Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker Chapter 11

Ted looked anxiously at Beth as she held her head in her hands, crying softly. He wrapped an arm around her gently, holding the shaking body close, not knowing the reason for her outburst, but sensing she needed comforting right then.

Beth turned into Ted's shoulder with a wail, releasing years of pent up feeling regarding her parents. Ted rocked her like a baby, unmindful of the spreading patch of wetness from her tears. Finally, Beth raised her tear-reddened face to Ted's and whispered an admission.

"I changed my email address when I started work. With the sensitive nature of our research I thought it best. I never really used the old one that my parents knew of. It was more for getting subscriptions and stuff. I've never checked it since then as I get all my subscriptions through work now."

"You never got any letters from them?" asked Ted.

"A few cards at birthdays and the odd letter. That's when I used to reply if the had a senders address on them," Beth replied.

Beth got up then and ran to her computer, fretting as it booted up. Opening up her browser she entered a password to access her old email account. A limit warning came up saying the account was full and it exceeded the limit by several megs. Clicking on the inbox, Beth groaned as she saw one letter after another from her parents scrolling down the page. Beth slumped, berating herself for not checking, knowing it would take weeks to catch up on her belated mail. She picked up the phone and rang Ted's home number, waiting for one of her parents to pick up. Ted stood by in case Beth needed some support for the tears that was bound to follow.

"Mom? Ted just told me about you keeping and eye on me."

"No I'm not upset about that, but I only found out about the emails. I had changed my email address for work related reasons. I have a billion unread emails here I never knew I had."

"MOM! I can't do that, those are from you."

"Please Mom, I'll read them, I promise."

"Mom, okay, I'll do it."

Ted listened as Beth first apologised and then wailed a protest, before becoming subdued as she gave her promise. He watched in horror as she clicked delete all and saw all the messages that had been sent her quickly vanish as the inbox emptied itself.

"Beth, why in Gods heaven did you do that? Quick go to the trash and restore them," he shouted in alarm.

He watched as she moved the mouse towards the trash, thinking she was going to open it to restore the mail. Too late he was, to stop her clicking the mouse on the "empty trash."

"Beth!"

She turned her tear-streaked face and gave him a weak smile.

"It's okay, mom told me to do it."

"But why?" asked Ted, nonplussed.

"Mom said that there wasn't anything in those letters she couldn't tell me herself. By deleting them, it's given them the excuse to tell me in person what was in them. Now she and dad can spend lots of time with their new daughter telling me how much they love me."

"Great, but please warn me next time, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw them disappearing," Ted admitted.

Beth turned off the computer and stood up. She took one of Ted's hands and led him into her bedroom, saying with a smile that she'd give his heart something to really jump about.

Ted woke sluggishly, feeling happy his heart was still beating after the rigorous exertions of the night before. He rolled to face Beth, still sleeping along side. Feeling the slippery nightie that Beth had been wearing and was now encasing his body with its silken texture, Ted recalled how it was he ended up in it. Beth was wearing the nightie when they lip locked with her astride his form in the bed. He'd lifted it up so he could feel her breasts as they hung perkily down near his chest. She had shrugged her arms out of the garment so it lay around her neck. She wouldn't break the kiss so to get it out of the way; Beth had pulled it over her head and pulled around Ted's neck inside out. While Ted fondled her breasts, she worked the nightie over his shoulders and had fed his arms one by one through the armholes. She then tugged on it to get it down his body where she teased his nipples though the fabric.

It had been a rather different feeling to be the one in the nightie during sex. Beth has pleasured herself on his rampant organ before they both orgasmed like never before. Beth had teased him saying he was a pretty good lay for a girl. This had inspired him to show her who was the girl, as he rolled over on her and demonstrated to their mutual satisfaction again. Having spent all his manly juices, they called it a draw and collapsed together and slept. Not wanting to disturb her repose, he was content to just watch her, while he thought on how lucky he was.

Ted must have dozed off, for the next he knew was waking up to giggling. Beth was sitting on the edge of the bed dressed in a new nightie and holding out a tray with breakfast on it. He struggled to sit up, finding he needed to pull up some slack in the nightie that he was still wearing to do so. He started to pull it off, but Beth shook her head.

"How's my sweet girl this morning, all prettied up in her nightie?" she giggled, seeing Ted blush.

"Hungry for more of what we had last night," he retorted, trying to recover as much masculine dignity as he could, seeing the way he was attired.

"Settle for breakfast instead?" Beth teased, grinning at Ted's false bluster.

"As long as there's some eye candy to go with it," leered Ted, gnashing his teeth jokingly.

"Hmmm, I thought I was all the eye candy you needed," pouted Beth, pretending to be hurt. "I think I should punish you and keep you in my frilly things till you learn your lesson," Beth winked, as she fed Ted with a mouthful of toast.

"Huurrnpher not bumphy lifgtly," Ted mumbled, trying to speak around a mouthful of food.

"Be careful, you'll spit food all over your nice nightie," Beth admonished, feeding Ted another mouthful before he could object.

Ted shut up then, deciding surrender to this delightfully tormenting woman was better than being toasted to death. He could see life would never be plain and ordinary with this unique female. Finishing breakfast, Beth shooed him into the bathroom to get a shower, while she straightened the bed. Ted was wet and soaping himself up to wash off the dried excesses exuded from last nights exercise, when he realised he was still using Beth's lilac scented soap. He sighed resigned to smelling flowery all day, as he wasn't going to traipse wet into his bedroom to get his soap.

Shaved and after applying some of his deodorant, which did little to mask the overall smell of lilac, Ted went to get dressed. He grabbed his clothes and took the nightie back into Beth's bedroom, where Beth promptly took it and folded it on the pillow of the side he'd slept on. Wondering what that was all about, Ted sat on the freshly made bed and started pulling his clothes on. He watched as Beth stripped and walked naked to her drawers to put on her underwear.

"God, you're beautiful." Ted blurted out, spontaneously.

"You like what you see?" Beth asked, winking, as she turned from the drawers holding a red satin bra in her hand.

Ted blushed, his arousal plain the see in his tented jockeys.

"I see that you do," Beth smiled, licking her lips seductively while eyeing his covered tent pole. She did a twirl with arms outstretched, the bra brushing his face as it passed by.

Ted growled deep in his throat, wanting nothing more than to grab this picture of luscious pulchritude, and ravish her with thoroughly. Beth stopped her twirl, her back to Ted, bring the arm holding the bra over her shoulder so it dangled down her back enticingly, looking over her shoulder at Ted she ran her pink tongue slowly around her lips, before she cracked up laughing.

Ted was thunderstruck, that was straight out of a blue movie scene. He couldn't believe Beth had learned to vamp like that so naturally. When Beth started laughing, he wasn't sure why, so he only gave her a weak grin back.

"You should have seen your face," she gasped, holding her sides from the laughing.

"Huh?"

Did you like that routine? You should you know, I think you've watched that scene in that video you have a million times. Did I get it right? Beth started giggling as she saw the comprehension dawn on Ted's face as he recalled the video in question.

"You, you, you little tease, I'll get you for that," Ted spluttered, as he stood up. Beth danced away from him laughing as she ran out of the bedroom still naked while a jockey clad Ted chased after her. Ted didn't try too hard to catch the naked nymph as she jiggled and wiggled attractively in front of him. Beth soon realised she was putting on a show for Ted as she weaved in and out of the furniture. She stopped, letting him catch her as she caught her breath from all the girlish squealing she' been making. She wasn't in the least bit embarrassed about the squeals and giggling she did when Ted tickled her. It just seemed to come so naturally, that she made no effort to resist the impulses.

Ted gathered her up in his arms, taking his prize back to the bedroom. Beth's squeals as she struggled only seem to spur him on. He plopped her onto the bed and covered her with his body, as he took a kiss as his winnings. They lay there, just looking at each other, knowing if they didn't stop, they'd be there all day. Reluctantly they both pulled apart after one last kiss, to resume getting dressed. Decent at last, Beth sat and did her makeup and brushed her hair into some semblance of order.

Feeling a little calmer, now her assets were no longer on display, Beth decided to call her parents. A few phone calls later, had them coming over along with Sara and Jenna. Shelly would take the girl's to a local park, while we discussed some plans for the future. Ted decided to investigate an idea he had, after listening to an idea Beth was planning on suggesting to the others.

Ted left after giving Beth a kiss. He promised to be back for lunch, wherever they decided to have it. While waiting for the others to arrive, Beth started looking in the phone book, before making some calls.

Beth's parents arrived first, having a shorter distance to travel. After the usual greetings and small talk, Beth showed them around her home. Her parents seemed duly impressed. Constance took note of the bedrooms, and was interested in Beth's formidable array of clothing. Excusing himself from the scene, her father went back into the lounge to watch some sport on her large screened TV.

Constance sat down on the bed and patted the bed next to her in an obvious suggestion.

"Honey, one thing, when you and Ted have sex, open a window or use a little more air freshener," she suggested with a knowing smile. "I could tell by the suitcase still on the bed in Ted's room that he never slept there last night, and I could still smell the essence of d'amour in here," she chuckled, seeing Beth blush in embarrassment.

"Did you think dad knows?" Beth asked anxiously.

"I don't think so honey," Constance reassured her. I put on a fairly strong perfume this morning, just in case it was needed. He was behind me all the time, so I think that masked it okay."

"MOM! You came expecting us to smell of sex?" a flabbergasted Beth exclaimed.

Constance laughed and hugged her daughter. "You might look and act like a woman, but there's still lots you don't know about being one," she chided gently.

"Oh mom, I'm so afraid that I'll never get the hang of being a woman. I still worry when people stare at me, worrying if I'm doing something unfeminine and they'll laugh at the guy in a dress," Beth confessed, getting a little agitated.

"When men look like you in a dress, womankind will be out of a job," laughed Constance, taking Beth's hand in hers. "You like being female, don't you?"

"Yes I do, although you would have had a different answer a month ago. Apart from periods, it's been fun, a whole new world for me in fact."

"When I first saw you I thought 'what a beautiful girl,' you move and act like a woman born, all you need is a few more tips. Take today; I used to have sex with my first boyfriend while my parents were out of the house. I learnt you needed to air the room out, as the odour of sex can linger. That was just something I found out in the course of growing up, like a myriad of other things a girl learns. You on the other hand never had that experience. I'm amazed at how well you are doing," Constance confided.

"Well, I did use some of Beth's original memories to guide me, where they were available, but it's so fragmented. I don't like to use them too much," Beth reminded Constance about the time she nearly got consumed by Beth's ghost identity. "As I use what's left of her knowledge, it becomes mine, so now I don't end up with reminders from her past."

"Are you happy now?" her mom asked.

"Yes, I feel I have more potential as Beth than I ever had as Colin. I have friends and a lover, not bad huh?" she laughed.

"That's the most important thing to have," Constance told her.

"Jenna and Shelly and Sara have all been wonderful to me, and have helped give me tips on how to cope," Beth smiled, her gaze lost in thought.

"Well friends will only tell you some things, mothers tell their daughters the rest. I hope you'll allow me to dust off my handbook and help you where I can," her mom asked hopefully.

"Of course I will, I can think of several things already that I'll need your advice," promised Beth, as she hugged her tight.

"Hey let's get back to your dad. He'll probably think we are having a hen session," Constance said, before standing up.

"I thought we were," giggled Beth in reply.

Constance smiled. "This was more your ordinary mother daughter talk, wait till you have an engagement party, then you'll know what a hen session is."

A small frown clouded Beth's face at the thought whether or not she'd get to be a bride. Ted hadn't mentioned anything yet and she didn't want to bring the subject up first. Shrugging off that small feeling of doubt, she followed her mom back into the lounge.

Her dad was engrossed in replays of the past months football highlights, and hardly noticed them until Constance sat down beside him.

"We should get one of these," he said, indicating the TV. "Great for watching the soaps," he went on, implying Constance would benefit.

"Sure, then I'd never get you out of the chair," scoffed Constance, winking at Beth.

Beth's laugh was interrupted by the arrival of Sara and Jenna. Showing them in, Beth started making coffee and tea for those that wanted it. Sitting round the coffee table in the lounge with their cups of drink, Beth started telling them about her idea.

She mentioned that the cans of goo they had recovered, needed to be stored somewhere and that more research needed to be done on it secretly. She proposed with the money from the gold, that they find a small factory/warehouse that could be leased to store and do research, even if it was only in their spare time. Jenna was excited by the idea, as was Sara, Jenna had been thinking of giving up her job anyway and spending more time at home. A part time job where she could work what hours she wanted, seemed an excellent idea,

Sara pointed out that they would need specialised equipment and even leasing it if they where available might be too expensive. Beth wondered if anything at the old plant might be up for sale, which had them thinking again.

Ted, meanwhile had been busy, he'd visited the old research plant and seen workmen busy stripping out the remains of the underground levels most of the scientific equipment was already removed or was in the process of being removed. He found that they had stored the stuff in one of the ground level storage rooms. He managed to get in and inspect what was there. Most of it looked ruined, blackened with soot and dented in places from the force of debris hitting it. On closer examination, he thought some of it might be salvageable. Most of the equipment was triplicated, one set per vat with their individual needs, so that cross contamination didn't occur.

Ted rang the head of the company, asking what was going to been done with the junked equipment. Ted played on the uselessness of having the gear repaired. It turned out that everything was deemed destroyed as the insurance was prepared to replace everything. Their assessor wasn't capable of estimating the damage probably as the company stressed to fragility of some of it and the exorbitant costs of repair. They were only interested in getting new replacements. Ted offered to take the gear off their hands, seeing it was to be disposed of, saying he might strip some of the components for his own use, e.g. the motors.

The director was amenable to that, stipulating that if he wanted some of it, then he had to get rid of it all, saving them the cost of removal. Ted was ecstatic as he estimated the worth of the old stuff. He was on the phone to Beth as soon as he had the clearance.

The tension in Beth's house was running high, as they heard the news from Ted. Nobody could believe how lucky they were.

Ted told them there were at least one working electron microscope several centrifuges, a spectrum analyser, a gas chromatograph several isolated environmental chambers with attached microscope and Waldo operating arms, along with the blood analyser they used for testing the employees. There were ovens and one mini vat that looked salvageable as well. All they needed was an electrician who was familiar with electronic and wiring systems to hook it all up.

"I can help there," suggested Beth's dad, as she repeated Ted's comments to everyone. "I'm a licensed electrician and electronics was my specialty, before I got involved elsewhere," he explained.

"Sounds like we are going to have a family business," laughed Beth, pleased that her dad was getting involved.

"It's a pity the main vats weren't transferable, due to their size," Jenna sighed. "We might need to have one if the mini vats too small."

"Jenna the vats were useless anyway, from the damage I saw," Beth reminded her. "I might have the solution anyway. One of the places I enquired about used to house a small boutique brewery for specialty beers. Apparently they went belly up and the place still has the stills and vats installed. The owner didn't want to foot the cost of ripping it all out and was very anxious to do a deal for it, as is." Beth explained.

Later, deciding to all meet and have a picnic lunch at a local park. Ted, Beth Sara and Jenna started making plans to lease the brewery plant and work out the transport details for all the equipment. While Shelly and Constance sorted out the food that had been bought on the way, Richard and Jeff had the enviable task of looking after the girls, as they played on the swings. Luckily only Cathleen and Donna needed a pusher to help them swing, one due to size and the other to unfamiliarity. Martinique seemed to manage quite on her own despite being smaller than Donna, in fact she seemed to revel in the simple enjoyment of being a kid again. Her laughter, as she swung ever more higher, making everyone happy for her.

Maggie too was having fun; no way was she being left behind. She didn't stray away from the group, mostly staying and watching the children or running back to Beth. She never even bothered the occasional duck that came looking for a titbit. Her behaviour caught Jeff's attention and he mentioned it to Beth.

"She seems quite devoted to you, it's strange the way she's behaving, almost as if she knows what you're saying at times," Jeff noted.

"She's been like that from the time I rescued her from the lab," Beth said. "It's almost like she's unnaturally intelligent...oh my! You don't think?" she trailed off in wonder.

"What?" Ted asked, seeing Beth pale.

"What if she did come in contact with some of the goo that had Beth's DNA in it? I know there's no way she could become a copy of Beth, because of the mass difference. Losing it like Martin did to become Martinique is not like trying to gain it. Could she have gained some of Beth's intelligence, or memories?" Beth mused.

Everyone looked at Maggie in a new light; each wondering what was going on in the cute kitten's head. Maggie looked back at them, while walking daintily past the food containers to sniff at Beth's fingers.

"Well worrying about it, doesn't change the fact that she's still a kitten, intelligent or not. If she was going to change, she would have done it before now," Ted pointed out.

Beth picked the kitten up; looking deep into its eyes, trying to sense what was going on in there. Maggie seemed to be happy even in her uniqueness, to play the role of a kitten, although Beth was sure the kitten was smirking at her with its guileless green eyes.

Relaxing after lunch, the women gathered together, getting to know more about Constance and her travels, while at the same time telling her about themselves. The men walked away where they tossed a football that Ted had produced from his car, to each other. The girls were back playing on a merry go round. Several boys playing in the park were content to spin for them.

Constance was surprised to learn that Shelly wasn't born female. This was a detail, Beth had omitted in her explanation at Jenna's house. She had felt it was up to Shelly to share, if she wanted to divulge her own story. Constance complimented Shelly on her manner, saying she wouldn't have guessed in a million years. Once Constance heard about Donna and her miraculous cure, she offered to help out in any way.

"If anyone wants a babysitter, I'm more than available," she offered. "I work for free," she added, as further enticement.

A chorus of, "you're hired," and "when can you start," had the women chuckling. Reluctantly, everyone packed up the lunch detritus and the girl's leftovers fed to the waiting ducks, after Maggie inspected them for any uneaten protein products. Gathering the girl's took the longest as they resisted leaving. Cries of "just one more go," echoed repeatedly, before they were bundled into the waiting vehicles.

That night, Beth had to defer any bedroom Olympics with Ted, as her period had started. Beth realising what the signs coming in the late afternoon foretold, promptly took her Midol to help ward off the worst of cramping effects. Always considerate of her, Ted was content to just sleep snuggled up to her. She felt his loving arms gently massaging her tensed muscles, falling asleep, feeling comforted by the weight of his arms over her body.

Ted was up early the next morning, after arranging for some time off from work. He'd finally come to a decision and wanting to get things rolling, made a few calls out of state that he had been dreading.

Seeing she was now financially set, Beth had decided to hand in her notice at work. She would work out that week, finishing any projects that were outstanding and bring up to speed those people who would be finishing the ones outstanding.

Ted went to a friend of his who was into metal moulding, he took along a jar of the gold nuggets, giving his friend precise instructions. That done he went into town to contact a jeweller, to pick up a few items before returning to his friends place with his purchases. That done he then contacted the owners of the defunct brewery enterprise and then took out a lease on the property. Getting the keys after paying a year's lease agreement, he contacted a moving van company and arranged to have the equipment from the old plant delivered there.

Jeff met him at the plant and they both examined the state of the place before deciding where everything was going to go. There was the usual rubbish to be cleared out from the previous owner/tenants, the offices and kitchenette area was left alone for the moment as they concentrated in the old brewery area. It took the rest of the day to set up the equipment in their new positions, and Jeff had an acquaintance of his supply the necessary wire and fittings for the refit.

Finishing up her work, Beth managed to have her weeks notice waived; her role in the secondary plant had been minimal after the transfer from the destroyed plant had been completed. Ted decided to continue working on the administrative projects at the second plant, until things were underway at their new property. Jenna decided to finish working at the plant as well, leaving Richard as the only other remaining worker at the plant. Her expertise in the lab would be needed for the new project at the warehouse.

The following Saturday Beth arranged to have everyone round for a barbeque lunch, in celebration of the first pieces of equipment to be wired up and tested, and confirmed to be operational.

Beth had borrowed Richards Weber barbeque and had hired a spit roaster, which was basically a 44-gallon drum cut in half extended and laid under a rotating spit. The drum was filled with slow burning hickory hardwood whose smoke gave a nice flavour to the full lamb on the spit. All the women helped make or provide some item of food or dessert. The Weber was used for other meat morsels for the children.

When the others arrived, the lamb, which had been cooking since morning, was looking and smelling delicious. Ted had been caring for it, ensuring the fire was kept going at a steady rate. Bowls of trifle were promptly put in Beth's fridge, along with a triple layer chocolate cake covered with a chocolate mousse icing. The table was extended and filled with salads and later with a big casserole dish filled with fresh baby potatoes topped with knobs of butter and a light sprinkle of fresh mint. Beer and wine for the adults flowed freely, as did the soft drink the children were given.

Talk ranged from work to pleasure, and plans to visit the cabin again soon. Beth told them that she had contacted a builder to produce some plans for the modification of the cabin and she was hoping it would be built before next summer. Ted disappeared into his room, telling Richard to open some champagne for everyone. He came out with something in his hand as he approached Beth. She was sitting on the lounge suite talking to her mom, when Constance nudged her to get her attention on Ted. Beth turned around to see Ted kneel before her with an open ring box in his hand.

"Beth, I've been waiting for the right moment to ask this, for so long now. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he asked hopefully.

For a moment, Beth was taken aback; looking at the diamond encrusted gold band and then back up to Ted's clear gaze. Her mind raced, as the long awaited words echoed in her head. She took the box, extracting the ring without a sound as she looked at it, seeing not just a ring, but also the meaning the symbol represented.

"Yes, I will," she said quietly into the hushed silence.

She slipped the ring on, finding it was a perfect fit. It was heavier than expected, the three diamonds sparkling bright, in their triangular setting.

Cheering broke out as she uttered her acceptance, and glasses clinked together in a toast to the newly engaged couple.

The woman gathered close, wanting to see the ring and gush over it, congratulating her with hugs and kisses. Ted told her the ring was made from some of the gold they had found. His friend had added just enough silver to it to make it harder wearing. He explained that he had bought the diamonds himself out of his own money.

"How did you get the size right?" Beth asked curiously.

"Remember the mould of you? Well I saved a finger, just in case," he laughed.

The talk, which had suddenly turned to weddings, churches and dresses, was interrupted by Richard announcing that lunch was ready. A sudden flurry of activity saw the hot potatoes and sweet corn drained and placed on the tables. Everyone was told to grab what they wanted and head out to where Ted and Richard were helping slice up the lamb. To say lunch was delicious was an understatement as everyone pigged out. Even Constance, who joked that if the women ate much more, they would need dresses purchased from Tents Are Us.

"Eat now, for tomorrow we diet," intoned Jenna, grabbing some more sliced lamb.

"Hey I'm on a sea food diet," grinned Ted, between mouthfuls.

Everyone groaned at that clich�d joke, so Ted decided not to finish the punch line, deciding eating another corncob was healthier to being the target of some handy missiles. The afternoon lazed away as people snacked and nibbled while talk turned to the upcoming wedding.

Constance brought up a subject that made Ted flinch, his parents. He just said that he had rung them earlier in the week announcing his intentions of getting married. He didn't know if they would come, as he didn't get on with them too well, since he went against their wishes in his choice of career.

"They wanted me to be a doctor and follow in my fathers footsteps," he explained, reluctantly, as he recalled the shouting matches between his parents and himself.

Beth recalled some of the times Ted had asked Colin if he could sleep over. Colin had only met them once before they moved away out of state. Beth remembered them as snobbish and not very friendly the time he had called there as Colin.

"I'll send them an invite anyway." Beth spoke up. "If they decide not to come, then that's their loss."

Beth had thought that getting married would be relatively simple. Rent a tux for the groom, find a dress for the bride and bridesmaids, and hire a church and a venue for the reception and book a holiday somewhere for the honeymoon. As she listened in to the others planning, it was obvious that there was going to be much more to it than that.

It seemed, just agreeing on whether the gown show be designed from scratch or selected ready made and then adjusted to fit, was going to take some time. Beth's opinion seemed to be deemed irrelevant as the women put their heads together. Beth wasn't too worried about that, seeing she was the least qualified, due to her lack of knowledge in this particular field. Beth hovered around on the outside, listening to the conversation, but not really part of it, so when she saw Ted bringing in the remaining part of the spit roasted lamb, she went to help.

After Ted had chopped it into the smaller cuts, Beth wrapped it in cling wrap and placed it in the fridge, where the remains of the deserts soon followed. The children were either sleeping curled up on the deck chairs outside, or playing with Maggie. Richard and Jeff were deep in a quiet discussion about the relative merits of certain baseball teams. Beth kissed Ted, seeing they were alone for the moment, and Ted responded, by lifting Beth tight to his body with his hands cupping her buttocks so that her feet lifted off the ground. Helpless and gagged by Ted's tongue thrust deep into her mouth, Beth wrapped her arms around his neck for balance as he walked her past everyone on the way to the bedroom. Beth blushed red, but wasn't about to release the kiss first, as the others stopped talking and watched them go by.

Beth heard a few giggles from the women and heard Constance snort before telling Jeff that it was time to let the lovebirds celebrate alone, and for then to leave. Just when Ted broke the kiss as he laid Beth on the bed, they heard someone turn on the player and put in a nice romantic music CD, turning up the volume for them.

Looking at his betrothed with a rapt gaze, Ted slowly undressed. Beth had kicked of her shoes, but didn't attempt anything else, content to feast her eyes on Ted's naked body. They heard some cars leaving, but there were some faint noises, suggesting not everyone had left. Maggie squeezed under the doorway, indicating that the children had gone. Maggie pounced onto the bed and then began walking gingerly up to the top of the bed, where she curled up on the pillow beside Beth's head.

Beth laughed; asking Ted if he could perform before an audience, as she reached over her head and gently stroked the kitten.

"Perform? I'll show you perform," he replied, eyeing the kitten, with a grin. "Here comes a ten," he boasted, starting to disrobe his love.

"I'll settle for a cum, ten times," giggled Beth, moving to assist Ted in speeding up her own rapid disrobing.

Knowing they had plenty of time to enjoy it, they made love; slowly building to mutual climaxes. Ted's abstinence, during Beth's period that week, had built up a head of steam that wasn't to be satisfied by just one act of sex. After the first act, Ted turned around, still straddling her body with his as he faced her groin. He started licking the inside of her thighs, moving closer to her slit, whose puffy sex reddened lips, beckoned eagerly. Ted's penis, still covered with her juices, dangled over Beth's face, the rosebud crown, a scant inch from her mouth. She could smell the combination of hers and Ted's ejaculate as it waggled in front of her, like a tasty worm dangling before a hungry Bass.

Before that moment, Beth had never thought about sucking a penis; when she was Colin, the very idea of doing so would have made her puke. However, now, as Beth looked up at Ted's, it wasn't quite so repugnant, though still not her first choice of "favourite things to do in bed." Then whimpering, as Ted's tongue teased apart her sleek nether lips, gently seeking the love bud that was her clitoris, she started having second thoughts. Not only was it hanging there very conveniently, knowing that Ted was about to send her into another crashing orgasm, she suddenly felt it only fair to give as well as to receive.

With no further hesitation, she reached up and pulled Ted's bum down, so that she could engulf his half erect cock into her mouth. Surprised at this development, Ted paused for an instant; he had been holding his cock clear of her, not wanting to force it into her face. When Beth's lips closed about the suddenly thickening shaft and she sucked it into her warm mouth, he was surprised and delighted. He kept up his gentle ministrations on her love button, as he sank down, allowing Beth free access to his cock.

Beth gobbled as much of the rapidly hardening cock as she could, gagging slightly as Ted's movements edged it further down her throat. As their orgasms hit, she managed to gasp a breath of air. Before Ted's final thrust blocked her throat as his cum spurted directly into her gullet. She lay in a semi stupor for her climax as the pulsing member emptied itself and slowly softened, allowing her to withdraw and grab another breath. She tasted some of his cum as he finally pulled out of her mouth. It was slightly salty, but with no real flavour and she wasn't sure if she liked the texture of it as she swallowed it. In her post coital haze, she didn't realise that Ted had switched positions again until his tongue probed her mouth.

"Howamidoing?" Ted mumbled into her ear as he nuzzled her face. "Up to ten yet?"

"I'll take a rain check on the other five," Beth grinned, feeling too weak to handle any more just then.

Having a multi orgasmic body was certainly one the advantages of being female, like getting more for your dollar. Beth lay there in the silence of the house, dreading the chore of getting up and tidying up the rest of the barbeque dishes. They rested there; content to cuddle together in companionable silence, as Maggie shifted her position padding towards her favourite spot, Beth's chest. Beth held her breath as the kitten settled between her breasts and started licking at the perspiration there. When the kittens search for more salt had her tongue rasping against Beth's nipples, Beth couldn't stand it on her sensitised nipples anymore, so she moved the kitten onto Ted, laughing at the sight.

Finally, Beth dragged herself off the bed and wandered naked into the lounge to see how much of a mess still had to clean up. She was shocked to see everything was cleared away. Going into the kitchen, she saw all the dishes had been washed and put away. A note on the bench had her reaching for the phone.

"Jenna, is that you?"

"We're fine� I just want to thank you and Shelly for cleaning up the place�"

"Well it was a nice surprise�"

"I'll tell you all about it tomorrow."

Beth giggled, as she hung up the phone, knowing Jenna was desperate to hear what went on in the bedroom. Ted was surprised to see Beth returning to the bed so soon, even more so when Beth looked like she wanted to cash in her rain check.

"I thought you wanted to go clean up, or is the prospect to much for you? Why don't I go start on it while you rest," he offered generously, as he started to get up.

"No wait, there's no need," Beth quickly said, pressing down on his chest. "How about we continue where you left off," she teased, twirling some of Ted's chest hair around her finger.

"But what about the..." he started to say before Beth silenced him very effectively with a kiss.

"You can thank Jenna and Shelly later, with one of those knee jellifying kisses," gasped Beth, as she broke for air.

"Huh... oh... Oooooh!" Ted exclaimed as his puzzlement turned to comprehension. "I hope Richard won't mind?" he laughed, seeing in his minds eye the sight of Jenna melting in his arms in front of her husband.

"Oh, I'll think of a way of distracting him," giggled Beth, somehow seeing the same image Ted had, in her mind.

"I like the way you think girl," grinned Ted, figuring out what the distraction would be.

"Well he needs to be thanked too," offered Beth, pulling Ted into her embrace.

Little needs to be said about what the next few hours held for the ardent love makers, suffice to say, Beth reclaimed her rain checks and then some. They woke late the next day, wondering why the bedroom looked like a bomb had hit it. Beth scrambled to the toilet in her need to go, beating an equally needy Ted by seconds. He stood in front of her nearly poking her eye out with his morning woody. Groaning that he couldn't wait, he sat on her lap facing her and pressed his member down between her legs as she squatted there. With a squeal Beth felt him pee, hearing his stream hitting hers. She closed her legs, trapping him there until he paid the parking fee of a kiss, before allowing him to stand.

He lifted her up before she could wipe and carried her bodily into the shower, where they scrubbed each other. The exited wearing only the silk robes and towels wrapped around their wet hair, Beth having put the towel on Ted's head in the same manner as hers. They sort of looked like lopsided twins, as they re-entered the bedroom. Beth sighed at the mess, telling Ted to open the blinds and the window, while she threw all the scattered clothes and the bed sheets into the laundry hamper.

Beth sprayed the room with a can of musk aerosol perfume, putting paid to the previous scent of sex and sweat. She gave Ted a burst as he passed her, making him cough theatrically, as if he was choking. Still in their robes they went and had brunch, toasted lamb sandwiches with a coffee had them feeling perky again. Ted cleared away, while Beth got dresses in some casual jeans and a light top that showed off her breasts to full effect.

Ted was going to go to their new place they had named the warehouse, Goo Goods as a joke. First he wanted to pick up some of his gear from his house, seeing Beth's parents weren't answering the phone. Beth offered to go get it while he went straight to the warehouse. He gave her the spare key and instructions on want he needed, before kissing her goodbye.

Beth was in the middle of taking Ted's tools and test equipment out to her car when two people walked into the house. She thought they seemed familiar, which was confirmed when they spoke, Ted's parents were standing there.

"We are Ted's parents, Eloise and Reginald Barrett. Who are you and where is Ted? Why are you taking his possessions? Answer me girl," spouted Eloise in a barrage of questions. Her voice had an effected hi toned inflection in it that sounded like she was talking to a servant. Needless to say, it rubbed Beth up the wrong way and she was tempted to say she was robbing the place, just to get a reaction.

"I'm Beth Winslow, Ted's fianc�e. And what I'm doing is none of your business," Beth retorted angrily.

"Oh! So you're the social climbing slut that's worked her claws into my innocent son, well let me tell you something, you'll not get away with it. Not a second time, you dumped him once and there'll be no second time. I know all about you, and your lurid past." Ted's mother yelled, poking her finger angrily into Beth's chest.

Beth was both incensed and fearful at moment, angry beyond words at her insults and a little fearful that some hint of her true identity had become known. Eloise's next outburst calmed Beth's fears and gave her time to formulate her reply.

"I found out from a second cousin, who's son works for the FBI, that you were mixed up in some industrial sabotage and resisted arrest, besides getting her son in trouble, by lying and saying he assaulted you, when he was only doing his duty," Eloise spat out in her face.

To be continued in Chapter 12

Since 06/14/04