*Okay, things are finally starting to pick up, aren't they? What will happen next? Here's Chapter six so read and find out *

Chapter 6- Claim

What wonderfully felt like forever finally ended when Garran approached the cozy corner that was my nest. His pace slowed and finally stopped when he reached the furs. He turned his head almost as if to look at me while he lowered his body to the ground. I slid off his back and into the furs.

He remained at the edge of my large bed. I looked on as he hesitated apparently undecided about what to do next.

As I rolled onto the furs the hair fibers dug into the gash on my arm. Byron's tail had cut deep. The water had washed of the coagulated blood and the wound was now raw.

The tiny hairs that tickled my skin dug into the cut like daggers. I gasped at the sudden sting.

In an instant Garran was beside me. His head swiveled trying to find the source of my pain. I turned and showed him my sliced arm. I heard him growl.

He hurt you, how dare he! He was suddenly angry and protective. No, he couldn't get angry right now, he had to focus. He shook his head and tried to calm himself down. Let me see, he continued. His voice was once again controlled. He gently grasped my arm and repositioned it to a better viewing angle.

He brought his head back to my face. He began to purr. I realized what he was going to do.

I nodded to him with a "do it!"

Garran brought his mouth close to my arm. I turned my head away, almost like not seeing it would make it better. Garran opened his jaws and extended his secondary mouth. He positioned it just above the wound. Then, he let his saliva pour. It pooled and dripped down his teeth. Drop after drop hit my skin and entered the wound.

Xenomorph saliva is slightly acidic like their blood, enough so that it would sterilize my wound but not burn me. It didn't feel that way. It felt like hot flames were scorching my arm. I grit my teeth together and held in my cry of pain. I couldn't help but try to pull away but Garran held my arm firmly, not letting me budge. He purred louder, trying to sooth me. It helped but not by much.

The flames seemed to spread through my veins. They licked at my muscles and melted my skin. My entire arm felt like it was ablaze. I actually believed that if I turned my head to look I would be covered in a roaring fire.

After minutes of seemingly endless torture Garran released me. I fell to the furs on the floor. I whimpered and sobbed quietly but didn't otherwise move. I lay with my stomach against the pelts.

Garran began to leave me in piece, probably figuring I needed to be alone right now. But I didn't. Not at all. I lifted my head at an almost painful angle and called back to him.

"Garran" I said, and he was quickly by my side once more. "Please, please don't leave me."

Are you sure? He asked. It was obvious he was nervous and uncertain. I nodded my head. Silent tears flowed down my cheeks. It was all just too much.

Somehow he noticed. He picked me up and cradled me to his chest. I snuggled closer, so desperate for comfort in this moment. He moved to the center of the nest and laid me onto the furs.

Garran's saliva had in a way cauterized the gash so the hair fibers no longer jabbed me although my arm throbbed slightly.

Garran then lay down himself next to me and once again pulled me into his arms. My face was to his chest and I cuddled closer, just under his jaw.

His hind legs bent up to enclose my lower body and his tail wrapped around and up my back so Garran held me completely.

Thank you, I told him, too exhausted to speak the words.

I will always be here, Maia, whenever you need me, he said softly. I sighed in contentment and felt my body melt into him. Within his comforting hold I fell asleep.

I was racing through a maze made of xenomorph bone. It was dark and my human eyes strained to see.

No matter which way I turned I was met by corner after corner without end.

I heard the scratching of claws against the floor behind me.

I raced forward blindly running from the beast behind me. It snarled and roared.

My breathing was labored. I couldn't get enough oxygen!

My muscles were tiring but I pushed them onward. I couldn't stop. I had to keep going! I had to get away!

At a four way intersection I took a sharp right and hoped to confuse my pursuer at least for a moment just to put more space between us but what I met in front of me would be my demise.

A dead end.

I had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.

I was completely defenseless against the alien.

In a desperate attempt to find some hidden passage or escape I ran my hands over the wall in front of me. I found nothing but hard bone.

Then I heard the creature. It was right behind me. Its run had stopped as it looked upon its prey.

I turned slowly to face my death with honor.

Maia, I heard. It was Garran's voice whispering from within the air.

"Goodbye Garran" I said, choking on a sob that managed to escape my throat.

The xenomorph stalked forward, a smirk upon its foaming lips.

You die human, by the teeth of your own family, he roared and he leapt at me. His roar shook me at my core. My heart beat impossibly fast as Byron flew through the air. I raised my arms in front of my face in a desperate and useless attempt to protect myself.

I was consumed with overwhelming pain as he landed on me and my body was shaken hard by his impact.

I flew into a sitting position and clasped my hand to my chest. My heart pounded beneath my ribs. I panted and I could feel my hair coated with sweat.

Maia! Garran said forcefully. My head snapped toward him. His hands clutched my shoulders.

"G…Garran?" I asked with a very shaky voice. I could taste the salt of tears in my mouth.

Yes, it's me. Shh it's okay, it was just a nightmare. I'm here, I'm here. He pulled me against him and held me tightly. Just a dream, it was a dream. Relief flooded through me.

"Oh Garran it was awful" I buried my face against him.

Do you want to talk about it? I didn't want to relive any of it so I told him "no". He nodded his head in understanding. You should try and get some more rest.

I shook my head. "After that dream I am wide awake. How long was I asleep?"

A couple of hours, he responded.

I thought back to all that had happened. Joking with Emil, calming Garran, going off to kill my brother, almost getting killed by my brother, then being protected and cared for by Garran. I remembered it all.

I had to ask him why. I pulled away to sit in front of him so I could see his face when I talked to him.

"Garran? Why…why did you protect me from Byron? You could have gotten hurt. He could have killed you! He almost did! Why would you put yourself at risk like that?"

Because, Maia, seeing you in danger or getting injured hurt me more than anything Byron could have inflicted. I just… I felt the murderous rage rolling off of him and all I could think about was you and keeping you safe. I got so angry that somebody wanted to hurt you. I lost myself. I became the animal we have strived to rise above. Nothing ells mattered in those moments but making sure you were okay and I knew I had to kill Byron to do that. So I did.

I moved to him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for saving me Garran. I owe you my life."

No, Maia, you owe me nothing. He pressed his forehead to mine. Our breath came and went in time.

"You have always been so nice to me Garran, so gentle and funny and compassionate. You treat me this way and no one ells. Why?" I whispered. He hesitated for a moment, pulling his words together and perhaps gathering his courage. I waited patiently for an answer yet inside I was exceedingly eager to hear it.

Because dear Maia, since the first moment I saw you, from the second we touched, from when your mind first entered mine, I fell madly in love with you.

I ate because you brought me food. I studied so I could know all you know. I trained so one day I could protect you from harm. You are on my mind every minute of every day. I find that especially recently you're all I can think about.

You amaze me in all that you do and all that you are. To me you are perfect Maia and you inspire me. You are strong and beautiful and smart and more than any xenomorph could ever want. My eyes went wide at his words. I'd never been so flattered and so wanted.

It was then that I finally understood my feelings as well.

They had sparked from that first moment Garran burst through flesh and bone into this world. Every time we touched bolts of electricity sparked under my skin. When we were apart I always wondered what he was doing. And during the fight when I should have been solely focused on my survival and Byron's defeat all I could think about was Garran welfare. Above all ells I was worried for his safety not mine.

I finally recognized what these feelings were, they had a name and a meaning.

"Garran" I said softly. I reached my hands up past our touching foreheads to hold his long skull, to feel him better and caress him. "I love you too" I put all my emotions into that statement and opened my mind to him.

I felt our psyches entwine as we let our emotions fly. I showed him my love and how happy he made me. I felt his utter delight when I returned his passion.

We showed each other memories and thoughts. I showed him the first time I saw him. And then when he was named. I let him see how attached I was to him and how excited I had been at simply knowing his name.

In turn, Garran showed me him in my arms and I felt what he felt. My smooth skin against him and how utterly at peace he felt. Then he let me see just the night before, running through the tunnels with me on his back. I was pure ecstasy from him, to feel all of me. He wanted to always keep me that close. He too felt the same sparks that I did.

In every though or memory was an overwhelming sense of love. We were made for each other. We fit together perfectly and now that we had both admitted our love it flowed strong and boundless between us. I gasped as its sheer force. My heart throbbed for him.

It felt so good! Garran was everywhere, in every corner of my mind. Then he pulled my body into him and he surrounded me physically as well. I'd never been happier and I could tell neither had he. It was just so right, so perfect. He was the one, my one true love.

Maia, I heard him say. His voice was laced with utter affection.

Yes my Garran, I answered.

I know that I am still young and this is all very new but you will always be the one for me Maia, there will never be another. I ask you now Maia, will you be my life mate?

My heart raced within me. Yes, Garran. I would love to be your mate, nothing would please me more! I have waited so long to find you Garran and now we are finally together. He purred loudly at my answer and picked me up to twirl me around in circles. I giggled uncontrollably. I was high with happiness.

Eventually, he stopped spinning and lowered me into his hold once more. I wrapped my arms around him and embraced him. Garran wrapped his tail around me ever so gently.

I love you so much Maia, you are my heart and soul. You are my entire life.

I love you Garran, with every fiber of my being. His heart soared when I said this. Whenever I am with you I feel so much better. The world makes sense and it's like nothing bad will ever happen when I am in your arms. I want to stay with you always.

I would have it no other way my darling, he uttered softly. I was floating in air, I was so happy. How many years had I waited for this? And now that I was finally here this moment surpassed any daydream.

"Come" I said to him excitedly. "Let's go tell mother and make it official." Garran laughed at my haste and followed me out of the nest. I didn't want to waste any time. I wanted him to officially be mine.

As I held his hand and went to walk into the tunnel he pulled me backward and lifted me once again onto his back. I purred and he purred in reply.

Our minds were still open and I felt everything he did. He was thrilled that I was finally his and his alone. So was I.

Garran raced forward and I sunk lower onto him to keep hold. I giggled. We were going so fast!

I crawled close under his praetorian crown and rubbed my face against his spine as I had done the night before. I felt his heart skip a couple of beats. I smiled and pet him affectionately as we hurried towards mother's chamber.

*Awww they finally confessed their love . Haha. Tell me what you thought of this scene and remember…REVIEW!*