" She smiled." She smiled. "Somehow, I think you knew I wanted to go all the way." "The PT's a half-step, Rowan. You like being organic, I've noticed. You said it yourself, even being fat would be fun because it would be different from the electronic isolation of being AI." I rose from my chair and walked around behind her. "I love your sister dearly, Rowan. She's a good friend, and a good protector when I, and Aaden, and Borodir, needed her. I want to love you just as much, as the mother of my children, even by proxy." I bent over and hugged her close. "Take the whole step." She nodded, turning her head slightly to lick my cheek. "I will." "Good," I said. "Now?" she asked. The unsurety crept back into her voice. "Paul said he'd take you as soon as you were ready. His whole team's on standby. They can be in the office as quick as it takes getting to a SDisk." She nodded and said, "Then I'm going." "No hard feelings?" "I'm not a Mephit yet. I'm not sure what feelings I'll have afterwards. Ask me then." I nodded, releasing her. She rose and kissed me gently on the throat. "You'll tell Aaden and P'nyssa?" "I will. Goodbye, Rowan. And, Hello, as always," I said, quoting the last sentence of one of my favorite books. She laughed and said, "I'm going to keep that book in memory." After she had left, I was sat back down in the chair she had vacated, her cornflakes getting soggy. I realized then that I hadn't had the heart to tell her the truth, that the body we'd been discussing was already underway, accelerated with our new UFN techniques to they're maximum potential, and that she'd be ready for the actual transfer in less than six weeks, not tweleve months. Paul would tell her. I bit my lip, feeling melancholy. |