CHAPTER 193: THE GREAT BABY BOOM

The brunch was going nice. Clayton had started to respond to Homer and everything that he was being exposed to, when someone knocked on the front door. Homer got up to answer the door to see who it might be.

When he opened the door, Malcolm had his head down in a set of drawings and walked directly into the house. "Homer, I really need to talk to you about some of the revisions that you’ve done to the plans. I don’t understand some of them and I need some clarifications, such as why this had to be changed." When he looked up at Homer, his mouth fell open. "Damn dude, what the hell happened to you?"

Homer cleared his throat and motioned toward the dining room where Clayton sat.

Malcolm looked over and saw the young man sitting at the table. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just so involved in those plans I didn’t know you had company."

"Malcolm, I would like for you to meet Clayton. He’s from the dorms and he’ll be staying with me for the weekend and maybe longer if he likes it."

Malcolm walked over to shake his hand when Clayton stood up. "Holy crap, you’re big." Then he recovered and apologized for his insensitivity. Richie was always telling him to think before he spoke because once it’s out of your mouth, it can’t go back.

"It’s okay, yeah, I’m fairly good size and only going to get bigger in a month and a half," Clayton smiled. "It’s not like you did it to me, just my burden to bear."

"Maybe I should get Rich to come visit and stay with you while Homer is at work. I know he could use the company too—he’s only two months along but he’s already getting housebound."

Clayton was surprised. "You have a mate that’s expecting, but you’re human?"

"Yep, guilty as charged, but you can’t help who you fall in love with. I was lost before I met him and now, I can’t imagine life without him and the baby that he carries for us."

Homer stood there and realized how this could work to his advantage to help bring young Clayton out of his shell and into the real world.

"That would be nice. Maybe he could teach me a few things," Clayton smiled. "There are so many questions that I need answers to, and someone in my similar shape just might help me along."

Malcolm shook his hand and patted Homer on the shoulder as he bid both of them goodbye and good luck for the weekend.

"That was nice, Mr. Homer. He seems like a very good man and from the way he acts, he does love his mate."

"Clayton, you’ll find a lot of that around here on the Z1. Mr. Zack has tried his best to help all Genmen and hybrids become accepted as equals to humans. None of us here could do without the generosity and kindness of him."

Clayton thanked Homer for the meal and asked to be excused so he could go to the bathroom.

"Sure, I imagine that little fellow in there is giving your bladder a stomping match after all that Coolwater you drank."

"Yes, sir. I’m surprised I lasted this long—it seems like the bigger I get, the more I go."

When Clayton returned from the bathroom, Homer had already cleared the table off, rinsed the dishes, and was sitting on the sofa.

"Sir, is it okay that I sit beside you?"

"Sure Clayton, have a seat and rest."

Within a few minutes, Clayton was sound asleep, laying his head on Homer’s chest with his arms wrapped around him. Homer smiled and leaned his head back and was soon snoozing right along with young Clayton.

---

Gideon was getting used to being around so many people. Mason and Madison were full of questions about his pregnancy—he answered most of them, but there were just some that he had no idea about.

"Okay boys, Gideon will be here all weekend, maybe a couple of days more, so try not to bug him with so many questions. We’re going to have a light snack and discuss future plans."

The baby was starting to get a little fussy when Earl turned to Gideon. "The baby is hungry—no time like the present to get used to feeding one. I know your nectar’s not the richest right now, but you’re already producing so you need to get used to having a child nurse from you."

Gideon didn’t know what to do. It’s a good thing that the baby had a mind of its own and latched on to the nipple as soon as he saw it. Gideon gasped a couple times when Christian got a little rough on the nip.

"Don’t worry Gideon, it will toughen up. They’re just tender because you’re new at it, but after a few feedings you’ll get better at it. And when you feel it pulling really hard, that means it’s dry and you need to switch him to the other side or he will bruise your gland."

After Christian finished nursing and burped, he started settling down ready for a nap. Earl helped Gideon get Christian down for his afternoon nap.

Everyone sat at the table and there was just a broad question and answer session, and a lot came out. Most of the boys couldn’t believe that this was Gideon’s third birth. It really upset them when they found out that he had no idea where his first two children even were.

Madison’s communicator went off—it was Mr. Zach. He needed him to get the larger speeder and meet him at the main house. They needed to go to the Bar-N Ranch. There had been an accident on the road and one of theirs had lost his life. He had made arrangements with the owner of the ranch that his children needed to go to the Z1 ranch to be with their father—all six of them.

Earl hugged his son and told him to have a safe trip. If they needed anything, he was just a communicator call away.

---

Madison pulled up to the main house at the Bar-N ranch. Mr. Z went to the door and knocked. A Genman came to the door and handed him a letter, and the two discussed whatever was going on for a while before he returned to the speeder.

"Madison, go straight down this road to the seventh house on the right. The owner said no problem—everything is ready and they are packed and waiting."

They pulled up at the house and crawled out of the speeder. Z knocked on the front door. A young blond-headed Genman no more than 12 opened the front door and invited them in. Z looked around—there were just a few pieces of furniture, not much at all. Their bags were all piled neatly in a stack. The oldest of the bunch was sitting down holding the baby who was no more than 1 month old.

Zack walked up to him and introduced himself to the children. "My name is Zach Spinelli and I own the Z1 Ranch. I’ve read your dad’s letter of instructions in case anything was to happen to him. I’m very sorry for your loss, but you boys have a home to go to and don’t worry about anything here."

The oldest spoke. "My name is Benjamin. I am the oldest—I transitioned eight months ago, so as the adult here I am responsible for all of my brothers. The oldest of the twins you met—Bailey answered the door, the other here is Bryant. Next is the second set of twins, Benny and Brody, and this young man here dad named Zachary Don, after a good man that he said was fair in his treatment of all Genmen. We don’t have much other than a few pieces of clothing. I’d get up but I’m a little bit on the large side—I’m almost 8 months gone."

He paused, looking down. "There is no father. I got out of the house the night of my transition and they said at least six guys got me, so I don’t know who his father is. If that’s not acceptable to you, then just take the boys and I’ll stay here."

Before Mr. Z could say anything, Madison walked up and took the baby from Benjamin, then held his arm out so he could stand up too. "Benjamin, at the Z1 we’re all family and we take care of one another, so you’re always welcome."

"I couldn’t have said it any better myself, Madison," Zack smiled. "Let’s get these boys home and get them settled into guest quarters, then I’ll contact their father and let him know they’ve arrived. Talk about a shocker for him, but hey, Ben’s a stand-up guy—he’ll take care of his responsibilities."

As Benjamin stood up with Madison’s help, Zack couldn’t help but comment. "Yep, I’ve seen you before in my life so many years ago. Your father looked just like you—big and expecting and lost. But I helped him through that, and we’ll all help you through this. Let’s go home."