Liora had woken before the sun, before the soft warmth of Ethan’s arm had slipped from around her waist. She’d tiptoed from the bedroom, careful not to wake him, curiosity buzzing in her chest. On a hook near the pantry, she’d found the old apron. Soft cotton, a little worn and still faintly smelling of thyme and soap. She tied it around herself remembering all those human recordings she’d watched of people in kitchens, smiling, cooking and loving.

From yesterday’s harvest she took the carrots, tomatoes and peppers they’d pulled together, their laughter still clinging to her memory. She diced, chopped and boiled, humming softly, her antennae twitching to the rhythm.

The scent of simmering broth drifted through the house and by the time Ethan stirred awake it was everywhere. Pulling on his jeans and an old shirt, he followed the trail to the kitchen. She was too focused, spoon in hand, apron swaying gently with her movement, lips curved in concentration.

And then his arms were around her waist, pulling her back into him, his breath warm against her hair.

“You smell so goodhe murmured, voice rough with sleep and something else that made her pulse quicken. “Unlike anything I’ve ever known. I should eat you up instead.
Her laugh burst out, bright and whole, filling every corner of their little kitchen. She leaned back against him, her heart so full it almost hurt and said softly, with that otherworldly lilt in her voice, “then Ethan, I hope you’re always hungry. I’m yours in every way for as long as you and this world will let me stay.
In that quiet sunlit kitchen, with the broth bubbling and the morning light spilling across the floor, the line between human and alien blurred even more. There was only them, two souls tangled in the beautiful, ordinary magic of love.

NOTES:
Went back to an Ethan and Liora, but maybe I'm done creating their story. We'll see. Just had to play it out a little longer and take it to different places.
Changed her hair here, just the original hair was not very flexible but the new choice is worse honestly. I used Affinity Photo and a digitizer tablet to draw in, fix lots of the hair clumps.