Rachel camed back from her appointment in a state of shock. She found her friends lounging around a pool, and sat down hard on a lounge chair.
"Twins," she said, still in disbelief. "I'm having twin boys."
Zac, Friday and Julie
"Congratulations," Zac said expansively.
Zac had fallen pregnant nicely, and there had been no need for another try.
"I think she's in shock," Friday said.
Julie trotted over and gave Rachel a hug.
"At least you found out now, and not during labour like I did," she grinned.
Rachel
Rachel sat back and sipped an icy drink from a glass with a little umbrella. SHe rolled her eyes as the waitress asked for her autograph.
"I really wish they would stop with the fawning and the autographs," she griped.
Zac, Friday and Julie
"Yeah, anyone would think you were famous or something," Zac responded.
"Dork," Julie said.
"A dork is a whale's -"
"You might be a girl now," Friday cut in wryly, "but your mouth is still dirty."
"It's a shame there isn't a way of disguising you somehow," Julie observed.
Rachel and Jessica
"Well, now that I'm obviously pregnant, and I have both breasts, fewer people are recognizing me. It's mainly just the staff now," Rach said.
"I still can't get over that," Jessi said, "I can't believe that any version of you would cut off your right boob!" She laughed as she remembered Rachel's facial expression when she first saw a picture of her other self.
Friday, Julie and Zac
"I'm personally amazed that it manages to stay cut off," Friday said. "I thought morphing worked from DNA."
"Maybe the technology is slightly different over here," Julie suggested.
"I can't believe that any woman would cut off her boobs," Zac cut in. "Except in case of breast cancer, that is. I mean, hello? It's a part of you. It would be like cutting off your leg, except breasts are like, sexual organs. It would be like a guy cutting off his dick."
"Except that guys only have one of those," Friday pointed out.
"I heard a rumour about a mutant who may have two," Julie said gleefully, her face lighting up.
Rachel and Jessica
Rachel made a funny laugh. "I'm not certain how it stays cut off, I wonder if she cuts it off every time she morphs," Rach mused, slightly disturbed at the idea. "I happen to like my boobs exactly where they are," she declared.
"Also," Jess pointed out. "If a guy cut off his dick, he couldn't have sex, or even pee properly ever again. But when a woman cuts off one boob, she can still do those things, it's just that she can't feed more than one baby at a time."
"I understand the point of it," Armelle. "THey do get in the way of holding certain weapons, which is why I'm glad mine aren't big. And I get why it was important in the past, I mean, back in the day, hunting & self-defense were crucial to survival. But why do so many women STILL do it?" she wondered.
"I suppose it's like getting a tattoo or a piercing," Jessi mused. "A status symbol of sorts, maybe."
"But tattoos can be lasered off, and piercings can close up, if you get tired of it," Armelle pointed out. "Like, Rach is expecting twins. If the other Rachel had twins, she could only feed one at a time."
Julie, Friday and Zac
"I don't always feed my twins at the same time," Julie pointed out.
"You have four kids," Friday pointed out.
"When it was just B'E and Tom I didn't always feed both of them at once. Depends on when they're hungry."
Friday shrugged, then grinned evilly.
"I wonder if Zac's having twins?"
Julie laughed at the expression on Zac's face.
"Now that would be an interesting experience," she said maliciously, "But c'mon, what are the chances of two - women - on this trip giving birth to twins?"
"What are the chances of you having two sets of twins in a row?"
"True."
"You're all sick," Zac said. "I never had any idea how sick women were."
"Until you became one," Friday grinned.
"Yeah. And morning sickness sucks. I blame you."
"Get used to the blaming thing."
Zac poked her tongue out at Friday, and then gestured for the lurking waitor and gave him an order for lunch.
"Oh, and while you're at it," Julie piped up, and added an order just as big.
Rachel and Jessica
"Oh," and Rachel said, "Also, I'd like a salad, garlic bread, fried mozzerella sticks, and hot chips," she piped in, "Along with a Sprie, no ice, and a cherry." Armelle also ordered a huge meal. And by the time he got to Jess he looked pained.
"Just a grilled cheese sandwhich and a cup of tomato soup, please." He bowed and took off for the kitchens.
Friday, Julie and Zac
"I hope he has a good memory," Friday mused.
"Did you order anything?" Julie asked.
"Nope, but I'm not hungry. Besides, with all that food there's bound to be extra. After all, only two of us are pregnant," Friday pointed out.
"Unless Julie's gotten careless again," Zac teased.
"Hey, Armelle ordered a big meal too. You're not going to accuse her of being pregnant."
"Armelle isn't a slut."
"Hey, I've been good," Julie complained. "The only person I've slept with in ages has been Bobby."
"Really?" Zac asked, interested. "You must really love him. I've never known you to willingly go three months without sleeping with someone."
"Just goes to show I have more self control than you."
Jessica
"I'm a slayer, Armelle said. "We eat a lot and burn it all off again. It's cool."
"So, by that logic," Jess said to her brother/sister, "If I eat a big meal, does that make me a slut?"
Zac, Julie and Friday
"No," Zac replied. "But Julie usually only eats big meals when she's pregnant."
"And you've been around her so much when she's pregnant," Friday said dryly.
"I've been around her a lot when she's not. Like when before B'E and Tom were conceived."
"A lot can change in two years," Julie pointed out. "And what is this obsession you guys have with making jokes about me being pregnant at the moment? Seriously. Aren't four kids enough?"
"Ask Zac," Friday pointed.
Zac poked her tongue out at her.
"Sorry Julie," he went on. "Just a little fun. It's not like you've had morning sickness or something, so you're probably cool."
"Thank you," Julie nodded, the paused. "Oh crap."
"What?" Friday asked.
"I just realised... I might be filling the 'or something' part. I know I had my period once after we came here... but I don't think I've had it since..."
Zac pulled a face.
"Why are you pulling faces? Your a girl now. And you've had a period since you came here," Friday demanded.
"Some male residue remains."
Jessica
"Maybe you should go take a test," Jess suggested.
Friday, Zac and Julie
"I believe there's one in our room," Friday said. "You could use that. If it comes out positive we can always go see Rachel's doctor."
"Twins," Zac mused. "I can't believe you're having twins. That's really cool. I have twins. So does Julie."
Julie felt the need to wop Zac over the head.
"Idiot," she said, then turned to Friday. "I'll go take it now."
"Wanna eat first?" Friday asked, gesturing to the food arriving.
"Okay. Eat first. Test second," Julie grinned.
Rachel and Jessica
Rachel giggled. "YOu have the same twins, doofus," she said to Zac. "Well, now I have to think of another name. I was going to go with Anakin Krit."
"Anakin?" Armelle asked. "Isn't that like destining the kid to become a power-obsessed lunatic?"
"And Krit was only in one episode!" Jess pointed out. "Why not Logan or Sketchy or Herbal?"
"Herbal was a pothead," Rache pointed out.
"Good point."
Zac, Julie and Friday
Zac helped herself to her order of food.
"I have a friend who's name is Annika," she said.
"I have that same friend," Julie nodded. "She's living with me at the moment. We've started our own business even. We're gonna start selling shirts and caps and stuff for my online game. It's all so very exciting. She put in the first order the other day."
"First dibs on a shirt!" Friday declared. "Hey, can I have one that says 'Beware the Zaakmunsta'?"
"Oooh, I like that idea!" Julie's eyes glittered. "I'll have to remember that for when we get home."
Rachel and Jessica
"I want one too!" Rachel said. "And we need official IGP2ZH shirts," Rach said, nodding.
"Oook," Jess said, rolling her eyes. "You're all sex-obsessed,over-reproductive lunatics." Ans she ate her sandwich.
Julie, Friday and Zac
Julie giggled.
"Money makers first... but yeah, that'll be cool."
"Well, I have an excuse, Jess," Friday grinned. "My power is sex change. Don't know about the reproductive part - Elektra's my only one. Unlike other people I could mention."
Zac poked her tongue out at Friday.
Rachel and Jessica
"And what's with the crazy names?" Jess continued her rant. "Sci-fi shows, movies, books, etcetera. It's crazy. I love you like a sister, Rachel, but naming your son Anakin is just asking for trouble."
"She has a point," Armelle said. "Besides, if you're going with tv, go with Highlander."
"Here are few possible boy names I've come up with," Rach said, "Since I now know it's two boys. I should have expected it, Clint being both a Dathrian AND a triplet. Anyways, here's my list: Lucas, Krit, Piccolo, Anakin, Connor, Duncan, Brennan, Jesse, Mal- short for Malcom, from Firefly- Jayne, Simon, Wash-- also from Firefly, Daniel or Jackson, from SG-1, Teal'c or Ryac."
"Insane," Jess ssaid again.
Julie and Friday
"But fun," Julie nodded. "Plus it's a way to keep alive those characters they killed off in shows whom you grew to love and adore. I don't care if Tinga was only in 3 episodes of Dark Angel. Tinga rocked. I hate the fact they killed her off. It's not fair!"
"Julie," Friday said. "It's just a TV show."
"Hey, wouldn't you be upset if they killed off Elektra?"
"They did. At the very beginning of her comic book life. And then they brought her back. Ta da!"
Jessica and Rachel
"Don't tell me you let her talk you into naming the baby after a comic book character," Jess said to Zac.
"How did I ever getpulled into this twisted group of friends?" Armelle asked.
"I think it's when you were given preternatural powers by the PTB and enrolled in superhero school as Friday's roommate," Rachel said.
"Point."
Zac, Julie and Friday
Zac shrugged.
"It's her kid," Zac replied. "I have enough trouble with coming up with names. Friday can name the baby whatever she wants."
"Yay," Friday smirked.
"Need I point out that it's your kid too?" Julie said.
"It's kinda hard to avoid that particular piece of information. Besides," Zac grinned, "you don't actually know it's going to be a girl. Maybe it'll be a boy. In which case I want to name him... Spider-man."
Zac knew he would never actually ever name his son that. And he didn't feel all inclined to let them in on the fact that he knew from a reliable source that the baby was going to be a girl.
Jessica
"You should name him Batman," Jess said. "There's entirely too many people in our family," Jess griped.
Zac, Julie and Friday
"How about Batman Spider-Man Hanson?" Zac asked. "Has a nice ring to it."
"Even I wouldn't name my kid that," Julie said.
"S'not going to be that," Friday said stubbornly. "Going to be a girl, and her name is going to be Elektra Scarlett Black-Hanson."
"Oooh, you're going to let her have my last name are you?"
"Only because I'm such a nice person."
Jessica and Rachel
"Better than Darwin Piccolo Moffatt," Jess said, choosing two of Rachel's suggestions.
"Last name's not going to be MOffatt. Clint doesn't even know I'm pregnant." Rach said, staring at the floor.
Zac and Julie
Zac frowned at Rachel.
"And why haven't you told him? she demanded. "He deserves to know if you're having his child. Twins, even. Doesn't it even occur to you that he might want to be involved?"
"He already has," Julie joked. "But all that aside, I can understand why she wouldn't tell him. After all, I didn't tell you."
"Yes, I know. And I was always a bit annoyed that you didn't. And you're not the only one who didn't. I appreciate knowing these things."
Rachel and Dawn
"It's not that," Rach said. "He's in Africa on some YIRAAS assignment," she said, sighing. "I never know where he is. We happened to cross paths a couple of times. He's always everywhere."
Rachel was getting ready to enjoy a good sulk when Dawn appeared with a huge chocolate cake with chocolate icing, and whipped cream flowers.
"Anybody need a choccy fix?"
"Are you SURE you're not psychic?" Armelle asked, as everybody dug in.
Zac, Friday and Julie
"Well..." was Zac's noncommital response.
She personally figured that Rach should have told Clint as soon as she knew - but if she couldn't contact him...
"Mmm, chocolate," Friday said. "Thanks Dawn."
"I might pop upstairs and take that test now," Julie said. "If I am, my piece of cake will be to celebrate, if now, then the cake will be to make me feel better."
She stood and headed upstairs.
Rachel, Jessica and Dawn
Rachel took a huge slice, Jess took a small slice, and Armelle took a medium slice.
"Reckon she'll want me to go fetch Bobby if she is?" Dawn asked.
Zac and Friday
"I can't see her doing that," Friday replied.
Zac took a large slice of cake and started to eat.
Dawn and Rachel
"So basically, she'll just show up on Bobby's doorstep with a fifth baby, and be like, 'here's your kid, sorry I didn't warn ya' ?" Dawn asked.
"Hasn't any of you ever heard of birth control?" Armelle asked.
"We use it, we all do. But with Dathrians, it doesn't matter. If you have a working uterus, you'll get pregnant, every time, unless you're lactating or already pregnant," Rachel explained.
Friday and Zac
Friday shrugged.
"Maybe she will. But on the subject of fertility, Dathrians actually have longer ovalation periods and sperm life. Ovalating lasts for 3 - 4 days, instead of 1 - 2 days in humans, and the 1 little day in Sems. And Dath sperm lives 5 to 10 days, whereas it's 3-5 days in humans, and 1 to 3 days in Sems. Which in turn of course, increases the fertility period."
Zac stared at her.
"Why do I find it alarming that you know this?"
"Hey, for someone who can change people's genders it's useful information. Particularily when I want to be able to change a boy into a girl at a particular time in their cycle," Friday replied pointedly. "It also explains why there are so many more Daths than Sems. Plus you don't always ovalate every month, either."
Jessica
"And some girls, like Julie, release two eggs a month," Jess said. "Right?"
Friday, Julie and Zac
Friday grinned.
"Two out of two pregnancy have bene twins," Friday said. "Must be true. I wonder if she's pregnant again, will it be twins again?"
"Please don't make such dire predictions," Julie said, rejoining them. "It's bad enough the test came out positive without people making jokes about me having a third set of twins. Okay, I like kids, but I'm not a broodmare."
"Coulda fooled me," Zac joked.
"Takes one to know one!" Friday beamed.
Dawn and Jessica
"I think you should name these ones afre the Oz books & the Winnie-the-Pooh books," Dawn suggested, giving Julie a huge slice of cake. "Dorothy Robin."
"You're nutters," Armelle said. "Definitely Duncan Connor."
"How about we let Julie name her own kids," Jess suggested.
Zac, Friday and Julie
"She's had plenty of practice. Real pro by now," Zac joked.
"Zac... " Friday shook her head.
"Dax Max," Julie nodded. "Works for both boys or girls."
Zac and Friday stared.
"You wouldn't," Zac choked.
"Watch me," Julie replied, and ate some cake. "I was seriously considering it for Tinga or Josh."
Jessica
"Sounds good to me," Jess said, shrugging. "Do you think Mom would notice if I came back with my nose pierced?" she asked Zac.
Zac
"Umm, yes," Zac replied. "Plus have you noticed in the last year since she's got her empathy back full ball, that she's a lot more perceptive?"
Jessica and Rachel
"Well, if it's just a tiny diamond stud on the side here, do you think she'll mind?" Jess rephrased, hopefully.
"Since when do you care what Diana thinks?" Rach asked surprised.
"We've been getting along so much better lately. It's like we're finally mother & daughter again, instead of 2 strangers living in the same house." Jess explained.
Zac
Zac shrugged.
"I have no idea," she said. "But you know what we can do, Roo? You can show her the stud, and then we can introduce her to her latest grandchild."
Jessica
"One will soften the blow of the other," Jess agreed, laughing. "At least I'm not cutting off a boob."
Zac
"Exactly," Zac nodded.
And they continued eating their lunch and chatting about... stuff.