You won't let go if it comes back

James gasped at the slender arms that draped across his shoulders from behind. The voice he'd just accepted he'd never hear again echoed weakly, from a hoarse throat.

"I love you."

He stood quickly, wrapping his arms around her. She shined with blue and green, and a touch of gold crept up her spine. He pulled away to look at her face. Still too dry, but alive.

"I thought you were..."

"I meant to be.", she answered. Tears fell slowly from her face, and across her smile.

"Why would you think I had lied to you?", he asked with a shaking voice.

"You did...just not the way I thought. It's okay. You didn't know..."

"Then I'll have to learn..."

She touched her forehead to his. Bright gold flashed across her entire body. The child Novaxan made a very distinct sound of disgust. Both the male, and Aurora shared a chuckle. James looked at them confused. "Why is that...wait, is that like...sex for you guys?"

Aurora shook her head. "No...it's how we...mm." She stopped herself, and rather than tell him she chose to show him. Her hands found his cheeks, and she pulled him into a soft kiss.

Now it was his turn to chuckle. He and Aurora stared at one another as though they would memorize every feature the other had. "So...how do I get you out of here?"

The male interrupted their moment with some hesitation. "You...you don't. I'd hear alpha try for it with the elders...your officials are blocking it."

"Great...so it won't ever be okay."

Aurora gave him a sad smile, and another kiss. "Not really...but knowing you and I...that we have this. It's enough. Even if it's only because it has to be."

"Do you think...we can see each other again somehow?"

She shook her head slowly. "No...but know that I'm here...that I'm happier just knowing that you love me."

She gave a light push on his chest. "Don't let them catch you here...if they do anything to you this...this won't be okay anymore."

He bit his lip, to bite back his tears. Retracing wasn't hard. The male Nova stopped him before he left the building. "She has her own phone...I sort of snuck it to her. They don't really keep tabs on them well, and they're meant for our representative members so they aren't prepaid. They want them to always be able to answer...I know it isn't much. Hopefully it's enough."

James nodded. "Thanks...I'll keep the number she called from, then."

"Just...let her call you. If they find out she has it, they'll take it."

With a thumbs up, James opened the door. He paused. "Hey...what do I call you?"

"Wally.", he smiled. James chuckled and walked out, rejoining his mother in the car.

She saw the tears in his eyes and across his face. "James? What happened in there? Is everything alright?"

With a deep breath and a quick wipe of his face, he drove them out. "Yeah. Everything's okay, Mom."