Ninovan (Hypernaturals 10)

You'd Jump Him

Today we are running up and down roads, as slowly as we can. The lack of traffic meant that driving slowly is not an issue. Morgan would move onto the shoulder to let cars blow by if the need arose.

Vera is uncharacteristically quiet, looking out the window as we slowly cruise. I finally asked, "You OK, Vera?"

"Just thinking. No jokes please." Vera leaned on her armrest, her chin on her palm.

"Ok. You look down." I said, deciding to at least address the posture.

"Not down. Thinking about a few things. Babies and heredity. Wondering now if I should even have a kid. You know. Siren genes and all that."

"And? Nakoma's bio-dad is a jerk who was going to kidnap his own biological daughter just to get his own dad out of his hair. Nakoma turned out great, and she is doing even better now that she is surrounded by love. The only thing I did wrong in bringing her up is not joining the family a lot sooner. I would be down on me about THAT, but besides my own Andrea-induced phobia the smartest lady I know was an even bigger idiot about that than me." Angel said.

"True." Morgan said.

"Besides: You are the one Angel is in love with." Jessica pointed out. "Chased your ass down and caught it."

"True again." Morgan agreed.

"Yes, but Nakoma has Angel as a mother. Mine would have me. You ALL know what I am like." Vera said.

"Loyal? Risk-taking. Willing to put your ass out there to help the common species good? That Vera?" I asked.

"No, the disloyal, always unsatisfied, always looking for the next thrill one." Vera said.

"Look at the bright side. It wouldn't ONLY be you who would be your kids' mother. Your deal with Adrian, if he accepts it, would lock you into us for the entire childhood of the kiddo. You could even leave, the kid couldn't. That's how kids work. Community property. Also, you just said Nakoma had a great Mom in Angel. Your offspring would have that same mom! One of them. You need to be more worried about me, Helen, and Morgan, not you." Jessica said.

"Our girls are raised the same, treated the same, and loved by all." I added. "Your two: Angel's planned new one and yours would be absolutely the same. It would not matter at all one is an Astral and one is a Siren. They would be OUR kids. We have our own form of a creche at our house."

"I suppose we might let you visit your child occasionally. No promises. You would have to be good." Morgan told Vera.

"Our problem is getting the Daddy we want to give it up, not the baby once it is here." Angel said.

"Fine. Can we quit talking about that?" I complained. "I do NOT want to repopulate the universe with my kids. However: I am signed up for a few more already with Denise as you all well know and she always reminds me of, and you are family. It is stupid to pretend I will not help. Same deal, and no commitments as to HOW you get pregnant. You have a child with me, you are committed to me for the twenty or thirty years our child is with us. Not as lovers but as parents. You can leave but our child stays with me. As long as you agree to and understand that restriction, I will help. Your schedule and timeframe. I think you two should spend more time with each other without kids first, but that is only my opinion and worth the paper it is printed on. For natural, ancient conception protocols, Helen still has to agree. I do NOT need her permission to be the daddy though."

A single tear ran down Vera's cheek. "I was trying to trap you by getting pregnant. I thought I did not want a kid. Then I became a co-mom at the creche because all Siren chicks are supposed to be, and I fell in love with some of the little girls there. Damn sweet! The little boys are all jerks and need to be put on leashes, but the girls? I realized I wished I was a mom. I saw your pile, and I was so envious."