Gateway to HeVan by Lucy Kelly

her Ankida back when they tried to follow them.
    “Okay, no need to hurry.  I’m hoping I can convince Ben and BianCa to stay for the movie,” Addie said.
    “Cool, maybe we can talk the guys into pizza and beer,” said Grace with a grin.
    “You’re an evil sister to remind me of all I can’t have,” said Addie and she stuck out her tongue at Grace.
    “Don’t worry.  The beer will be non-alcoholic —for us, anyway.  And you can have one slice of cheese pizza.  It’s not as if you’re dieting,” was Grace’s parting comment before she took BianCa by the arm and dragged her from the room.
    “You and your sister are so free and easy with each other,” commented BianCa as they left and began walking down the hallway.
    “Well, she’s only been a queen for about six months now.  I used to be a cop . On my planet, that’s another name for law enforcer.  Now I’m going to be head of planetary police for HeVan.  She bribed me,” said Grace.
    “You will not stay in your home and care for your young ones?” asked BianCa, surprised.
    “I wasn’t planning on getting pregnant.  I love the girls already, but I’m not sure what type of mother I’m going to be yet.  That’s the bright side to having three husbands. There are plenty of hands around to share the labor, or change the diapers, if you understand me,” she said with a wink.
    BianCa was thinking of how to respond to such a revelation.  On KowLer, the women didn’t leave the home.  They were primarily responsible for the care of the household and the children.  As she was pondering the situation, they arrived at Grace’s door.
    “Okay, let’s go hit the closet.  You can get out of your cloak and put on something more comfortable,” said Grace.
    “You are very kind,” said the princess.  BianCa was shocked.  She didn’t know what this strange woman had been planning when they left.  But she had to admit to some curiosity about this clothing Grace had mentioned.  Besides, if her brother tried to give her a hard time about it, she had the excuse of diplomacy to fall back on.
    It didn’t take long for the two of them to become friends.  They both learned a lot about each other’s cultures.  BianCa decided to accept the gift of the Levi’s 501 button-fly jeans and a knit golf shirt in pink.
    “What is this animal embroidered on the front of the shirt?” she asked Grace.
    “It’s an alligator.  It doesn’t have any specific meaning; it’s just the logo of the guy who designed the shirt.  You look cute and a lot more comfortable than before.  If you have to run, or get dirty, you don’t have to worry about all the white you were wearing,” said Grace.
    “Well, I couldn’t possibly wear these clothes outside of my home, but I think I’ll enjoy wearing them inside,” said BianCa.
    “If you’re brother or husband gives you any flak, just tell them you couldn’t turn down a gift from the HeVanian Queen’s sister.  Now, since you’re free of white clothing, do you want to meet the puppies?” she asked.
    After putting her formal clothes in a garment bag Grace unearthed for her and a romping visit with Sugar’s pups, they headed back to Addie ’s cabin.  On the way, Grace let BianCa in on the joke about the movie and how Addie was telling her Ankida it was a documentary about a real person instead of fiction.
    It was a giggling BianCa who re-entered Addie’s quarters.  Ben was happy to hear his sister’s laughter.  She had been forced to marry for political reasons but her husband, the duke, was a cold man.  She and her husband had failed to have a child like many others.  It had been some time since he had heard her laughter.  When she entered the room and he saw what she was wearing―to say he was shocked was an understatement.  He didn’t say anything because she was smiling.
    BianCa rushed into speech before he could say anything, “Look, Ben, Grace has gifted me with clothing from her birth world.