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 4

               9:31am.

               Alec fully dressed in blue jeans and a black sweatshirt, and wearing black cowboy boots, a foot ware choice that he had acquired from Will, had heard the others up and about for a while. So he entered Will and Ames' room without knocking, wanting pancakes for breakfast again since he only got them when Will was around.

               Alec's attempts at making them for himself had failed miserably even with reading the recipe and getting Will to talk him through the procedure over the phone, he was too easily distracted and so they always ended up burning.

               Will and Ames had just finished feeding and winding the quads and were in the process of changing, bathing and dressing them, having got two bowls full of warm water from the bathroom they had already done Kit and Kyle and placed them back in their cribs. Will was pathing pictures to all her sons again to amuse them.

               "Will are you going to make panca………." Alec started asking his voice trailed off exactly as it had done the previous morning. He yelped and slammed his eyes shut.

               Will was shirtless still, being to busy to put her top back on after feeding the quads.

               Ames burst out laughing as he placed the now clothed Kincaid back into his crib.

               "Will put a bleeding top on!" Alec yelled mortified, his eyes still shut he had turned a bright red upon seeing Will's breasts.

               Ames was still laughing at the Transgenic's discomfort and embarrassment.

               Will ignored them both, finished dressing Kieran placed him in his crib and then retrieved her top from were it lay on the bed and put it on. "You can open your eyes now bro." She told him sounding amused she was grinning.

               Will then sat cross legged on the floor and jangled Ames' keys in one hand and hers in the other, the babies were all gurgling at this fun form of amusement, she was ignoring the adult males her sons were far more interesting.

               Alec opened his eyes and glared at his sister's back and at the laughing Familiar, his deep blush only just starting to recede.

               "What's wrong 494 never seen a pair of breasts before?" Ames taunted having stopped laughing he was grinning at the Transgenic, conveniently forgetting his own reaction to those same breasts the day before.

               "Yes! But not my sisters!" Alec yelled at him. "Her being bare breasted in front of you is fine but she's my sister! Even with our odd up bringing I know that after a sister gets breasts you can't see her topless anymore!"

               "So you don't mind my looking at her breasts." Ames stated rhetorically still grinning enjoying winding up 494. That's good they're very nice to look at……… Stop thinking stuff like that!

               "What!" Alec shouted then swiftly ran through what he had previously said. "I didn't mean it like that! I meant that it's okay for an unrelated adult male to see her breasts! Not you in particular!"

               "As riveting as this conversation is, I'm going to shower then make breakfast, pancakes, you two amuse the cubs." Will ordered sounding amused rather than annoyed at their topic of conversation.

               She then stood and casually walked past the too stunned males who had both completely forgotten her presence, picked up her wash bag, bra and shirt, her panties and jeans were already in the bathroom so she did not need to grab a new pair of panties, she then swiftly left the bedroom.

               "Damn I forgot she was there!" Alec moaned then brightened and grinned at Ames. "Good job it was Will not Max! Max would have seriously hurt us!"

               "So you see 452 as a sister as well?" Ames asked grinning back at 494, unable to keep his curiosity at bay. "Wasn't she you breeding partner?" Most females would have hit us! Will is very strange!

               "What…. no I've never seen Max as my sister, more of an irritant a very bossy irritant." Alec honestly replied shrugging. "Yeah she was my assigned partner, not that anything happened she uh threatened me with violence if I tried anything! Max is very prone to hitting!"

               "Couldn't say I've really noticed her being all that different from other freaks, well excluding Will, though she does tend to be incredibly sarcastic on our meetings."  Ames stated forgetting for a minute exactly who he was talking to and who and what 494 and 452 were. 

               "Oh yeah Max is very sarcastic!" Alec readily agreed, not bothered by Ames' talk of work for once, as he hunkered down beside the quads cribs grabbed both sets of keys placing them in his pocket and picked up Kit and Kincaid. "Lets take 'em into the lounge, we can all watch TV."

               "Good idea." Ames stated as he followed suit and picked up Kieran and Kyle, Ames was still only clothed in his black silk pyjama bottoms.  

               The two adult males swiftly carried the four babies into the lounge and placed them onto the sofa which was still in it's bed position, they placed all four babies into the dead centre of the sofa bed then each took a side and lay on it. 

               Alec used the remote to flip on the television and channel hopped until he found an episode of The Rockford Files, it was just at the end of the intro credits. He then took out the keys and looked at them. "Which ones are yours?"

               "The ones with Bugs Bunny on the key ring." Ames casually replied glancing at the Transgenic's hand, then he turned his attention back to making faces at the quads. This is nice……. 494 can actually behave, not be annoying or sarcastic……. Stop it! He is the enemy! Stop liking Will's family! Hell! Liking the kids is bad enough but liking her brother 494 the second largest thorn in my side next to 452…….. I am definitely loosing it!

               "Let me guess a gift from Ray right?" Alec queried smiling as he held the keys out to the Familiar who was still amusing his nephews by pulling faces at them.

               Ames glanced at him and took his keys and started to jangle them over the quads. "Yes." He grinned. "I like Bugs Bunny." He unthinkingly added. Why'd you tell him that! Idiot!

               "I'd have thought that Yosemite Sam would be more your style." Alec quipped as he too jangled keys, Will's and his own above the youngsters.

               "The temper you mean?" Ames asked in a surprisingly even tone his attention still focused upon amusing the babies.

               "Well uh yeah." Alec replied being cautious for once.

               Ames looked at him and shrugged. "I like Bugs' sarcasm and his ability to always get his own way." He grinned. Having a civil conversation with 494 is weird!

               "I wonder why." Will stated rhetorically sounding highly amused.

               Both males jumped and turned to glare at her, looking over the back of the sofa bed, neither had heard her approach.              

               Will burst out laughing at their identical expressions, then quietened and walked further into the room and stood by the side of the sofa bed next to Ames and watched her sons.

               "We should bell you!" Ames grouched. Damn annoying freak! Always sneaking up on me!

               Alec shook his head. "Legend at Manticore said that Deck tried that…. She let him put a bell around her neck when she was really little then proceeded to drive him nuts by running around the house in the middle of the night, all night, with the bell clanging! After three nights of hardly getting any sleep Deck removed the bell."

               Ames looked at Will in astonishment. "Is that true?"

              Will grinned and shrugged her right shoulder. "Yeah poor Deck I drove him crazy."

               Alec grinned. "We all loved that story."         

               Will nodded at him grin still in evidence. "They're going to sleep we need to put them to bed." She stated as she returned her attention to her sons and lent over Ames to pick up Kit.

               "You make our pancakes we'll put them down." Ames ordered then visibly winced at his choice of words and what the other meaning of that phrase meant.

               Will straightened up and patted Ames on his right shoulder in a friendly gesture, deciding against ruffling his hair, not bothered by what he had just said, even though she also knew the other meaning of the phrase, as in to euthanaise an animal.

               "I knew what you meant, okay I'll make up some pancakes, you put the babies down, then you better get dressed Ames unless you plan to spend all day in your pyjamas." Will said sounding amused then moved into the kitchen without waiting for a reply.

               Ames just sat there stunned that she had not had a bad reaction to his poor choice of words since he had got a growl and bared teeth when he had unthinkingly told her to sit and stay.

               "See what I mean?" Alec asked as he gently scooped up Kyle and Kieran. "If these had been Max's and you had said that, she'd have taken it the wrong way and you'd be dead." He paused and looked at the unmoving Familiar. "Ames you need to pick up Kit and Kincaid, if you don't they might roll off the bed when I take Kieran and Kyle for their nap."

               Ames finally moved and gently picked up the two babies. "Okay lets lay them down." He said firmly purposefully rephrasing and swiftly stood and carried the babies out of the lounge.

               Alec followed and they quickly entered the bedroom and placed the babies in their cribs, Ames then grabbed his things and headed for the shower whilst Alec decided to stay and watch his nephews as they swiftly fell asleep, he lounged on the bed and just watched them until his nose told him that the pancakes were done then he swiftly and quietly made his way into the kitchen, just a few paces behind Ames who was dressed in his black jeans and black roll neck top from yesterday.              

               They had eaten breakfast then moved into the lounge and after converting the bed back to a sofa they had started to watch the television, they were seated as yesterday all on the sofa, Alec with his arm around Will's shoulders and Ames with his around her waist and as before they were careful not to touch each other.

               There had been a slight argument between Alec and Ames over what to watch, Will had settled the argument by telling them that she was watching Babylon 5 and since it was her who had just yesterday given birth to quads she was not in the mood to argue. That statement shut up both males since they had no good counter arguments.

               They had watched Babylon 5 then went into the bedroom and all three sat on the super king size bed, Will at the foot as Alec and Ames on either side with the cubs in the centre while they amused them with games, keys, fingers and puppets. They did this until the cubs started to fall asleep then they gently placed them into the cribs and

went back into the lounge. They then watched Farscape but could not find anything else on the television that any of them really wanted to watch.

               "Hey we left some board games here." Alec remembered and went to get them from the bedroom before either of the others could comment.

               "Board games?" Ames queried Will with a raised eyebrow.

               Will shrugged her right shoulder. "Yeah Alec's developed a passion for them."

               "Oh great!" Ames sarcastically replied. "Just how I wanted to spend my two days off, playing board games with a freak!" How'd I get myself into this mess?

               "No one asked you to stay Ames!" Alec retorted as he entered the room carrying a stack of games and a huge dictionary which he quickly set on the coffee table.

               Ames glared at him and opened his mouth to reply.

               "Quiet the pair of you!" Will hissed glaring at both. "You'll wake the cubs!"

               Alec glared at Ames, but kept quiet and quickly and quietly dragged an armchair over and sat in it, he then began going through the selection of board games.

               Ames also dropped the argument but kept glaring at 494.

               Will was looking at the games. "Scrabble." She stated and picked up the box. "Alec put the others on the floor, we'll play this first." She ordered. "Leave the dictionary where it is."

               Alec grinned and complied. "Then Monopoly."

               "Yeah, then Monopoly." Will readily agreed as she placed the revolving board on the table and got out the letter stands. "Good, there's already some paper and a pen in here. I'll keep score."

               "What don't you trust us?" Ames asked in a hurt tone.

               Will smiled at him and shrugged her shoulder but did not speak.

               "It's a control thing." Alec informed the Familiar. "She's not as bad as Max but she does have her moments."

               "Right and who always has to be banker in Monopoly." Will stated rhetorically rolling her eyes.

               "Hey it's how I was made!" Alec whined in response grinning with his hands raised.

               Ames had got his letter whilst the siblings were bantering. "Would you two hurry up and choose your letter to see who goes first." He ordered. Geeez they're irritating at times! Why haven't I killed them yet?

               "You know Ames you sound a lot like Logan." Alec sarcastically informed him as he took a letter from the bag. "Must be an age thing."

               Ames glared at him as Will picked out a letter. "Yes it is, a sign of maturity something you know very little about!" I am not old! Stupid kid!

               "I've got an 'I'" Will firmly stated with a glare, halting any retort that Alec had planned to make.

               "M" Ames stated placing it on the board.

               Alec grinned at them. "I got a 'D' so I go first." He reached for the letters bag and put his back in.

               Ames and Will followed suit then Alec took out seven letters, then Will and lastly Ames.           

               Will then divided a piece of paper into three columns and put Alec at the top of the first, then Will in the second column and Ames in the last, she then underscored the names.

               Alec studied his letters for a few moments then grinned and placed QUARTZ on the board. "That's sixty eight points please Will." He got out six new letters.

                Will wrote down his score and then after a glance at her letters placed down her word adding HIN to the T to get HINT "Okay that's fourteen points." She said as she wrote down her score then took three new letters.

               Ames put down two O's on the Z to make ZOO . "Twelve points." He got his two letters.

               Will jotted that down.

               Alec looked at the board a moment then Using the I in HINT placed down WIRRA. "Eighteen."

               "That is not a word!" Ames objected loudly and grabbed the dictionary.

               "Yes it is it means to sorrow or lament." Alec told him grinning smugly as he collected his four new letters.

                Will looked at Ames and shrugged her right shoulder. "He's right I've heard it, it's Irish."

               Ames looked up from the dictionary a scowl on his face as he retuned it to the coffee table. "You're both right."

               "Okay it's my turn, quiet let me think." She ordered to forestall any comments from Alec that were likely to annoy the Familiar. She thought up a word, she did not have very good letters, and smiled at Ames as she said. "RAY fourteen points." Then finally placed down the A and Y on the R in QUARTZ and wrote it down then got her two new letters.

               Ames studied the board and kept his scowl. "Damn I've decent letters but nowhere to put them I'll just have to do this word." He huffed and put down DICKY using the Y in RAY. "It's nautical for an officer acting in commission." He stated expecting an argument he grabbed the dictionary.

               "It's okay Ames I know you're right." Will told him smiling as she wrote down his nineteen points.

               "Yep me too!" Alec added grinning at the surprised expression on the Familiar's face. "Military upbringing remember Manticore loved filling our heads with that type of useless information."

               Ames grinned in response and put the dictionary down and collected his four new letters. "Yeah my school excelled at that too! Damn! I've got a 'U' now that I've blocked in the 'Q' that's flaming typical!" 494's winning!

               "Yeah." Will agreed and consolingly patted his arm.

               Alec ignored them as he looked at the board then studied his letters. "KITE nine." He said as he placed the I, T and E on the board then retrieved three letters.

               Will grinned as she wrote it down, then immediately placed her own word on the board, she added an 'S' to KITE to make KITES, then put POIL with the 'S' to make SPOIL. "Okay that makes Twenty two." She jotted it down and got her five letters.

               Ames glared at his letters then put down VANS, adding the 'S' onto SPOIL to make SPOILS. "Twenty two." He grouched and picked up four new letters. Damn 494's still in the lead! Least I'm second!

               Will wrote down twenty two.

               "GAP nine." Alec stated and got two letters, he had used the A in VANS.

               Will wrote down nine then studied the board and her letters for a few moments then put down G, A, and A using the 'L' in SPOILS to make GALA and the 'N' in VANS to make GALA and AN. "Fourteen." She stated as she wrote it down then retrieved her letters.

               Ames glared at her. "Could you be helpful and spread the blinking words out!" He grouched.

               Will smiled sweetly and unrepentantly at him. "Sorry."

               Ames looked at the board scowling.  I am superior I should be able to beat a pair of freaks! Why the heck am I playing Scrabble with 'em I should have them in irons and be interrogating them! Why did I let 494 escape! He suddenly spotted  a word and put it down grinning evilly at the two Transgenics. MURDER.  He used the first R in WIRRA. "Eighteen."

               Will and Alec both burst out laughing, Will managed to jot down eighteen in between laughing.

               Ames rolled his eyes and collected five new letters. They have a weird sense of humour! Then he recalled some of his own quips. Hmmm maybe not so weird after all. I bet they would find my humpback violating a dolphin and you end up with a beluga funny! Even if it is about not mixing species!

               Alec realising that it was now his turn still laughing looked at the board then decides to put down the word that he had planned already JOINT using the T in KITES. "Twelve." He stated and got four new letters.

               Will had composed herself, she wrote down twelve then studied the board and realised that Alec had missed using the triple word score that Ames had helpfully opened up, she could only put down 'A' and 'Y' to make MAY but it gained her twenty four points which she wrote down then collected her two letters.

               "Ah frell! I didn't see that triple!" Alec whined pouting.

               Will and Ames both grinned at him.

               "Should have been paying attention instead of laughing." Ames smugly pointed out before returning his attention to his letters and the board. GUILER he placed it down using the first R in MURDER, then stated. "A deceiver eight points." And picked up the letter bag.

               "Not so fast!" Alec told him as he picked up the dictionary and quickly checked. "Well he's right….. well I guess you would know all the terms for a deceiver."

               Ames glared at 494 as he got his five letters, he was about to retort when Will spoke as she wrote down his score.

               "Alec quit being a hypocrite, Ames don't rise to his bait!" She firmly ordered. "Gee I just love these nice family board games everyone ends up wanting to kill each other or remembering that they want to kill each other." She drolly stated. "Alec it's your turn."

               Both males looked at her then at each other and shrugged and turned their focus back to winning the game.

               JILT Alec put using the J in JOINT. "Eleven." He stated and picked out three letters.

               Will jotted that down then put down her word TEEM using the T in JILT. "To give birth, eighteen points." She stated as she wrote down her score then collected her letters.

               Alec scanned the dictionary again he slammed it shut. "It's correct." He confirmed.

               "I knew that already!" Ames told him smugly as he looked at the board not even bothering to glance at 494. WAG he placed on the board on a triple word square adding at W and A to the G in GUILER. "Twenty one." He stated as he got his two letters, while Will wrote it down. Damn it I'm still last!

               Alec immediately put down VEIL, using the I in JILT. "Fourteen." He got his letters.

               Will wrote down fourteen then swiftly placed BONE on the board, using the E in VEIL, gaining twelve points which she wrote down.

               "Feeling hungry huh sis." Alec quipped grinning at her.

               "She's vegetarian or was." Ames stated, recalling what she had said sixteen months before at N.S.A. H.Q., then grinning added. "Can't you do anything usual you're supposed to crave stuff you don't normally eat during pregnancy not afterwards." He teased. I'm teasing a freak! Not winding them up, that's normal acceptable! But teasing! I'm crazy!             

               Will grinned at them rolled her eyes and collected her letters. "Reminds me I'm making beans on toast for lunch, which is whenever we finish the game and stew for dinner, guess who just volunteered to peel all the veg that Alec bought." She quipped.

               Alec and Ames groaned in unison at being stuck with the chore whilst Will laughed.

               Ames swiftly placed down FIG using the I in GUILER. "Fifthteen." He picked up his two letters. I'm still last!

              Will wrote down fifthteen as Alec scanned the board.

               Alec put down TUBE using the B in BONE. "Six." And collected three new letters.

               Will wrote that down then glanced at the board and her letters grinned and put down SHEET using the triple that Alec had kindly opened up with the T in TUBE. "Twenty four." She said as she jotted it down then she picked up four letters.

               Ames looked intently at the board, then places COD on it adding the C and D to the O in SPOILS. "Six." He calmly stated and retrieved his two letters and grinned when he saw one was an 'E'. "Okay all the letters are gone." Now if neither freak goes in my place I might win the game!

               Will and Alec looked at each other and shrugged the Familiar obviously had something planned. Will jotted down the score.

               Alec placed his letters SIFT using the S in SHEET. "Nine."

               "Okay." Ames needlessly replied. Will don't you dare go in my spot!

               Will nodded at Alec and wrote down his score then looked at the board and after a moment placed RE_NOWN onto it using the W in WAG. "The blanks a 'K' nine." She needlessly stated as she wrote down her score.

               As soon as Will had placed her letters on the board Ames followed suit adding EXODE to the bottom of WAG making WAGE, he grinned smugly at the Transgenics. "Exode means the same as exodus, plus wage equals thirty seven points."

               Alec hastily flipped through the dictionary.

               "Alec don't bother he's right." Will told her brother as she wrote down Ames' score.

               Ames smiled at Will. Of course I'm right I'm superior!

               Alec looked nevertheless then flipped the dictionary shut after seeing that Ames and Will were correct it was a word and meant the same as exodus, he then looked at his own letters and the board without comment. FOB was what he quickly put down using the F in SIFT. "Eleven."

               Will made a note and looked at the board, she picked up the only letter she had and placed it with the X in EXODUS making AX. "Nine, that's all my letters gone." She said writing down her score. "Alec what letters do you have left?"

               "T and L." Alec replied. "So two points to take off my score."

              "I've got an R and a blank." Ames responded. "One point to remove."

               Will quickly added up the scores, she had not bother to add them up as they played. "Alec you have one hundred and sixty three, Ames you have one hundred and fifty nine and I have one hundred and sixty"

               Alec grinned. "Yay! I won!"

               Will smiled at him used to this attitude from her kids. "Winner packs up."

               "Sure!" Alec grinned at her and started to pack away. 

               "Only a few points in it." Ames stated blandly. Well what did I expect! Damn! If I was gonna lose if even only by four measly points I'd rather that it had been Will who won not 494!

                 "Well none of us got over two hundred, that was a bad scoring game for us Ames so I'm assuming it was for you too, when we had high letters we couldn't use 'em to good effect." Will stated shrugging her right shoulder as she shook her head.

               "Yeah that's one of my lowest scores ever! I want to play again!" Alec whined pouting as he completed his task then he smiled recalling that he had still won. "Hey you said we'd eat when we finished."

               "Yeah, I usually do much better I'd like to play again too." Ames agreed with both Will and Alec. Least they recognize my intelligence! Wait a minute what do I care what they think of me? Why am I spending time with them that doesn't involve them in chains! Damn not those flashes of Will dressed as Leia in that Bikini again! This is insane!

                Will grinned at the pair of them. "Fine after lunch we'll play another game of Scrabble, then Monopoly."

               The game had lasted for just over an hour and a half with the arguments over whether a word was valid, more time was spent arguing and checking in the well worn huge dictionary that was stored with the game, than was spent actually thinking up words.

               They stopped for a late lunch of baked beans and fried eggs on toast. Each had just returned to the seats that they had had before lunch, Ames and Will on the sofa and Alec in an armchair, when the cubs started crying and pathing for attention, so the adults hurried into the bedroom again and soon the cubs were being entertained on the bed again, Will, Alec and Ames were in the same places as earlier.

               "It's great that they don't have barcodes." Alec stated grinning as he played peek a boo with Kyle and Kit.

               "None of the second generation ones have or did I miss something?" Will queried as she tickled Kieran.

               Ames was playing this little piggy with Kincaid and just listening to the two talk. None have them?

               Alec shook his head. "Nope you didn't miss anything. So far none of the second gens we've heard about have barcodes."

               Will looked at him. "Since mine was not a normal pregnancy I was worried that the cubs would have them."

               Alec nodded. "Yeah since it was Sandemann who got you pregnant."

               Will and Ames both froze in shock at his wording.

               "Eeeewwwww Alec! You could have phrased that better!" Will replied sounding absolutely revolted.

               "That's disgusting!" Ames said at the same moment. He wouldn't have? No not even he would do that? Would he?

               They cubs whimpered a little at the adult's tones of voice Will pathed reassurances. "It's okay cubbies! Everything's okay. Guys we can have this discussion just not in upset or annoyed tones. Happy tones, they won't remember the words I don't have any memories from their age."

               Alec and Ames both nodded and did as she asked keeping their tones pleasant.

               "What's disgusting? The fact that the cubs might be half Familiar, that your cult might get some Transgenic blood?" Alec queried sounding cheerful as promised, which was totally at odds with his glare.

               Will was looking at Ames too to see how he would reply.

               Ames glared back at Alec but kept his voice pleasant. "No the fact that he might have used his own sperm to get Will pregnant somehow! He created Will then if he impregnated her with his own children………"

               "What they aren't good enough to be your brothers?" Alec replied sarcastically then looked apologetically at Will and pulled happy faces at the cubs that she was entertaining with the puppets.

               "I didn't say that!" Ames snapped, then he too gave Will an apologetic look and pulled faces at the cubs. "All I meant was that that would be sick he kind of fathered Will then to father her children. They're Ray's brothers how would we explain if they're also his uncles? No I wouldn't have a problem if he'd used some other Familiars sperm to create them, The Conclave would, most Familiars would but I would not." He shrugged.

               Will hearing this wished that she could tell him the truth but saying that he wouldn't have a problem with their being some other Familiars did not mean that he would not follow the rules if he found out they were his own. "You can both relax. I didn't and don't scent Sandemann on them, he's not their father."

               Both males looked relieved.

               "You're positive?" Ames queried.

               Will smiled at him. "One hundred percent."

               Ames grinned. "Given his Frankenstein tendencies I was worried."

               Will patted his arm. "They're not you're brothers so stop worrying. They're getting tired again lets put them in their cribs and go play scrabble." She stated obviously closing the subject.

               Smiling all three adults quickly laid the babies back into their cribs and returned to the lounge to their original seat.

               They then swiftly chose the letters to see who would go first, Will got an 'I' and Alec and Ames both got 'T's. Will was keeping score again and she swiftly divided the paper into three columns jotted down Will, Ames and Alec, then underlined the names. Ames and Alec had collected their seven letters.

               "Will get yours." Alec ordered as he handed her the bag.

               Will rolled her eyes at him but took the bag and quickly picked out seven letters and swiftly placed DAINTY on the board. "Twenty eight points." She stated as she wrote down her score the got six new letters.

               Ames looked at the board then his letters then Using the D in DAINTY placed down LEWD and picked up his three letters as he waited for 494's remarks.  Damn! I've left myself open to 494's so called sense of humour! But I couldn't come up with anything better. Damn stupid letters!

               "No jokes." Will ordered her brother as he opened his mouth to speak, she then wrote down twelve in Ames' score column.

               "Ah you're no fun." Alec whined pouting but he refrained from making any cracks as he turned his attention to his letters and put down LIBRARY using the Y in DAINTY. "Twenty four." He collected his new letters.

               Will thought for a moment then using the L in LIBRARY put down VALET and wrote down her thirty two points and collected her letters.

               Ames then used the A in LIBRARY and placed down the word that he had waiting a grin on his face. "QUAG it means a marshy spot of ground. Thirty four points." He picked up the bag for his letters and was about to reach in.

               "Wait a minute I want to check!" Alec sharply stated as he grabbed the dictionary and flipped through, he looked at it and put down the book. "He's right." He sighed.

               "Of course I am." Ames replied as he smugly grinned. I'm superior freak!

               "Pity there are no marshes around here." Alec responded archly glaring at the smug Familiar.

               "What you think you can beat me in a fight freak." Ames laughed.

               Alec started to stand up as did Ames.

               "Sit down!" Will snarled at them. "I am not going to referee a fight between the pair of you! You are not going to wake the cubs! Now sit down" She ordered then wrote down Ames' score.

               Both males looked at the expression of pure anger on the tiny Transgenic's face and hastily sat down, both well knew her capabilities.

               Alec knew them from first hand experience in training at Manticore, and on missions for Manticore were they were often partnered, as well as on jobs for Eyes Only and Transgenic rescues.

               Ames knew from her partial records which included some footage of her fighting and easily defeating X5s and on a couple of the rescues, were he had seen her easily take out his agents, using only one strategically placed blow or kick. He had realised then that only the fact that his people had been carrying heat sensors in the woods and thus had her surrounded, had meant her capture not any lack of fighting skill or tactical ability.

               "Thank you." Will calmly stated as she smiled pleasantly at them, all traces of anger gone from her face as if they had never been there. "Alec it's your turn."

               Alec put down his planned word of TEAK, using the T in DAINTY, after realising that QUAG did not give him a better option. "Sixteen please." He said and collected his letters.

               Will looked at the board for a few moments then studied her letters and swiftly placed DOZE on the board, using the E in LEWD then added her thirty four points to her score.

               Ames looked at his letters then the board and scowled then placed CAR on the board, using the A in TEAK. "Eleven please." He sourly stated as he picked up his replacement letters. Stupid useless letters!

               "Ames eleven for using two letters is good." Will told him sounding vaguely amused as she jotted it down.

               She's right! Ames' scowl turned to a grin for her as he nodded.

               Alec rolled his eyes but forbore from commenting as he placed down HIND, using the D in DOZE. "Sixteen." He said as he got his letters.

               Will made a note and then studied the board and her letters and after a few moments put down LIN, using the I in DAINTY. "It's a command it means to 'leave off' 'let go'." She stated grinning as she wrote down her five points and retrieved her two letters.

               Neither male objected to the word because both had recognized it.

               Ames scanned the board and added JEAN to the board, adding the E to the end of CAR to make CARE, both Transgenics knew that both jean and jeans were acceptable so neither queried it. "Twenty five." Ames and got his letters. They knew it… I would have thought that 494 would have argued just for the sake of being annoying!

               Will jotted down twenty five.              

               Alec looked at the board and his letters then shrugged and used the N in JEAN to put down NAY. "Ten." He got his two letters.

               Will perused the board then after a bit of thought added ORC using the O in DOZE and then wrote down her three points and collected her two letters.          

               Ames grinned smugly as he put down the word that he had waiting. BOATS, he added the S onto JEAN and in doing so got a double word score for both. "Forty eight." He stated smugly as he got his replacement letters.

               Will grinned as she wrote down the score, Alec huffed and glared at Ames.

               "Alec it's just a game, start acting your age and not like a petulant child expecting his parents to let him win." Will ordered rolling her eyes at him.

               Alec turned his glare on her and pouted. "Not funny! Quit taking his side!" He whined unconsciously doing exactly what Will had accused him of and acting even more like a petulant child.

               Will and Ames burst out laughing.

               After a couple of moments Alec realised that he was acting just like Will had said and joined in the others laughter they laughed for a couple of minutes then got control of their mirth as each recalled the sleeping infants at about the same moment, they all quietened and looked nervously towards the bedroom, Will had her head slightly tilted and after a minute of no fretful cries all the adults let out sighs of relief.

               "It's my go." Alec stated as he suddenly recalled the fact, he looked at the board and swiftly put down LOPE using the O in BOATS. "Twelve please." He retrieved his letters and scowled. "Damn! All vowels and a blank!" He moaned.

               "You can still make words Alec you're good at being creative!" Will consoled him as she added twelve to his score.

               "Yeah, I suppose." Alec replied not sounding at all optimistic.

               Ames refrained from saying anything and just managed to keep a neutral expression on his face. Great! Now I just need to beat Will!

               Will looked at the board and swiftly placed OXEN upon it, she used the E from LOPE. "Thirty three." She stated as she wrote it down.

               Ames after a few moments thought put down THETE using the H in HIND and immediately handed 494 the dictionary expecting a complaint from the Transgenic. I doubt either will have heard the term!

               Alec took the proffered book and started flipping through it as Will spoke.

               "Thete from ancient Athens by the constitution of Solon, means a free man of the lowest class, whose property in land was assessed at less than one hundred and fifty Medimni." Will quoted from memory as she grinned at both stunned males. "Sandemann." She stated shrugging her right shoulder.

               "Sheesh Will that was almost a perfect quote of what's in the dictionary!" Alec told her very impressed.

               "I guess I recall more of the non warfare history lessons than I thought." Will replied as she again shrugged her right shoulder she then wrote down Ames' score as she said. "Ames you need to get your new letters."

               "Ah right." Ames said and picked out his letters. Should have known that Father would have taught her that stuff too! His favourite sort of lectures when I was little next to genetics! He put his letters on the stand and unlike Alec he did not moan aloud. Damn! Only one bleeding consonant, a blank and five bleeding vowels! How am I supposed to win with these?!

              Alec puts down OAT, using the T in THETE, after a lot of thought, he scowled when he picked up. "E and a stupid I!" He grouched still having only vowels.

               Will wrote down his score as both she and Ames made no comment.

               Will took a few moments to study the board and made no complaint about her own awful letters as she put down DOTE, using the O in OAT, as in dotage, a woman's marriage portion or to be crazy, talk foolishly etcetera. She wrote down her score of fifthteen after waiting a moment to see if either male would query her word, neither did, she then collected her three new letters.

               Ames glared at Will for being unhelpful in her word and he put down BOOM, he used the B in LIBRARY. "Eleven." He stated not amused at the total, that it was the best he could do he picked up his replacement letters and scowled because they were an 'O', a 'R' and an 'E', he still had only one consonant, the blank did not count to his mind since you could not get anything for the useless tile.

               Alec pouted and put IMA_E on the board, he used the M from BOOM. "The blanks a 'G' nine." He grouched and took his new letters and seeing them he grinned.

              Will put down both males' scores and studied the board before quickly placing down SEEN using the N in HIND. "Four." She stated jotted it down and got her letters.

               Ames immediately placed down his word. YU_E, he used the Y in NAY. "Yule eighteen." He grinned. I just realised I'm winning! Better yet 494 is last! By loads! He collected his letters.

                Will realised that he had figured out the he was winning and grinned back at the Familiar before she jotted down his score.

               Alec thought for a few moments as he scanned the board then added SWIG using the S in SEEN. "Twenty four." He said as he got his replacement letters. "That's the last of the letters." He stated tipping the bag upside down to confirm his statement.

               Will wrote down twenty four then looked at the board and added I, N, to the G in SWIG to get GIN and put down her score of four.

               Ames swiftly placed F and G on the board, F after the I in SWIG above at I in GIN, below which he place the G to get IF and FIG. "Twelve."

               Will jotted it down.

               Alec put down NOD, using the N in GIN he also got GO after looking at the board for a few moments and shrugging when he could think of nothing better. "Nine."

               Will added nine to his score and then after a glance at the board she put down MUSH, adding the S to FIG to make FIGS and wrote down her fourteen points.

               Ames smiled and added HOUR as soon as Will placed down MUSH, using the H. "Fourteen."

               Will looked up from adding her score and smiling nodded at him then put it down.

                Alec grinned and swiftly placed RIP on the board using the R in HOUR. "Eleven Will."

               Will smiled at him too and jotted it down then scanned the board and added an F to the I in RIP on the board to make IF. "That's my last letter." She stated as she added two to her score. "Ames what's the total of your remaining letters?"

               "Two." He replied grinning. I won! I knew I could beat them!

               Will took that away from his score. "Alec?"

               "Five." The disheartened Transgenic stated having realised that he had come third and lagged behind by a lot.

               "So what are the exact scores?" Ames asked enjoying rubbing salt in 494's wound.

               Will rolled her eyes and glared slightly at the Familiar, not sure whether to answer or not.

               "You might as well tell us Will, I won the other game, I had to let Amesy win this one." Alec quipped grinning, back to his usual cheerful self.

               "Don't call me Amesy!" Ames snarled. "And you lost fair and square freak!" Why haven't I killed the annoying jerk yet?!

               "Hey I'll call you what the heck I like!" Alec retorted.

               Will growled.

               Both males very wisely simmered down, contenting themselves with glaring daggers at each other.

               "Ames got two hundred and one points, Alec got one hundred and twenty eight and I got one hundred and seventy." She blandly stated and stood up and moved round to Alec and took his arm and tugged him not so gently out of his armchair.

               "Will!" Alec moaned but quickly halted his planned complaint when she glared at him, swiftly closing his mouth.

               "We'll be starting to prepare dinner, I like my stew to simmer for a few hours, while you pack away Ames, then you can help Alec with the veg and neither of you are going to stab the other no matter what the provocation!" She firmly ordered in a tone that brooked no arguments and said that there would be dire consequences for either male should they be dumb enough to disobey and survive the knife fight.

               She then led a quietly complaining Alec, he'd decided to chance it figuring that she not being Max wouldn't actually hurt him, into the kitchen, Ames looked after them then shrugged and packed away the Scrabble taking his time he then joined Alec in peeling veg.

               Both males followed Will's orders to the letter. Alec and Ames quickly peeled the veg in complete silence not looking at each other, while Will did some housework, she washed all the dirty diapers that were soaking in the bath then hung them up to dry, she had to they were running out of them, then when Alec and Ames had finished their chore she swiftly made up the stew adding the fake meat chunks that Alec had purchased.

               Will was not having that much fun having to play referee between the two highly competitive and argumentative males, she had wished that Alec had forgotten about the existence of the board games and that Ames would have stuck to his disgust at playing them with the two Transgenics rather than his competitive streak suddenly rearing its ugly head. Well at least it was better than having them properly at each other's throats, well kind of.

            They were in the middle of playing Monopoly, Alec as always chose the car and Will stuck with the dog, Ames chose the top hat, when the quads awoke demanding to be fed, while Will fed two in the bedroom Ames and Alec entertained the other two in the lounge then switched over. Alec and Ames also changed the babies. Then after they played with them for a little while the babies fell quickly to sleep, their stomachs being full they were in a helpful mood they went back to playing Monopoly.

               After Monopoly, which Alec had won, Ames insisted that he got to choose the next game since both Will and Alec had already chosen, they agreed and so they played Pit. Will won that game.

               19:27pm.

               The three adults were eating their dinner of stew. They had just got partway through their meal when the babies awoke again.              

               "Stay I'll manage by myself, I've always been able to use my feet kind of like extra hands, pick stuff up with them so jangling a set of keys from them is not a problem." She told Alec and Ames as they automatically stood up to help with the quads.

               "Are you sure?" Ames asked not looking convinced.

               "Yeah sis I don't mind helping, I actually enjoy it." Alec sincerely added.

               "That's what I did when you were both at N.S.A H.Q and it worked fine." Will told them smiling then at another series of cries from her cubs she hurried from the kitchen.

               Alec and Ames looked at each other shrugged and sat back down to finish their meal, they ate in silence.

               23:01pm.

               Will, Alec and Ames had decided to play poker after dinner. Will would not allow them to play for real money much to the disappointment of both males, because they were bad enough with no money involved. They played until they finished a hand and saw the time. Each of them had won a few hands.

               They swiftly went to the bathroom and made up the sofa bed and went to bed, everyone sleeping in their normal places and positions, although Will started off on Ames right side and did not do a repeat performance of last nights straddling actions.

               Ames was not sure whether to be pleased or disappointed by this.

               04:05am.

               The quads had awoken demanding to be fed, Will and Ames swiftly followed what had quickly become their routine and all four infants were soon fed, winded and changed, and placed back into their cribs, just like the previous morning they did not want to go to sleep.

               "Looks like you're going to have to sing to them again." Ames told Will, grinning as he handed her the guitar, both were seated cross legged by the makeshift cribs. "My rifle pony and me again?"

               "Well it worked last night." Will, still shirtless, and completely relaxed, smiled at him as she took the guitar and then started playing and singing, her eyes fixed on her sons.

"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 singing and playing and looked from her cubs to Ames and shrugged her right shoulder.

               The quads were not asleep they were happily awake and gurgling in contentment at their parents.

               Ames shrugged and smiled. "Try something else." He ordered. "Do you know Brahms Lullaby?"

               "No do you?" Will hopefully replied.

               "No sorry." Ames stated meaning it.

               "Oh okay." Will shrugged her right shoulder and thought for a couple of moments trying to find a suitable song. "Okay we'll try this one." She stated and started to play "Swinging on a Star."

               Ames grinned at her choice recognizing it instantly. "Very apt!"

                "Not that version, though I loved Bruce Willis using it to time his cat burgling in Hudson Hawk." Will stated grinning at him recalling a mission. "Deck wished he never encouraged my love of movies especially those from the nineteen seventies onward, Bruce Willis ones in particular, after I used that song to time a job rather than my watch, or internal clock, the song was the perfect length and made a dull job fun…. besides since I was playing cat burglar it was apt! Deck gave me one heck of a lecture and I was banned from watching movies or television for a whole month!"

               Ames laughed at that. She must have been one heck of a cute but annoying kid! She must have spent a lot of time on punishment detail, she's that stubborn and she already said that she's always interpreted orders………….

               Will laughed too then quietened and added. "Not that that ban stayed in force for very long, not even four and a half days and he caved! I can be very annoying when bored…. we all can, but since I lived with him rather than in the barracks, he soon gave in!" She grinned.

               "Never tell your kids that story, well not until they're all grown!" Ames quickly warned her. Fifty kids being brats! I'd swiftly get my gun and kill myself! She's crazy! She loves having fifty kids!

               "Ames I'm not stupid, I'm not going to give them hints on how I got Deck to give in!" She glared at him.

               Ames held up his hands a smile on his face. "I know that…..."

               "Ames I'm not like the other Transgenics! In case you hadn't already figured that out! I had more of a normal, well whatever normal is, kind of an upbringing." Will interrupted him still glaring.

               "In Manticore?" Ames asked incredulous as he lowered his raised hands.

               "Yes! I had a parent who I knew cared about me, despite his kind of gruff exterior, Deck showed a gentler side to me when we were in private or at my riding lessons…….."

               "Riding lessons…….horses?" Ames interrupted to ask.

                "Yes horse riding lessons, I only learnt to ride a motor bike when I was ten, I've been mad about equines since I was around eighteen months, when I was around two Deck signed me up for lessons and played my dad, like he ended up doing on a lot of my missions, who'd expect a little kid to be an assassin, I always played younger than my actual age." Will was lost in memories for a few moments.

               "Will you were saying about the horse riding lessons." Ames impatiently reminded her.

               Will blinked and continued as if there had been no interruption. "He came to all the lessons when he was on base and the shows, he never turned the lessons into Manticore training, he just acted like my father. Okay so he also acted as my C.O, but that was when we were on duty or training not in our own time! So I had a kind of normal home life, meaning I'm more able to deal with being a parent than any of the kids because I was actually parented, odd though the relationship might have been it was still a parent child one." Will calmly told him annoyance having dimmed.

               "Okay I was saying for my own benefit too you know, since you have Ray." Ames smiling finished saying what he had started to say earlier before she cut him off.  

               Will grinned at him. "Okay you're forgiven! Hey I could sing Let it snow, I love that song especially Dean Martin's version……… No on second thoughts better not might give the weather ideas, its cold enough as it is."

               "So what other films did you watch, you seemed to be engrossed in the James Bond marathon." Ames curiously queried.             

               "Yeah I pretty much know them off by heart and know all the songs. Other films, well you already know about my fascination with the Star Wars movies, now those I've known off by heart since I was a little kid, I can correctly quote along with the cast and sing all the songs. The Indiana Jones films……. Sandemann thought he was the reason for my fascination with some aspects of ancient history, the warfare and piratical stuff, and also archaeology, but he wasn't." Will grinned and shrugged her right shoulder.  "The Die Hard films… Die Harder is my absolute favourite…… That kind of worried the brass at Manticore….. actually all my preferences made them nervous…… Deck wasn't worried though he saw my liking them as just liking fun films, it helped that those were also his kind of films…. they were actually his copies that I watched, so I luckily never got sent to psi-ops over them."

               The babies tired of being ignored started crying.

               "They want their song." Ames needlessly pointed out smiling. So she could be a brat as a child and could get round Lydecker……….Yeah I can definitely see that! She can certainly get round me! He flashed to her straddling him. Or over me which is much more pleasant! Stop thinking stuff like that! I'm insane! I am definitely insane! Which means we're a perfect match! Stop thinking stuff like that!

               "It's the one from the television series Out of This World I've always preferred their altered version." Will told him as she grinned whilst still strumming the guitar then she started singing 'Would you like to swing on a star'.

"Would you like to swing on a star

Carry moonbeams home in a jar

And be better off then you are

Or would you rather go to Earth

An Earthling is a creature as plain as can be

He's not as unique as you or me

His body comes in lots of different shapes

They say his relatives are chimps and apes

                                                 But if you take my advice for what its worth

You could be happy here on Earth

Or would you like to swing on a star

Carry moonbeams home in a jar

And be better of than you

You could be swinging on a star

Yeah yeah yeah 

You could be swinging on a star"

               Ames was quietly laughing at Will's even more apt version. That's even better than the original! Especially for a Transgenic!              

               Will was ignoring Ames and looking at their sons who still stubbornly refused to fall asleep she sighed. "I can't think of any other songs that are likely to make them fall asleep, I tend to like stuff that would wake 'em up more. Can you sing?"              

               "I can sing but I can not carry a tune." Ames truthfully told her having gained control of his mirth when Will said that the babies were still awake. "Just try anything the oddest things would send Ray to sleep." 

               "Hmmm can't think………. well I suppose I could carry on the film and television theme…." Will started to pluck a tune on the guitar as she looked at her sons, then she accompanied the guitar.

"When daggers are pointed at innocent hearts

And muskets are ready to fire

When tyrants ride high and govern with fear

And the forces of evil conspire

Then from out of the night a hero must ride

With a courage the even a mask can't disguise

They turn to the man called Zorro

One who's larger than life and defender of all

He's this man whom the people acclaim

He's the one who strikes back for the poor and oppressed

A hero whose name is Zorro

Whose name is Zorro"

               "Nope that didn't work either." Ames calmly stated. "Try another." Ray's right she's got a nice voice…. She unconsciously copies the style and accent of the person she's heard singing it…. She's pretty good at mimicking them too!

               "Hmmm. Okay I'll try the theme to Buck Rogers." Will stated and began to play and sing.

Far beyond the world I've know

Far beyond my time

What am I who am I what will I be

Where am I going and what will I see

Searching my mind for some truth to reveal

What thoughts are fantasy what memories real

Long before this life of mine

Long before this time

What was there who cared to make it begin

Is it forever or will it all end

Searching my past for the things that I've seen

Is it my life or just something I've dreamed

Far beyond the world I've know

Far beyond my time

What kind of world am I going to find

Will it be real or just all in my mind

What am I who am I

What will I be where am I going

And what will I see

               "Try another, they're still wide awake." Ames softly ordered then thought of another song. "Do you know Over the hills and far away?"

               Will grinned at him. "The version from Sharpe?"

               "Yes." Ames replied smiling.

               "Yes it's a favourite." Will said smiling as she began to sing unaccompanied by the guitar as was appropriate for the song.

Here's forty shillings on the drum

For those who'll volunteer to come

To 'list and fight the foe to-day

Over the hill and far away

O'er the hills and o'er the main

Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain

King George commands and we obey

Over the hills and far away

When duty call me I must go

To stand and face another foe

But part of me will always stray

Over the hills and far away

O'er the hills and o'er the main

Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain

King George commands and we obey

Over the hills and far away

If I should fall to rise no more

As many comrades did before

Then ask the fifes and drums to play

Over the hills and far away

O'er the hills and o'er the main

Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain

King George commands and we obey

Over the hills and far away

Then fall in lads behind the drum

With colours blazing like the sun

Along the road to come what may

Over the hills and far away

O'er the hills and o'er the main

Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain

King George commands and we obey

Over the hills and far away

O'er the hills and o'er the main

Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain

King George commands and we obey

Over the hills and far away

               Ames shook his head. "They're still awake, try one more."

               Will racked her brains. "Well most of this one is apt, could be talking about them so I'll try it." She stated uncertainly as she shrugged her right shoulder and eyes never leaving their sons she started playing and singing From this moment. As with the recorded version she spoke the first part.

"(I do swear that I'll be there.

 I'd give anything and everything and I will always care.

Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow.

For better or for worse, I will love you

with every beat of my heart.)

From this moment life has begun

From this moment you are the one

Right beside you is where I belong

From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed

I live only for your happiness

And for your love I'd give my last breath

From this moment

I give my hand to you with all my heart

Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start

You and I will never be apart

My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

There is nothing I wouldn't give

From this moment

You're the reason I believe in love

And you're the answer to my prayers from up above

All we need is just the two of us

My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

There is nothing I wouldn't give

From this moment

I will love you as long as I live

From this moment on"

               Will sang the song obviously meaning every word of it.

               The babies were still awake and looking raptly at their mother all five were ignoring Ames, Will was just sat looking lovingly and tenderly at their sons completely enraptured and entranced by them by their reaction, forgetting that the object of singing had been to get them to sleep.

               Ames had not, so he swiftly grabbed Will's shirt from the bed and handed it to her. "Here put this on and your jeans etcetera, while I amuse them, then I'll dress, then we go wake 494 so we can try the driving trick." He ordered and started jangling his and Will's keys above the quads who gurgled in delight. I hope this works! I know that we can get away without much sleep, but I like my sleep! Why didn't I take her in? I'm insane!

               Will absently nodded put down the guitar and quickly slipped on her pyjama shirt not bothering with a bra, and pulled on her jeans over her pyjama shorts using them as underwear, she then put on her socks, cowboy boots, her black sweatshirt and her leather jacket, then she switched with Ames so that he could dress.

               Ames quickly shucked off his pyjama bottoms whilst Will's attention was focused upon her sons and pulled on his jeans, being in so much of a hurry he decided to go commando, then hauled on his roll neck top, dark green wool knit jumper and his black leather jacket. "Keys."

               Will handed his to him and he stuffed them into his pocket he then gently picked up Kit and Kieran as she picked up Kyle and Kincaid, both adults had automatically picked up each babies' blankets too not wanting them to get cold, not knowing if they were pretty much immune to the cold like their mother, having no way to tell if they had also inherited that trait until Asia returned with the results of the blood tests.

               "Okay lets go wake up 494." Ames grinned at Will. Pity she'd yell at me if I suggested a bowl of cold water or better yet some of the ice cubes I spotted in the freezer! On second thoughts fun as that would be I need his co operation and that won't get it!

             

               They entered the lounge and saw Alec curled up fast asleep on the sofa bed.

               Will could not resist when he did not wake up at their entering the room. "Ten hut!" She ordered parade ground style, doing an excellent mimic of any Sergeant and of Lydecker. 

               Alec, wearing only light green jockey shorts, immediately sprang out of the bed his body instantly, instinctively going to attention as ordered.

               Will burst out laughing, being careful not to drop Kyle and Kincaid as she laughed.

               "Wha…" Alec scowled at Will when he realised what she had done. "That's not funny!"

               Ames just stood their stunned. Wow she would probably have liked the ice cube suggestion, rather than yell at me for even thinking it! They really act just like proper siblings! I just hope 494 still co operates after Will's stunt!

               "Yes it is, now get warmly dressed and put your jacket on then take the babies from Ames!" Will ordered as she grinned unrepentantly at him. "They won't sleep, I've sang six songs to them, that didn't work so we're going to try the driving trick."

               "I'm not going out in the cold!" Alec griped. "Especially not after what you just did to me!"

               "Oh quit being a baby I have four here already!" Will told him sarcastically. "You've pulled that same trick yourself!"

               Ames was silent deciding it was better to stay out of the argument. I knew that he'd not co operate because of her dumb stunt! It was funny though! I'll have to try that on the next freak we capture!

              

               None of the babies were perturbed in the least by their bickering mother and uncle they were all happily gurgling away and drooling.

               "Hey maybe I could sing to them that might work!" Alec suddenly suggested.

               "No!" Will quickly replied.

               Alec looked hurt. "Why not, it might work?"

               "Because you don't sing you caterwaul! Now get dressed!" Will stubbornly ordered as she glared at him.

               "Will we're A.W.O.L. you no longer rank me!" Alec sarcastically reminded his sister. "We're civilians now!"         

               She ranked him?! Hmm I suppose she does have seven years more training…… and she started missions at thirteen which is younger by years than any of the other X's, the records said that much at least. Ames thought just watching them in half bemused half impatient silence.

               "Yeah and I'm ordering you to get dressed and take Kit and Kieran from Ames as your civilian elder sister!" She told him. "Military or civilian I'm the eldest so I out rank you!" Will then stuck out her tongue.

               Ames decided to intervene. "494 the sooner we get going the sooner we get back." He calmly pointed out. "Do you really think she's going to let you win the argument?" He added when he saw that 494 was going to start objecting again. I hate being the voice of reason! Caterwauling? Don't grin at that! Otherwise we'll never get out and the cubs back to sleep!              

               Alec glared at both of them and moved over to the armchair where he had placed his clothes and he swiftly started to dress. "I should have known you'd take her side! I preferred you when you wanted to kill us both! When you had her chained up like Princess Leia!" He grouched as he took Kieran and Kit from Ames. "Why can't you keep holding them and I drive?"

               "Do you own a car?" Ames casually asked.

               "Yes." Alec unthinkingly replied as he pulled faces at the babies in his arms.

               "Would you let me drive it?" Ames pleasantly asked.

               "Off course no… oh I get the point!" Alec said in sudden comprehension then moved for the door. "Well c'mon!"

               Ames and Will swiftly followed Ames got the door and locked it after them, using the key that he had stolen from the manager's office. They got in the elevator and quickly travelled to the garage.

               "New car." Will spotted and grinned at Ames.

               "Yeah some moron broke the window in the other one, it's in the shop, this is a temporary replacement." Ames replied also grinning.

               Alec glared at Ames for the moron crack. "Hey you had Will what did you expect a polite please release my sister?" He asked sarcastically.

               "Guys can you fight another time, we're supposed to be getting the quads to sleep." Will bluntly and sarcastically stated glaring at them both.

               Both nodded, and remained quiet.

               Ames opened the doors to the back of his car for both Transgenics because they obviously had their hands full, he swiftly got in a and started up the car and pulled out of the garage, and just started aimlessly driving around the more well off parts of the city, being careful not to encounter any checkpoints he remained in the one sector.

               They drove for just over forty minutes in complete silence, the only sounds that could be heard were the babies, until Will and Alec both smiled nodded at Ames, who kept glancing in his rear view mirror to check on whether the children had fallen asleep.

               Ames nodded and made for the apartment. I've got all six of them, Will and 494 are in no position to fight, so why am I taking them back to safety?

               They quickly arrived back at the apartment building and were soon placing the quads in their makeshift cribs, then Alec returned to his bed and Will quickly shucked her clothes and got into the super king size bed and waited for Ames to get undressed so that she could use him as a pillow.

               Ames just stood there unmoving. I am not going to give her a strip show! He thought as he swiftly grabbed his black silk pyjama bottoms and headed for the bathroom to change, he returned within moments carrying his clothes, put them down on top of the chest of drawers and swiftly got into bed.

               Will grinned at him then draped herself over him in her usual sleeping position, she laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes and was immediately asleep.

               Ames looked down at her, his arms were firmly and possessively wrapped around her as normal. Why am I doing this! I'm insane! He thought as he closed his eyes and joined Will in peacefully sleeping.