"I like it too," said Alissa giving Randy the bowl, "Winston won't eat it because he doesn't eat fish, so there's plenty for us!"

"Perfect," Randy said happily as he tended to his bowl. "Fish is a favorite of mine."

"I'll remember that!" said Alissa.

"What are your favorite foods?" Randy asked curiously.

"I like all sorts of foods but the best thing I ever ate was Ellen's mutton chops," said Alissa.

"I must try that at some point," Randy noted. "She is a very good cook."

Alissa nodded, "I hope she never goes away," she said. She set the tray down and gave Randy's cheek a kiss, "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Alissa dear," Randy called. He smiled at the realization that he'd already grown quite attached to her.

Some time passed, Winston left and Alissa grew increasingly fond of Randy, making it her nightly ritual to bring him his dinner and sit and talk with him during the quiet evenings.

Randy enjoyed this arrangement, happy to have made friends with Alissa. He found himself somewhat reminded of his own son, who'd been nearly the same age when Randy had left for Earth several years ago.

One day as evening wore on Alissa did not arrive at her customary time with Randy's dinner. Instead Hans entered the room, set the tray down and hurried away as quickly as he could.

Finding this a bit strange, Randy peered out the door and called for him to come back.

Hans froze and then slowly returned to him, "Y...you ask...you ask of Alissa?" he said softly.

"Yes." Randy nodded. "Is she alright?"

"She....she," Hans struggled to find the right English phrase, "She is feeling.....womanly today,"

Randy frowned as he gathered what he'd meant. "Oh, dear..." That was an area in which he had almost no prior experience.