food. Not work. Stupid stupid stupid. Rocky angry. Rocky try to fix. Cannot fix. Rocky stupid.”

I shook my head. “No Roc, don’t say that. You’re not stupid-”

Rock stomped again, like he disagreed with me and wanted to say something, but I ignored that and continued.

“We knew I was going to get sick. We’ve talked about this. It’ll be fine once we get to Erid. Until then, I just have to hold on. It’s not your fault, nor is it on you.”

A noise came out of Rocky, one I’ve heard only once or twice before. It sounded like a wail. It was heartbreaking. It was like Rocky was crying.

“Rocky want to fix. Rocky not like when Grace sick. When Grace hurt. Rocky fault. Grace come back for Rocky.”

I pinched my brows. “Rocky, come here,” I said in lieu of anything else. I was low on energy, and I wasn’t going to waste it by having to practically yell across the room.

Rocky let out a huff but quickly donned the flexible xenonite suit and exited through his airlock. He made his way to my bed, climbing up to hover next to me. I tugged him down weakly with one of my hands, but he followed my pull until he was loafing right next to me.

“Coming back for you was the best decision I ever made. I love you, Rocky. And I don’t want to live without you. I want to live with you. So I’m trying my best to make it, okay? But don’t blame yourself and be angry like this, bud, I can’t take it.”

I squeezed him tightly when he didn’t respond right away. I gave it a moment or two. My patience paid off and Rocky finally spoke.

“Rocky worry for Grace. Rocky love Grace, too. Grace live. Command.”

I let out a small chuckle.  

“I’d be worried too, if you were sick. I’ll do my best to listen to your request, okay?”

Rocky let out a hum, then started to vibrate quietly. Suddenly, it’s like I was cuddling with a purring cat slash personal space heater. I stood no chance and was out like a light.

A final memory that really stood out was a lot more recent. It was when we finally arrived to Erid. Rocky was talking across the radio to someone back on Erid. It was a little chaotic. The conversation seemed to flow quickly between topics: Rocky being alive, Rocky being the sole survivor of the Blip-A. Rocky, having found a cure but almost dying alone in space, only to be saved by the alien that helped him find the cure in the first place. Said alien whose spaceship he was arriving in. Said alien who was currently in the ship, sick as a dog and close to starving to death. 

“Alien name is Grace. Grace is Rocky 🎶🎵🎵🎶🎵. Food for Grace is important important important. Start now. Rocky give information.”

It was uncommon for us to still find words that neither of us had translated yet, but it had happened from time to time. I had perked up, interested in asking Rocky what he had said. But I was way too nauseous and tired to call out. Plus, Rocky had quickly started giving a bunch of details on what my nutritional needs were. I toned him out, settling back into a mindless daze, halfway between sleep and wakefulness. 

That was the last thing I remembered before the dark overtook me.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

So, after finally recovering from another whole near-death experience (which, at least the other times were somewhat exhilarating and adrenaline producing, this one was just slow, painful, and pathetic), I was finally conscious enough to ask what that word Rocky had said when he’d talked about me to Erid the first time.

“What it mean?” Rocky repeated, almost confused why I had even asked.

I nodded. “Yes, I don’t remember ever hearing that word before. Otherwise we would’ve translated it.”

"Word 🎶🎵🎵🎶🎵, question?” Rocky said, double-checking even. I nodded.

Rocky had clicked a few of his fingers together, seemingly a little anxious.

“Mean Rocky mate-to-be.”

I felt my eyes nearly bulge out of my sockets.

“What?!” My voice came out high-pitched, surprised. Then of all things I could’ve said, I asked: “What about Adrian?”

“Adrian not care. Eridians have multiple mates.” Rocky paused, almost like he was waiting for me to say something. When I didn’t, he spoke again. “Why Grace so suprise, question? Grace started courting first. Was quite bold about it.”

I just stared at him, my mouth still open in shock. Rocky continued, starting to speak a little faster, sounding a mixture of annoyed and nervous. 

“Grace make Rocky jewelry to wear. Grace play wedding song for Rocky. Rocky Grace plan home together. Rocky accept. Rocky sing Grace mate-to-be song. Grace accept. Rocky get mate mark. Grace Rocky engaged. Statement.”

I blinked a few times. I might be smart, but even the smartest brains in the galaxy would need a moment to process that apparently they’d been accidentally courting their alien bestie. The same bestie that they’d actually been pining over but had ignored those feelings to avoid being a homewrecker, which was actually not possible because homewreckers didn’t exist in Erid? The bestie that actually was, my fiancée?? Or the Eridian equivalent??

I must’ve been quiet for too long, because Rocky had slumped a little, his carapace tilted downward and looking utterly dejected. My heart squeezed painfully seeing him look so sad.

“So Grace did not know. Rocky had thought…Rocky had hoped…” 

Despite literally only learning we were apparently engaged only seconds ago, I was already on board. And there was no way I was letting Rocky think otherwise.

“Woah, bud. I’m a little surprised, but I’m not upset. Quite the opposite. It seems like some cultural misunderstanding or miscommunication was happening here, but that doesn’t change my feelings.”

Rocky had perked up, quiet little happy vocalizations starting to come out of him, almost unwillingly. I felt my heart flutter at the sight.

“Feeling? What feeling, question?”

I felt myself blush, but I knew that if there was any time to be brave, it was now. Rocky was almost like my other half, a piece of myself that had always been missing on Earth. If I couldn’t be honest with him, then who could I be honest with?

“I love you, Rock,” my voice came out a little choked up. “I love you, like a mate, and I want to be around you all the time. For the rest of my life. If you’ll have me.”

Rocky let out a loud trill before it settled into a continuous thrumming noise, almost like a cat’s purr. “Happy happy happy! Rocky want Grace, too. Rocky love love love Grace, like mate. Thought Grace just want to be friends. Then Grace start courting Rocky…Rocky so excite. Happy Grace feel the same.”

He let out a few more ‘Happy happy happy’s that were intermixed with chittering squeals of delight, some that were so high and squeaky that I knew he was pitching outside my hearing range, too. I was feeling similarly ecstatic, kneeling down and never feeling more grateful for Rocky’s flexible, form-fitting xenonite suit as I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

Two of his arms wrapped around me, his warmth engulfing me. I shut my eyes, feeling my body go loose and limp from feeling so safe, comfortable, and loved.

“Grace sleep now, question?”

“Huh? No? Why?”

“Heart slow down. Rocky thought Grace sleepy.”

I gave Rocky’s carapace a little kiss, which drew an enthusiastic, happy trill from him before sitting back to look at him.

“It’s because I’m calm and feel safe, Rock. And I’m happy, happy, happy, too.”

“Good good good. Now kiss again.”

I let out a laugh, leaning back to press a few kisses over his carapace. He started to slightly tremble, purring in excitement. 

“Oh, you needy space rock, what am I to do with you?”

Rocky let out a mock offended noise.

“I meant my needy space rock.”

“Fine. Then Grace is Rocky leaky space blob.”

I felt warmth rush through me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

“Deal.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

At some point, Rocky and I do the Eridian equivalent of a wedding, just to make it official in all the eyes of Erid. Not that anyone probably would’ve said anything, considering we couldn’t go anywhere without being called ‘Savior Grace’ and ‘Savior Rocky’. Still, it was nice, albeit a lot simpler than weddings back on Earth could be.

However, I quite liked it. There were only a few people (or Eridians?), and it was a small ceremony.

I wore my white flight suit.

And later that night, Rocky brought me somewhere to Erid I’d never been before (he had long perfected a xenonite suit of my own to travel the planet in.) Of course, I was curious and had asked questions, but Rocky was tight-lipped about the whole ordeal. He was quite excited, though, often breaking out into uncontrollable impromptu jazz hands.

“Here. Look!”

I looked out to where he was pointing.

“Well, will you look at that,” I said in a mixture of awe and disbelief. A ways off was what could only be described as a car-sized tortoise. I was glad we were far enough away that it didn’t see us.

Despite everything, not only did I get married, but I also got the perfect honeymoon right on top. 

Speaking of on top, I hope we don’t stay out for too long…There were some kinky new hypotheses I’d like to try.

Hypotheses that were quite specific to Eridian-Human relations, that is.