Generations 2

Life from the Ashes Series. Book 5 Generations

Jo B

purplefox@usfamily.net

Rating: NC-17

Keywords: M/Sk/K SLASH

Disclaimer: The X-Files characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex
Krycek, Walter Skinner, Jeffrey Spender, CSM, the Lone Gunmen,
Kimberly Cook, Senator Matheson, Bill Scully, the morph etc. are
the property Chris Carter, 1013 productions and Fox Broadcasting.
All other characters in the series are mine.

Summary: This is an Alternative Universe Story. It takes place
after an alien virus has killed off most of the world's females
and caused mutations in forty-five percent of the remaining
males.

Authors Notes: This is the fifth and final book in the series.
The story is told from Walter's POV.

Special thanks to my beta-readers, Laurie, Demi-X, Vyper, Kiyoko,
and Nicole.

Feedback is always welcome. Any constructive suggestions are
appreciated.

WARNING! This story contains references to male/male sex.

Okay to Archive: please ask first.

Chapter 2 Walter By Jo B

Crystal Palace Friday, November 24, 2017

"C'mon, Sasha, shake a leg! You're lagging behind!" I look down
the steep hill at my son, who is leaning up against a tree,
looking miserable. My other sons Sergei, Gawain, and Nicky stand
beside me bundled in their heavy parkas and boots.

"I'm tired! I'm hungry! I'm cold! I didn't want to come!" Sasha
shouts back.

I didn't give my sons a choice about coming with me today. The
only two who aren't here are River, who has just woken up from
his three-day change, and Arman who is still too young. I smile,
Arman probably would have been less trouble than Sasha. He's a
bundle of three-year-old energy. I imagine Fox was just like him
as a little boy, inquisitive and into everything.

I bristle looking down the hill. "Get your butt moving, Sasha!"

"It's not fair!" he says as he trudges through the snow toward
us.

"Life's not fair, get use to it."

"I don't see why we couldn't have our servants chop down our
Christmas tree!" Sasha grumbles.

I probably shouldn't have brought him. He's been such a pain in
the ass the last several months. At least he's learned his lesson
after our last scuffle. I never came so close to spanking one of
my kids before. Instead, Fox took care of disciplining him. I'm
still not sure what Fox did, but afterward Sasha was a perfect
angel for the next few weeks. "Sasha, if you don't want to spend
the rest of the weekend in your room, I suggest you improve your
attitude!" He glares at me, but keeps his thoughts to himself as
we continue walking. Only the sound of our feet crunching through
the snow breaks the silence.

"Dad, call me Hunter. Sasha's a baby's name," he says suddenly.
His brothers stop and look at him questioningly.

I roll my eyes, teenagers! We continue to trudge through the snow
to the crop of evergreens. I've had my eye on a beautiful blue
spruce. "Okay, Hunter. At least it will make Alex happy, he never
did like the nickname Sasha."

"I'm not changing it to make him happy! I'm an adult now so I
want an adult name!"

Sergei and Nicky snicker. I turn my glare on them. "Boys."

"Sorry, Dad," Sergei says.

I look at Sasha standing before me shivering. "You're not an
adult until you're eighteen." He frowns but holds his tongue. I
don't know what to do with the boy! I meet with world leaders on
a daily basis. I deal with internal threats to my rule and my
country's security. I command hundreds of thousands of men in my
military. I oversee all major military projects personally. I am
the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Millions of
citizens look to me for guidance and security. However, a mere
sixteen-year-old boy has me flustered and befuddled.

"Fine," I say. Reaching out a gloved hand, I touch his ruby red
cheek. "If you insist on being called Hunter I'll oblige you. If
you no longer want to be a part of our family tree cutting
tradition, then next year I won't force you to participate."

We walk along in silence for the remainder of the hike, stopping
beside a grove of evergreens. I put my arm around Sasha's
shoulders. "Hunter, my family came to this land immediately after
my mother's supposed death. We settled in the American heartland,
Chicago, where my dad eventually fell in love with and married my
stepmother. Her last name was Skinner. My father took it for his
and our name. He wanted a new life for us. He was determined to
make this new country meaningful and steeped in new traditions to
replace old, painful memories. Every year, two weeks before
Christmas, my Dad and I would drive up to a tree farm in
Wisconsin and cut down our family's Christmas tree. This was one
of his new traditions, and I always looked forward to our times
alone together. It was my favorite time of the year. This might
not mean anything to you, but it means a lot to me."

Sasha sighs and rolls his eyes, "Look, Dad, it was fun the first
few years, but I have better things to do with my time now."

I raise my eyes heavenward--God, give me strength. Sasha's too
much like Alex, who has very little patience for anything that
doesn't interest him. It probably explains why the two of them
are constantly bickering. "Boys, let's get the tree, so we can
return his Royal Highness Prince Hunter to his oh so exciting
life."

"Ah, Dad. You don't have to be so sarcastic," Sasha grumbles.

I level him with a look that would freeze men in their tracks. It
has no affect on him. Patience, Walter, I tell myself. "Hunter,
behave or you'll be having a long talk with Fox when we get
back."

I watch his eyes widen. I almost chuckle out loud. I can't
believe I've stooped to using Fox as a threat. It reminds me of
my stepmother's frustrated exclamations of wait 'til you father
gets home.

"Dad, you really wouldn't tell him that I've been giving you a
hard time, would you? I mean, isn't this supposed to be our
quality time together? Dad Fox really shouldn't be involved."

My other sons snicker.

I wink at them without letting Sasha see. "Hunter, if you start
behaving as if you're enjoying yourself, then we can leave Fox
out of this." I really need to find out what Fox does to get our
kids to mind him. I've watched Sasha mouth-off to Alex
constantly, but with Fox he remains forever respectful.

"Say, Dad, why don't we find our Christmas tree?" Sasha says
cheerfully.

I smile at him. It is hard to stay angry with Sasha; he's too
much like Alex. "Okay, Son." I lead them over to the tree I've
had my eye on throughout the summer. It's a perfect nine-foot
tall blue spruce.

"Dad, it's beautiful," Gawain says walking around the tree.

"Yeah, Dad," Nicky agrees. "Can we use our powers to teleport it
back home?"

"Cool! Can we, Dad?" Sergei chimes in.

I smile. Nicky only began showing signs of his sorcerer abilities
last week. He hasn't mastered anything yet, let alone the art of
teleporting objects. Kaylie, Sergei's twin sister has been using
her powers for a year now, and is quite capable of teleporting
the tree a half mile, too bad I didn't bring her along. Sergei
was a late bloomer and has been using his powers for less than
two months. Although I've been personally training him, he still
won't be able to move the tree more than a couple of hundred
feet. I notice Sasha frowning. As an immortal, he has no powers.
He and Gawain will eventually acquire the ability to heal like
Fox and Alex. I wonder if that isn't one of the reasons for Sasha
being so rebellious lately. It must be hard for him, seeing his
brothers, sisters and best friends developing their sorcerer
abilities. In addition, he knows that as an immortal his eventual
purpose in life will be as a breeder. To become pregnant again
and again, while his brothers choose what they want their
professions to be. I file that thought away to explore more
thoroughly later. I will have to discuss it with Fox and Alex.

"I think teleporting the tree back to our apartment is a great
idea, Nicky. Now I want you and Sergei to form an image inside
your minds of our entertainment room and the corner where we
always put the Christmas tree. On the count of three, I want you
to imagine this tree in that spot. Okay?"

"Okay," they say excitedly.

"One, two, three--" Using my powers I send the tree back to the
palace with very little help from my sons. I allow them to expend
as much energy as they want.

"Did it work, Dad?" Gawain asks, staring at the empty hole where
the tree had been.

I realize suddenly that we teleported the tree complete with
roots, soil and all. "It worked, sweetheart," I sigh. "However, I
think your Dads are going to have a good laugh at our expense
when we get back."

Sasha starts laughing. "Swift going, dudes!"

"What?" Sergei looks at him confused.

"You were supposed to chop down the tree first, Einstein," Sasha
says smugly.

Nicky looks at him and smirks. "Sash, we decided to start a new
Christmas tradition of not killing the tree for our momentary
enjoyment."

Sasha glares at him. "Bite me, Nicky! The name's Hunter!"

"Hunter, watch your lip!" I snap. Then nod at Nicky. "Thanks,
Nick, that's a brilliant suggestion." I focus my powers and an
enormous soil-filled stone pot forms around roots of the tree.
"Shall we head back?" We are only eight miles from the palace on
the other side of the island. My team of sorcerer engineers has
been expanding the island each year to accommodate the increasing
population, and at my request they included a wilderness area. It
takes us a few hours to make it back home.

We're cold and tired as we exit the elevator peeling off our wet
winter coats and boots, leaving them in the mud room just off the
elevator. Then we head for our bedrooms. I'm looking forward to
taking a hot bath.

"DADDY! A tree is growing in my playroom!" Arman howls, running
down the hallway with Fox following several feet behind him.

I scoop my little boy up in my arms, lifting him so I'm looking
at his excited face. Arman is at the age where he thinks
everything belongs to him, including the entertainment room.
"That's our Christmas tree, Mani."

"What's going on, Walter? You never used your powers to teleport
our Christmas tree in the past, with roots no less," Fox asks.

"Nothing. The kids were cold and hungry, so I thought this would
be easier," I say, watching Sasha's relieved face.

Fox's eyes narrow, then he turns to our son. "Sasha, I want to
see you in my office."

"Dad, I didn't do anything!"

"NOW!" Fox growls.

We watch as Sasha storms off down the hallway toward Fox's
office. My lover turns to me. "Walter, give Mani to Sergei. He
can watch him for us." I'm baffled. How does he know about the
trouble Sasha caused me?

"Fox, what's going on?" I ask.

"Walter, I know Sasha didn't want to go with you today. I figured
he'd cause you some grief. He lipped off to Alex a couple of days
ago."

"Alex is talking to you again?"

"Yeah. He understands that I'm not ready to have another baby so
soon after Arman. Besides, if things keep going the way they are,
we'll eventually end up pregnant at the same time again at some
point," he sighs.

I grab his arm before he can go into his office. "You're taking
this all in stride lately. Have you given up fighting it?"

Sadness paints his features. "Walter, it's been over sixteen
years. What else can I do? Our scientists have been unsuccessful
at finding a cure to stop the compulsions. Even Shinji hasn't
been able to make any headway. At least our bodies are allowing
us a seven year breather between kids."

I feel like a complete asshole with Fox standing before me
admitting defeat. He has no way of knowing that our scientists
were never looking for a cure for the immortals' compulsions.
They were only going through the motions. With Rory's and Kazuo's
help, all of Shinji's experiments were sabotaged. Rory and Kazuo
weren't happy about deceiving their lover. Like me, they did so
to gain certain rights for their daughters. My military wanted
all the females born to immortals to be required to marry at
eighteen. I convinced them that in order to gain Rory's and
Kazuo's help they would need to guarantee that Shinji's and their
daughters and those of the other immortals' would not be
subjected to marry as were my daughters. I wish I could have
gained the same concessions for my girls.

I did gain two large compromises for my children by agreeing not
to tell Fox and Alex. Our daughters were allowed to choose whom
in the military they married, and our immortal sons were under no
obligation to marry. At the time it was only Sasha, so it seemed
like a small concession to the military and they agreed readily.
I know they'd like to find a way to renegotiate that decision.

Unfortunately, now the military's...my scientists are looking for
a drug that would induce the immortals' compulsions. The
immortals' seven-year breather seems to be too long for my
military to wait. Being a member of the military is one of the
prerequisites for being an eligible candidate for marriage to
mine, Fox's, and Alex's daughters. Is it any wonder that my
military wants us to have more children?

I dare not defy them on this. If I did, I would lose my throne
and family in one fell swoop. Fox and Alex would lose any freedom
they now have. In addition, they'd be given new lovers and would
be forced to breed continually. I couldn't allow this to happen
to them. Even if it means at some point they will end up hating
me for keeping this from them.

If my military's scientists do discover a way to induce their
compulsions, it will be just the leverage they'll need to get us
to agree to have dozens of female babies a year, like Hope and
Faith, in growth cylinders. My main demand before agreeing to
become King was that we wouldn't be forced to procreate using
those devices...

"Walter, what's wrong?"

I remind myself that I'm doing what is best for my family and
country. "Ah, nothing, Fox. Shall we deal with Sasha?"

Fox chews on his lower lip thoughtfully as he looks at me. I
shiver. Sometimes I think he can see into my soul and see the
darkness and guilt lurking there.

"Yeah." He turns and walks into his office.

I cross the threshold and scan the room for Sasha. The boy is
sitting cross-legged in the middle of the passage that connects
Alex's and Fox's offices through the giant aquarium.

"Sasha, come over here," Fox says, standing in front of his
leather sofa.

Sasha rises without protest and walks over to Fox. Fox is four
inches taller than the boy, but Sasha is still growing. I can see
him easily reaching Alex's height of six one. My lover hugs our
son and kisses the side of his face. "I love you, Sasha, even
when you drive your Dads and me nuts." Fox smiles and takes his
hand and leads him over to the sofa. They both sit as I walk over
and lean up against the desk.

"Tell me what's bothering you?" Fox asks.

"Dad, I just want to be able to make my own decisions! To be free
to do what I want with my free time!"

Fox sighs, taking Sasha's hand in his, he caresses the palm with
his thumb. "Sash, you're old enough to make some decisions on
your own. Your Dad shouldn't have taken you with him today, if
you didn't want to go. It won't happen again. However, you will
never have the same freedom as other men. You and your brothers
River and Gawain will always be closely protected whether you
want to be or not."

"But, Dad, when I'm older I will be able to take care of myself.
If I disguise myself, I can go on walkabouts like Ari does."

"Sasha, before Ari mutated into an immortal, he was a hired thug.
He grew up hard and learned to take care of himself much like
your Dad Alex. But he's not the same man anymore, every time Ari
leaves the island alone, he takes an enormous risk of being
captured. He's never experience the pain and humiliation of being
raped and owned like your Dad and I. Alex and I were both tough
men, quite capable of taking care of ourselves, before the alien
virus turned us into immortals. We can still hold our own against
humans and clairvoyants, but not against n'thrals and definitely
not against sorcerers. We've accepted our limitations and take
the necessary precautions when we leave the island. You're going
to have to accept your limits. I don't want you to ever go
through what your Dad and I went through."

Sasha leans up against Fox, resting his head on Fox's shoulder.
"Dad, I'm sorry you were hurt. Will you tell me about it someday?
All I've ever heard about is your bravery, but never about your
pain or losses."

Fox smiles sadly and hugs our son. "When you turn eighteen then
I'll tell you everything."

I watch them together and see the deep bond that exists between
them. Fox has never told me everything that happened to him while
he was with Nikolai Slava. I know that he will tell Sasha when
the time is right. He wants to protect the boy from having to go
through the same thing.

"Now apologize to your Dad for being a pain in the ass," Fox
says.

Sasha nods and stands. He walks across the room and stops in
front of me. "I'm sorry I gave you a hard time today. You can
call me Sasha still if you like."

"It's not what I like that matters, it's what you want to be
called. Tell me what you want?"

Sasha ponders for a moment. "Hunter. It's my real name and the
one Dad Alex gave me."

I reach out and hug him. "Okay, Hunter, you can go now," I say,
releasing him.

Hunter smiles at me. "Thanks, Dad. I think I'll go help the
others decorate our Christmas tree." He strolls out of the room.

"I think he's jealous of Sergei and Nicky," I say, walking over
to the sofa and sinking down next to Fox.

"I know. I was jealous of you and Alex for the longest time. I'm
still envious of you and your freedom. At least Sasha has never
experienced losing his identity." Fox rested his head on my
shoulder and his hand caresses my chest. "Walter, in all of the
commotion I forgot that Slava and my daughters are coming
tomorrow. Would it be okay if they have Thanksgiving dinner with
us?"

"Fox, I'm not sure if I want Slava around River now that he's
changed. I've noticed him going out of his way to talk to River
over the past three years..." "Walter, surely he wouldn't try
anything with you and our palace's security force here. Don't
forget that River is twenty-two, he's not a little boy any
longer. We can't shield him from everyone. We can only be there
to protect him if he needs our help."

"Fox, I don't trust Slava near River... or Sasha. Do you honestly
think the man's reformed?"

"I don't know, Walter, it's possible. It's been over fifteen
years since he touched Alex or me. He hasn't tried anything in
the eleven years he's been bringing my daughters to visit me."

"Maybe it's only because of his desire to see Nicky." I cup the
side of Fox's face and he turns his head, kissing my palm. My
groin swells at the softness of his lips against my flesh. God,
he is the most sensuous being I've ever laid eyes on. Even after
all these years I still can't believe he's mine. "Okay, Fox.
We'll continue as we have been with Slava. He and your daughters
are welcome at our table tomorrow." I don't trust Slava...I never
will, but I'll do anything to make Fox happy. Fox has complete
trust in me, I know that I will have to tell him eventually all
the dirty little secrets I've kept hidden from him over the last
decade. He tilts his head to look up at me and I lean in and kiss
those sweet lips, tasting him. My whole being is a tingle being
this close to him.

Fox lifts his head off my shoulder and swings his body around
until he is straddling my lap and pressing me back into the soft
cushions of the sofa. His knees squeeze the sides of my hips as
his hardness presses again mine. He pinches my nipples through my
shirt. My pulse rate increases and sweat breaks out in droplets
along my brow. He smirks seeing the effect he is having on me.
Fox starts licking the sweat off my face with short catlike
swipes of his tongue. The sweet feel of his tongue on my brow
nearly makes me come. I turn my head slightly as his mouth moves
down finding my earlobe. I notice that the door to his office is
wide open. This wouldn't do. I close and lock it with my powers
as my hands cup and squeeze his round buttocks. Fox sits back and
smiles, looking over at the door.

"Are you hoping on getting some, bear?"

My fingers delve into the crease between his buttocks, stroking
the fabric of his pants. "Oh yeah, and then some."

Fox's smile increases in intensity. Damn he looks fucking
incredible when he smiles. I remember thinking that decades ago--
before he became an immortal--before he became mine. Neither one
of us have aged a day since mutating nearly twenty years ago.

"Hey, what are you thinking?" Fox asks as his long fingers caress
my face.

"How fucking lucky I am."

"Well...I'm hoping to get fucking lucky," Fox says, rocking and
rubbing our erections together.

"I think I can accommodate you," I say, making our clothes
vanish.

Fox's eyes widen and he mutters, "Damn, I really-really wish I
could do that!" Then he combs his fingers through my chest hairs.

I carefully rub the pads of my thumbs over his nipples. They are
always fuller and darker when he is nursing, and they make me
hornier than hell. "I'm glad you can't. Knowing you, I'd find
myself suddenly without clothes in the middle of some reception."

Fox frowns and leans back, his buttocks resting on my knees. He
says innocently, "You know I wouldn't do that to you, Walter. I'd
never embarrass you in public."

I pull his head down and look into his amused eyes as I chuckle.
"Ha! Like the time you were invisible and entered the meeting I
was conducting with my Generals and Cabinet, then crawled under
the conference table and preceded to suck me off?" I glare
affectionately at him. I hate that power he has when he's
nursing. He can vanish into thin air and walk through solid
objects. I know it's an ability brought about for protecting his
young. But still, he's used the vanishing act several times
through the years after we've had major disagreements. During
those times, I almost wished my scientists hadn't found a cure
for his withdrawal symptoms. It might have forced him to make
peace with me sooner. It's frustrating not being able to locate
him. He could be standing right next to me and I would never know
it.

He leans forward and kisses me. "You were so cute all red-faced
and sweaty," Fox says teasingly, smiling against my lips.

"They thought I was having some kind of attack..."

"It was funny though."

"No it wasn't," I say, swatting his ass.

"Watch it, Walter...or I'll disappear!" he teases.

"You're weaning Mani, Fox, so you won't have the ability to
become invisible much longer." I caress up his sides as he glares
at me, pulling away. I realize too late that I attacked the one
advantage he has over me. I wrap my arms around his waist
preventing him from climbing off my lap. "Fox, I love you. Don't
be angry."

He sighs and rests his forehead against mine. "Sorry, bear, I've
been a bit stressed lately. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

I smooth my hands up and down his long back as I look with
concern into his chameleon eyes. The last thing I want is for Fox
to be unhappy. "Stressed? What's wrong?"

"Oh, let's see...our fifteen year old son has gotten a girl
pregnant. Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I'm working on a tough case
at the bureau. Taking care of Mani is an ordeal, dealing with our
teenage sons and daughters problems, looking after our younger
children. Our friends are getting older while we remain young.
River going through the change *finally* but he still isn't
dating. Our daughters upcoming weddings. Alex wanting me to get
pregnant again when I'm years away from having compulsions...."
Fox pauses to catch his breath and smiles sadly. "Life's been so
busy lately. How come I feel so empty, like something is
missing?"

"Do you want to go with me to Area 51 on Monday?" I don't know
why I'm asking him. I was happy when Alex became pregnant and
wouldn't be able to accompany me. Maybe Alex's conversation has
gotten beneath my skin. Yes, that's it. Deep down I want equality
in our relationship as much as Alex and Fox, it's just so hard
letting go of control. When I see how other men look at them, I
don't want to let them out of my sight. I want to keep them
hidden away from lustful stares.

Fox's eyes narrow. "Walter, I've been asking you for years to
take me with you on one of your trips to Area 51 and you've
always turned me down! What gives?"

"I had a long talk with Alex, and he convinced me that it would
be in my best interest to let him and you help with the decisions
involving our country's security."

"Alex convinced you? I've been trying to convince you for over
sixteen years to involve us more!"

"I'm sorry, Fox." It seems like all I've of been doing lately is
apologizing to him.

"Apology accepted. At least it's a step in the right direction."

"Well then, we just need to make sure that our nannies are
available to watch the children while we're gone. I want Sergei,
Kaylie, and Nicky to look after Alex."

"Do you think you can trust them? They're only sixteen..."

"I trust our kids more with Alex than our security force. This is
the first time we'll be leaving him alone and defenseless."

"Maybe I shouldn't go," Fox says.

I twist around and throw him off my lap onto the cushions. His
legs are still spread open between my thighs as he gazes
incredulously at me. "Fox, you are going with me, and stop
worrying. Alex will be fine." I bend down and take possession of
his lips. Oh yeah. This is one area I'll never apologize for...I
love dominating him sexually. I might desire an equal
relationship, but not in bed. I just love topping him and Alex
too much to give up that part of our life.

"Fine. I want to take Arman and River with us," Fox counters,
trying to regain some control as he pulls his knees up and offers
himself up to me. I'm too distracted by our conversation to
plunge right in. I pull back.

"Fox, this isn't a vacation! Area 51 is no place for a three-
year-old and a new immortal!" I growl, not believing that he
would ask such a thing.

"I'm not leaving either of my sons here unprotected."

"Fox, River is twenty-two. If you're worried about him, why
aren't you worried about Sasha and Gawain or our daughters?"

"Walter, River is at a vulnerable time in his life. With Alex
going through nearly a month's long sleep, River needs me and I
don't want to leave him behind. Mani has to go with us. He'll
drive everyone nuts, you know what a little terror he is." Fox
smirks, wiggling his ass against my cock, sending shivers through
me.

Damn, I am aching to fuck him and he knows it. My cock is hard
and leaking, pressed between his buttocks. "Babe, there are
n'thrals at Area 51 and--"

"We'll take along extra sorcerers for protection." He glares up
at me and growls, "Now would you fuck me already or do I have to
do it myself?" he says grabbing for my dick.

I swat his hand away, and then push his knees back as lubricant
magically encases my cock in its slick embrace. I watch Fox's
eyes as I position my large cockhead against his small opening
and shove in hard and fast. He cries out as my fingers wrap
around his inner thighs just below his knees, spreading him open
for my pleasure. I can't contain my moans as his tight ring of
muscles squeeze my shaft exquisitely. He is like fire, igniting
every fiber in my body. "You like this, Fox?"

Strangled sounds of delight and pain escape his full sultry lips
as his hips move in time with my thrusts. "Fuck YES!" he cries,
sweat dotting his brow.

I looked down at my organ spearing his body with long hard
thrusts. I love watching my shaft penetrating him. He belongs
solely to me at this moment. I watch his cock bounce against his
belly leaving a trail of pre-cum. My eyes travel to his dark rosy
nipples. I slow my thrusts as I bend down to take one in my
mouth. It is firm and tasty as I suck lustfully on it, swallowing
the sweet milk. Soon he will be dry and this treat gone until his
next pregnancy four years from now.

"You're as bad as Mani," Fox says, his hands smoothing over my
scalp as I continue to suckle.

The first time I treated myself to him this way, he was appalled.
His face flamed red with embarrassment. Now he takes my kink in
stride. I caress up and down his sides as I switch to his other
nipple.

When I am done, I smack my lips and move up to kiss him. My hips
have never stopped moving as I continue to stroke into his all
consuming heat. Fox shifts beneath me. His sweat dampened skin is
sticking to the leather cushions. He wraps his long legs around
my hips and he pushes up in time with my thrusts. His arms are
laced around my neck as our lips seal in a deep kiss. I suck
Fox's tongue into my mouth, and then I push into his mouth. He
tenses beneath me and I feel the throbbing of his cock as it
shoots its release between our bodies. Fox's anal muscles squeeze
my shaft in a steel grip, milking me to my own release a few
moments later. A cry of pleasure is torn from the depths of my
soul. God, love was never more fulfilling than this beautiful man
beneath me. Suddenly, a pounding on the door interrupts our
blissful joining.

"DADDY! I want in!" Arman yells from out in the hallway.

Damn! I lift my head up and look at the locked door. We asked
Sergei to watch him. I pull out of Fox a bit too quickly and he
lets out a yelp.

"Sorry," I mutter as I stand.

Fox grabs the throw blanket from the back of the sofa and pulls
it over him. He is too sated to rise. I storm to the door, making
a robe appear in my hand. I pull it on before opening the door.
Sergei is standing there sheepishly holding Arman's hand.

"Ah, Dad...now that you're done with Sasha...I ah...thought you
might want Mani back."

Arman pulls loose and races by me into the room. He's on the sofa
in Fox's arms before I can grab him. "I take nap with you,
Daddy," he says.

I turn back and glare at my oldest son. "Serg, would it have
killed you to watch him for a couple of hours?"

"But, Dad, he bites!"

I frown at him. "Son, I'm sure you can defend yourself against a
harmless three year old."

Fox calls to me and I turn to the sofa. "Walter, do you think you
can zap me clean...our little terror wants to get under the
blanket," he says, trying to keep Arman from crawling under the
spread.

"I sleep with you!" Arman whimpers, tugging at the blanket.

I sigh and do as ordered. It looks like we won't be going for
round two. Fox rolls on his side and pulls Arman underneath the
blanket with him, snuggling our son against his chest.

I turn back to my oldest. "Serg, go help your brothers and
sisters decorate the Christmas tree. We will talk about
responsibilities another time." I close the door and walk over to
the sofa and stare down at my lover and youngest son. Arman is
suckling at Fox's nipple.

"I thought you were weaning him?"

"I'll start tomorrow," Fox says, hugging our son close.

"You're spoiling him."

"I know." Fox yawns.

"Are you really going to take a nap?" I look at him longingly. I
don't remember my lover ever taking a nap in the middle of the
day.

"Just until Mani falls asleep. I have paperwork I need to get
done. Why don't you go play with Alex, before he falls into his
month's long slumber?"

I snort. Immortals usually fall into a coma like state for around
three weeks, two to four days after being impregnated. The
doctors have never figured out why this happens. However, while
they are in this state, their bodies don't require any
nourishment or waste disposal.

"I'll be back later, babe." I smile at him and pet the back of
our son's head.

I find Alex sitting in front of the fireplace in our bedroom. He
has a look of melancholy on his face as he stares into the
flames.

"Alex, what's wrong?" I sit down beside him, reaching out to push
a silky lock of sable hair behind his ear. He's let it grow out
again. I'm surprised he hasn't shaved his head. He tends to do
that when he gets in these depressed states.

"I'd been looking forward to going with you on Monday. Now it
looks like I'm stuck here growing fat for the next seven months."

"You always look beautiful when you're pregnant, and you don't
gain that much weight," I say, although it isn't true. Alex tends
to get chubby when he's pregnant. A cute chubby, I smile at the
image it creates. Yes, a very cute chubby.

"Walter, I don't need or want your sympathy."

"Alex, I'm only trying to be supportive. After all, you're having
my baby. Must we go through this song and dance every time you
become pregnant?" He levels me a look that could freeze fire.

"SONG AND DANCE! IS THAT WHAT I'M DOING!" He jumps to his feet
and continues to scream at me. "MR. BIG POWERFUL SORCERER, YOU
THINK BEING PREGNANT IS EASY? WELL IT FUCKING IS NOT! JUST ONCE
I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH IT AND SEE HOW FUCKING
EMBARRASSING IT IS AND PAINFUL CHILDBIRTH IS!"

"Alex, calm down...I didn't mean to upset you. I'll admit I have
no idea how tough this is for you. It's something I would not
want to experience myself. But, I'm not the one who changed you
into a hermaphrodite. You have to believe me that if it were in
my power I'd take it all away, but its not."

Alex wanders over to the French doors and rests his forehead on
the cold glass. "I'm sorry, Walter. I didn't want to go through
this again. I was hoping that our scientists would have found a
way to stop the compulsions."

I cringe. I'm glad he isn't looking at me. If he were, he'd see
the guilt behind my eyes.

"Dad, can we come in?" Nadia asks from the doorway. She's
standing there with her twin sister Kira.

I'm happy for their interruption. "Of course, sweethearts," I
say, rising and walking over to them. They look exactly like my
younger sister did at eleven. Brown eyes and dark brown hair tied
back in a long braid.

"We want you to tell us how babies are made," Nadia asks.

I look at them perplexed. I knew they were going to ask sooner or
later, their sisters did.

"At school they don't teach how babies are made between men and
women, only between men and men using test tubes and growth
cylinders at reproduction clinics," Kira says.

"They also teach how immortals have babies, but not how the
babies get inside them. Only that they come out their
bellybuttons when they are born." Nadia looks over at Alex who is
leaning against the French doors listening our conversation. "We
don't have bellybuttons, so how do we make babies--like Kat?"

Oh, now I see why this has suddenly come to their interest.
"Alex?" I look over at my lover, figuring he'll be better at
explaining sex and making babies to them than me.

Alex smirks. "Girls, did you know that your Daddy Walter was
married to a woman for seventeen years? They never had any
children, but they did try. So he can answer all of your
questions."

I sigh, looking at him. "Alex, why don't you go and help Fox with
his paperwork, while I talk to Kira and Nadia? I'm sure Fox would
like to get into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. Tell him
I'll be there to help him shortly."

"I'll tell him, Walter," Alex says, heading for the door. He
pauses to kiss his daughters.

After he left I turn to them. "C'mon, girls, lets go downstairs
and talk to your Aunt Dana."

We take the elevator down to Dana's floor. Unlike our apartment
on the top floor, her floor is split into twenty separate
apartments. All are nice sized with four bedrooms and three
baths. Dana's sixteen-year-old son Mike opens the door. "Hi,
Uncle Walter, Nadia, Kira!"

"Hi, Mike, is your mom home?"

"She's in the living room with Dad. We're decorating our
Christmas tree."

Mike leads us to the living room. Christmas music is playing
softly on the stereo. Dana is sorting through ornaments in a
cardboard box while sitting on the floor. She looks up and smiles
at us, brushing her gray-streaked hair away from her face. She's
fifty-six and still incredibly beautiful. Her husband Jonathan is
stringing lights on the tree.

"Hey, Walter," Jonathan says.

"Walter, girls, what brings you down here?" Scully asks.

"Dana, Jonathan, nice tree," I say. "Um, Kira and Nadia want to
know about how women have babies." I hug them against my body.
They look bashfully at Dana. Fox, Alex, and I have used Dana
before to explain the facts of life to our other daughters. Fox
protested at first, not wanting to impose on his former partner.
However, after stuttering and fumbling trying to explain sex to
the girls, he relented and we begged Dana to help us.

"Aunty Dana, Kat is having Sergei's baby, we want to know how the
baby got in her? Kira and I want to have babies of our own,"
Nadia says.

I turn red and look at my baby girls in shock. "You're too young
to have babies!" I growl.

They shrink back, looking at me with wide eyes and quivering
lips. I've never yelled at them before, so my tone takes them by
surprise.

Dana interrupts before I can launch into a litany of words that
I'll regret saying later. "Walter, it's natural for little girls
to want to be moms." She grins. "But don't worry, I'm sure once
I've talked to them, they'll realize they're too young. Besides
they aren't menstruating yet are they?"

"No," I sigh, somewhat relieved, that's another talk we'll have
to have with them.

"Why don't you go back to your apartment and I'll bring the girls
back when we're done talking." Scully places the ornament she's
holding back in the box.

"Dana, we can come back when you're less busy. I didn't mean to
interrupt you--"

"Nonsense. Kira and Nadia can help Jonathan and me decorate the
tree before I bring them back," she says.

I turn to my daughters who are looking at me uncertainly. "Girls,
behave for your Aunt Dana and listen closely to what she tells
you." I hug them and kiss their cheeks.

I head back upstairs with my thoughts on my children. I love all
of them more than life, but the children conceived from my loins
hold a special place in my heart. Nadia and Kira are my youngest
daughters and I want them to enjoy what's left of their
childhood. I don't want them to be thinking about having children
before they're eighteen. It's bad enough that they will be
required to marry at that young age. God, I hope Alex gives me a
son this time around. I'm not looking forward to finding husbands
for Kaylie, Summer, and Alek in a couple of years.

When I exit the elevator I head for Fox's office. Fox is dressed
and sitting behind his desk typing on his computer. Alex is
sitting on the sofa, jotting down notes in one of their case
files. Arman is soundly asleep, sucking on his thumb at the other
end of the sofa.

"How's it going?"

Alex looks up at me and smirks. "You dumped our daughters on Dana
again, didn't you?"

"Yep." I returned the grin.

"Walter, we're just finishing our paperwork. Do you want to wake
Mani up? If he sleeps too long we'll never get him to bed
tonight," Fox says, not looking away from the monitor.

"Sure, babe." I kneel next to the sofa and smooth the damp bangs
from our son's forehead as I watch him sleep. I hate waking him.
I remove the blanket and pull his thumb out of his mouth as I
talk softly. "Mani, time to get up. C'mon, champ, daddy will get
you a big glass of chocolate milk."

He opens his eyes and stares at me. "I still sleepy, Daddy."

"I know, champ, but it's not bedtime yet." I pick him up in my
arms and stand. He wraps his arms around my neck and rests his
head on my shoulder. He's warm and smells faintly of sour milk.
"Do you need to use the toilet?" I feel his head nod against my
shoulder.

"Okay, bathroom first, then we'll go to the kitchen for some
chocolate milk and cookies."

"Walter, that's too much sugar! He'll be bouncing off the walls
all afternoon," Fox warns, pushing away from the desk.

I smile at him. I find it endearing how Fox has turned into the
ideal parent for our children. Whenever Alex or I are lacking,
Fox steps in to fill the void. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised;
he's always been good with children and filled with compassion
and care for those in need of help. This is really just an
extension of his personality. "Fox, I'll take Mani outside after
and work some of his excessive energy out of him."

Fox sighs, standing. "Walter, it's not just that. I don't want
Mani putting on weight like Sergei did. It's not healthy and not
a good habit for him to get into."

"Okay, Fox. How about I get him a glass of 2% milk and a couple
of cookies?"

"That will be fine."

"NO! I want chocolate milk!" Arman shouts, suddenly wide awake,
his lower lip sticking out in a pout as he slams his little fists
hard into my nose.

"Ouch!" Damn that hurt! I nearly drop him as I quickly grab his
fists in one of my hands and my hand is promptly bitten. Okay, I
can see what Sergei means as his teeth break my skin and I'm
unable to make him let go without hurting him. "Fox, get him
off!"

Fox is at my side in a heartbeat and has Arman's struggling body
in his arms.

"I want chocolate milk!" the boy screams. Then he starts throwing
a temper tantrum.

Alex takes the kicking and screaming boy from Fox. Fox shakes his
head as he takes my hand in his and heals the bite mark. He
smiles apologetically and kisses my nose, which is bleeding from
the force of Arman's blow. I feel a tingle as his lips touch my
flesh and the minor damage is repaired.

"He has quite the right hook," Fox quips.

"Fox, can you take him now?" Alex asks frantically, holding Arman
at arms length as the boy tries to bite him.

"Mani, you're going to have a time out in the corner," Fox says,
grabbing Arman away from Alex.

"No! I don't stay in corner! I hate you!"

Fox turns the boy around and swats his butt. A look of shock
appears on Arman's face as he rubs his butt and bursts out
crying. This is the first time I've ever seen Fox spank one of
the kids. He looks up and meets my eyes.

"Some kids just need a little tougher love," Fox says, gathering
Arman in his arms. The little boy clings to him crying.

"You hurt me, Daddy," he snivels.

"That's right I did. Do you know why?" Fox asks.

Arman thinks for a minute. "'Cause I am bad?"

"No, you're not bad, Mani, but you did a bad thing. You hit and
bit Daddy Walter and wouldn't do as you were told. Now...I'm
going to take you to the bathroom then you are going to spend the
next fifteen minutes sitting in the corner of the kitchen. If you
are good I'll let you have a couple of cookies and a glass of
milk."

"Chocolate milk?"

"No, plain milk."

"Meanie!"

"That just got you an extra ten minutes added to your time out,
Mani."

Arman looks worried, and pets Fox's shoulder. "Daddy, how long is
ten minutes?"

"A very long time for little boys."

"I'll be good." His brows furrow in thought as his lower lip
sticks out. "Can I have chocolate milk instead of cookies?"

Alex collapses on the sofa laughing. "He's a miniature version of
you, Fox!"

I chuckle and walk over to them and take Arman from Fox. "Mani,
you can have chocolate milk instead of the cookies. That's okay
isn't it, Fox?"

"Yeah, but he still has twenty-five minutes of time out to sit
through first."

"I'm a very good boy, Daddy. I sorry I bit you. Do I have to sit
in the corner?" he says, giving me the sweetest expression.

"Well..."

"Yes, you do," Fox interjects. "C'mon, Walter, lets take the
royal terror to the bathroom. You and Alex need to help me with
dinner."

"Okay, guys, I'll meet you in the kitchen," Alex says, heading
out the door before us.

I glance at Arman's face as we follow Alex out of the office. He
is not happy but is learning to keep his mouth shut. I'm sure it
won't last. I stoop down and set him on the floor. Arman reaches
up and takes my hand then he grabs Fox's hand. Fox looks down at
him and smiles. My heart skips a beat as I watch my lover. He's
the most beautiful being in the world when he smiles.

My penis stirs as my eyes catch his dancing hazel orbs. "You're
turning me on, Fox," I whisper.

"We'll go to bed early tonight," Fox says, opening the door to
our bedroom. Arman runs across the room and scampers up the
stairs to the bathroom.

"He's ready for his own bedroom." I wrap an arm around Fox's
waist as we follow him up the stairs.

"I'd like to keep him in the nursery a little while longer. He's
still not completely potty trained. Plus I don't trust him out of
my sight for too long."

We watch as Arman pulls his training pants down and sits on the
potty-chair. "He looks pretty potty trained to me."

"Hold that thought," Mulder says.

"Daddy! Wipe me, PLEASE!" Arman orders a minute later.

"You heard the royal prince, wipe him," Mulder says chuckling.

I kneel next to my son, pulling several sheets of toilet paper
from the roll. "Mani, you need to learn to wipe yourself. Now
take the toilet paper in your hand and...."

"No, you wipe me, Daddy."

"Fox?" I look up at my lover who is standing behind me smirking.

"Walter, he's still not ready. Don't push him, give him time."

I always bow to Fox's greater knowledge of our kids. He's with
them fifty-percent more than I am. I wipe our son and help him
pull up his pants. "Go wash your hands."

Arman runs over to the sink and climbs on the step stool as I
empty the contents from the potty-chair into the toilet and
flush. "Use the bar of soap," I say, putting the plastic bowl
back in the chair.

"Yes, Daddy."

I wash my hands in the other sink.

Fox saunters over to me as I'm drying my hands. He wraps his arms
around my neck and kisses me.

"What's that for?" I ask, returning the embrace.

"For being patient with him and not yelling at him in the office
when he was being a brat. My Dad never was very patient with me.
Mani, unlike our other sons, has picked up a lot of the behaviors
I had when I was a child. I want him to have a good relationship
with you."

"Fox, you're the one who disciplines him. What will that do to
his relationship with you? Aren't you worried he'll resent you
later in life."

Fox smiles knowingly. "No. I'm the one he looks to first for
nourishment, love, and comfort. He'll never resent me for
disciplining him; he's far too dependent upon me. When he's
older, he'll understand. You aren't here for him as much and I
don't want your relationship marred. I want him to feel
comfortable going to you when he has a problem that he might not
want to talk to me about."

I love his logic. I really have a hard time yelling at our kids
and he knows it. Unlike when I was an A.D. and had no problem
chewing out my agents. "Fox, you're taking on far too much. Maybe
you should go to part time hours at the bureau?" Instead of the
argument I expected to get from him, Fox just looks thoughtful.

"I'll think about it," he says, as Arman runs over to him holding
a towel.

He looks up at us, squeezing in between Fox and me. "Can we go to
the kitchen now?"

"Okay, champ." I take his hand and we head to the kitchen. The
sweet aroma of fresh baked bread and pies hit me before we even
enter the kitchen. Alex is sitting at the breakfast table with
some of our daughters.

"Girls, what have you been baking?" I ask, walking over to look
in the oven.

"Pumpkin, Pecan, and mincemeat pies. Cornbread and cranberry
bread," Kaylie says.

Arman's voice interrupts us. "Daddy, I'm a good boy now."

Fox lifts him up and sets him on a chair in the corner. "Mani,
you are being punished for being bad earlier. Now sit and I don't
want to hear another word out of you until the big hand is on the
ten," he says, pointing up to the wall clock.

Arman purses his lips and glares up at the clock. I watch in
amazement as the large minute hand moves from the five to the
ten. I feel the small amount of power that flowed from my baby
boy. I am flabbergasted. He's too young to be showing any signs
of his sorcerer powers yet. Shit, a three-year-old sorcerer?

"Daddy, the big hand is on the ten, can I have chocolate milk
now?"

Fox looks at me with huge eyes. "Walter, tell me you did that."

"No, Mani did it."

"Walter, he's only three!"

No one this young has ever shown signs of power. It is usually
brought on with puberty. "Fox, I think I'll be taking over our
son's discipline after all." No way can I chance Arman hurting
Fox. God, how did this happen?

Fox shakes his head. "Walter, it isn't necessary. Arman, put the
big hand back on five."

"But, Daddy--"

"Now!"

Arman turns and faces the wall, looking up at the clock the
minute hand moves backward until it is on the five again. Fox
kneels next to the chair and kisses his cheek.

"Thank you, Mani." He combs his fingers through the boy's silky
chestnut hair. "Daddy Walter will teach you how to control your
powers. But, I want you to promise me that you won't use them
until you're older or unless Daddy Walter is with you."

He chews his lower lip thoughtfully and blurts out, "Okay, I
promise...I won't move the clock hand again."

Fox frowns, realizing that Arman has no idea what he's done.

"Daddy, are you mad at me?"

"No. You're my bestest baby boy," Fox says sweetly, hugging Arman
and giving him a raspberry on the side of his neck.

Arman giggles and shouts, "Love you!"

As I watch them, the fear I have for Fox's safety evaporates.
Arman, like our other kids, has never lashed out physically at
Fox. Alex walks over and stands beside me. He has a worried look
on his face. "Don't worry, Alex, I'll protect you," I quip.

"Stick it, Wally."

Fox looks concerned as he glances up at us then turns back to
Arman. "I want you to sit there and think about why you're being
punished." His fingers continue to comb soothingly through the
boy's hair.

"Okay, Daddy. Then can I have chocolate milk?"

"Yes. Then you can have a big glass of chocolate milk." Fox
kisses his cheek then stands and walks over to us, looking
decidedly uneasy. He wraps his arms around both our waists and
leans tiredly against us. I can feel the tension in every fiber
of his hard body.

"We're going to need a sorcerer nanny for him," Fox says.

I nod. "We're also going to have to teach him the consequences of
his powers." I don't want to say it, but if we're unable to curb
our son's temper tantrums, I'm going to have to separate him from
our family until he's older. No way can I chance him hurting or
worse killing one of our other kids. He's too young to understand
about death.

"We could just put an anti-power cuff on him," Alex says.

Fox and I both look at him as relief settles over us. "Damn, why
didn't I think of that?"

Alex smirks. "Maybe, because you're both too worried and not
thinking clearly. Guys, Mani will be fine. C'mon, help me with
dinner."

Our chef is off until Monday, so we've been preparing breakfast,
lunch, and dinner for our large family. Actually, I enjoy cooking
with Fox and Alex, and would like to spend more time together
with them this way. "What are you planning on making?"

"Meatloaf. It's the kids' favorite." He pulls out several pounds
of ground hamburger from refrigerator. I get the eggs and dried
bread, while Fox collects the ketchup, salsa, and spices. With
seventeen kids we need to make three loafs of meatloaf.

I glance back at Arman. He is sitting quietly on the hardwood
chair, staring up at the clock. His small, sneaker clad feet
don't come anywhere near the floor and his legs are swinging.
They are the only indication of his impatience. I'll give him ten
minutes, before he starts complaining.

I wash my hands in the sink before combining the ingredients
together for one meatloaf. My mind wanders as I knead the
breadcrumbs and eggs into the meat.

Our daughters are busy talking on the other side of the kitchen.
Kaylie is pointing out pictures in a magazine to Angélique, while
Summer takes the final pie out of the oven. Kaylie's a sorceress.
Maybe I'll have her help watch Mani until I can get an anti-power
cuff made in his size. Out of seventeen kids, seven of them have
the sorcerer gene. Hope and Faith are human with no mutant genes
at all. We have three immortal sons, and four immortal daughters.
The immortal genes are radically different in the girls. Our
scientists don't believe they are truly immortal. Then there is
Angélique, we don't know if she'll show any strange abilities
down the road--besides flying.

"Walter, pay attention," Fox says, plucking my wedding band out
of the ground meat. "If you lose the wedding ring I gave you,
you'll have to marry me all over again."

I grin. "It would be worth it then."

"As long as we can go to your old cabin for our honeymoon again."
Fox rinses off the ring and sets it on the rim of the back-
splash.

"It's been over a decade since we were last at the cabin. I doubt
that it's still habitable."

"You can just wiggle your nose and make it livable," Fox quips.
He takes an apple from the bowl of fruit and starts slicing it
into wedges removing the seeds.

"I would love to go back there again for a vacation. Maybe we can
go fishing," I sigh wistfully, missing that old part of my life.
I'm too well known to go out in public without attracting a
crowd.

Fox feeds me an apple slice as I form the meat into a loaf and
place it in a loaf pan.

"Hey, Fox, give me a slice," Alex says, starting on the third
meatloaf.

Fox grins seductively, placing the slice between his teeth and
feeding it to Alex that way. Their lips lock briefly in a kiss.

Fox chuckles. "Finish making the meatloaf, I have another baby
bird to feed."

I expect him to feed me the same way and I'm anxiously waiting,
but he walks by me over to Arman.

"Open up, baby bird," Fox says, and places a small slice of apple
in our son's mouth.

Arman chews and swallows. "How much longer, Daddy?" he whispers.

"Fifteen minutes."

Arman opens his mouth for another apple slice.

"Are you thinking about how wrong it was to punch and bite Daddy
Walter?" Fox's voice is like velvet, soft and gentle.

Our son nods. "I'm sorry I hurt my Daddy."

I smile at that. No wonder our kids are turning out so well. I
don't spend enough time home to see this side of Fox. I turn to
Alex who is putting the meatloaves in the oven. "Is he always
like this with the kids?"

"Like what?"

"Patient, caring, nurturing--"

"You're only noticing it now?" Alex shakes his head as he walks
into the pantry. He comes out with a dozen potatoes and looks at
me. "Can you?"

I use my powers to peel the potatoes and have them boiling away
in a pot of water in the wink of an eye. "Maybe I should spend
more time at home."

"You should learn to delegate more. Fox and I can help you,
Walter."

"Maybe, Alex." I wish it were that easy. Most of my top men are
sorcerers and it's highly unlikely that they will take orders
from an immortal. They consider immortals to be eye-candy--
precious gems to be revered and worshiped. If they had their way,
Fox, Alex and the other immortals would never be allowed to work
or to leave the island.

I look toward the door as River strolls into the kitchen and
everyone stops talking. It's been less than a day since he's
awoken and the changes in him are stunning. Sapphire eyes that
would even make the heavens envious. He's taken to wearing his
ebony hair long and has it pinned back.

"Hi, Dads, do you need any help?" he asks.

"You can make the salad, if you'd like," Alex replies, tossing
him a head of lettuce.

"What's up with Mani?" River takes the lettuce over to the sink
to wash it.

"He gave Walter a bloody nose and bit his hand, so he's being
punished." Alex looks at me barely stifling a chuckle.

"It wasn't that bad," I say, moving over to help River with the
salad.

I start slicing an orange for the salad. "Slava and his daughters
are coming for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow."

River pauses in shredding the lettuce up into a bowl. "They've
never celebrated Thanksgiving with us before."

"They are this year. Are you uncomfortable with Slava coming
tomorrow?"

"No. He used to scare me when I was a boy, but I'm used to him
now."

I'm still not used to Slava coming into our household. I only
tolerate him for Fox's and Nicky's sake. It worries me that he
might take an even deeper interest in River now that my son has
become an immortal. "If you ever feel nervous around him, I want
you to tell me. Okay?"

River smiles shyly. "Don't worry, Dad, I'll tell you."

My heart skips a beat as I meet his eyes. God, I don't want to be
aroused by him. How sick is that? I glance over at Alex then Fox.
Their beauty is enough to dampen any ardor I'm feeling for River.
I shake my head sadly as I reach for a jar of olives for the
salad. At twenty-two River is still a virgin, and unfortunately
the whole world knows it. Such is the fate of being an immortal
in today's society. They are unparalleled celebrities and nothing
in their lives goes unreported. There is a magazine solely
dedicated to reporting news about immortals and their children.
Since yesterday, I've received over four hundred requests from
foreign leaders and my own military for River's hand in marriage.
Fortunately, it isn't up to me who my son marries, unlike my
daughters. It is completely River's decision.

We talk and wait for the food to cook. Our daughters set the
large dining room table while we stay in the kitchen. Fox and I
are sipping wine. Alex is sitting at the breakfast table with
River drinking a glass of orange juice, flipping through our
daughter's magazine. Arman is starting to get grumpy. I look up
at the clock, noting he has less than a minute left on his
timeout. Twenty-five minutes is the longest he's ever had to sit
still. Usually his timeouts no longer then ten minutes.

Fox sets his wineglass down and goes over to the refrigerator,
taking out the carton of chocolate milk. He fills a large glass
almost to the brim and sets it on the breakfast table. "Okay,
Mani. Apologize to Daddy Walter, then your punishment is over."

Our son hops off the chair and runs over to me quicker than any
jackrabbit I've ever seen. I can't help laughing.

"I'm sorry, Daddy!" he yells, holding his arms out to me. I bend
and he wraps them around my neck and kisses me.

"Apology accepted." I scoop him up and carry him over to the
table, setting him down in front of the large glass of chocolate
milk. He grins up at me as he reaches for the glass. I have to
help him; it's too big for his small hands to hold. He is only
able to finish a quarter of it before he's full. Arman looks over
to Fox who's leaning against the counter watching him with
amusement.

"Would you like me to put it away for you for later?" Fox asks.

"Yes, please. It was too big...I'm only a little boy."

Thirty minutes later our other children all storm into the
kitchen.

"It sure smell good in here! Is the food done?" Sergei asks,
walking over to the oven and peering inside.

Gawain runs over to me. "Daddy, you should see our Christmas
tree! We just finished decorating it."

"You can show it to me after dinner." I pat his blonde head
lovingly. Unlike our other sons, Gawain has never thrown a temper
tantrum or caused us the least bit of trouble. He's always been a
good-natured child.

I look over Gawain's shoulder and watch my sons. Nicky is gets
the sandwich buns out of the bread drawer while Sasha takes a
package of sliced cheddar cheese from the refrigerator. "What are
you boys doing?"

"Meatloaf sandwiches," Sergei answers, carrying the bottle of
ketchup out the kitchen to the dining room.

"Save me one of those buns," I shout after him.

"Can we have Pepsi with our dinner?" Regan is asking Alex.

"No. You can have milk, juice, or water." Alex is becoming as
tough as Fox when it comes to our children's eating habits.

"How about chocolate milk?" Morgan asks.

All three of us groan at the same time. Fox leaves Alex to deal
with the triplets. He goes over to the stove and takes the
meatloaves out of the oven.

Our daughters carry the mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, and green
beans into the dining room. Nadia and Kira are back from their
chat with Scully. I'll have to talk with them after dinner. I
look down at Gawain's happy face...of course, after I see the
Christmas tree. "C'mon, Gawain, let's go eat."

Fox places the platter in the center of the table, and then helps
Arman up on his booster seat. He sits between Arman and Gawain as
I take my place at the head of the table. Early in our marriage
Fox was the one at the head of the table, but after several kids
he moved to sit at center of the table with Alex across from him.
Our oldest, Hope and Faith now sit on my left and right. Only at
formal dinner parties do Fox and Alex sit next to me. I look at
Alex who is sitting surrounded by our youngest daughters. They
all adore him. I look around the table at all of our children. I
say a silent pray, thanking God for blessing me with such a
beautiful family.

The platters and bowls of food are passed around the table.
Everyone is talking at once. My attention keeps wandering to Fox
as he fills Arman's plate, talking between Arman and Gawain.
Gawain is telling Fox about his favorite Christmas ornaments, and
how Angélique flew up to the top of the tree to place the
Christmas angel on top of it. Fox listens with interest. It takes
me a second to realize that Faith is talking to me. She lifts a
groomed eyebrow at me.

"Sorry, Faith, what were you saying?"

"I invited Marcus to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I hope that's
all right?"

"It's fine, Dear." Marcus is Lieutenant Marcus Morris. He's
Faith's fiancé. "Hope, why didn't you invite Steve?"

"I did, but he was needed at Area 51 and couldn't make it."

I really like the men my daughters have chosen to marry.
Although, I don't look forward to the day that they will be
leaving us. Hope's future husband is a Captain in the Air Force.
He's one of the pilots testing the new prototype spacecraft. Fox
and I will probably see him when we go to Area 51 on Monday.

I put a slice of meatloaf between the buns and top it with some
cheese. My boys sure have the right idea. I look down the table
at River who is pushing his food around with his fork. "River,
Fox and I are going to take you with us on Monday. We're going to
Area 51 to see the new spaceship."

River's eyes light up. "Really? I'd love to go. I need some new
subjects for my paintings. Maybe I'll find some inspiration
there."

Nicky and Sergei look imploringly at me. "Dad, can we go, too?"

"Maybe next time. I need you two boys and Kaylie to look after
Alex for us."

"I go with you, Daddy," Arman says.

"God, please tell us you're taking Mani with you!" Sasha
exclaims, and the other kids nod their heads in agreement.

"Don't worry, we're taking Mani with us." I spear a couple of
green beans with my fork and notice that River is eating with
relish now. I was worried that he wouldn't want to come with us.
He's seems to prefer staying on the island most of the time.

Fox looks around the table at our kids. "Kids, Mani surprised us
earlier by using his sorcerer powers. We have no idea why he's
started this early. I'd like you to be extra careful not to upset
him. At least until we can have an anti-power cuff made for him."

"Wow, already? He's only a baby!" Sergei says.

"A deadly baby," Sasha mutters jealously.

"Kids, he's just a little boy. He doesn’t know right from wrong
yet, so please be extra careful around him." I don't want to make
a big deal out of this in front of Arman who isn't really paying
attention to our conversation as it is. He's shoveling potatoes
into his mouth.

"Can I have my glass of chocolate milk, Daddy?"

"Sure." Fox starts to rise, but I stop him.

"I'll get it, Fox," I say, making the glass appear in front of
Arman's plate.

"Thank you, Daddy!"

"You're welcome, Mani." I glance over at Alex who is yawning.
"Alex, are you going to make it through dinner?"

"Yeah. Don't count on me for Thanksgiving tomorrow though." He
smiles tiredly.

"What's wrong, Daddy?" Alina asks Alex. She and her two sisters
were only three when Fox slept through the first three weeks when
he was pregnant with Arman.

"I'm going to be sleeping the next few weeks."

I notice Alex didn't mention about being pregnant. We haven't
told four youngest kids yet.

"Girls, immortals always sleep the first three to four weeks of
their pregnancy," I say watching Alex's face turn a shade of
pink.

"You're going to have a baby, Daddy?" Morgan says, looking at
Alex's flat stomach.

"It appears so," Alex replies, glaring at me.

"Is it a boy or a girl? I'd like another sister," Regan says
excitedly.

"It's too early to tell, sweetie." Alex picks up his glass of
milk and takes a large swallow.

Being pregnant again upsets him greatly. Fox wasn't as upset when
he was pregnant with Arman. I'm a little disappointed that Alex
will be the father of Fox's next baby, which means it will be at
least eleven years before Fox has my baby again. The majority of
our kids will be married and moved out by then. I wonder if I can
convince Fox to have both our children at the same time again?
Maybe he'll be receptive in four years. I look at Fox, imagining
his belly swollen with my baby. I adjust the napkin on my lap as
my organ swells with excitement that the image provokes.

"Walter, what are you thinking about? I don't like that look on
your face," Fox says, setting the glass of chocolate milk down on
the table. He then wipes the milk moustache from Arman's upper
lip.

"I'll tell you when we're alone together." Which I hope is soon,
because I plan to do a lot more than talk.

Dinner passes noisily as I attempt to listen to all of my kids
conversations at once.

Sasha is sitting at the far end of the table next to Angélique.
He smirks and leans and whispers conspiratorially in her ear.
"I'm going to meet Ben tonight downstairs in the garden. We're
going to do it."

"Are you sure? Why don't you wait until you're older?" Angélique
whispers back.

"I'm old enough to know what I want, Angel."

I have to use my powers to pick up what they are whispering to
each other. Their words make my face flame red with anger, and I
had to consciously keep my temper in check. Ben is one of my
son's royal bodyguards. The man is twenty-nine years old. It
makes me wonder if Sasha is still a virgin. He better be or there
will be hell to pay!

"Walter, what's wrong?" Alex asks, meeting my eyes.

"Ah...nothing, Alex." I go back to eating as I telepathically
relay what I have learned from eaves-dropping on Sasha to Alex.
Alex is about to confront Sasha. *Don't, Alex! It would be better
if we caught them in the act tonight.*

*In the act, Walter? I'm not allowing any man to stick his dick
into my fifteen year old son!*

*We won't let them get that far. I need a good reason to charge
Ben Stever with attempted rape and have him thrown off the
island. Finish your dinner, Alex. I don't want to alarm Fox.*

*I'm going with you, Walt--* Alex covers his mouth as he yawns.

I can tell Alex isn't going to make it another hour without
falling to sleep. *Sure, Alex.*

*Take Fox with you...I'm not going to make it. And, Walter, when
I wake up in three weeks I expect Sasha to still be a virgin!*

*Don't worry, Alex. I'm going to take him with us to Area 51 on
Monday. No way am I letting him out of my sight until he's
twenty-one!* I look down the table at Fox. He's not going to like
hearing this latest news.

We finish with dinner and our older kids gather the dirty dishes
and go into the kitchen to wash them. Fox accompanies Alex back
to our bedroom to help him to bed, while I go with Arman, Gawain,
and the triplets into the entertainment room to see the Christmas
tree.

"Oh, pretty tree!" Arman shouts, running over and tugging on an
ornament.

"Mani, look, don't touch," I say, gazing up at the tree. I can
barely see any pine needles. It is that densely covered with
ornaments, lights, and tinsel. "Gawain, the tree is spectacular.
You, and your brothers and sisters have out done yourselves this
year."

"Thanks, Dad." Gawain is smiling proudly; his blue eyes sparkle
with the light of hundreds of tiny Christmas lights.

I brush the backs of my fingers over his smooth cheek as he looks
up at me. He is so pretty, more so than any of our daughters. I'm
suddenly worried about leaving him here alone. Damn. I shouldn't
have asked Fox to come with me on Monday. Well, we're taking
River, Sasha, and Arman. I wonder if we should take Gawain, too.
Some business trip that will be, in the company of four immortals
and a three year old boy. I look up at the clock. "Girls, it time
for bed."

"Can't we stay up a little longer? Tomorrow's Saturday," Morgan
says.

"When you're ten you can stay up later, but until then your bed
time is eight." I usually don't have to worry about putting them
to bed. Their nanny or Alex and Fox usually take care of these
details, since I often work past eight o'clock at night. I make
it a point to be home for dinner at six, before heading back down
to my offices for another two or more hours. "Go get your pajamas
on and I'll be down to tuck you in."

"Okay, Daddy." They turn and scurry out of the room.

I pick up Arman. "It’s past your bedtime, too."

"I want to take a Mr. Bubble bath with you and Daddy before bed."

"Me too, Dad!" Gawain says.

Gawain's getting a bit too old for bubble baths with his dads,
but I have a hard time denying him anything. More so than any of
our other children. "Okay. Why don't you take Mani and tell Daddy
Fox to prepare a bath for us. I'm going to tuck your sisters in
first."

"Yeah!" Arman shouts, racing ahead of Gawain.

I look at the clock. I want to be downstairs to stop Sasha from
going too far with Stever, but I'm sure he won't try anything
until after midnight. Just in case, I pick up the telephone and
call General Kline. "Clay, I have a problem." I explain the
situation to him involving Sasha and Ben Stever. He agrees to
have the gardens digitally surveyed so we'll have strong evidence
against Stever. God, I still have to talk with Nadia and Kira. I
really need to brush up on my multi-tasking skills. I long for
the days when I was only a FBI Assistant Director.

I first go to the triplet's bedroom. They are in their flannel
pajamas with freshly scrubbed faces. "Did you brush your teeth?"

"Yes we did, Daddy. See." Alina smiles wide, proudly showing her
teeth.

"Very good, Alina. Now, hop into bed." I go to each of their beds
and tuck them in, kissing their foreheads.

"Will, Daddy Alex and Daddy Fox be down later?" Morgan asks.

"Daddy Fox will, but Daddy Alex is going to be sleeping the next
three weeks."

"Because he's pregnant with our new sister," Regan says.

"Or brother." I smile. They see a male being pregnant as
perfectly normal. I shouldn't be surprised; all of their female
friends have immortal fathers. "Sweet dreams," I say, shutting
off the overhead light and closing the door.

I walk into our bedroom and look first at Alex soundly asleep in
bed. I feel a sense of sadness that I won't be able to make love
to him again for three weeks. I hear laughter coming from our
bathroom. I climb the steps and smile at Fox, Gawain, and Arman
all naked waiting for the large bathtub to fill. Arman is holding
a yellow rubber ducky. It is still strange to think that Fox gave
birth to both boys. They are so much a part of him.

"Okay, boys, I think it is deep enough," Fox says, shutting off
the water and climbing into the bathtub and sitting on the
submersed bench. The water in the center of the tub is over
Arman's head so he stands on the bench next to Fox. While Gawain
swims to the other side, playing in the chin deep water. I strip
out of my clothes as I watch them. I slip in next to Fox. He
hands me a washcloth.

"Wash your kid," he says, passing Arman to me as well. "This is a
bathtub, Gawain, not a swimming pool."

"It's sort of like a swimming pool, Dad. It's a hundred times as
big as my bathtub."

"At least try to get clean as you swim," Fox says, chuckling. He
leans back enjoying the hot water.

I smile as I scrub the wiggling bundle in my arms. "Fox, I was
thinking we should take Gawain and Sasha with us on Monday."

"They should be fine here, Walter."

"I don't want to leave Sasha here without adult supervision."

"Okay, what has he done now?"

"He's planning on having sex with one of his bodyguards tonight
down in the gardens."

"What! Okay, that does it! I'm going to tan his butt!" Fox glares
at me. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be downstairs
making sure he doesn't have sex?"

"Fox calm down. It's still early. I have Clay monitoring the
gardens just in case. I really don't expect Sasha to sneak
downstairs until after we go to bed."

"What guard is it? That bastard's going to wish he'd never heard
my name when I'm through with him!"

"Ben Stever."

"Humph! I should have known it would be that asshole!"

"Fox, watch your language—"

Fox glances at our two sons, who are staring at him with open
mouths. "Sorry. I didn't mean to swear."

"Daddy, are you really going to spank Sasha?" Gawain is resting
his hands on Fox's knees as he looks up at him questioningly.

"No. He's too old for spanking."

"You spanked me!" Arman shouts, climbing onto Fox's lap.

"You're not too old to spank." Fox smiles hugging him. "Walter, I
need to get out of the tub. Can you finish washing Mani? I'm too
anxious about Sasha right now."

"Sure, Fox. Just don't alert Sasha. We won't be able to nail
Stever with any criminal charges if we don't catch them in the
act."

"The act, Walter? Just how far do you intend that bast...man to
get with our son?" Fox passes Arman back to me as he stands. He
climbs out of the tub while I answer him.

"Not far...heavy kissing and groping should be enough to charge
him with sexual assault of a minor."

"You're King for crying out loud! You don't need any reason to
throw his butt in jail!"

"Yes, I do. I might be King, but I am not a tyrant or a dictator.
Our citizens need me to honor the laws that our kingdom has
established. Fox, without laws we will fall into anarchy."

Fox finishes drying himself, and drops the damp towel down the
laundry shoot. "I know you're right, Walter. I just don't want to
see Sasha taken advantage of."

I hold my tongue. I don't tell him that I think Sasha's the one
taking advantage of Ben Stever. Sasha is Alex's son pure and
simple. He already knows how to manipulate a situation to his
advantage. I can just picture him wrapping Stever around his
little finger. Fox only sees our sweet and innocent boy, not the
flirt that Alex and I have witnessed on several occasions. Sasha
may only be going on sixteen, but he is the one calling the shots
in this instance; there is no doubt in my mind. That's why I'm
not going to let him out of my sight until he is an adult. I'm
determined to use Stever as an example of what can happen if you
lay a hand on one of my children. I finish washing Arman. "Okay,
boys, I think we should get out."

"I'm not done playing yet, Daddy!" Arman picks up his rubber
ducky and moves away from me, walking on the bench.

"It's past your bedtime, Mani. Now put the duck down and come
over here!"

"No! I play first!"

"Mani, do as your Dad tells you!"

Arman looks up at Fox who is standing with his arms folded across
his chest.

"Yes, Daddy." The boy quickly drops the duck and rushes back over
to me and climbs on my lap. "I sorry," he says, touching my face.

I hug him and stand, cradling him against my chest. The water is
still pleasantly warm and I would have liked to spend more time
soaking. Maybe I could talk Fox into a late night candlelit bath
after we take care of Sasha.

Gawain has already climbed out of the tub and is letting Fox dry
him. "I can't wait for Thanksgiving tomorrow, Dad. Can I help you
in the kitchen?"

"I'd be honored to have you as my personal assistant chef,
Gawain." Mulder smoothed his fingers through Gawain's blonde
hair. "I want you to turn in now, so you can get up early to help
me tomorrow."

"Okay." Gawain looks at me hesitantly as he pulls on his pajamas.
"Are you going to tuck me in?"

"Sure, if you want me to." I pass a wet Arman to Fox who frowns
at me for getting his clothes wet.

"I want you to." Gawain giggles.

"Okay, go to your room and brush your teeth. I'll be down
shortly."

Fox takes his time drying Arman as I dress. "What's Sasha doing
currently?"

I don't like using my powers to spy on our kids, but considering
the circumstance--"He's sitting in the kitchen with the other
kids. They're finishing off a gallon of butter pecan ice cream
with a hot butterscotch sauce--" Oh shit, I watch as Arman's eyes
light up.

"Daddy, I want ice scream!"

"No! It's past your bedtime," Fox says.

"Pleeeaase!"

"No, Mani. Don't argue with me. If you're good, then tomorrow you
can have ice cream on you pie."

"But, I want ice scream now."

Fox sighs and hugs Arman tightly, closing his eyes. I can tell
everything is getting to him.

I touch Mulder's cheek. "Fox, let me have him. I'll put Mani to
bed, why don't you go make yourself a stiff drink. I'll join you
shortly, after I tuck our sons in and talk to Nadia and Kira."

Arman for once knows when to keep quiet. "Daddy," he whispers as
I carry him into the nursery.

"Hmm?"

"I didn't mean to make Daddy sad."

"He's not sad." I pull the blankets down and Arman climbs under
the covers. "I think we should move you into your own bedroom.
Would you like that?"

He purses his lips in thought. "I like being near Daddy Fox."

"You'll still be near him. Don't you want your own room? We can
decorate it any way you like."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Mani."

***

I finish tucking Gawain in, then go have that talk with Nadia and
Kira. When I finally put them to bed it is getting late, I find
Fox in the Entertainment room looking at the Christmas tree. He's
sipping a brandy. I walk over and enfold him in my arms from
behind. He is warm and smells wonderful. I want to take him to
bed and spend the rest of the night making love. Fox raises the
brandy snifter to my lips. I take a sip of the warm liquid.

The older kids are on the other side of the room watching TV,
including Sasha. He looks at his watch and glancing over at us
nervously.

"So did you talk to Nadia and Kira?" Fox asks.

I nuzzle his throat with my nose. "Yeah. They've decided to hold
off having a baby of their own." I chuckle and he turns his head
to look at me.

"What?"

"They were giving me the strangest looks. I'm sure they were
shocked when Scully informed them how men and women make a baby
together. I wonder if she explained how immortals become
pregnant."

Mulder groans, "Great, we'll be under their scrutiny for a
while."

Sasha stands and stretches. "I'm beat. I think I'll go to bed
now."

Fox tenses in my arms, and I hold him tighter. "Good night,
Hunter," I say as he walks by us on his way out of the room.

"Night, Dads, see you in the morning."

I continue to nuzzle Fox's neck after Sasha is gone. Our other
kids remain glued to the television set. "He's heading down the
staircase," I whisper. "Let's give him thirty minutes then go
after him."

"I hate waiting, Walter."

"Let me freshen your drink." I touch the snifter and its bottom
fills with a splash of warm brandy.

"Are we just going to stand here for the next half-hour?" Fox
raises the glass to his lips and breathes in the vapors before
tilting the glass and taking a sip.

"No." I take his hand and pull him over to the recliner in the
corner. Sitting, I pull him down on my lap and circle my arms
around his waist.

"We can't get too comfortable," Fox says, turning so his back is
resting against my chest, he lays his head next to mine. His left
buttock is pressing lusciously against my groin.

Mindful of our children across the room I casually rest my hand
over Fox's crotch "Yes, we can. Just because Sasha is being a
pain in the butt, doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves." I
squeeze, feeling the organ swell under my fingertips.

Fox's fingers wrap around my wrist. "Walter, please...I really am
not in the mood. Let's go downstairs. I want to be close to
Sasha, in case that bastard Ben tries anything."

"We should wait at least another fifteen minutes. Sasha will be
fine. The gardens are being monitored. The minute Stever tries
anything with Sasha he will be arrested." Fox pulls out of my
arms and stands.

"You can stay here and wait. I'm going downstairs." Fox turns and
heads for the door.

I jump out of the recliner and hurry after him, grabbing his arm.
"Fox, slow down. We need to leave one of the older girls to watch
Arman and the triplets."

"Okay, I'll tell Faith to look after them." Fox goes back to the
entertainment room and I hear him calling to Faith. I listen to
their conversation as she follows him out of the room.

"Faith, your Dad and I are going downstairs for a little bit. Can
you look after Arman and the triplets, in case they need anything
while we're gone?" Fox says.

"Of course, Dad."

"Thanks, Cutie," I say, kissing her cheek. "C'mon, Fox."

We walk down the hall to the elevator that will let us off
nearest the gardens.

"What's he doing, Walter?" Fox asks as the elevator doors slide
close.

My cheeks flush as anger permeates my being. "They're French
kissing!"

"Walter, calm down. What did you expect them to be doing?"

"I-I...it's just a shock."

Fox takes my hand and squeezes it reassuringly as we wait for the
elevator to reach the lobby. "At least it's enough to get him
kicked off the island."

"Right now I just want his hands off our son." I pull Fox along
after me as we rush off the elevator. I had ordered my men to
wait until there was no doubt that they are going to have sex
before stopping them.

When we reach the garden we hear swearing and the sound of a
scuffle. My men rush from their places of concealment as we race
down a garden path to the spot where Sasha and Ben Stever are. I
freeze in my tracks and signal for the men following me to stop.

Duncan MacIver is in a blind rage beating the shit out of Ben
Stever. It's quite the accomplishment considering Duncan is about
seven inches shorter and a hundred pounds lighter than the older
man. Sasha is swearing at his friend to stop when he sees us.

"Dad, make him stop! He's going to kill Ben!"

I signal for my men to pull them apart. Duncan is still
struggling and trying to get to Ben as the battered man is led
forcefully away.

"Duncan, calm down!" I order.

He glares at Sasha, then turns to face Fox and me. "That bastard
was groping *my* boyfriend!" Duncan growls. His sixteen-year-old
face is red with rage and indignation.

"I'm not your boyfriend, Duncan MacIver!" Sasha snaps.

"Sure you are, Sash. You just haven't admitted it to yourself
yet." Duncan says with a lilt in his voice and a smug expression
on his face, so much like his Scottish father.

Several of my men snicker. Fox steps forward and touches Duncan's
swollen and bloody lips. I watch as the lips heal.

Fox smiles at him and kisses Duncan on the cheek. "It was
extremely stupid of you to take on a sorcerer so much older than
yourself, but I do appreciate you defending my son's virtue."

Duncan smiles shyly. "Stever has been hitting on Sasha for
months. I wasn't about to let that slimeball get away with
hurting him."

"He wasn't hurting me, Duncan! We were making love!" Sasha
suddenly glances at Fox and me, realizing he just put his foot in
his mouth.

"Sasha, you are grounded for the next month," Fox says.

"What about Ben?"

"He will be placed on trial for attempted rape and sexual assault
of a minor." Fox doesn't blink as he tells Sasha what is in store
for his almost lover.

"You can't do that! It wasn't his fault!"

"Ben Stever knew the consequences of touching you."

"It's not fair!" Sasha stomps his foot down on the ground
angrily.

Fox places his hands on either side of our son's face and looks
him in the eyes. "Next time, Sasha, maybe you'll consider the
repercussions to those around you before engaging in something
you know is wrong."

"B-But, Dad--"

"Not another word, Sasha! We're going back to our apartment now,
where you have a date with a paddle waiting!" Fox growls.

The men stare at my beautiful lover with open admiration as Fox
pushes Sasha in front of him and they head for the elevators.
Duncan follows two steps behind.

"Are you really going to paddle him?" I can hear Duncan asking
Fox worriedly.

"Yes."

"Isn't that a bit harsh?"

I continue listening as Fox stops walking and grabs Sasha's hand.
"I'll tell you what, Duncan. Since you risked your life for my
son, I'll let you decide on his punishment."

"I-ah...I think grounding him for a month is good and...." A
smile slowly paints its way across Duncan's lips. "And doing
volunteer work with me and my Dads every Saturday for the next
three months at the soup kitchens and orphanages in Baltimore."

I smile at the uncertainty in Fox's eyes as I walk up the path to
join them. He's worried about exposing Sasha to any danger. I
think Duncan's suggestion is good. Sasha needs to see how good he
has it here, and the only way to do that is to show him the
poverty that a great number of our citizens live in. The island
has no slums. The mainland is another story. My kingdom is still
the number one destination spot for immigrants from all over the
globe, most arrive here with only the clothes on their backs.
Housing is in short supply, since most of New America's citizens
have migrated to the East and West coasts, leaving the Midwest
and South to farmers and ranchers willing to brave the isolation
with their families. The large Midwestern and Southern cities
were unable to stay viable with so few citizens after the women
had died. They tried for years, but as more and more men left for
the larger population centers on the coasts, the cities died. I
visited Chicago last year. The city is virtual a ghost town, only
a few hundred diehards were left.

"Walter--"

I glance at Fox. I'm not sure how long he was trying to get my
attention. "Sorry, babe, I was thinking."

"What do you think of Duncan's suggestion?"

"I think it will do Sasha some good, seeing how some of our less
fortunate people live. We can send a large security force with
him; so don't worry about his safety. Besides, he'll have Rory
and Kazuo to protect him, too."

"Okay. Sasha, thank Duncan for saving your butt," Fox says.

Sasha glares at Duncan. "Thanks a whole lot, Duncan."

Duncan is not put off by Sasha's hostility. He beams at our son.
"You're welcome, Sash." The boy is too much like Rory, and I know
somewhere down the road he will win Sasha's heart.

"Fox, I need to arrange for Ben Stever's transfer off the island.
I'll be upstairs as soon as possible."

"Don't take too long. I want to finish that bubble bath we were
taking earlier." Fox leans in and kisses me.

"I'll hurry--" I rush off in the other direction with images of
Fox's lean naked body covered with suds. This evening is turning
out better than I thought.

***

End of chapter 2: Walter