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 3

               A few minutes later.

               "Damn!" Will yelled as her waters broke.

               Ames and Alec raced to the bathroom, Alec tried the door found it was locked so both he and Ames simultaneously and unthinkingly raised their right legs and were about to kick it in when it opened.

               "Call Asia!" Will ordered.

               Alec and Ames just looked at each other not moving legs still raised poised to kick.

               "Now! I'm part bleeding wolf, who knows how soon I'll whelp!" She yelled at them.

               "You're in labour?" Ames asked in shock finally lowering his right leg. I'm not playing midwife! 

               Alec also lowered his and just looked at her in stunned silence.          

               "Give the man a prize! Yes I'm in labour!" Will snarled . "Great! Just frelling great! I'm giving birth with only the aid of Laurel and bleeding Hardy!"

               Ames and Alec both glared at her not appreciating the comparison.

               Alec then moved away from them into the lounge he removed his cell phone and swiftly dialled, it kept ringing. "Come on Asia pick up the damn phone!" The others could clearly hear him.

               Ames unthinkingly grabbed her right hand, then wished he hadn't as she all but crushed his hand as she was hit by an incredibly powerful contraction.  Pain is a phantom of the mind!                     

               "You have reached the answering service for telephone number 29849483929484 please leave your message after the tone." The recorded female voice stated. "Beeeeeeeeeeep."

               "Lets get you into the bedroom!" Ames said retrieving his hand he unconsciously shook it and flexed it cracking the bones back into place, then without waiting for permission he picked Will up and carried her into their bedroom and gently placed her on the bed.

               "Asia it's Alec, we're at Will's old place get over here fast she's in labour!" Alec yelled into the phone then hung up and raced into the bedroom. "Ames what do we do!"

               "What?" Ames was momentarily startled at being asked. "Oh get an old blanket and some towels, a washing up bowl fill it one third of the way up with water, two would be better if there's another one, a flannel, a sharp knife, string and a bin liner no two." Geeez who'd have thought that dumb academy class would actually be useful! "Oh and some strong tape."

               "Strong tape?" Alec asked startled and nervous. "You really think that's going to be necessary?" He was looking nervously at his sister recalling what had happened at Jam Pony, how they had used tape to tie up Ames and the Phalanx team.

               Will was also looking a little nervous but said nothing, being too distracted.

               "Not to tie her up, to seal off the bin liners and tape up the diapers." Ames sarcastically replied rolling his eyes.

               Alec grinned at him sheepishly. "Well with you who can tell!"                           

               "Ames there's an old blanket and some towels in that closet." Will calmly told him pointing, hoping to forestall any argument or physical fight which she definitely did not need right now.

               "Right!" Alec replied getting the message and was gone in a flash to get the other items.

               Ames went over to the closet and retrieved some towels and a blanket. "Will shift over so I can put the blanket under you." He stated.

              She automatically did so. "This is not happening! this is not happening!" Will then started saying and kept repeating over and over again.

               I wish to hell it wasn't! Why didn't I take you in! Ames thought as he looked at her as he sorted out the blanket. Shit! She's clothed! "Will you need to get out of those jeans and your underwear!" He ordered. Damn it she's in labour! Why the hell am I having those dream flashes now! That's sick!

               Will looked at him blankly his order had shut her up, then she visibly got a grip of herself and grinned weakly at him, then quickly removed her boots, socks and sodden jeans.

               "Panties too, what you think I'm gonna jump you?" Ames queried in utter disbelief. She said she's telepathic with canines and mostly canines! Nah she'd have mentioned it if she saw those flashes! She'd have punched me! Or more probably kneed or kicked me in the groin! He reassured himself.

               "I'm not showing you mine 'til you show me yours!" Will stubbornly told him.

               Alec came into the room carrying all the requested items, he had heard them both. "Will do as he says you can't give birth with 'em on!" He sarcastically told her as he set down two empty washing up bowls, he planned to fill them in the bathroom, on the chest of drawers, and removed a knife from one pocket, it was wrapped in a clean clothe, two bin liners from another, and a ball of string and roll of masking tape from a third pocket.

               Will glared at both males, but knowing that they were right she removed her sodden panties. "Ames I don't care that he's Ray's grandfather I am going to kill Sandemann!" She snarled.

               Ames shrugged. "Fair enough." Look at her face! Hurry up and get here Asia! Stupid freak!

               "Ames, help me fill the bowls with water." Alec said as he left the room carry one of the bowls.

               "You'll be okay?" Ames automatically asked Will.

                "Yeah." She replied and nodded for emphasis.

                Ames picked up the other washing up bowl and swiftly moved into the bathroom.

                Alec returned a couple of moments later and gently set his bowl of warm water down on the chest of drawers, then sat on the bed and held Will's hand as they waited for Ames to return.

               Ames entered the bedroom after a couple of moments and placed the bowl of water he was carrying next to the other one.

               "Ames what do we do now?" Alec asked in a very worried tone as he just looked at Will.

               "Okay, we open out one of the bin liners and place it on the old blanket then we put a couple of towels on it and Will lies back down." Ames replied. "Will get up and walk around that can help."

               Will stood up and began walking around, while Ames and Alec sorted out the bed.

               "Owwwwwwww!" Will howled as another painful contraction racked her body.

               "Pain is a phantom of the mind!" Ames stupidly told her. Dumb! Really Dumb!

               Will forgot the pain and lunged for his throat snarling.

               Alec quickly grabbed her, mid leap, from behind and tightly but as gently as possible restrained the incensed female.

               "Will you are not going to kill him! I am not gonna deliver your kids by myself I need him!" Alec yelled at her. "You can kill him later!"

               Before Will could retort or throw off Alec with her bucking trick, her body was racked by another incredibly powerful contraction.              

               "She's going to give birth any minute!" Ames yelled in shock. I know she's part wolf but this is ridiculous! "Get on the bed and breath!" He demonstrated the technique. "You're part wolf panting should come naturally!"

               Will looked at him like he's nuts as Alec gently placed her on the bed.

                "Do as he says Will, it's what you have to do that's why it's in all the films and TV shows." Alec backed Ames up.

               "Breath!" Ames ordered again.

               "I've never been good at following orders, I always interpret 'em to suite me and my ideas always work better, why would I suddenly change the habit of a bleeding lifetime on your dumb orders!" Will yelled at them both. "So I am not panting, frelling wolf genes be damned!"

               "For once would you do as you are told!" Ames shouted back glaring at the stubborn female.

               "Will it's supposed to help with the pain!" Alec beseeched then got an idea.   "Will try biting on the leather thong that holds your ring pouch that's what they do on westerns." He added

               Will rolled her eyes at him. "The leather's too thin I'd easily bite through it!" She grouched.

               "Just pant!" Ames exasperated ordered again. Westerns! Geeez she's stubborn! Another trait in common! Stop thinking like that!

               Will realising that she was being stupid started panting because the next contraction had hit.

               "Ames what do we do!" Alec again cried as he looked at the Familiar in complete and utter desperation.

               Ames just ignored him and swiftly moved into the bathroom washed his hands and returned within moments, he had removed his jacket and gun complete with holster and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

               Alec was rubbing Will's lower back with one hand as he had seen done on television, Will was holding the other hand, he looked up as Ames re entered the room a panicked expression on his face.

               "Will I'm gonna see if any of the babies are crowning." Ames gently informed her. "494 pull out four drawers and line 'em to be used as cribs!" Okay playing midwife to a Transgenic is definitely not in either of my job descriptions!

               Alec pleased to have something to do that did not involve getting his hand crushed by Will, swiftly removed it from her grasp flexed it, winced then quickly obeyed Ames' directive and began making up the cribs.

               Ames moved into position and looked. She's crowning!

               "Well Ames?" Will asked beyond caring how embarrassing the situation was.

               "Wha.. Oh you're crowning, now on the next contraction I want you to give a big push! 494 be ready with a towel to wrap the baby in after you wash it in the warm water." Ames ordered after checking that the water had cooled to an appropriate level with his elbow.

               "Okay I'm ready." Alec stated he was calmer since Ames seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

               Another contraction started and Will pushed as she had been told to do.

               Ames gently caught the baby, made sure his mouth and nose were clear and swiftly picked up the knife cut the umbilical cord and before handing the child to Alec he gently whacked him on the bottom as had been done with Ray.

               "Waaaaaaaaa!" The baby let out a healthy sounding cry at this indignity.

               "Good lungs. 494 tie off the cord then gently wash him and wrap him in a towel and place him in a crib!" Ames ordered carefully placing the now quiet baby in Alec's arms then turned his attention back to Will.

               Alec did as he was instructed, handling the baby as if he were a live grenade, but still managing to swiftly and correctly perform his tasks, he had only just started gently washing the child when Will's next contraction came and Ames was holding the baby's identical twin. Ames swiftly repeated the actions he took with the baby's brother.

               "Waaaaaaaaa!" This baby also let out a healthy sounding cry.

               "Good lungs!" Ames again stated as he swiftly tied off the baby's umbilical cord and started gently washing him in the clean water of the other bowl, whilst Alec gently laid his charge in one of the makeshift cribs.

               "494 take him, Will you need to deliver the afterbirth!" Ames ordered placing the partly washed infant in 494's arms he then picked up the other bin liner.

               "How am I supposed to do that?" Will asked sarcastically.

               "You'll get another contraction and out it'll come." Ames calmly replied smiling at her before he hunkered back down between her legs.

               A moment later Will convulsed with another contraction and out came the afterbirth.

               Ames scanned it to see if it was intact if not it could mean a trip to the hospital. "It's intact!" He announced before placing it and the towel it had landed on in the bin liner. "That's good by the way!" He stood up and grinned at Will.

               Will lay back on the bed propped up by pillows, that Ames had arranged when he and Alec made it ready for the birth, they had a few minutes rest bite before Will's next contraction.

               In that time Alec quickly took out each washing up bowl of dirty water and after dumping them down the lavatory he rinsed each of them out, refilled them with warm water from the bath's faucets and returned to the bedroom with the second one just as Will started having contractions again.

               Seven and a half minutes later and all the babies had been born, bathed and placed in their makeshift cribs.            

               Will was fine, there were no problem with the births of the other two babies and their placenta was also intact.

               Ames collected eight of the large hand towels, from the storage closet, he then used the knife and quickly cut them all in half so that their were now sixteen squares and skilfully used tape to make four of them into diapers.

               Alec bought in the kitchen scales and he weighed each child before Ames examined them.

               "The first baby is 8lbs 2oz, second 8lbs 1oz, third 8lbs 2oz and the fourth is 8lbs 3oz." Alec informed his sister. "That's a total of 32lbs and 8ozs! Will how could you not notice all that extra weight gain?"               

               Will shrugged her right shoulder nonchalantly. "Easy, I'm not weight obsessed so I never weigh myself." She grinned at them then smiled tenderly at her sons. "And I've been to busy to pay attention to the weight gain, besides since it didn't affect me, why would I take any notice."

                Ames quickly checked each of the babies over whilst Will and Alec watched. He finished checking the last infant and gently placed him back in his crib.

               "They all look perfectly healthy, ten toes, eight fingers two thumbs, good hearing, they seem to have inherited yours Will and they appear to have good eyesight, they're already tracking movement." He smiled at them. This is extremely odd! I'm genuinely happy that the babies are okay!

               "That's brilliant!" Alec yelled grinning and was glared at by the other two for being noisy. "Sorry."

               Will's glare turned to a smile. "Thank you Ames, Alec." She gratefully told them then turned her attention back to her sons.

               All three adults watched the babies for a few minutes until each had fallen asleep. Each infant had a full head of dark brown hair that had a very slight curl they had blue eyes as did all newborns and both sets of twins looked so much alike that unless you looked closely you would assume that they were actually identical quads.           

               "I'm gonna go clean up." Will reluctantly and softly said as she stood up from the bed and headed for the shower.

               "Good idea." Ames told her as he placed the blood and muck covered towels and the old blanket into the bin liner along with the one they had put down to protect the bed, that had kept it perfectly clean.  Well that was novel! I hope The Conclave never finds out about this!

               "Ames I'll go dump that, you watch the babies, since you've experience." Alec said softly picking up the bin liner. "I'll also get some supplies I know what to get 'cause of hunting out stuff for Gem's baby girl."

               "Okay." Ames softly replied Gem? Must be an X5. Maybe the one that gave birth at Jam pony. She had a girl I think that idiot who employed 494 and 452 said.

               Alec headed out of the room,

               Ames then sat down cross legged on the floor and just watched the children sleep. I hope I never have to kill them……….. But if The Coming succeeds I'll make their deaths quick and painless!

               Will retuned a few minutes later, dressed in her short green pyjamas and sat on the floor next to Ames. "Thank you Ames."

               "For what?" Ames asked puzzled.

               "Taking control of the delivery, neither Alec or I had any clue what to do." Will replied.

               Ames shrugged and smiled at her. "What else could I do, I could hardly leave you could I?" Why? Why the hell didn't I just leave or better yet call in my agents!

               "So what now, I'm still in your custody so my sons are too." Will queried her eyes never leaving her children.

               "You and the babies travel back home in a few days with 494." Ames swiftly replied. "When you get home give Ray a hug from me."

               Will turned a dazzling smile on Ames and impulsively hugged him. "I will thank you Ames." She withdrew from the hug and happened to look at his shirt, her forehead creased in puzzlement.

               "What?" Ames asked as he looked down at his shirt he noticed the two damp patches and glanced at Will's pyjama shirt. "Your milk's come. It contains vital nutrients in the first couple of batches stuff to aid their immunity you need to feed the babies."

               Will's nostrils flared as she took in its scent. "Oh, it's actually milk the book said I'd get something called colostrum first… hmmm must be my wolf genes." Will replied as she looked at her chest. "I need two more breasts." She unthinkingly muttered aloud.           

               Ames ignored the comment since it was not meant to be heard and stood up. "I'll give you some privacy." He stated images of a four breasted Will running through his head. I need to take a shower! A cold one! Can say it's to get rid of the muck! He grabbed his overnight bag and holster and swiftly left the bedroom then entered the bathroom.

               Will gently woke up the two eldest twins and laid them on the bed then removed her shirt, she looked at them trying to figure out how to feed both at once, she sat next to them cross legged then scooped them up one laying on each arm their heads in her hands, she then placed them on her breasts feet tilted down.

               Will's memory had automatically flashed to images of children being breast fed and taken care off, after they had drank their fill she carefully laid one down and winded the other then switched over. She then placed them back into their cribs and woke the other two and since it seemed to work she followed the same procedure.

               As she fed her sons she nuzzled them, instinctively absorbing their scent, it was not until she put the second set of twins back in their cribs that she realised that her sons' scent was familiar, not her own scent that was to be expected but Ames as well.

               Will tried to reason the scent away as being from his handling of them and that his scent was strong in the room near the bed because he had slept in it, but she knew that while this might account for a slight cross contamination of scent she instinctively knew that those were not the answers, that she scented Ames on her sons as she had scented Sandemann on Ames in the woods over a year ago.

               Will was in a quandary, should she tell Ames what she had scented. After some deep thought she decided she could not risk her, their sons lives after all the two eldest children are always killed and so are all unsanctioned children. Their sons needed her protection more than Ames needed to know the truth. She would tell no one of her discovery not even Alec.

                She smiled lovingly at their sons who were all sleeping quite contentedly, and apart from the hair colour none of them resembled Ames yet, since they looked as all newborns do and as such did not resemble either herself or Ames.

               Will had realised something about the Familiar and why she had been happy to use him as a pillow, why she trusted him even though as he had pointed out he was the enemy. She finally acknowledged what she had felt the instant she saw him in the woods, what became stronger and deeper with each subsequent contact whether it was by phone or in person. She loved him and not as a sibling as she did with C.J. Her feelings were far stronger for him than they had been for her husband and she now realised that that was more of a puppy love.

               Another realisation that she could not share with Ames or anyone else. That she was in love with the father of five of her children. That she would protect him for love not because she was programmed to do so.

               Will had worked out, years ago, a myriad of ways to circumvent her programming if she absolutely had too. But now if it came down to a choice between Ames and a Transgenic, she knew that she would not allow Ames to be harmed that she would have to either knock out him or more probably the Transgenic and then face the guilt trip laid on her by her kin.

               Ames now dressed in black jeans and black roll neck top, gently knocked on the door and not thinking that Will would just have removed her pyjama shirt rather than unbuttoning it, he had paused only for a couple of moments before walking in.

               "Hey how did the feed……." Ames' quietly spoken query trailed off as he realised that Will was shirtless he caught only a quick glimpse of her breasts, before she hastily covered them, but it was enough they were now etched in his eidetic memory.

               Upon Ames entering the room, Will swiftly crossed her arms over her breasts, not caring that it was an obvious defensive posture, since even with her speed she knew that she would not get to her shirt and put it on in time. She silently glared at him realising that she had not been quick enough, her reflexes slowed because of her being preoccupied with her discoveries.

               Will was not as blasé as some of her siblings about being naked, because she had grown up with Lydecker's mores rather than the general Manticore attitude to nakedness. She had had to install the accepted attitude towards being naked in her children, before they drew attention to themselves.

               Ames finally raised his eyes from her arm covered chest and took in the Transgenic's stony faced glare. Oh hell! She's gonna kill me! Why'd I continue staring at her chest? She's just given birth to quads for heavens sake! She can't have sex yet……… What am I thinking she's a Transgenic! I kill them I don't bed them!

               "The feeding went fine thank you." Will replied frostily as soon as his eyes met hers.

               Ames glanced around the room, saw the discarded top on the bed swiftly walked over to it and picked it up, he then quickly walked over and handed it to Will without a word then turned his back on her.

               Will slipped on the top and stood up after seeing that their cubs had fallen asleep.

               Ames tensed slightly, back still to her, expecting an attack.

               Will just walked past him, picked up her discarded jeans and panties from the floor, then picked up her cell phone from the dressing table and quietly walked out of the room. She went into the bathroom and filled the bath then after swiftly emptying her jeans' pockets she put them and her panties into soak after she had added some of the washing powder that was there for the purpose, it was cheaper to hand wash than use a washing machine.

                Ames watched her leave and remained in that position as he waited for quite a few minutes getting himself back under control then he finally swiftly glanced at the babies and saw that they were peacefully sleeping so he left the bedroom.

               Will had settled down on the couch to watch television, she looked at Ames as he entered. "Where's Alec?" She asked no hostility in her voice at all and her expression was neutral.

               "He went to throw away the blanket and towels etcetera and then to find some items for the babies, he said he knew what to get because of Gem's daughter." Ames replied standing in the lounge's entrance not sure if he should get any closer.

               "Okay." Will responded with her one shoulder shrug and returned her attention to the James Bond film that was on the television. "You can sit down Ames Max told me that Familiar males get easily distracted by breasts."

               Ames couldn't help himself he laughed immediately getting the reference to Samuel, he sobered quickly though as he recalled the rest of that evenings events.

               Will looked at him puzzled then she also recalled the rest of the events that that was when Ames lost Ray, when he did not know if his son was dead or alive, she paled, thinking how she would have felt if one of her children adopted or birth had been kidnapped and might be dead. 

               "Ames I didn't think I'm sorry!" She looked what she was absolutely mortified. "I would never have purposely reminded you of that event, of your months of worry!"

               Ames just continued to stare at her, he had heard her and automatically absorbed what she said, but his mind was on that time and the months after it, then his memory replayed the phone call on his birthday and he relaxed and smiled at Will. She'd never use Ray against me!  "I know." He paused. "The crack about Familiar males was funny and deserved."

               Will relaxed and smiled at him and motioned for him to join her.               

               Ames still smiling took up her offer and swiftly moved to the couch and settled down beside her, he automatically put his arm around her waist as it had been earlier.

               Will sighed and unthinkingly relaxed into him.              

               Ames tightened his grip around her waist in response and in that comfortable position they watched the movie. This feels right! It shouldn't but it does!

               They were still together on the sofa two and a half hours later, they had both got up a few times to check on the quads and to change and play with them, they had moved the cubs into the living room complete with their cribs.

               They alternated between having the cubs laying happily in their arms as they talked to them and pulled faces at them, and lying in the cribs so that they had their hands free to jangle keys, play peek a boo, this little piggy went to market and the other games the Ames showed Will, that he had used to amuse Ray, the cubs enjoyed all of these and loved to grab hold of the keys and their parents fingers.

               They didn't talk beyond baby games and which ones had been Ray's favourite they were both focused upon entertaining the babies.

               They had just moved the cubs back into the bedroom for a nap and settled onto the sofa again, Ames with his arm about Will's waist and her leaning into him when Will's cell phone rang she picked it up from the coffee table.

               She listened before speaking.  "Hi Asia I'll open the door for you." Will hung up, stood and walked to the apartment's front door as soon as she smelt Asia outside she opened it.

               Ames had accompanied Will and he stood by the door gun drawn just in case. He had automatically put his holster back on after his shower.

               Asia hurried in and after Will had closed the door she swiftly hugged her.

               "Will how are you I just got Alec's message." Asia said worriedly as she released her hug and looked at Will.

               "I'm fine and so are the quads, Ames and Alec delivered them, luckily Ames knew exactly what to do." Will smiled at Ames who grinned back as he casually re holstered his weapon. "I've already fed them and they are fine."               

               "They are, he did, oh that's such a relief!" Asia replied. "There was a situation at T.C. I need to check the babies over and you."

               "Asia I understand, I know the situation remember." Will stated as she and Ames led Asia to the babies.

               Asia grinned when she saw the four contentedly sleeping babies in the drawer cribs.

               Will smiled as she and Ames both sat on the bed's side, feet on the floor to watch Asia.

               "Ames' idea." She stated nodding at the cribs. "Same thing with the makeshift diapers."

               Asia grinned at them both then returned her attention to the infants, she swiftly unpacked a stethoscope and other items from her bag and spent the next forty minutes carefully checking each child, she took blood from each to be checked in the lab.

               "Ames was right they are perfectly healthy babies and a very good weight." Asia paused and thought better on remarking about how Will had not recognized her increase in weight of over two stone. "I know that you sensed them because they are part wolf, but this is one of the few procedures that we decided to keep from Manticore."

               Will shrugged her right shoulder. "It's fine I figured that's why you were taking blood even though we already know that they are Transgenic."

               The babies, had seemingly inherited their mother's generally laid back temperament because they were unfazed by their examinations and blood tests and were happily lying in their cribs gurgling as Will pathed images of their siblings, all their kin, the ones she felt closest to anyway and the animals and farm to them. This kept them entertained so that she could be examined by Asia.

               Asia looked at Ames who smiled as he stood and left the room so that she could examine Will.

               "Alec's shopping." Will explained with a grin seeing that Asia had finally recalled the other Transgenic and was obviously wondering where he was.

               Thirty one minutes later. 

               After playing with the cubs, after Asia had examined her, they put the sleepy infants back into their cribs, from where they had been lying on the double bed in between the two women.     

               They then entered the lounge. Will automatically joined Ames on the sofa and Asia took an armchair.

               "I'm fine." Will automatically reassured Ames.

                Ames nodded smiling. She's fine great! Wait a minute why do I care about a freaks health? What is wrong with me!

               "Yes they all are you know you should consider a career change." Asia told the Familiar, not thinking of how her compliment could be taken by the agent.

               "Thanks for the compliment but hopefully that was a one off." Ames said a little forcefully but still smiling. She's forgotten who and what I am!

               "At least you were not the one giving birth!" Will told him with a glare then a horrible thought occurred to her. "What if this isn't a one off! What is it happens again!"

               "Then you'll cope and the children will be ecstatic at getting even more siblings." Ames calmly informed her as he unthinkingly began massaging her shoulders and back to relieve the tension that now filled her body. What did he do to her! Could she start giving birth every year until menopause, do Transgenics even get the menopause? If she does give birth every year will it always be multiples?! Wait a minute she's positive she was only pregnant for  four months! If so she could give birth three times a year! What the hell did that senile old fool do to her!

               This was a good move as the part wolf relaxed back into his hands and calmed herself down.  

               "I'd much rather just adopt some more X's." Will much more calmly stated.             

               "Will I have some news, apparently Dix and Luke found a whole load of coded Manticore files buried within other files, they found one with your designation on it and because you impressed them they have been working on decoding it for months!" Asia quickly relayed.

               "How near are they to breaking it?" Ames asked. Hidden encrypted files? Interesting!

               "Very! Within the next day or so! It's pretty degraded and data's missing." Asia cautioned.

               "We still might find something to explain how the hell I became pregnant and if it's likely to happen again!" Will replied agitatedly then relaxed back into Ames' massage with a contented sigh.

               "Yes we might! I'll bring the data over as soon as we have it." Asia stated as she stood up. "Oh don't worry that the babies sleep more than you're used to Ames, for some reason in the first year, well up until they start teething, Transgenic children sleep an awful lot."

               Ames nodded a thank you for the information. So it's a Transgenic trait? There's nothing unusual about them sleeping most of the time.

               Will grinned at that thinking of the bell incident with Lydecker. "Thanks Asia, we'll see you in a couple of days then." She replied as she reluctantly stood up and saw the transgenic out.

                Will swiftly returned and relaxed again as Ames automatically continued the massage. After about five minutes she looked at the clock it was after eight. "I hope Alec's alright."

               "Relax Will 494 has nine lives, he's as good at getting out of trouble as 452." Ames reassured her.  "If any of my people had caught him they would have called me! 494 and 452 are on my contact me immediately list!" Wait a minute I'm massaging a Transgenic and reassuring her! What the hell is wrong with me! Ames quickly stopped the massage placing his hands in his lap and moving slightly away from her so that their bodies no longer touched.                  

               Will turned around and grinned at him. "You remembered what I am huh." She said rhetorically in an amused tone.

               Ames glared at her. Damn it! Why didn't I cuff her and haul her and the babies in as soon as she left the shower! God! Not those dream flashes again! Picture something else! Hell! Stop picturing her in the blasted shower!              

               "Ames Earth to Ames come in please." Will said after a few moment of silence, still sounding amused.

              

               Come in please! Ames caught himself before he groaned at the sexual spin his mind automatically put on the words and he pulled himself together with an effort. "I'm going to get something to eat do you want anything?"             

               Will shrugged her right shoulder in bafflement at Ames' weird attitude. "Ah yeah thanks a toasted cheese sandwich would be good."

               "Okay, you stay right there I'll bring it in, milk or orange juice." Ames quickly replied. Need to put some distance between us!

               "Orange juice sounds great." Will answered still watching the Familiar curiously.

               Ames swiftly left the lounge for the kitchen without another word.

             Will shrugged again then stood up and went to remove the jeans and panties from the bath, placing them in the sink, she let out the water and rinsed out the bath then put in clean water and placed her jeans and panties back in the tub and swirled them about to help get the soap off, she then left them to soak and went into her room saw that the babies were happily sleeping and quietly returned to the lounge sat on the sofa and settled back to watch the television, it was another James Bond film, the channel was showing a marathon.

               In the kitchen Ames was taking his time with Will's toasted sandwich and his own none toasted ones. Where the hell is 494! I can't leave Will alone with four babies! I need to get out of here! I don't think straight when I'm around her! Where the hell is 494!

               A few minutes later Ames returned to the lounge carrying a tray containing two plates, one with two toasted cheese sandwiches for Will, the other with to non toasted cheese sandwiches for himself and two glasses of orange juice, he had put off returning for as long as he could manage without drawing Will's attention to the fact that he was avoiding her, hence the two lots of sandwiches for Will rather than the one that she had asked for.

               "Here. I'll just go look in on the kids." Ames said placing the tray on the coffee table and swiftly leaving for the bedroom before Will could reply. Man I'm a coward! But if I stay near her I might do something that I'd regret! Why didn't I take her in! How the hell did I get myself into this mess!

               All four babies where fine, sleeping quite peacefully unaware of their fathers' turmoil.

               Ames glared at them. Why couldn't you need changing or amusing! Damn! You are just like your mother! She never does what's normal for Transgenics and you are way to accommodating for babies! I don't care that Transgenic babies sleep a lot you need to sleep less! What am I saying! Only an idiot wants babies who won't sleep! Sleep bed hell, I'm gonna be sharing with 494! Well at least it's safer than sharing with Will, since she's decided I make a good pillow things could get out of hand! What the hell is wrong with me!

               A few minutes later Ames reluctantly returned to the lounge, Will looked at him a slightly worried expression on her face.

               "They're fine!" Ames hastily reassured her as he sat in an armchair. "One of them woke up and I had to settle him back to sleep." He lied convincingly.

               Will relaxed and smiled at him. "Thanks."

               Ames smiled at her and picked up one of his sandwiches and started eating, thereby halting any conversation that might have started. He ate very slowly methodically chewing each mouthful of cheese sandwich thirty times, Will absorbed in the movie did not notice.

               Ames finally finished his meal and glanced at the clock it was almost nine. Where the hell is 494! Okay I need a safe subject……… she hasn't named her sons yet. "So what are you going to call them?"

               Will smiled at him. "I've been racking my brains, I had to rename most of my kids some of the names they chose or were given were absolutely awful."

               Ames waited for her to continue, stopping himself just in time from suggesting names. I will not help name 'em! I'm attached enough to them as it is………Why the hell didn't I take her in?!

               "I like multiples to have names beginning with the same letter……. Probably got that from watching Star Wars." Will commented. "In birth order they are……. Kit; Kyle; Kieran and Kincaid."

               "They sound good." Ames replied smiling. "You can not have been left with much of a choice after already naming forty six kids and with all the others at your place, it limits your choices."              

               "Nope, there are not that many names that I like left unused, particularly because I gave my kids two middle names each just like I was given, Ray's are Matthew Robert." Will told him smiling.

               Ames nodded and continued to smile at her. "James Matthew Robert……. I like 'em!" Wonder what the surname is? She'll never tell me! She didn't even volunteer her two other given names!

               Will's smile turned to a grin. "Only Kieran has no sci-fi fantasy connections………. Kit is named after Kit Walker AKA the Phantom and K.I.T.T AKA Knight Industries Two Thousand from Knight Rider. Kyle for Kyle Valenti from Roswell and Kyle in Team Knight Rider and Kincaid for Cade Foster from First Wave,  Cade is short for Kincaid, also for John Kincaid from the War of the Worlds TV series…….. I could have used Kirk, from Star Trek or Kent as in Clark Kent Superman, I suppose to carry on the theme, but I preferred Kieran."            

               "So what are their two middle names?" Ames asked. Will she tell me?

               "Kit Stringfellow; as in Stringfellow Hawke from Airwolf, Magnum; as in Thomas Sullivan Magnum from Magnum P.I." Will stated grinning. "Kyle Sinclair; as in Commander Jeffrey Sinclair from Babylon 5, Marshall as in sheriff, but spelt with two ells not one."

                Ames burst out laughing at that.

                Will continued to grin as she named their other sons. "Kieran Starbuck; as in Lieutenant Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica, the original series, Murphy; as in Murphy Michaels from Remington Steele and Kincaid St. John; as in St. John Hawke from Airwolf, Murdoch; as in H.M. 'Howling Mad' Murdoch from The A-Team."

               Ames grinned at her as he ran through the names of her other children. "You choose names from television and film a lot don't you." He rhetorically stated.              

               Will grinned at him she answered anyway and shrugged her right shoulder. "Yep!"

               "So you watched The A-Team as a kid?" Ames queried curious at an X series being allowed to watch television.

               "Yeah everyone thought Deck was crazy, that it would give me ideas!" Will grinned. "You know because The A-Team were wanted, fugitives from the army, no respect for authority. Deck told 'em that I respected him just fine and watching some dumb show was not going to change that. He was the Director so no one argued after that." Will shrugged her right shoulder. "I watched loads of television and films as a kid."

               "Well since you didn't escape, did any of the shows give you ideas?" Ames asked grinning.

               Will laughed remembering, then after a few moments she answered but not the question as it was meant. "You know I kind of, did bug Deck about his name and I was even worse after the kids escaped….. Two of the colonels who hunted The A-Team were called Lynch and Decker…. Take away the N; C and H from Lynch add Decker and you get Lydecker! Deck was not amused!" Will grinned at him. "Poor guy I really was a pain!"

               Ames burst laughing then after a few minutes of them both laughing he asked again. "Was that the only idea that any of the shows gave you?"

               Will quit laughing too and grinned impishly at him and shook her head. "Deck wished he never let me watch Airwolf, Knight Rider and Street Hawk, because I kept bugging him for a helicopter capable of speeds of mach one and above, you could roll it, and shoot up into the atmosphere way higher than chasing aircraft could follow, and all the cool weaponry…." 

               "A car like K.I.T.T. you know able to think for it's self, drive it's self, have a cruising speed of three hundred miles per hour, pretty nearly indestructible etcetera and a cool motorbike like Street hawk, punch a button and you could make it back flip and it's cruising speed was two hundred miles per hour." Will stated sounding wistful, she then collected herself and grinned. "I tried using the how helpful such vehicles would be on missions argument but Deck just glared at me and threatened to take away my television and DVD player."

               Ames burst out laughing. "With your Star Wars obsession I'm surprised you didn't ask for a lightsabre."

               "I did." Will deadpanned.

               This set Ames off laughing again. I like her! I can't help it she makes me laugh so much! More than anyone I've ever met!

               Will just grinned and being reminded of her childhood, picked up her cell phone.  She swiftly punched in her home phone number, Transgenics did not leave numbers in their cell phones memories because it was a security risk, and as the phone was swiftly answered she put hers on speaker.

               "Hello." Jace said sounding a little harried.

               "Hi Jace, we're on speaker, just called to say I had the quads a couple of hours ago, about ten minutes after our phone conversation." Will told her sister.

               "You did, are you okay are they okay?" Jace asked in concern, noise of children in the background could be heard. "No I won't put it on speaker, your Mom need's her rest, I'll reiterate the conversation when we're done. This is not up for debate!" She used the tactic that Will occasionally resorted to and just as with Will it was successful.

               "Mom's been giving you lessons!" Ray could be heard whining in the background.

               Ames grinned at Will at his son's aggrieved statement and she grinned back at him and shrugged her right shoulder slightly.

               "Yes." Jace bluntly replied and turned her attention back to the phone. "So did Asia or any of the med types get there in time, don't tell Alec and Ames acted as midwives!"              

               "They did and thankfully Ames knew what he was doing and so the boys are fine." Will replied as she grinned at Ames.

               "Ames I'm so glad you were there then oh and you too Alec." Jace sincerely replied.

               "Alec went to get some supplies. Asia arrived a couple of hours later and checked the babies over they are perfectly healthy." Will informed her sister.

               "Will's fine too." Ames swiftly and reassuringly added.  Great now I'm reassuring 798 too!

               From the background in Canada. "What's going on has Mom had the babies!" Cooper demanded.

               "Yes and she and they are fine, Ames and Alec played midwives!" Jace informed the children who had her boxed in all of them were crowded around the phone in the kitchen.

               "Wow! Cool!" Ray yelled this was echoed by many voices.

               "I just named them." Will told them after the excitement on the other end had died down a bit. "I'll give you each child's full name. Their names in birth order are Kit Stringfellow Magnum; Kyle; Sinclair Marshall; Kieran Starbuck Murphy and Kincaid St. John Murdoch."

               Jace could be heard repeating the names and saying that they were in birth order. "That's great Will, I'll let you get some rest, I had a hard enough time giving birth to one let alone four. We'll finish up the nursery. Bye!" She hung up before Will could respond and before one of the children, most likely Cooper could take control of the phone.

               "Oh Ames since knowing that I have fifty kids makes me pretty easy to track down you might as well know my other names, well the middle ones. Blake Merlyn. Deck has a very warped sense of humour." Will rolled her eyes. "Probably where I get some of my quirkiness from!"

               Ames groaned getting her meaning. "Wilhelmina Blake, William Blake."

               "Don't ask!" Will warned him with a slight glare.

               Ames grinned at her and didn't heed the warning. "Do you write poetry?"              

               Will groaned and rolled her eyes. "No I don't write poetry. I wish I got a buck for every time some smart alec asked me that! Alec!" She glanced at the clock and saw that it was after nine. She quickly dialled Alec's cell phone. It rang for ages. "Come on Alec answer! C'mon answer the damn phone! " Nothing so she hung up looking extremely worried.

               "I'm sure he's fine." Ames told her again then his own cell phone rang, he answered it. "White!" He listened for a couple of minutes his eyes never leaving Will's. "I'll be right there." He hung up but did not move.

               "They caught him didn't they." Will stated calmly and rhetorically.            

               "Yes, he was running that's why he didn't answer." Ames replied just sitting there, not making a move to leave the armchair and return to N.S.A H.Q. as he had said he would. Damn! What do I do! I've wanted to get that freak for months, almost two years, now I wish Otto hadn't have caught him! What is wrong with me!               

               "You better go." Will calmly told him, the worry was gone from her face now that she knew for sure what had happened to Alec, her expression was completely neutral. "We'll be fine. Go do your job, just tell Alec that Asia turned up and that the babies are fine and tell him what I named them." She calmly ordered and swiftly stood and left the lounge for the bedroom, phone in hand.

               Ames looked after her for a few moments torn between his duty and wanting not to cause Will any pain, he then swiftly stood and grabbing his coat he left the apartment. Damn it!

             Twenty nine minutes later.

               N.S.A H.Q.

               Ames pulled up outside the newest location for his operation and after a couple of moments he got out of the car. 494 is in one of our cells, I should be ecstatic! What is wrong with me! Why does Will and her happiness or sorrow get to me! I can't be……….. No that's absurd! I must have damaged my head when she threw me and I hit that wall, just like she said! It'll have healed in a couple of days and I'll be back to my normal self! Okay need to act normally!

               He entered the building and saw Otto. "Good work." He sharply stated and walked swiftly past Otto before his second in command could start filling him in on pointless details.

               Ames quickly made his way to the surveillance area near the cells he walked over to the agent responsible for monitoring the prisoners.

               "Turn off the surveillance in 494's cell, we're going to have a little chat." He ordered a menacing grin upon his face. He turned on his heel and went to the cells knowing that his orders would be obeyed.

               Cell.

               Ames' mind flashed back to when he had Will in a cell and all the chains that Garcia had placed on her, including one attached to a metal collar around her neck the other end of the five foot long chain had been attached to a wall, because she had bitten one of the agents. He also recalled her quip and suddenly pictured her in that minuscule gold bikini. Damn it! Concentrate! On work! Not on sexy images of Will! 378!

               Ames swiftly entered the cell hoping that 494 would distract him. "Hello 494." He sardonically stated before closing the cell door.

               Alec was chained to the wall, in a star position wrists and ankles in cuffs on chains that were only one foot long and firmly bolted to the wall, allowing for only slight and ineffective movement and making Alec look like an actor in any scene out of any movie with a torture chamber or antiquated prison or more accurately dungeon.

               The type of restraint and position were as per Ames' standing orders for him and 452.

               Alec glared at the Familiar. "If you hurt Will or her kids I'll gut you!" He snarled as he struggled in his chains.

               "That's right 494, yell about your sister and her sons!" Ames snapped and moved closer to the Transgenic so that his face was mere inches from his. "The surveillance devices are switched off but the Ordinaries might still hear you." He told 494 silkily.

               "What do you care." Alec snarled remembering to keep his voice down.

               Ames ignored the question. "Relax 494 Will was phoning for help as I left." He calmly stated. Why am I not readying my people for an assault against us?

               "So you've readied a trap!" Alec snapped as he continued to glare at him.              

               "I should have!" Ames snapped back. "But you are loved by my son for some obscure reason and he wants to see you again, he wants you to accompany Will and the children back to her home. So you are going to do so, but the next time you are caught I will personally take great pleasure in killing you as slowly and painfully as possible." He ground out. If this gets out I'm dead! Or worse they'll put me in with C.J!

                Alec looked at him in shocked silence.

               "What's wrong 494 cat got your tongue?" Ames asked amused. I can still taunt the annoying freak!

               "You're going to let them free me, no tricks?" Alec asked not believing his ears.              

               Ames nodded slowly and glared at him. "Okay now until your freak friends show up I am going to interrogate you, we can't have anyone suspecting that I knew about the planned jail break." He ground out obviously hating what he was saying. "494 you are going to tell me where all the freak's safe houses are or I will make your death slow and painful rather than quick." He snarled at the transgenic. Okay now this is much more natural!

               "I'm not telling you anything White!" Alec yelled in return also preferring this kind of a conversation with Ames rather than his odd nice behaviour.

               They carried on like that until Mole burst into the cell thirteen minutes later.

               Mole swiftly let loose a shot from his sawn off shotgun.

               Ames was hit in the left shoulder and went down, playing more badly wounded than as a Familiar he was.

               Mole immediately moved over to Ames to finish off the job, he was smiling around his cigar stub, in happy anticipation

               "Leave him!" Alec swiftly ordered rattling his chains. "We need to get out of here fast! Will's alone with quads!"

               Mole swiftly and powerfully kicked the fallen Familiar on his shot shoulder and reluctantly left him, pulled the keys he'd grabbed from the surveillance area out of his jacket pocket and swiftly released Alec. "So heard you played midwife huh that must have been fun delivering four kids by yourself!"

               Asia had decided to keep Ames White's involvement with Will and her pregnancy and subsequent birth of the quads a secret. She was one of the few who knew that Will had adopted Ames' son, since it was decided that a medical person had to be fully informed just in case, and she knew that if all the Transgenics knew of her connection to Ames then The Conclave would surely hear of it and Will and her children would be in immediate danger, more so than they currently were as Transgenics.

               "Well Will did help a little." Alec quipped as he quickly led Mole from the room neither sparred a backwards glance for the injured Familiar.              

               They and the rest of the extraction team swiftly exited the building after Alec had grabbed his belongings and the bags of supplies that he had bought and which had been searched then the items stuffed haphazardly back into the bags.                

               The other members of the team had checked to see if there were any other prisoners, there were none. The team spilt up after a few minutes, each member went home and Alec hurriedly made his way back to Will's old apartment.

               Thirty one minutes later.

               Alec was just about to enter one of the apartment building's elevators he paused and used his cell phone to call Will. "Will I'm on my way up." He said then hung up.

               A few moments later.

               Alec swiftly entered the apartment after Will opened the door on scenting him he shut the door and engulfed Will in a huge hug. "You okay, are the babies okay?"

               Will returned the hug with equal measure. "Yes, Ames was going to tell you that Asia turned up and gave us the all clear."

               They moved into the lounge Alec had his right arm around her shoulders she had her left arm around his waist and they sat like that on the sofa.

               "Will I was a prisoner the only thing he could tell me before he started in on his interrogation was that you had phoned for help and that he wouldn't either trap the other Transgenics or stop my escaping." Alec told her still not believing what had happened.

               "He actually said that?" Will replied shocked at this revelation.

               "Oh yeah, and part of the deal is that I travel home with you 'cause Ray wants to see me and if I'm captured again he's gonna kill me nice and slow." Alec grinned at this. "So what else didn't Ames tell me?"

               "You're coming home with me great I was going to ask 'cause no way I can manage the babies on my own." Will stated obviously very relieved then she grinned. "Ames threatened you with a slow and painful death huh!"

               "Hey it's not funny!" Alec complained pouting.              

               Will still grinning ruffled his hair him. "No but I bet it made him feel a lot better!"

               Alec grinned at her not minding the hair ruffling for once. "Yeah it must have killed him having to let me escape!"

               "Yeah………. Oh I named the babies in birth order they are, Kit Stringfellow Magnum; Kyle Sinclair Marshall; Kieran Starbuck Murphy and Kincaid St. John Murdoch. That's the other thing that I asked Ames to mention." Will told her brother.

               "Kit; Kyle; Kieran and Kincaid. I like them and their middle names they're all good names." Alec genuinely stated smiling at his elder sister.

               "I had just come up with those and called home and told the kids, when Ames was called about your capture, so I sent him to work and called in a team." Will told him. "I didn't expect Ames to actually allow you to escape."              

               Alec shook his head at that. "Sheesh Ames is acting incredibly weird, you said he hit his head, must have given him brain damage because he has been acting weird since last night!"

               "What happened with your release?"

               Alec reiterated the whole story and Will just sat there listening until Alec finished then she questioned him.

               "Ames was shot, how bad?" She asked worriedly not thinking.

               "Relax Will, he was playing possum, he'll be fine, he would be even if he was only an Ordinary." Alec quickly reassured her.

               "I just need to hang up my clothes then I'll make you something to eat." Will told him then quickly went into the bathroom, before she did something dumb like tell him that Ames was the quads father and that she had fallen for him on first meeting.

               She swiftly wrung out her panties and jeans, being careful not to use too much strength so as not to render them un wearable, then hung them up to dry on the bar placed over the bath for just such a task, already with hangers on it. Then she went into the kitchen.

              Alec already in the kitchen, had unpacked the food that he had bought and placed what he had bought for his new nephews on the table for Will to see.

              Will swiftly made him up a cheese omelette then whilst Alec ate she admired what he had managed to obtain.

               Alec had almost finished eating, when the babies had awoken, he was about to leave his food to help Will. "Sound like they want feeding to I'll amuse to of them in the lounge whilst you feed the other two." He offered and stood up.                            

               "Finish your food Alec, then bring in two bowls of warm water, I already fed and played with them while I was waiting for news of your jail break. That's their I need changing cry, not the I'm hungry or I'm bored cry. I'll go amuse 'em you finish your food then come help." Will stated and swiftly left the kitchen.

                "Sure." Alec replied to her retreating back as the volume of crying increased by a couple of notches, he returned to his meal, not really that fazed that he had volunteered to help change his nephews. "First rule of the military never volunteer!" He quipped shaking his head at his folly.

                "Since when did you abide by rules!" Will cheerfully called from her bedroom and the sounds of gurgling happy babies could be heard.

                Alec was too busy eating to be bothered replying. A few minutes later he entered the bedroom carrying the baby items that he had swiftly replaced in their bags, he unpacked the two changing mats, wipes etcetera.

               Alec then picked up the washing up bowls, which they had decided to leave in the bedroom, they just used the sink with no bowl to do the washing up in, he went into the bathroom and filled one half full of warm water bought it in then returned to the bathroom and filled the other one. Both lots were a little hotter than needed so that they would be the correct temperature by the time each baby was ready to be bathed.

               "Okay so what do I do?" He asked as he hunkered down beside Will who was sitting cross legged in front of the makeshift cribs

               "I'll show you, just copy what I do." Will replied smiling at him.                         

               Alec was surprisingly good about helping Will and did not even try and run when she handed him Kieran first and he got a whiff of what was in the diaper, she then picked up Kit and showed Alec how to remove the diaper, then using one hand to gently hold  the baby's ankles, lifting him to remove the unwrapped diaper, then how to use the wipes to thoroughly clean the infant's bottom, and then how to gently bathe them and wash their hair and thoroughly dry them before she showed him how to put on and attach the clean diaper.

               Alec was a fast learner so they swiftly changed, bathed and dressed Kit and Kieran, then Alec got rid of the dirty water and they then picked up Kyle and Kincaid, Will changed Kincaid and Alec Kyle, they then bathed and dressed them.            

               The babies all enjoyed their baths and were gurgling away happily and drooling.

               Will and Alec then put away the other clothes and diapers, the diapers were not much different from those that Ames had made out of hand towels, since disposable diapers were no longer practical and as such were very expensive.

               Alec had managed to procure baby cream, wipes, lotion, two changing mats with bags and other essential items, as well as quite a bundle of baby clothes, one whole bag in fact.

               "Gem gave me the clothes her kid's outgrown 'em." Alec had told Will. "Well she gave me the gender neutral ones."

               Will smiled. "I'll have to call and thank her."

               They amused the babies until they fell asleep again then the adults went back into the lounge and Alec turned the sofa back into a bed, they swiftly made it up then lay on it and watch television, Alec has his arms around Will, she is comfortably sitting between his legs and leaning back on him.

               22:03pm.              

               There was a knock at the door, Will stood up and went to answer it, Alec unknowingly mimicking Ames position from earlier, stood ready with his revolver. Will got a whiff of the scent of the person outside the door and smiled in relief at Alec.

               "It's Ames!" She happily said as she opened the door.

               Ames hurried in carrying one small holdall and one large suitcase.

              Will quickly closed the door she and Ames just stood looking at each other.

               Alec lowered his gun and not saying a word turned on his heel and went to bed leaving his sister and the Familiar to it, whatever it was in their odd relationship. He was reserving judgement and making no comment upon his sister's strange behaviour in regards to the agent since Will obviously liked and was worried for the Familiar.

              Alec had also noticed Ames' use of Will in the cell and he had scanned his memories and realised that the Familiar almost always called Will, Will rather than 378, he did so unconsciously and he also seemed to have feelings for Will, Alec shrugged to himself, both of them were acting weird towards each other like neither considered the other to be an enemy, then he entered the bathroom.

               Will didn't think she just acted and leapt at Ames, he automatically dropped the bag and suitcase and easily caught her and she hugged him fiercely, though she was careful not to put any pressure on his left shoulder, telling Ames what he had guessed would happen that 494 had told her about his being shot.                

               "You're alright! Alec said that you'd been shot and were only playing possum but I was worried!" Will told him in relief obviously meaning every word.

               "I'm fine Will!" Ames told her laughing. "I've been shot so I get the next couple of days off, standard procedure, so I'm all yours for the next few days." Wow she was really worried about me!                              

               "Great!" Will replied smiling at him.              

               Ames gently set her back down and picked up his suitcase. "Here, Wendy kept all of Ray's old baby clothes and since I'm not likely to have any more children the quads might as well have them." He told her in a rush.  Why'd I get 'em when I stopped off to change and get some more clothes? Why'd I return?

               Will took the suitcase in stunned silence knowing full well that the quads were his children, she then recovered. "Thank you Ames." She said still smiling at him.

               "Well they were just taking up space at my apartment, not as much space as at the house." Ames replied shrugging obviously embarrassed by his sweet and thoughtful gesture he combed his right hand through his hair then as he realised that that was a nervous gesture he placed his hands in his coat pockets. "Ah the bag has some more clean clothes for me……. I'll be staying here." He said again. This is insane! I'm insane!

               They just stood in the hallway in complete silence just looking at each for the few minutes until.

               "Would you two just go to bed! Some of us are trying to sleep!" Alec hissed sarcastically from his bed not caring anymore if Will and Ames slept together if it meant that he could get some sleep.

               Will and Ames looked at each other and shrugged then quickly carrying the bags hurried through the living room and into the bedroom.

               Will glanced at their peacefully sleeping sons, then went into the bathroom and returned a few minutes later and got into the left side of the bed, which was the side where the drawer cribs had been placed upon the floor.

               Ames then went to the bathroom and soon returned wearing his black silk pyjama bottoms a bandage was upon his left shoulder over the bullet wound he swiftly got into the bed. Okay I am not going to make a pass at her she has just given birth, she is a Transgenic she is the enemy! Why the hell did I return! I can't seem to keep away from her! What the hell has she done to me!

               Will had not seen what he was wearing or the bandage because she was still watching their sons sleep she continued to ignore Ames as she lovingly watched their sons.

               Ames watched her as he shimmied down under the quilt and blankets. I'm a Familiar I have exceptional control over my body! I will not loose control! Even if she snuggles against me I will not embarrass myself! Oh hell not those damn dream flashes again! I am superior! I am superior! I am insane! Why the hell did I return! Sleep! Just sleep! He closed his eyes.

               When Will finally but reluctantly turned away from their sons she looked at Ames. "How's your shoulder?" She asked softly as she studied his face.            

               "It's fine." Ames softly answered but did not open his eyes he could feel her intense study of his face.  What's she looking at? Does she find me attractive? She does she said so this morning! Was it only this morning it feels like days ago! Oh hell! I never knew I had a masochistic streak! Why am I doing this to myself! I can't help myself I like feeling her next to me! Snuggling up to me! Ames opened his eyes and looked directly into hers. "It's the left one so if you want a pillow we'll have to trade places." He told her softly. I'm insane!

               Will glanced back down at the quads then smiled dazzlingly at Ames. "Even better, I'll be able to see them, if you don't mind sleeping on the side of the bed rather than the middle?" She softly queried.

               Ames smiled back at her. "No problem."

               "Okay." Will replied still smiling.

                Ames moved over in the bed narrowing the gap between them until he was right beside Will. "Will you need to move." What's she waiting for?

               "I know, but I'm not getting out of my nice warm bed." She firmly stated and even though she was on a narrow strip of bed she casually and swiftly manoeuvred herself onto her stomach then quickly rose onto her knees and then casually straddled Ames for a couple of moments, still under the blankets, she was careful to avoid touching his injured shoulder, then she completed the procedure and rolled off Ames so that she was now on his right hand side.

               She smiled at him at the stunned, shocked expression on his face then shimmied down rested her head on his chest, placed her body so that it was partly covering his and snuck her arm around his waist to the exact mirrored position of that morning. "Ames you can put your arms around me now." She told him sounding amused.

               Ames was not paying attention to her, he was to busy trying to control his body make it co operate and not embarrass him. She straddled me! How am I supposed to keep control when she does things like that! I thought our sleeping position was bad, but straddling me just because she didn't want to get out of a warm bed! ……….

               A few moments later and Ames' concentration had paid off and he put his arms around Will just as she was about to ask again.

               Will sighed contentedly as she snuggled into him and Ames unthinkingly echoed her sigh and tightened his grip. They both fell asleep immediately.

               3:31am.

               The quads started crying demanding to be fed Will and Ames awoke at the first cry and Will started too lactate a little as had happened earlier when her sons cried, as was normal for human mothers and would continue to happen when her sons cried for food until they were weaned. 

              Will moved off Ames and started to move to the right side of the bed to get out.

               Ames put out his hand he gently grabbed her by the arm and stayed her. "I'll get them you stay in bed." He ordered as he swiftly swung his legs over the side of the bed, placed his feet on the floor and crouched down beside the makeshift cribs, he quickly but gently picked up Kit and handed him to Will. She's topless! Concentrate!

               Will had shucked her shirt just before Ames handed her Kit, not caring anymore that he would see her breasts, knowing that he'd already caught a glimpse she knew that Familiar's also had eidetic memories, plus since Manticore did not exactly care about a Transgenic's privacy she had reverted to the not caring attitude she had adopted around Manticore medical personal etcetera basically the only, non Transgenic, person at Manticore who ever seemed to think that she should have privacy was Deck, besides Ames had seen a much more embarrassing sight when he delivered the quads.

               "Give me Kyle as well I can feed two at a time." Will calmly stated as she positioned Kit who immediately latched onto her nipple and began contentedly feeding.

               Ames did as she had asked and within moments Kyle joined his twin in happily feeding. Ames watched for a couple of moments then stood up and got his keys out of his trouser pocket and began jangling them above Kieran and Kincaid keeping them distracted until Will was ready to switch over. This feels so natural! Will bare breasted feeding the babies in front of me…… my distracting Kieran and Kincaid…….. I'm insane! But it feels so right!

                "If you want to ask me something Ames go ahead." Will casually told him reading a question in the looks he kept giving her.

               Ames was a little startled that she had read him. "Why the change of heart about being topless in front of me?"

               Will smiled at him. "You saw a much more embarrassing sight when you delivered the quads and besides you saw them already and with your eidetic memory, that was enough, so why should I bother trying to breastfeed with a shirt on."

               Ames grinned and nodded. She's right, one quick look at her breasts and they were etched in my memory.

               Will suddenly grinned and unable to stop herself quipped. "You and Ray are the only Familiars that I want to be this familiar with!" She thought to clarify. "Not that I'd go topless in front of Ray."

               Ames just groaned at the bad pun and they both reverted to a companionable silence.

               Ames winded Kit and Kieran after each child had drank their fill, he had automatically reached for Kit so that Will could wind Kyle and did the same after Will had fed the others, he winded Kieran while Will winded Kincaid.              

               After the babies had been fed and changed they still showed no signs of going back to sleep.

               After about six minutes of trying to ignore the quads so that they would sleep Ames who was sat next to Will his feet on the floor spoke.             

               "Walking sometimes worked with Ray or taking him for a drive but we don't have any baby seats so driving is out." Ames stated then crouched down and picked up Kyle and Kieran and started pacing, a baby laying quite contentedly in each arm.       

               Will hauled on her shirt and got out of bed she then quickly followed Ames' lead and started pacing with Kincaid and Kit.

               The pacing was having absolutely no effect, they had been walking for about twenty three minutes when they realised that the quads liked the movement that they found it simulating not sleep inducing.

               "This isn't working it's actually having the opposite effect to what we want." Will stated and she crouched down and put Kit and Kincaid back into their beds.

               "You're right." Ames agreed and followed suit with Kyle and Kieran. "We could wake 494 and you could each hold them while I drive."

               "We'll leave that as a last resort. I've an idea, something I've used to good effect with my other kids, I'll sing to them, there's a guitar in the lounge." Will replied and then swiftly left the bedroom and silently entered the lounge, she managed not to make a noise, as usual, until her foot hit one of Alec's haphazardly discarded cowboy boots.

               Alec opened his eyes at the slight sound. "Will?"

               "It's okay, I just fed the babies and they don't want to sleep, singing works on the X 9's and 10's so I'm gonna try that." Will softly informed him.

               Alec nodded and closed his eyes and was immediately asleep again.

              Will smiled tenderly at the sleeping Transgenic, then retrieved the guitar that one of the Transgenics had abandoned she swiftly made her way back into the bedroom, were Ames had just started trying to convince their sons that they should go back to sleep.

               "Look boys I know that wolves are kind of nocturnal but your mother, who has more wolf in her than you do, and I want to sleep, so what do you say huh, be good cubs and let us go back to sleep." Ames said trying to charm the babies who just gurgled at him and remained stubbornly awake. Damn! They're as stubborn as their mother! I'd hoped they'd take after their father! Whoever the heck that might be! Well that's assuming there is a father heaven knows what Father did to her since she got pregnant without sex! Damn stop thinking of that blasted dream!

               Will was standing in the doorway listening to Ames trying to reason with their sons and failing miserably, she was grinning.

               Ames looked at the door when he heard a slight snicker he had not heard Will return. He glared at her not appreciating being snickered at or her grin.

               Will finally properly entered the room and walked over to Ames her grin had turned to a smile, she placed the guitar on the floor then she sat down cross legged next to Ames without a word, she turned her smile from Ames to their sons.

               "They're as stubborn as you are." He grouchily informed her.

               "So you are always kind of grouchy when you first wake up, even if it takes a while to kick in." Will stated amused recalling her question from the previous morning she then shrugged her right shoulder. "Stubbornness can be a good trait, it's kept me alive." She blandly added.

               Ames ignored the remark about his grouchiness. "Yeah I suppose it can be. I'm stubborn too."

               "You are?" Will asked in mock surprise.            

               "Oh funny!" Ames said sarcastically then grinned at her, realising what a dumb comment it had been. Right like she hadn't noticed!  "You're going to have to get them used to a routine."

               "I know, but it'll have to wait until we get home, travelling and trying to keep to a feeding schedule won't work." Will replied smiling.                                      

               The babies seeing that they were no longer the centre of attention started crying again, Will and Ames quickly focused back on them and Will picked up the guitar and began to sing as she played 'My Rifle, My Pony and Me' From the western Rio Bravo.

"The sun is sinking in the west.

The cattle go down to the stream

The redwing settles in the nest

It's time for a cowboy to dream

Purple light in the canyons

That's where I long to be

With my three good companions

Just my rifle pony and me

Gonna hang my sombrero

From the limb of a tree

Coming home sweetheart darling

Just my rifle my pony and me

Just my rifle my pony and me

Whipoor Will in the willow

Sings a sweet melody

Riding to Amarillo

Just my rifle pony and me

No more cows to be roping

No more strays will I see

Round the bend she'll be waiting

For my rifle my pony and me

For my rifle my pony and me"

               Will finished and gently placed the guitar on the floor because the song had worked and all four infants were sound asleep. She and Ames smiled at each other then swiftly and quietly returned to their bed and their normal sleeping position. They did not speak not wanting to risk waking the babies, since they had just fallen asleep and as such would be easy to re awaken. The adults had quickly discovered, soon after the quads were born, that they had inherited their mother's acute wolf hearing.