Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 15:51:31 EDT From: DEANECHRIS@aol.com Subject: Magician's Assistant - Friends & Lovers 4 Magician's Assistant - Friends & Lovers 4: By Deane Christopher Edited by Steve Zink Copyrighted 2002 Preface Magician's Assistant - Friends & Lovers takes place in the Magatrix the Magnificent Universe, which was first introduced in my serialized seven-part story, Magician's Assistant. The premise upon which both that story and this story are based revolves around the fact that Magatrix the Magnificent has been reprimanded by the ethics review board of the Magician's Guild, and thereby constrained from continuing to use handsome young males as her stage assistants. Due to a little known codicil buried deep within the guild's arcane bylaws, should a performing member elect to avail themselves of a stage assistant or assistants, said stage assistant(s) must be: one, young; two, beautiful; and three, female. Outraged by the ruling of her guild's review board, Magatrix elects to adhere to the letter of the Magician Guild's bylaws, while sidestepping its spirit. Magatrix the Magnificent, via the use of real magic, has elected to sidestep the spirit of the outdated codicil by asking for male volunteers from the audience to come up and join her on stage, whereupon she magically transforms the unsuspecting gentlemen into her lovely female stage assistants. Normally, Magatrix restores these magically feminized volunteer assistants of hers to their former manly physiques at the completion of her act. However, for reasons known only to herself, upon occasion, Magatrix sometimes elects to maintain her assistants in their feminine personas for the remainder of the evening, and at times, well into the fullness of the night. Generally, when Magatrix selects this expanded stint as a female option of hers, she modifies her sexual transmogrification spell in such a way as to cause the transsexualized young gentleman to automatically regain his manhood at the dawning of the following day. Generally, when Magatrix chooses to expand one of her volunteer assistant's tenure as a bona fide member of the opposite sex, she further modifies her transsexualization spell to include some very powerful subliminal inducements that tend to function much the way posthypnotic suggestions might. Magatrix does this in order to make it easier for the sexually transmogrified male to continue to function as the woman he has been turned into by drastically downplaying, or completely eliminating the ignominy factor involved in operating for a time as a woman. For instance, Magatrix usually continues to negate the residual and telltale awkwardness that would normally beset most men ensconced in a well-endowed woman's body. She achieves this by incorporating several magical subroutines within her expanded spell in order to compensate for the marked shift in weight distribution. That, in turn, directly impacts on the sexually transmogrified individual's new center of gravity, thereby making it easy for her sexually transmogrified assistants to maneuver about in a pair of stiletto heels. Since Magatrix the Magnificent's magic act has not substantially altered from that which was described in my previous story, Magician's Assistant 1: The Performance, I have elected to begin Magician's Assistant - Friends & Lovers shortly after Magatrix has brought her evening's performance to its conclusion. In other words, the foremost male protagonist of this story, one Michael Gerlach, begins this story as the woman Magatrix has turned him into earlier in the evening. However, for those who might be interested in reading (or possibly rereading) a description of Magatrix's magical act, in which the initial transsexualization of birthday boy Jeff Gibson takes place, I encourage them to read Magician's Assistant 1: The Performance, which can be accessed elsewhere on this site. Synopsis of Preceding Chapters Chapter 1 began with a conversation that occurred while the ultra feminized Michael Gerlach was dancing with his best friend, John Larsen. Having first discussed Mike's impressions of what it was like to be a woman, Mike continues on to tell John about of some of the more unusual aspects of transsexualization spell that she is operating under. Then, having admitted that she finds herself sexual attracted to John, Mike encourages John to kiss her. One kiss leads to another, whereupon a very turned-on Mike beseeches John to make love to her. At that point Magatrix joins the conversation and offers the two of them the use of one of her hotel suite's bedrooms. In Chapter 2, we joined the couple just prior to Mike's first multi-orgasmic experience as a woman, via John's selfless act of oral sex. Following that, the two then go on to share their impressions. Then, to John's amazement, Mike informs her friend that what she wants is to experience what it feels like to have his manhood nestled snugly up insider her. John, after a little coaxing on Mike's part, is more than happy to oblige her. Chapter 3 picks up where Chapter 2 left off, with Mike quickly losing her virginity as the two friends engage in their first act of carnal sex. Then, after they have somewhat recuperated from their love making session, another intimate conversation ensues in which John and Mike begin to tentatively explore how their feelings toward one another may have changed, in light of Mike's temporary and magical transsexualization. Another love making sessions follows, in which John, in the heat of his passion, utters those three little words that not only have a marked tendency to scare the bejesus out of people, but can prove absolutely disastrous to a relationship, terminating it with but their mere utterance. Chapter 4 Some ten minutes later, as her mind began yet another joyous review of the preceding events, Mike's subconscious served up an extremely disquieting recollection. "John," her tentative query breaking the self-imposed crucible of their silence, "by any chance did you tell me that you loved me when we were making love?" Intuitively aware that it was probably something that should have been left unsaid, regardless of its validity, John, whose honest approach to life tended to cause him no end of troubles, found that he had no wiggle room whatsoever. If he was going to remain true to himself, he could not in good conscience fib his way out of what would no doubt prove to be a sticky wicket. "Yes, I'm afraid I did say something along those lines..." "Is it true, or was it just something you said in the heat of passion?" "I'm not entirely sure, but I have the sneaky suspicion that it's truer than either one of us would like it to be." "Oh..." Mike thoughtfully replied. "Well then, I guess we have a problem." Unsure as to implications, John quizzically replied, "We do?" Mike, with exasperation clearly conveyed in her rebuttal, cleared her throat and then demurely responded, "Yes, I'm afraid to say we do." "Why's that?" "Because, John, I have pretty much the same sort of sneaky suspicion that you do." "You're shittin' me, right?" "I wish I was. Trouble is, I'm not. As much as I hate to say this, I do believe that I've fallen in love with you, also." "So, what do we do about it?" "I don't mean to be contrary here, but I think the question is, is there anything you and I can do about it? Look! I know this is going to sound trite, but the ball really isn't in our court, now is it?" "No... You're right. It sure as hell isn't," John concurred. "So, to paraphrase Oliver Hardy, I guess you could say that this is another fine mess I've gotten us into! It's all my fault! I never should have asked you to make love to me tonight!" "Would you please stop berating yourself, kiddo? Look, if anyone's to blame, we both are. After all, neither one of us saw this coming." "True... But, we both should have known better! We both should have seen it coming!" "All right. You'll get no argument out of me on that one. When you're right, you're right! So, I guess that more or less brings us back to the question of what are we going to do about it?" "Well..." Mike began thoughtfully, "when you get right down to it, there's really nothing either one of us can do as it stands right now. Basically, it's out of our hands. Magatrix set the rules, and you do remember what she told us? According to the schedule she gave us, come dawn, I'm slated to change back into my old manly self." "True. However, let's say that you and I decide that we like things just the way they are at moment, and we'd like to see if maybe you and I could make a go of it as a couple, it might be possible for us to prevail upon Magatrix to either make your sexual switcheroo a permanent one, or grant you an extension. After all, if she could change you into a girl for a night, doesn't it seem reasonable that she could either extend your time as a girl or, should you elect to go whole hog, make the change a permanent one?" "Yes... it sure would seem so to me. So," Mike continued on to ask, "what you're saying is, we should ask her?" "Yes, but only if you really want to. First off, Mikey, before we do anything, you need to decide if you really want to spend the rest of your life as a girl. Then, once you make that decision, we can see what Magatrix has to say." "Yeah, you're right. I guess that's more or less a given, isn't it?" "I sure would think so." "Well, I guess my answer to spending the rest of my life like this is. I'm of two minds, in that I both do and I don't want to remain a woman." "That's perfectly understandable, in that it doesn't surprise me in the least little bit to hear you say that. Hell, if I were in your shoes right now, kiddo, I've got to tell you that I'd be as confused, if not more so, than you are. I mean, there are a whole shit load of pluses and minuses that have to be considered..." "Yeah, you can say that again! John!" "Yes..." "Look! I hate to put you on the spot like this, but before I can come to any kind conclusion as to what I want to do, I need to ask you a very important question." "I have no problem with that. Be my guest! Ask away!" "Do you really love me, or do you think that there's a chance that you could be just in lust with me?" John was keenly aware that Mike had just asked the crucial question. He was also aware that this was no time to hesitate, or give his buddy an answer that attempted to straddle the proverbial fence. There could be no fudge-factor. John had to be both honest and accurate, with both himself, and his friend. To do otherwise would be wrong. "Let me put it this way, kiddo. Not only do I love you more than I ever thought it possible for one human being to love another human being, but should you decide to make the leap of faith and remain the woman you are now, I would hope that you would do me the honor of consenting to become my wife. In fact, should you decided to stay like you are, and if we can prevail upon Magatrix to make the change a permanent one, I'd say that the two of us should seal the deal by flying out to Las Vegas this afternoon and get married." "You're not kidding about this, are you? You're really serious about the two of us getting married" "No, Mikey, I'm not kidding you. And, yes, I want the two of to get married. Fact is, I want to marry you so bad right now, it isn't funny!" "Well, I can't say that I don't find that flattering, because I do. Truth is, I find it more flattering than you can imagine, and I must say that I'm half tempted to take you up on the offer just to call your bluff. Look, I know how crazy this is going to sound, but I do love you. I really, really do, so much that it almost hurts!" "I sense a big 'but' coming." With a deep sense of regret conveyed in her voice, Mike replied, "Yes, there's a 'but'. And, yes, I'm afraid it's a big one." "Yeah, I kind of sort of figured there was..." "The problem is that it's all happening so fast, and we haven't even had the chance to get to know one other, and here you are suggesting that the two of us hop a plane, fly out to Las Vegas, and tie the knot." "Hey! What's this haven't had the chance to get to know one another crap?" John demanded in a huff. "May I remind you, we've known one another since kindergarten! Hell, Mikey, I probably know you better then you know yourself, and you could probably say the same damn thing about me! I mean, come on! Get real here, will ya! You and I already know more about each other than most couples will ever know about each other after spending a lifetime together! Hell, Mikey, the first time either one of us jerked-off we were together! And, do you recall just where in the hell you and I did it that first time?" "Yeah..." Mike had to smile at the recollection. "I remember it, all right. It was in the tool shed that was attached to that dilapidated old barn up on your grandparents' farm, right?" Mikey replied. "Wow! You do remember!" John returned brightly. "Do you also remember how we used to bet on who could shoot their cum the farthest?" "I sure do. And, do you know why I do? It's because, more times than not, I'd win!" Mike gleefully declared. "Yeah... you did, didn't you?" "I most certainly did!" "Well... that just goes to show ya!" Thoroughly confused, Mike sought an explanation, "Show me what?" "Show you that the two of us have quite a history together. Fact is, kiddo, and you know this as well as I do, more than a few of the girls we've dated over the years have complained that you and I spend far too much time together." "You're right. That has been an ongoing complaint." "Yeah!" John triumphantly snapped. "You bet your ass it has! Okay! So, that takes care of two of your criteria." "Criteria?" Mike was even more confused then she was before. "What criteria? What in the hell are you talking about?" "Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you always said that the girl you married would have to be, one, your best friend, and two, your business partner, and three, your lover?" "Yeah... so?" "So... if you think about it, we've got two of 'em nailed already! We're friends. And, if tonight is any indication, when it comes to being lovers, you and I have it made in the shade! I mean, it was phenomenal tonight! Absolutely, no holds barred, phenomenal! I can't for the life of me envision it getting any better than it was tonight, can you?" "No... " Mike thoughtfully and tenderly admitted. "No, I can't either. It was wonderful. Absolutely wonderful, and no matter what happens, or what we decide to do or not to do, I can tell you one thing. I will always cherish our time together tonight." "So will I, Mikey. So will I..." Unsure as to how to best explain herself, Mike was noticeable hesitant. "John... Look! I don't want you to get the wrong idea here, because I really do love you, and I have no doubt that you love me, and I truly think we'd be great together as a couple, and I absolute love the fact that you want me to marry you, but you've got to understand something. Even with all of that, I'm still not sure I want to live out the rest of my life as a woman." "As I said before, that's perfectly understandable. I mean, while I'm not at all happy hearing you say that, I know that it's the truth, and there's no getting away from the fact that it's a hell of a big decision for anyone to contemplate, much less, have to make. I can only say that whatever you decide to do, I'll be here for you, you know, as in I'm not going anywhere." "It's good to hear you say that, John. Regardless of what happens, or what I decide to do, I'm going to need a friend." "That makes two of us, kiddo. You're not alone in this by any stretch of the imagination. Remember, even though it's your decision to make and yours alone, you've got to remember that I've got a stake in it as well. I mean, you're either going to make me the happiest man in the world, or you're going to break my heart." More than a little disgruntled, Mike responded with mock ire and a good deal of sarcasm, as well as a friendly slap stingingly delivered to the outer side on her friend's upper arm, "Well, thanks a heap, pal! I really needed to hear you say something like that!" "Hey! Lay off! That smarts! Look, I was only telling you the truth!" "I know, John... I know... Believe me, I know that whatever I decide to do, if indeed we can get Magatrix to agree do it, it affects both of us. So, come on! How about you helping me come up with some pros and cons of what it would be like for me to live out the rest of my life as a woman?" "Sure! If it'll help you come to some kind of conclusion, I'm up for it. So, which one do you what to tackle first? The pros, or the cons?" "Well, since we've both been getting some first hand experience with a few of the pros, how about we start off with the cons, okay?" "Sure..." John was agreeable. "Let's... But, since this might be your future that we're talking about, tell you what, why don't you go first." "All right! I can do that... Let see... what are some of the things that bug me about the possibility of my becoming a woman on a full time basis? Oh, I know! For starters, clothes, makeup, perfume, and all that other crap that women have to use all the time!" "Okay, kiddo! While I had some other thoughts, tell you what, why don't we tackle those things you just now mentioned one at a time, starting from the top and working down the list? All right, Mikey, tell me. What is it about you and the possibility of your having to wear women's clothing that's got you bugged?" "I don't know exactly. I guess I just can't see myself walking around wearing dresses all the time." "Tell me something, Mikey," John scoffed. "Exactly what century have you been living in all these many years, because, unless I'm way off base here, nowadays, at least here in the good old U. S. of A., most women I know rarely if ever wear a dress, save for special occasions when they absolutely have to wear one. In other words, kiddo, should you opt to become a women, there's no law that says you ever have to wear a dress. Hey, I just thought of something. I'll be damned if you weren't wearing a dress tonight, a skimpy little metallic silver number, and I've got to say that you didn't seem to mind it the least little bit." "You know something..." Mike replied thoughtfully. "I was wearing a dress, wasn't I?" "Oh, yeah! You sure were. And, take it from me, kiddo, you looked fantastic in it!" "I did, didn't I?" "Oh, yeah! You sure as hell did! I mean to tell you, Mikey! That dress hugged you in all the right places, and made those lovely long legs of yours look ever so sexy." "Those high heels I had on didn't hurt either, you know, as in they added a couple of inches to the illusion." "Oh, and speaking of heels, you seemed to get around in them just fine." "You know something, now that you mention it, John, you're right. I didn't have a bit of trouble with them, not even when we were dancing." "No. No, you didn't. You mean to tell me that those dick teaser specials were actually comfortable?" "They must have been. I mean, I don't seem to recall my feet hurting when I was wearing them." "So, you're saying that your toes didn't bother you being all scrunched together like that?" "No. I don't remember my toes bothering me at all. Actually, now that I think about it, those heels were very comfortable, and surprisingly, very easy to get around in." "Okay! For my money, I'd have to say that pretty much negates the clothing issue," John cheerfully declared. "So, it's on to the next subject." "Hey! Hold on there!" Mike complained. "What do you mean, 'that takes care of the clothing issue'?" "Trust me, kiddo, if you can prance around in a dress that fairly screams, 'Fuck the shit out of me, please!' and a pair of your standard issue 'sock it to me' stiletto heels, you aren't going to have a bit of trouble wearing women's clothing." Mike didn't have a comeback for that one. John, she realized, was right. Mike absolutely loved the way she had looked decked out in that ever so sexy outfit, so much so that she knew that if she choose to remain the woman she was, she'd jump at ever opportunity to wear something as scintillating and as sexy as that again. Having put the kibosh on the clothing issue, the two of them next addressed the various reservations that Mike harbored concerning the makeup business. Taking his friend's concerns one at a time, John was once again able to either dismiss them out of hand, or, when unable to achieve that goal, minimize them to a point that they appeared to be as non-threatening as possible. For starters, John informed Mike that in his humble opinion, her bronze, unblemished, California Beach Bunny like complexion really didn't require much maintenance to begin with. While he freely admitted that she might want to employ a little eye shadow on special occasions to further enhance those ever so compelling and stunningly beautiful azure eyes of hers, she could just as easily do without it. He used the same sort of arguments to dismiss her aversions to the idea of having to use lipstick and nail polish. "Come on, Mikey!" John teasingly chided. "Get real here! After all, lipstick is only ChapStick with a little color added! And, damned if you don't use ChapStick all the time..." A few minutes later, while addressing the nail polish issue, John laughingly scoffed, "I don't see why you're making such a big deal about this! I mean, didn't you tell me just the other day just how much you enjoyed painting all those little lead Dungeons and Dragons figures that you've been collecting these past couple of years, and how relaxing you found it?" Then, after Mike grudgingly admitted that what John had said was an accurate statement of fact, that she did find that activity extremely relaxing, John put it to her, "Great! So, we've determined that you like to paint. That it relaxes you. So, tell me, Mikey! What's all the fuss about your having to paint your nails every now and again? Hell! You don't have to paint 'em red, or pink, or green, or whatever the in-color is nowadays! You can just go with that pearly gloss, or frosting, or whatever they call it, you know, that I see a lot of women using! "Or, you really don't have to go through all the hassles of painting your nails at all, that is, if you really don't what to. I mean, it makes no never mind to me..." John handled the issue of perfume in like fashion, informing his friend in no uncertain terms that if she didn't want to use it, regardless of how nice and alluring a decidedly feminine fragrance might make her smell, there was nobody who was going to force her to use it. John just as easily defused Mike's qualms concerning those cascading honey blonde tresses of hers. "I'll grant you that I don't know any more about women's hair styles and trends than you do, Mikey. But, come on! Get real here! I mean, it's not like you haven't had long hair before this! Shit, man! I remember you used to wear it in a ponytail for four - No! - make that five years! Hell, you only had it short for what - the last year and a half? Besides, if I'm not mistaken, I believe that there are low maintenance hairstyles for women, you know, that don't require a lot of upkeep. But, hell, Mikey! The way I see it, if you think your hair is going to be a problem, you can always get it all chopped off! Fact is, you can go with the bald look for all I care!" Then, having addressed and subsequently eliminated pretty much all of the qualms and apprehensions that had initially come to her mind, Mike, who was feeling rather foolish right about then, figured it was time to put John on the spot. "Okay! It seems that I've gone and shot my wad. So, now it's your turn. Let's hear some of the things that you think I should be concerned about when it comes to me and my making the decision on whether or not I can cope with living out the rest of my life as a woman." "Well... it seems that I was thinking along a whole 'nother direction than you were." "How so?" Mike quizzically urged. "Well... if it were my decision to make - And, I've got to be honest and up front with you, and tell you that I'm sure glad it isn't - I would be more than a little apprehensive about stuff like periods, PMS, yeast infections, menopause, breast cancer, not to mention, the very real possibility of getting pregnant, and having a baby, or perhaps, several babies and then, turn around and have to raise those children that you gave birth to, and other such sundry stuff like that." "Please, John! Stop it! You're scaring the hell out of me!" "Good! I'm glad I'm scaring you, because it was my intention to scare you. Hell! It isn't even my decision to make, and just thinking about that sort of shit scares the hell out of me! Look, kiddo! When somebody even mentions torture chambers, guess what immediately comes to mind? An iron maiden? Thumb screws? The rack? One of those face cages that they dropped live rats into? Oh, no! As strange as it might sound, when somebody mentions torture chambers, right off, I form a mental picture of one of those diabolical examining tables that gynecologists use, you know, with those ghastly, cold, chrome stirrup-like thingies that women have to put their feet in! Think about it, pal! If you opt-in for this perpetual womanhood business, once a year, whether you like it or not, that'll be you up there on one of those examining tables, with your legs splayed, so that some pill-pusher with a Ph.D. can play a game of peek and probe, just to make sure everything up inside that you-know-what of yours is in good working order." "John!" Mike tortuously registered a complaint. "And here I thought you wanted me to become a woman!" "I do. I really, truly do." "Well, if you do, how come you're telling me about all the icky shit?" "Because, kiddo, you need to hear this stuff! You need to hear this stuff because you need to really think about this kind of crap before you come to any kind of conclusion! Believe me, Mikey, I'd be doing you a terrible disservice if I didn't make you aware of this stuff! I'll grant you that the things I just made mention of aren't the kind of shit that anyone likes to think about, but you know as well as I do, that you really need to." "What can I say, John, save to once again say that when you're right, you're right! I really do need to take all that crap into consideration. And, don't worry. I'm not about to slay the messenger. Truth is, by bringing all that stuff up, I know that you have my best interests at heart, and I really appreciate it. I really do..." Mike lapsed into a contemplative silence. After an extended pause, Mike meekly intoned, "John..." "Yes." "Do you think I'd make a good mother?" Taken aback by Mike's unexpected query, John had to take an extra few seconds to formulate a cohesive answer. "Oddly enough, I think you'd make a great mother, especially so if you gave birth to a son. Now, that's not to say that you couldn't handle a daughter, because I have no doubt that you'd do just fine raising a little girl. All I'm saying is, having been a boy yourself, you have an insight that other mothers just don't have." Seeking conformation, Mike rephrased her previous question, "So, you really do think I would make it as a mother? I mean, you're not just not trying to bird-turd me by saying so, are you?" "No! I said what I meant and meant what I said! I think you would make a fantastic mother! An unorthodox mother - probably, but a fantastic mother - definitely!" "I wish I was as sure about that as you are..." "Hey! Don't go selling yourself short here, kiddo! Look!" John was passionate. "You know as well as I do that you're an overachiever if ever there was one! Everything - And, I do mean everything! - you've set out to do, you've done well at, and, more times than not, you've excelled at it. Motherhood, should you elect to go that route, I have no doubt, will be no different. Believe me, Mikey, you'll take to it just like everything else you've ever tried to do." "I'm not anywhere near as sure about that as you are. So, I guess I'm going to have to take your word on that one... "Okay... moving on... Tell you what, just for kicks and giggles, let's say that I decide to ask Magatrix to make my current status as a female a permanent one. And, let's say she grants me my request, and you and I go on to get married..." "I must say, that sure sounds good to me so far," John cheerfully interjected. "Yeah, I guess it does at that, but that's only because I haven't gotten around to asking you the question I want to ask you. So, would you do me a favor? Cool your lollies, so I can get to it. All right?" "I'm sorry. That was rude of me. You're right. I shouldn't have interrupted." "No, you sure shouldn't have," Mike briskly concurred. "But, if you give me a kiss, I might just find it in my heart to forgive you." Cajoled as he was, John eagerly did as requested, and, once the deed was done, a somewhat appeased Mike continued on with what she had to say. "I guess what I'm trying to get to is, should I go through with this business of becoming a woman on a permanent, full-time bases, and should we end up getting married, I need to know how you feel about the prospect of the two of us having children one of these days." Knowing that he was entering uncharted territory, and that a wrong answer could pretty much dash all his hopes, John did the only thing he could do under the circumstances. He addressed his friend's question honestly and without any equivocation whatsoever. "Personally, I think it would be just great! My only question is, just how many kids do you envision us having?" "Damn you!" Mike raged, as she concurrently balled those dainty hands of hers into fists, and employed them to pound out a tattoo on John's moderately hairy chest. Then, having verbally and physical vented her frustration, she all but threw herself onto him, forcing John to respond by enveloping her within the security of a lover's comforting and compassionate embrace. "You really are a shit, aren't you?" she irately bellowed. Frantically, thinking he had just gone and ruined everything, John endeavored to ascertain what he had said to so enrage his friend. "Hey, kiddo! If I said something wrong, something that I shouldn't have said, something that upset you, I'm sorry! I really, really am!" With that, tears began to gush out of those beautiful azure eyes of Mike's. "You don't understand!" she agonizingly sobbed. "You didn't <gasp> say anything <gasp> wrong! The problem is <gasp> you said everything right!" Seeking some sort of clarification, John very sheepishly questioned, "I did?" "Yes, <sob> damn it! You < sob> did!" "And, that's a problem for you?" "Yes! <sob> Yes, it's a problem for me! <sob>" "Why?" "Because... <sob>" "I'm sorry, kiddo, but in this particular instance, since I have no idea what's going on here, I'm sorry to say that 'because' isn't going to cut it. I'm going to need a little more than a 'because' in the way of an explanation." "You would, <sob> wouldn't you?" "Yes, I'm afraid so." "Look! I don't mean to be a pain in the ass about this, kiddo, but I'm kind of working in the dark here. So, yeah, I'd kind of appreciate it if you took the time to bring me up to speed." Taking a moment or two to get her frayed emotions under control, Mike, though she was still shuddering and sniffling, endeavored to explain herself. "I've been a real asshole about all of this." Though John felt otherwise, he thought it for best if he allowed her to continue without interruption. "First, I've got to tell you that I consider myself lucky to have a friend like you. And, I really mean that, pal! You've been great! Ever since we've known each other, not only have you been there for me, but you've also been up front and honest with me as well; sometimes telling me things that I didn't want to hear, but nevertheless, needed to hear. You were there for not only me, but my Mom as well, when my Father died. Then, prior to everything turning to shit, you were going to be my best man, even though you didn't think Gina was the right girl for me. And, guess what! You were right. She wasn't the right girl for me. I must say, I was a real asshole for not listening to you in the first place. You said she would leave me the first time things got a little rocky, and damn if she didn't." "Has she ever gotten in touch with you?" John felt compelled to ask. "No. Last time I ran into her cousin, which had to be almost a year and a half ago, he said that he heard that she was somewhere out in LA, shacked up with some bad ass biker dude, you know, that walks around with a Harley Hog sticking out of his butt." "That's right! I remember you telling about that now, one night when we were pretty much plastered on that Jeremiah Weed crap that you like to drink so much. Refresh my memory, 'cause I'm a little hazy on all the particulars, but wasn't Gina pregnant with your child when she hightailed it out of your life?" "Yeah... She was pregnant all right, though I'm not all that sure if it was my child or some other guy's, you know, because after she left I found out that even though she was shacking up with me, she was also seeing several other guys on the side." "That's right! She was, wasn't she? In fact, if I remember correctly, that's why I told you it wasn't going to work out! Hey! By any chance, did her cousin say anything about the baby?" "No. Not really..." "So, you think that she got an abortion?" "Yeah... I kind of think she did..." "That's right!" John snapped. "That's what caused all the problems for the two of you! Though you felt the timing was all wrong, and that the two of you were still too young to be saddled with a kid, you still wanted her to have the baby! Fact is, you were looking forward to becoming a father!" With a deep sense of regret, Mike sighed, and then proceeded on to reply, "Yes... Yes, I was..." "It was Gina that didn't want a baby messing up her life." "Correct again." "That's right! You figured that that's why she hauled ass! She didn't want the baby, while you did! She wanted to get an abortion, while you were dead set against her getting one!" "You're batting a thousand, pal! You're correct on all accounts." "What a shame... Not that you didn't marry her, but that she probably pulled the plug on her child, even if it wasn't yours." "Yeah... you're right about that, and that's one of the reasons why I think I'm going to ask Magatrix to make this sexual switcheroo of mine permanent." "You really mean that? You rally want to stay just like you are?" "Yes, while I still have a lot of misgivings about the prospect of living out the rest of my life as a woman, and I have to warn you that I might still get cold feet and chicken-out the last moment, as it stands now, I really think that it's the way for me to go. For starters, it's like you said, we're not just friends, we're the bestest of friends. Plus, you've got to admit that our friendship has stood the Test of Time. We've been there for each other, through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, and I don't see that changing, now or in the foreseeable or not so foreseeable future. "Then you, you big lummox you, have to go and tell me that you love me, which really throws some shit in the game! And, do you know why?" Mike, not really wanting an answer from John, sternly demanded. "Well, regardless if you what to hear this or not, I'm going to tell you why! The reason that your telling me you love me threw shit into the game is because, I had already come to realize that, as a woman, it was not only okay for me to love you back, but that I was desperately and hopelessly in love with you! And, just so you know, that realization scared the livin' shit out of me! "You know how I am, John! You know that I hate it when something goes open-ended and is left unresolved! In other words, once I admitted to myself that I loved you, and wanted to be with you, and that you wanted the same damn thing as I did, I was left with only one conclusion. If either one of us was ever going to be happy ever again, I would have to remain the woman I am now. She paused. "John..." "Yes." "I have a little confession to make." "All right." "Though it kind of threw me for a loop at first, I find that I like being a woman. No! Scratch that! I don't just like being a woman! I love being a woman!" "I kind of got that impression..." "Now, I've got to warn you that I'll probably be one narcissistic, sexy dressing, high heel wearing dick-teaser for quite some time to come, you know, due to the newness of it all. However, with your help, not to mention a whole shit load of patience and a heavy dose of understanding on your part, I do believe that I will make you a damn fine wife, if that is, you still want me?" "Want you?" John had to chuckle. "Of course I still want you! I've never wanted anything more in my whole life!" "One last thing... Before I make a final commitment to becoming a girl on a full-time basis, I need to know that you really want me to be the mother of your children, because if I do go through with this, I can tell you right now, I'm going to do it right! If I'm going to become a woman, I want to experience the whole nine yards of what being a woman is all about! That means, not only do I plan to be the best little wife you'll ever have, and you'd better realize right from the get-go that you're only going to have one, and that's me, but I'm also bound and determined to be the best mother there ever was as well! All right. That's my terms! Take 'em or leave 'em! But, be advised, if you leave 'em, once I revert back to being a man again, even though I hope that we'll still be friends afterwards, be advised, your ass is mine! "In other words, pal, as much as I hate to resort to physical violence, I will beat the livin' crap out of you for putting me through this hell! "Okay! So, here's the deal. If you accept my terms, you are to give me a kiss to seal the deal. Then, after you've attended to that all-important detail, you are to climb out of this bed and go get me a towel out of our bathroom. Then, after you do that, you are to go over to Magatrix's bedroom and wake her up. Then, after you wake her up, I want you to tell her that I really need to talk to her." "And what, may I ask, is the towel for?" "The towel is for me. I'm going to put it on this icky wet spot you've left me laying in all this time..."