“I just wanted to let you know he is not going to be showing up for any sex in the park , if that was your big plan.” I jumped down from the gazeb... and ran after him. Grabbing him by the shoulder, I turned him toward me. The look in his eyes frightened me, as if he was going to yell at me some more. I was used to being yelled at by him, being as we fought all the time, but this is the first time it had ever been out of real anger, and that frightened me. “Get your filthy hands off me you. They argued that the sick bay would assure a perfectly sterile environment, superior diagnostic equipment would be available in case of complications, there would be no alien observers to get in the way, a receiving room could be prepared for the infant, and on and on. She responded reasonably that sterile delivery accommodations could be readily arranged on the surface, that the shipboard diagnostics were intended for severe illnesses and not normal pregnancies, that she wanted an alien in. Sighing contentedly, I smiled to myself. What was this feeling? Happiness? Bliss? My life was certainly far from perfect, but at the moment every day stresses were nowhere to be felt. I hummed the melody of our first dance from our wedding to myself and leaned on the railing to look upon my flower garden below. Feeling the sudden need to walk through the dew-dampened grass and commune with my plants and flowers I began to turn to make my way downstairs. An arm around my waist stopped me in. At first, my forehead and neck, then my abdomen. Finally, my legs. Some of the touches are causing me pain. I'm trying to protest, but my lips can't move. The touching stops. I hear a lively conversation. The words sound familiar, but I can't grasp their meaning. A few minutes later, I am aware of something cold sliding up my right leg. It barely touches my skin. I hear a creaking sound. I don't understand what's going on. Then, I feel the same coldness on my left leg. What a fool I am! They.