I can't thank you all enough for being ever so patient with me. It's been a long downward spiral, but at long last, I can finally present...

Chapter Nineteen

Agent Bennet could not believe his luck!

Agent Curtis of Brother's Day just walked right past him! He's wearing a construction outfit, but it is definitely Agent Curtis. Bennet recognized him from Zeta's memory disc.

If Bennet is going to face Commander Lemac, he can at least present some useful information to confirm the 'anonymous tip'. Following Curtis could lead him straight to Brother's Day location.

And best of all, if all goes well, Zeta and Rowen would not be involved in any way. It's perfect!

But, being an experienced government agent, he sends a quick text to Lemac's private cell before pursuing Curtis. "Tip confirmed. B.D. Curtis spotted. Following. Call back soon." He never thought he would have to ask his son for text lessons (I'm the father. Fathers teach the sons. That's how it's always been. Why should it change now?).

His experience as a government agent has also taught him to not follow too close. He makes sure to stay at least half-a-block away, taking advantages of passing groups and alleyways to ensure that Curtis doesn't spot him.

After a few more blocks, Curtis heads toward a construction site. Bennet keeps a safe enough distance while Curtis makes his way inside. (Is that where Brother's Day is located? Who would look for a terrorist organization in a construction site? This could mean… What if their headquarters is underground?) He's about to contact Lemac again when a terrible thought occurs to him…

Tom Jensen.

According to what Zeta told him, Brother's Day had kidnapped Jensen. What if they still had him? He called by phone to cancel Rowen's interview, most likely because Brother's Day told him to. If the NSA infiltrates the place now, Jensen may be rescued, but he might go after Rowen later. He was willing to work with the NSA before, but now…

But if Casey can identify the phone number it came from, it would help Bennet figure out his next move. Either way, NSA needs to know where Brother's Day may be hiding. He ducks into a nearby alley and scans for Casey's number…when he's knocked unconscious.

CASEY'S APARTMENT…

Ro can't help but smile. If they were dining in a restaurant, they would be the center of attention. The way Zee licks the fork is especially attention-grabbing. But still, Zee can eat now. With a little more practice, they will be able to dine out. It was always Ro who did the eating whenever they stopped for food. Things are different now. They can eat together. No one would know the wiser. Zee is human now… (Human enough to make me pregnant…)

"Ro? Ro, are you alright?"

Ro suddenly realizes that she has been massaging her stomach…again (You have to tell him…). She sighs. It's now or never… "Zee… That first night we…made love, you said that you were dreaming. Do you…remember that dream?"

He does indeed remember that dream. "Ever since you had soothed my nightmares, I've been having this one dream every night…this one beautiful dream…"

Ro listens in on his every word, taking care not to massage her stomach too much. She needs to know about the dream. She will never forget that night. Everything changed that night. It was wonderful…and yet… (Tell him… Tell him…!)

"…In the nightmares, everything was so dark…and so heavy. I couldn't move. But now, when I sleep, there's a calm, white mist everywhere. I'm able to move, so I begin searching for you. I'm in my robot form at first, but then I see a tall, golden mirror. I see my reflection…my human reflection in a tuxedo. Somehow the mirror had morphed me. And then the mirror showed you coming from behind. And there you are, wearing a beautiful white gown…"

Suddenly Ro has a memory flash. The morning they left for San Francisco, Zee morphed into a tuxedo. It did seem odd at first, but then he changed back into his regular outfit, so she brushed it off as nothing to worry about.

And then there was the shop with wedding gowns on display. There was one gown in particular that caught her eye (He couldn't have bought that same dress… Could he?). And Casey did mention that they might as well be married (Tell him… Tell him…!).

"…I would always wake up before I could touch you. But that night…, I was finally able to hold you in my arms and I could feel your lips on mine. That dream helps me sleep at night, and it makes me feel like…I want it to last forever. Ro…, can I show you something?"

Zee guides her in front of the room's mirror. Then, with Ro facing the mirror, he gently wraps his arms around her waist from behind. Ro does not complain. It feels so good to be held like this, to be loved like this. But still, there's that nagging voice… (Tell him… You need to tell him…!)

"This is the very mirror in my dream. It's exact in every way. When you took me window-shopping, I noticed the dress you wore in a nearby window. Even the necklace you wore was…" A terrible chill went down Zee's back. He felt his pockets. He was certain Bennet had returned it to him. "The pendant… Where is it?!"

When he was a robot, he was a pillar of strength, her knight in titanium armour. Now he's a nervous wreck pacing around the room. Ro picks up the small box from under the bed. "Zee… Is this it?"

Zee could not have been more relieved. As Ro holds the box in her hands, Zee gently holds her hands in his. After a few deep breaths, he says, "I've been having this dream before we even came to San Francisco. To find everything from the dream here… I know you want to concentrate on your studies right now, but someday… Will you…? Ro? Why are you crying?"

(Crying…?) Ro was trying so hard not to, but her tears refuse to be held back. It's too much. It's now or never. "Zee… You need to know… When we made love… I think some of those nanonites made their way into me… And…there's a good chance they've… I… I think I might be…pregnant."

(Pregnant?) Zee no longer has access to his inner dictionary, but even he knows what the word 'pregnant' means…

"Zee… I think…I'm going to have a baby."

MEANWHILE…

Poor Bennet… He's feeling more and more like Agent West with every moment.

One moment he's tailing Curtis of Brother's Day, the next he's waking up in a hospital bed. His eyesight is a bit blurry, but it looks like his shades are on the table next to the bed. He can feel bandages on his head. He must've taken quite a bump.

As Bennet reaches for his shades, he sees another bed hidden halfway behind the curtain. It looks like he has a roommate. Out of sheer curiosity he moves the curtain over to have a look at… (Oh, Dear Lord! Dr. Selig?!)

BACK AT CASEY'S APARTMENT…

Casey and Bucky have just finished tidying up the kitchen. Now they're sitting in the living-room looking through Zee's test results.

Bucky can still not believe what is happening. "This is incredible! Millions and millions of tiny robots are working together as organic cells to create a human body around Zee. They're using his titanium shell as a bone skeleton while they form the organic organs and material inside and around it. How's that for shape-shifting technology? And the amazing thing is, these robots must have interfaced with Zee's holomorphic program and picked the image he uses most to create his human form."

Casey still needs a moment to let this all sink in. "Yeah… Ro told me she helped pick out that identity for him." He takes a gander at the stairs. "It's kinda quiet up there. I wonder if she's told him she might be pregnant yet."

"How are you taking it?"

"Me? I… I don't know. In all honesty, I never saw this coming. I mean, it's no secret that they love each other deeply. I even expected them to get married someday. I can't bear the thought of Jensen finding out, but we're talking about pregnancy! It's always just a matter of… Wait a minute! We don't know for sure that she's pregnant. If she could take a pregnancy test, we'd know for certain, right?"

Bucky's eyes widen. "Egad! You're right! All this time, I've been assuming she was pregnant. We could be worrying for nothing!"

"No, wait…! How are we going to get a pregnancy test for Ro? There's every chance Jensen still has someone spying on us. Ro can't go; she'll be recognized. Zee can't go; he can't transform anymore."

"And I can't do it," Bucky says, "I'd never be able to explain it to the cashier. Bennet has already left. That leaves you, Casey. You need to… WOW!"

All eyes – and jaws – are wide open as Ro comes down the stairs wearing a white flowing gown. It is an awkward sight to see a princess carrying dishes down the stairs. The boys can only stare as she sets the plates into the sink. When she heads back to the stairs, Casey gently grabs her hand and escorts her to the couch. Bucky moves to make room for her and says, "Where are you registered?"

Casey clears his throat and asks, "Ro… What happened up there?"

It takes a moment, but Ro feels just calm enough to speak. "I… I told Zee…about the nanonites. I told him…I might be pregnant…and…and…"

The boys are holding their breaths. They eagerly wait to hear what happened next.

With tears flowing down her cheeks, she says, "…he wants a daughter."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sorry it's taken so long to get back into the swing of things. Please be assured that there is indeed more to come, for I fully intend to…

KEEP ON WRITING!