unless

       Every time the doorbell rang, she nearly jumped out of her skin.  She didn't know why; she knew he would arrive at exactly six on the dot.

       Putting down the bowl she was carrying, she forced herself to take a deep breath.

       She really needed to get a grip on herself.  She didn't like this babbling nervous twit who's taken over her body.  It was sad.  It's never happened to her before.

       It kind of made her want to throw up.

       Julian beat her to the door and was already showing Kell and Frick in.

       "Dezrick said it is customary to bring a beverage when invited to a social dinner."

       "Thanks, man."

       Frick was handing over a huge clear jug of their purple stuff when Jess joined them.  Kell was already looking her way before she even came around the corner.

       The warmth in his eyes went up several degrees.

       Yeah, Aunt Sarah had made everyone dress up.  This was her at her best.  She had on a wine color blouse that had a peekaboo shoulder but a high neck line. Black slacks and a pair of black strappy heals.  Not too high, just high enough to give her some height.  She even wore some makeup and had spent extra time on her hair.  Most of it was up in a chignon, only a few curls escaping.

       It was more than obvious that he appreciated her efforts.  It was also obvious that he didn't like it when Julian threw his arm over her shoulders.

       "Our girl cleans up good, doesn't she?"

       She knew Julian thought she was beautiful, but he's never looked at her the way Kellum was.  No one has ever looked at her the way Kellum was.

       Her warm swirls were replaced with waves of heat.  "Glad you came.  You're just on time."

       Seeing Mel, she waved her towards them then wrapped her arms around her.  "You haven't really met my sister.  Mel, this is Kell and Prick.  I mean Frick.  Boys this is my little sister."

       "Hi."  Was her sister's cheerful greeting.

       "Yes, this one is the true beauty in the family.  I can't wait for the day when I can start knocking some heads together, can't have boys looking at my girl."

       Jess had to catch her bottom lip in her teeth to keep from laughing.  Jetidi stepped forward, his expression little better than Kellum's.

       "Aunt Sarah says it's almost time."

       "Thanks, sweetie."

       As soon as she let her go, her sister grabbed the little boy's hand and pulled him towards the dining room.

       "That's Jetidi.  They've become fast friends."

       "We know Jetidi.  When you only have eight children below ten and none below five you consider them all your brothers and sisters.  He's a good kid."

       "Well, I owe him for having a way with Mel.  He's one of the reasons why she's sleeping better."

       Julian unwrapped himself from her.  "Come on, Frick.  I'll show you the way."

       Once they were alone, her nerves only got worse.  "I've been meaning to ask you, is Jetidi a royal?"

       "Why do you ask?"

       "Not sure.  While you're here tonight why don't you watch him.  He really is the sweetest little boy.  Weird but sweet."

       "He's not a royal.  He lost both his parents when he was four."

       "Does he have anyone?"

       "We always have family."

       She smiled.  "That's why your uncle's sister's teacher's neighbor is your sister?"

       He gave her that half smile, the one she liked because it was real.  There was amusement in his eyes.

       "Something like that."

       "Well, come along.  Remember to keep an open mind."

       "Jessalynn."

       He was waiting for her to turn back to him, but she really didn't want to do that.  It would take her forever to look away.

       Sighing, she did anyway.

       "Your appearance is causing me not unpleasant distress.  Can you explain this to me?"

       She chuckled.  "I don't think I will."  She did what her sister had done, grabbed his hand and drugged him to dinner.

       They were the last two to arrive.  That's why there were only two seats left, both side by side and between Hayden and Hayley.

       Julian's smile was too snug.

       If she put Kell near Ray of Sunshine, he'll think she set them up.  If she put him next to Hayley, he would have to listen to why her friend thought his people were trying to take over the world.

       No win situation.

       When she passed Julian, she gave his ear a twist and felt better at his expression of pain.

       She put Kell next to Hayden.  She was still his best choice for a mate.  It would still be better for all, if he went and left his mark on the other girl.

       Hopefully, before Jess completely lost her mind.

       Her aunt Sarah gave her a nervous look.  "Charlie always said the prayer.  She always knew what to say."

       "She did."

       Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked around the table.  She couldn't even come close to filling her mom's shoes, but she was as close as they were going to get.

       "Thank all of you for coming.  We've been through some hard times; we've lost a lot but that's why we are all here tonight.  We've lost a lot, but we've gained a lot too.  New friends.  More family.  My mom would be proud of us.  I'm proud of us."

       Jess had to pause to clear her throat.

       Julian winked at her from across the table. 

       "So, in the words of my mother this last Thanksgiving.  The Lord is good, the lord is great.  Dig in and fill your plate."

       She reached for the mash potatoes.  Do you know how long it's been since she's had real food?  And who knew when she'd get more.

       "Mash potatoes."  She said, as she put some on Kell's plate.  "This is pot roast.  Just like your hunks of meat but with seasoning and gravy.  I'll give you a lot of meat."

       "Jess, hand me the devil eggs.  I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had deviled eggs."

       She gave Kell one then passed it on to Hayley.

       "I'm not fond of those."  Her nose turned up.  "My brother used to eat them by the dozens.  Gave himself a stomachache one time."  

       After giving him some green beans, she finished looking for things to pile on his plate.   "I'm not sure what this is, but it looks good."

       "I brought it.  It's broccoli, ham, and cheese casserole."

       "Looks very good, Ms. Sara.  Try my aunt's green beans.  I don't know what she does to them, but they are way better than anyone else's."

       "It's a secret my mother taught me.  Jetidi, did you get enough?"

       "Yes, Aunt Sarah."

       The only thing Mel had on her plate was a mountain of mac and cheese.  "I told him to call you that, Aunt Sarah.  He wanted to know how we have two people named Sarah."

       Jess looked at Kell.  He was watching her load down his plate.

       "We never reuse a name."  He stated.

       The mayor replied.  "I've wondered about that.  You don't have last names, do you?"

       "One name."

       Jess was watching Frick when he took his first bite.  He didn't care for the broccoli; he didn't like the potatoes, but when he tasted the beef, he looked like he'd died and gone to heaven.

       She gave Kell a smug look.

       "Jess, April said I can ride her horse this weekend.  Can I?  Please?"

       "Sure." 

       "What about you Julian?  Coming with us?  It will be fun."  Mel pleaded.

       "I was all for it until April told me we would be doing some work.  What's fun about that?"

       "Oh, come on you whiny baby.  Hey booger, are we going to take no for an answer?"

       "No.  We never take no for an answer."

       "True."

       He groaned.

       "I feel sorry for you, Julian.  I'm devoting my whole weekend to a book."  Hayden smiled his way.

       That was how the conversation went during the whole dinner.  No work talk, no talk about aliens or alien worries.

       Everyone needed a nice family dinner as much as she did.

       She'd even grown used to Kellum's arm touching hers.  The first few times he accidently touched her, she tensed and tried to hold herself away.  At one point, she'd feared she'd have to climb in Lee's lap to get away from him.

       Not that she thought he was doing it on purpose, he was just that big.

     So, she stopped moving away when he touched her and eventually, she stopped tensing as well.  Her arm rested on the table and his rested next to hers. 

     Without realizing it, now she found ways to not move that arm.

       "I'm not kidding.  I swear to God she was falling all over herself to get to him.  Swooning and gushing.  You're Brady Shaw.  Oh, Brady Shaw."

       Wait, what?

       "I would have loved to have seen that.  Jess beating someone up, I can see.  Jess gushing over someone?  Not sure I believe it."

       How was it that Julian managed to stay alive all these years?

       Aunt Sarah wore a genuine smile.

       "I'm quite sure he's lying.  I don't remember it that way."

       "Do you remember tripping over yourself to get to him?"

       "As if."

       "Dezrick, you have the ________?"

       "Julian, you wouldn't dare."

       Seeing her horror, almost everyone at the table laughed.

       "You know I'd never do that to you, babe, but I will use it for leverage for the rest of our lives."

       Jess's smile was sugary sweet.  "I'm sure I could dig up the DVD of you in that spring play when you were in the fourth grade.  You remember that don't you, babe?"

       "I believe it's time for dessert."  Julian announced.

       "Come on, Jess.  I want to hear all about this."  Meg begged.

       "He was______."

       "I believe your Aunt made a strawberry pie.  I'll grab it."

       "Strawberry?"  Her eyes jumped back to Julian to see if he was joking.

       Aunt Sarah smiled.  "And peach.  There's even cool whip."

       "You're the best.  Boys, hold on to your breeches.  You're about to have a slice of heaven.  Prick, you're never going to be the same."

       As soon as dessert was over Julian haggled over getting a basketball game started.  Poor baby, the only other player in the house was Hayden but he wouldn't be discouraged.

       "Go play.  I'll help with the cleanup.  Mel, take cupcake with you."

       Both Sarahs were already in the kitchen so she started clearing the table.  Somehow, it seemed natural for Kellum to stick with her.  Prick went to try his hand at the sport.

       "Just grab some.  It's called dishes.  Nobody on the planet earth likes to do it but they all get stuck with it sooner or later.  Guess that's one good thing about your cafeterias.  What did you think of dinner?"

       "Pleasant."

       Seeing her eye roll, he went on.  "I enjoyed it.  It's a time to connect yourself with family and friends."

       "How did you like the food?"

       "Very... rich."

       "And good, you stubborn ass."

       "Which am I?"

       "Both stubborn and an ass."

       "Family or friend?"

       "That's everything, Aunt Sarah.  Want me to______."

       "We have this covered, honey.  Run along and play."

       No one had to tell her twice.  She escaped as quickly as she could.  "What do you want to do?  We could______."

       He offered her his hand.

       When they appeared on the roof, she lifted her eyebrows.  "Thought I was banned from up here?"

       "You are.  Unless you are with me."

       "Think you can save me, huh?  What if you miss this time?"

       "I will not."

       You could hear the basketball game going on but couldn't see it from here.  "Now that would be a fun game.  I jump and we see if you catch me."

       His looked said he disagreed, and it was just a tad threatening.

       She sat.  "You're too easy, Kell."

       "You are unpredictable.  I am not use to anyone like you."

       "It will keep you young.  That's what my mom always said.  That and I drove her to drink."

       Jess just noticed the stars.  "Are they real?"

       "They are.  I can see the appeal of sitting here looking at them."

       Yes.  On her old house, she would sit on the roof for hours, looking up at them and writing songs.  Those times seemed farther away than Kellum's home planet.  "This is nice but put the UFO back tomorrow.  Newcomers are going to need to see it in order to believe all this is happening."

       "I will."

       "You did this for me, huh?  You make it hard for me to keep up with you.  You're also wasting all this wooing on the wrong person.  Hayden's down there right now, you could let her show you her moves."         

       "Why do you believe you're the wrong person?"

       She looked away while she could.  "Because."

       "Sound argument."

       Jess grunted and moved down the roof some so that she could lay back.  "Look for falling stars.  Some of my people believe if you see one you can make a wish."

       He repeated her actions. 

       Thank God.  She was safer when she didn't have to look at him.  "Let's don't talk about it.  You don't listen, then I feel like hitting you."

       "At which point you will hurt your hand."

       "Yep.  You know what I've noticed?  There's no wind here.  None.  Why is that?"

       "There's a barrier around the three cities."

       "Why?"
        "Protection.  On my planet, our weather is far from perfect so this way we can control the climate."

       "So, no wind?  No rain?"

       She felt him turn his head towards her.  "Is that a problem?  The farming communities are design to receive rain, but water was in short supply, so we learned to do without it."

       "The trees?"

       "Will be taken care of."

       "Then I suppose like you, we will learn to live without it.  I've always loved the feel of wind on my face.  Always like to get caught outside in the rain.  We can get used to it, but it would be nicer not to have to."

       He was silent for so long she turned to look at him.

       "Thank you for inviting me tonight.  I cannot remember ever doing nothing for so long and enjoying it so much."

       "Thank you for the stars."

       "Hayden does not make me feel anything."

       "I thought that was a good thing?"

       "I could not be here with her like this."

       Tomorrow she'll probably be able to think of a million things she should have said.  Thanked him but tell him that he hasn't given Hayden enough time.  Remind him how much trouble she was.  In fact, now would have been a good time to jump for it.

       Would have, should have, could have.  When has she ever done what she should do?

       With the back of her hand, she touched his cheek.  "You're not as pale as some of your people.  You have a better tan that I do."  He was warm.  Flesh and blood.  Male.

       Carefully.  Tenderly, he followed her example.  A warm, strong hand cupped her cheek like she was the most delicate thing in the whole world.

       Jess caught his hand and pressed a trembling kiss to it.

       He was more surprised than her when he caught her face in both his hands and brought her closer. 

       "Human Jessalynn, the human Julian is concern for you."  Dezrick's voice saved her.

       Dear sweet Julian.  He always knew just when to save her.