Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: Invid Fan
Title: The Heart Believes
Universe: From the Aether Comes Life, and Love
Summary: Four years have past.  Four years of hiding Ai from the world.
Four years of growing, learning, changing...  are they ready for the change
in Ai?
Keywords: mf, mff, ff, mult, cons, rom, paranormal, pregnant

   ****

   From the Aether Comes Life, and Love: 1.If The Spirit is Willing 2.The
Flesh is Strong 3.The Mind Knows 4.The Heart Believes

   ****

   The Heart Believes By Invid Fan (c)2012

   Pooh Bear lay on the patch of grass, resting.

   It had been a tiring day for the golden furred half retriever.  There
had been the ball chasing earlier, the cat chasing, puppy playing, and that
marathon petting session.  Now, all the dog wanted was to lay here...  and
watch the Blue Mistress.

   She was his favorite of the four humans who lived down there with him
and his family.  The others were often away, as they were now, but she was
always with them.  More than that, the Blue Mistress never napped.  She was
always there, to pet him, his wife and puppies, to play with and take care
of them.  Oh, she also played with and fed the cats, but nobody was
perfect. She did keep the cats from eating food meant for dogs, though. 
That made up for the whole keeping the cats alive part.  The Blue Mistress
was good.

   Right then, she was doing one of the many tasks that confused Pooh Bear.
The Blue Mistress was on her hands and knees in the dirt, doing something
with the flowers.  She may have been putting more in the ground: the cart
with lots of flowers in it certainly fit in with that theory.  Pooh Bear
put his head down on the grassy soil, eyes still on her.  There were too
many flowers, and not enough grass in his opinion.  He remembered what it
was like when he and his family were taken up the long steps: endless
grass, under a wide open sky of either blue or black.  Here, there was just
this one patch of grass under the hard sky.  Oh, sure, the patch was bigger
than one dog, or even all of them, needed for a good rest or roll, and the
sky was painted a nice blue, but still he remembered the freedom of the big
grassy room.

   But, the Blue Mistress was down here.  So, here was where he wanted to
be.

   ****

   Ai raised herself up on her knees, looking down at her handiwork.  Bill
had built her a new flower bed, and a fountain in the center of it, to fill
in this part of the garden.  She loved tending to the hydroponic food
plants, the tomatoes, corn, beans, and the small fruit trees.  They all
were wonderful, and Ai especially relished the feeling that she was feeding
her family the same way that they fed her.  But...  the flowers.  The
flowers were so beautiful!  So many colors, so many shapes...  And it
wasn't the same if they weren't in dirt.  The dirt, the soil, the life
poking up from the ground, spoke to Ai in some way she couldn't define. 
Life, coming into its own...

   Ai loved life.

   She glanced at the red wagon next to the bed.  The wagon had been a toy
of Bill's, from when he was little.  He had told her that when Mom had been
tending her flower beds, his job was to use his wagon to carry flowers to
her and cart off weeds and such.  Lips twitching up into a smile, Ai gently
caressed the rusting metal while her other hand touched her golden locket
around her neck.  Anything that was Bill's made her happy.

   As happy as the blue flowers Julie had found for her.  Ai reached in and
picked up the next plastic container with its six plants.  They were so
pretty, five light blue petals surrounding a yellow circle.  She tilted and
turned them, this way and that way, large black eyes taking in the delicate
shapes and colors.  Turning, she contemplated the pattern she was creating.
Dark blue ringed the white fountain, itself ringed by another circle of
purple.  She was half way done creating a third circle with these light
blue ones.  There was no meaning to the pattern, not that she knew of, but
something about it pleased her.  That was enough.

   Ai was not one for deep thought.

   There was a tickle on the bottom of her bare left foot.  Looking, Ai
smiled.  It was one of the puppies...  Bilbo, she thought.  The other four
were still napping with their mother, but this one was up and ready to
play. Well, she was busy.  Ai looked over at Pooh Bear.  The father looked
back, waiting to see if his Mistress was going to reprimand his son.  She
was debating this herself, when...  the weakness came again.

   Ai quickly put down the flowers, before she dropped the precious
creatures, and brought both hands to her stomach.  Something...  was
happening.

   And she didn't know what.

   For the past few days, Ai hadn't been herself.  She had felt...  off. 
Not since that first time, four years ago, when they had first discovered
that Ai needed to feed from her lovers, had she felt anything like this. 
And, yet, this was different.  It wasn't a lack of food.  Bill and Julie
fed her as often as she wanted to, and in any way.  It wasn't hunger. 
Well...  in a way, it WAS, but Ai had no idea what she was hungering for.
Her body was telling her something...  what?

   She should tell Bill.  Ai knew this.  Tell Bill, tell Mom...  even tell
Doctor.  But, what could Doctor do?  He had only examined her once so far,
so knew far less then Bill or Julie or even Gretchen his wife.  She had
to...

   Ai was suddenly lightheaded...  then it was gone.  The discomfort was
gone.  And, yet...  something was different.  Ai's mind cast around for
what it was, what she now knew that she didn't know she knew.  Something...
something was changing.  She was changing.  Or would change, if she...

   The tinkle of bells interrupted her confused thoughts.  Ai looked up at
the source of the sound, as did Pooh Bear, and the waking Tippy and her
puppies.

   Bill was entering the stairwell.

   Ai pushed herself to her feet, brushing off her dirty bare knees.  The
dogs also got to their feet, or maybe it was paws, quickly running to the
far end of the large room and out the oval shaped doorway.  Ai took her
time.  It would take a few minutes for Bill to make his way down all those
stairs, then reseal the entrance and come into the living quarters.  There
was no need to hurry.  Walking over to a bench, put there so they could sit
and look at the flowers (or, as was more likely the case, kiss in a more
romantic setting), she picked her dress up off it and slipped it over her
head.  Ai preferred to garden nude.  It made her feel one with the plants.
But, despite all Cynthia had said she didn't mind, Ai knew it was best if
she had at least this token outfit on while others were here.  Ai had
learned over the years of watching her friends that what they said, and
what they really felt, were sometimes different.  Never in hurtful ways,
no, but more in attempts not to hurt her.  She wished they wouldn't: Ai was
four, after all!

   Stooping a bit to walk through the doorway, resembling something from a
submarine (there was a submarine down at the Buffalo Naval Park, but
despite asking they hadn't taken her to see it), Ai walked down the hallway
past the bedroom doors.  So many bedrooms, complete with beds, and only two
were used.  Such a waste...  Ai wanted more people down here.  More family.
Family to keep her company, family she could make happy...

   The seven dogs were already lined up by the door, tails wagging, when Ai
reached the main living area.  She smiled as she walked past the pool
tables, ping pong table, and finally the couches and chairs set up around
the large TV and video games.  The puppy that had been licking her foot
came up to her as she stopped on the soft carpet, whining for attention. 
Ai bent down and lifted the small creature up in her cold hands.  This
batch of puppies, the second, had been born a few months earlier.  Their
older siblings had found homes with friends, and sometimes came for visits.
Ai missed them, but knew they couldn't keep them all.  Plus, she now had
new little friends to play with and fuss over.  Giving Bilbo a squeeze, she
kissed him on the nose then put him back down.  Bill would be here soon...

   ****

   Fuck stairs.

   Bill hated them.  Hated stairs with a passion that possibly eclipsed the
most intense sexual passion he had ever felt.  Mind you, they had given him
reason: every day, he had to climb up and down four flights of stairs. 
Four flights twice as long as any he had seen...  well, that wasn't quite
true.  There were steps next to the escalator leading down to the UB subway
station that were probably as long, but obviously they were for when the
moving stairs were broken.  Hmm, maybe they could turn these into
escalators...  yeah, that wouldn't drain their batteries even further!

   Where was he?  Ah, yes.  Fuck stairs.

   There was an old Bill Cosby bit about driving a stick shift, and how
Cosby hated 1st gear.  Hated it so much, that once the car was in 3rd, he
wasn't downshifting for anybody.  He'd run you over rather than go back
down to 1st.  That's how this Bill felt about the shelter: once he was down
here again at the end of school, he wasn't leaving again for anything.  Not
until the following morning when the ritual started over...

   With a clang, Cynthia closed the oval door at the top of the final
staircase, sealing it.  Bill and Julie were already at the bottom, always
seeming to go faster than their red headed companion.  Bill raised his head
up to her, getting a good long look at long legs under her full length
black dress.

   "I see London, I see France!"

   Julie gave a mock growl and whacked him in the arm, but Cynthia only
chuckled as she started walking down.

   "Given what I'm not wearing, that rhyme shows you're not seeing much!"

   Bill shook his head, laughing at their friend.  She was so...  well,
grown up now.  They all were.  Cynthia was all legs and breasts, tall and
confident, long flowing curly red hair framing a face full of life.  Of the
three, she had blossomed the most.  Maybe because she had been pushed into
the shadows for so long...

   A tug on his arm drew his gaze down to his second love.  Julie looked
back with playful anger, eyes dancing.  Everything about Julie danced, in
some way.  She had barely grown since middle school, but her compact four
foot one inch frame had become if anything more athletic and graceful. 
Other cheerleaders might have bigger breasts, or a sexier twitch to their
walk, but for the total package?  No woman was better than his little long
haired Julie.

   That's not to say their high school years had been without...  drama. 
There had been temptations for both of them, given into by Julie.  If it
hadn't of been for Ai, would they still be together?  No.  Junior year had
been...  difficult.  But, now, with school almost over, it looked like both
were in this for the long haul.  Not that Bill could call being with her a
"haul".

   "Come away from that temptress, you pervert." Julie pulled him towards
the shelter controls, fingernails digging into his hand a bit more than
needed.  Bill responded as years of experience had taught him, pulling her
back and up off the ground for a kiss.  There was a moment's struggle, some
comment on how she had to turn off the lights and such, but they quickly
faded as his lips did their work.  Her arms and legs wrapped around his six
foot two inch frame, hands sliding over lean muscle.  She liked what the
stairs had done to him.

   "God, you two are such breeders." Cynthia shook her head as she
descended the stairs.  Julie broke the kiss, gazing at the Witch over
Bill's shoulder.

   "Thank god some of us hot girls still go for guys, or sexiness would be
bred out of the species!" With another quick peck on Bill's lips, she
released her grip on him and fell back to the floor.  Landing feet first,
she struck a gymnastic pose.  "And she nails the dismount!" Cynthia, book
bag still in hand, walked past and gently patted her on the head.

   "It was very nice dear."

   "Pwwrrt!"

   "Your singing has improved, too." Cynthia worked the entrance shutdown
controls as the laughing Bill ignored his co-mate and moved to the shelter
door.  Julie stood and growled.

   "Just ignore her, my love.  Some people just can't deal with a delicate
flower like yourself."

   "Oh, I'll flower her!"

   Bill spun the door handle.  It was good to be home.

   ****

   The dogs attacked first, naturally.  Tippy and Pooh Bear both jumped on
Bill as he struggled through the oval door, hampered both by them and his
backpack.  With practiced ease, he playfully pushed them away, almost
dancing with Pooh Bear as the golden dog stayed on its hind legs, finally
managing to disengage so he could start to unload his school books.  It was
then Ai's turn to jump into the fray, pressing her cold form against his
chest as his backpack fell onto the desk located next to the entrance for
just such occasions.  Dogs and puppies made similar assaults on the two
girls, who with much giggling and cooing gave proper greeting to their
housemates.  After a minute, though, almost as if on command, they formed a
group in front of Cynthia.  Eyes focused above the redhead's right
shoulder, they gave a soft whine as Cynthia raised a hand to pet something
invisible.

   "You can play if you want, Ro." Canine heads whipped towards the
kitchen, and with a happy yelp the pack as one jumped to give chase to the
unseen creature.

   "Don't they ever get tired of that?" Julie asked, hanging up her light
jacket.  She probably hadn't needed it, but better safe than cold.

   "So long as it keeps both sides happy, I'm for it." Cynthia stretched, a
slight crack coming from her back, then cast a glance over at Ai and Bill.
She stayed silent, but Julie nodded to her at the unspoken continuation of
that thought.

   "Violet coming tonight?"

   "After class.  Maybe." The two watched as Ai finally released Bill and
stepped back.  The creature's eyes looked...  unsettled.  One hand's
fingers still brushing his bare arm, she turned to Julie.

   "Need you.  Need both..." It came out as almost a whimper.  Bill brought
her against him again, raising her face to his.

   "Are you OK?"

   She shuddered.

   "Just...  love me."

   "Always."

   ****

   Ai didn't understand what she was feeling.  As she led her two lovers
into their bedroom, her mind was a confused muddle of unfocused thoughts.
It was as if she KNEW what she had to do, but honestly didn't know what she
was going to do next.  Almost as if her body had a goal, but wasn't
bothering to let her in on the secret.

   Not knowing what else to do...  Ai just let the impulses take over.

   Bill stood before her, at the end of the king sized bed, waiting, as
Julie closed the door and moved behind Ai.  Four years had created
traditions, set patterns.  Much of the time the three did whatever felt
good, playing, teasing, loving.  When Ai's needs came to the fore,
however...  both teens deferred to the creature.  What came next was
sometimes unusual, but always exquisitely pleasurable...  and life
sustaining.  Out of their love, came her life.  No bond could be stronger.

   "Strip..." Ai trembled as she whispered the command, letting her own
dress fall to the floor.  Bill and Julie exchanged a worried glance, but
quickly worked to remove their springtime attire.  Bill's blue button down
dress shirt was soon on the floor, followed by jeans and underwear. 
Julie's blouse and knee length skirt soon followed.  Ai's eyes flittered
between the two, blue hands clenching and unclenching at her side.  Time
was running out.  Now.  It had to happen now...

   Shoes and socks finally off, Bill started to make a motion towards her.
Ai stopped him with a sharp hand gesture, instead stepping forward and
firmly, if gently, pushing him back prone on the bed, feet still on the
floor.  Kneeling, Ai reached out and touched Bill's slowly growing cock. 
Her touch...  was different, this time.  Bill felt that immediately. 
Somehow, it was as if he had never felt her hand before.  A gasp escaped
his lips as in an instant he hardened.  Ai ran her fingers lightly over the
head and shaft, moving down to his balls.  All ten fingers caressed the
lightly haired sacks, and Bill could swear he felt them swell...  as if she
was causing them to fill as they never had before.  He wanted to speak, to
ask Ai what was going on, but already pleasure was coursing through his
body and he knew, instinctively, that coherent speech was out of the
question.  Rolling his head to gaze at Julie, he saw her face full of the
same questions.

   Almost on cue, Ai turned and motioned Julie to come stand before the
still kneeling creature.  Two steps brought her to her friend, and once
again her unearthly beauty brought a lump to Julie's throat.  The scales on
her belly seemed to glisten, framed by blue skin darker than ever.  Looking
up and holding her eyes, Ai raised her hands to Julie's small round
breasts. Julie gasped, nipples hardening almost before she could comprehend
it.  The pleasure was...  god, she almost came just from that touch!  What
was going on?!  Slowly, Ai's fingers lightly explored both white breasts,
then trailed down the muscular form before her.  When they came to the
triangle of brown hair, they traced their way around it, leaving trails of
icy fire on the way down to their final destination.  Julie could feel
herself become soaking wet, yet her lips and inner thighs were still dry.
At Ai's touch she spread her legs, eyes closed at the intensity of the
feelings.  She knew Bill was staring at her, and also knew he had not moved
from where Ai had positioned him.  Cold fingers began to probe Julie's sex,
began to move into her...GOD!

   One blue hand positioned palm up under Julie, fingers cupped between
those smooth white thighs, Ai moved three fingers of her other hand into
the girl, looking for the three points she knew were there.  Knew, somehow,
as if all their lovemaking had been leading up to this.  Had been
exploration and training.  She felt along the hot, wet inner walls,
until...

   There.

   Julie's head fell back as she screamed.  Knees buckling, but somehow
held up just by those three fingers, Julie came as she never had in her
short life.  Between her legs flowed, not the geyser like squirting of
online porn, but a steady stream of hot liquid as from a faucet.  It fell
into Ai's waiting hand, slowly filling the cupped fingers.  Sound stopped
coming from Julie, mouth still open as pleasure continued to shoot through
her in one continuous orgasm.  It was going to kill her!  Bill watched
helplessly, unable to will his limbs to move.

   Finally, hand full, Ai pulled herself out of her lover and brought the
precious liquid up to her lips.  Julie collapsed to her knees, almost to
the floor; exhausted, but with enough energy to open her eyes.  She saw Ai
slowly tilt her hand up, drinking...

   Lights!

   Lights were traveling under her skin!  Down her blue throat, between
those dark, perfect breasts...  settling in the middle of her oval of
scales, shining from behind them like...  like sun through crystal.

   Ai's hand was empty.  She had drunk all of Julie's love.  She felt... 
she FELT!  Ai jumped to her feet, then in almost one motion onto the bed.
With the grace of one on pure instinct, Ai found herself positioned over
Bill.  She saw his face, one of confusion, wonder, maybe fear.  No time!

   "Love!"

   She dropped onto Bill.

   He came instantly, screaming.

   ****

   Cynthia watched the three walk past the pool tables towards the
bedrooms, otherwise known as orgy central.  She wasn't jealous.  Not much.
After all, she COULD be there with them.  Could be part of Ai's harem. 
Could be having countless orgasms every night...

   No she couldn't.

   Cynthia wasn't a prude.  God forbid, no.  But...  some things were off
limits.  Sharing, for one.  Or, worse, being shared.  She didn't think she
could live with being only PART of a lover's focus, just one of many lights
in their life.  You would think, having spent so long in the dark, Cynthia
would be happy with any light of love.  No...  if anything, having been
without, she now needed all to make life worth living.

   Violet.

   Her eyes went to the clocks on the various electronic devices by the TV.
It was either 4:01 or 3:59 PM, depending.  Probably two hours until Violet
came.  She had said she had a surprise, that it would be a special night.

   Every moment was special with her.

   And, every moment without Violet was an ordeal to be suffered through.
With a sigh, Cynthia picked up a remote from the end stand and tossed
herself onto the nearest couch.  Something big, soft, and lumpy tried to
keep her from her chosen destination.  Reaching back, she pulled out a big
green stuffed frog.  Eyes narrowing, wishing she DID have witchy powers so
she could turn it into a frog, Cynthia flung the offending creature away as
she leaned back into the comfortable sofa.  Instantly, a brown fur ball of
a feline leapt onto her reclined form.  The creature walked over her
breasts, demanding affection of the girl, and with a laugh she complied
with her free hand.  The other turned on the TV and began searching for
distractions.

   "So, how's Kamichu today?  Have fun playing with the dogs?" She could
hear the puppies barking, probably in the dining room.  How they could see
Ro, she had no idea.  They couldn't see the blue monkey that was always
around Julie, or Mrs.  Darrow, or anyone's creature but hers and Violet's.
Probably had something to do with them having souls, but given Cynthia had
vowed not to do that with any others of the creatures, there was only so
much experimentation she could do.  At least the dogs LIKED the monkeys. 
That was something.

   "So, where's Totoro today, hmm?  Where's the other fuzzball?" Keeping
her hand on Kamichu as the cat used it as a rubbing post, she looked around
for its companion.  Not mate, though.  That experiment...  hadn't worked
well.  The two cats, male and female, could stand each other well enough,
but Kamichu just did NOT want the white Totoro to be her kitty-daddy. 
Probably just as well, as just puppies were probably more than enough to
teach Ai about such things.  Still, they were left to wonder at the reason.
Cynthia figured Kamichu was a dyke.

   There was white movement in the corner of her vision.  Expecting the
cat, Cynthia half turned her head towards the pool tables...  and froze.

   Walking across the floor, passing through any object in its way...  was
a white skinned child.

   Blood drained from Cynthia's face.  White.  She had never seen white
before.  Shaking, but with no hesitation, she rose to her feet, Kamichu
leaping to the floor yowling in protest.  The thing wore a tunic as red as
blood.  Its hair was also red, short, almost in an afro.  Its eyes were the
deepest blue...  and it was walking towards the bedrooms.

   Forcing herself, Cynthia began to follow, feet moving quickly to catch
up with it.  She had barely started when a muffled scream echoes through
the shelter.  Julie!  It had been a scream of pleasure, yes, but god! 
Barely!  What were they doing!?

   The child thing was already at the hallway.  She ran until she was just
behind it.  Please, don't go into...

   They had reached the closed bedroom door, with its hand painted names of
its occupants, when another scream, deep, male, burst from just beyond. 
The creature walked right through.  With no hesitation, but dreading what
she'd find, Cynthia turned the handle and slammed the door open.

   Ai was glowing.

   She was impaled on Bill's cock on the bed, back to Cynthia.  One single,
continuous pulse of light seemed to be shooting from where they were joined
up into her body, under her skin, stopping in the middle of her back.  The
ridge down her spine seemed to be radiating blue light, and Ai's face was
turned to the heavens, mouth open, eyes closed.  Cynthia almost expected to
see the beam of light shooting out of her mouth!

   On the floor, nude, in shock, was Julie.  Her eyes were on the bed,
unfocused and uncomprehending.  Cynthia found herself no better.  What the
HELL was this!

   The white skinned boy now stood behind Ai, translucent feet and legs
actually inside Bill's.  With no expression on its face, it lifted two
small hands up...  and put them into Ai's back.

   There was one final flash of light from within her, then it stopped. 
Bill's cock softened instantly, aching from the abuse, and with a moan Ai
collapsed onto him.  Bill's mind, and body, found themselves free of
whatever had bewitched them.  He swiftly rolled Ai onto her back, sitting
up, eyes taking in her still form.  Whipping his head towards the door, he
saw Cynthia for the first time.

   "What happened?!  Did you see something?!"

   Julie struggled to her feet, Cynthia quickly grabbing the nude elf as
she staggered.  She looked up at Cynthia with fear in her eyes.

   "What WAS it?"

   Cynthia looked at both of her friends, the white boy vanishing through
the wall, then the silent, still blue form of Ai.

   "I...  THINK Ai just got knocked up."

   ****

   The beat up blue Ford hatchback turned off of Harris Hill onto the
unmarked driveway, slowly making its way under the green leafy canopy
through the trees.  Violet gripped the wheel tightly.  She hated this part
of the trip.  The patch of asphalt Mr.  Darrow had put down was much too
narrow for her liking, not leaving much room for error.  One false turn,
and you were in the mud.  That had happened once, much to her
embarrassment. If there had been more rain the previous day, she'd never
have been able to get out without help, and how do you ask for help? 
"Excuse me, I'm on this road that shouldn't exist for secret reasons. 
Please come, then forget you were here!" Oh, no.  And asking Bill or Mr. 
Darrow would just lead to ribbing that was even worse.  So, it was keep all
attention on the road.  And look for deer.  Especially close to dusk like
this.  Which made it harder to see the driveway, what with all the branches
above her cutting off sunlight.  Which brought it all home to why she hated
this short drive.

   The things she did for love.

   Making sure the car was on the straight part, as the road did curve just
before the parking area, Violet risked a quick glance down at the seat next
to her.  The small box from a local jeweler was still there.  Eyes went
back to the road, then risked another peek.  Still there.  Looking forward
again, she let out a groan.

   "Focus, girl, focus." Shaking her head, Violet wondered what the hell
she was doing.  Not an unusual thought for the twenty one year old to be
entertaining.  Sometimes it seemed all of college had been one long
tightrope walk after another.  One emergency, scholastic, domestic, or
emotional, was always coming up or just receding.  Just ONCE she wanted
things to be calm, settled...  happily routine.

   "Please, Daddy...  let her say yes."

   ****

   Violet pulled up next to a, not quite as battered, four door Ford sedan.
Setting the emergency break, something she ALWAYS did, she opened the door
and got out.

   Then she got back in again, grabbed the box, and got back out, closing
the door.  Letting out a sigh, she looked around as the box and its single
precious occupant were shoved into her windbreaker's pocket.  They were
home, obviously, given the car.  Gathering her nerve, she stepped off the
pavement and onto the path through the trees.

   ****

   Operation Protect Ai, or "OPA" as Betty and Jenny liked to call it, was
proceeding slowly but secretly.  Plans were many.  Those that could
actually be done...  few.  The most important activity so far had been land
acquisition.  The actual mine surface was off limits, for now.  Not only
was it not for sale, which in a way was a very good thing, but if they
COULD buy it the insurance needed because of the sealed mine would be huge.
It would also draw attention.  What they did manage to buy, though, was a
large section of the woodlands around it.  Not enough to connect them to
the family house, but they had managed to create a nice buffer protecting
Ai.  The driveway and small parking lot in the middle of the woods also
made access much easier, and the path they'd beaten from the house to the
shelter was allowed to go back to nature.  Shirley had wondered if an
access road wouldn't also be too much of a giveaway, but that was taken
into consideration: the dirt path from the parking lot met the open field
far from the entrance, but also far from the road and curious eyes.  So
far, apart from some teen kids using it as a lover's lane, until an
unloaded shotgun stopped that, all had gone well.

   But...  the money drain had been huge.  What was not absolutely needed
by the Darrow's for the basics, college, and retirement went into the Ai
fund.  It was never enough.  So much so, that...

   There was no money for Cynthia once she was out of High School.

   She had understood, of course.  They had done so much for her, to expect
free college on top of it would be insane.  She would always have a home
with them, but...

   ****

   Violet began the trudge through the long grass towards the shelter.  As
always, she broke new ground, trying not to create a path.  It was hard, as
paths form naturally for a damned good reason, but if nothing else it made
her feel like she was helping.  And it's the thought that counts.

   Ha.  If only that were true.

   Once again, her light chocolate colored hand went into her pocket and
touched the small box.  So much was riding on this.  So much...  how could
one little ring be tearing her apart with doubt and worry?

   "Because you love her, you idiot."

   Darn.  She had said that out loud.  Bad habit, that, and one she hadn't
developed until losing Dad.  Oh, before then Violet had found herself
having conversations with the ghost of "Mommy Lisa", whom she had never
met, but who was sort of the patron saint of the Hunt family.  As a teen
she'd ask Lisa what she should do about this boy or that, as a practical
alternative to talking to her other Moms about boys.  What would they know
about the subject?  Now, though...  she talked to Dad.

   He wouldn't like it.  Violet knew that.  Dad hadn't, really, been one to
believe in an afterlife, for all his jokes about Lisa's ghost throwing
wives at him.  Dad would want Violet to be strong on her own, leaning on
family when needed but not using his memory as a crutch.  And, she didn't!
Violet...  just missed talking to him.  Missed his voice.  His stories. 
His hugs...

   "Stop it!"

   That got a laugh out of her, as she pretended it was Dad scolding her.
He'd be right, too.  Mourning only got you so far in life.  Besides...  it
wasn't like a wife hadn't been thrown at her in her hour of need.

   Potential wife.

   Lover.

   Friend.

   Now she really had to stop.  Any more thought in that direction, and
Cynthia would be reduced to vague acquaintance.

   Violet's feet had carried her to the shelter entrance.  Apart from the
new locks, the improvements here at the top of the shelter kept being put
off.  It was still just a set of double iron doors set in the ground,
raised at a slight angle so water didn't pool over them.  They were
slightly wet, though, a brief spring rain having come through earlier that
day, and with a sigh Violet realized her choices were to either kneel in
the mud or on the wet metal as she put her key in the lock.  She was
wearing one of her few pairs of good jeans, too.  Cursing, something her
Dad WOULD have approved of, she picked wet metal.

   ****

   The trip down the stairs gave her, unfortunately, more time to think.

   What was she doing.

   It's not like they HAD to get married.  Not really.  They could live in
sin.  Everyone did it.  Neither were even religious (Spiritual?  Maybe). 
Hell, Bill and Julie went to church and still slept in the same bed!  Once
they had graduated, Cynthia from high school and Violet from college, they
could just shack up...

   ...no, they couldn't.

   Cynthia was not that type of girl.  Not that she was a prude.  Hell no!
Get her naked and, gods, what she could do with her mouth!  But, sex was
one thing.  Being TOGETHER, in all ways...  Cynthia deserved commitment. 
Deserved to have someone declare their love for her forever, in sickness
and in health.  Deserved the best life humanly possible.

   Violet wanted to be the one to give it to her.

   She had a job waiting after graduation.  That was something, at least. A
good job, one that would let her get a rather nice loft in a newly
converted downtown industrial building right near the train.  The two of
them could live there after the honeymoon, and Cynthia would have the time
and space to do whatever she wanted.  Violet would put her through college,
if need be.  They'd both love each other, and, when the time came...

   She paused, mid step.

   She hadn't told Cynthia about the Gift yet.  Didn't even know how her
lover would even FEEL about such a thing.  Mother Taylor had made such a
big sacrifice to make it possible...  Well, as the saying went, they'd burn
that bridge when they came to it.

   ****

   Hanging her coat up, she transferred the box to her pants pocket.  Then
took it out, opened the box, removed the ring, and just put the ring in her
damned pocket.  She was NOT thinking well today.  Glancing at the security
display, she saw it still showed her as checked into the shaft.  Resetting
the alarms, Violet shut everything else down and turned to the main door.

   It was time.

   ****

   Cynthia watched as the oval door slowly opened.  She stood, a few feet
inside the room, shaking.  She always was like this, just before seeing her
love.  When alone, she was strong.  She was confident.  She had strong
mental and emotional defenses, built up over a horrible adolescence and
refined as she approached adulthood.  She was ready to face the world, and
all it could throw at her.

   All it took was one smile from Violet to turn her into a quivering
lovesick teen.

   There, stepping into the room, was her everything.  Her eyes drank in
the dark beauty.  Her long, black hair was done up in a braid, falling down
her back just past her shoulder blades.  Eyes...  brown, soft, caring.  A
white low cut blouse, formal wear for her, barely held in soft pillowy
breasts of the smoothest chocolate skin.  Tight jeans curved around hips
that drew your eye with every movement.  Looking back up into those eyes,
Cynthia saw her love taking in her own appearance, bringing a blush to the
redhead's cheeks.

   "Hi, Violet..."

   "Hi..."

   Unable to hold back, Cynthia flowed forward, pressing herself against
the Mayan.  Her lips found Violet's, mouth open, tongue searching.  Time
stood still.

   Violet finally broke the kiss, laughing.

   "I missed you too, Cyn."

   "I more than missed you..." Cynthia lay her head down on Violet's
shoulder, body pressed against her.  "Did you finish your exams?"

   "Gods I hope so.  With my luck, there's one nobody told me about."

   Cynthia broke into laughter, shaking her entire body.  Violet grinned
down at the girl, enjoying the feeling.  Everything the redhead did made
her feel good...

   "Anything going on down here I should know about?"

   Cynthia pulled back, eyes wide.

   "Oh, you have no idea!"

   ****

   Bill sat on the bed, wearing his boxer shorts with the rest of his
clothing still on the floor.  Ai lay stretched out next to him, almost
motionless, eyes closed.  Watching closely, it was clear her breasts were
slowly rising and falling.  She was...  asleep.  Ai never slept.  Reaching
a hand out to caress one of those soft blue mounds, he sighed.

   "What's wrong with you, Ai?" His thumb ran over her hard, dark blue
nipple.  Nothing...

   The door to the bedroom opened.  Turning his head, he saw Julie, now
fully dressed again, come in with a tray of food.  Kicking the door closed
behind her, she set the tray down on the other side of Ai and began moving
plates.

   "Violet's here.  Dinner's out of the oven, so since you're staying here
I figured I'd let them get in some alone time." Passing a plate of meatloaf
and macaroni and cheese, she looked down at their friend.  "Anything?"

   "Nope.  If it was anyone else, I'd say she just passed out due to
incredible sex and take pride in that." Julie raised an eyebrow at him. 
"Sorry, sorry.  I know.  It's just...  I don't want to think about
something happening to her.  She has to be OK..."

   "I'm sure she is." Julie handed him a glass of milk, then reached over
and touched his bare knee.  "We also have to make sure WE are OK.  Whatever
she did, she drained a lot of...  well, fluid out of us.  Eat."

   "Yes, Ma'am."

   ****

   Violet sat across from Cynthia at the kitchen table.  The shelter's
actual dining area was one room over, a large space with a half dozen
tables, a mess hall slash card room for when the nukes go flying.  It was
not, however, a very intimate or even friendly place for the shelter's few
inhabitants.  Early on, one of the tables had been dragged into the
spacious kitchen, making things much more home like.  Before leaving them,
Julie had put a candle down in the middle and lit it, winking at the couple
as she sauntered off with her tray.  Looking at it, Violet just shook her
head.

   "If she was going to do that, she could have come up with a much more
romantic meal.  I mean, what, are we suppose to seductively feed each other
mac and cheese?"

   "For us, that is romantic." Cynthia grinned to take any potential hurt
out of her words.  Money was tight, and evenings out on the town, few and
far between.  The last had been in February, for their anniversary.  A
dinner out at Salvatore's, a place know as much for its seemingly few
hundred marble statues as for good upscale food, and a night alone at their
nearby romantic getaway hotel.  The Jacuzzi Suite, with its marble columns
and mirrored walls, had been...  fun.

   "I should have called ahead and talked to Julie," Violet chuckled sadly.
Cynthia reached over and took her hand.

   "It's not the food that makes it romantic.  It's you.  Us.  Now, what
was that you were talking about before, about something special tonight?"

   Violet gave her one of those looks, the one that brought a lump to her
throat and dampness between her legs.  Eyes dropping to look at their
joined hands, Violet seemed to be considering something.  Slowly, a smile
grew on her lips.  She maneuvered Cynthia's captured hand so her fingers
pointed straight ahead.  Ignoring the questioning look she was getting,
Violet's other hand vanished under the table, then reappeared with
something.

   Cynthia's eyes shot open.  Was she...?!?  Slowly, Violet opened her
brown hand, revealing a gold ring, with a small red stone.  Her eyes caught
Cynthia's, and she spoke with a trembling voice.

   "Will you marry me, my Red Witch?"

   She couldn't breathe.  She couldn't speak.  Oh, God, she had to speak!
Had to tell her!  Had to...

   "Yes..." It came out as a whisper, but to both sounded like a scream. 
Hand shaking, Violet slowly slid the ring onto her fiancĂ(C)'s finger.  She
then took the hand in both of hers.

   "I was offered a job, after graduation.  I can afford a place for us. 
We can be together."

   "Oh, yes yes yes yes YES!!!" Cynthia leapt to her feet, hand still held
by Violet, and pulled her fiancĂ(C) up.  It was more of a yank, actually,
sending the chair clattering backwards, followed by the sound of multiple
kisses to Violet's face.  Cynthia suddenly pulled back, eyes smoldering.

   "I wonder what I look like wearing ONLY this ring..."

   ****

   The dirty dishes stored safely on the floor for now, Bill and Julie sat
up against the headboard.  Bill had his arm around her, as the two looked
at Ai still lying next to them.  He sighed.

   "What if she IS pregnant, Julie?  I mean...  wow.  I don't even know how
that would work."

   "I know," she said, dryly.  "I mean, can you imagine if the baby has to
be fed the same way she is?"

   Bills head fell back against the wall.

   "Oh, man.  I could NOT do that."

   "If you could, I'd leave you."

   "Oh, you have no worries about that, Love." He gave a laugh.  "God, and
even if I could do that, just imagine six or more feedings a day!  I'd
die!" Julie smacked him in the arm, then joined his laughter.  "Seriously,"
he went on, "whatever happens, we'll adapt.  We always have."

   Ai moved.

   The two of them were at her side in an instant.  Bill's eyes were on her
face, looking for any sign, but Julie took in her entire body.  Ai shifted
her legs, spreading them slightly, then was motionless again.  After a
minute, Bill let out a breath.

   "Ah, well.  So much for..."

   He stopped.  Julie looked startled about something...  then he smelled
it too.

   It was Ai.  From between her legs, came...  a scent they knew well.  A
scent that signaled readiness for love, that was a part of every intimate
moment they'd had, every erotic memory of their entire sexual history.  It
was filling the room...  and they reacted.

   Julie, not even knowing it, quickly shed her outfit for the second time
that afternoon.  Bill's boxers were on the floor, as he crawled over Ai's
still form to get to Julie.  She lay down, hands holding her legs apart,
ready for him.  There was no need for foreplay.  No need for gentleness. 
His hardness thrust into her easily as she released her legs to wrap around
him.  There was no thought, no emotion other than pleasure.  Just the
primal, carnal, act of...  breeding.

   Bill came.

   For the first time in four years, Ai was not there with them...

   ****

   Violet moaned.

   Cynthia, from her position down between her lover's thighs, chuckled,
raising her eyes.  From there, she could see the two blue furred primates
do their work.  Red tongues snaked out to lick Violet's breasts, teasing
her nipples.  The one on the left, Ro, used its two hands to squeeze and
kneed the fleshy mound.  La saw this, adapting its plan of attack to mirror
Ro.  Violet gave another groan, hands moving down through the creatures to
grab her breasts herself.

   "Oh...  it's too much..."

   Cynthia grinned.  The two foot tall creatures were, apart from Ai,
probably the only spirits (as they'd come to call the unseen monsters) with
souls.  Ro was hers, made "real" by accident not long after realizing she
could actually touch the things.  La, Violet's invisible companion, had
been an experiment, to see if she could duplicate the feat with a creature
not linked to her.  That doing this also allowed Violet to, if not actually
see, feel Ro as well was unexpected.

   Then again, what these days, WAS expected.

   Moving her hand to the moist opening before her, Cynthia ran the length
of her ring finger along it.  The golden band passed over Violet's clit,
resulting in another intake of breath by the woman.  Cynthia so wished the
ring was smooth, so she could press it inside her lover.  That would not be
wise, though, given the stone and its setting, so she settled for lowering
her head again and returning to licking.  The only sounds were those of
four mouths, three pleasuring and one pleasured.

   The pleasured one occasionally screamed.

   ****

   Cynthia slid her nude body up the bed, taking the somewhat incoherent
Violet in her arms.  The Mayan, head finding the strength to focus in her
general direction, began to laugh.

   "God...  you're going to kill me before the wedding!"

   Cynthia snuggled into her, hand moving to play with those luscious brown
breasts.  One of her legs slid up and over between Violet's thighs, red
bush mixing with Violet's black.  She giggled.

   "Well, if you can't stand this and more, maybe I don't want to marry
you!"

   "Ah...  so it's stamina training, is it?" She turned on her side, arms
going around the redhead.  "Just remember, two can play at this..."

   ****

   "I want a fireplace."

   "Hmm?"

   Violet looked at her Witch, lost in the afterglow.  Cynthia's eyes were
far away.

   "Our home.  Someday, I want a house with a big fireplace.  With a comfy
couch in front of it where we can cuddle."

   "What else, Love?" Violet ran her hands lightly over her, reveling in
the silky feel.  Cynthia absently returned the favor.

   "A gazebo"

   "God bless you."

   "Ha!  No, silly.  I want a gazebo in the back yard, with a swinging
bench.  And a small pond."

   "White picket fence?"

   "Naw.  How would the deer and bunnies get in?"

   "Oh, they'd find a way."

   Violet's smile slowly faded, mind coming to decision.  Her wandering
hand began to trace a spiral on Cynthia.

   "What about...  a family?"

   "Hmm?" Cynthia rolled over to face her.  Seeing the serious expression,
her hand came up to stroke her cheek.

   "I said, do you see a family in our future?"

   Cynthia broke into a grin.

   "You're my family now!"

   "No..." Violet brought her hand up and covered Cynthia's.  "A real
family.  Kids..."

   "Oh.  I...  I don't know."

   Their heads came together, foreheads touching.

   "I want kids, Cyn.  Babies.  You've seen my family.  I'm not as bad as
them, but..."

   "But you grew up surrounded by babies." Violet nodded.  Cynthia sighed.
"I...  I didn't.  I'm an only child.  What do you want to do, my Love? 
Adopt?"

   Violet took a deep breath.

   "There's one secret I haven't told you.  Because, well, until now, it
didn't matter." Cynthia regarded her calmly, waiting.  Violet licked her
lips.  "Mom...  Mother Taylor, well...  Dad gave her a gift.  In his will.
And, after I met you, finally, and told her I planned on marrying you
someday..." This revelation was rewarded with a quick kiss, almost
destroying Violet's resolve.  She went on, quickly.  "Well, Mom gave it to
me."

   "Gave you what?"

   "Dad...  told Mom she could have one more child."

   Cynthia looked at her, puzzled.  What the heck...  if the promise was
made after he died, how...  Her eyes widened.

   "You...  want to have your DAD'S kids?!?"

   "We're not related!  Not by blood!  But, Mom said, I was so much like
him, that if you had a baby it would be like it came from me!  And it would
be a way for me to conceive without having some stranger involved." She
could see the doubt on her lover's face.  "It's not something we have to
even consider for some time, my love.  It's...  just there, if we decide."
Once again she stroked Cynthia.  "Just understand, I DO want kids...  and
would love to have OUR kids running around the house."

   Cynthia let herself be relaxed.

   "Besides," Violet added, a twinkle in her eye, "just think how sexy we'd
look with swollen bellies..."

   ****

   Ai opened her eyes.

   Immediately she was on her feet, standing on the bed, shaking.  How had
she moved?!?  A second ago she had been on top of Bill, and now she was
lying down?!?  And where was Bill!  He wasn't under her!  What was
happening!?!

   Ai spun her head around, frantically searching the room.  Her body
followed, spinning in place.  A low moan came from her, rising in pitch as
her panic rose.  Bill was not here!  Finally, a part of her realized she
should actually look down.  There, on the other half of the bed, was Bill
and Julie, nude and cuddled together.  She stopped herself, facing them,
terrified.

   "Biiiiiillllll!!!!"

   Her two friends were awake instantly.  Julie quickly stood, walking
across the bed to stand next to Ai, putting a reassuring hand on her arm.
Bill looked up and decided there was no way he was going to stand on the
bed, so hopped off and opened his arms to Ai.  She bounded off the bed into
his embrace.

   ""Bill Bill Bill Bill!  Where were you?  Why did I move?  WHAT
HAPPENED?!?"

   "Shhhh......"

   Julie dismounted from the bed, form perfect as always, expression
confused.

   "What is she talking about?"

   "I blinked and I moved!  And you were gone!  What happened!"

   Bill's eyes widened.  Trying to calm her shaking body with one hand, the
other lifted her face up to his.

   "You were asleep, Ai.  Asleep.  Just like Julie and I were a moment ago.
That's all.  You fell asleep, and time passed.  It's now..." He looked over
at the digital clock.  "Eleven at night.  Everything's OK."

   Ai stilled, face showing total incomprehension as she pulled back a bit.

   "But...  I don't...  sleep..."

   "I know, Ai, I know..."

   Shaking her head, Julie came up and put her arms around both of them.

   "Let's call our parents, Bill.  Tomorrow, we have to take her to see
Doc."

   ****

   Shirley watched out the living room window as the old four door sedan
came up the driveway.

   You'd think she'd be used to this by now.  Be used to her only son, her
firstborn, coming home for a visit.  Coming home, spending a few hours with
her...  then leaving.  Not to be seen again for days.  It happens to every
mother.  It's a part of growing up, for child, and parent.  It was a part
of life...

   ...But it happened four years too soon.

   She could hear the garage door closing.  Sighing, she turned to see Tom
coming out of the kitchen.  Seeing her, he stopped and held out a hand. 
Shirley stepped over to take it, shoulders slumped.  He leaned down for a
quick kiss.

   "You OK?"

   "Just silly woman things.  Don't worry about it."

   "OK, I won't."

   She chuckled at this, eyes shining as they looked up at her giant of a
man.  He grinned back.  He was her rock.  The sound of footsteps behind
them, and the groan of disgust, told them daughter Betty didn't approve of
this display of affection.

   "This is our room," Shirley told the unseen teen, "so don't tell us to
get another one."

   "That's disgusting."

   "Yes it is," her father agreed.  He leaned down for another kiss just as
the den door opened.

   "Don't mind us," Bill said, amusement on his face as he led the way into
the house.  Shirley stepped away from Tom and quickly moved up to give her
son a hug.  He towered over her now...  not as much as his father did, but
enough that once again she longed for the child he once was.  Why did he
have to GROW?!?  Gently escaping from her embrace, Bill moved to give Dad a
good handshake while Julie, Ai, Cynthia and Violet all got hugs first from
Shirley, then Betty.  Betty did NOT hug her brother.

   "So," asked Julie, moving over to taker Bill's arm, "Are Mom and Doc
here yet?"

   "Not yet.  She said something about getting something from the office."
Shirley gave Ai a close look.  "You look OK, Ai.  What's wrong?"

   "I do not KNOW!" Her face became worried, black eyes whirling. 
"Something is WRONG, and Bill won't tell me what!"

   "We told you what happened, Ai, but that we don't know exactly what it
means yet.  That's why the Doctor has to look you over."

   Shirley looked at her son, sighing again.  Mentally giving herself a
good shake, she tried to shift into scientist mode.

   "Is it serious?"

   "Long term, if we're right, then hell yes." Her son shook his head,
chuckling.  "As usual, we're in uncharted territory here."

   Betty suddenly grabbed Cynthia's left hand.  A gasp of surprise coming
from her, the black haired sixteen year old brought the appendage in
question up to her face.  She looked up at the redhead.

   "Why do you have a ring?"

   "WHAT?!?" Julie practically jumped over to them, grabbing the hand
herself and bringing it down to her eye level.  Eyes wide, her head
swiveled between Violet and Cynthia, not even able to ask the question. 
Grinning , Cynthia nodded.

   "We're engaged."

   "Why didn't you TELL ME!!" Julie grabbed her in a bear hug, the two in
turn hugged by an ecstatic Betty.  Ai joined them, just because it looked
fun.  Tom turned to Violet, holding out his hand.

   "Congratulations."

   "Thanks." She shook with him, then Bill, grin plastered to her face. 
Looking up at Cynthia's adoptive father, her eyes got a wide innocent look
to them.  "So, how much is her dowery?"

   ****

   It was a half hour later before the Cutters arrived, parking at home
then crossing the street to the Darrow house.  Ai was anxious.  She needed
to know what was going on.  Needed to know she was OK.  Needed whatever was
going on to stop.  She DIDN'T change, SHOULDN'T change.  She was exactly
the same now as she had been when Bill first loved her.  That was as it
should be!

   She hung back as the front door was opened, staying out of sight of the
outside out of long habit.  Nothing frightened her more than being seen by
strangers.  Even the drive over here, short as it had been, had been
terrifying.  Ai had huddled down between Cynthia and Violet, blanket
covering her.  Only Bill's insistence that they had to be ready to move her
to the clinic if needed got her to climb those steps.

   Gretchen came in first, quickly going to give her daughter Julie a hug.
Younger daughter Jenny, almost a twin to Julie despite being two years
younger (and both a mirror of their mother), came behind.  Her mood was...
teen girl moody.  Ai smiled at her, getting a slight smile in return.  Ai
liked Jenny.  Closing the door behind him before coming into the living
room, was...  the Doctor.

   Not THE Doctor, as Bill liked to say.  Which was too bad, as Ai liked
all the Doctors, and that robot dog that played with the one with the
scarf. No, this was A doctor.  Doctor James Trumain.  New husband to
Gretchen Cutter, and thus (as Ai understood it) fake father to Julie and
Jenny.  A bit shorter than Bill, with graying curly black hair and skin
even darker than Violet's, almost black.  What was important, though, was
that he was now Ai's Doctor.  It was his job to keep her well.  This was
good.  Ai wanted to be well.

   "So," Doc said, looking at Ai, "how's our blue friend today?" He put
down the bag he had been carrying, motioning Jenny to put the small grey
case, almost like a thick laptop with a handle, down on the coffee table.
Walking up to Ai, he smiled down at her.  She looked up, eyes wide.

   "Don't know."

   "She told us she's been feeling bad," Bill said, taking a seat in a
chair pulled in from the dining room, "off and on, for the past week.  She
was on the verge of telling us when last night happened."

   "Hmm..." Opening his bag, Doc pulled out some of his toys.  Ai nodded at
him, glumly.

   "I have felt bad, dizzy, or in pain, but only for a moment or two then
it would go.  And, yesterday, I slept!  Slept!  I don't sleep!  I don't
want to sleep!  Help me!!!" Her eyes swung wildly around the room.  Didn't
they understand?  To be like that...  it had been horrible!  Gretchen was
at her side, slowly easing her down into nice cushioned chair in the
corner. She knelt down next to her, holding Ai's cold hand.  Ai calmed
down...  they were going to help her.  All would be well...

   Doc pulled out his tablet and brought up his notes on Ai.  From her
seat, Ai could see photos of her, various words and numbers.  He had only
examined her once, a somewhat disquieting event.  His fingers had been all
over her, things had been stuck in her mouth, ears, and vagina.  Only Bill
and Julie being there next to her had kept her from running away.  Was he
going to do all of that again?  She closed her eyes, fear starting to grow.

   "Ai." She opened her eyes, as the Doctor pulled up another dining room
chair and sat in front of her.  "I'm not going to hurt you, Ai.  First, I'm
going to take your temperature, and your blood pressure.  I'll then listen
to your heart.  I did all that last time, remember?" She nodded, warily. 
"Then, you see that grey case over there?" He pointed, her eyes following
his finger.  "That's a special machine that can look inside of you.  I
should have used it the first time, to get a better idea of what the
healthy you looks like, but I'm going to use it now to get a feel for
what's going on.  It won't hurt a bit."

   What he thought would hurt, and what did, sometimes didn't match, but
eyes serious she nodded.

   "Do it."

   ****

   Bill watched, curious, as Gretchen opened up the portable ultrasound
machine.  It was like a small laptop computer, with a screen standing up
and a small keyboard and trackpad on the base.  A long grey wire connected
to a small white plastic...  well, it could be a microphone, electric
razor, or a vibrator.  Probably the closest guess would be a microphone, he
thought.  Behind him, he could hear the girls talking.

   "Your brother's an ass, Violet."

   "You knew that when you started dating him, Jenny.  What has Jaxom done
now?"

   "He asked me to the prom!"

   "So?  That's what guys are supposed to do."

   "His Senior Prom!  And it's in a week!  One week!  How the hell am I
suppose to get ready in one week?!?"

   "Bill!"

   He turned to look at Julie.  Her eyes were dancing at her sister's
problems.

   "Bill, when is our prom?"

   "Huh?  Um...  no idea."

   "See, sis?  This is why it's up to the girlfriend to be on top of all
this stuff.  You should have guessed he'd ask, and been ready for it."

   "What am I gonna do...."

   Shaking his head at the folly of females, he turned back to Ai and the
Doctor.  Done with the first part of the exam, Doc rose to his feet to
stretch his legs while entering some notes while his wife set up the
ultrasound.  He turned to Bill.

   "So, you think she conceived last night?"

   "That's my guess," Cynthia said, rising from the couch where she'd been
sitting talking to Shirley.  "The lights inside Ai match what Bill says he
saw when he made her real, and with the white boy I saw..." Seeing the look
on his face, she laughed.  "All of which does you no good, does it?"

   "Well, I have to deal with the physical side.  Unless I know what
physically happened, not just the corresponding spirit manifestation,
there's not much I can do."

   "I think," she said, chuckling, "The physical part was all that sperm
shooting into her."

   That silenced the idol gossip behind them, even as Bill joined in the
laughter.  Clearing his throat, although with a twinkle in his eye, Doc
nodded and turned to sit back down in front of Ai.  Her sundress was pulled
up, uncovering her stomach.  Her dark blue scales reflected the light from
the window, contrasting with her blue grey skin.  Gretchen brought another
chair over and set the ultrasound unit on it where both her husband and Ai
could see the screen.  Both ignored the more intimate part of her anatomy
also uncovered.

   "OK, Ai, see this screen?" She nodded.  "I'm going to run this plastic
wand over your tummy, and it's going to look inside you and show pictures
on this screen.  I'm going to be looking at the place where, if you do have
a baby, it's going to be, OK?"

   Julie came up to them, frowning.

   "There'd be nothing to see yet!" Doc nodded.

   "I know, but I want to get a good idea of what it looks like pre-baby so
I can see any changes.  I'll also examine other parts of her for the same
reason.  Should have done this last time, but I was expecting her to be
more...  human like.  My mistake."

   Putting the wand on Ai, His eyes took in the first black and white
images on the screen.  It looked...  well, human.  Like a normal human
womb. The others gathered around, quiet, eyes on the screen.  Ai lost all
fear, fascinated.  That was inside of her!  Shirley, standing, suddenly
spoke up.

   "Wait, James, move a bit to the left...  there.  What's that."

   He saw it...  no, them.  Frowning, he moved to get a view from different
angles.  It looked like...

   "Honey, you have more experience with this area then I do.  What do YOU
think that looks like?"

   Gretchen turned the screen towards her as he held the wand still.  Eyes
narrowing as she leaned closer, she suddenly sat up, amazed.  She turned to
Shirley.

   "It's...  it's like two small gestational sacs!  But the egg shouldn't
even be implanted yet!"

   ****

   Ai sat on the kitchen counter, watching as the others had an informal
lunch of sandwiches.  Everything they said was about her, but she
understood very little.  She...  had sacks in her tummy, that would turn
into puppies except they'd be babies?  She shook her head.  She felt... 
tired.  And hungry.  Should she tell Bill that she needed to feed?  He
normally wanted her to wait until they were alone, but she didn't know if
she could...

   Her eyes fell on the open packages of meat and cheese on the counter. 
Meat...  sliding off onto her feet, Ai walked over to the cutting board. 
There was a stack of sliced turkey.  Hand reaching out, she picked the top
one off.  It was cool, a little wet...  expression puzzled, she raised the
piece up, and put it in her mouth.  It was hard to swallow, so remembering
she had seen people chew she decided to try that.  It worked.  With a gulp,
the turkey slid down into her body.

   Another.  She wanted another.

   The third piece was half in her mouth, when Ai realized everyone was
staring at her.  She removed it.

   "What is wrong?  I am hungry."

   ****

   Williamsville East High School had been an experiment.

   The goal, for the lucky designers, had been twofold.  One, it was to be
open, spacious.  An experiment in education where classrooms would not have
walls, where learning would not be confined.  Two...  it had to be
convertible to an office building in case the population projections were
wrong.

   While the second had not come to pass, the first choice had come to be
seen as a minor mistake.  Makeshift walls, be it filing cabinets or other
dividers, quickly went up around classrooms to try and provide some privacy
and remove distractions.  Still, there was always the hum of conversation
in the background, to which one either adapted or came to hate.  The
positive of the design, though, and the general attitude of the school, was
the lack of study halls.  During your "free" period, students could go...
well, anywhere.  Not just the library or cafeteria, but any empty hallway
or even classroom, so long as no teacher objected.  In that way it was a
bit like a college campus, be it a small enclosed one.

   Julie's favorite spot was in the second floor hallway behind the
offices. Running through the middle of the non-classroom side of the
building, it saw no traffic unless someone was using the weight rooms on
the left side or the upper entrances to the auditoriums on the right. 
Being somewhat visible to those with the ability to deal out suspensions,
those who had to worry about such things avoided the area.  It was also
relatively noise free.

   Sharon and Martha were already sitting against the wall when Julie and
Cynthia arrived.  Best friends of Julie since forever, they had adopted
Cynthia as one of their own despite a total lack of any similar interests.
Both sides, to some degree, found the other unintentionally humorous.

   "So," Julie asked, sitting cross-legged in front of them, "what's on the
agenda for today?"

   "Prom plans," Sharon replied, brushing some of her blond hair from her
face "Still some minor details to work out."

   "I don't even know if I'm still going to be with Paul by then," Martha
muttered.  She brought a brown hand up to her eyes, rubbing.  "He's getting
to be such an idiot."

   "What did he do now?" Julie had never cared that much for the guy, but
didn't think there was anything really wrong with him.  Martha's eyes
narrowed, just the memory bringing her anger back.

   "He got drunk Friday, and tried to hit on my sister."

   "Hit on his older brother, make it even," Sharon suggested.

   "Not unless I'm ready to put out.  Sean would jump me in a moment if I
even hinted I was interested."

   "Guys are such idiots," Cynthia deadpanned, looking over her AP History
notes.  Martha gave her an appraising look.

   "Why aren't you and what's her name going to prom?"

   "Please."

   "No," Sharon said, turning her body a bit to face the redhead, "really.
You two should go.  There's at least two other lez couples going, nobody's
going to say anything."

   With a sigh, Cynthia put down her notebook and looked at the teens.

   "It has nothing to do with being out.  Neither Violet or I are...  well,
the prom type.  Besides," she added, looking at Julie, "it's probably not
good to leave her alone now."

   Martha leaned forward, tense.

   "Is there something wrong with...  her?"

   Julie looked back towards the offices, biting her lip.

   "Wrong?  No.  But..." she looked back at her friends, seeing the serious
concern in their faces, "...  things are changing.  We're probably going to
call a 'Fan Club' meeting tonight.  We're going to need you."

   ****

   Ai sat on the garden bench, munching on a carrot.

   Food, she had come to discover, had taste.

   This was entirely new for Ai.  She had tasted, yes, certainly.  When she
ate the love of Bill or Julie, each had a different flavor, and that flavor
tended to vary for unknown reasons.  But, of all her senses, that was the
one that had experienced the least.  NOTHING had entered her mouth, apart
from her two lovers, for...  well, since the first week of her life.  Once
experiments had shown she couldn't eat or drink food, that had been the end
of that.

   Yet now she could.

   Ai was not one for deep questions.  She trusted Bill or Julie or Mother
or Doctor to figure out what was what.  She was one, though, for
experimenting with the world around her, and for the past two days she had
thoroughly enjoyed eating some of everything she could.  It was a whole new
world.  Never had she imagined there could be such flavors!  Sweet, sour,
hot, bitter...  Bill had speculated that it was the babies, that in fact
what Ai was doing when she ate these meals was feeding it directly to the
two babies in her tummy.

   Pausing, carrot sticking out of her mouth like an orange penis, she
looked down at her belly.  Inside her...  were two babies.

   Two.  Two little...  somethings.

   Ai knew what babies were.  She even knew how they were made, and long
had she hoped that one of her feedings might somehow accidentally give her
one.  But, to have it a reality now...  her mind didn't know what to think.
Bill tried to help, and she loved him for it.  He had found a movie on
babies, and Ai had watched entranced as the screen showed the inside of a
woman and the wonderful creature growing in her.  THAT, or at least two
somethings like that, were in HER.

   She felt something wet on her feet.

   Leaning forward, Ai smiled as the puppy Bilbo came into view, looking
for attention.  With practiced ease she scooped him up into her lap,
laughing as the dog began eagerly licking her face.

   Ai wondered if her babies would be like puppies.

   ****

   Tom looked over the gathered as they settled into seats.  The Cutter
basement was finished rather better than his own, with a thick blue carpet
and an oak bar, although the folding chairs set up around the room somewhat
cheapened the effect.  Still, it was a nice room.  He'd always wanted to do
something similar, and after helping Nick put this in, the plan had been to
figure out something for his house.  Then his friend had to go and...

   His eyes flicked to James.  He liked Gretchen's new husband well enough,
he supposed.  For 'The Plan', he was essential.  What Tom wouldn't give,
though, to have Nick at his side through all this.  Never had he expected
fatherhood to be the basis of a lasting male friendship...  well, maybe it
had been the joint experience of pregnant wives that had been the glue. 
Never took much with guys, and bitching over moody women was classic male
bonding fodder.  It had helped that Nick had just been a great guy.

   Seeing it was about time to start, Tom took a quick count.  The number
of those in the know about Ai was still small, but growing.  Shirley had
been skeptical, and concerned, about his insistence that spreading the
secret was inevitable and indeed necessary.  Some of her worries still
remained, and he relied on that to balance his...  deficiencies in certain
areas.  They were a good team.

   Bobby, Bill's best friend, had naturally been the first to find out.  It
took longer than Tom would have suspected, but when his son came to him
with the news that they had a problem, he was ready.  Bobby's sister soon
joined them, as did two of Julie's friends and Violet's four parents. 
Looking, Tom saw only three were here, then remembered the darker curvy one
had stayed home with a sick kid.  Coworker Hiro and his adult daughter
Tammy, members of a paranormal group, had been all too happy to actually be
part of a REAL conspiracy once they were let in.  They had also discovered
the joy of knowing more than others, and had no desire to tell their former
colleagues about Ai.

   So he hoped.

   Ten people, nine of which were here.  Added to the core that had been
there since the start, and Doctor James, that made twenty.  Twenty humans
who knew of Ai, who had pledged to protect her.

   May God, and anyone else out there, help them.

   Tom saw his wife nod to him.  Moving to the front of the bar and raising
his arms, he waited until the room became quiet.  The seventeen seated
members of the "Ai Fan Club", as Betty had named it, gazed back.  Lowering
his arms, he nodded to them.

   "Welcome.  I'm glad everyone could make it."

   There were murmured greetings in reply.

   "Before we start, we have a special guest.  This is the first time she's
been with so many of us at once, so I ask you remain seated and quiet." The
two friends of Julie's sat up, excitement and awe on their faces.  Tom
tried to remember the last time Ai had made a public appearance: they kept
such things to a minimum, and none of the newcomers knew of the shelter. 
That last, he knew, would be changing.

   The door to his left opened, and Bill led Ai into the room.  She was
dressed in a simple, white dress.  Shirley had complained that it made her
look like some Greek god or mythological creature.  That was the point. 
Looking at the expressions of those before him as Ai crossed the room,
there was definitely a religious undercurrent.  Here, before them, was a
mystery of the universe.  A living embodiment of the unknown.  As Ai passed
before the Black girl, the teen started to reach out to her, then,
remembering, pulled her hand back.  Ai stopped, turned her head to face the
girl, and with a slow smile reached out and touched her forehead.  Tom
would almost swear the poor teen had an orgasm, or found Jesus.  Maybe
both. As Ai moved on, the girl's blond friend slowly reached up and touched
the now blessed patch of brown skin, as if to borrow its holiness.

   They were going to ask these people to protect Ai and her children for a
hundred years, or a thousand.  If Tom had to start a cult, had to turn
these people into disciples of the Mystery Religion of Ai...  so be it. 
Shirley would just have to understand.

   Bill and Ai took seats in the front next to Tom, still holding hands. 
When his son nodded that they were ready, Tom turned back to the rapt
onlookers.  He paced a bit as he spoke.

   "Again, thank you for coming.  Tonight...  is a special night.  There
has been a change.  As you know, we have been protecting Ai, helping Ai,
for a few years now.  She has been a wonderful friend, and Shirley and I
look on her as one of our children." Ai looked at him, beaming.  "All
children grow up, though, and we have learned that something wonderful has
happened to Ai."

   He paused for effect.

   "Ai is pregnant."

   It was seventeen year old Sally, Bobby's sister, who was on her feet
first, cheering.  Violet's mom Taylor was a fraction of a second behind,
and in moments the room was reverberating with cries of joy.  Ai shrank
back against Bill, shaking.  A word or two in her ear, though, soon had her
on her feet and shyly smiling at the applauding crowd.  Bill stood with
her, arm around Ai's waist.  Looking around, he quickly motioned for Julie
to join them.  Tom smiled.  That was his boy, realizing his other lover
couldn't be left out of this.  The short fireball soon was on the other
side of Ai, happy.

   Tom raised his hands, and the room quieted.  Julie quickly dragged her
chair up to be with her mates, as the rest sat down (if still on the edge
of their seats).  Tom took a quick drink of water.

   "I'm glad that news went well." Everyone chuckled.  "What this means,
however, is...  we have to change.  Until now, many of you have been on the
outside, as my family and Gretchen's did what we could.  This has been, as
my daughter Betty called it, an Ai Fan Club.  Now...  we must ask for your
help."

   He saw everyone nodding.  Good.  They had been waiting for this.

   "The first thing you must know is, well, we don't know what's going to
happen.  This isn't a human pregnancy.  It could take days, or years.  What
we do know is that there appear to be two fetuses, at, as of this morning,
maybe the three month mark.  Growth isn't constant, so Doc isn't projecting
a damned thing and rightly so.  But, we should probably work fast.

   "First, we have never asked for money.  It just wouldn't be right, and
so far we've been able to do what we had to.  But, now we are asking for
donations.  Not cash, yet, although if you have a few million I won't turn
it away." That got a laugh, but no offers.  Well, it had been worth a shot.
"We need baby supplies.  Cribs and the like to start with, maybe more later
as we find out what we need." He saw the three mothers put their heads
together.  Given they had almost a dozen kids, Tom had guessed that was the
most likely source of supplies.  "More immediately, though...  we need
people to stay with Ai."

   This had the Black girl almost on her feet, hand in the air.  Julie
stood and walked over to her friend.  With a sad smile, she put a hand on
the girl's shoulder.

   "I'm sorry, Martha.  What we need is someone to be with her while Bill
and I are in school." The hand fell, Martha's face distraught.  Sharon next
to her reached over, grabbed her hand, and squeezed.  Julie looked up at
the others.  "We're looking for one or more people to stay with Ai from
maybe seven AM until three or so, at least until the babies are born. 
She's been fine alone until now, but someone has to be there to help her
when the time comes."

   It was asking a lot, and the few adults looked nervously between
themselves.  Finally, Taylor raised her hand and stood.

   "If I can bring my four year old, I'd love to do it."

   ****

   Four year old Lisa looked up at the blue creature.

   Ai looked back, as interested in this newcomer as she was in her.  The
child was short, as apparently most children were (although not all who
were short were children, with Julie and Jenny being prime examples).  She
had long straight brown hair, and features similar to Violet's mother Mei.
Her eyes were blue, currently wide in amazement.  Finally, after almost a
full minute, she turned back to Mommy Taylor and pointed at Ai.

   "She's BLUE!"

   Taylor laughed, hanging her coat up next to the now sealed shelter
hatch.

   "Yes she is!  Now, be nice, and introduce yourself to her."

   Lisa turned back to the unusual being.  She took a moment to try and
decide exactly which set of manners to use.  Was this another kid, an
adult, or a doggie?  She decided on adult, as Ai wasn't acting like the
other dogs in the room who were currently trying to get her attention. 
That Ai interested her more than puppies said quite a bit.  She held out a
tanned hand.

   "Hi!  I'm Lisa!  I'm four!"

   Smiling, Ai held out her own hand.

   "I'm Ai, and I'm four too!"

   "You ARE?!  Wow!  We're both four!" As their hands touched, Lisa jumped.
"Whoa!  You're cold!  Wow!  Mommy, she's so cold!"

   "And you are warm!" Ai said.  Letting go of Ai, Lisa quickly touched her
now free hand with her other one.  Looking up, she nodded.

   "Yeah, my hand is warmer than yours!  Wanna play a game?"

   Ai's eyes got wide.

   "I love games!  What do you want to play?"

   "Mommy brought Candyland!  Do you know how to play Candyland?"

   "Yes!" Ai hopped for joy.  "I've played that one!"

   ****

   Ai sat on the couch, tired.  Children, she decided, were more tiring
than puppies.  Puppies would play for a bit, then go lie down or go play
with their parents.  Children wanted to play with YOU, again and again. 
Never had she seen so much energy in such a small package.  Would her
babies be like that?

   Well, at least Lisa was nice, and pretty...

   Taylor came up to the couch, smiled at Ai, then collapsed into a nearby
recliner.  The thin woman brushed some of her long brown hair out of her
eyes, letting out a relieved sigh.

   "She's asleep.  Finally.  I hope Lisa didn't tire you out too much." Her
expression changed to one of surprise when Ai nodded.

   "She did.  I have never...  been this tired, just from being with
someone.  Unless Bill and Julie are loving me."

   Ai closed her eyes, just missing the look on Taylor's face.  Tired... 
she wanted to sleep.  The idea of sleep still disturbed her, but Ai now
understood the need.  Her unborn babies needed the rest...

   A thought came to her.

   "You have had many babies?" Ai opened her eyes and looked at Taylor. 
The woman, appearing to be at least a little uneasy talking to Ai, quickly
composed herself.

   "Yeah.  I've had four of my own, and helped raise seven others." She
leaned forward.  "What do you want to know, Ai?"

   "Does it hurt?"

   Taylor looked at her feet, long hair falling almost to the ground.  Ai
waited.

   "Yes." Taylor looked up, expression serious.  "I don't know what it will
be like for you, Ai, but it hurt for me.  Quite a lot, in fact, maybe
because I'm small.  Rachel popped hers out no problem.  You won't know
until it's time, and once it starts there's no stopping until the baby is
born, regardless of the pain."

   "Thank you..." Ai looked down at her belly, now slightly swollen under
the green sundress.  "Are babies worth it?" Looking up, she saw Taylor's
face alight with joy.

   "Babies are worth everything!"

   ****

   Cynthia made her way through the crowded sidewalk outside the school. 
Another day done.  Another day surrounded by people.  Surrounded by
creatures.  Blue, orange, green...  they walked and floated everywhere,
filling her vision.  For every human there were at least five somewhere
nearby, waiting, soulless.  It had been under control, inside, but now they
were again pressing against her sanity.  Moving to the side, next to some
bushes, she paused.  Ro, sensing she was doing something important, stopped
his chattering and jumped down from her shoulder where he had been riding.
He stood, looking up, waiting.

   "Focus," she muttered, looking down at a bare patch of concrete between
her feet.  "Focus..."

   Her gaze came back up...  and most of the creatures were gone.  Well...
not gone.  Invisible.  Which, really, for her sanity was the same thing. 
What few remained, less than one a person, she could deal with.

   Ignoring the stares her pause had gotten her, as if wearing a long black
dress on a beautiful late May afternoon wasn't unusual enough, she
continued on around the line of buses.  Bill and Julie usually beat her to
the car, and part of her subconsciously dreaded the day they left without
her.  Coming to the back of the last bus, she stepped off the curb, walked
across the drive, looked over to the third row...

   Bill's car was gone.

   Cynthia stopped in her tracks, mouth open in disbelief.  No!  What the
hell?!?  She swung around, looking.  Damn it, they had to be...

   There, parked against the curb in the back of the lot, was Violet
standing next to her blue hatchback, waving.

   Cynthia almost ran towards her.  That bitch!  She must have told Bill to
just go!  Oh, when she got over there, Cynthia was going to...

   Coming to a halt in front of Violet, her book bag dropped to the
pavement as Cynthia kissed her fiancĂ(C)e.  Far behind her she could hear
whistles, ignored like every reaction of the masses.  Fuck them.

   "Come on," she said, breaking the kiss.  "Let's go."

   ****

   "So, what's the plan?"

   Cynthia had the window down, wind blowing through her red hair.  She
didn't care where they went, but still the question was worth asking. 
Glancing over, she saw Violet chuckling as they left the school behind.

   "Nothing important.  I just realized today that I need some clothes
before my job starts.  Jeans and t-shirts just aren't going to cut it. 
Between the two of us, maybe we'll find some fashion sense."

   Cynthia nodded.  Watching the houses go by, she couldn't get those
whistles out of her head.  And the catcalls.  There had been catcalls, too,
hadn't there.  At least one...

   "Violet?"

   "Yeah?"

   "Did...  you didn't go to your senior prom, did you?"

   "Wha...?" Violet took her eyes off the road for a moment to look at her
bride to be, surprised at the topic of conversation.  Shaking her head, she
moved her attention back where it should be.  "No, no prom.  I was seeing
you by then, and taking an 8th grade girl seemed like a bad idea at the
time...  why?"

   "Umm...  you know East's prom is next weekend, right?"

   "Yeah.  Julie was talking about her and Bill's plans."

   "Well...  would you like to go?"

   The light in front of them had just turned yellow, but Violet braked
hard anyway.  Stopped, she turned to look at Cynthia in disbelief.

   "You're kidding."

   Cynthia shook her head, reaching over to touch Violet's right hand.

   "I hate school, I don't care for most of my fellow students.  But, god
help me, I want to take you into that prom and show you off.  I want to get
you on the dance floor in a sexy dress, and kiss you."

   Violet stared at her...  then, slowly, smiled an evil smile.

   "You know...  you still haven't proposed to ME yet..."

   ****

   "What do you MEAN I need tickets to got to the prom?!?"

   "Shhh!!"

   Julie motioned for Cynthia to keep it down, casting a worried glance
down the hall at the offices.  Yes, it was OK for them to be here during
class, but only if they kept their damned mouths shut and didn't get
noticed.  A noticed student is a sorry student.  The redhead, arms crossed,
stood over the now cringing Sharon sitting against the wall.  Taking a deep
breath, Cynthia spoke again.

   "You're saying, you have to buy tickets to go to the Senior Prom."

   "Y-yeah." The blond nodded up at her, biting her lower lip.

   "And," Cynthia went on, "the tickets sold out some time ago."

   "...  yes."

   "So, and I think I'm being quite reasonable in asking this..." Cynthia
dropped into a crouch, staring into Sharon's wide eyes.  "Why the fuck,"
she quietly asked, "were you going on about how I should go to the prom, if
you knew it was impossible?"

   Sharon's hands came together in front of her ample bosom, almost as if
praying to Cynthia for forgiveness.  Her eyes pleaded for understanding.

   "I knew you weren't interested, so what did it matter!  I'm sorry!"

   Cynthia's eyes continued to bore into the quivering mass before her...
then, with a sigh, she pushed herself back a bit and sat on the grey
carpet. Her gaze went to Julie, who was just relieved there was to be no
bloodshed.  For now.

   "How the hell did your sister get asked just a week before?"

   ""Oh," chuckled Julie, "Jaxom bought the tickets weeks earlier, but
decided to not tell Jenny until their anniversary.  You know, as a
surprise. That's the last time he'll do THAT!"

   "Great." Cynthia let her head fall back against the wall.  Another fine
high school memory.  Well, they had been planning on using the dresses for
their wedding as well, so it's not like that was a total waste...

   ****

   Bill's attention, as it often was in English, was divided three ways. 
Part of his mind, out of necessity, was on Mr.  Ven.  Not too much of his
mind, to be honest, but enough to at least have a witty reply if some
question was thrown his way.  Bill was ahead in the reading, and Mr.  Ven
was a somewhat easy going teacher.  To Mr.  Ven's right, high up on the
wall, was the clock.  This drew his eye more than the 45 year old teacher.
The last class of the day, and on a Friday at that, he just wanted to get
out of there.  Leave, go home, be done with school for another few days.

   The third object of his attention, one of the few things he looked
forward to each weekday morning, sat one seat up to his right: Alice.

   God, she looked beautiful today.  Looked beautiful every day.  Brown
hair, cut shoulder length, swept behind her ears.  Blue eyes behind large
silver glasses.  Long, willowy limbs, so graceful...

   Bill had been crushing on the girl since middle school.  She was,
really, the perfect example of his "type": thin, geeky, tall...  and, yet,
he was with a short athletic cheerleader.

   Maybe Julie had been partly right.

   The Junior Year Crisis, as they'd come to joke about it, had come about
mostly with the realization that their relationship, and in fact their
love, was a matter of..  convenience.  They were both with Ai, had to be
with Ai, so naturally they were together as a couple themselves.  At no
point had there been actual dating, or falling in love.  They just...  were
in love, and as the years went by, that had stopped being enough.  Sex was
something they had to do, for Ai, without joy if still with pleasure. 
Conversations were about the mundane, never about what truly interested or
moved them.  They were growing apart, if they had ever really been
together.

   It had climaxed in the usual teen theatrics, with fights,
misunderstandings, and finally betrayal.  A month of emotional hell.

   And, despite all that being overcome, despite Bill truly being in love
with Julie and her coming to realize her feelings for him ran just as deep,
the core of that rift was still true.  If not for Ai, they wouldn't be
together.  If not for that link, Bill would be asking Alice to the prom,
and possibly be just as happy if not more so than he was now.

   Part of him would always wonder, "what if..."

   He sighed, looking at the clock again.  Ten minutes to go.

   Ai was their only bond...  and that wasn't right.  He had to do
something for Julie.  Something to show how much he cared for her.  Showed
her he was committed to her, willing to spend the rest of his life with
her...

   Bill's eyes widened.

   Well, THAT was an option.  Dare he?  Without ever having spoken of the
idea with her?

   Sure.  Why not.  If she didn't want to marry him, he could just give the
ring to Alice.

   ****

   Bill opened the bedroom door.

   Julie lay on her side, nude, reading.  It was a comic book, he saw.  A
large thick hardcover, probably that Popeye collection she'd bought the
other day.  She had it partially propped up on a pillow, her own head
raised up on the large fluffy one she preferred.  Brown hair trailed down
next to her smooth, perfect back, a back Bill just wanted to press himself
against.

   Well, that was easy enough to arrange.

   Closing the door behind him...  being interrupted by cats and puppies
stopped being cute years ago, he shed his clothing as he walked to the side
of the bed.  Julie ignored him, although her body did inch a bit towards
the center to make more room.  Standing there, cock slowly hardening, Bill
admired her perfect form...  the line of her spine, the smooth firm curves
of that wonderful ass...  the Alice's of the world, the geeky girls, might
be the type to turn his head as he saw them pass in the hallways.  But...
the reality of Julie had them all beat.  Slowly, he climbed onto the bed,
his weight causing her to roll back into him.  Bill found himself with a
face full of hair, but before he could say anything Julie slid her body
down his.  His cock, which had been between her legs, now found itself
almost catching on her wet opening.  She moved forward a bit as she
continued down, though, causing it to slip behind her.  She then pressed
back against him, sliding down until his length was pressed firmly against
the fullness of her ass.  Her head now against his chest, she snuggled into
him.  Bill reached over her and repositioned the book so they could both
read it, then moved his left hand to cup the nearest breast.  They read.

   ****

   Bill heard the door open.  It had to be Ai, as Cynthia was gone for the
evening.  Some movie Violet wanted to see, now that school was finally done
for her.  He didn't look up, engrossed in the story on the page.  The
Popeye cartoons had NEVER been like this!  The door closed...  followed by
silence.

   A few moments later, they heard the sound of clothing falling to the
floor, felt the weight of Ai sitting on the mattress behind him.  Still
silent.  Both humans turned...  and saw Ai's expression of misery.

   Book forgotten, Bill quickly sat up, legs swinging off the bed as he
positioned himself next to her.  Julie slid over to kneel on the mattress
on the other side.  She stroked Ai's short black hair.

   "What's wrong, Ai?"

   Ai...  sniffled.  Crying!  She had been crying!  Bill put an arm around
her, pulling her cold form against his.

   "What is it, Ai?  Tell us..."

   Her head dropped, looking at the floor.

   "You...  you don't love me!"

   The two teens exchanged a startled glance over her.  Fuck.  Julie swung
her legs out in a mirror of Ai and Bill, putting an arm around their friend
and pressing herself against her as well.  Both softly caressed the center
of the Ai sandwich.  Bill kissed Ai's cheek.

   "Of course we love you!  We always love you!  Why do you think that?"
Her head bowed even more, and he saw a tear fall from her eye onto the
floor.

   "You...  you don't hug me!  You don't hold me, kiss me, love me... 
unless I ASK!" The last was spit out, like a curse.  Her head swung up,
eyes truly upset.  Both Bill and Julie reared back a bit, shocked not just
by the accusation, but...  by the truth of it.  "Bill!  You touch her, kiss
her, just because you want to!  Julie, you jump in his arms, start removing
his clothing...  why do neither of you do this with ME?!?  Why must I
always come to you, as if I'm begging?  Do you not WANT to make love to me?
Do you just love me because you HAVE to?!?"

   Bill had no answer.  How do you respond to truth misinterpreted?  They
did ignore her.  Did wait for her to signal her willingness and need for
them.  But, not because they didn't want or love her!  How could they tell
her that?!?

   Julie knew.  You didn't tell...  you showed.  Reaching a hand up, she
gently swung Ai's face towards her.  She kissed her, gently, lovingly,
tongue lightly licking those soft lips that taste like ice-cream.  Noses
touching, she looked into Ai's eyes.

   "We love you, Ai.  But...  there are more ways to show it than with sex.
Sex, with you, often is, yes, because we have to.  Because you need us,
need to feed.  We never say 'no'.  That, Ai, is love.  No matter how we
feel, no matter how not in the mood we are...  when you need us, we never
refuse you.  That is love.  If we, Bill and I, don't ask you to be there
for us enough, don't reach out and hold your hand for no reason, it's
because your love for us is so great that you are always doing it first. 
You haven't learned the age old female trick of playing hard to get. 
You've spoiled us with your love." Her hand slid down Ai's body, between
her breasts, coming to rest on the swell of her belly.  "This means we love
you too, Ai.  These aren't your babies...  they're OUR babies.  Made by the
love of all three of us.  They join us together forever, forever in love."

   Ai had started crying again, this time out of joy.  Smiling, Julie
pushed her back onto the bed.

   "Let us love you, Ai."

   She looked over at Bill, who just nodded, dumbfounded.  All thoughts of
marriage were swept away.  She was right.  The three of them were together.
To marry one and not the other would be incredibly cruel, and what was
marriage compared to the bond they already had?  Who needed some stinking,
overpriced, rings?  Grabbing Ai under her arms, he dragged her unresisting
form to the middle of the bed, tossing the book to Julie who quickly
dropped it safely onto the rug.  Once there, Bill lie down beside her and
began kissing her.  Her cheeks, her lips, her nose, her neck...  Ai, eyes
closed, responded with moans.  Julie gently spread Ai's legs, positioning
herself down between them.  One hand stroked the scales covering the
bulging belly.

   "I want you to give us lots of babies, Ai.  Babies made from all three
of us..." Julie's head dropped down between Ai's thighs, mouth going to the
opening from which life would soon travel.  Bill, raising himself up on one
arm, looked down at his brown haired lover as Ai trembled.  His own hands
caressed her breasts and stomach, feeling each shudder.

   "We love you, Ai," he whispered, mouth next to her ear.  "We love you,
in every way we can.  But...  we're only human.  TELL US if we're not doing
all we can, if we're hurting you.  We only want to give you joy..." Her
hands shot up to grab his head, dragging it around so she could kiss him
again.  Her cold tongue shot into his mouth, both losing themselves in the
moment.

   ****

   It took two hours to truly show how much they loved her.

   ****

   Julie slipped into the hallway.  Glancing back, she had to smile at the
scene.  Her two lovers were entangled on the bed, fast asleep, Bill half
hard inside her.  Soon, probably, her coldness would cause him to roll away
from her, but for now Ai was like any other woman with her man.

   And Julie was her woman.

   Silently closing the door, Julie walked nude down the carpeted hallway.
Sex, good, rattle the walls sex, made her hungry.  Ai was lucky, as sex
actually provided her with food, but as nice as the love juices of Ai and
Bill tasted, they did little to actually sate Julie's appetite.  It was
time for a snack.

   She had crossed half the rec area before Julie noticed Cynthia sitting
on the couch.  The redhead was still in that day's black dress (did she OWN
anything else?), reading.  She considered retreating to the room to put
something on, but decided why bother.  It's not like it was a big deal.

   Cynthia looked up as Julie came closer, eyebrows shooting up.

   "Practicing for when I've moved out?  You three going to become
nudists?"

   Julie laughed, hand going to scratch under her left tit.

   "Maybe.  If nothing else, we'll probably start having sex all over the
rest of the shelter."

   "You're such sluts!" Cynthia laughed, shaking her head.  She then
paused, cocked her head to consider something, then laughed again, this
time at herself.  "Mind you, Violet has already mentioned she wants to
christen her new place by eating me in every room, so who am I to judge!"

   A brief mental image of the two lovers, entangled, crossed Julie's mind.
Blushing, she began moving again towards the kitchen.  Half way there, she
paused.

   "I'm gonna put some coffee on.  Want some?"

   ****

   The two sat at the kitchen table, drinking in silence.  A quarter of a
ham and cheese sandwich was still on a plate in front of Julie, along with
some crumbs of chocolate cake.  Cynthia's eyes slid down to Julie's left
breast.

   "There's some frosting on your nipple, and, no, I'm not licking it off
for you."

   Grinning, Julie looked down, scooped the offending desert off with her
finger, then put said finger into her mouth.

   "Yum!"

   "Gross."

   "It wouldn't be if I was Violet."

   "Damned straight!  Or, damned lesbian, although that doesn't sound as
good..."

   "Yeah, it sounds like you're damning the lesbians, and we don't want
that."

   They sat in silence.  Julie's eyes flicked up to the clock.  One AM.

   "Why are you even up?  When did you get back?"

   "Oh," Cynthia said, reaching over to steal some of the cake crumbs from
the plate with her finger, "got back about midnight.  Violet wanted to be
home in the morning so they could get an early start going to Darien Lake.
Mother Rachel likes to be there when they open the place, get on some of
the rides without much of a line."

   "When are you moving out?"

   The two women looked at each other.  They respected, more than liked,
each other in many ways.  But, that respect was deeper than many
friendships, being four years in the making.  To come home and not see the
other...

   "Her job starts a week from Monday, and, she wants to get a few
paychecks in the bank before we make the big move, so...  after graduation,
probably."

   Julie nodded.

   "We'll miss you."

   "You mean you'll miss having Ro around to play with the puppies."

   "That too!  But, no, I'll miss you.  It...  it's been nice, having
someone to talk to." She reached a hand out.  After a pause, Cynthia
accepted the invitation and reached her own over to grasp it.  She thought
a moment.

   "Maybe have one of your sisters come down here?"

   "No," Julie said, shaking her head.  "Mrs.  Darrow is already upset
enough having lost Bill, so there's no taking Betty away from her, and
Jenny won't want to cramp her active social life by living this far from
everyone."

   "We could ask Jaxom to move down here with her..."

   "Oh, God no!  She'd come home to find his dead body used to fertilize
the plants within a week!" Julie grinned as Cynthia barked out a laugh.

   "Oh, he's not THAT bad!  Although, I agree he's not that good!"

   There was silence again.

   "You're going to need someone to take care of the babies..."

   "I know," Julie sighed.  "I know.  Bill wants to get a summer job, too,
to make some extra money.  That leaves just me..."

   "Maybe...  one of your friends?  Like...  Martha?"

   There.  Cynthia had said it.  The idea that she and Mr.  Darrow had come
up with, the next step in the plan.  Bringing one or two others into the
shelter, starting to groom replacements.  If, God forbid, something were to
happen to Bill and Julie, what would become of Ai?  She'd be alone,
starving.  Bobby was going away to college, so couldn't be tapped.  That
left just the three teen girls in the "club" as realistic options...

   Julie sat back in her chair, letting go of Cynthia's hand.

   "Martha?"

   "She practically worships Ai.  She'd love to be here.  You know that."
Julie shook her head.

   "Wouldn't work.  She's too much into her boyfriend, and you can't keep
this kind of thing secret from those close to you.  And, no, there's no way
I'm letting that idiot of a boyfriend down here.  Sharon would have the
same problem, plus I think she's going to UCLA in the fall."

   Cynthia was about to answer, press her case, when...  the phone rang.

   Julie looked at her in surprise, up at the clock, then back at Cynthia.
This couldn't be good.  The phone rang again...  and both of them relaxed,
just a bit.  The ringtone told them it was a forwarded call from Julie's
cell phone, not an emergency call from one of their families.  Still... 
getting to her feet, Julie walked over to the kitchen receiver.  The
cellphone was wired to a series of antennas to not just get a signal down
here, but confuse any attempt to trace the signal back to them.  So far, it
had worked.  Looking at the caller ID, she recognized Martha's number.

   "Hello?"

   "Julie!  Oh, thank God you're awake!  It's over!  It's over!  And Mom
and Dad!  God, my life is over!  Fucking Paul, that asshole!  And, oh God!"
It came out as one long crying ramble.  Julie had to move the phone back
from her ear a bit, grimacing.

   "Whoa, whoa, whoa!  Slow down!  What the hell happened!" She quickly
walked back to the kitchen table, where Cynthia was refilling her coffee.
She nodded her thanks as she sat down.

   "Paul dumped me tonight!  Said he's been seeing some slut from South,
and just wanted to see if he could get into my pants one more time!  And I
let him!  God, I feel so dirty!"

   "Fuck!  That bitch!  Martha, I..."

   "And, when I got home!  Oh, Julie, Mom kicked Dad out!  He was gone when
I got home!  She yelled at me!" There was just crying at that point,
although some words were mixed in.  Julie lowered the phone, eyes wide with
dismay as she looked across at Cynthia.

   "Fate doesn't fuck around, does it?"

   ****

   Julie drove down the almost empty road.  She'd tossed on a set of
clothes before heading up, but that was all the preparations she'd made. 
She had no idea what she'd find, or what the hell she was going to do once
finding it.  It had been hard to make anything out from Martha's crying
ramble, apart from the basics.  About all that was clear was that her
friend was going through hell, and wanted to get away as soon as possible.

   That her parents had split wasn't, really, a surprise.  How it appeared
to have happened, yes, that was something out of bad fiction or the local
news.  Martha had years ago discovered they were only together "for the
children", the kind of horrible knowledge no kid needs.  She had fully
braced herself, and her friends, for having them divorce after graduation.

   This didn't sound like divorce.  It sounded worse.

   And, Paul.  Fucking Paul.  Could a guy be any skankier?  Maybe Cynthia
could have Ro bite his nuts off or something.

   She pulled into the suburban development.  Nice homes, not quite
"McMansions" but still more than any single child family would need.  Then
again, if you could afford it...  Now, which house was it...

   Martha was sitting on the curb, three bags stacked nearby, head down in
her arms.  The house behind her, a rather pretty blue, two car colonial,
was dark.  Julie slowed the car to a stop, sighing.  Fuck.

   Martha lifted her head as Julie closed the car door and walked up to
her. Her eyes were red, face a mess.  One cheek looked like it had been
slapped.

   "J-Julie?  Can I c-come with you?"

   The short teen sat down next to her friend, drawing her head into her
lap as she gently stroked her curly hair.  Her face was tender,
understanding.

   "Of course.  But there are things you have to know about first..."

   ****

   Martha was a dreamer.

   Always had been.

   From childhood, when elves and fairies, little girls with red hoods and
princesses, dominated her world, to her teen years, full of true love,
vampires, and sexy men.  Through it all her fantasy life had been in
opposition to reality.  Magic, pushing aside the sorrow of a marriage
crumbling.  Fiction, preferred to fact.

   Then she saw Ai.

   Ai was fantasy come to life.  Ai was the unreal made real.  Ai was...

   ****

   ...  living at the bottom of an endless shaft, under a clear moonlit
sky.

   Martha stared down into the pit, heart in her throat.  Shaking, she
turned to Julie.  The elfin girl (of course she was an elf!  It all made
sense!) stood next to her.  Quietly, she spoke.

   "Understand what we're risking, Martha.  If you tell anyone, at all, we
move Ai, and you never see her again.  Protecting Ai, and her babies, is
more important than our friendship.  Do you still want to do this?"

   Martha swallowed.  Did she?  Did she want to leave this world, leave it
to enter the world of Ai?  But...  she'd come out again.  Of course.  Bill
and Julie did, and Cynthia.  To go to school.  It wasn't forever.  That was
just the stress of a horrible night talking.

   Yet...

   Looking up at the sky, Martha saw the vastness of space.  Looking down
into the pit, she saw the darkness leading to Ai.  If she entered...  her
life would change.  She would change.  She could feel it.  She would be
renewed.

   Reborn.

   Happy.

   "I'm ready."

   ****

   In her mind, the lights affixed to the stone walls were torches, flames
casting flickering shadows on the far stone wall.  In her heart, all sorrow
was left up above.  When they came to the oval hatch set into the concrete
floor, Martha almost fainted.  So close...  the room below, with its
computer screens and strange controls, never registered.  All she saw was
the next door.  Behind it, she could almost feel Ai.  Feel her presence. 
Her love.

   "I'm...  I'm going to serve her, aren't I?"

   Julie, carrying one of the stuffed duffle bags, looked at her, concern
in her eyes.  Martha, not even noticing the weight of the other two bags
after the long trip, turned to her.

   "I am, right?  That's why I'm here?  That's why you brought me?"

   "We...  brought you to help us help Ai.  Yes."

   Martha turned back to the door.  All she heard was the "yes".  In her
mind, she pictured a lady in waiting to the Queen, a temple maiden to the
Goddess.

   A new life.

   "I'm ready."

   ****

   Julie opened the door.

   Stepping inside, Martha dropped her bags.  It was...  not what she
expected.  Yet, it was.  A magical cave was a magical cave, and, there, in
the middle, was...

   Ai.

   The blue grey creature, dressed in a white sundress, smiled at Martha.
On unsteady feet, Martha slowly walked towards her.  The sound of Julie
entering behind her, closing the door, barely registered.  Bill and
Cynthia, standing off to the side, didn't exist.  All of her being was
focused on the smiling Goddess.  Three feet before her, Martha fell to her
knees, looking up at those wonderful black eyes.  Ai, smile wide, stepped
forward, placing both cold hands on Martha's head.

   "Welcome..."

   ****

   "Are you sure you don't want to go to the prom?"

   It was the third time that morning Cynthia had asked Martha some version
of that question, and for the third time the teen just shook her head and
laughed.

   "Oh, God, no!  I'm not going alone, and there's no way in hell I'm going
hunting for a guy in the next three days to take me!  Take the tickets! 
Have fun!  I'll watch Ai, don't worry."

   Cynthia shook her head as the four walked across the field in the early
morning light.  The dew, especially heavy for unknown, probably annoying
reasons, soaked the bottom edge of her dress.  Once again, she vowed to
change her fashion sense after graduation.  Maybe go to black mini-skirts.
Although, she'd no longer be living underground then, so the dew problem
would be a non factor.  Hmm...  Violet would still probably like the
mini-skirt idea...

   They were half way to the tree line, and the hidden parked cars beyond,
when she noticed movement and color coming out of the trees.  Bill paused
for a half second, hand in hand with Julie, then continued on their
intercept course.  There was no doubt about the identity of the intruders.

   "Mom!  Doc!" Julie let go of Bill to give a happy wave, hand quickly
going back to its accustomed home.  Gretchen waved back, her husband
settling for raising one of the cases he held in acknowledgement.  The two
groups met about thirty feet from the woods.

   "Mom, what are you two doing here?" Julie stepped up to give her a quick
hug, as it had been three days since she had seen her.  Bill shook Doc's
hand once the man put down the large duffle bag he carried.  Picking it
back up so it wouldn't get too wet, Doc answered.

   "I'm free for another two hours, so thought we'd get another exam of Ai
in.  Plus, I want to start pre-positioning some supplies down there.  When
the word comes, I want to be able to just have one or both of us be able to
rush here and have everything in place for whatever emergency comes up."

   Cynthia looked at Gretchen curiously.

   "Mrs.  Cutter, you planning on delivering the babies?" The woman
laughed, giving her husband's arm a quick hug.

   "If he's busy.  I know the basics, and have been studying.  It's not
like he, for all his experience and wonderfulness, has ever done it before
either.  At the very least I've been there for two births, and they turned
out OK."

   Julie laughed.

   "Don't you always say Jenny got dropped?"

   "Yes, but she bounced back up into the doctor's arms so it was OK."
Mother and daughter grinned at the old joke.  Gretchen cast a curious eye
on Martha.  "You fitting in OK down there?  You have any problems, let us
know."

   The dark girl smiled.

   "It's wonderful!  I wish the walls were soundproof, but I'm glad they
make Ai so happy!"

   Both adults cast amused eyes on Bill and Julie.  Bill quickly looked at
his bare wrist.

   "Look at the time!  Gotta get to school!" Grinning, he turned to Doc. 
"Violet's mom is already down there."

   "Good.  It'll be time soon, so we don't want to leave our blue friend
alone." Shifting the two bags a bit to ease the strain, he considered
something.  "Bill, if I leave some stuff on the first landing, can you kids
carry them down for me when you get back?  I really don't want to make a
lot of trips."

   "No problem."

   "Good!"

   With another round of handshakes, the two groups moved past each other.
Cynthia was silent for a moment, then turned to Julie.

   "So, is it too late to try and reserve a limo for Friday?"

   "OK, now I know you're fucking with us!"

   ****

   Ai watched the small TV screen next to her chair, eyes wide.

   Her babies.

   She could see them.  Both of them.  Their little fingers, little
noses... their closed eyes.  She could see them moving, something she had
been feeling for some time.  On the screen, a foot kicked out, and at the
same moment she felt it.  Placing a hand there, Ai looked up at the Doctor.
His face, as always, was one of calm seriousness.  Standing behind him,
Julie's mom tapped on the pad in her hand.

   "Is everything good, Doctor?  Are my babies good?"

   Taking the plastic wand away from her swelled belly, he ran his other
hand gently over the scaly skin and smiled at her.

   "They're good, so far as I can tell.  I don't see anything that would
cause me concern with a human baby, apart from things like what may be
scales, but since you have them we have to consider that normal for now."
Turning to the ultrasound device he began shutting it down.  Taylor, who
had stayed out of the way during the exam, moved in to kneel beside the
creature.  Her eyes asked for permission, and receiving a nod from Ai she
gently placed her right hand over Ai's belly.  Taylor's eyes were alight
with joy.

   "How long do you think, Doctor?" He chuckled, casting a considering eye
at the small woman.

   "My best guess is this weekend, early next week at the latest.  Frankly,
you have more experience than I do.  I actually never expected to deliver a
child, unless trapped in an elevator."

   "Yes, that does cause men to give birth," Taylor chuckled.  Her hand
slid over the swell towards Ai's uncovered vagina, stopping well short. 
Pulling it back, she considered.  "What position are you going to have her
use?"

   "To be honest, we're going to let Ai here choose what she wants to try.
Her body has done most of this on instinct so far, and it's probably best
to go with that to start with and just be ready to step in if needed. 
Would you like to be on the emergency call list?  Just you, as we want to
keep it to the bare minimum down here."

   Taylor nodded.  Behind her, she could hear her daughter playing with the
puppies.  It had been four years since she'd seen a birth.  Too long, to
her mind.  Turning to Ai with a smile, she took her hand.

   "So, Ai, have you thought of names for them yet?'

   Ai's look became puzzled.

   "They'll tell me their names."

   ****

   Prom night.

   Julie spun before the door mirror in her room.  Damn, she looked good.
The blue dress, strapless, form fitting, and frilly, kept spinning for a
moment after she stopped.  Grinning, she practiced a couple dance moves,
ones she knew Bill had no chance of matching.  The dress moved and flowed
with her, teasing but revealing nothing she didn't want revealed.  Perfect.
Eat your heart out, Heather Gram!

   A thought struck her, and with a sigh Julie looked around her old
bedroom.  It was just as it had always been.  Just as she had left it, all
those years ago.  Mom had preserved it, not turning it into a storage room
or the like.  Just in case her baby had needed it.  And she had, last
year...

   But that was then.  This, most likely, would be her last use of the room
as a child.  Once more, she was playing dress up among her dolls and toys.
Bill and Cynthia were changing across the street as his house, Cynthia
probably getting unwanted help from Betty.  Julie couldn't help but grin.
Serious Cynthia at the prom, with smoking hot Violet.  Eyes were going to
be turning tonight!  In fact, everything was going to be great.  The limo
would be picking them up at 6:15 PM, after getting Violet, then they'd pick
up Sharon and Eric.  Afterwards...  well, maybe they'd hit one of the after
parties.  Bill would complain, but she wanted one more night of mingling.
Remind all those football players that she was one cheerleader they HADN'T
gotten!

   Yup, it was going to be good.  Julie wished, timing wise, it wasn't
happening right when she was in the middle of her period, but what can you
do...

   Julie froze, eyes on her startled image in the mirror.

   No.

   She couldn't.

   In a flash, she had her dress up, panties down as she sat on the edge of
the bed.  Looking, spreading her lips, she stuck a finger in and quickly
brought it out.

   Nothing.  No red.

   She was never late.  Never.

   Quickly pulling her panties back up so she didn't stupidly trip on them,
her next lunging move was to her purse and the phone inside.  Maybe she had
miscalculated.  Confused next month with this.  Maybe...

   Bringing up the calendar, her shoulders collapsed in despair.  No.  It
should be her heaviest flow now.

   ...Wait.

   False alarm.

   Yes.

   That had to be it.  Sometimes women missed a period, then things went
back to normal.  And, she'd been under stress, what with the prom and Ai
and life in general.  That was it.

   But...  it might not be.

   Slowly, her small hand went to her belly.

   "Bill..."

   ****

   Bill actually liked dances.

   Oh, he still played the "I don't do that" card, made Julie work to get
him to dress up and go out, but over the years he'd come to really enjoy
not just the dancing, but the whole social scene.  He still, really, paid
little attention to what the pecking order was, but that made it much
easier to go from group to group with Julie in tow and have fun with their
various friends.  Life was so much more enjoyable when you could just
ignore the petty things others obsessed about.

   Focus on what was important.

   The doorbell rang down below.  Looking out the window he saw the limo
parked on the street.  Time to go get Julie.  Grabbing the corsage off the
desk, he ambled out of the bedroom and down the staircase.  At the foot of
the stairs, his father, camera in hand, was opening the front door.

   There, on the concrete porch, was...  a stunning sight.  Violet in a
violet dress, skin tight.  Thin straps crisscrossed to not so much hold up,
but present her half uncovered breasts.  The fabric flowed over the curve
of her hips, falling to just above her feet, slit down the side.  Black
hair spilled over her shoulders.

   To his credit, Tom only paused a moment before moving aside and
motioning the stunning beauty inside.  Seeing his son, who was enjoying the
view of those breasts from above, he chuckled.

   "I see you're pulling out all the weapons tonight, Violet."

   She gave him a wry grin, as his wife Shirley came out of the kitchen to
join them.

   "Cindy and the others insisted on helping.  There are too many woman at
that house."

   "Betty may want to hire their services in two years," Shirley commented.
She turned, yelling as Bill finally reached the bottom step.  "CYNTHIA! 
Your date is here!"

   There was the sound of a door opening, followed by footsteps.  Betty,
wearing jeans and a t-shirt that said "Stud Muffin", appeared at the top of
the staircase, paused, then stepped aside.  Flowing into view...  was a
goddess.

   Cynthia's dress was green, the same shade as her eyes.  The simple,
sheer one piece gown molded to her body, baring one shoulder and flowing to
the floor.  Red hair spilled over her bare shoulder.  Violet looked up,
slowly shaking her head from side to side.

   "I think I'm in love."

   "You'd better be," Cynthia chuckled, lifting up the bottom of her dress
a bit and starting down.  Bill, realizing he was behind schedule, excused
himself as he made his way past everyone, out the front door, and across
the yard.

   It was a beautiful June day.  The grass was green, the sky was blue, the
women were dressed in sexy clothing...  what could be better.  Picking up
the pace, not knowing when he'd next have the chance to run in a tux, he
bounded up to the Cutter's front door.  Pausing to make sure everything was
in order, and that he hadn't squished the corsage, Bill rang the doorbell.

   Jenny answered, grinning from ear to ear.

   "Hi, Stud.  Finally decide to go for the good Cutter daughter?"

   "The bad one is much more fun."

   Pouting playfully, she stepped aside as he came in.  The Cutter house
was a one story ranch, so there was a distinct lack of a dramatic
staircase. Before Jenny could even call for her, Julie appeared.

   She was breathtaking.  That was a given.  His eyes took her in, once
again falling in love.  But...  he had lived with this woman for four
years. He knew her moods, knew her body language.  Something was... 
wrong...  Serious, but not immediate.  It was something just between them,
to be talked about later.  His brief nod of understand was rewarded with a
smile, and a release of breath she probably didn't know she was holding. 
Raising the corsage, he chuckled.

   "Come here so I can stick a pin in you."

   ****

   Damn it, Cynthia was having fun.

   She would have bet otherwise.  Social events of any kind, especially
this large, just weren't her thing.  Forget the thousand creatures that
surged into view whenever her mind wandered, she just preferred small,
intimate settings.  Yet, tonight was making her regret having ignored this
part of high school.  The music, the dancing, the lustful looks of the boys
(and girls)...  it was exhilarating.  Showing off was fun!  Violet seemed
to be into it, too.  Hips and breasts swayed to the beat, hands slid along
Cynthia's back and sides as they moved over the dance floor.  The laughter
in her eyes was contagious, and Cynthia found herself trying to copy every
move no matter how outrageous.

   They were not, as Sharon had said, the only female couple there.  Three
others in fact were in evidence, as well as two male couples.  Not having
paid any attention to that side of things in the school (mostly as she
didn't consider herself gay: she was just in love with a woman), who
exactly was on that side of the fence surprised her in a couple cases. 
Although not always: Owen Miller was so obviously flaming you could roast
marshmallows.  Those students got some looks, especially the gay guys, from
both fellow teens and adults.  With gay marriage legal, though, there
wasn't much that could be said in a public forum like this.  If they can
marry, certainly they could dance together.

   That reminded her.

   It was currently a slow song, the dance floor full of couples swaying to
and fro as they pressed together.  Violet had her head on Cynthia's
shoulder, hands taking slow excursions down to the boundaries of her firm
butt before maddeningly retreating.  Casing her eyes around, Cynthia saw
Bill and Julie back at the table sitting this one out.  Perfect.  She
waited until Julie was looking this way, then signaled with her hand out of
view of Violet.  Julie broke into a grin, grabbed her purse, and quickly
was up and on her way towards the DJ.

   The key to this was timing, and the willingness of the DJ to be bribed.
Also, getting it in quickly before chaperones intervened.  Its
effectiveness depended on if Violet had forgotten.  Cynthia hoped so. 
After the initial mention of the idea, she had done her best to laugh it
off as silly, and something they'd best not try.  With luck, her ruse had
succeeded.

   The song ended.  Violet pulled back, smiling, her body still pressed
against Cynthia in wonderful ways.

   "Ready for a break?"

   Cynthia pretended to consider the matter.

   "OK, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have something special for you now!"

   The couples turned towards the DJ, only Cynthia noticing Julie sneaking
away from the sound system.  The DJ, who's tattoos had been strategically
placed to be easily covered when he worked his day job, smiled a convincing
smile at the teens.

   "I'd like everyone to move to the edge of the dance floor!  We have a
special announcement!" He motioned in the appropriate directions, and like
the sheep people are everyone complied, conversation buzzing over what was
coming.  Violet started to move, but Cynthia held her arms.

   "No, no, no!  Just wait..."

   This drew a suspicious look.  Good.  She had forgotten.  Soon everyone
else had noticed that one couple was still on the dance floor.  Someone,
having the keen powers of observation to notice both girls were female,
whistled.  Cynthia ignored it.  Seeing movement, she turned in time to see
Julie run up to them with a cordless microphone.  Handing it to her, as
well as something small and round, Julie winked and ran off.  Violet just
stood there, looking at her love, speechless.  Holding her hand, Cynthia
turned to the crowd and brought the mike up.

   "I'll make this quick.  Some of you know me.  Many don't, at least
beyond 'hey, it's the chick in the black dress!'" This drew chuckles, and
one very loud, "Wait, that's her?  Damn!" Grinning, and increasing her hold
on Violet, she went on.  "None of you know my friend here.  She went to
Clarence.  I've known her for four years.  Four years...  that have been
incredible.  She is my life.  My love." Eyes tearing, she turned to Violet.
"Prom is when we say goodbye to our childhood, goodbye to our carefree
days, and celebrate becoming adults.  Becoming responsible.  There is only
one way I want to go out into that world." Dropping to one knee, something
she'd practiced over and over in that dress, Cynthia held up the ring.

   "Will you marry me?"

   There was a collective gasp from the crowd, one that sounded
predominately female.  Her eyes and ears, though, were only on Violet.  The
dark girl's eyes were wide, lips trembling.  Slowly, she held out her hand.
Cynthia moved the ring to the tip of her finger, waiting...

   "Oh, God, yes, my love!  Yes!"

   A cheer rose from the crowd, which then moved in to fill the dance
floor. Ignoring them, Cynthia rose.  They kissed.  A simple, sweet, kiss.
Then the well-wishers were upon them, strangers wanting to take part in
this magical moment.

   Smiling, the couple let them.

   ****

   Martha sat down on the couch, bowl of popcorn in hand.  A cat jumped
into her lap a moment later, having waited for this moment for literally
minutes.  Two puppies jumped up next to her, attention divided evenly
between wanting to be petted, and wanting some of that buttery snack. 
Holding the bowl up high, the teen laughed.

   "I only have two hands!"

   "It would be nice to have more." Ai looked over at her, smiling.  As
always, that smile brought a small blush to Martha.  Ai...  was love. 
That, at least to her, had always been obvious.  It was even more so, now
that she knew how her Mistress ate.  Ai ate...  love.  It had been a bit
upsetting, true, when she first heard that.  It sounded so...  disgusting!
But, now she saw how beautiful it was!  She almost wanted to call it
romantic!  She envied Bill and Julie, envied their sharing that part of
themselves with the Goddess Ai...  and wondered if others could enter that
world.

   Naturally, now that wasn't the only thing Ai ate.  Right now, as she
watched TV, Ai was munching on a bowl of raw hamburger.  She devoured it
like popcorn.  Naturally, thought Martha.  What else would a pregnant blue
goddess eat?

   Food was also how Martha was coming to see herself fitting in, here in
her new home.  She could cook.  Maybe not as good as Julie, given how long
the little elf had been feeding the small subterranean family.  But, she
learned quick, and once she took over she'd rapidly improve.  Yes.  While
Bill and Julie went off to school, or work, Martha would stay down here and
cook.  Clean.  Help Ai take care of the babies.  Help with the garden (that
had been the BIG surprise to her!  It was like a little Garden of Eden!).
College, she didn't care about any more.  The one she had been planning to
attend had been chosen because the Asshole who used to fuck her was going
there.  That was now out of the question.  So too was asking her mom for
access to her college fund.  Oh, she probably could, and maybe in a week or
so when things calmed down she'd go back and talk to the woman.  She did
love her, and things said while drunk shouldn't be held against the woman
who raised her.  But, still.  What could college teach her, that Ai
couldn't?

   There was a part of her, though, that was a bit disturbed at the image
of her being a servant or housekeeper to a bunch of white people.  White
AND blue.  It was a stupid thought, though, given Violet and Doc.  What,
now brown skinned people COULDN'T do that stuff?

   She laughed.  One thing she did agree with: she didn't know noth'n bout
birth'n no babies!

   The sitcom they'd been watching, a rather bad one about a husband who
did goofy things, ended.  Martha REALLY didn't want to watch the next one.
Maybe she could talk Ai into watching something else?  She still was having
trouble thinking of the creature as someone you could talk to like she was
just a person.  Popping a few buttery pieces of popcorn in her mouth, she
considered her options.

   "M-martha."

   Martha was on her feet in an instant, cat discharged onto the floor
ungracefully and bowl of popcorn spilt on the floor, to the delight of the
dogs.  Ai had sounded...  in pain!

   "Ai!  What is it?!" She knelt at the creature's side, next to the
recliner.  Ai leaned forward, hands on her belly, eyes wide with distress.
The puppy that had been there was now on the floor, upset.

   "Pain!" She let out a groan.

   Martha turned as white as her brown skin would let her.

   "Ai...?"

   "Martha...  I think my babies are coming."

   Fuck.  Time to birth some babies...

   ****

   Bill mingled.

   He wasn't that good at it.  Julie was the social butterfly.  Mostly, his
tactic was to wander around, glass of punch in hand, listening for any
conversation that sounded interesting and not too private.  It was either
that or just sit at the table (or, worse, follow Julie around).  Much of
the talk had been about the impromptu proposal, both pro and con, something
he'd stayed out of as much as possible.  His friends didn't need help
defending themselves, and, really, it was time for those who were to stay
with Ai to get back under the radar.  If Cynthia hadn't been planning on
leaving them by the end of the month, Bill would have nixed the entire
scheme.

   Leaving a group of mostly chess club nerds (he'd played 5th board for a
couple years, keeping him at school while Julie had cheerleading practice),
Bill wandered around the edge of the dance floor.  The current pop hit was
playing, by that one teen girl he was always getting confused with two
others with about the same voice and breast size.  It wasn't a BAD song,
not in the least, nor was she a bad singer.  It just...  well, was.  The
girl was no Tarja Turunen or Lisa Loeb, that's all.

   "Bill!"

   Turning towards the voice, Bill saw Alice coming towards him.  He
grinned.  The girl of his dreams, normally so conservative in her outfits,
wore a dress that showed off cleavage he never knew she had, but now wanted
to get to know better.  He had the sudden impulse to make a cross with his
fingers in front of him and shout "Back, foul temptress!" at her, but that
would probably keep him from getting a better view of that cleavage. 
Besides, some temptation is good for a relationship.

   She stopped in front of him, a shy smile on her face.  He thought he saw
a blush forming on those white cheeks, but it was hard to tell in this
lighting.  Possibly the reason for the lighting, now that he thought about
it.

   "I've never seen you in a tux before.  You look good!"

   "You too, even without a tux!"

   They both laughed, and Alice took a sip from her glass.  Bill's eyebrows
raised a touch.  The color looked a bit off.  Knowing who she came with, he
wondered if the idiot had spiked it.  Her taste in guys wasn't the best...
but, then, naturally until she was with him he'd think that!

   "I didn't know you were friends with Cynthia.  That was something,
wasn't it?" He didn't detect any disapproval in her voice, for which he was
thankful.  He didn't know Alice that well, for all their years together in
school.

   "Well, I'm one of the few she occasionally consents to talk to.  It's an
honor, really."

   That got a laugh.  Alice's laughs were wonderful.  After a moment, her
eyes lowered as she bit her lip.

   "Where are you going to school?"

   "U.B..  You?"

   "St.  Bonaventure." Bill nodded.  That was a good local college, with a
basketball team that sometimes got into the tournament.  University of
Buffalo, however, he wasn't sure had ever made it, since returning to
division one.

   "Is...  Julie going to school locally, too?"

   Wha...  ah, so THAT was what was going on!  Foul temptress indeed!  How
should he deal with this?

   Bill's thoughts were interrupted by a vibration in his pants.  This
time, unlike the other occasions this evening, it was his phone.  He gave a
sigh.

   "Sorry.  Excuse me for a moment."

   Alice grinned in understanding, taking another sip of her drink. 
Parents calling to check up on partying teens couldn't be that uncommon,
even if it was "uncool".  Bill dug out the phone, checked the display...

   "Fuck."

   "What is it, Bill?" Alice reached out a hand to touch his arm.  Normally
that would have had some effect, but now there was no time for childish
flirting (or adult flirting for that matter).  He looked around the room,
and to his surprise and relief saw Julie quickly coming towards him, phone
in hand.  He turned back to his worried classmate.

   "Something's come up, and we have to go.  I'm sorry."

   "You're leaving?!?" Her eyes were wide, upset.  He put a hand on hers,
gently removing it from his arm.  Her skin was soft, warm.

   "I'm sorry, Alice." Just as he let go of her hand, Julie was there, eyes
excited, worried.  As she glanced at his companion, they also became... 
harder.  She well knew his feelings, and for a brief moment the need to
protect her own came to the fore.  A sudden thought crossed Bill's mind,
and he couldn't help it.  Taking Julie's hand and starting to lead her
away, he turned back to Alice.

   "Oh, if, by some chance, you're bi, talk to Julie sometime and maybe we
can get together."

   Her expression was priceless.

   Julie's, however, showed exactly the price he was to pay.

   "Excuse me?"

   "No time for that, my love!  Where's Cynthia?"

   "Other side of the room with Violet." Bill nodded.

   "Go get them, meet me at the front doors.  Go!" He leaned down for a
quick kiss, returned despite her short term annoyance.  They parted.

   He found Bobby at one of the tables, talking with a couple others.  His
date was nowhere to be seen.

   "Bob, did you drive?"

   "What?  Um, yeah.  Why?"

   "I need your car.  Club problem."

   Bobby sat up straight, alarmed.  He dug into his jacket, quickly pulling
out the key ring.  He tossed it to Bill.

   "It's parked to the left, third row."

   "Thanks," Bill nodded.  "Find Sharon.  You can use our limo."

   ****

   "Taylor is already at the stairs heading down.  Mom and Doc just pulled
into the driveway."

   Bill nodded.  They were still about ten minutes away, plus the walk
down.

   "Have them leave the doors open for us."

   Julie relayed the message, then put down the phone.  The four of them
drove in silence.

   "Bill?" she finally asked.

   "Yeah?"

   "Were you joking about..."

   "Yes, Love.  She was coming on to me, asking if you were still going to
be around after graduation or if I'd be available.  I'm sorry, I couldn't
help it." He reached over, taking her hand.  Julie took her other hand, dug
her nails into the back of his for a moment, then brought it to her lips to
kiss the fresh wounds better.  "That said," he went on, grinning, "if she
DOES come to you, I hope you seriously consider the idea!"

   ****

   They made it to the bottom of the stairs in record time, Violet right
there with them despite holding back to seal the door behind them.  Not
bothering with the bottom doors, they rushed into the living area.  Once
inside, Cynthia stopped to take in the situation.

   A large space on the living room rug had been cleared, a large plastic
tarp now covering it.  Over the tarp lay blankets, and a few pillows.  A
nude Ai sat on one of the pillows, Taylor and Gretchen each holding one of
her hands as Doc arranged his supplies around the edge of the blankets. 
Martha stood nearby, hands wringing in front of her.  Ai was breathing
heavily, with an occasional grunt of pain, as a large orange thing, like a
female Anubis, knelt and ran its hands over her belly.  Seeing Bill, her
eyes doubled in size.

   "Bill!  Bill Bill Bill Bill!!!"

   "I'm here!" He skidded to a stop next to her, dropping to his knees to
take her cold hand as Julie's mom moved aside.  Julie quickly took Taylor's
place.  She looked at her stepdad.

   "What's up, Doc?"

   "So far," he said, letting out a deep breath as he handed the computer
pad with his childbirth notes in it to Gretchen, "not much.  Her water
broke just as we got here- it was green, and I think we got a good sample
of it.  Now we just have to wait until our friend here is ready." He lay a
large brown hand on Ai's belly.  "Just relax, take deep breaths, and do
what your body tells you to do.  We're here to help you through this."

   Ai closed her eyes, moaning.

   "It hurts!"

   Bill looked up at Cynthia, now coming up to them with Violet at her
side.

   "Can you do anything?"

   Cynthia looked at the creature.  She had never seen anything like it,
and the resemblance to the Egyptian god was unnerving.  She licked her
lips.

   "The orange thing is just rubbing her belly, not going inside.  I could
get rid of it...  if you think it's a good idea." She looked down at the
Doc.  He considered a moment, then shook his head.

   "No, not yet.  If the pain gets really bad, then yes, seeing as we don't
dare give Ai any pain medication as we don't know what they'd do to her. 
Although, I do have some with me.  But, for now, pain is the only way Ai
can really tell us much.  If you get rid of this thing, how would we know
if something went wrong?  No...  Ai, I'm sorry, but for now you have to be
strong.  For your babies."

   Ai looked at him, black eyes wide, slowly nodding.  Her grip on her two
lovers tightened.

   ****

   A half hour later, Ai suddenly grunted.

   "Bill..."

   "What is it?" Everyone's attention, which had begun to wander, was back
on their friend.

   "Bill...  want to move."

   Doc quickly moved to her side next to Julie.

   "OK, this may be it.  Ai, move however you want.  Get in whatever
position you feel most comfortable.  We'll adapt to that, OK?"

   She nodded, pulling her hands from Bill and Julie's grasps.  Taking two
deep breaths, she began to turn on her side towards Bill.  As he slid back
out of the way, Ai rolled father, lifting herself up on all fours.  Her
large belly hung down, her knees spread for balance.  Bill quickly moved
some pillows so she could put her head down if needed.  Doc gathered his
things, moving behind her.

   "OK, Ai, when the contractions come stronger, you're going to push, OK?
It's going to be up to you to push the babies out.  You can do that,
right?"

   "Want my babies!"

   "And you're going to have them soon!  You just have to push when your
body tells you to."

   Cynthia, with one final look at the orange creature whose actions hadn't
changed, backed up.  She was just an observer, had no part in this.  She
shouldn't intrude.

   Looking around the cavern, it hit her once again that she'd soon be
leaving.  This would no longer be her home, her refuge.  She...

   From the far side of the room, out of the wood paneled stone wall, came
three red skinned girls.

   "NO!"

   Cynthia's scream shocked the room into silence.  Face grim, pissed, she
whipped to face Doc.

   "Check her.  Check everything!  Check the babies!  I'll try and delay
the THREE red things!"

   Julie's face went white.  Doc looked around, helpless, then shook his
head to clear it.  He began shouting orders to Gretchen and Taylor, began
trying to save mother and babies with a neurologist's training.  Cynthia
whirled back, and began running across the room.

   The three red skinned girls, looking about ten years old, were close
together.  That was good.  They were nude this time, with long yellow hair
and big white eyes.  Their path was taking them through the pool tables. 
Picking a clear spot in their path, one that gave her room to fall back if
needed, Cynthia planted her feet and spread her arms.  She had to stop
them. Delay them.  At least some of them.  She didn't know if it was
POSSIBLE, or if the attempt would kill her, but...  she had to TRY.

   The girls were ten feet away.  Behind her, she could hear the voice of
Ai cry out in pain, hear Doc giving orders, swearing.  Behind her, she
could feel Violet come up and press herself against her back.

   "Lean on me," her Mayan lover whispered.  "I won't let you fall.  Focus
on keeping them away."

   Five feet away.

   "I love you, Violet."

   "Love you."

   Two feet.

   From the sides, three orange things rushed at Cynthia.  They were large
orange eggs, three feet across, with four legs and mouths taking up half
their body.  Cynthia focused all her mind on the three red girls.  "You are
real, I can feel you...."

   The girls and the orange things touched her.

   "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

   The pain was death.  The middle red girl pressed against her chest,
trying to walk through Cynthia.  The orange creature's mouth was tearing
through her abdomen, translucent teeth as sharp as needles.  The other two
girls walked into her arms, shoulder high, the orange things biting down
along the length of her limbs.  If Violet hadn't been there, she would have
collapsed, or worse lost her focus and allowed them to walk right through
her.  Instead, she kept her focus and sanity.  Three seconds...  four...

   The three girls stepped back.  The creatures released her.

   The red girls looked...  confused.  As confused as soulless creatures
can be.  They had probably never been stopped before, if they indeed had
memory.  They stepped forward.  Once again, Cynthia braced herself.

   The pain was worse.  She felt her knees buckle, but her arms stayed
straight and Violet held her up.

   "You can do this, Love..." The voice, whispered in her ear, was worth a
thousand shots of morphine.  Love.  She was doing this for Love.  With a
primal scream, she shoved herself forward, knocking the three girls away
from her.  As soon as their skin lost contact with hers, the orange things
released their grip and stepped back.  Waiting.

   "Hurry up!" she yelled back, voice hoarse.  She didn't know if she could
do it a third time.  Didn't know what she'd do if they split up, tried to
go around her.  She'd stop one, at the very least.  Even if she had to
throw herself on it, had to die in the attempt...

   She could hear Ai screaming behind her, but she dare not look.  All her
focus had to be...

   The eyes of the center girl changed.

   It wasn't the change of one gaining a soul, or becoming alive.  What
entered this creature...  was old.  Powerful.  Cynthia whimpered.  What was
before her...oh, god!

   "They...  must die."

   The voice...  was like a distant waterfalls.  Powerful.  Hypnotic.  One
unused to using actual words.  Steeling herself, drawing strength from the
feel of Violet's breasts pressing into her back, she focused on the girl,
while still keeping an eye on the others to make sure this wasn't just a
distraction.

   "No.  I won't let you.  They have to live."

   The creature cocked its head.

   "Why?"

   Why, indeed.

   No!  She wasn't going to let it take the logical way out of this.

   "Because!  All beings should live!"

   "All must die, so all can live."

   Damn it, there's that logic again.  Everything had to die, yes, of
course, but...

   "It's too soon!  It's not their time!"

   Its eyes bore into her.

   "A thousand babies just died.  Why are these better than they?"

   Not fair.  Not fair, damn it...

   "They're not, but please..."

   The girl stepped forward, stopping just an inch from Cynthia's body. 
Her face looked up, white eyes locked with her green ones.

   "THEY should not be."

   She bit her lip, crying.

   "But they ARE!"

   The creature cocked its head.

   "YOU should not see..."

   "But I do..." It came out a whimper.  "Please...  take me..." She felt
Violet tighten her grip.  "Take me, leave them.  You're right, I should not
see you!  Take me!"

   Behind her...  a baby cried.

   The red girl on her left, who had been waiting patiently, turned, and
walked away.  Its orange thing followed.

   She'd done it.

   No matter what happened now, she had saved a life.  Strength flowed
through her body.  The right most red girl suddenly turned, leaving, as a
second, different crying could be heard behind her.  She looked down at the
remaining creature.

   The life began to fade from its eyes, as it spoke once more.

   "Exchange.  Eye for an Ai."

   It reached a hand up to her face.

   Pain.

   Screams.

   Darkness.

   ****

   Cynthia woke.

   Opening her eyes, she found it was still pitch black.  Great.  Couldn't
they even leave a light on for her?  It was dark down here, damn it,
without even faint starlight.  Maybe she could find a light switch...

   She felt the cold blue fur of Ro as the creature jumped on her chest,
rubbing its head against her neck.  Laughing, she petted it.  Surely Ro
could work the lights...

   "Cyn!"

   Suddenly Ro was gone, and she found herself being kissed by Violet.

   "Oh, Cynthia!  You're OK!  You're OK!" Violet was crying!  Why was she
crying?!  She kissed her lover back, hands going to her face, caressing
that incredible chocolate skin...

   Wait.

   She blinked.

   No.

   Gently pushing Violet away, she sat up in the darkness, looking around.

   "Violet?  Why can't I see?!"

   "Shh..." She felt Violet gently take her hands.  "Something happened, my
love.  The creatures...  you screamed and fainted, and...  here, let me
show you."

   Cynthia felt her index fingers placed on either side of her nose. 
Gently, Violet started moving them towards her eyes.  Instinctively, she
blinked to protect them.

   Nothing hit her fingers.  They continued their journey, past the start
of her eye socket, down along smooth skin into a depression...

   "Wha...!"

   "They're gone, Cyn.  Your eyes are gone.  They took them.  I'm sorry!"

   Frantically, she felt all over her face.  Gone!  Gone!  She was a freak!
She...

   Wait.

   Cynthia turned her head, looking around.

   "I...  I can't see them."

   "Yes, Cyn, you can't see.  I'm so sorry..."

   "No!  I mean, yes, but!  I can't see them!  I can't see the creatures
anymore!  I'm free!!!" Turning to Violet's voice, she reached over to grab
her head, bringing it in for a fevered kiss.  "I'm free, I'm free!  Oh,
God, it's almost worth it!  I'll never see your beautiful face, or our
babies, but I'll never see those horrors again!" She felt Ro against her
leg.  "And I still have Ro!  Yes!" Another kiss, then Violet freed herself.

   "Wait...  did you say, 'our babies'?"

   Grinning, she nodded.

   "I want your babies...  oh!  Wait!  How's Ai?!?"

   ****

   Ai lie on the bed, sleeping.  In each arm, head resting on a breast,
slept her two children.  Their skin was a pure dark blue, without the hint
of grey that tinged hers.  Both had dark brown hair, and the black eyes of
their mother, as well as her scales and spinal ridge (although they were
soft, now, most likely to make birth easier).  They were perfect.

   Bill reached down, gently touching the cheek of his son.  Julie, next to
him, added her finger as she ran it down to his cute little toes.  On the
other side, their daughter slept peacefully.

   "It's over," she said, sighing.

   "I don't think this is the end," Bill chuckled.  She bumped her body
against his.

   "You know what I mean!  This part is over.  We now have two more in our
family!"

   "Yup!" Bill took the baby boy's hand in his, pretending to shake it but
trying not to wake him.  "Hello, Le"

   Grinning, Julie reached over and shook her daughter's hand

   "Hello, La!"

   They stood for a moment, arms around each other, thinking.

   "I wonder if there are more," Bill mused.

   "What?"

   "Well, what if there are other Ai's, hidden away like she is? 
Protected, by a small group of friends and followers, both them and their
children, throughout the centuries?"

   Julie gazed up at him.

   "That's what we're going to do, isn't it?  Us, and our children.  We're
going to stay here and protect them."

   He nodded.

   "And, with you here with me, there's nothing I'd rather do." Suddenly,
he realized something.  "Wait...  'our children'?"

   Grinning, she led him to the door.

   "Let's go sit somewhere.  We need to talk..."

   ****

   Edited by SciFi Nut

   Comments more than welcome.  invidfan@localnet.com
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