Kia's Biehshah Gift

Part 7 Celebration

Ir noticed people gathering around a table with baskets. "Cesarae, there are delights on that table. Want to celebrate our wedding?" He changed my jeans to my beautiful wedding gown. I smiled. "How about just a dress?"

He waved an emerald green ball gown on me and danced me off the huge bed. Lisen waved a hot pink one on Regina, who smiled.

I expected Ten to fuss, but he came with us. "I wish I had a lady friend."

Der put a hand on his shoulder, and he startled. "Oh, all these Zheien are affecting me! What should I do, Ten?"

Our healer laughed and his blonde curls waved. "It is not only Zheien, but 3 of us are in love! Think of when we first came to Biehshah! All of us worked so we did not think! The first thousand years were very difficult, but not as much as when Fhiah came. Istensimah horseae! But their trade, and their friends' trade saved our colony from starvation, when many of us thought to go back to Bisillipia. A few did, and died on the journey." He looked sad. "I will take Zheien over Bisillipia. Their foreign customs will not hurt you, Der. When we have our colony and our customs, as we did in Jujujean Rainbow, we will all be fine." He smiled at Der, who brightened up, and Ir.

My husband led me dancing through the portal and Zheien who watched us tingled on us. Everyone loves lovers, as Adelle said. We weren't the only ones dancing. Several Thordes had instruments like a wind quartet and played waltzes I'd heard. My tummy rumbled. That reminded me of my corn dog disaster. "Oh, Ir, I broke the compressor in my refrigerator in my apartment!"

"I fixed it. That's what husbands are supposed to do, aren't they?" A wave, and he twirled me to a stop by the refreshments.

Things I hadn't seen since I was a kid floated in front of me. Daddy came over with a smile. "Oh, you have pictures you took of Maria. I don't have any of those."

I waved copies to him. For a while I had his old instant camera and took pictures. The toilet overflowed and I had my photo albums laid out on the floor because I was rearranging them and they all got ruined. How I cried! Now I have 'em all back! "Thank you, Ir!"

"Feeling your happiness is all I want, Dear." He kissed my forehead.

"Have you tried these pastries? How do you tell which is which? I got a really hot one! You know I love spicy but this was like that stuff I tried in that contest once." My father grabbed his stomach.

"Oh, yes, you had to go to the hospital!" Camila grabbed his arm. But they laughed. Several Zheien were looking for healers, but stopped when they saw Daddy wasn't sick. I gotta warn them.

Theapet and Kerjie came over. "I can show you how they taste, if you like." Several Zheien did low bows so he had to stop and return 'em. Kerjie tried not to grin.

An older lady came over and tried to bow, but a Zheien stopped her. "Lady, if there is pain, nae bow!"

"But my daughter's the First Princess and I have to learn a bunch of stuff!" She looked exasperated.

Theapet took her arm. "Mea, I nae expect you to learn all in a day! Kerjie learned well of us, but many Earthans have difficulty with our protocols. Nae fear to offend me. I feel your respect. Today is the happiest of days, for I have my love beside me."

All the Biehshah smiled huge smiles at Ir and Lisen, whose pinkish-purple face got purple as a Thordes. A yellow man with bright blue eyes stood by him. On his other side was Regina, who had dark curls to her collar and blue eyes. His were deeper blue but almost the same shade as hers. They held hands, but he trembled. "Regina, did you have enough pastries?"

"I don't want to eat too many. You didn't have one, Love."

"I will eat one—"

The yellow one held his wrist. "Li, you can lose more telepathy. I cannot heal you if you lose any more, and I do not think Pirad can."