**Opps… Needed to add one more thing before this story ended. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Thanks for the reviews.**

"Wikus, how long ago did your watch stop working?" Christopher said, as he set food out for their meal.

"I don't know, I didn't think to bring batteries." It was an old argument that was becoming more and more frequent.

"It's been two cycles at least."

"And your point is?" Wikus stared at him. So what if the watch had stopped working over three years before. So what if it the crystal was scratched some and the band looked tattered.

Christopher set the platter he was holding down. "You left that life, can't you join this one fully."

Wikus crossed his arms and shifted his weight. "I have, I'm working."

"Wikus." Christopher stepped closer. "It's more than working. Why don't you take the watch and put it somewhere special. It marks you as different." Wikus narrowed his eyes. Christopher's antennae flicked. "Which is fine, but what I'm trying to say is be a part of us, a part of me."

"Do we have to do this now?" Wikus would have liked to have taken a step back, but the table was behind him.

"Yes we do have to do this now. Oliver won't be home, and there are more important matters I wanted to discuss, but first the watch."

"But Christ—"

"What have I told you about that name?"

"Yes, sorry," Wikus tapped a fingertip on each of his crossed arms. "Xylera, just skip the watch, tell me the rest."

Wikus held Christopher's gaze then saw him nod slightly. "Fine, Oliver is growing steadily; it's time for another offspring."

Wikus blinked. Of all the things he expected Christopher to say, an offspring wasn't it. They had decided early on that it would be unfair to Wikus if they were to have a child, or offspring as the Poleepkwa named their children, due to Wikus's need to adapt to his new surroundings. He supposed he should have anticipated Christopher's declaration, but he didn't, and now as he watched he saw Christopher's antennae fall with disappointment. He hadn't even said anything, and he was already disappointing him. He liked children. Oliver was a great kid, and had accepted Wikus into his life with surprising ease.

Christopher turned away and began to take out something for them to drink. He had to say something. Otherwise this moment would turn into one of those days of not talking. And the days here were far longer than earth days. He looked down at the watch that still held so much meaning for him. Every time he looked at it, or twisted the band on his arm he thought of Tina, which took him back to what he left behind on Earth. He had some regrets, and there were times when he woke that he would think of his choice, and wonder for the millionth time if he had made the right one.

He had seen the stars up close and personal. Here he was on another planet complete with seven moons, and that first night he had stood overlooking the grassy plane surrounding the city was astounding. Christopher stood at his side. Oliver had long since gone to bed in his little hammock. The moons were bathing the plane in milky light, and he thought he might burst from the beauty of it all. In those moments he had no regrets. The time spent with Christopher, coupling, or learning about each other was also virtually regret free. His job, well that left him plenty of time to think.

Christopher was an engineer of sorts, designing machines, working with propulsion and power sources. That had been his task on the ship, overseeing the massive engines that ferried the people through the stars. And Wikus well, he had a job basically doing construction of sorts. It was good for him because he needed something for himself, and it kept his hands busy, but not his mind. Christopher had argued with him telling him that he didn't have to work. He was a revered person after all, and Christopher could support him. But he had told him he needed it. He didn't want to hear that he was revered, that just brought to much strife to his mind, and too many memories of bad choices, which only led him to guilt, lots and lots of it.

It was true he had been accepted by the people. He had even been lauded for his accomplishments on Earth by the Scitira, the leader of them all. There had been a great celebration when they returned home, and Thomas had mentioned Wikus, apparently repeatedly, so there he had been feeling the need to bolt away, as the Scitira spoke to the gathered people. It was only Thomas's strong hand on his shoulder that kept him from making a quick exit or generally embarrassing himself. He had been glad when that was all over, and he could fade into obscurity. But that hadn't quite happened. He was shorter than the others, and he wore his prized possession the watch. What bothered him the most was when people asked him questions about his accomplishments on Earth. He didn't care what any one of them said, there weren't any accomplishments to speak of, so he would wave them off without comment. But with the children it was worse. The metal on his chest was gone, the plates had been regenerated, but the watch was a constant source of interest to wandering children. He didn't see the fascination. They had advanced technology, what was one very-worn watch compared to the gadgets they had in their homes.

And Alex like Christopher had asked him to take the watch off in those early days after he arrived to his now home, but he refused and they dropped the subject. Now years later it was a repeating conversation that came up at all times of the day or night. He glanced down at his wrist, and saw that Christopher had sat down to eat without him. It was normal when they had an argument, to ignore each other. He knew that Christopher was hurt by his stubbornness. And now he wanted offspring. There were times in his life that he felt like he had given everything he could give. That's when he felt the most regret and the guilt came, as the people had been there for him in his greatest time of need. So here he was staring at the watch again. Would it be so hard to take it off? He glanced at Christopher who had his head bowed, and was picking at the food before him.

Irritation flared within him, as he reached down with two trembling fingers and began to take off the watch. It hadn't been removed since Tina placed it on his arms so many years ago. When it came free he noticed that his hard exoskeleton beneath had been scratched and rubbed by the dial. He cupped it in his hand then turned setting it on the table behind him. He wasn't good at this, relationships. Even with Tania there would be times that he would spout his mouth off. That they would fight and then he would be apologizing in earnest to her. He supposed that his poor behavior in his current relationship wasn't all that different than before. What he needed to do was take the next step forward, literally as well as figuratively.

Wikus took a step then another, and was working to wrap his head around the concept of an offspring when he sat down next to Christopher, his mate he reminded himself yet again for the thousandth time. He still had trouble saying those two words as well, his mate. Wikus set his arm on the table where it would be blatantly obvious that his watch had been discarded, and flicked an antenna out to brush Christopher's face.

He watched Christopher look up, noticing the missing watch.

"When did you want to start?"

Christopher blinked, and Wikus felt a slight rush inside, he rarely managed to do anything that surprised Christopher anymore, it was good. Wikus knew that both of their cycles were coming in a matter of days, and thought that was why Christopher had brought the subject of offspring up.

"I suppose we have to discuss the details about who is doing what?"

Christopher nodded.

"I take it that you carried Oliver?"

He nodded again, his eyes wide.

"And what do you want to do now?"

Christopher blinked then shook his head slightly. "I, well…"

"I never thought I'd see the day when I left you searching for words."

Christopher leaned forward slightly, and Wikus felt Christopher's antennae slide over his, creating a quiver inside. "I'm surprised that's all. I'd like you to carry our offspring; you're one of us now, please take the last step."

Wikus sat back in his chair. Looked at the watch where he had left it on the table, and down to the mark it had left on his arm. Christopher was watching closely. Wikus knew without a doubt if Christopher had asked this after they arrived, or even a year ago Wikus would have been out the door and off somewhere where he could move, clear his head and try to ignore what had been said. But here he was considering the next step in his life. He stood no longer feeling hungry and looked down at Christopher.

"Okay."

Christopher blinked again then stood rapidly his chair falling to the floor. Christopher had his hands on Wikus's shoulders in mere seconds. "You won't regret it Wikus, we'll do this together." Christopher said in a chattering voice.

"I'm sure." Wikus murmured, as he was pulled towards their sleeping area. He took one last look at the watch then let Christopher drag him forward all the while his mate was talking on at a rapid rate about offspring, and how the egg would grow within him. In that moment he didn't want the details, as much as he wanted to get on with his choice. But he had days to wait, and days to apparently listen to Christopher, as he began to instruct Wikus in the finer points of offspring care. Wikus would have groaned if not for the heady, scared but excited feeling that was growing inside him.