Chapter 6

Jess suddenly opened her eyes and looked around. She was not in bed. Then she remembered what had happened the night before and lifted her head off a silken chest. She gazed down in the predawn light and saw Kaylee's peaceful face. She lifted a finger and traced the edge of Kaylee's cheek and then along her jaw. Kaylee's eyes slowly opened and then focused on her. She smiled.

Jess felt a wave of love move over her and center in her solar plexus.

"I love you, Kayleeya."

Kaylee reached up and gently pulled Jess down for a kiss. It was light and gentle and full of love. When she released Jess, she just stared into her eyes for the longest time before speaking.

"Those words are so inadequate, but you need to say and hear them, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then I love you, Jess. I love you."

Jess smiled.

"We should get up before Jason wakes up and finds us like this."

"Children shouldn't see this?"

"No. Well, kissing and hugging, sure, but finding one's mother naked with her lover after an incredible night of sex is a little traumatic."

"Oh. Then we should definitely get up. I wouldn't want to do anything to ever hurt Jason."

"I know."

They kissed again and then got up and gathered their clothing up from where it'd been thrown the night before. They both put on their shirts, in case Jason saw them, but carried the rest to Jess's bedroom. They each took a shower, separately because Jess was afraid of drowning if it got as intense as last time, and then got dressed.

By the time Jason was up, Jess was getting breakfast ready and Kaylee was offering what help she could. Jason took one look at them and grinned. Kaylee caught the look and smiled back.

"So, can I call you Mom, too?"

Jess whipped her head around and then took in the knowing grins being shared by her lover and her son. She blushed and concentrated on the skillet she was working over.

"That's up to Kaylee," she mumbled.

"I thought that title was reserved for the person who gave birth to you?"

Kaylee turned her gaze back on Jess.

"Well, usually. But among.. um, well, sometimes the parents of a child get divorced and then get married again to new people and then the new person is considered a step-parent, so they get the title of mom or dad, too."

Kaylee turned back to Jason and regarded him for a moment.

"If you call both of us Mom, won't that be confusing?"

"Hmm, you've got a point. Hey, what about Mama?"

Jason looked so hopeful, Jess could tell he really wanted this. He'd connected to Kaylee as fast as she had. And Jess couldn't think of a better person she wanted to share the title of mother with.

"Mama. Yes. I'd like that, Jason. That would make you my son, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good. That's how I think of you." Jason nearly threw himself into Kaylee's arms. "I love you, Jason. I was so scared when you were hurt. I was afraid I'd lost you."

The words were said into the top of Jason's head and Kaylee placed a kiss on the soft hair under her lips.

"I love you, too, Mama."

Kaylee squeezed him a little tighter at the new title she'd been gifted with, as well as the sentiment of the words. She would lay down her life to keep him from harm.

Jason extracted himself from the embrace and then regarded both his mothers.

"So, are you guys gonna tell me what happened that night? I've been patient," he reminded them.

Jess and Kaylee exchanged looks and Jess nodded slightly before turning to her son again.

"We'll talk over breakfast. Set the table."

Once they were all seated at the table and eating, Jess started the conversation at Jason's waiting look.

"You said you remembered falling and seeing the pitchfork." Jason nodded. "And you said you tried to get out of the way."

"Yeah, I guess it must have worked. But I was sure I landed on that fork."

"You did, Jason. You didn't get out of the way. Kaylee found you face down on top of the spikes."

Jason's eyes bugged out and then he looked at Kaylee.

"But how's that possible? I just had some bruises."

"I healed you."

Jason looked back to his mother to get a clearer explanation.

"Kaylee has some special.. abilities. She was able to bring you back to life and heal the puncture wounds in your chest. I don't know how. She doesn't really know either, but it's true."

"Wow. I died?"

Kaylee glanced at Jess. She wasn't sure Jess really understood that her son had been dead by the time Kaylee had gotten to him.

"Yes. Your heart was no longer beating."

Jess stared at Kaylee. She'd sort of known that her son hadn't been breathing when Kaylee had placed her hands over the boy's wounds, but to realize that her son had actually died... Tears formed in her eyes and spilled over her cheeks.

"Aw, Mom, it's okay. I didn't die. Well, not permanently. Come on, it's okay."

Jason got up and walked around the table to hug his mother.

"I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you, Jase."

"Come on, Mom. Nothin's gonna happen to me. I'm okay."

Jess patted her son's shoulder and let him go. It wouldn't be long before the mushiness started to get to him. Jason went back to his own seat and Jess wiped at her tears and laughed a little.

"Sorry for going all soft on you."

Jason grinned and Kaylee smiled in understanding.

"So, you're like psychic, huh?"

Kaylee went inside to look for the meaning of the word.

"No. I can't see the future. I just talked to your body to remind it how wonderful living is. It agreed with me."

"Oh, is that all?" Jess remarked at the simplistic statement that described bringing her son back to life.

"Yes."

"What else can you do?"

Kaylee looked down at the table, then at Jess, before bringing her eyes back to Jason.

"I can hear people's thoughts and feel their emotions. Jess has told me that it's not nice to do it on purpose without permission, so don't worry. I won't try to steal your thoughts."

"Oh great. I'm never gonna get away with anything again," Jason mumbled.

Jess sent a warning glance to her son and he grinned.

"Not that I would ever try to," he amended. He looked up at the clock. "Oh, hey, I'm feeling really great, so can I go over to Carson's? Please?"

Jess gave her son the once over and then nodded.

"But no galloping. You keep her at a canter; it'll be easier than a trot on your ribs."

"All right."

Jason went back upstairs and Jess looked over at Kaylee. She smirked.

"You sure you're ready for motherhood? He's a bit of a handful."

"He's my son. It doesn't matter whether I'm ready or not. But I love him and I will do everything I can to help him grow into a good man."

Jess reached out a hand and cupped Kaylee's cheek. Kaylee kissed her palm.

"I love you. And you'll be a fine parent. You already have the most important qualification: you love him."

"Yes, I do. But it's different from how I love you."

"I would hope so."

"But why are they both called love? Why haven't your people come up with more words for these feelings?"

"Maybe because emotions by nature are undefinable. They're illusive because you can't touch them, so there's no way to really compare one person's experiences with another's. So, we don't even try. We just decide to make one big category and let individuals work it out for themselves."

"But I know how you feel... Oh. You can't do that."

"Not without your help."

Jess felt what was becoming a very familiar sensation roll through her body. It was warm and loving and content and arousing and soft all at the same time.

"That's my way of saying 'I love you'. I'll still say the words because I've felt that need in you to hear them, but I think this way is how it's done among my people."

"Have you remembered anymore from before the crash?"

"No. I just get a sense of what is right and what isn't. Like your language. It doesn't feel right to me. I know that there are words to describe what I feel. And.. And healing Jason. That felt right. I'm sure that's how my people take care of each other. But there's nothing I really remember. No people or places. Nothing."

"Guess we've just gotta give it more time."

"If we have any," Kaylee murmured.