Chapter 11

Chapter 11

3 Section 44 -- Ken Davidson gets his family

"Dad," whined Leah, "I said I would help you find two concubines. You're looking more and more hunky to me. I love you, Dad, but I really don't want to sleep with you. I don't think it would be fair to Mom and I don't want to regret it for the rest of my life. I have never been so horny in my life, Dad. I can hardly keep my fingers out of my crotch. My body isn't going to let me wait much longer. Can we get you settled pretty soon, please? Please?"

Ken was embarrassed. "You're right, Sweetie. I appreciate you trying so hard to help me. I know it's a burden to you. You're still welcome to go off on your own right now. If I'm such a hunk, I'll probably find my new family pretty soon."

"Nope," she grinned, "I told you I'd help, and that's what I'm going to do."

"I'm sorry it turned out to be a waste of time with Lily."

"I was afraid she was too dumb for you. You had to try. Her kids were fun. At least you got a nice ride. Or did you? I hope I didn't let my imagination run wild for nothing."

"Oh she was energetic enough," smirked Ken, "and she seemed to enjoy herself. I wanted to make it work, but I just couldn't bear the thought of having dinner with her and listening to her mindless drivel for years."

"I don't blame you a bit. Let's put that episode behind us," she said with conviction, "and get you situated once and for all."

"What do you say we split up?" asked Ken. "One of us can go to the pool and the other can go to the playground."

"I think that idea is a winner," she beamed. "Can I go to the pool area?"

"Sure thing. AI, Leah can communicate with me through you, is that right?"

"Affirmative," responded the AI. "Reports can be transmitted, but not in your own voices."

Ruth Stankov -- now Ruth McNeil -- kept one eye on her Belle and Melody in the pool while she helped Valerie watch Alex and Emily in the wading pool. The little ones kept to the edge of the wading pool and didn't need much intervention. The bigger girls played in the big pool with two girls and a boy, all about six-year-old Melody's age. Nine-year-old Belle didn't seem to mind.

One girl and boy were under the watchful eye of their mother. The other girl's mother had to divide her attention between her daughter in the pool and her two-year-old son in the wading pool.

It didn't take long for Ruth to introduce herself to Lana Haskins, she with the child in each of the two pools. Soon, they invited Connie Lopez to join them, and the three congregated around Valerie at the edge of the wading pool. Ruth and Connie focused their attention on the big pool, freeing Lana and Valerie to devote their attention to the wading pool.

The women took note that Lana and Connie wore green collars while Ruth and Valerie wore red collars. Ruth and Valerie happily admitted that they were sisters as of the day before. "What's with you two attractive women?" asked Ruth. "How is it you're still green?"

"I spent the day yesterday sitting in the common areas," said Lana. "The kids were bored and that was no fun for any of us. I couldn't give my undivided attention to the sponsors who were shopping. I think I would have been able to focus on Mister Right, but I didn't see him all day. I couldn't bear the thought of another day like that. The kids needed to burn off some energy."

Connie's story was very much the same. "I felt like meat," she complained. "I felt worse than meat. I felt like the cheapest kind of puta. I've never been to a whorehouse, but that was what I thought of: the men moving through the room, deciding which whore they wanted."

The women continued on that line, commiserating. Both Ruth and Valerie shared their good fortune in being selected into such a good family. Ruth waxed eloquent on the 'male reproductive enhancements' that so improved her husband's performance. Lana and Connie admitted that a roll in the sack was much to be desired. They really wanted a sponsor who would treat them well. They also really wanted to get their children settled as soon as possible.

"Children need stability, need daily routine," observed Ruth. The others murmured agreement.

"May I join you?" asked a green-collared woman about Valerie's age. When they agreed, she seated herself. "I'm Leah Davidson. I overheard what you were talking about. I'm helping my dad find two concubines with children."

Leah proceeded to tell her story, how she had come with her sponsor dad and concubine mom, how her mom had bailed, how she herself could not stay with her dad, how she had promised to help her dad. The explanation and questions took some time. Leah laid it on thick about what a great guy her dad was, how he had let her mom go without a fight, and on and on.

Connie and Lana had both arrived poolside at about the same time by sheer chance. Now they looked at each other, suddenly having to consider whether the other could become her sister. "I don't know about you, Lana," said Connie, "but if Leah's dad is half what she says he is, I want to get to know him."

"Our kids seem to get along famously," observed Lana with a new perspective of her own. "That's April in the pool. She's five. Jake here in the wading pool is two."

"My Manny is six and Tia is four," answered Connie.

Leah squealed her delight when she realized that Connie and Lana were in the process of throwing their lots together. "Can I invite my dad to come join us?" Both Lana and Connie shyly agreed. Leah proceeded to send an invitation through the AI, who responded that Ken would join them very shortly.

"What about yourself, Leah?" asked Ruth. "Have you found yourself a sponsor that you've strung along until you fixed up your dad?"

"No," Leah blushed, "I haven't made any progress for myself. I've been dedicated to filling my dad's needs."

Valerie and Ruth shared a knowing look. Turning to Leah, Ruth said, "Then I have a proposition for you." Valerie started laughing. "What?" asked Ruth.

"I'll bet Leah hasn't been propositioned before," she laughed. The other women joined her, although their laughter was more subdued.

"Anyway," smiled Ruth, "before I was so rudely interrupted, I wanted to tell you what a wonderful family Valerie and I are in. Patrick and Nicole McNeil are both sponsors. Valerie's mother -- can I say your ex-mother? -- my Marc and young Amanda McNeil are our family so far. Amanda's brother, Ryan, is also a sponsor. He has his wife Jennifer and today they selected Katie to fill out their family. Amanda's not that young -- she's twenty. She needs a friend about her age, because Valerie here is such a stick-in-the-mud." That brought chuckles.

"I think what Ruth's trying to say is that you could do far worse than to join our family. Are you hot to put yourself in the meat market, or will you let me call Patrick here so we can introduce you?"

Leah looked as surprised as she felt. "I know Amanda from school. I talked to her yesterday. She invited me to join her family but I was still focused on getting my dad squared away. I hadn't begun to think of myself yet. No, I really don't relish the idea of letting myself become a slab of meat. So, yeah, please do invite Patrick to join us, if he will."

And, of course, Lana and Connie got on swimmingly with Ken. Patrick brought Amanda with him and she and Leah hit it off immediately. After Leah's tearful farewell to her dad, Patrick shook his hand and promised they would cherish Leah as her parents had.

3 Section 45 -- Godwin: big boy bed time

As they headed for the upper level, Martin Godwin said, "Jack, I'd like you to refer to me as their dad, and I'll refer to you as their dad. Let's see if we can get them all spun out and then we'll get them squared away with their new family."

They found the boys in the playroom, racing holographic cars around a virtual track. "Your dad thinks it's time for you to go to bed," said Martin.

"My dad? Where is my dad?" asked Daniel. Martin pointed to Jack.

"Logan," smiled Jack, "your dad thinks you ought to be in bed, too."

"My dad's not here," said Logan.

"Yes he is," said Jack.

"Where?" Jack pointed to Martin.

"That's not right," whined Daniel.

Martin sat down on the floor. Jack followed suit. "Daniel," said Martin, "your FATHER is in our family. Logan, your FATHER is not. But make no mistake: I am your dad. Jack here is your dad. Rob is your dad. Same with you, Logan. You have three dads.

"Daniel, Allison is your real mom. Logan, Sarah is your real mom. You have seven other moms now. Logan, Allison is your mom now. Your grandma? She's your mom now. You have eight moms now. Daniel, Sarah is your mom now. Daniel, those two young ladies who were your sisters? They're your moms now. That woman who's going to have a baby? That's Laura. She's your mom now, both of you."

"You two guys?" added Jack. "You two are real brothers now. Daniel, Lilly and Morgan are your sisters now. Nathan is your brother now. Logan, your cousins Nathan and Morgan are now your brother and sister. Laura's unborn child is your brother."

"If one mom is tough on you," said Martin, "then how will it be with eight moms?"

"That's where having lots of dads comes in handy," said Jack. "Your dad won't let your moms be mean to you."

"Well, not too mean, anyway," chuckled Martin. "Pretty soon, you're going to have so many sisters and brothers, you'll have trouble remembering all of their names. All of your moms are going to make babies. They're making babies two at a time -- all of them. We're counting on you two to be the big brothers for all the other kids. Your dad and I are going to make sure that being the big brothers isn't too hard for you."

"What if all your moms want kisses?" asked Jack. "You'll need a lot of dads to protect you."

"Dads like hugs, but not kisses," said Martin. "I think we'll let you think about your new good luck for a while before we can hope for hugs. We're already a big family, and we're going to get a whole lot bigger. There'll be plenty of love for all of us."

"So," said Jack, "about that going to bed thing? Who needs pajamas?"

"I do," both boys said in unison.

"Good. The pajamas will be here in a moment. Have you guys chosen your bedroom yet? Do you want separate bedrooms, or do you want to sleep in the same room?"

Logan turned to Daniel. "Can we sleep in the same room? I don't want to sleep alone yet." Daniel nodded agreement.

"I'll bet," said Martin, "that if we went into the bathroom, we'd find tooth brushes for both of you and tooth paste, too. Whaddya think?" The boys reluctantly nodded. "AI, will you ask Sarah whether Logan needs a bath tonight?"

After a moment, the AI said, "Sarah doesn't have strong feelings about it."

"Okay," said Martin, "then tell her that the two boys and the two dads are going to have a shower before brushing teeth and going to bed. Please have the pajamas brought to the bathroom."

"The rest of the family has returned. Beth says it would be good if you and Jack would remain up here while they have a meeting."

"I think that's fine," answered Martin. "Is she sure Jack shouldn't be at the meeting?"

There was a brief pause. "Jack should remain with you," the AI said.

3 Section 46 -- Third day extractions: Melbourne, Sydney, 2 Indian

The buildings in Sydney and Melbourne were emptied at three o'clock in the afternoon rather than mid-morning, as had been done on the two previous days. The extractions were otherwise the same. No interdiction fields were used. All comers were accepted. There were few stung and few injuries. Each of the building extractions was completed in less than twenty minutes.

It was something of a problem that the extractions occurred very early in the morning on the clocks in Copernicus Station. The extractees and their dependents were in for a day or so of distress for their internal clocks. Provision was made for naptime in order to alleviate the distress.

The dependent pickups were conducted mainly during the period from ten o'clock through midnight, local time. The dependent extractees had the same problem with their internal clocks, having been extracted in the middle of the night only to arrive on the moon in the middle of the day.

To achieve their daily quota of eighty thousand extractees, the marines sandwiched office building extractions in two Indian cities between the Sydney/Melbourne office and dependent extractions. The marines by now were accustomed to controlled chaos. They managed building extractions in two different regions of the world, followed by the related dependent extractions in those same two areas, without any significant problems.

This time on Copernicus Station, the people from back-to-back office building extractions were followed by the people from back-to-back dependent extractions. The massive flow of humanity was smoothly handled. Except that allowances had to be made for the time zone disruptions, the two groups began the same program as those who had arrived in the previous days. Now there were about two hundred thousand souls who would be transferred to the cube transport Valhalla, with only about fifty thousand more required.

The first and second day extractees were making excellent progress in establishing family groups. As family groups were formed, the new families were transferred to neighborhoods segregated by military service. Unattached concubines were relocated to smaller and smaller areas, sorted by their general individual situations: couples in one area, mothers with small children in another, multiple related adult females in yet another area, and so on. Sponsors with unfilled concubine allocations were transferred into areas that suited the sponsor's needs.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

3 Section 47 -- Diane & Co home again; meeting

Not long after the two Godwin dads went up to put the boys to bed, four young people danced their way through the front door, singing and laughing.

"Mom!" shrieked two sets of sisters as they raced to greet the returning family members. Laura remained seated but was smiling as she watched. Diane, Beth, Allison and Rob stood and let themselves be inspected. They were all talking at once, laughing, pointing and having fun.

"Okay," said Beth, "now let's get serious for a bit. Sarah and Sandy, I'm afraid your mother was left sitting in her living room on Earth. I'm younger than you are. I can't be your mom anymore. You're my sisters, just as Diane is my sister. I've heard some people say 'sister concubine' but the word 'concubine' doesn't add anything. Diane is my sister. Allison is my sister. Rob is my brother. You're my sisters. Your children are our children. Grandma is gone."

Turning to the twins, she said, "Soon enough, you'll have most of the privileges and responsibilities of adults. You'd better get used to calling Allison and Rob by their given names. It's going to be bad enough when a child says 'mom?' and eight heads turn."

"Beth and I have two separate bets on," smiled Diane. "Two bets for each pair of you. One bet is which of you says 'mom' the most. The other bet is who says 'mom' last." Everyone laughed.

The AI interrupted. "Martin asks whether Logan should be bathed before bed?"

"Tell Martin that I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about a bath," Sarah said.

"AI," said Beth, "would you ask Martin to please remain on the upper level while we have a talk with each other?"

After a brief time, the AI answered, "Martin agrees to remain on the upper level. He asks whether Jack should join you or remain with him?"

"Ask him to keep Jack with him," said Beth.

"Martin reports that two dads and two boys are going to bathe before the boys brush their teeth and go to bed." said the AI. "The requested pajamas are in the replicator." Emma dashed off to deliver them.

Allison encouraged everyone to sit down on the sofas. Sarah and Sandy made to sit beside Laura, but stopped short. "Can we sit by you?" asked Sandy. Laura nodded. After they were seated, Sandy asked, "You want us close, or not?"

Laura considered for a moment. "Close, please. Thank you for asking."

In response to the quizzical expressions on the faces of Beth, Diane and Allison, Sarah said, "We learned that Laura's husband was not a very nice man. Martin wants to use Laura as an... what's that word?"

"Exemplar," chimed the twins.

"Oh, yeah. Martin wants to use Laura as an exemplar of how our family treats pregnant women. Laura won't be treated special because of Laura, but because she is the first of us to be pregnant. Laura's man didn't ask for sex, he took it. You know yourselves that sex when you're pregnant is often repellant. You know you sometimes needed to be cuddled and sometimes couldn't stand to be touched.

"So... the rule is, no sex with Laura unless she asks. No touching Laura unless she asks. You can hold open your arms in invitation, but that's all. Laura can kiss you as passionately as she wants, can put your hand or your mouth to her breast, completely confident that it will not escalate to sex unless she says so. And I mean words. Laura can climb into bed with you to cuddle or to sleep, and not have to worry about sex. Laura can play with your crotch but Laura's is off limits unless she says so. Laura can have all the sex she wants, but when she wants, with whom she wants and the way she wants.

"The same rule will apply to any of us who is pregnant. Does that sound fair and workable to you?"

There was silence for a time while the thought was processed. "I have never been pregnant," said Diane, "but that sounds a bit like when I was in Bitch Mode. I can't really imagine sex being repellant. You mothers need to decide. It sounds okay to me."

"How will we know when this rule applies to any of you?" asked Rob.

"We'll have to make allowances for some members of our family," answered Beth. "The twins and Diane haven't been through it and won't recognize the signals. The men probably couldn't take a hint for love nor money. We'll know when to invoke the rule. One day she'll say, 'I'm not a new mother anymore' and that's when the rule stops. Okay?"

The twins were sitting on the sofa, listening, while their fingers were in each other's pussy, as though that were the most ordinary thing in the world.

"The thirteen-year-old exemption has not yet been granted," intoned the AI. All eyes turned toward the twins, who yanked their hands back into their own laps.

"Nice segue, girls," chuckled Sandy.

"Sorry, ladies," said Rob. "What's a segue?"

"It is a smooth transition from one subject to another," said Laura.

"Back to the point," said Sarah. "While you were gone, we had 'show and tell' with body parts. Sandy got fucked until she fainted. We learned about, and saw, the twins squirting. Jack came all over his own chest. The twins liked that but their squirting put Jack to shame.

"One thing led to another and we discovered that the twins have been pleasuring each other. The rule is that nobody, nobody can engage in any sexual activity with twelve-year-olds. The AI says it reported incidents to Allison but she didn't take any action. That sounds like she's okay with it. The AI says that if Martin requests an exemption for the twins, it will be granted and they will be 'deemed' thirteen-year-olds. Their birthday is in nineteen days. Martin won't ask for the exception unless we unanimously agree.

"The twins say they have no intention of complying with the rule, only to miraculously become almost adults in less than three weeks. So, our options seem to be, put the twins in straightjackets and ball gags until their birthday, or... they each lose their anal cherry tonight."

Sarah let that thought hang in the air. Diane, Beth and Rob were frozen in thought. Allison smiled, winked and nodded to Sarah. When they at last began to stir, Sandy said, "You three are the only ones who haven't yet approved. Martin says a single 'no' vote will scuttle the whole thing."

Beth and Diane looked at each other and gave a slight shrug. Beth turned to Rob. "This is not the kind of thing I'm going to overrule Allison about," Rob chuckled. "She's okay with it. I'll go with it, too."

"It really drives home how much things have changed," said Beth. "I'm just trying to curb my imagination of what's about to happen. Three weeks or right now, it really makes no difference. It's going to be like giving a boy a hundred dollars and turning him loose in a candy store. The twins are going to pounce on every hard cock they can find. The entire supply of sperm is going down their throats or up their butts. When they wear out the men, they'll turn on us."

Everyone in the room howled in laughter. When the twins realized that Beth had capitulated for all the adults, they laughed and screamed their joy.

As one, the girls raced around and embraced Rob. He smiled at them, looking back and forth between the shining excited faces of his girls. "I didn't do it!" he exclaimed.

Erin laughed. "Dad... oops! Rob, when we thought of a man, we thought of you. Now we have three men in our lives. Will you be first among equals?"

"I'll suck Jack if you'll take my butt cherry," breathed Emma.

"I want to watch your eyes when you blow a load in my mouth," smiled Erin coyly. Rob visibly shuddered at those thoughts.

"It's not done until the overseer tells the AI," Allison pointed out. "No jilling each other, no fondling Rob's cock, no hanky-panky, not until Martin requests your emancipation." That took much of the wind out of the twins' sails. They settled down and stepped out of the limelight so the discussion could take up other issues.

"Allison," smirked Diane, "I think you meant 'the master' because I think 'the overseer' is our sweet sister over yonder," and she pointed at Beth.

"We're going to have our first orgy pretty soon," said Sarah. "I know a newly-young man who really wants to make up for a lot of years with a beautiful eighteen-year-old woman. I'm pretty sure she wants to throw him a fuck like he's never had." There were chuckles all around. "I don't see why they should wait. We're going to watch them no matter where or when they go at it."

She looked at Allison. "Just save some squirt for Martin. He hasn't been with you yet, and I know he'll want some."

Turning to Laura, she said, "He'll want to make sweet love to you, too, but only if you want that. He'll wait as long as it takes until you're ready to give yourself to him. Don't feel pressured to have him tonight, or even the day after tomorrow. Do it when you're ready."

Turning to Diane, she said, "I know someone who wants to test drive her new and improved body with her oldest friend. I bet there's some territory marking there, too." Chuckles rolled through the group.

To Beth, she said, "I know someone who'll pull rank to get her share of the owner. If Martin gets those two, one after the other, we'll have to put his cock in a cast." Laughter took its turn.

To the twins, she said, "I know a couple of girls who're praying that they love sodomy so they don't have to subsist on oral sex for an entire year." Howls.

Looking significantly upstairs, she said, "I know a young man whose marching orders are to deposit a load into each and every one of us -- tonight. He's already cum once. There's no way he can cum eight more times tonight. We should place a bet on how many times he can cum and another bet on who is the last to get a load from him tonight. I really want him to have a dry orgasm -- an orgasm when there's no semen left. I'm told it's an unforgettable experience for the man. Sandy claimed his anal cherry. She should get that done soon -- he has to take at least one cherry from the twins.

"I'll tell ya, I gave him a sort-of blowjob so the twins could see him cum. Laura went right after cleaning him up. Before she could finish, he was hard again." The women all chuckled and shook their heads.

"There are eight women and three men. Except for some special cases," and she pointed at Allison, Diane and Beth, "and some first times." and she pointed at Laura and the twins, "it's going to be two on one almost every time. We'll see if the guys' tongues last longer than their cocks."

"I am anxious to see what 'reproductive enhancement' really means for me," said Rob. "You've told me what that means, but I have to experience it before I'll believe it. This shiny new cock is still attached to an old man."

He slipped from his seat and knelt in front of Allison. As he stroked the tops of her thighs, he said, "You truly are a beautiful woman. I hope this body gives you great satisfaction and pleasure. But you all need to know that I want to make love with Allison, to show her how deeply in love with her I am, and how sorry I am that I couldn't last long enough all those years."

Allison's eyes welled up as she cupped his jaw and kissed him gently. "Rob, you gave me everything I needed, always, in every sense of the word. I really am glad I didn't have to change the bed linen every single day. Our sex life wasn't about release, it was about comfort and security, a continuous recommitment to each other.

"You are every bit as beautiful as this body is. Look at you: eighteen years old, muscled physique, long, fat cock, full head of hair and still the same eyes I've always loved. I know I will come to love every member of this family, but you will always be first in my heart. I always have, and I always will give myself to you anytime, any place, any way you want.

"I know you will be gentle with my sisters, the twins. I hope I can be there to share those first times.

"Now will you fuck the living shit out of me so we can get this orgy under way?" Everyone fell into paroxysms of laughter.

When she could control her breathing well enough to talk, Beth told Rob, "Carry her into Martin's bedroom. Go after her. Make her beg for mercy. We'll be the peanut gallery. AI, I need a generous amount of lubricant and a sudsy washrag that can be kept warm."

3 Section 48 -- Godwin dads & boys in the bath

"Okay you guys, off to the bathroom for a shower," Martin said lightly. "Ditch your clothes in the recycler. I guess new clothes will magically appear for you in the morning."

As they made their way to the shower, Martin quietly told Jack, "Let them explore your body if they want to. I doubt either of them will want to spend much time on it. However, Daniel may already be thinking about how his body will change as he reaches manhood."

They reached the bathroom and the boys began to shed their clothes. "AI, do you know how Daniel and Logan like their showers?"

"Affirmative," the AI replied. "Logan's shower is on your right, Daniel's on the left."

"Who gets which dad to help him?" asked Martin.

Logan and Daniel looked at each other. Logan stepped in front of Jack, apparently making his choice. Daniel nodded slightly and looked up at Martin.

"Your number one dad is back, Daniel, together with Allison, Diane and Beth. They're all a lot younger than before. You'll see them in the morning. Now, do you want a fast shower, or do you want horseplay?"

"Horseplay," smiled Daniel. He stepped under the cascading warm water and turned, his expression inviting Martin to join him.

Martin knelt beside Daniel. "Let's make the water cold. We can throw some on your dad and your brother." Daniel nodded enthusiastically. Martin used his arm to guide Daniel just outside the water spray. Martin cupped his hands in the spray. Daniel followed suit. The AI dutifully turned the water ice cold. When their cupped hands were full, Martin whispered, "Throw it on your dad." He did, Martin followed and Jack howled in mock surprise. Daniel laughed hysterically. Logan was clueless.

"That was cold!" Jack shrieked. Martin and Daniel, laughing heartily, had stepped into their now-warm again shower spray.

"Who, me?" asked Martin. "I think Logan did it."

"No I didn't!" cried Logan.

Jack knelt beside Logan. "They threw cold water at me. What'll we do to get them back?"

"I don't know!" laughed Logan.

Jack cupped his own hands, filled them with water, and sucked the water into his mouth. He squirted a thin spray of water toward the shower wall. "Should we do that to them?" Logan eagerly nodded. Jack helped the young boy cup his hands and capture water. He quickly followed suit for his own weapon. Together, they edged forward and each unleashed a stream of water. Logan laughed a lot. Daniel laughed too. The four battled each other vigorously. The boys were so animated that they could not hold water in their own cupped hands. The two dads helped out.

"Mom will say that was spitting," said Martin. "That wasn't spitting, was it?" Both boys solemnly shook their heads. "Dads are more fun than moms, huh?" Both smiling boys vigorously nodded.

"Okay," said Jack, "no more horseplay. Let's have a race to see who can shampoo and body wash the fastest." Both Martin and Jack quickly dispensed soap into their hands and began washing. "We're gonna win!" Jack crowed. Logan was very excited. "Ta da!" Jack sang.

"No fair," Martin pouted. "Dad had less to wash than I did. Logan's smaller than Daniel."

"Well, Dad," smirked Jack, "you'll just have to practice. Maybe Daniel can wash hair while you wash body? Maybe I'll teach Logan to wash hair so we can still win!"

"Water off, please," said Martin. "Let's get dried off." The warm dry air flowed and soon they were all dry enough to suit the dads. "Mom would want you drier, wouldn't she?" The boys nodded. "That's one more good thing about dads. Okay, brush teeth!"

The nude dads and the still-nude boys all brushed their teeth. When they were done, Jack crouched with his back to Logan. "Do you like piggyback?" Rather than answer, a giggling Logan leaped onto Jack's back and latched his arms around Jack's neck.

Daniel looked longingly at Martin. Without hesitation, Martin crouched and Daniel wordlessly leaped aboard. "Lemme get the jammies," he said.

"I don't want pajamas," Daniel declared. "I want to stay undressed." Of course, Logan wanted the same thing his big brother wanted. The dads stood up and stepped out of the bathroom.

"Which way?" asked Jack.

"I don't know," said Daniel. "We found the play room and stayed in there."

"Where are the other children?" Martin asked.

"They are in the first room beyond the play room," answered the AI. "Nathan didn't want to sleep alone more than he didn't want to sleep with the girls." Both dads chuckled at that.

"Is a room prepared for these young men?" asked Martin.

"The room beyond the other children has two twin beds ready for young men," said the AI. Off they went. When he reached the side of the bed, Jack gracefully threw his shoulder down and forward, tossing a surprised and delighted Logan smoothly onto his back in the middle of the bed.

"Do that to me," cried Daniel.

"It might not be as graceful as Dad did it," said Martin, "but here goes." It was a pretty good copy of Jack's move. It was not as good, but it was far better than Daniel was accustomed to.

"Now," said Martin, "we've had a lot of fun and you guys are pretty excited for going to sleep, but that's what we need you to do right now. We'll have the lights down," and the AI dutifully complied, "while we settle in for sleep. Tomorrow is another big day, and every one after that, too. Tell me, what was the best part of today?"

Daniel proceeded to talk about the things he had seen and done during the day. Martin and Daniel kept their eyes on each other. Logan added just a bit, but his attention was on his Dad. Martin kept Daniel's voice down and Logan soon fell asleep. Daniel's talking soon trailed off. "Thanks for a fun bath," Martin said in a stage whisper as he smoothed the boy's forelock. "If you need anything, just say it and the AI will help you. Think about your favorite breakfast. I bet one of your moms will fix it for you in the morning." A sleepy Daniel smiled wanly. The two men stood and quietly left the room.

3 Section 49 -- End of the day - unbound families

William Stremich was exhausted. He could not understand how it could be so tiring to sit around all day. He had told his story to a countless number of prospective sponsors, all to no avail. His... wife... Sarah, looked to be drained as well. Sarah had had to pay attention to the interviewer while she kept an eye on the kids.

More families had walked out of 'their' unit than could possibly live there. William realized that many of the families had successfully found sponsors for themselves. That thought was depressing, and made their defeat all the more difficult to bear.

There had been no introductions when the Stremich family arrived. The woman that Sarah had chatted with was no longer about. "AI," said William, "will you tell us about the families that will be sharing this apartment tonight?" William and Sarah learned that the Irving family had a fourteen-year-old boy and an eleven-year-old girl; their sixteen-year-old daughter had already been sponsored. The other couple, named Rogers, had two small children and was expecting another.

No room assignments had been made. The AI reported that the Irving family had apparently staked out the lower level bedrooms for themselves. The Rogers family was seated around the kitchen table, their meal finished but lingering.

William guided Sarah and the kids into the apartment and into the kitchen. He could not bring himself to ask the Rogers' to surrender the kitchen table. Instead, he introduced himself and his family. Several verbal allusions of the hungry state of the Stremich family seemed to fall on deaf ears. William gave up and shepherded his family to the upper level.

Since none of the families really had any possessions, it was hard for William to determine which rooms had been spoken for. The playroom appeared to be well stocked but presently unused. They moved down the hall and peered into the next room. They found a boy and a girl on the bed, fucking frantically. The girl's toes pointed to the sky, her feet widely spread. William was surprised that the voices, quite loud in the doorway, could not be heard in the hallway. The boy and girl noticed their audience. Both turned their heads to look back at the Stremichs, but the boy continued pounding into the girl. Nonplussed, the Stremichs withdrew from the doorway. With a shrug, William led the way back to the lift.

The Rogers family still held court around the kitchen table. Sarah knew her kids were hungry. She sent William and the kids to arrange themselves in the living room. Sarah turned to the replicator and began to order food for their dinner. Since they would be sitting on sofas while they ate, Sarah ordered finger food and non-spill cups for the children.

As the Stremichs were finishing their dinner, the boy and girl came into the living room on their way out the front door. The girl was taller than the boy and as rail thin as he was. With her coltish body and because they now had the grace to deliver an embarrassed apology, both boy and girl could have been mistaken for juveniles. Green collars on their necks showed them to be at least fourteen.

William and Sarah heard a verbal scuffle between Mr. Irving and Mr. Rogers about the occupancy of the kitchen table, but to no apparent effect.

As only couples can, William and Sarah silently agreed to try putting an end to their very bad day. Without a word to their ersatz roommates, they headed upstairs and straight to the bathroom. The kids were stripped and the entire family climbed into the shower. A good wash and a bit of horseplay lightened the mood.

So drained were they that there was no energy to negotiate room assignments. The entire family took the furthest bedroom. There, they found two beds. The kids were placed into one bed. Both parents sat with the children and cooed them to sleep. Finally, they climbed into their own bed.

"They told me this would happen," William lamented quietly. "Sarah, I can't bring myself to hold you back any longer. I'm not going to be sponsored. If I don't withdraw, you won't be sponsored, either. Sarah, I love you with all my heart. You and the kids are safe IF you can find a good sponsor, a good family. Sarah, let me let you go, please." They both sobbed as they held each other. Finally, cried out, they separated.

"Put a baby in me," she whispered. "I want to take you with me, William. Put a baby in me now."

"AI, is Sarah fertile?" asked William.

"Sarah can be made fertile," responded the AI. "You are welcome to impregnate Sarah if you both wish it so."

"In the morning, will you move Sarah and the kids in with all the other single mothers?"

"Affirmative."

"And what will become of me?"

"You will be transferred to an area with other men in similar circumstances. There is a wide variety of activities from which to choose."

While William chatted with the AI, Sarah was busy getting her nectar flowing. She pulled him atop her and delivered a kiss for the ages. Holding his jaw in both of her hands, she pushed his face far enough away to look into his eyes, and to let him look into hers. By force of will, she made her expression happy and confident although she felt neither. Her tears ran from the corners of her eyes toward her ears. "Put a baby boy in me, William. I will name him William. He will grow into a man to be proud of, just like his father. And I will always remember the night he was conceived from the man I love."

Their love-making was gentle but deeply satisfying. Afterward, they cuddled, kissing and caressing each other until they fell asleep. During the night, Sarah woke William three times, demanding more of his seed.