A/N: My daughter finally decided to make her appearance Dec. 11th. So hopefully I should be able to update more often. Sorry for the delay and thanks for reading!
Chapter 20: Plans
Bray stared down at Amber with a cold expression she had never seen before. "Bray," Amber whispered, the first shock of excitement at seeing him again washing away instantly. "Amber," Bray said without a hint of happiness or welcome. Amber took a deep breath and forced back tears. She noticed Bray wore the necklace of tiny seashells worn by the Band of Enlightened. "What . . . what are you doing here?" Amber ventured to say. Bray snorted, still staring at her coldly. "Surviving the chaos brought by Ram and the Technos," he snarled. "Surviving what you obviously have embraced."
Amber stared at him. "What . . . what do you mean?" she asked. Bray laughed without a hint of mirth. "You brought Ram here. You're sleeping with one of his men." Amber's eyes widened. "Jay and I . . ." "Are together," Bray finished for her. "I have to go." He turned to leave and Amber grabbed his tunic. "Bray! Please! Don't be like this. I . . . If you have seen me, then you know our child is alive. Don't you want to see him?" Bray turned around quickly and grasped Amber by the shoulders painfully. His face was gray with shock. "What do you mean?" he asked. "No one told me about a son."
"How did you know I was with Jay, but you didn't know about Baby Bray?" Amber asked angrily. Bray released her and stood back, clutching a wall for support. "Our baby . . . it was a boy? He survived?" Amber nodded. "Yes. I named him Bray . . . after his father." Bray wiped his forehead. "Ethan told me the Mallrats were here and that you were with them," he said slowly. "I was so happy. Then he told me that you were with one of the Technos, that you two looked happy. He didn't mention a child." "Bray," Amber said, taking his hands, "Jay has helped us so much. Without him, we couldn't have defeated Ram. He and I are . . . were . . . together. But I don't know if we are anymore. And I haven't told him . . ." She broke off with a sob.
Bray looked at her knowingly. "You are pregnant with his child, aren't you?" Amber raised tear-filled eyes to his. "Yes." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "But you aren't together?" Amber turned away to hide her distress, hoping he would touch her, attempt to reassure her. Bray stood behind her with an angry expression on his face and made no move towards her. After several minutes passed, Amber turned around. "Bray, would you like to come with me to see your son?" she asked quietly. He stared at her with hardened eyes. "I will not come to the palace where I will see the Techno," he answered. "Will you bring him to my home? And I would like to see Trudy and Brady. Just you four at first. Don't tell anyone else about me yet." Amber nodded. "I will come. Where do you live?" He shrugged and shouldered his pack. "I'll ask Ethan to bring you after dinner." With that, Bray walked away without another word.
Later That day . . .
Iris sat at her desk in the main office of the hotel, going over paperwork when a knock came at the door. "Come in," Iris said with a tired sigh, glad for the interruption. She smiled at Lex as he sauntered in the door and took a seat in front of her. "Just come from Sarai's room?" Iris asked with a sly smile, pointedly staring at the smudge of plum-colored lipstick on his neck. Lex grinned and leaned back. "Maybe." Iris laughed. "I was glad to give her a few days off," she said. "I take it the two of you get along well?" "Well enough," Lex replied smugly. "In other words, you two don't talk much," Iris said with a grin. The two of them laughed.
"I take it you aren't here for a social call?" Iris asked finally. Lex shook his head. "The girls told me they've got jobs, and I have to get one too," he said. "And Sammy, Gel, and the little thief are going to school." Iris nodded. "Yes. That's true." Lex smirked. "Gel's throwing a huge tantrum about going back to school," he told her with a confidential tone. "She says she won't go and you can't make her." Iris laughed. "She's too old for the schools we have here. We have a special tutoring program, like a very small high school, for people like Gel who have just arrived here in Genesis and aren't ready to be placed in a regular job. You can tell her there are cute boys in the program. I'm sure she won't object then."
Lex chuckled. "No, she would be first in line if she knew that," he said. "But what about me? What do you want me to do?" "What would you like to do?" Iris asked. "Sit around and be waited on by beautiful women," Lex replied with a smile. Iris rolled her eyes. "So would most other men here. Now really, what would you like to do?" "I was the sheriff back in the city," Lex said. "We don't need a sheriff, Lex," Iris told him. "But . . ." She smiled. "I know what you can do. Malik needs a lieutenant for the palace bodyguards. He has accepted Jay in that position. However, Jay will need someone he can trust to help him out. Would you be interested?"
Lex sighed. "Jay would be my boss?" Iris nodded. "Yes. If that bothers you, I do need someone to oversee the wagons of food coming into the city. And we can always use more laborers." Lex sat up straighter. "No . . . I can work with Jay." Iris beamed at him. "Great. I'll let Malik know." With a long sigh, Lex stood up. "I'll let you know when you'll begin, Lex," Iris said with a smile. He nodded and left. Iris rang a little bell on her desk and waited for a servant to come in. The boy who entered knelt before the Queen of Genesis and waited for instructions. "Get Malik for me," Iris ordered.