Tentacle on 34th Street (Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0)

Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

Christmas

C ryss had spent several Christmas Days on Earth before, but never with an Earth family. He sat back, watching and comparing to the many holiday movies they’d watched after Alex’s accident. The family traded gift after gift under the brightly decorated tree—most handed out by Alex’s mom who’d clearly gone overboard. Cryss had only brought one gift for Alex with him, just to ensure his human had something to open from him. There were many more left back in Aspen that they could do in private later.

He watched Alex interacting with his family and smiled. After the drama of the night before, he saw he and his mother were more at ease with one another and even seemed to be getting along quite well. Ethan reminded Cryss more and more of Qylar. Every family apparently had one, whether they were of Earth or alien.

When Alex’s mother handed him a small box, he frowned. “You didn’t need to get me anything, Helen.”

“Well, when Ethan told me Alex was bringing a friend, I couldn’t have you sit through all this without getting you something to unwrap. It might not be as nice as that fancy wine you brought me, but it’s a little something.”

“Thank you very much,” Cryss murmured before opening the box under the family’s watchful gaze. He found a small, glass ornament inside. Emblazoned on it was ‘First Christmas Together’ and the year. He smiled, his gaze drifting to Alex before returning to Helen. “It’s lovely, thank you.”

“Well, Ethan already told me you were Alex’s boyfriend, not that he would admit it,” Helen playfully jabbed at Alex’s shoulder. “I don’t know if this lasts forever, but if it does, you can have that on your tree and remember your first.”

Alex took the box from Cryss and peeked inside. He drew the ornament out and read it, his gaze going a little glassy. “Nice, Mom. That’s actually pretty sweet.”

“I have my moments,” Helen said, appearing very proud of herself, as she should be. She spun. “I think that’s about everything.”

“Nope. One more,” Alex said, fishing out the present he’d brought for his mother. He presented it to her, and she squealed—waking Ray in his recliner—before taking a seat to unwrap. As soon as she opened it, she squealed even louder. She lifted a bright yellow and blue patterned purse that hurt Cryss’s eyes to look at. “Ray, he got me the new Vera Bradley I’ve been wanting. I can’t believe you got me this, Alex. It’s perfect.” She slung it over one shoulder and squealed with delight. “I can’t wait to use it.” She jumped up and hugged Alex. “Thank you, baby.”

“You’re welcome, momma.” Alex cleared his throat. “Mom.”

“I’ll always be your momma, and you know it,” she said, pinching his cheek. “If that’s everything, I’m going to check that breakfast casserole in the oven, and we can eat.”

Alex climbed from the floor and took a seat beside Cryss on the couch. “We can probably get out of here in another hour or two. I’m sure you’re ready to go.”

“You stay as long as you want,” Cryss said. “I’m in no rush to leave.”

Alex leaned in and pressed a kiss to Cryss’s lips.

A ball of giftwrap came flying at them. Cryss snagged it before it hit Alex in the head.

“Oh, come on,” Ethan said from the other side of the living room. “You just ruined a Christmas tradition. We always have a wrapping paper fight.”

“We’re not six and ten anymore,” Alex said to his brother.

“Spoilsport,” Ethan muttered before Keely threw paper and distracted him.

“Breakfast is ready!” Helen called from the kitchen.

Ethan, Keely, and Ray jumped up and headed that way, leaving him alone with Alex in the living room,

“There is one more present,” Cryss said to Alex, pulling out the small box he’d tucked aside that morning.

“You’ve already given me plenty all month long,” Alex argued.

“I believe it was agreed that Christmas, your birthday, and my birthday were open free periods,” Cryss murmured.

“You agreed that,” Alex argued, but he took the box anyway. He opened it and scoffed. “Funny.” He lifted the box of Sugar Babies candy out and shook it. “Ha-ha.”

Cryss grinned.

Alex smiled brightly, placing the candy back in the box. “Thank you.” He fanned his face with one hand. “Is it hot in here?”

“It doesn’t feel hot to me.” He eyed Alex. “You do look quite red in the face all of a sudden. Do you feel unwell?”

Alex peeled off his cardigan and tossed it aside. “Just hot.”

“Are you two coming to eat?” Helen asked, rounding the corner.

She suddenly stopped in her tracks, her face pale, and stared. Cryss followed her gaze, and it was on the imprint on Alex’s arm. “Oh my god, no. Alex, no.” Her gaze flipped to Cryss’s. “Did his father send you?”

Cryss narrowed his eyes, confused. Yet the look in her eyes spoke of recognition. It made his flesh cold. “What?”

“Did his father send you?” Helen demanded, her gaze locked on Cryss.

“What are you talking about, Mom?” Alex said.

“I should’ve realized that world would catch up to you sooner or later,” Helen said to Alex. She stumbled to the nearest chair and sat down, her face pale.

“Mom?” Alex asked.

The rest of the family came out, plates in their hands, and seemed to notice the weird energy in the room.

“What’s going on?” Ethan asked.

“That alien over there’s going to take Alex away from me,” Helen said.

Cryss’s mouth dropped open.

A lex’s gaze flipped to Cryss’s. What the fuck was his mother talking about? Alien? How did she know that?

“Alien?” Ethan said, chuckling. “I wondered about that accent of yours. You need a green card wedding, Cryss?” Ethan frowned at the stunned look on Cryss’s face before turning to Alex. “What’s happening?”

“Ethan, Keely—maybe you two should go into the kitchen to eat,” Alex’s dad said.

“Why?” Ethan asked.

“Just go!” their dad barked.

Alex’s dad never barked. That alone sent cold chills over Alex’s entire body.

“Okay, okay,” Ethan said before grabbing Keely’s hand and wandering away.

“Dad?” Alex asked.

His father set his plate down and ambled closer to Alex’s mom, who looked lost and confused. She was mumbling something to herself under her breath. “Helen. It’s time we told him.”

“Told me what?” Alex asked.

His father took Alex’s hands. “You know I love you, right, Alex?”

“You’re scaring me,” Alex whispered.

His dad winced. “When I met your mom, you were a year old.”

Alex shook his head, feeling sick to his stomach. “No.”

His father’s eyes got teary. “Being allowed to be your dad has been an honor, Alex. You were the sweetest boy and grew up to be a wonderful man. I’ve loved you like my own for almost your entire life, and you will always be my son.”

Alex shook his head, tears burning the backs of his eyes. “No… please don’t do this.”

“I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time, but your mother was scared to tell you the truth. And I understood why, so I let it go on for far too long. You deserved to know the truth.”

“Ray,” Helen mumbled. “I can’t tell him.”

Alex looked at his mother. “Who’s my biological father?”

“A man named Thar Krylr from the planet Nefyria,” she replied. “You were one of four babies I had that day. Thar took the other three away and left you with me.”

Alex swayed on his feet. He didn’t know what to say. His entire life had been a lie. The same tingling sensation he’d felt when he’d first met Cryss returned, but it changed. It didn’t feel good anymore. He felt like he was going to throw up.

“Why did you keep this from me for so long, Mom?”

“Because you belong here,” she said. “You’re not a part of that world.”

“You don’t get to decide that,” Alex roared. He felt warmer and woozy. The walls were closing in. He turned to Cryss. “I need to get out of here.”

“Alex…” his mother sobbed. “It’s Christmas. Please don’t go.”

“I can’t stay here right now.”

“Let’s go get our bag,” Cryss murmured.

“Wait,” Alex said, his gaze landing on Ray, who looked heartsick. Alex rushed closer and stood in front of the man he’d always thought of as dad. He wanted to hug his dad, but hesitated. Things had changed, and he hated that they had.

Ray grabbed him and wrapped both arms around Alex tight. “I’m still your dad. No matter what.”

Alex squeezed Ray. “Thank you. For being there. And being the dad I needed.”

Ray patted his chin. “I’ll still be here when you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

Alex hugged him again. He stepped back “I’m sorry, but I have to get of this house. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Ray nodded, tears in his eyes.

Alex grabbed Cryss’s hand. “Let’s go.”

They walked back to Alex’s bedroom and quickly gathered all of their belongings into the suitcase. As soon as Cryss had it zipped, he pulled out the handheld device that would take them back to the ship. He set the locations, grabbed Alex in his arm, and triggered the device.

Seconds before they disappeared, Ethan swung open his bedroom door and rushed in.

In a blink, they were back on Cryss’s ship, in the bedroom they’d used the night before. Alex looked up at Cryss, who seemed as shocked by the news as he did.

“I don’t know what to do with this information,” Alex murmured. “I feel like I’m in a nightmare I can’t wake up from.”

Cryss sat on the end of the bed and placed his elbows on his knees.

“Do you know this man? My biological father?” Alex asked.

“No.” Cryss shook his head. “Maybe.”

Alex looked at Cryss. “Which is it?”

“When coming to Earth, we create fake identification—sometimes using altered names. Thar Krylr may not be his real name. Probably isn’t as Thar isn’t a common name on Nefyria.” He rose and crossed to the computer in their room. “I can run it through our system to see if it flags anyone who’s used it before.”

“How long will that take?” Alex asked.

“Minutes if it’s listed,” Cryss said. He typed the name in, and Alex saw the system churning data and running lists seconds later.

Alex paced the room, restless. His skin itched. His throat was dry. His stomach spasmed. “I’m going to be sick.”

Cryss sped him to the comfort room in time to empty his guts into a receptacle. Alex heaved it all, Cryss comforting him through it. When he was done, Cryss washed his face and hands, and gave him something to rinse his mouth out.

From the room, the computer pinged.

“Does that mean it found him?”

“Possibly,” Cryss murmured. “Don’t get your hopes up.” He washed Alex’s face again with the warm cloth. “If it’s not there, I’ll help you find him. Whatever we have to do—if that’s what you want.”

“I don’t know if I want to meet him—but I have to have a name. Not a fake one.”

Cryss nodded. “Are you well enough to get up?”

Alex nodded. Cryss helped him up and into the bedroom. He set Alex on the bed and strode to the computer. After reading the screen, Cryss stepped back a few paces before spinning to stare at Alex oddly.

“What is it?”

Cryss shook his head, frowning. “The only person to use the identity Thar Krylr was… Krythar of Qlr.”

Alex searched Cryss’s face, sensing trouble. “Who is he?”

“King Krythar of Qlr,” Cryss murmured. “Three years ago, I was betrothed to one of his sons.”

Alex’s eyes widened.

“His son was pregnant with another man’s baby, so it negated the contract. I jumped on a ship with Qylar and ran all the way to Earth.” Cryss eyed him. “And met you.”

“Wait, is this the same King that you have to marry one of his—” Alex met Cryss’s gaze. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Cryss said, appearing dazed.

“Good,” Alex said. “Then marry me.”

“No,” Cryss murmured.

The sting of that refusal took Alex’s breath away. “You don’t want to marry me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then why no?”

“Because you’re in shock, Alex,” Cryss said. “In an hour or two, you might regret suggesting it.”

“But this will solve your problem,” Alex argued.

“I love you. And I want to spend my life being at your side, but I want you to want to marry me for the same reason. Not some wild idea when you can barely think straight.”

“You’d rather marry another man than me?”

Cryss sighed. “I’ve already said I’m not going back.”

“Yes, you are!” Alex roared. “They’re going to force you, and you’re going to leave me!”

Cryss collected Alex’s face in his hands. “No.”

“Yes,” Alex said. “I feel it in my bones. I don’t want to lose you. I love you!”

“I love you!”

“So marry me!” Alex yelled.

“Fine, I will!” Cryss roared.

Alex held Cryss’s gaze, the first time all day he felt on level ground.

“Are you two done yet?”

Alex turned to see Qylar staring from the door to their bedroom. “Maybe not!” Alex yelled at Qylar.

Qylar lifted his hands in surrender. “Hey, if this is how you two do foreplay, you go right on and do your thing. I just need to know if we’re headed back to San Francisco now.”

“I think we should stay and give Alex time before we leave.”

“No,” Alex said. “But I don’t want to go back to San Francisco. I want to meet my father.”

“Your father? I thought you were just with your father in the Outer Banks?” Qylar asked.

“Alex is half Nefyrian,” Cryss told Qylar. “We just both found out.”

“Oh,” Qylar said. “Congratulations?”

“Not sure they’re in order yet,” Alex huffed. “I haven’t had time to process this.”

Cryss walked behind him and rubbed his shoulders. “Which is why I don’t think you should be making major life decisions right now. You’re in shock. Of course I want to marry you. I love you. But I want you to have a clear mind when you decide to be mine.”

Alex turned to face Cryss. “My mind only feels clear when you’re around.”

Cryss rested his forehead on Alex’s. “I just don’t want you to regret this decision later.”

“I won’t,” Alex said. “I think we should go right now and meet my sperm donor and get his blessing.”

“Well, technically, he’s the sperm and egg donor if he’s Nefyrian,” Qylar mentioned.

Cryss’s eyes suddenly got wide.

“What?” Alex asked.

“Nothing,” Cryss murmured, eyeing him oddly. He turned to Qylar. “Set a course for Nefyria. Alex wants to meet his father. King Krythar.”

“Krythar?” Qylar spat. He turned to Alex. “Krythar’s your father?”

“According to my mother he is,” Alex said. “And the argument you just witnessed was your friend refusing to consider marrying me to get out of his current situation.”

Qylar spun to Cryss.

“Q, he’s just had a shock. He needs a moment to process that before he agrees to be my husband.”

Qylar sighed. “You two have your moment. I’ll go plug in a new course.”

The door closed, and Alex turned to Cryss. He wiped his brow, feeling like he was cooking inside.

Cryss pressed a hand to Alex’s head. “You’re burning up.” He frowned, his head shaking. Grabbing Alex’s hand, he led them toward the bed. “Lie down. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Alex mumbled. He rubbed the sweat from his forehead and peeled off his clothes down to his briefs before crawling onto the bed.

A few minutes later, Cryss arrived with a large silver metal rolling case. From the top, he lifted a device that looked similar to the one they used to teleport to and from the ship. It emitted a bar of light. Cryss swept that light bar over Alex’s entire body and then checked the screen, his eyes widening. His gaze jumped to Alex’s before he pulled a drawer open from the silver case and rifled through it. He pulled something out and lifted his hand to Alex. “Open your mouth.”

He did, and Cryss sprayed something on his tongue.

It tasted vile. Alex frowned. “What was that?”

“It’ll make you feel better shortly,” Cryss murmured.

Alex groaned. “It’s so hot in here.”

“It’s fifty-five degrees in here,” Cryss said. “Not hot. You’re hot. Give the medicine a moment to work.” He lifted an open can of water to Alex’s lips.

Alex drained the can and felt a little better. “Can I have another?”

“I’ll go get you more,” Cryss said. “Just lay back and let the medicine work.”

Alex rested his head on the pillow, and his body slowly started to calm a little. By the time Cryss returned, he’d gotten a chill and slid under the sheets. He took the can Cryss offered and drained it, too. Finally, he felt a bit better.

He looked at Cryss’s worried stare. “I’m feeling better.” His mother’s story whispered through his mind, but he didn’t want to believe it. “Tell me I’m really sick and my mother’s story was just a fever dream.”

Cryss shook his head. “I’m sorry, but it was not.” He wiped a warm cloth over Alex’s face. “Half of you is from my world. Maybe that explains this connection we’ve felt all along.”

“I thought you said your people don’t have those?”

“No. We don’t. But… you’re half human, so maybe the combination has triggered something unknown? Calling me to you because we were more alike than we realized?” Cryss shook his head. “I don’t know, Alex. I’m as dumbfounded by this as you. I never sensed that you were part Nefyrian. I’ve thought you human all along.”

Alex sighed. “It was hard learning you were an alien. It’s ten times worse to find out I’m half alien and I’ve been lied to my entire life. My dad isn’t my father, which means Ethan’s my half-brother. I possibly have a biodaddy and siblings on another planet.”

Cryss took his hand. “We’ll get through this. I’ll give you whatever you need. You just have to ask.” He pressed a gentle kiss on Alex’s hand. “I’ll help you find all the answers you want. But right now, you need to rest. You’re unwell.”

“Unwell? What’s wrong with me?”

“You have a fever, and you just vomited,” Cryss said.

“What did that little scanner thing say was wrong?”

“A bug. I gave you something to settle your stomach and cool you down. That’s all,” Cryss murmured. “I can also give you something mild to help you sleep, which after all you’ve just learned, may be the only way you can rest.”

Alex scoffed, shivering. “Now I’m cold.”

Cryss used the console beside the bed to raise the temperature for him. He rose, collected a blanket, and covered Alex and the bed with it. “How about some sleep?”

Alex nodded. “Mild, you said, right?”

“Very mild,” Cryss said.

Alex sighed. “After the day I’ve had, maybe I need extra-strength so I can sleep for a week.”

Cryss chuckled. “I think we’ll go with a few hours first, hmm?”

He reached into the box and brought out something that looked like a piercing gun. Cryss placed it against Alex’s arm. As soon as the tiny needle entered his arm, Alex began drifting into nothingness.

C ryss went in search of Qylar. His mind was spinning out of control. Alex was half Nefyrian, which had caused another problem for them. He found Qylar on the flight deck.

“I’ve plotted the course. By tomorrow morning, we’ll be home,” Qylar murmured.

“I know you didn’t want to go back,” Cryss murmured. “We could drop you off and I can take him.”

“Where you go, I go,” Qylar murmured. “You know, except on your sex vacations to Aspen. Those you can do on your own.”

“Alex is pregnant.”

Qylar spun the chair, one brow elevated. He stared at Cryss in silent shock.

“You two have had an eventful month,” Qylar said. “You leave me all alone and have all kinds of drama.” He shook his head. “Why the hell did you knock him up? Don’t you have enough going on right now?”

“I didn’t mean to. We tried some egg play. I thought he was fully human, so I didn’t worry about fertilization. The eggs would just come out of him in the end. Only one didn’t. I thought I’d miscounted in the heat of the moment, but the medic unit just confirmed it.” Cryss sighed. “He’s in hormone rush and having a reaction to the spike, probably because he’s half human. I’ve medicated him, and he’s resting now.” Cryss scrubbed his face with both hands. “Also, he doesn’t know yet.”

“You didn’t tell him?”

“He’s only just recovered from finding out I’m an alien and has now learned he’s half alien. I’m not adding something else on his shoulders right now. Once he’s gotten over that shock— then I can give him another.” Cryss blew out a long breath. “Please don’t tell him yet.”

“He should’ve known before I did.”

Cryss sighed. “I realize that, but since he’s struggling with the pregnancy that I can’t tell him about yet, I need you to be aware in case there’s a medical emergency. Help me watch him. I just got him in my life. I’m not going to lose him already.”