Alaya woke up to a warm but empty bed. She opens her eyes to see the message cylinder on Fiona's pillow. She quickly spins the dials to open and a note pops out.

Dearest Love,

It terrified me watching you go through all that pain. How can I make it up to you?

I shall stop by the shop first thing after my classes to check on you. Do you suppose we could have a lunch in you office? I have to study for my exams, please make a space for me in your office.

Your Fiona

PS Less than ten days and I am all yours for the summer.

That was all Alaya needed to start her day, ignoring her body as it protests loudly. She went downstairs to the kitchen for the strongest cup of coffee her mother Jenny is able to produce, packed a lovers lunch and went to 14 Savile Row to begin her day.

Once Alaya entered into the tailor shop she is busy with reviewing orders, ordering stock and as always paperwork.

The morning flew by. A knock on her office door.

Alaya said in an authoritative tone, "Come in."

Fiona enters shutting the door and coming to Alaya, who transformed back her half-Silurian self. "Hi! Your note truly helped me wake up. Thank you so much. I have our lunch here," as she pulls out a box.

Fiona takes the box and in return hands Alaya four envelopes. Fiona sets up lunch on a small table. Alaya joins her and reads the letters.

"You have four options? All these hospitals …. you are brilliant. What do you want to do?"

"I am still going to go to Louisa's Hospital, but Edinburgh …. to be there again. It would be wonderful to breath the air of the highlands."

Alaya reaches for Fiona's hand. "Are you feeling obligated to stay. Do you truly want to return to Edinburgh?"

"Yes and no. Yes, I owe Louisa so much. No, my life is here. Besides I rather like the idea of being in a woman's hospital to receive my training. I am quite annoyed with the male egos. Don't get me wrong there are a few that will make amazing physicians, but the rest I can't imagine how they are getting through their terms. Also, I do not want to deal with the added expense of housing or the anxiety being away from you."

Alaya blushes, "When do I call you Doctor?"

"Soon." Fiona looks down at her lunch, "Your injections. Tell me."

Alaya's eyes grow sad, "It is a painful process, but my dear there is no other way. Unless …" looking at Fiona cheeky.

Fiona squinting her eyes cautiously, "Unless what?"

"Unless you want us to be either a bountiful family or we shall sleep in different rooms to live a chaste life."

"There is no possible way I could control myself into a chaste life." Fiona laughs. Squeezing Alaya's hand tight. "I am glad we are responsible for our own maternity. Does it have to be so painful? What does it feel like?"

Alaya opens the wine and pours each other a glass. "Let us eat while we talk. My appetite is enormous I could eat a horse behind the saddle."

Fiona unwraps the sandwiches, opens a wrapper of dates and nuts and smiles when there are two custard tarts. She places them all on the table and hands out the silverware. "Yes, you need your strength back."

"The pain is a burning sensation, it feels like my body is on fire. I can only coil as the injections kill off the bacteria. The needle is the most painful and I can feel the liquid burning into my body. It takes hours to feel any relief. This morning I did have a moment with my mother Jenny. We have the injection the first of every month and will be scheduling the injections after supper. That way we all can get a good night sleep."

"Why do you get injected at such an odd hour?"

"If was not so before you came into the home. But it was moved to accommodate you and your transition into our family."

Looking sternly at Alaya, "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't anyone tell me? How long were you going to keep this a secret?"

Alaya took a drink of her wine. Then a bite of her sandwich and chewed. Swallowed, "Two reasons. The first is was too soon. You were recuperating and second it is embarrassing. My mother Vastra and I share this experience and mother Jenny has gone through this for years …. I was never hoping to tell you. Honestly. But my mothers have told me time and time again you would understand. "

"I do understand, now after your Mother Jenny explained. It is absolutely unnecessary to do this without your wife. I would take this burden off you in a second if I could. I mean there are ways."

"What ways? Vastra has looked into every solution to keep the toxins from fertilizing the eggs."

"I could have a hysterectomy … " saying in almost a whisper, "... with just a three percent chance of death."

"Any percentage is unacceptable and you will be barren. Unacceptable."

"It could be an option in the future. Also, the future holds other options we aren't able to replicate it in 'our London'." Taking a sip of the wine she asks, "I guess we need to talk about this … we never really … I just didn't think." Blushing, "Do you want children? If so how many? If not, why not?"

Alaya stares at the half-eaten sandwich. "I honestly do not know if I want you to get pregnant."

Fiona is stunned, "Oh."

"No, no, no …. do not misunderstand me. I want a family, but not at a cost of your life. What if you don't survive. My mother had serious issues. They had to stitch her … her … "

"It is called a vagina."

Alaya blushing and leaning in close to Fiona, "Shhh! The staff might hear."

Fiona laughs, "I am sorry. It was funny how your face wretched trying to figure out which word should leave your lips."

Alaya shrinking in her seat, "Please stop teasing."

Fiona reaches for her wife's hand, "I am sorry. It was funny. If you sit in medical classes as much as I do anatomy and the terms have lost their power."

"I suppose."

Fiona sits back, "You are one beautiful half-Silurian. Our children will be fourth-Silurian and the three-fourth-human. Even if they all have crowns, I suspect that my body will adjust just like your mothers. Also … sorry dear … vaginal birth are not the only way. It is called a Caesarean section and women survive quite well. Also, I have a hundred years of evolution on my side."

Alaya just deciding if she wants to finish her sandwich, "What does that have to do with anything."

"Please eat dear. In the future women have a planned pregnancy, induced labor and majority have cesarean births multiple times. The trend has evolved into newborns with larger heads."

Alaya offers a puzzled face to Fiona.

"They do not look like hot air balloons on skinny bodies. The head average is a few millimetres larger than those born in 'our London'. Your mother could easily have more children."

"Oh?"

"Wouldn't you like a little sister?"

"I have not thought about it. But it is an interesting proposal. If you could guarantee your health and life, I would not mind between six and twelve children?"

Fiona freezes instantly.

Alaya looking perplexed at her wife. "What?"

Fiona gently puts down her half-eaten custard tart, wipes her mouth and looks up to her Alaya. "I … um … wow. I want to be a doctor."

"You shall."

"I can't with a brood of children."

"Why not?"

"How will I maintain a career and raise twelve children?"

"How will we raise them. You are not alone."

Fiona slightly annoyed, "How will we raise them? You are missing the point."

"I am simply suggesting that if we are able to have a large family, without endangering you, I will a good mother and role model. My mother Vastra and my mother Jenny raised me equally."

"I have never imagined a large family. It has always been my mother and myself. You are an only child … I assumed we would just continue the tradition."

"I support you no matter we have a small or large family. I am sorry we are limited to female offspring."

"I am not. There are families that have nothing but boys or girls. It is the amount of attention, love and support."

Fiona suddenly got very quiet.

Alaya taps her wife's temple, "Where are you?"

"I am not ready to be a mother. I am sorry. " The next four years are going to be tough. I will be working all day and night with little free time. This is going to impact us dearly. I don't want to lose you. ... early this morning ... watching you in such pain, how can I ever make it up to you?"

Alaya stands up and cups Fiona chin in her hand. The coldness is refreshing on Fiona's hot skin. "You will not lose me. All you have to do is smile and be happy. We have much to look forward in the future."

Fiona offering a genuine smile, "Thank you, for being in my life. I could not be happier. We shall consult Louisa concerning childbirth and medical school."

"That is a wonderful idea." Alaya finishes her lunch, "Well I have to get back to work. Will this table be efficient enough to study?"

Fiona looks around and notices Alaya has rearranged the office to ensure she gets a window. "Yes, this perfect."

The rest of the day Alaya and Fiona are in a shared space each concentrating on their own responsibilities. If anyone walked into Alaya's office they would notice a diminutive scent of honey and moss.

That night Alaya ravaged her wife.

Fiona made a mental note, before passing out from hours of pleasure at three in the morning, 'must study again in Alaya's office again s... s...soon'.