"What?" River asked, his voice almost breaking.
"You're pregnant." Babau repeated it as softly as possible.
Then silence dominates the room. River was paralyzed, his eyes wide. "Oh, God. I'm ... pregnant." River said to herself. Panic was beginning...
River was getting ready to leave the hospital, she couldn't wait to get out of that place. Her burns were already better, she was better. Better? No. Great, she was great!
"Ready?" Babau asked as he entered the room with a smile.
"Ready!" River returned it with an even bigger smile. She was wearing a black cotton dress that Babau had borrowed (according to Babau, ''knitwear'' and ''cotton'' are the best option to wear during pregnancy), and a very comfortable brown sandal.
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''The dress looks good on you'', Babau smiled slightly. "I used it a lot when I was pregnant with my daughter''.
"Thank you", said River. "I don't even know what to say. You have been helping me a lot these last few days here at the hospital and now you are letting me stay at your home. Babau, you are an angel!''
"Oh, I am far from being an angel", joked Babau. ''I also have my sins, but I am not the devil. I'm just a good person doing the right thing.'' Babau said sincerely. And together the two left the hospital straight for a bus stop.
The buses of this century are all autonomous. There is no driver. There is not even a steering wheel! Only one employee who stays on the bus answering users' doubts and taking control of the vehicle by remote control, in case of any unforeseen event, such as construction work on the streets.
"Good morning, Mrs. Hubble", greeted the smiling employee. He was a red-haired boy with curly hair, light eyes and a few sardines on his cheeks which, in River's opinion, was cute. And he should have been about 22 years old.
"Good morning, Levi", Babau replied with a smile.
''How's Mr. Hubble doing?'' The boy asked.
''Oh, he's fine, thanks for asking'', replied Babau sympathetically.
"And who is that?" the boy asked as he looked at River.
River and Babau looked at each other and before Babau could answer, River said: ''I am her cousin''.
''Ah?'' Babau looked at River a little confused. River just winked at her. "Ah! Yes, of course, this is my cousin R- '', Babau looked to River for help. Should she say your name?
''Rene'', River concluded for her.
''Yes!'' Babau exclaimed'', This is my cousin Rene. Rene... Conner?'' Babau looked at River to see if his friend agreed.
''Yes, Rene Conner, this is me'', River confirmed.
''It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Conner''. The boy gave River the most beautiful smile of all. Both returned the smile and boarded the bus straight to their destination.
