Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker
Chapter 10

Beth's arrival at Jenna's home, later that day, was very emotional. No need to fake anything for the police, as they knew she had a longer time than expected, before rescue had released her. The women were in tears at her safe arrival and surrounded her in a welcome of hugs and kisses. Ted stood back waiting for his chance to show his feelings on the matter. Even he knew to wait till the women had released their sister. Beth broke free at last looked at Ted, before walking up to him and planting a wet one on his lips.

Ted wrapped his arms around her, gently crushing her against him, as he kissed her back. No words were said or needed, as they turned to go inside, surrounded by their escort of women.

A few days later, the officer that had been at the cabin rang Beth. He told her that although no remains of Martin were found, they were positive he had met his death in an encounter with a bear. Several bears had been spotted in the area in the area by the search party. The case had been closed and the search for Martin called off. The goods news was that the officer shot by Martin was recovering. Beth wondered if that had been a factor in them calling off the search, or because they sympathised with the bears and didn't want to have to shoot them, for their part in Martin's death.

Beth finally got to see the results of the new polymer on Martin, when Sara announced that Martinique was ready. Ted had seen some of the process and wouldn't let Beth see it. Apparently the reduction in size and the way the polymer shed the bone and muscle mass was a disgusting sight. Luckily for Martin it was mostly painless.

Martinique came into the lounge at Jenna's, where all were gathered. Sara was holding her hand and leading the shy but cute looking girl in her pretty dress into the room. Martinique recognised Beth and walked over to her.

"Are you going to be my auntie Beth?" she asked, her wide innocent blue eyes searching Beth's face.

"Yes Martinique, I am, do you remember me?" Beth asked, lifting the girl onto her lap.

"Yes I know I was once Martin, but I'm not him any more. When you said I would be given a new life, I didn't expect this." She spoke sweetly in her girlish voice.

"Don't you worry about the old Martin, just try to live the new life you've been given Martinique. You'll grow up to be like your new mom and be someone to be proud of. Starting off as a girl will give you time to adjust," Beth coaxed, hugging the girl and winking at Sara.

"But I don't want to be a girl, couldn't I be a boy?" Martinique whined.

"No, you don't want to grow up and return to your old habits. Being a girl this time round will ensure you will take a different path. Besides Sara doesn't want a boy, she needs a sister who will help Donna. Remember if she wanted to, she could just as easily leave you at an orphanage, and you don't want that do you?"

"No please, not that," Martinique cried, having experienced that once already.

"Well remember you can't say anything about this, not that anyone would believe you. You will be loved and have every need taken care of for you, till you become a young woman," Beth promised her.

Martinique sighed, giving up to the inevitable. She didn't like it much, but saw no way out than to wait till she was an adult and make her choices then. She was starting to warm to the idea of being a kid again, despite the fact it was as a girl. If she had to go to school she would have an advantage of Martin's knowledge, not that he had been academically gifted, but with a second chance, who knows.

Martinique was soon monopolised by Donna and Cathleen, as they showed her their dolls and other toys. Martinique was a little hesitant at first, seeming a little confused at being accepted at face value, but soon she was joining in, seeming to enjoy not having any responsibilities and things looked to be working out.

Sara explained that Martinique was still fairly bright, retaining most of Martin's knowledge, but a lot of Martin's personality traits had been muted and were more like a dream now, as Martinique couldn't relate to them being her, now she was a little girl. Memories of being an adult man were of no use in this small female body and Sara hoped she'd soon discard them and put them to the back of her mind as she adapted to her new life. With Sara and Donna, who incidentally, never saw the regression of Martin, constantly treating her as Martinique, it was bound to rub off. Donna had easily accepted having a new younger sister without a problem, seeming happy to have someone to play with.

While Jenna and Sara kept an eye on the children, making sure things ran smoothly as Martinique was adjusting to indulging in child play, such as chasing Maggie and playing hide and seek.

Beth had time to compliment Shelly on her hair. Shelly had used what Beth had found out at the cabin to lengthen her hair till it was down to the middle of her back.

"I love the silky feel of it on my skin when I'm naked," Shelly admitted, bringing forth a handful from behind her back. "The extra weight and feel of it when I move my head makes me very conscious of it, and I feel very feminine."

"Wait till your in a hurry to go out, and you've just washed it," laughed Beth. "I thought I'd never get it dry, and mine is no way near as long as yours is," warned Beth.

Shelly just laughed. "The day will never come when I curse that my hair is too long, not after losing it all to chemo."

Beth hugged Shelly, knowing that hair is the crowning glory of all of a women's beauty, the sudden loss of it, can be devastating to the way a woman sees herself.

Jenna came over to join the conversation and told them the kids were making sandcastles in the sandpit, with Martinique instructing the others. She added that Cathleen had now been injected with polymer so she had the same injury protection as the others. The polymer would allow her to still grow up to adulthood and then maintain her beauty at that level, Jenna informed them.

Sara had come back inside, seeing the girl's had decided to rest under a tree on a blanket Sara had placed there. Sara had been agonising whether what she had submitted Martin to was humane.

"Sara, if Martin was caught, and remember he wouldn't go back to jail without a fight. If he didn't get shot and possibly killed, he would spend the rest of his life in jail. She has a new start, living a full and happy life and make something of herself," Jenna reminded her. If she grouses about being a girl, just remind her of the alternative," Jenna added.

Sara nodded, seeing the logic of it. She explained that she felt guilty of having such a wonderful agent as the polymer or goo as she had nicknamed it, and not be able to share it with the world, because of the potential for its misuse. The others laughed at it being called goo, but said it sort of fit the description.

Sara was determined to further investigate the benefits of the goo and whether it could be further modified to regenerate organs from a persons DNA without the other effects. If she could regress the age of individual organs to the point that they were free of disease the benefits would be world shaking. The skin being considered an organ as well, if it responded uniformly, might also be able to reduced apparent age, giving back one's youthful looks, replacing plastic surgery and facelifts. Beth and Shelly looked at each other and winked, easing themselves out of the discussion between Sara and Jenna, as talk started getting into technical details.

Shelly invited Beth into the camper for a drink. They left the men watching TV in the lounge. Beth was soon sipping her cocktail, watching Shelly mix her own drink.

"So what's next for you?" Beth asked of Shelly.

"Well, I'm thinking of staying here and not going back east," Shelly answered, sipping at her drink. "Jenna thinks I could get a job as a secretary at the same plant she works at, which would be great."

"Excellent, there's a few cute single guys there you know," winked Beth suggestively.

"Sheesh, you have adapted well. Miss matchmaker," laughed Shelly.

"I think it comes in the job description," agreed Beth smiling.

"What about you and Ted?" asked Shelly, not to be outdone in the personal questions. "Are you going to get married and have 2.5 kids?"

"That depends," Beth sighed. "Who gets to look after the .5 kid," she joked.

"Depends on what?" Shelly asked sensing the answer was close.

"It depends on whether Ted asks me," Beth whispered.

"Aaahhhhh! Nodded Shelly. "Did Ted tell you about the gold yet?"

"No, with all that has being going on I forgot all about that," laughed Beth, smacking her head with her hand. "How much is it worth?"

"Well, and this is only an estimate, the gold we brought away with us is worth about three million dollars, it's almost 80 percent gold with very little silver and the rest that is still there might net you many million more."

Beth fainted.

When she became aware of her surroundings again, Beth asked Shelly what had happened.

"You fainted, sis, nothing to worry about,"

"I could have sworn you said..."

"I did, you are rich," Shelly stated with a grin.

"Oh wow, I never expected it to be that much," Beth offered by way of explanation.

"Well what was in the box, turned out to weigh 100 pounds, you do the maths. At $378 a troy ounce and some of the nuggets might be worth more than their gold value due to their shape. There's a good market for jewellery made from attractive or unusually shaped nuggets," Shelly gushed excitedly.

"Well you're wrong on one thing," grinned Beth.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I'm not rich, we are all rich. I intend to share it with you Sara and Jenna," Beth corrected.

"Oh wow that's so great, I love you sis, wait what about Ted? Will he get a share?" winked Shelly.

"Hmmm, yes if he plays his cards right," grinned Beth, seeing the light dawn in Shelly's eyes.

"You mean?"

"Yes, he'll have to buy a piece of gold to earn a lot of gold," laughed Beth.

"I love it," chortled Shelly, hugging Beth tight.

"There's just one thing I need to do," Beth said sadly. "I need to buy some flowers and pay my respects to the real Beth. I feel awful she's buried in Colin's grave. I've gained so much and she lost everything. 'Sniffle, sniffle'" Beth wept softly.

"True, but looking at it another way, she continues on in you, better that than nothing. Her DNA will be passed on to your kids," Shelly told her, trying to comfort her emotional sister.

A knock on the camper door, announced Ted's entry, as he came looking for the love of his life.

"Someone's missing you," he announced holding out Maggie in his hands. The kitten mewed in agreement as she squirmed out of his grasp and did a twisting flip to the floor before pouncing Beth's lap.

Beth laughed, stroking Maggie gently, as she curled herself comfortably there.

"Worn out from the girl's I take it?" Beth asked.

"Yup," Ted replied, his grin slipped as he spotted the signs of tears on Beth's cheeks. "You okay? I know things have been piling upon you. If I can help in any way, just ask. I love you and don't like to see you upset."

"Funnily enough, I'm okay thanks." Beth answered, pulling him down beside her. "I was just talking about visiting Beth's grave and sending up a prayer for her. I don't want her spirit being restless being in Colin's grave."

"Why don't I drive you there tomorrow? I'd like to thank her too. For giving me, you," Ted suggested.

"Well if you're going, so am I," Shelly insisted. "I have just as good a reason to thank her as you do," she added.

"Okay, but I think we should tell the others. I'm sure they would like to thank her too." Ted reminded them.

When the suggestion was made at dinner, the matter was settled. Everyone would go. They would take some flowers, and say a quiet prayer.

Dinner was simple home made hamburgers cooked on the barbeque. Ted helped Richard blacken the meat in the time-honoured tradition. While the women helped get the salad part of it ready, Martinique was allowed to help, seeing she was adult in mind if not in body. She opened and handed out beers for the hard workingmen, as they poked and prodded the patties and turned the bacon strips. Martinique was even allowed to place the cheese slices over the patties once the patties were done. Soon everyone was eating, having found a suitable seat nearby.

The children were shuffled off for a bath. The ketchup didn't all get in their mouths. Martinique blamed her smaller mouth, saying it wouldn't open wide enough, till Sara pointed out that she still shouldn't have got it on her ears. Martinique had the grace to blush, which made her look very cute. Bath time went surprising well, given Cathleen's aversion to water with bubbles. With the three girls' in the bath together, she didn't once complain. Martinique seemed to adapt quickly to being bathed, and found it was nicer than she expected. She admitted bashfully, that she hadn't been the most fastidious in the matter of personal hygiene, only showering when people started gagging around her. Sara and Jenna were pleased that she was referring to herself in the feminine, and therefore not confusing either Donna or Cathleen to her real nature.

Jenna rewarded the kids later, with some sweets, for behaving nicely, something Sara would continue to do with Martinique when she did things appropriate to her apparent age and gender.

The next morning, Ted picked up Beth, at her home and drove to Jenna's, picking up some nice bunches of flowers for the headstone. A convoy of three cars drove to the cemetery where 'Colin's' grave was.

Beth, dressed in the tradition black dress, but no veil, wanted to go the grave first, asking the others to give her some privacy as she made her peace with her colleague. Beth walked up the grave, leaving the others standing just out of earshot, as Beth talked to her dead 'sister.'

She had just laid her bunch of flowers by the headstone and had graceful stood up, when a touch on her shoulder and an unexpected voice asked.

"Miss, did you know our son?"

Beth turned, white faced, as she looked into her mother's sad eyes.

"Mom?" she stammered, seeing her mother and father standing there, before collapsing at their feet in a dead faint.

Ted had seen the couple approach Beth, and wondered who they were. He saw the woman speak and then Beth turning, before she collapsed to the ground. Instantly, he dashed across to her as he saw the pair checking on Beth's condition. Ted knelt by Beth's side, and cradled her head, before easing her into a more comfortable position.

"I'm sorry young man. Is this your lady? I just asked if she knew my son Colin, seeing she was standing here." The lady explained. "I saw her leave flowers and thought she might be one of Colin's girlfriends."

"You're Colin's parents?" asked Ted, looking up at them.

"Yes, a friend of ours here, managed to get in touch with us. It's taken this long for us to get back. Are you also a friend of Colin's?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes I am, I'm Ted Barrett and this is, um Beth Winslow," Ted replied, uncertain of how to proceed. "These are also friends of Colin," Ted added, introducing them to the rest of the group as they joined them to see what was wrong.

"I'm Jeff Stockman, and this is my wife Constance," Jeff said, as he helped Ted lift Beth's limp form into his arms.

"I'm going to put her in my car, please walk with me, we need to talk," Ted asked, as he looked down at his loves serene face.

Jenna and the rest stayed behind; placing their flowers and each giving a silent prayer, before following Ted back to their cars.

Constance was puzzled by something, but held her tongue as she and Jeff walked with Ted. Something about the unconscious woman seemed to call to her deep inside, as if she knew her somehow. When Beth had turned and looked into her eyes and said "mom?" Something had plucked at her heartstrings. Why she had called her mom was another enigma, did she have some resemblance to her own mom or was she Colin's wife? She knew it was possible Colin had married without their knowledge, what with there being really no contact between them due to their world wide search for some answers.

"Can you follow us to Jenna's house; hopefully Beth will be awake then and give you some answers about what happened to her... I mean Colin," Ted insisted, nearly flubbing things then.

So it was ten minutes later, just as Beth was stirring, everyone arrived at Jenna's house.

"I'm definitely going to add to this place, if this keeps up," sighed Richard. "Maybe make it into a hotel," he laughed. "At least then, I could charge rent.... ouch!" he yelped, as Jenna poked him in the side, showing her protest at the idea.

Ted was assisting a groggy Beth out of the car, when she saw her parents being escorted inside.

"Ted," she hissed, "those are my parents, what am I going to say to them?"

"Hi mom and dad, like my new look?" quipped Ted, answering her question with a grin. "I thought you said they wouldn't blink an eye," he asked, remembering what she'd said when he'd first mentioned her parents.

"Hey that's not funny, you know I was only kidding," fretted Beth, as she stood and checked her attire.

"Look Beth, put yourself in their shoes, they come home to mourn the loss of their son, but then find he's still alive, just living as a female. I think to find their child is still alive, is more important than a change of sex, don't you?"

"I guess so," Beth admitted reluctantly, not fully comfortable with the prospect of facing them.

"Come on honey, I'm right beside you," Ted encouraged, taking her hand and leading her inside.

"Oh Sheesh, that's another thing, having to say I've got a boyfriend and I've had sex with him," moaned Beth, halting at the doorway.

"Are you ashamed of me?" asked Ted, looking her in the eyes.

"No you big lunk," she replied, pulling him down for a kiss. "It just feels like rubbing salt into the wound after you've cut them," she added worriedly.

"Come on, they are waiting, trust me it will be okay, you won't need to feel you have to go live in a convent after you tell them," Ted promised.

"Hmmm, sounds like a good idea, as long as you join me," she winked, feeling a bit happier.

"Me in a convent?"

"Well you do have a habit, several in fact," grinned Beth as they walked inside. "Bad ones," she added, laughing at Ted's expression.

Inside the lounge, everyone was waiting, except for the children, who were outside. Beth's parents looked up at their entrance, looking intently at this young woman. Beth seated herself opposite them, so she could face them when she began her tale. Constance again had that sense of somehow feeling she knew this person sitting poised in front of them.

Beth started off talking about the day of the explosion, leaving out the part about why Colin didn't get out in time. She hadn't got very far, just to the point where Colin had cleaned himself of the goo, when Constance interrupted, with a strange look on her face.

"Colin?" she blurted the name out as a question.

Beth froze, her face paling, as tears started to fall. She couldn't speak, as her throat tightened in response to her release of emotions. Finally, with Jeff looking at Constance in surprise as his wife held her breath, waiting.

"Mooooooooooooooom!" wailed Beth, flinging herself into her mother's arms. She sobbed there while Constance's eyes glistened and she stroked the shaking woman in her grasp.

Constance looked at her husband, and smiled tearfully. " It's Colin dear, he's not dead after all, he's just a she now?"

Jeff was gob smacked. Surprise and bewilderment chased across his face, but disbelief never showed. His trust in his wife went beyond logic. When she told him this woman was now his daughter/son whatever, he knew it must be true. His heart lifted from the burden of grief a parent feels when their child dies before them. He joined in the hug, seeing Beth lift her head to look at him.

"How did you know?" asked Ted, awed by Constance's intuitive leap of faith.

Jenna gave Ted a pitying look that said she knew how.

"A mother can always recognise her child, it's built in," Constance smiled, her joy making her look ten years younger. "Plus I recognised the way she spoke, although that only confirmed my earlier feeling at the cemetery."

Now that her parent's had managed to have put aside their surprise at the change in sex and seemed to have accepted her as their new daughter, Beth began again. She continued, detailing the changes and following it with her adventures since. Her parent's were glued to their seats as the story unfolded, laughing with her at the funny bits and hugging her at the bad. Jenna kept supplying hot drinks to everyone and some snacks, as the time passed while Beth brought her parent's up to date.

Many tears where shed and several boxes of Kleenex were consigned to the waste basket, as Beth poured out her emotions, having found love and acceptance, feeding back from her parent's at her new circumstances.

"So how are you coping with all this?" Jeff asked Beth.

"Well Ted has been my rock, I think I'd have fallen apart without his help," Beth replied, taking Ted's hand in hers. "It's weird, but I like being female. I have more friends now than I ever did before. Maybe Colin was just the caterpillar, and now I'm finally the butterfly."

Constance saw the look that passed between Ted and her new daughter, and she smiled. She could sense a wedding with her child wearing white coming up sometime in the neat future, something she had thought impossible, seeing her only child had been born male. All mothers dream of having a daughter, so that they can look forward to being involved with the preparations for that day of days.

She vowed to stay close by until that wonderful event occurred, hopefully it would be soon. Although Beth had left out certain details in her narration of events, she guessed that Beth had already slept with Ted as a woman. Beth was very natural, very feminine now, with no sign of her former male mannerisms.

Sara explained about the goo's properties, and all its ramifications. She offered to give them the same opportunity that they themselves had taken, by injecting them with their own customised goo.

Beth wasn't sure of what their answer would be. Would they accept? Or refuse the offer? She waited while her parents whispered to each other, before giving Sara their answer.

"Can you make us younger, with that stuff?" Constance asked, surprising everyone. "Not young like Martinique, but say 10 to 15 years younger?"

"I could, but it would mean no further changes would be possible afterwards." Sara told them. "The agent that halts the aging effects, also prevents the goo from being activated again," Sara explained.

"That's fine; I think the years we gain back will be filled with joy as we get to know our daughter. I can't wait to be a grandma and baby-sit my daughter's children," Constance replied, giving Ted and Beth a meaningful look.

"You're going to stay around mom? Not going to leave me again for some far off country?" Beth gasped.

"No honey, maybe we made a mistake leaving you last time, but we had given you a house and knew you had a job with a future. We thought that you might not want us hanging round, so we left. Then we got caught up in trying to find out what had happened to us in the desert. I'm sorry we weren't better parents."

"Mom...dad, I love you, I always have. I missed you so much... " Beth trailed off as tears fell again. She threw herself into her parents welcoming arms, content to feel their love wash away the years of loneliness, she never realised, till this moment, that she'd been keeping locked away.

The tender moment was suddenly interrupted, by the arrival of a four footed ball of fur jumping up onto Beth's lap. Maggie was introduced and seemed content to allow Constance to tickle her tummy as she stretched out on Beth's lap. Her parents were amazed when Beth demonstrated Maggie's uniqueness by squeezing all four of her legs into her body leaving her head sitting on a round blob of a body, they laughed as Maggie rolled off Beth's lap onto the couch, having no legs to stop herself as she wriggled her body in protest. Moments later, regaining her legs and her dignity, she promptly jumped down to walk rejoin the girl's outside,

Constance stood up, as the buzz of conversation turned to more general topics. Excusing herself to go use the bathroom, she touched Beth on the shoulder and gave her a look. Beth stood and followed her mom, knowing her mom had something to say to her in private. Once in the bathroom, Beth was surprised to see her mom use the toilet, as if she was alone and wasn't the least worried about her ex son seeing her there.

What will dad say?" Beth hissed, turning to check that the door was closed.

"Whatever I tell him to," Constance laughed. "You have exactly the same equipment that I have, so there's no reason for modesty between mother and daughter. You are very beautiful you know, Ted is lucky to have you," she said, finishing her business and flushing the toilet.

Beth blushed and hung her head, not knowing what to say. Her mom reached out and raised Beth's chin, looking searchingly into Beth's eyes.

"You're in love with him, aren't you?"

"Yes mom,"

"You're using protection?" Constance asked, turning to wash her hands and check her appearance.

"We'll I'm using the pills Beth had at her home," Beth agreed with an embarrassed blush.

"Honey, you're a woman now, with a woman's needs, don't be embarrassed about wanting sex with a guy. I hope you and Ted get to enjoy the same relationship as I have with your father. Has he proposed yet?"

"Not yet, I've been taking it slow, but I'm sure he knows I love him," Beth stated with certainty.

Constance snorted. "They never see the obvious, right under their noses, you'll have to spell it out to him," she added nudging her in the ribs.

Walking back to rejoin the others, Jeff stood, saying they should get back to the hotel or they'd miss dinner. Jenna then asked if they could stay for dinner. Constance was agreeable, asking if there was anything she could help with.

"Could you pop out to the local bakery and buy two loaves of their hi top bread? Beth you can go with her and show her where it is," Jenna asked.

Ten minutes later, Beth and Constance returned, carrying a bag with two loaves of crusty white bread that smelled heavenly. The yeasty smell quickly permeated the house with its appetising aroma.

Dinner was held outside and was a pick and perch. A lovely salad was served in a huge bowl with one of the salmon that had been caught at the lake. Richard had smoked it using the barbeque sprinkled with mesquite to give it added flavour. Everyone bar the children picked what they liked from the salad items and then found a seat or convenient perch to eat their meal. The children had franks in a bun, although Martinique tried some of the salmon, as did Donna. Maggie begged unashamedly and managed to sample some salmon and a frank or two.

The salmon was commented on and talk turned to the future of the cabin and the gold. Jeff knew someone that could be trusted who could take the gold and crush it for a small percentage of the value. Beth liked the idea of expanding the cabin or rebuilding another in the same unobtrusive manner so it would blend into the area. It could have a few more modern conveniences like gas for cooking or heating and lots of bedrooms so everyone could stay there at once. Ted suggested that working holidays could be an option. To work by hand to gather the gold/quartz ore, for a few hours a day then relax fishing or swimming. Beth thought that was a great idea, as she didn't want any machines in there to spoil the environment, or poison the lake.

Beth liked the idea too, suggesting the recovery of the gold would be great exercise for both her and Richard, given that their jobs involved a lot of sitting on their backsides. Richard tried to deny that, which got a lot of laughter, ending up with him admitting he needed a little exercise. Beth offered the use of the cabin to her parents, saying it might be a great way of relaxing after their time away.

They agreed to go there soon, but needed to find a place to stay. Beth looked at Ted and whispered in his ear. After some head nodding and a few shrugs, Beth asked her parents if they would like to move into Ted's place on a permanent basis. She then said that Ted would move into her house using the second bedroom. Her parents agreed after a muted consultation with each other, but only if Ted would allow them to buy the place if they liked it. Ted could hardly object, seeing he would be living with Beth on a daily basis, and knowing that the spare bedroom would see very little use, other than for storage of his belongings. So it was settled.

Beth's father voiced some objections over the arrangements, saying it wasn't appropriate for Beth to have Ted living in her home while unmarried.

"Oh dad, don't be such a worry wart, I'm not a little girl any more, in fact I never was," she giggled.

I guess it's rather too late to be showing fatherly concern, seeing how we abandoned you," her father sighed.

"Oh, I don't know," Beth answered, as she cocked her head and looked speculatively at her father. "I kinda like the idea of my father being concerned over my sexual relationships. What's number one rule in the father's handbook?"

"Adult you might look, but I could still paddle your ass, young lady," he retorted, with an eager grin.

"Eeek! Help me Ted, I'm being threatened with an ass paddling," Beth cried, trying to look scared.

"Can I help in the paddling," was Ted's rejoinder. "That kind of acting needs to be punished," he added with a laugh.

Everyone started chuckling, at the byplay. Beth went to her father and took his hands in hers.

"Dad, I love you and I don't want you going off where I'll never see you again," Beth stated in all seriousness. "I'm in a unique situation, one I'm going to explore with open arms. In most ways, despite a few problems, I've never been happier. I'm going to make you proud of me, and I'll try and be the best daughter you could wish for," Beth promised, getting a little dewy eyed.

"Honey, you don't need to make me proud, I've always been proud of you, boy or girl. I'm happy that you're happy and that's what matters most. Her father replied, bringing her into a tight hug. Her mom came over and hugged Beth from behind, enclosing her in a circle of love. Jenna, somewhat teary eyed herself, dropped a handful of tissues into the family cuddle, seeing them thankfully received.

"Must be the onions in here," Ted speculated to no one in particular, as the box did its rounds.

Eventually things calmed down and eventually as time passed, people decided to leave for home. Ted had Beth's parents follow him to his place, where they would sleep and Ted grabbed a few clothes and other essentials and headed to Beth's. Beth had driven home directly and had changed the sheets in the spare room, and then checked that Maggie had enough food and water, before heading for a shower. She was finished, and clad in a sexy nightie and robe when Ted announced his arrival with a toot of his horn. Beth opened the door as Ted dragged an overnighter in with his gear.

"Wow! Will I get greeted like this every time come here?" Ted asked, his eyebrows rising in surprise, looking at her state of dress with hopeful grin.

"Only if you come bearing gifts," laughed Beth, as she shut the door behind him.

"Hmmm, make note,' always remember to bring gifts,'" Ted wrote in the air, as he gave her a kiss. "I did bring a bottle of wine, if you're interested?"

"I'll get some glasses," was Beth's answer, as she slipped into the lounge to put some music on. "Why not get a shower and wear something comfortable, your robe is on the door," she winked.

Ted dropped the case unopened in the spare room, seeing it had been tidied. He stripped off his clothes and went naked into the bathroom. Showering with the only soap and shampoo there, he came out smelling of lilacs. He grinned seeing the pink robe on the hook behind the door, and wondered what Beth had in mind.

Beth heard Ted coming, but didn't turn around. She smelled the scent of lilacs as Ted came up behind and kissed her neck. She turned, grinning as she saw the pink swirl of the robe as Ted moved to sit beside her. He had a bottle in his hand and dexterously popped the cork of the champagne using only one hand, worrying the cork out with his thumb. The other hand was duly occupied around Beth's neck pulling her closer into sweet embrace.

"Penny for your thoughts," Ted asked, managing to pour two glasses out without spilling a drop.

"Hamm," purred Beth, reaching for her glass and taking a sip. "Was thinking that you looked very cute in that robe, I might have to embroider your name on it," she replied with a small giggle.

"What is it with you trying to get me in your clothes?" Ted probed, looking at her intently.

"Well seeing you liked getting into my panties," Beth winked at the double meaning. Anyway doesn't this feel good," she added, before grasping his tumescent rod and sliding the silky folds of the robe against it.

"Argh, stop!" Ted gasped. "I'll explode and make a mess on it," he panted, grabbing her small hand in his.

"Explode away, just make sure you have reloads for later," Beth laughed, seeing Ted's expression.

Ted managed to hold off his impending ejaculation by the smallest margins, resorting to tickling Beth to stop her delightful ministrations. He wasn't going to allow himself the pleasure of release without Beth being in the same state. Maybe later, they could resume things, but for now all he wanted to do, was relax in her delightful company and finish the wine.

"I thought your parent's took it pretty well, considering," Ted mused after regaining some measure of self control.

"Well with the odd things they have seen in their travels, I guess a spontaneous sex change isn't too strange. It wasn't that, that worried me; it was whether they would still accept me as their child. I didn't really know if they still loved me, what with them on the other side of the world. Okay I was a young adult and capable of living on my own, but I missed them. It's nice to just pick up the phone or visit your parents if you have any doubts about things," Beth sighed.

"Your parents loved you alright. Did you know they had someone report to them via email every fortnight on your well-being?" Ted asked.

"NO! What like a detective?" asked a shocked Beth.

"It was one of their friends who lives in your street, apparently they would keep an eye out for you and then email your mom and dads email address every two weeks."

"How do you know this? I didn't know they had some way of getting mail, most of my letters came back unopened, saying they were no longer there," Beth cried in frustration.

"When your mom took you into the bathroom, your dad told me then. He thought you had cut them out of their lives, as you never answered their emails," Ted told her.

"WHAT EMAILS? OHMYGOD..."

"What?"

 

To be continued in Chapter 11

 

Since 06/14/04