“Because if I can’t have a family, I want someone else to have one.I am in a safe occupation.No one knows about my activation, and the baby needed someone with my characteristics.The other attempts broke down in the canisters.”
“How much are you being paid for this?”
“Two million.I get increments at every checkup.”Diena smiled.“If you need to check, I can come by tomorrow.”
“I will bring Ithal to you.He hasn’t seen his big sister in ages.”
“Oh, right.I guess he would be out of school for a few days.Did you want me to bring pastries over?”
Alody smiled.“That sounds great.I am taking Ithal to a playpark tomorrow.”
“Then, I will be there around eight.”
“Why do you have the day off?”
“Oh, I have my med checks and scans later in the morning.I only get dressed once a day now, so I do it early to make it count.” She smiled.
“Do you still blur your features?”
“Yup.All day, every day.I am fine, Mom.I just want to make sure you two are okay.”
Alody smiled.“Thank you for checking.This is our address.”
She sent the data over, and Diena smiled.“Nice neighbourhood.Okay.Eight tomorrow.I will get a transport over.I can’t really reach controls right now.”
Alody smiled.“I missed that with you.”
“I know.It’s why I want you to see the bump before it becomes someone else’s to love and raise.” Diena smiled.“You need it.”
“See you tomorrow at eight, dear one.”
Diena blew her a kiss and nodded.“See you then.”
Alody smiled, and her heart felt lighter.She turned off the monitor and went to bed, her son secure, and her daughter was coming in the morning.Who said there was nothing good in a disaster?
They were dressed and sitting at the table when Ithal said, “Why are we waiting?”
“Someone is coming over.You might remember her when you see her.”
There was a soft knock on the front door.Alody walked over and opened the door.She beamed.“Diena.”
Her daughter waddled into the doorway and handed over a bag from a very nice bakery downtown.“Hey, Mom.Hey, Ithal.”
Ithal started to vibrate with excitement.“Sissy!”
She opened her arms, and he moved to hold her against her side.The belly was in the way for a proper hug, but they made do.
Alody smiled.
Ithal asked, “Am I going to be an uncle?”
Diena exhaled.“No, bud.Not this time.This time, I wanted to see if my body could do this with the best medical care and a file of how my body reacts every step along the way.”
Ithal frowned.“Why?”
“Because I was grown in an early tank, and no one was sure if the children of the early gestation units could have babies on their own.So I know that I can grow someone else’s embryo, so now I know that if I want to have my own baby, I just have to find additional genetic material.”
“A boyfriend.”
