9th Dec 2003 to 6th Jan 2004

Bound      By Western Blakehawke

Set after Freak Nation.  February 2023 

Sequel to Unwelcome Ties. Set around fourteen months after the events of the last chapter. 

Ames and Will come face to face again just over sixteen months after they first met.

Chapter 2

               A few hours later.

               Ames woke up from a very pleasant dream of him and Ray playing with a bat and ball, to find Will happily curled up in his arms, her head on his chest her body partly covering his, one of her arms was wrapped around him, his arms were wound tightly around her, exactly mimicking his dream image of over a year ago, both were now in the exact centre of the bed. Why the hell didn't I wake when she sprawled on me, hugged me, snuggled into me! Why'd I just hug her?! What the hell is wrong with me!

               He carefully glanced at his platinum Rolex watch on the bedside cabinet, almost eight am. Okay what the hell do I do? This was never covered at school! Or the academy! No way my moving won't wake her! Damn! How'd I get in this mess! It's all Fathers' fault!.......... Direct approach!

               "Will." Ames said quietly in her ear. "Will wake up."

               "I woke when you did." Will lazily replied sounding amused. "You know you make a very nice pillow." With that she snuggled back down and made to go back to sleep, head still pillowed on his chest, body still half covering his and her arm still around him, not finding sharing a bed with him at all embarrassing or weird as she had thought she would in fact it was rather pleasant.

               "What!" Ames spoke louder than he meant to.

               Will was silently laughing he could feel the vibrations of her chest on his.

               "Get off me 378." He huffed hating being laughed at. That does not feel pleasant! I am not sexually interested in her! Damn! Not those blasted dream flashes again!

               "I will when you release me." Will replied still highly amused.

               Ames realised that his arms were still wrapped tightly around her and he quickly released his hold. Idiot!

               Will rolled off him and grinned at him. "Are you always this grouchy when you wake up?"

               Ames glared at her. I could so easily ring her pesky neck! Why the hell don't I! "What is wrong with you?"

               Will gave him a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

               "I'm the enemy, yet you're quite happy to use me as a pillow." Ames replied having difficulty keeping his voice down so as not to wake up 494. She's insane!

               "Ames we had this conversation over a year ago." Will patiently reminded him. "You want me to quote?"

               Ames immediately recalled her answer then about it being his job and that she wasn't a hypocrite etcetera. "No I recall that chat perfectly."

               "Then why ask?" Will replied in a slightly sarcastic tone.

               "I don't know. You just keep surprising me I suppose." Ames answered more frankly than he had intended. Why did I tell her that! Why am I still in bed with her?

               Will smiled at him. "That's good it means that our relationship will always be interesting."          

               "We don't have a relationship 3 7 8."  Ames ground out, remembering just in time not to yell at her.              

               "378? It was Will earlier." She teased him.

               Ames flexed his hands and moved them slightly before he realised what he was doing and stopped the action. "Don't tempt me." He warned. Don't tempt me? I shouldn't need any provocation! She's a Transgenic!

               "What makes you think you would win a fight between us?" Will asked curiously.

               "You were made to protect me you can't knowingly harm me even if it means your own death at my hands." Ames silkily pointed out.

               Will grinned at him. "What makes you think that Sandemann didn't plan for that eventuality?"

               Ames blinked at this. "Did he?"

               "Wanna wrestle and find out." Will countered still grinning.

               Ames glared at her again. Never try and have a sensible conversation with a freak! They're worse than C.J!

               "Ames you forget that I find your glare cute not intimidating, mmmmm very sexy." Will was enjoying winding the Familiar up.

               A scowl joined the glare at her statement. She's insane! Flirting with me, a man who will eventually kill her definitely classes her as insane! …………Least she seems sane where Ray's concerned!

               "I love the scowl too." Will murmured throatily.

               Ames looked at her in shock.

               "Relax Ames I'm not gonna jump on you, that's more your style." She couldn't resist quipping referring to the other night when he accosted her from behind.

               Ames continued to look at her in shock. Turning my legitimate attack into sexual innuendo!

               Will sighed. "Ames you're supposed to answer back, how can we banter if I'm the only one doing the talking?"

               "Banter?" Ames is nonplussed by the tiny female yet again. Okay I'm lost!

               "Yes, you know when we get to show off our witty repertoire." Will patiently explained.

               Ames relaxed and grinned at her. Okay she just wanted to play word games I wasn't playing so she got more outrageous!

               "You also have a very sexy grin, oh I'm telling the truth about that and the glare and the scowl, I wasn't just using 'em to get a um rise out of you." Will grinned at her double entendre and winked her right eye at him.

               Ames couldn't help himself he burst out laughing.

               "You know Ray said you have a nice laugh and he's right." Will told him her grin turning into a smile. She snuggled down under the blankets obviously intending to go back to sleep. "Oh Ames for future reference, I was named at birth, around two hours later I was given my designation, Will is a shortened version of my first given name."

               Ames stopped laughing and looked at her in astonishment. "The small amount of data we retrieved from Manticore, always gave a designation not a name for you."             

               Will peeked at him from under the quilt and blankets her one shoulder shrug was faintly visible under the bedding. "It's a military thing they prefer to use numbers to names."               

               "Wait a minute you said Will is a shortened version of your first given name how many do you have?" Ames queried, curious on his own behalf, not on the agency's or the Familiars.

               "Four, three given and a surname." Will casually replied.

               "Who named you? Wait you said at N.S.A H.Q. that my father named you." Ames recalled their second conversation in a cell at N.S.A. H.Q. Well first really since you could not call what transpired in the woods a conversation in the true sense of the word. He corrected himself. Since she pointed out that if I had gone with him I wouldn't have Ray, I've let myself think of him as Father again! Just have to remember not to do so with any Familiars! They might think I've decided to turn traitor, which I'll never do!

               "My first name yeah, I hate the full version and only answer to Will which I love and it suits me anyway, since I'm strong willed, Deck gave me my other names, including my surname, I love those ones too." Will smiled as she recalled happy times with Deck when he took her horse riding.

               "There's still no word on him one way or the other." Ames gently informed her.

               "Thanks." Will stated quietly and sincerely.

               Ames changed the subject back to names. "So you hate Wilhelmina huh?" He grinned. "Hello Wilhelmina." Father was going to call me or C.J that if either of us had been a girl stands to reason that that is what Will is short for since he named her.

               Will smiled sweetly at him. "Hello Mr. Sandemann."

               Ames froze, glared at her then grinned. "Okay I deserved that. I won't use the full version of the name he gave you, I'll stick to Will and you don't use that surname for me deal?" He stuck out his right hand. Making a deal with a freak! What next!

               Will pushed down the bedding and placed her right hand in his. "Deal Agent White."  She smiled at him.

               They shook on it and almost reluctantly released hands.

               Will then pulled the blankets back up and snuggled back down and closed her eyes.

               Ames took the not so subtle hint and after a moments thought he followed suit, seeing no point in getting up yet.

               Neither Ames or Will had moved from the centre of the bed, so they lay there only inches apart.

               Will opened her eyes and moved onto her side to look at Ames. "You going to get grouchy if I ask to use you as a pillow again?" She queried conversationally not at all cautiously.

               Ames opened his eyes and looked directly into hers, grinned and moved his arm to allow her access to his chest. "Why not, The Conclave would believe the worst anyway." I'm insane!

               Will grinned back at him and moved over and rested her head on his chest etcetera, quickly resuming her earlier position, Ames placed his arms around her again.              

               "If you ever decide to quit, tell me and I'll tell you where we are." She promised as she snuggled against him.

               "I might just take you up on that offer, if The Conclave ever decides to gun for me. I won't turn traitor." Ames firmly told her. Damn she feels good! Too good! What am I doing!

               "Well the offer is there when or if you want it." Will smiled at him, then closed her eyes and was immediately asleep.              

               Ames watched her sleep for a few minutes, his mind racing. She knows that someday I may have to kill her and her kids, yet she trusts me enough to sleep in my presence, in my arms! She actually likes me! The real me! Not like Wendy, she fell in love with an illusion! Will knows exactly what I am and she likes me! She likes me for me, not because she was made to protect Sandemann's descendents and Sandemann, she's made her dislike, hate for him clear from the very start, so it's not programmed into her to like those she was born to protect, yet she likes me! For the first time ever, I have a relationship with someone who knows the real me, likes me and does not want anything from me! She does not even ask for me to like her!

               Ames smiled and closed his eyes and fell swiftly into a deep and peaceful sleep.

               12:31pm.           

               Alec had thought about it and had decided that Will was more than a match for the Familiar, since Ames had been evenly matched with Max, and Will had always been able to beat any of the X5's in training. He was absolutely sure that she would win a fight even though she was pregnant, in fact that only made her more dangerous because he knew that she would do anything to protect her children. So he had got up, left a note for Will in case she got up before he got back and then went to his place to collect some clothes etcetera and then did some shopping.

               From outside the bedroom.

               "Hey Will Ames, time to get up! I got some food, ingredients, Will and I want you to make panca….." Alec's voice trailed off as he entered the room and saw Will happily ensconced in Ames' arms. He stood there in stunned silence.

               Will and Ames had both awoken at the word hey, but neither had moved from their extremely comfortable position. They both smiled at Alec.

               "You want pancakes too Ames?" Will casually asked looking up at him.

               "Yes please." Ames grinned down at her, their faces mere inches apart.

               "Sleeping with the enemy Will how could you!" Alec yelled finally finding his voice.

               "Sleep? We don't sleep much!" Ames smugly retorted he couldn't help himself he just could not resist quoting his dream to taunt the Transgenic not after 494 said almost exactly what his dream version had.

               Will burst out laughing at that lie and the innuendo it conveyed.

               Alec glared at them both. "Will.........!"

               She got control of her mirth and cut him off. "You gave me too him Alec remember, told him he could sleep with me!"

               Ames just lay there arms still around Will watching Alec a predatory and amused grin upon his face. This is fun! Will enjoys winding people up as much as I do!

               "I meant sleep with not……..!" Alec yelped unable to finish the sentence since the mere thought was too awful for him to contemplate.

               "We didn't have sex Ames was just winding you up!" Will replied grinning. "And even if we did it would not be any of your business! We've had this conversation before bro and the same answer applies!"

               "Fine! Will are you gonna make pancakes or not!" Alec grouched at her as he hauled off the blankets covering her and Ames, not caring in the least that it was cold. "I'm hungry!"

               "Want me to kill him for you?" Ames asked only half joking as he glared at the Transgenic as he reluctantly released Will. Damn freak! It's cold!

               Will also very reluctantly sat up she too was glaring at Alec. "Don't tempt me Ames!" She grouched as she lightly whacked him on the chest.

               Alec pouted at them both. "C'mon Will I'm your blood brother, he's the enemy quit being nice to him and agreeing with him!" He whined.

               Will ignored him as she swiftly stood up, walked past him grabbing her holdall and pile of discarded clothes on the way and headed for the bathroom.

               Alec followed her out of the room still complaining about her treatment of him, all the way to the bathroom, where he got the door slammed in his face. Since Will was ignoring him he went into the lounge and decided to watch television he flopped onto the sofa that he had not bothered to convert back from a bed.

               Ames remained in the bedroom staring at the ceiling and thinking. This is crazy! I'm crazy! I actually enjoyed that scene! I enjoy Will's company! Idiot why'd I have to reference that dream! It's been hard enough not thinking about it as it is! Damn I've been getting the blasted flashbacks at least once a day since I dreamt it!

               Ames remained in bed until a few minutes later when Will, fresh from her shower, short hair damp and fully clothed, stuck her head through the open door.

               "Bathroom's empty Ames, I'm gonna make up some pancakes so you need to get up, 'cause you are not eating in that bed!" She stated grinning at him then ducked back out of the room before he could comment.

               Ames grinned and got out of the bed and headed for the bathroom. This is weird but fun too!

               Twenty seven minutes later.

               Will, Alec and Ames were seated at the table eating and or drinking. The males had pancakes and Will had had toast, she had soon finished her meal and was just relaxing drinking her glass of milk and watching the two males devour their pancakes, both were only half way through the huge plateful that Will had given each.

               Will and Ames were completely relaxed, Alec was not, he was obviously extremely uncomfortable eating with the Familiar, the situation was too weird even for his normal nonchalant attitude and he was seated as far away from Ames as the table would allow, since while Ames was in the bathroom Will had quietly told Alec that if he wanted pancakes he'd eat them at the table or not at all.

               Alec focused his attention on Will, ignoring Ames as much as was possible. "So Will now that you know you definitely are pregnant, have you got any other symptoms besides the hormones? Asia said that some doctors believe that a lot of the stuff is psycho somatic."

               "You mean like morning sickness?" Will asked sipping from her glass of milk. "Well apart from being more prone to sleeping from last night, although that could also be because I haven't got much sleep since I realised and then travelling most of the time, and now that I know the babies are healthy and look human, I'm more relaxed, not fretting." She shrugged her right shoulder. "So no, no other symptoms. Why?"

               "Well I wondered, 'cause this pregnancy is hardly normal, so I thought you might get more symptoms, even though X5's don't." Alec explained shrugging then finished off his last pancake.        

               Will just nodded at the answer. "Do Familiars get morning sickness?" She curiously queried Ames.

               "Well I didn't!" Ames quipped unable to stop himself.

               Alec started laughing at that then stopped when he recalled exactly who Ames was.

               Will grinned at Ames and rolled her eyes. "Funny!"

               "I try!" Ames dryly responded.

               "No you wash Alec dries!" Will replied as she stood up. "I cooked so you two get clean up detail!" She grinned at them then headed for the lounge to do her usual exercise routine of T' Ai Chi, then watch television.  "Oh Alec try not to get too much water on the floor, remember bubble fights just make more work!"

               Ames did not get the reference and looked at Alec for an explanation since the quip was directed at him.

               Alec just rolled his eyes and nodded at Will, since his mouth was full of pancake and went on eating.

               The Transgenic and Familiar finally finished off their meal, both eating in silence and ignoring the other. They then sat for a minute or so letting their meal settle, before tackling the washing up.

               "What was Will's quip about?" Ames finally asked unable to keep his curiosity at bay any longer. Damn my curious streak! But I hate not knowing stuff!

               Alec just stood up and colleted the washing up and moved to the sink, placing the items on the work surface, he then removed a clean clothe from a drawer and looked at Ames. "She said that you wash I dry."

               Ames stood, removed his suit jacket placed it on the back of his chair and moved over to the sink, he then rolled up his shirt sleeves, his caduceus brand was clearly visible, turned on the faucet and began placing the washing up into the bowl, then he added some washing up liquid. Why am I calmly following her orders again?

               Alec shrugged and decided to answer. "After our second meal with Ray, which Will had cooked, well she decided to give us the clean up detail and she left us to it while she took a walk, well she returned to find us soaked, a bubble fight was a lot more fun than washing up!" He unthinkingly grinned at the Familiar, more relaxed now. "She made a bad pun that we were supposed to soak the dishes not ourselves and left again!"

               Ames just nodded. He really cares about Ray! I can hear it in his voice! He really enjoyed playing with him even though it ended up making more work! Ray loves him and it sounds like the feeling is mutual! Transgenics are very odd!

               The Familiar and Transgenic made short work of their chore, which they completed in silence and soon joined Will in the lounge, Alec had returned the sofa to being a couch and he and Ames joined Will who was lounging on it, having decided after a few minutes of T' Ai Chi that she couldn't be bothered with her exercise routine being pregnant with quads and all she would get back to it when she got home, she had to shift because each male wanted to sit next to her, Alec was on her left hand side and Ames on her right.

               Both automatically placed an arm around her shoulders then quickly withdrew them because they were touching each other.

               Will burst out laughing she was rewarded by glares from both of them, she rolled her eyes and curbed her laughter with an effort.

               "Alec you put your arm around my shoulders, Ames you put yours around my waist. There problem settled!" She ordered them sounding highly amused by their odd territorial reaction to her.

               Alec and Ames both thought about the suggestion then complied, and soon they were comfortably seated with their arms around the tiny female but being careful not to touch each other.

               They remained like that for over an hour as they watched television, then Ames' cell phone rang.

               "White!" He promptly answered it, tensing slightly worried that it might be a Familiar he relaxed when the other person replied he grinned at Will.

               Will mouthed Ray.

               Ames nodded smiling as he listened to his son happily chatter away about the tree house he and his siblings were designing and were going to build as soon as possible. Ray's phone was obviously on speaker because he could clearly hear other children prompting Ray with data on their planned tree house, he had definitely discerned thirty six other voices, he thought that their might even be more but it was hard to tell, so he assumed that they had friends round or that Will had other Transgenic families living with her or both.                          

               "Ray I just need to take care of something." Ames said then put his hand over the phone's mouthpiece. "I can hear at least thirty six other kids, so I can't let you speak to Ray and your kids in case they let something slip."

                Will and Alec both grinned at Ames.

               "It's okay Ames I adopted another thirty eight X kids in the last year." Will casually informed him. "And there are four other Transgenic families living on the farm, so all the kids you heard are family, Ray wouldn't call you with non kin present."

               "You heard her right!" Alec cheerfully confirmed. "Thirty eight more kids! She's certifiably insane! She's like the crazy lady with loads of cats except she collects kids!"

                Will punched Alec lightly on the stomach for that remark though she was still grinning. "Forty five of whom are part cat!" She quipped. "Forty five little kitties!"

               Alec groaned at the pun. "Oh Will that's bad!"              

               Ames ignored 494 and Will's bad quip and just looked at her in shock. "Thirty eight kids! Plus the eight you already had that's forty six and with quads that makes fifty!" His voice rose a pitch higher on the word fifty. She's definitely insane!              

               Will shrugged her right shoulder nonchalantly. "What can I say, I like cubs. Better start speaking to Ray again. I'll call them later it's yours and Ray's phone time now." She smiled at him tilting her head towards the phone.

               Ames nodded then put the phone on speaker anyway knowing that the two Transgenics would want to speak to his son and the other children. "Ray, I've got two people who are going to want to speak to you so I've put you on speaker." What the hell Ray love's 'em both for some reason!

               "Dad Mom said I can't speak to anyone but you!" Ray yelped worriedly.

               "It's okay honey!" Will immediately reassured him.

               "Mom?" Ray queried in shocked surprise.

               "Mom what are you doing with Ames, are you finally going to do what we want and get married?" A male voice obviously one of the X6's pounced.

               Will and Ames both turned and glared at Alec who held up his hands in surrender.

               "Hey kids stop asking them that! They're gonna kill me!" He whined to his nieces and nephews.

               "No we are not getting married!" Will growled still staring daggers at Alec.

               "But……." Ray piped up.

               "The subject is closed!" Ames snapped cutting his son off. Would someone please shoot me! No better yet I'll shoot 494! This marriage nonsense was all his stupid idea!

               Alec accurately reading the menace in both Will and Ames eyes pleaded with the children. "Kids please if you love me drop the subject! Otherwise they will kill me!"

               "Don't hurt Uncle Alec!" Two young girls immediately yelled in unison. "Please Mommy, Ames!" They pleaded sounding on the verge of tears.

               "Of course we won't hurt Alec!" Will swiftly and sincerely promised and then not so lightly whacked Ames on his chest to make him say the same.          

               "I won't harm him." Ames reluctantly promised still glaring at 494, though he just managed to sound sincere enough to convince the children. I've got agents for that! And Familiars! Heck I can still kill him myself!

               "So what are you doing with Ames?" An X6 female asked curiously.

                "We ran into each other last night." Will blandly replied a neutral expression on her face now that her children and nieces and nephews had dropped the marriage subject, even though she knew it was only a temporary reprieve, because her eight original children had managed to easily convince their new siblings and cousins, well the X6's and X8's and the older X9's anyway, of the merits of a match between Ames and herself.

               "Really, why are you still with him and Alec too?" The same X6 male as earlier interrogated.

               Will didn't know what to say, not sure why the Familiar hadn't arrested or killed her and Alec and why he had let Asia go, he was not at all acting in character. She looked at Ames for help.

               "She's in my custody." Ames blandly answered shrugging at Will. How the hell am I supposed to answer that when I don't know the answer myself!          

               "Yeah and no way was I leaving her alone with him!" Alec heatedly added forgetting that he had done just that when he went out earlier.          

               "Oh." Was the general response of the kids, there were sounds of whispering, but the adults couldn't make out what the children were saying because one of the enterprising children had muffled the phone.

               The adults looked at each other all obviously wondering what the children were up to, worried that they were going to start on about marriage again.

               "So ah Mom how are you?" A different older male voice asked hesitantly.

               Ames grinned realising what the kids wanted to know but were nervous of divulging with him there. Smart kids!

               "Ames knows kids and he knows that I've got forty six children already and that I have four Transgenic families living with me. I'm fine and so are the quads." Will responded smiling she and Alec had also immediately grasped what the kids were worried about.

               "You told Dad cool!" Ray yelled. "Isn't it great Dad I've got forty five siblings and I'm getting four baby brothers! And I've got four Aunts, three more Uncles and thirty two cousins and two of my Aunts are pregnant!"

               "Yes it's great news Ray!" Ames responded smiling at his son's obvious excitement. He's always wanted lots of family! He always wanted siblings now he's got forty five with four more on the way! Fifty kids! Sheesh rather Will than me! I even wanted to throttle Ray at times! Fifty children being annoying I'd definitely be loosing what little patience I have! Ray managed to push me to the limit a couple of times!

               "Mom since you told Dad about the babies and that I've got forty five siblings already, and thirty two cousins can they tell him their names, it's really hard not naming them when I'm telling Dad what we've been doing?" Ray asked beseechingly.

               "We don't mind him knowing are names Aunt Will we're willing to risk it!" A new X6 female informed them.

               "Yeah Mom!" An X8 male piped up. "Can we tell him our names please?"               

               Thirty nine of the other children also added their wish to tell Ames their names and those that did not speak obviously approved or they would have said something.

               "And I want to tell Dad my new first name, both the full version and the short one that you all call me!" Ray stubbornly announced.

               Ames stunned by the request looked at Will, as did Alec neither were going to make the mistake of telling Will what to do where her children or even the nieces and nephews were concerned not with her being hormonal and apt to hurt them.

               Will being the alpha at her farm always called the shots.

               Will looked from Ames to Alec and back to Ames shrugged her right shoulder and nodded. "Okay."            

               "Thanks Mom!" Ray yelled. "Okay Dad my new name's James but everyone calls me Jay!"

               Ames raised an eyebrow at Will who just shrugged her right shoulder and grinned at him.                               

                Alec rolled his eyes but refrained from making any comment.

               "That's nice Ray." Ames genuinely meaning it, suddenly remembered to respond. "I like both versions, take away the J and you get Ames." He grinned. She named him after me! It's too obvious a similarity for her not to have done so and you also get Jay as a shortened version! She could have chosen Jason for that!

               Will's nod and smile confirmed his suspicion.

               Ray laughed. "Yep! Okay tell Dad your names and ages, oldest to youngest!" He ordered his siblings and cousins. "Oh and who your parents or Mom is!"

               "He's a chip off the old block." Alec fondly quipped grinning.

               Ames smiled taking the quip as a compliment. That he is! I miss him! Least he's safe and happy!

               "I'm Bret, one of Mom's original kids, I'm nineteen you want my designation too?" Bret a male X6 pleasantly asked.

               "No, your names are your designations now." Ames responded without thinking obviously meaning it.

               Will and Alec both looked at him in astonishment.

               Ames just shrugged and mouthed Ray's siblings cousins. I actually mean it! I don't care what their designations were! Why?

               They just nodded at this still stunned.

               "Colt nineteen, my parents are Zari and Dan." The male X6 told Ames oblivious to the shock that Ames' answer had caused in Seattle.

                "I'm Nikalye eighteen, Will's." He told Ames.

                "I'm Saxon, I'm eighteen, Will's my Mom." Another male spoke up.

                 "Heath eighteen my parents are Zari and Dan." He stated.

                "Jubilee also eighteen, Will's." She stated sounding amused.

                "Martin, Michael eighteen clones Will's too." The two X6's stated in unison, even though clones rather than twins they shared a very strong psi bond and were always either speaking together or finishing each others sentences. Manticore had been very interested in this.

                "I'm Angel, eighteen my folks are Zia and Rocky." The female X6 stated.              

               "I'm Nikita seventeen and another of the kids you read to." She helpfully informed Ames.

               "I'm Paul, seventeen." The male X6 said. "Will's son."

              "And I'm Peter his clone."

               "He's seventeen too!" Ray needlessly piped up. "And my brother!"

               "That's stating the obvious Jay." Peter sarcastically told him.

               "So!" Jay stubbornly responded.              

               "Kids quit arguing, and finish telling Ames your names, we don't have all day." Will calmly but firmly ordered them.

               "Natasha seventeen. Will's daughter. " She stated as Peter and Jay kept silent following Will's order.

               "Natalia Natasha's twin."

               "Pierce, seventeen, Nailin and Tay's son."

               "I'm Reilly seventeen Zari and Dan's."

               "Sixteen and I'm called Frazer, Will is my Mom."

                "Tara Sixteen, Nailin and Tay are my folks."

               "I'm Cassidy, Sixteen another one that you read to." She told Ames obviously smiling.

               "I'm Cooper and ditto. Your Dad's bright Jay he knows what I mean!" Cooper sarcastically forestalled Jay as he was obviously about to speak. "If the person before you says the same stuff that applies to you just say your name and then ditto, he'll understand won't you Ames."

               "Yes Cooper I got that you're sixteen and also one of Will's original kids." Ames replied amused even though it was his son whose Cooper's sarcasm was directed at. Younger brothers can be very annoying!

                "Dad!" Ray whined. "You should be telling him not to be mean to me!"

               "Ray I love you, but you can be irritating and I also had an irritating younger brother so I sympathise with Cooper and Peter as well." Ames gently but firmly informed his son.

               "You do?" Ray asked in surprise. "You have a brother?"

               Ames stunned looked at Will.

               Will smiled at him, then leant in close and said quietly in his ear. "Said I wouldn't tell him."

               "Uh yeah." Ames replied to Ray's query. Damn it! Why'd I tell him that!

               "What's his name? Where is he?" Ray immediately started to interrogate his father.

               "Ray stop interrogating your father! I know you get the trait from him but it's very annoying." Will ordered him, but spoilt the affect because she sounded amused.

               "You said I have a cute glare just like Daddy!" Ray suddenly recalled. "Dad she like's your glare!"

               "Now all she needs is to like the rest of him! Then they can get married!" An X8 female cried obviously liking the idea.

               Both Will and Ames turned to glare at Alec again.

               "Alec." Will growled low in her throat.

               Alec raised his hands in surrender. "Kids you were telling Ames your names, ages and parents!" He forcefully reminded them

               "This is much more interesting!" Ray stubbornly stated.

               "Your Uncle's name is C.J.! He's insane and locked up!" Ames quickly answered Ray's earlier question hoping to distract him and the others from the marriage topic.

               "He's crazy! Like Murdoch in The A-Team! Cool! Can we break him out? Like Face does with Murdoch!" Ray cried. "Is he a pilot? Mom's a pilot!"

               Will burst out laughing at this, Alec decided it was safer to sit quietly.

               Ames rolled his eyes. "No Ray we can definitely not break him out, and he is not a pilot." He stated trying to remain patient. Spring that imbecile! ……. Will's a pilot?

               "Oh, hey you said he's locked up does he wear a strait jacket?" Ray curiously asked.

               "Jay if he's locked up and crazy he probably does, so lets get back on topic, 'cause Mom said not to take all day. I'm Griffin, sixteen, Will's son."  A male X6 stated getting the briefing back on track.

               "Okay Dad can tell me another time." Ray could be heard agreeing in the background.

               "I'm Rianne, Sixteen, Zia and Rocky's daughter."

               "Darcy Sixteen Zari and Dan's kid."

                "Jewel ditto."

               "Montanna fifthteen, I'll be sixteen in a couple of weeks" She stated sounding amused by her siblings antics. "Will's my Mom too.

               "Todd, fifthteen Will's."

               "I'm Tyler, ditto." Another male X6 echoed.                

                "Craig, ditto."

               "Nick fifthteen, Nailin and Tay's son." He sounded amused too.

                "Brooke fifthteen Zia and Rocky's daughter."

               "Josiah, fifthteen Will's."

                "Leia as in Princess Leia from Star Wars and ditto." She informed Ames.

                "Jeremiah, fifthteen, Zari and Dan's son."

               "I'm Jacob, I'm ten, Will's my Mom."

                "Chloe ten, Nailin and Tay's daughter."

                "I'm Lucy I'm ten my parents are Zari and Dan."

               "Harrison, I'm nine, I'll be ten in eighteen days Will's son."

               "Heather, nine oh ditto."

               "Hannibal ditto."

               "I turned some of the kids into twins and triplets." Will quietly explained to Ames with a shrug of her right shoulder.

               Ames nodded and grinned. Makes good sense, since a lot of them would be the same age.

               "I'm Bella I'm nine my parents are Zari and Dan."

               "I'm Charlie, ditto."

               "I'm Daniel, but everyone calls me Danny or Dan, nine." Danny informed him. "Oh and I liked the story….. Will's my Mom. "

               "Jarred I'm nine I'm Will's son too."

                "I'm Jack nine Nailin and Tay are my parents."

               "Emma, I'm eight Will's my Mom as well."

                "I'm Oscar, eight Zari and Dan's son." The X8 stated.

               "I'm Jay." Ray giggled not bothering to tell his dad his age because it was totally unnecessary and the others had grouched at him before. "Will's my Mom!"

               "Callie, my parents are Zia and Rocky and I'm eight."

               "I'm Mark, Will's my Mom! I just had my birthday I'm eight!" He proudly informed Ames.          

               "Happy birthday." Ames cheerfully and automatically responded. All those kids! And they're not done yet! Seventy eight okay so thirty two are nieces and nephews but sounds like they all hang out in Will's home! Will must be incredibly patient! Especially with twenty one teenagers in one house! Plus the twelve other teens! Hmmm well I suppose their military upbringing would help all she'd have to do is go into ranking mode……..

               "I'm Tom I'm seven almost eight Zari and Dan are my parents."

               "I'm Erin I'm seven, but it's my birthday next month!" She stated sounding as if she was grinning. "Will's my Mom!"

               "Ethaniel and ditto." A male X8 piped up.

                "Abby seven my Mom's Zia and my Dad's Rocky."

               "Perry and I'm seven and my birthday isn't for ages!" He moaned.

               "You can share the toys we get!" Ethaniel immediately offered.

               "Yeah!" Erin seconded.

               Not sharing does not occur to any of the Transgenic children because of their upbringing.

               "Perry is Mom's… Will's too." Nikalye helpfully added.  

               "I'm Robyn."

               "I'm Ryanne."

               "We're twins! Not clones!" They then simultaneously told him. "And we are seven! We liked your story!"

               "Carrie and my twin's Kara we are five, Zari is our Mommy and Dan is our Daddy." She firmly spoke for the both of them.

               "Say your name and age honey." Bret gently prompted one of his siblings.

               "Quinn, five." A quiet female voice came over the phone after a few moments.

               "She's Will's." Bret added.

                "I'm Jason I'm five!" He yelled not needing any encouragement. "Will's my Mommy!"                 

               "Toby five!" Another X9 male yelled and from the sounds over the phone he was jumping up and down. "Will's my Mommy too! Your turn Amy!"

                "Amy four, Nailin's my Mommy and Tay's my daddy!" She firmly stated.

                "Your turn Rob." Colt prompted his brother.

                "Robby." He quietly stated.

                "He's Robert Four Zari and Dan's son." Colt clarified.

               "Remy I'm four Will's my Mommy!" He yelled also bouncing around. "Your turn Xena!"

                "No!" Xena petulantly yelled.

               "She's four!" Jason told Ames. "She's Mommy's too! She's sulking 'cause we stopped playing to phone you!"

               "Am not!" Xena grouchily returned.

               "Nap time!" Cassidy ordered.

               Sounds of someone getting up and of a complaining child being taken out of the room for a nap.

                "Cassidy bad! Don't want nap! I hate you! Montanna bad!" Xena's complaints were cut off as a door closed.

               "Look I'll just give the names and ages for the other X9's, and the X10's, and the Bio's since they're asleep in the X nursery or their homes and you can't get much sense from 'em when they're awake anyway! Well those who can talk." Cooper sarcastically stated. "I can't be bothered to put 'em fully in age order… All these are Will's: Dean and Devon four on the eighteenth, they're twins. X10's are clones Coral and Crystal three and twins Darwin and Dashiell they're two." He quickly reeled off. "Cousins…. Jace's kids are Maxie two and Andy six months. Nailin and Tay's are Dax nineteen months and Sapphire seventeen months. Zari and Dan's are X9 Johnny three and X10 Benjy two and Zia and Rocky's kid is Tamara seventeen months."

               "Hi!" Ames said after a couple of moments silence unsure what to say to the youngsters, then inspiration struck. "So Will tells me that you've already started planning the nursery." I've probably hunted some of these kids! This is very weird but Ray loves 'em!

               "Yes sir and we've already started decorating the room next to Will's." Reilly excitedly informed him.

               "You have? I thought we agreed to wait until I got back." Will stated in a slightly sharp tone, her eyes narrowing at the news.

               "Well we did, but we ah… we decided to go ahead anyway!" Nikita started saying slowly hesitantly then rushed the sentence.

               Sounds of Montanna returning to the family room which doubled as a playroom because the original playroom was now a bedroom housing the youngest of Will's X kids.

               "Yeah we remembered that we had tins full and partially full of paint in the workshop from when we decorated the house after we got here and some of the cabins!" Ray excitedly told the adults not fazed by Will's tone. "We've got enough to paint the guest cabins too, remember when we wanted to decorate them and the others that you gave to our newest cousins, 'cause the painters just did them boring colours that they chose as part of the building price, after we did the other cabins, but you said we had to wait until after Christmas! Then we only got to paint those that were for the cousins, and not much then 'cause their parents wanted to decorate!"

               "Yes I remember and they will keep until I get home to supervise. Where's Jace?" Will asked wanting to yell at her sister, knowing that she was the scheduled adult to be in the compound.              

               The adults had decided that only one needed to remain in the compound at any given time, since it's difficult for X kids to actually injure themselves and the older ones automatically look out for the younger ones anyway. This allowed the others to work on the farm or in town and to visit the town for supplies or to act as chauffer to the younger children etcetera.

               "Andy's teething!" Robyn piped up.

               "So Jace is asleep in her place since she was up all night with Andy, who's decided he doesn't like his teething rings." Griffin helpfully filled in the blanks. "She can't figure out why he doesn't like 'em because Maxie was fine with 'em, she was muttering that maybe he gets it from his dad, 'cause they have different dad's. Oh yeah Mom, Maxie's finally hit her terrible two's!" 

             Jace must be X5-798, she was pregnant when she escaped, the child would be two so that must be Maxie…. Maxie? She named her after 452? Ames recalled the data on that Manticore fiasco.  Hmmm if she had another kid when Maxie was almost two he would be about the right age to have begun teething.

               "Mom don't be mad at her, we talked her into letting us decorate!" Bret quickly stood up for his aunt. "She's not as stubborn as you are and she was more worried about Andy and Maxie, than us doing some painting."

               "Should I go get her?" Ray helpfully offered.

               "No, let her sleep, she'll keep!" Will grouched not swayed in the least by Bret's defence.

               "You're grouchy again!" Ray stated happily pointing out the obvious. "She's been grouchy since she realised she was pregnant!" He informed his father and uncle.              

               "Yeah we'd noticed!" Alec replied and easily dodged the punch that Will threw at him, he hopped off the sofa and sat in an armchair.

                Will started to stand up obviously intent on hitting Alec, Ames gently but firmly pulled her back down.

               "Sit! Stay!" He ordered not thinking about his choice of words until she growled at him and barred her teeth, but she remained seated, glaring at him and Alec in turn.

                Alec had started having hysterics as soon as Ames spoke those ill chosen words.

               "Hey what's going on?" Angel queried and was echoed by the other older children, the X9's had become bored and started playing with their toys.

               Alec replied through his laughter. "Will didn't like my quip and threw a punch, I dodged and moved off the sofa, she was starting to come after me, but Ames grabbed her and you heard what he said, and Will's growl, well she bared her teeth at him to and she's seated but keeps glaring at us!"

               "You told Mom to sit and stay and you're still intact!" Saxon stated rhetorically shocked at this odd occurrence, as his siblings laughed as they pictured the scene. "She must like you!"  He remarked then joined in the laughter.

               Will sat sulking as Alec and the children continued to laugh, Ames was grinning, his arm still around her waist.                

               What is wrong with me! I actually like this family! The Conclave are definitely going to lock me up! Perhaps I should commit myself…………..  Ames thought as he listened to the children's and 494's laughter and looked at the sulking Will, who even though peeved at him was still in his embrace.                

               Alec took a couple of moments to regain control then he just sat on his armchair cocky grin on his face as he looked at his sulking and scowling sister. He saw that Ames' arm was still around her and raised an eyebrow at the Familiar grin vanishing. "Sitting comfortably?" He asked sarcastically not caring that the kids would hear.  

               "Yes thanks!" Ames replied as he grinned at 494.

               The kids stopped laughing and giggling at this they said nothing just listened to try and fathom out what was going on in Seattle.

               "Will you can move you know!" Alec told her sarcastically.

               "I'm comfortable!" She snapped back at him not budging from her seat.

               "Kids you said you started decorating, what exactly have you done?" Ames asked deciding to bring the conversation back on track and stop the argument that was starting, by distracting Will and 494. I am not going to play referee!

               Alec and Will just sat glaring at each other.

               The children realising that they would probably not find out what had occurred, why their Mom or Aunt and Uncle were arguing, decided to answer Ames' question.

               "Well we removed all the furniture yesterday and did some painting today." Bret stated.

               "Yeah, Bret's really good at drawing, so we got him to draw outlines on the walls that we could fill in." Natasha proudly informed Ames of her brother's artistic skill, Will and Alec had already seen his talent when they decorated the playroom and the four youngsters rooms, who followed Ray's lead in getting Bret to customize their walls with scenes. "He did the sketches yesterday."

               "Yeah Dad he drew a really cool castle!" Ray chipped in. "He put on flags and pennants and everything!"

               "And two dragons!" Danny added. "A red one flying and a black one on the ground!"

               "We like dragons!" Ryanne and Robyn informed Ames.

               "And unicorns!" Callie gleefully added. "Bret drew a whole load of unicorns playing in a meadow on the wall opposite the one with the castle and dragons on!"

               "And flying horses in the sky!" Jack added.            

               "And knights! He added in a joust!" Nick excitedly informed the adults.

               "But they are nice knights! They don't hurt the dragons!" Oscar was quick to add.

               "It sounds very nice." Ames replied obviously meaning it as he looked pointedly at Will then Alec.

               "I can't wait to see it!" Will told them smiling. "Sorry I grouched at you earlier."

               "That's okay Mom, we know it's just your hormones, since you, Nailin, Zia, Jace and Zari, warned us!" Jubilee told her speaking for all of the children.            

               Alec suddenly thought of something. "Kids you didn't use my room did you?"

               "Of course not!" Cooper replied sarcastically. "We used the lounge part of Mom's suite, just like she wanted."

               "Okay, okay just checking!" Alec hastily interrupted. "Though the new paint job sounds fun!"

               "We could paint your room after we finish the babies!" Ray replied excited by the prospect.

               "Ah thanks kids but no, it's perfect just the way it is." Alec quickly quashed the scheme, recalling what some of the kids rooms had looked like after he helped decorate them to their often weird taste.

               "Oh okay!" Ray replied not at all bothered by the negative reply. "Hey are you gonna come visit soon, you could come back with Mom."

               "Yeah we miss you Uncle Alec!" Robyn and Ryanne said in unison.

               "We hoped you'd come for Christmas." Colt added he knew Alec from Seattle.

               "You missed a great party!" Ray told him. "Mom even cooked turkeys, she's great Dad she'll cook meat even though she won't eat it because she's a vegetarian. And we had five trees, all with roots, one for each home and started a Christmas tree grove! We'll have more next year with nearly all the cabins in use! Only Jace and her kids, and Zari and Dan and their kids lived here at Christmas! Our other cousins moved here after Christmas."

               "We got presents!" Emma said gleefully. "I got a chemistry set!"

               Alec and Ames both gave Will an odd look upon hearing that.

               Will shrugged her right shoulder and grinned at them and quietly said. "It was top of her list, available and affordable."

               "Remember I told you that I got a remote control boat, we can play with it on the lake!" Ray ecstatically reminded his Dad. "Well after it's thawed! We skated on it! We played ice hockey that was really fun!"

               "I remember." Ames replied grinning at his son's enthusiasm. "That does sound like fun."

               "Uncle Alec come visit and Mom can teach you how to bake cakes and cookies, just like she promised." Cooper reminded him, cutting off talk of who got what gift because they would be there all day.

               "You can see the nursery for yourself then." Jarred added.

               "And the old wreck of a car that Mom, our Uncle Dan and Aunt Zari bought us X6's for Christmas, we just finished fixing it up and it's better than new!" Nikita proudly and excitedly informed him. "We share it with our new X6 cousins too and we might be getting another wreck to fix up too!"

               "Yeah, we turned it into a hot rod, like in Grease!" Colt added.

               "Bret even painted lightning on it!" Montanna informed him.             

               "Wow that all sounds great kids! But my visiting soon…. I don't know we'll have to see how things go." Alec replied obviously wishing he could visit.

               The sound of a door opening on the kids phone.

               "Hey kids why didn't you wake me earlier I need to start preparing dinner and you lot have chores to finish and school work." An adult female reminded them.  "Who are you talking too?"

               "Dad, Mom and Uncle Alec!" Ray informed her.

               "Together?" She asked shocked.

               "Yeah Aunt Jace and Ames knows about the quads, Mom told him." Cooper told her.

               "And Will let us tell him our names." Heath added.

               "Aunt Jace I'll take Maxie." Bret told her and took the youngster. "Hi ya Maxie!"

               "And I'll take Andy." Leia volunteered and did so.

               "Hi Jace, how's Andy?" Will asked in concern. "The kids said he's teething."             

               "Yeah, I put the gel on I got at the pharmacists, but he doesn't like his teething rings." Jace replied obviously at a loss. "All the others love their rings, but he just throws them at me!"               

               "Give him frozen waffles to teeth on, worked with Ray." Ames helpfully suggested. "He loved them."

               "I did?" Ray queried in surprise.

               "Yes." Ames replied grinning at the memory of a baby Ray gumming on a waffle.

               Will and Alec looked at him in surprise and there was an astonished silence from the phone as well.   

               "What can't I be helpful?" Ames asked in a slightly hurt tone. Can't win!            

               Will patted him as she smiled at him. "Of course and thanks for the suggestion, Jace will try it won't you."

               "Yes I will thank you Ames." Jace said a smile evident in her voice. "Will how are you and the babies?"

               "We're fine." Will told her smiling.

               "Yeah she is and apparently she's at least seven months pregnant!" Alec informed Jace and the children. "Being part wolf she could give birth at any time!"

               "Seven months!" Jace repeated shocked. "I looked like I had a water melon strapped to my waist at seven months with both Maxie and Andy! You don't look pregnant and you're carrying quads!"

               "Hey if you could drop at anytime it's a good job we started the nursery!" Cooper smugly stated.

               "Drop?" Alec queried wondering why Cooper had used the term in reference to Will and why he had not got growled or snarled at.

               Will realised this and grinned at him. "It's a perfectly fair term to use Alec if it's good enough to use for animals it's good enough for humans or mostly humans." She glanced at the clock. "Okay, we'll say goodbye now, let you carry on with your chores and decorating the nursery, I'll get home as soon as I can."

               "Mom please can Dad tell us a story first?" Ray pleaded.

               Will raised a querying eyebrow at Ames he nodded his agreement. "Okay but only a short one.

               Shouts of glee could be heard coming over the phone.

                "Okay kids settle down and I'll begin." Ames ordered. Here I go again!

               The children instantly obeyed and silence reigned in Canada.

               Will smiled at Ames then relaxed back into his embrace to listen to the story, Alec lounged in the armchair waiting to hear the story too.

               Thirty one minutes later

               Ames had finished telling his completely off the cuff story to Ray and a rapt audience of Transgenic children and adults and was thanked, with absolutely no prompting, by the delighted children.

               "Great story Ames!" Alec enthusiastically told him grinning.

               Ames rolled his eyes. Sheesh telling stories to the kids, Will and 798 is bad enough but 494 too!

               "Okay kids we really do have to go now." Will told her brood and nieces and nephews.

               "Bye Will, Alec, Ames and thank you for the tip and the story." Jace said obviously meaning it.                                            

               Will's newer older children and nieces and nephews all yelled a goodbye, her original kids all decided that they were going to be more personal.

               "Bye Mom, Dad Uncle Alec!" Ray yelled. "Thank you for telling us a cool story Dad!"             

                "Bye, bye Mommy, Uncle Alec, Ames!" Robyn and Ryanne chorused.

               "Bye, say bye Maxie!" Bret said.

               Maxie just giggled being in a good temper.

               "Good girl!" Bret proudly cried anyway because she had responded.

               "Bye!" Danny called.

               "Bye Seattle!" Cassidy chirped.

               "Bye Mom, babies, Uncle Alec, Ames." Nikita stated.             

               "Nik your nuts! The babies can't hear you!" Cooper sarcastically told his sister.

               "That's were you're wrong! Studies prove that babies are aware of external forces when in the womb, including sound!" Nikita heatedly replied.

               "Kids quit arguing!" Will snapped.

               "But Mom!" Nikita and Cooper whined in unison. 

               "Do as you mother says!" Ames ordered. "She does not need you stressing her in her condition!" Playing authority figure to them what next! Well I've already told them stories so this is mild in comparison!

               "Sorry Mom!" Nikita replied obviously meaning it.

               "Yeah me too! Bye Mom, Uncle Alec, Ames and sorry we didn't mean to stress her!" Cooper said contritely.

               "I know kids, but you have to be more careful of her while she's pregnant." Ames gently but firmly stated. "The nursery sounds great and I know that you'll make a good job of finishing it. Bye." He was clearly being absolutely sincere. This is weird, it feels natural playing father to them, I am definitely insane!

               "Bye kids and don't worry about it, Ames and I have been a little lax in the not arguing department too." Alec reassured them.

               "Yeah, Nik Coop you two were mild by comparison, these two were going to duel!" Will laughed.  "Guns at dawn!"

               That statement caused all the children to dissolve into fits of laughter.

               "Oh I wish I could've seen that!" Paul managed to get out through his laughter.

               "So please don't fret about it, no harm's been done! Oh guys no one must know about Ames okay it's a secret like Jay calling him." Will told her children and sister.

               "We already figured that Mom!" Cooper sarcastically told her. "Anything to do with Ames is a don't tell!"              

               Affirmatives to his statement could be heard in the background from the other kids and Jace.

               "Okay just reminding you! I love you all loads! Bye!" Will said and with that she casually switched off Ames' cell phone which he had been holding the entire time.

               Ames was shaking his head a bemused expression on his face. "Your place and those of your siblings must be bursting at the seams or do the X6's live in separate cabins?"

               "All the older X6's, sixteen and over do, mine and my siblings. Two boys share a two bedroom cabin and twelve boys share the original hands bunk house, since we don't need any. Two of the girls share the other two bed cabin and the other seven girls share the new bunk house I had built. Luckily all accommodation is near the main house. All in a two acre compound. The others are too young, but plan to move into the bunk house or a cabin when they hit fifthteen." Will casually informed him as she shrugged her right shoulder. "It's a large main house, and we converted the playroom. Plus the X kids are used to barracks and Ray seems to get a kick out of sharing."  

               "Are X6's and X8's a lot like X5's in personality?" Ames asked trying to find out about the sarcastic element he had noted in Cooper especially without upsetting Will. "I've never really talked to any." Oh nice going idiot! Of course you haven't talked to any X kids they tend to be quieter more inclined to see you as an authority figure and not answer back before you have 'em terminated! Will knows this and she'll yell at you! Wait a minute why am I thinking in the third bleeding person and why should I care if 378 yells at me!

               "You're too busy killing 'em!" Alec snarled glaring at Ames.

               "Alec settle down!" Will ordered glaring at her younger brother who pouted at her, but obeyed the order. Will had realised what Ames was really asking. "Yeah sarcasm is one of an X's more annoying family traits."

               "Hey it's endearing Will, endearing!" Alec replied actually meaning it.

               Will gave him a you are completely nuts look. "No Alec, sarcasm is an annoying never an endearing trait." She told him firmly.

               "Yes it's definitely annoying."  Ames added grinning at 494.

               "Yes and it seems to be a trait we have in common." Will sweetly told the Familiar.

               Ames turned to glare at Will she just patted his arm smiling then stood and stretched.

               "Play nice boys!" She ordered and went into the bathroom.

               "Geeez she's bossy!" Ames unthinkingly grouched.

               "Yeah!" Alec readily agreed then he grinned at Ames not being able to help himself he added. "Something else you two have in common!"

               Ames glared at him. "You're as bad as Ray!" He growled.            

               Alec realising where this train of thought had led, raised his hands. "Will'd be mad if you hurt me and you promised the kids including Ray that you wouldn't!" He hastily reminded the pissed off Familiar.

               "I lied." Ames silkily told him not moving a muscle just glaring at the Transgenic enjoying watching him squirm. This is fun!

               "Will would you hurry up, your boyfriend wants to kill me again!" Alec unwisely and non sarcastically yelled for assistance.

               Ames looked shocked at Alec's choice of words, killing the Transgenic dropped from his agenda for the moment as he sat stunned. Boyfriend! He called me his sister's boyfriend! And he wasn't being sarcastic either!                      

               Alec seeing that he had stunned Ames, for once decided that silence was a virtue that he should follow and kept at bay all the sarcastic jibes that where dying to escape.