Alien Proliferation

always been in love with you.”
    “Yeah, and I’ll always love him. He’s still one of my best friends. We just have to stay friends, but that’s okay. I think he’ll get over me.”
    Christopher had them off the ground and was slamming Gaultier against the wall. Apparently, this was a family move. I had to admit I always found it manly and impressive.
    “When did you know you were in love with Jeff?”
    “Oh, I realized it during the ‘my guy’s tied up and they’re trying to kill him’ portion of the festivities. Possibly because it says a lot when the bad guys have to tie your man up in order to do any kind of damage to him. But if you want the truth, I fell in love with him in the first minute I knew him.”
    “So that’s normal?”
    I managed not to grin or laugh. “Yes. You know, they make great mates. Really great. Sure, it’s an adjustment, being with a guy who knows what you’re feeling or how your body’s functioning or everything about you just from touching your picture, but it’s kind of nice, too. To have someone who loves you and understands you so well. And everyone has something to overcome. Plus, they really do recover quickly.”
    “No fights?”
    I managed not to bark a laugh. “Ah, sadly, plenty of fights. Might just be me and Jeff, though. James and Paul don’t fight much. I don’t think Brian and Serene do, either. Just depends on the personalities.” Lorraine and Claudia had had plenty of fights with Joe and Randy, but, as with me and Jeff, it didn’t mean they didn’t love each other or weren’t right together.
    “I suppose. Jeff seems like a wonderful father.”
    “He is. The kind that would die for his child, not hold a gun to her head.” Thought about something else. “The superpowers are pretty cool. Supposedly Jamie and I won’t die early from them. You get used to the talents, too.”
    “I saw you fight. I don’t think I could ever do that.”
    “No worries, don’t figure I’ll do that too often. Sometimes you have to break the rules to save the world, that’s all.”
    “I have no idea what you mean.”
    “Few ever do, Ames. Few ever do.” Gaultier wasn’t moving anymore. I got the impression he was quite dead. Christopher dropping him to the floor was an indication, too. “Oh, wow, there’s Jeff. Be right back.”
    I zipped over to the other doorway, then turned and watched. I mean, why not? Jeff came up behind me and pulled my back against his chest. I leaned against him, heaved a sigh, and let my body relax. I was down to merely really tired, which was a nice improvement over exhausted. White stood next to us.
    Christopher turned to Amy and stalked over to her. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” His voice was shaking. She started to cry, and he reached for her. Amy flung herself into Christopher’s arms and buried her face in his neck. He held her and rocked her while he stroked her back. “It’s okay, I’m here. I won’t ever let anyone hurt you.”
    “When did you know?” Jeff asked me quietly.
    “Oh, when we got Richard back from Paris. He was defending her, snarling at my mother over her, it was kind of obvious once I thought about it.”
    “I didn’t pick up any of this. I thought she was going to end up with Reynolds.”
    I managed not to snort a laugh. Didn’t want to ruin the romantic atmosphere, particularly since Christopher had moved Amy’s head so he could kiss her. Nice kiss—at least she seemed to like it, if her body melting against his was any indication. He was good, as I recalled. Not up to Jeff’s standards, but I had a feeling Amy might not agree. Not that I was going to let her test Jeff out.
    “Baby, I call that wishful thinking on your part. Chuckie and Amy will be civil after Operation Confusion, but the best we’ll ever get is mildly friendly, potentially the exchanging of small gifts at the holidays to show willingness. And you didn’t pick it up because Christopher can now hide his emotions from you, and Amy was doing the same thing I did when I first met you—telling herself there was no way she’d fallen in love with some guy just by looking at him.”
    “You really fell in love with me the first time you looked at me?” He sounded like he didn’t believe it but hoped it was true.
    I turned and looked up at him. “The moment you smiled at me, I was hooked, and by the time you told me your name, I was yours.”
    Jeff picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He kissed me,