"A few hours! It's just a few hours!" Julie squealed as she burst through the door of no. 35.
Lola looked up from her suitcase and watched as her brunette friend skipped over. An announcement had come over the tannoy a few minutes ago informing the crew that Planet Xyon was only a few hours away. Egris had left earlier on to check on his trainees, leaving Lola to finish her packing.
"You excited?" Lola asked sarcastically and zipped up the last bag.
Her nerves had been on edge since that morning. Despite being a couple, Lola and Egris still slept in different rooms most nights. Once they had their own home, they would lie together for the first time.
That's what Lola was worried about. Their home.
What would it look like? Egris had mentioned the farmhouse - would it look like the farms back home?
"Have you and Sestru talked about housing?" Lola asked quietly, trying to voice her own concerns through a question.
"Only a bit. He mentioned the idea of living in a town and I think it's a good idea. I'm not about the city or country life, really. What about you?"
"Oh. We thought about the farmhouse. Apparently, it's got a good amount of land and it's a decent size, too."
Julie nodded her head in recognition but didn't say much more. Lola watched as she wandered up to the glass windows and tracked a passing star.
"You okay, Julie?"
"Yeah. It's just a lot to take in." She murmured.
"You were singing a minute ago about how excited you were." Lola added with a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood again.
"I'm still excited, don't get me wrong, but I'm going to be living a new life. It's a little scary."
"You'll be fine!" Lola reassured and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, "You and Sestru are going to have a big, happy family with gorgeous little Xyon babies, right?"
"Right. You and Egris are going to have such sweet, strong babies. I can see it now." Julie giggled lightly.
"Well in nine months time...." Lola mused and drifted off.
"What was your life like before?" Her friend suddenly blurted and looked away from Lola's eyes, "I'm sorry if that was too personal."
"No, it's not. There really wasn't much happening before and a felt a little lonely so I signed up! Simple as. You?"
Julie let out a self-deprecating scoff and sat down on the sofa, still looking out the window.
"I was married." She stated and waited for Lola's reaction.
They both matched each other's deadpanned expression and waited for one another to say something. From the look on her face, Julie was desperate to tell more. It was the end of the first chapter and the past had to be opened to be buried.
"We were nineteen and it was the biggest mistake I think I've ever made," she continued and tore her eyes away from the window, "He loved his drink more than anything and got angry at a drop of a pin. It took 3 years to get out. Three years too long."
Lola didn't know what to say in that situation. You can't tell someone's past from their face and Julie was living proof of that. She carried herself with such joy and contempt, you would think her life had been nothing but rainbows.
Instead of saying something which she would regret, Lola went back into the kitchen to make a cup of tea for Julie.
xxx
"Here we are." she said gently and handed Julie a steaming cup.
"Thanks. I just needed to get that out. Sestru doesn't know and if I told him, he would want the whole ship to turn back just so he could show my ex a piece of his mind."
"Well, at least it's all in the past now. And like you said, it's a new life."
"You're a go-"
Julie was suddenly cut off by the door opening and the heavy footfall of Egris. He turned the corner into the living room and looked between the two ladies.
"Hello, Julie. Didn't realise you were here." he smiled and took a few steps into the living room.
"I just came round to talk to Lola. How are you?"
"Good, good. Are you both excited?"
"Yeah, I've got butterflies!" Julie grinned and took a long sip of her tea.
Lola watched how there was no sign of upset on her face anymore - like it was wiped clean. She knew it was so Egris wouldn't suspect anything and ask questions. Lola respected that.
"Oh! Can you tell Sestru to meet me at the main hall when we land? I need to tell him something." Egris asked suddenly and Julie nodded.
xxx
20 minutes till landing
"Are you alright?" Egris asked in a hushed whisper and stroked Lola's forearm for comfort.
Everyone had gathered in the landing bay by the shuttle pods. They wouldn't be using them to land - a special pad had been built in the city of Kez just for the ship. This was simply an area for everyone to gather and chat vividly about what laid beyond them.
"Yeah, just got some jitters."
Egris had told her that in a way, Xyon was not too different from Earth. It was much more vibrant and luscious in greenery but the basics were the same. The atmosphere, bodies of water and animals were certainly recognisable.
Now, in 20 minutes, she would see that for her own eyes.
"Don't be nervous. We'll get to to the main hall, sort out the accommodation, doctors etc. and before you know it, will be eating dinner in our farmhouse." He chirped and rubbed his sharp jaw.
"We're still getting that place? Not that there is anything wrong with it, I just wanted to make sure."
"We can move if you want. There'll be other places available to buy, it's just the first home for the little one."
Lola grinned an looked down at her stomach. In 3 or so months time, everyone could see the beginnings of their 'little one' as Egris called it.
A quick shudder drew her head back up and watch as the pods shook.
"The ship's entering the atmosphere." He reassured and held her hand.
A minute or so later, another gyrate gripped the ship and their suitcases toppled over. Over the heads of the crowd, Lola could see the tops of Julie's dark hair and the impressive figure of Sestru.
Not as good as Egris, though.
A series of trembles erupted as they dropped closer to the ground. The voices grew louder in excitement and all Xyon males sighed in relief. They were finally home.
One loud, resounding thud jolted everyone and Lola stumbled forward. Luckily, Egris' muscular torso was there to stop her from landing face first. She held on a little longer than needed - just to feel his abs.
They were a couple after all.
"Here we are!" He beamed and picked up the cases, "Home sweet home."
A large panel of the wall behind the pods shifted and a seam became visible. White smoke leaked out of the gaps and another click sounded, signalling the opening of the panel.
Lola's heartbeat picked up the pace and thumped violently against her ribs. Beyond the walls was their new home.
She closed her eyes and counted to 10. With each passing second, calm slowly began to take control again.
"God, isn't it beautiful?" He breathed and slowly pulled Lola forward.