Chapter 3

FRIDAY AFTERNOON LATE — SEPTEMBER 27

..."The Circle of Willis," Diana whispered. "God, Jeff, that's usually an inoperable area. But Little One can fix it, can't she?" Diana demanded, her voice taking on a tone of desperation.

Jeff hesitated just long enough to intensify Diana's anxiety. "Jeff..."

"Little One wants to spend time with Kim again. She knows that Kim is getting married today. Her society doesn't marry as such, but they have a ... process where a male and female are mated for life. The male can also add to that mating later on. I don't know exactly how much Little One understands about our ceremony, but she obviously equates my wives to mates in her society."

"I know that, Jeff. So, that's the same thing, isn't it?" Diana said, then without waiting for an answer, "Little One does know that Kim will be having sex tonight, doesn't she? I mean; is Kim physically able without risking..."

Jeff sat down on the bed, taking Diana with him. Turning to her and taking her hand in his, "Baby, I've asked that question several times. I got a jumble of answers. At least, Little One didn't tell me to call it off. I think that she started something this morning that will take time to complete. She doesn't usually go in with a scalpel or anything like that; although, she can physically do things inside the body like she did to me when the bear..."

"Don't go there, Jeff. I don't want to remember that day just now." Diana squeezed Jeff's hands. "Carmen told us that Kim had been having headaches. The first doctor thought they were migraines, and wrote her a prescription. The medicine helped a little to start with, but the headaches came back. Kim has another appointment to see a second doctor next week to have more tests. Oh, God, Jeff, this can't be happening."

After a moment of silence, "Little One fixed Joyce when she..."

"Baby, this is different. That's about all I know. When I told her the same thing, she showed me things that I only vaguely understood. I gathered that repairing a couple of torn vessels on the outer edges of the brain and causing the body to reabsorb the blood isn't in the same category with what's wrong with Kim."

"Oh, Jeff, I thought she could fix anything."

"Easy, Baby," he said putting an arm around her for a moment. "She didn't say she couldn't fix it. I gathered that it is more difficult. She's obviously started something — some part of the recovery process — but she needs time for it to work, and she needs to spend more time with Kim. If she thought it was imperative to call the 'mating' off, I'm sure she would have."

"You need to tell Dave about this. He needs to know in case something goes wrong," Diana said, her face contemplative.

"I've almost told him twice, but each time he interrupted with something about the marriage. Hell, he's already so worried, then hitting him with this..."

"Then, you need to have the Healer with you in the honeymoon suite," Diana said, thinking out loud. "I can put her in the dresser drawer for you. You'll be right next door to the suite Dave, Kim, Linda and Evie will be in if Little One is needed."

"Uh, are you saying that Evie is going to be there on their wedding night?"

"Yeah. She said that she wouldn't miss it for the world."

Jeff hesitated for a second while he digested that, then, "Uh, Baby, you're probably right about the Healer being in the honeymoon suite tonight; Joyce and Caitlin aren't that familiar with her, though. Probably would be better to put Little One somewhere out of sight.

"So what are you going to do with her tomorrow night when your new wives are here in the bedroom? She can't stay in the drawer forever. That's just not right," Diana said glancing at the drawer on the bedside table where the Healer frequently stayed when she wasn't riding Jeff's shoulders.

"Trust me," Jeff sighed, "I've worried a lot about that."

"And ... she likes to be with you when you're making love to us," Diana interjected.

"Well, I guess that's over. I usually wear a tee-shirt when she wants to stay with me, but Joyce or Caitlin might still see, or maybe even feel her if they put their arms around me while we're having sex. I don't know how well that would go over — probably not well at all."

"So when are you going to marry her?" Diana said sotto voice.

"Marry who?" Jeff asked, a frown on his face as he tried to unravel the seeming non sequitur. "I'm obviously marrying them tonight."

"Not them; Little One," Diana said just above a whisper.

"What..." Jeff started.

"Careful," Diana quickly said. "She isn't far away; she might be listening."

"Uh, she isn't 'listening.' I can feel her when she is."

"So when are you going to marry her?"

"Uh, Diana, we're going to be late if we don't get going..." Jeff said, stalling as he thought about having the small AI as a wife, not quite getting his mind around the idea.

"I got you up early so we could talk about what's been bothering you. We still have plenty of time. Now stop avoiding the question."

"Baby, she's an AI. An artificial intelligence. She doesn't ... I mean ... she isn't a woman, obviously."

"Don't give me that crap about her being only a computer," she said staring him in the eye. "We've already discussed this. Whatever she is, she's a caring creature, and ... she's female — however she was made. Do they mate — the Healers? I mean among themselves? She obviously can't mate with you in the general sense of the word."

Jeff grinned at her despite the sincerity of her question. "No. As best I can determine, their mother ship — made them. Grew them. Hell, neither is correct. Our technology is so far down the scale, that she can't even explain how they're 'made.' But the Healers can also reproduce — in a way. I think the nearest we can come to the concept is budding. She could bud another Healer. When they finally split, there would be two identical Healers. But as best I can tell, it would take her a long time to do this, and her abilities would be ... restricted while the process is taking place."

"Alright, but what are we going to do with Little One during the wedding? You know that she's going to want to be there. We'll hurt her feelings if we don't make arrangements for her to be there."

"Uh, I've thought about that, but other than having her on my back, I don't see..."

"Then get your shirt off and pull up your tee-shirt. I'll get her out of the drawer."

"But what am I going to do with her once we get to the honeymoon suite? I'll never get a chance to hide her. Joyce and Caitlin — despite what Little One has done for Joyce — might not take too well to having an alien in the bedroom while we're making love on our wedding night."

"Yes, you will. Just sit both of them on the couch like you did me. Then tell them to stay there for a moment; that you have something to do. Heck, they'll think you're going to the bathroom to pee."

"And that will keep them out of the bedroom?" Jeff said, doubtfully.

"Well, they'll think you're in the bathroom, and they're not coming into the bathroom while you're..." Diana wound down, remembering that the girls still occasionally insisted on holding his dick for him while he used the urinal, especially in the mornings.

Giggling, she said, "Wing it. Just put Little One in the drawer on the dresser by the bed like we said. She should be able to feel you from there. If something happens to Kim, you'll have her close by."

Jeff sighed. "Okay, let me get my shirt off."

Quickly, Diana got Little One. When Jeff was ready, Diana held the back of his tee-shirt up and put the Healer under it. Shortly she flowed onto his back and spread herself thin.

"Damn, I wish I could be Little One tonight," Diana said, smiling as Jeff put his shirt back on and retied his tie.

"Joyce and Caitlin have already said something about your being there. If you want, it's not too late."

"No way," Diana quickly replied. "This is their night. Just do your stuff, Big Boy."

Diana looked at her watch. Handing him his coat, "Now we've got to go. Damn, I wish we had this conversation earlier." Thinking a moment, she continued, "Evie will be helping serve her new sister wives. We should have enough time together for me to get her aside for a few minutes to talk to her about Kim's condition. If we tell Dave about this so near the time for the wedding, no telling how it will affect him when he starts to make love to his new wives tonight. We don't need him so worried that he can't..."

"Exactly," Jeff agreed. "But that's a lot to put on Evie."

Diana sighed. "I know. She's their Queen, though. That's just part of her job, but I'll tell her that I will be waiting for a call if she needs us, and Caitlin is an intensive care nurse. Chances are that since the Healer hasn't tried to stop the wedding, that Kim will be fine. But I'm worried. How could someone that young have a tumor in her brain?"

Jeff started to answer before he realized that her question was rhetorical.

Standing, Diana took Jeff's hand encouraging him to stand. "Kiss me and let's go."

Jeff took his Queen in his arms and tenderly kissed her. When she finally pulled back, she ran a thumb over his lips to make sure there was no lipstick. Grinning, "Make me proud, Husband."

Laughing, "Arlene has already told me to make them walk funny," Jeff said trying to put a grin on his face, despite his worry.

Turning the corner into the long hallway, Jeff walked with Diana on his arm. He had glanced in one of the mirrors in the hall as they exited their suite, just to admire Diana's regal beauty. He wondered again how he had ever been so lucky. He felt her grip tighten on his arm as they stopped for a moment to admire his two new brides.

"They're beautiful," Diana whispered. Then nudging him, "Let's go and get you some new pussy," she teased.

"Yeah," Jeff mumbled, barely understanding her as they started forward.

Shortly, they stood before Joyce and Caitlin. Diana stepped forward, and taking each woman by the hand, placed their right hand in Jeff's. Bringing their hands to his lips, he lightly kissed them, then turned and put an arm around each of his brides. Diana winked at him and stepped aside as all the guests stood down the hall and watched. Shortly, Jeff escorted the two young women into a dining room that had been tastefully decorated for their meal.

Seating Joyce, then Caitlin, he took his own seat and waited, passing the few moments by telling them how beautiful they were in their wedding dresses.

Shortly, Dave escorted Linda and Kimberly in. Seated, they too chatted as they waited.

Soon, Bill escorted Kathy in and seated her, then took his seat. A moment later, the girls entered with the wine.

Jeff glanced at Dave, trying to not be obvious. His face is flushed. He wasn't kidding about being nervous. I can feel for you, Buddy. Been there done that; now I'm doing a double just like you. Crap, how am I going to be original tonight? Jennie nudged him on the arm to get his attention as she opened the wine.

Jeff and Fred stood in the hallway awaiting their cue. Soon they were walking side by side through the hallway door into the living room. As they reached the window, they turned, waiting, their backs to the sunset. As the music changed, Jeff's wives, two by two, walked down the stairs and up the aisle, led by Diana their Queen who walked a few steps ahead. Their wedding dresses were all identical, as usual.

When Diana took her place by Jeff's side, Fred stepped back and sat down, Jeff's other wives forming a half-circle with an opening in it, as they had during the last wedding.

The music continued for a little while, then the piano was quiet for a moment before Margaret loudly sounded out the first notes of the Bridal Chorus (from Lohengrin) by Wagner, better known in the US as Here Comes the Bride. With the first notes, Margaret's smile lit her face as she and everyone there turned toward the top of the stairs.

Joyce and Caitlin, resplendent in their new gowns, glided gracefully side-by-side down the long, curving steps. Jeff felt the usual lump in his throat, again wondering how he could be so fortunate.

As they neared, Frank Wainwright walked in the hallway entrance, merging with the brides as they walked by, his arms sliding around them to give them a gentle squeeze of encouragement. A few moments later, they had completed the rest of the distance to Jeff and his waiting wives.

As soon as they stopped in front of Diana and Jeff, Diana, in a clear voice asked, "Who gives these two women to be married to my husband?"

Frank had rehearsed what he had to say; had spoken countless times in front of large groups of people, often held meetings at his companies. Speaking in public was as natural as breathing. He had only a short couple of sentences to deliver.

"I, Frank Wainwright, do," he answered Diana. "Today, I physically represent Ben Hughes, their father, who was taken from this world two years ago..." He felt a presence smile in his mind as his voice faltered for a second. "But he is here with us in spirit today," he finished, suddenly knowing that he had never spoken truer words.