Operation Rescue - The New Co-Ed; Chapter 23 free porn video

Operation Rescue: The New Co-Ed By ElrodW A young man gets in trouble and loses his scholarship. It looks like his dream of college to escape a poor future is doomed - until he sees an ad recruiting 'surrogates'. His life is about to change in ways that could redefine him in ways he could have never imagined. Chapter 23 -Spring Break Surprise In the aftermath of her last date, Tommi and Rachel have a surprising conversation. On Spring Break, the girls spend more time with Katie's folks, which gives Tommi yet another source of advice and comfort - and a huge surprise. The 'Operation Rescue' story universe and characters contained therein are copyright 2012 by ElrodW, all rights reserved. Use of the story universe or characters without the express written permission of the owner is a violation of copyright law. ********************************************************************** "You seem a little distracted today," Rachel observed as she watched Tommi settle herself onto the sofa in Rachel's office. "Did your checkup go okay?" Tommi shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." "Tommi, it's obvious that you've got something serious on your mind." Tommi laughed softly. "Yeah, I keep forgetting that you know me better than I know myself." "That was funny once," Rachel said, feigning anger. "Sorry," Tommi apologized quickly. "I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or anything. It's just ...." "Just, what? You had another date last night, right?" Rachel prompted. Tommi's eyes narrowed. "How do you do that?" she asked, baffled by Rachel's habit of accurately guessing her troubles. Rachel smiled. "It wasn't too hard to figure out. I saw the report from Tina that you're overweight, and her notes that you confessed to a rather extravagant dinner last night, _and_ you have a look on your face that is a mixture of contentment and uncertainty." She watched Tommi's reaction. "Shall I go on guessing?" Tommi laughed softly. "Why not? Let's see if you can get this one." "Okay. You apologized to your sister and friends, right? I would suppose that one of them - probably Katie - reminded you that you need to apologize to Brian for standing him up." "Sara," Tommi corrected. "Sara? Okay, Sara reminded you." Rachel smiled. "How am I doing so far?" "Not bad, but since Katie is one of your spies, that would have been easy to find out. And I'm starting to suspect that you've recruited Sara into your little cabal, too!" Rachel nodded appreciatively at Tommi's logic. "No, I haven't recruited Sara. Yet," Rachel added with an enigmatic smile. "It would be reasonable for you to take Brian out to dinner as a way of apologizing to him, correct?" "Pretty good." Rachel was studying Tommi's expression and body language. She recognized that there was more Tommi hadn't told. Suddenly, Rachel knew; her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open slightly with surprise. "You didn't!" Tommi dropped her gaze as she felt her cheeks redden. "Yeah," she said softly. "We did." Rachel took a deep breath. She knew that the next words from her mouth would be crucial for Tommi's opinion of herself and her actions. She absolutely _couldn't_ be judgmental in any way. "Okay," she said evenly. "What else?" Tommi looked up, surprised. "Huh?" "What else do you need to talk about?" Tommi shook her head, still uncomprehending. "I don't get it. You're acting like nothing happened, and I just told you that I _did it_!" Rachel smiled at Tommi. "Tommi, you have to understand that sex is a part of being human, and curiosity about sex is normal. Experimenting is normal, especially for someone in your position." "Doesn't it matter to you at all, since you're my counselor and my friend?" Tommi seemed to be trying to push Rachel for _some_ kind of reaction. Rachel just smiled. "Tommi, if I said 'hooray', or 'it's about time', you'd probably think that I thought you a prude for not having tried sex earlier, or that I was celebrating the fact that, having tried sex as a woman, you'd stay and I'd have a client longer. On the other hand, if I sounded disapproving, you'd probably think yourself some kind of slut or whore or tramp, and that would damage your self-image. Even my tone of voice could be interpreted as judgmental." Tommi nodded slowly. "I see what you mean. It's just...." She paused, closing her eyes for a moment, "I was hoping you could help me sort out how I feel about the whole thing." Rachel practically grinned. "Now _that's_ what I was waiting for - for you to ask me to help you sort out _your_ feelings." She put down her pad and pen. "So how _do_ you feel? Was it what you were expecting?" Tommi frowned momentarily. "I don't know," she admitted. "I wasn't sure _what_ to expect! But ... I was expecting fireworks and magic and ... I don't know, something very special." "And?" "I mean, it was nice," Tommi added quickly. "But ... somehow, it wasn't ... what I thought it would be." Rachel nodded sympathetically. "Were you imagining angels singing from the heavens, accompanied by fireworks and the cannons from the 1812 overture in time with wave after wave of magical orgasms?" Tommi laughed. "You make it sound like some kind of comic skit." "Every woman has a different fantasy of what her first experience will be like. And most of the time, the reality is a far cry from the fantasy." Rachel smiled again. "My first time was in a tiny, leaky tent on a camping trip my junior year of high school. He sneaked into my tent, and we did it during a thunderstorm." She had a far-off look in her eyes as she recalled the event. "The air mattress leaked, so I had sticks and rocks poking in my back, the lightning was bright, and the thunder was loud and scary. The tent leaked all over us, and, to be honest, he was clumsy and in a hurry, and I didn't really have a good orgasm." She sighed. "The first time seldom lives up to the fantasy. But it can be _enjoyable_." "Provided your air mattress doesn't pop," Tommi added mischievously. Rachel laughed. "Yeah, that, too. So, while I don't really want to know the details, no matter how juicy and salacious they might be, we should talk about how you feel. What did the experience mean to you? How does it affect your view of yourself?" "I don't know," Tommi admitted. "I mean, it was nice, and Brian was _very_ tender and considerate - I think he was a virgin - but ... I don't know." Tommi closed her eyes for a moment. "It was a lot different than what I expected. I mean, it wasn't painful or uncomfortable." Rachel interrupted. "You _did_ give birth before you had sex. That's backwards from the way it usually works. Because of your childbirth, you didn't have a hymen, so there wasn't anything to cause you pain," she explained. Tommi nodded. " I didn't know _what_ I'd think when he was inside me, but it was ... nice. And," Tommi blushed, "when he came, and I could feel him shooting in me, I kind of got a thrill thinking that I someday, a man could do that and make me pregnant the normal way, and I could have my own baby." She wrinkled her nose. "Does that make any sense?" "Yes, it does. Tell me, Tommi, why did you 'do it'?" Tommi shook her head. "I don't know. It just happened." "Perhaps it was a combination of things, like your hormones are in overdrive, and perhaps you feel a little guilty at how you treated Brian and wanted to make it up to him, and perhaps you were a little bit curious?" Tommi nodded. "Yeah, probably a bit of all three." "Was the sex good enough by itself to make you want to stay a woman?" Rachel got right to the point. "No." Tommi's answer was immediate and decisive. "No? That was a pretty quick answer." "I mean, it was 'good', but it wasn't enough." "Based on your answer, I'm willing to say with certainty that if some well- hung stud came in the door in a stuffed G-string, you wouldn't feel the need to strip and impale yourself on him," Rachel suggested. Tommi laughed. "Why, Rachel," she said with feigned shock, "I do believe your imagery has you getting a little ... hot." Rachel roared with laughter even as she blushed a bit. "No," she answered quickly. Seeing the look of disbelief on Tommi's face, she continued. "Well, not entirely. In case you forgot, I'm three months along with _my_ next one, and I'm starting to feel the effects of my hormones, just like you." She took a deep breath and let it out. "If we keep up this conversation, my husband is going to have one long, busy evening!" "So now what do I do?" Tommi turned the conversation back to herself. "You go on living your life, knowing that you've explored one option, and that it's not a scary, frightening monster waiting in the dark. You can continue your relationship with Brian at any level you like. You can back off and be more platonic, or you can continue with a sexual relationship. It's your choice. I think you know that." "Yeah. And strangely enough, I feel a bit _more_ empowered. I feel like I _have_ a choice," Tommi confirmed. "It's _my_ decision." "Just like your decision not to go back to being Tom?" Tommi's jaw dropped. "How ...? I never ... we weren't talking about that!" "But you _have_ decided, haven't you?" Rachel prompted. "You aren't going back to being Tom, are you?" Tommi closed her eyes and slowly nodded. "No, I decided that I can't go back. I'm too much Tommi. Tom is a bunch of memories. Important memories and a part of me, but I've realized that I've become Tommi." "Before you had sex?" It really wasn't a question, though it sounded like one. Tommi nodded her confirmation. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and she gazed at Rachel. "How long have you known?" "Moi?" Rachel feigned innocence, but it didn't work. "You knew from the very beginning, didn't you?" Tommi sounded certain, but not quite accusatory. "You knew from the psych tests I took, right?" Rachel nodded slowly. "The tests aren't a crystal ball. They can't predict the future, but they pretty accurately show your feelings about yourself - your self-image, your attitudes about sex and gender, your adaptability - things like that. We use them to get a reasonably accurate idea of whether a candidate can adapt to the demands of the program. I wasn't certain, but the tests showed a pretty high probability that you would eventually choose to remain a girl." Tommi let the fact sink in for a moment. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked simply. Rachel gave Tommi a stare that said, "You should know that!" Her answer was exactly what Tommi expected. "I couldn't. _You_ didn't know, and if I had told you, 'Oh, by the way, you're destined to remain a girl after this is over,' you would have probably freaked out." Tommi thought about her words for a brief moment. "Yeah, I probably would have." Rachel's smile faded a tiny bit, and a hint of sadness entered her eyes. "You don't know how much I _wanted_ to tell you, to help you through your self-doubt all those times you were questioning yourself. But I didn't dare." Tommi pondered her answer. "When were you certain?" "When you _didn't_ freak out after the girls gave you a complete makeover, I was reasonably sure. When you signed up for a second pregnancy, I _knew_." "And you still didn't tell me?" Rachel shook her head. "If you recall, you were questioning your future a lot back then. We were talking a lot - at your initiative, by the way - about how you were adjusting, and how you felt about being a woman. _You_ weren't ready to admit it to yourself, let alone to me." "Yeah, I guess I can understand your reasoning." Tommi sighed. "Please don't tell anyone," she requested. "I need to tell people myself, in my own time." "Okay." "And one more thing," Tommi added. "Which is?" "Since I'm not going to have the reversal surgery, is there anything we can do to make my features a little less ... masculine? Maybe do something to minimize my Adam's apple, and a little something with my nose? And I'd like it if my chin could be a tiny bit less angular." Rachel laughed. "Just like a woman to be thinking of her looks. I'll see what we can arrange." ********** Tommi rested her head on Brian's shoulder as they watched the movie. His arm was around her, holding her close. His head leaned softly against hers; her long, soft, brown hair, lightly perfumed by her hyacinth shampoo, brushed against his cheek like a delicate silk pillow, and the slight aroma of her perfume wafted around his face, entrancing him so much that if asked, he wouldn't have been able to tell anyone the plot of the movie. Eventually, the credits rolled, and Tommi noticed that the crowd was leaving. She sat up slowly, breaking her spell over Brian. "Seems like we're always the last ones to leave," she observed lightly. Brian smiled at her. "I think we both like to make every moment count." Tommi glanced up at Brian and smiled, but her smile seemed a tiny bit forced. "So, now what?" "How about some dessert? I seem to recall that you love raspberry cheesecake." Tommi laughed. "But my diet doesn't." She followed Brian's lead in standing. "I can always make it up in the gym, though." They walked to his car, arm in arm, but Tommi didn't feel like clinging quite so closely. She wondered what was wrong with herself. Brian was being extraordinarily polite and reserved; Tommi knew that he felt the same sense of awkwardness that she felt. They hadn't committed themselves emotionally to a relationship, at least Tommi hadn't, but they _had_ shared a much more intimate - to Tommi, at least - physical relationship. After a nice dessert, where the conversation was friendly, but a bit stilted, as both avoided the subject of their sexual tryst, Brian didn't even hint at going back to his apartment. Tommi was grateful as Brian drove back to her dorm and parked his car. "Thank you," Tommi said politely. "I enjoyed the movie." "And the company?" Brian suggested hopefully. Tommi laughed. "Of course. But you know how girls are supposed to play hard-to-get? I'm practicing." Brian felt the tension ease a little. "We've both got classes in the morning." It was obvious where he was steering the conversation. Tommi sighed and shook her head sadly. "Brian, I think we need to talk about ... what happened." Brian's heart sank. "If you want to." He sounded like a condemned man. Tommi put her hands on his and turned toward him. "Brian, in case you're wondering, I don't regret what we did. It was very special. But ..." "But you want to slow down?" Brian prompted. "Yeah," Tommi replied. "I think so." "Okay," Brian said slowly. "I can back off." His self-pitying tone didn't exactly turn Tommi on. "Brian, stop!" Tommi chided quickly. "I'm not saying that." "Then what?" Tommi sighed. "Brian, I've always been honest with you. I'm not going to stop. I always told you that I was afraid of you were falling in love with me, and that I didn't know if I could fall in love with you." Brian stared for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah." "The other night - it just happened. I think I know some of the reasons." She paused, and saw Brian's expression sink. "I don't regret it. But I do have to tell you why _I_ think it happened. You've never been pregnant, so you can't know just what that does to a woman. Sometimes, I get easily ... excited." Tommi looked down at her hands, resting on Brian's. "And I _know_ I was getting curious; that had some impact." After a brief pause, she looked back at Brian. "I guess I was also feeling guilty over how I stood you up, and how I treated you when I was with the Beta girls. I think I was feeling a little like I needed to make it up to you. When everything came together, I couldn't say no." "I see." Brian's voice was flat. "No, you don't!" Tommi protested firmly, her voice bordering on angry at what she considered over-reaction on his part. "I really like being with you! I really like it when you help with homework, or when we got to a movie or a dance. I've ... gotten to like kissing you!" she added, looking down and blushing as she admitted the physical nature of her attraction. "You're fun, you're smart, you treat me better than I probably deserve! I wish you'd believe me!" Brian's expression softened. "I figured you had serious regrets and maybe you thought I took advantage of you. I ... I guess I was expecting you to dump me." His brows rose. "You _aren't_ dumping me, are you?" His voice cracked from nervousness. Tommi laughed. "I'm not dumping you. You fell head-over-heels for me, even after I told you everything, and even after I warned you that I might not be able to fall in love with you. I haven't figured that one out, yet, but I _do_ like spending time with you." "So what you're saying is there's still hope that you'll fall in love with me?" Tommi smiled, then reached up and pulled his head down as she raised her lips. After a long and tender kiss, she smiled. "Maybe. If I didn't think it was possible, I wouldn't do that, now would I? If I was dumping you, I wouldn't have done that, would I?" Brian smiled for the first time in the conversation. "I guess not." "I'm still not sure if I could fall in love. But I _do_ want to spend time with you. Let's enjoy everything we can, okay?" She lifted her lips toward his and kissed him again. Brian put more effort into their kiss. "Okay," he said with a smile afterwards. "I guess I'll have to put a little more effort into sweeping you off your feet, then." He resumed kissing the girl he loved, trying to show her how much he adored her. A few minutes later, Tommi stood in the doorway of the dorm, watching Brian drive off. He waved one last time, and she returned the gesture, then she leaned against the wall and sighed. Her head was a swirl of emotions - gratitude to Brian for not pressing for more sex, sorrow that she might have led him on, bewilderment at her own feelings for Brian. She didn't see Erica coming toward the dorm. "Hi, Tommi,' Erica called pleasantly. Tommi practically leaped from surprise. She spun toward Erica, holding her hand over her heart. "Oh, hi, Erica," she called. "You startled me!" "It's not my fault you were so distracted," Erica replied with a laugh. Her tone changed almost immediately, though. "Was that Brian again?" Her words were tinged with sadness. Tommi nodded slowly. "I'm ... confused." "Oh?" "I'm sure you don't want to hear about it," Tommi tried to distract Erica from the true subject. "What are you doing out this late, anyway?" Erica tried to smile. "I could ask you the same, but I think I already know the answer." She suddenly brightened. "You feel like a cup of coffee? The coffee shop is open for another hour or so." Tommi smiled. "Sure. Sounds like a great idea." No matter how tempted Erica was, she refrained from wrapping her arms around Tommi as they walked to the student center. They sat down at a corner table in the little coffee shop in the student center, and Tommi noticed that Erica seemed a little subdued. "So what's up with you? You didn't tell me why you were out late." "I was in the library working on a paper," Erica explained simply. "And you had a date with Brian, right?" Tommi noticed Erica's tone, and the sadness in her eyes. "I know it hurts you when I talk about Brian," she said softly. Erica nodded. "Yeah," she admitted honestly. She took a long sip from her coffee cup. "I also noticed that _your_ eyes don't exactly light up when _you_ talk about him." Tommi chuckled. "Is it _that_ obvious?" She took a sip. "I don't know. I'm ... confused." "Confused - how? I know you enjoy kissing him," Erica said. Tommi's eyes widened. "Who told you..." "It's pretty obvious from the way you two steam up the car windows when he tells you goodnight in the parking lot," Erica explained. "I thought ..." Tommi began. "Not much of a state secret," Erica smiled unconvincingly. It was only too obvious that she was still carrying a torch for Tommi. "The only thing the girls wonder is when you two are going to ... you know." Tommi's mouth dropped open, then she quickly gazed down into her coffee cup, as she felt her cheeks burning. "I ..." "Shhh," Erica whispered. "It's okay. You're a grown woman, and you have every right to ..." She stopped suddenly, biting her lower lip as she lowered her own gaze. She felt her eyes watering. "I really shouldn't be jealous," Erica finally said. "It's not like we're going steady." Tommi placed her hand atop Erica's hands on the table. It wasn't lost on her that she'd made the exact same tender gesture to Brian a few minutes earlier. "I'm sorry, Erica," she said softly. "I really don't mean to hurt you." Erica nodded almost imperceptibly. "But right now, you've got a lot on your mind, and you probably want to talk to someone, right?" Tommi tried to laugh. "Yeah. Katie is buried in her senior papers, and I'm not sure where Sara is. Besides, how would I talk with my little sister about sex?" "_That_ I can't help you with," Erica laughed. "All I've got are two younger brothers." "Besides, I think Sara is trying to encourage me to get serious with Brian. I think she's hoping he'll sweep me off my feet and convince me to stay a girl." She shook her head. "I figured that you were uncomfortable enough talking with me about just _kissing_ Brian." "So what happened?" Erica forced herself to ask the question that Tommi needed to discuss. "I don't know. Rachel thinks it was partly out of guilt for treating him like crap while I was being courted by the Betas. Partly, it might be curiosity. Partly, it might be my hormones." She took a quick sip of her coffee. "You know what they say - hormones make a pregnant woman insatiable." "I could help you test that theory," Erica said with a naughty grin. Tommi laughed. "I might take you up on that - later." "Any time you want," Erica said eagerly. "So why are you having regrets?" she continued. Tommi stared into her cup. "I don't know," she began. "I don't really regret trying it, but I feel like I'm leading Brian on, making him think that there's something there that I don't really feel." "You know," Erica started, "and this isn't just _me_ trying to persuade you, when you talk about Brian, it's like you're talking about a friend, not a lover. I don't get the impression that you think of him as a boyfriend." Tommi chuckled. "It's funny. Dee, my mentor, and Suzie, the receptionist at the clinic, both said the same thing." She thought for a moment as she took another sip. "Brian is nice, and he's safe. I don't think he'd even consider getting aggressive or trying to take advantage of me. But I don't feel butterflies when I think about him. I don't feel like I'm on a cloud when I'm with him. I'm just ... comfortable, and safe." "So what are you going to do?" Erica's question had a slight hint of anticipation, as though she felt that Tommi might dump Brian and come back to her. Tommi shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know," she said. "Except walk back to the dorm and get some sleep, so I'm awake in class tomorrow." Hearing no protest from Erica, Tommi stood, picked up her nearly-empty coffee cup, and headed for the trash can. Erica followed right behind her. "Are you going to keep going out with him?" Erica asked as they walked from the coffee shop. "I don't know. I'll probably see him, but I really doubt I'll sleep with him again," Tommi said softly, so no-one but Erica could hear. "He's nice, but I'm afraid of leading him on." "Did you ever think that just by continuing to see him, you're leading him on anyway?" Tommi nodded, her expression glum. "Yeah, I kind of figured that, too." They continued to walk in silence for a bit. "I just don't know what to do," she admitted. "Things were so much simpler when I was a guy." Erica laughed at that. "Somehow, I don't find that hard to believe." "What do _you_ think I should do?" Erica sighed. "That's not a fair question. You _know_ what I want." The pair arrived back at their dorm, and stopped in the hall outside Tommi's door. "Thanks," Tommi said simply. "I really needed to have someone listen to me." Erica nodded, and was about to turn away when Tommi caught her and pulled her into an embrace. "Thanks," Tommi said. As they backed away from the hug, Erica looked in Tommi's eyes, staring deeply as if into Tommi's soul. Then, without warning, her head moved forward, her lips slowly moving toward Tommi's as Erica's eyes closed. At the last moment, she stopped, her eyes widened, and she pulled back. "I'm sorry," she said, ashamed. "I can't." Tommi tried to make light of the situation. "I wasn't resisting." Erica dropped her arms and backed a half-step from Tommi. "I can't," she said again. "If I kiss you, I won't want to stop, and when I _do_ have to stop, I'll go back to my room and cry myself to sleep - again." She turned, pausing only to look over her shoulder. "G'nite," Erica said quickly before scurrying down the hall. Feeling a pang of guilt, like she'd led Erica on again, Tommi watched her retreat down the hall. Tommi knew that Erica was already crying, and she felt guilty for causing Erica more anguish. "I thought your date was with Brian." Tommi flinched at Sara's voice; she hadn't heard Sara coming up behind her. She turned, taking a couple of slow, deliberate breaths to calm her jangled nerves and racing heart. "You startled me," she complained. "I thought your date was with Brian," Sara repeated. "It was," Tommi replied curtly as they stepped into her room. To Tommi's surprise, Katie was at her desk working, instead of in the library. She looked up as Tommi and Sara entered. "How was the date?" Sara cut in before Tommi could answer. "She _claimed_ she had a date with Brian, but I saw her coming back from the student center and then practically making out with Erica in the hall!" she kidded. Tommi glared at Sara. "I _did_ have a date with Brian! It's just that, afterward, I went for late coffee with Erica." "Sure you did," Sara kidded. "Maybe she did," Katie volunteered, bolstering Tommi's argument. "Maybe she decided to do a single-night speed-dating comparison between the two." Katie had a mischievous grin, as she poked fun at Tommi. "Be that way then," Tommi huffed as she took off her jacket. "So how were the dates?" Katie continued the ribbing. Tommi turned around, hands on her hips. "Okay, if you must know, Brian and I had wild passionate sex in the back seat of his car, and then I ran to Erica for more passion so I could do a full comparison. Is _that_ what you want to hear?" Sara winked at Katie. "So which one is the better kisser?" "Ooohhh!" Tommi growled. "You're impossible!" She grabbed her towel and shower kit and stomped out the door. Katie watched her go. "You think we went too far?" she finally asked Sara. Sara plopped down on Tommi's bed and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. "Nope," she answered with a wink. "Think she's serious about Brian?" Sara wrinkled her nose. "I think she might be. I'm pretty sure that Tommi and Erica were talking about Brian, not about the two of them. Erica was nearly in tears when she left after forcing herself not to kiss Tommi." Katie sighed. "Either Brian or Erica is going to get hurt, and probably pretty badly," she predicted. "Maybe both of them." "Yeah. I know Brian is nuts about Tommi." Katie's eyes narrowed. "Speaking of Brian, why have I noticed _you_ talking to him several times? What's going on?" Sara was surprised by Katie's observation. For a moment, she contemplated playing dumb, but decided against it. "He wants to know more about Tommi. You know, what she likes, what she doesn't like, her birthday, stuff like that." "You're going to get caught in the middle of all this mess," Katie warned. "I think Brian is trying to get you as an ally to help him win over Tommi." Sara seemed surprised. "I hadn't thought of that." She pondered the idea for a moment, then shook her head. "No, he's too nice a guy for that. He'd be very good for Tommi." "Well, you might be falling into the game without even knowing. It's a well-known fact that _you_ want Tommi to stay a girl, and if she falls in love with Brian, it would clinch the deal." Katie sounded very concerned. "You're playing a dangerous game here." "No, I'm not," Sara said firmly. "Or maybe," Katie went out on a limb, "in some ways, you're a bit _jealous_ of Tommi, because Brian is so good to her. You keep saying how nice and sweet he is." "Preposterous!" Sara sputtered. "That's the most asinine thing I've heard you say in a long time!" Katie pondered the ferocity of Sara's denial and decided against pursuing the matter. She had senior papers to work on. She couldn't afford the time for a lengthy discussion on the subject. But it _did_ merit discussion, of that she was certain. "Do you think Tommi has made up her mind about changing back?" Katie changed the subject. Sara shook her head. "Yeah, but I don't think I like the answer. If you ask me, she's going to change back after she delivers this baby." She saw the surprised look on Katie's face. "What do you think?" Katie scratched her chin for a few moments. "I don't know. But if I had to bet, I'd bet on you keeping a big sister." ********** Diane stood in the doorway, modeling her new bikini. "This is going to be a great trip!" she exclaimed. "We're going to have so much fun!" Sara glanced at Tommi; her nervousness showed plainly in her expression. "I don't really want to go." "Aw, c'mon," Ashley chimed in. "We were there last year, and it was fantastic!" Tommi turned from her desk. "Not _all_ of us enjoyed Daytona Beach," she chimed in. "To be honest, I had more fun at Katie's folks' place." Erica stuck her tongue out at Tommi. "Spoilsport!" "Yeah," Diane added her two cents. "You were just too new at the girl thing to enjoy flaunting your bikini!" Sara's eyes widened. "You got Tommi in a bikini last year?" She shook her head. "I just _cannot_ picture that!" Tommi frowned. "It wasn't by choice. They twisted my arm." Erica got a dreamy look in her eyes. "Maybe, but you looked _great_ in it!" She turned to Sara. "I've got some pictures if you want to see!" "You _will not_ show her pictures!" Tommi commanded. "I was a bloated whale! I was five and a half months pregnant, and it showed. I looked terrible!" "Now I _have_ to see them!" Sara grinned to Erica. Tommi rolled her eyes. "This is a losing battle, isn't it?" "You're so much better ... equipped for a bikini _this_ year!" Diane suggested. "No, thanks," Tommi said, shaking her head. "I've got my own wheels this year. I'm going straight to Ronnie and Roger's, and you can't stop me!" She leaned back and rubbed her tummy, already swelling from the pregnancy. "By Spring Break, I'll be just past six months, and really showing. I don't want put myself on display for a bunch of oversexed, drunk, horny adolescent males who think they're God's gift to women!" She turned to Sara. "You wouldn't believe some of the lines I heard last year!" She shuddered at the memories. "Sounds ... interesting," Sara commented with a wry grin, her eyebrows raising suggestively. "Just wait a minute," Tommi cautioned, suddenly serious. "My little sister is _not_ going to flounce around in a tiny bikini in front of herds of guys who are looking for an easy lay!" Diane and Erica flanked Sara and wrapped their arms around her shoulders. "Your little sister is eighteen. She can do whatever she wants!" Erica said firmly. "Besides, _we'll_ watch over your little sister," Diane said sweetly. "We won't let anything happen to her that we wouldn't want happening to us." Tommi glared at Erica. "That's what I'm afraid of!" Sara squared her shoulders. "I'm not a little kid any more," she said defiantly. "I can make my own decisions. I think I _will_ go to Daytona." "You want to miss the home cooking and privacy and quiet of my folks' place?" Katie sounded concerned that Sara wouldn't be visiting. Sara was suddenly torn. The peace and quiet and the pampering sounded too good to ignore. Still, Spring Break at Daytona had its own magnetic draw. Tommi sighed. "Okay, so why don't you split the vacation, like I did last year? Go to Daytona for a few days, and Wednesday, I'll drive up and bring you down to Roger and Ronnie's." "Tuesday," Katie directed. "I've seen Mom's menu for the week; she's making caramel rolls on Tuesday, and you don't want to miss that." Erica did some quick counting, and her brow wrinkled. "We're going to be short a couple of seats," she announced, "with Christine and Kim going, too. Unless we pay for extra gas for a second car." "Okay," Tommi knew the answer that the girls were hinting at, "I'll drive down there with my car, and then bring some of you back at the end of the week." "Sounds like a plan," Diane said with a satisfied smile. ********** "Sara, are you asleep?" Tommi whispered softly into Sara's room. Even though it was their second time together at Katie's house, it still felt very strange to both of them to have their own rooms and baths. "No," Sara whispered back. Tommi crept in and sat on the edge of Sara's bed. "Did you have a good day? Are you still mad I brought you here from Daytona?" Sara leaned up and wrapped her arms around her sister. "I'm glad," she said happily. As she leaned back, her expression clouded. "But if you say anything like, 'big sis knows best', I swear I'll club you!" "If it's like last year, Daytona was fun, but this is a _lot_ better." Sara chuckled softly. "Daytona was a _blast_! It was better than I figured!" Tommi tussled Sara's hair. "You just like flaunting your hot little body and having guys hanging all over you, right?" Sara giggled. "I wasn't _flaunting_!" "Yeah, but you're a good-looking young woman, and I bet all the guys noticed!" "Jealous?" Sara teased her older sister. "Me, jealous? Who's got bigger breasts right now?" Tommi teased right back. Sara scowled. "It's not my fault. Yours are growing with your pregnancy. But I bet mine are firmer and not saggy like yours are getting!" "Okay, enough with comparing titties," Tommi relented with her teasing. "How was the club scene?" Sara thought of the parties and clubs. "The clubs were being very strict about carding, so I didn't even try to go to one," she admitted. Unseen in the dim light, Tommi beamed with pride at the good sense of her sister. "I'm sure there were some parties in the motels?" Sara nodded. "Yeah. I really didn't like those. It seemed like every guy was trying to offer me drinks, or cop a feel or grope me _accidentally_ in the pool or in the crowd. It wasn't for me." "And the others?" Tommi prodded. Sara bit her lip; the pause was awkward. "Erica got a bit drunk one night." Tommi recalled the previous year. "Yeah, she did that last year, too." "I bet she didn't knee a guy in the crotch for trying to hit on her, and then stand on the diving board proclaiming her undying love for Tommi Sue!" Sara said hesitantly. Tommi flinched. "She didn't?" she asked in horror, as she imagined the scene. "Well, not the part about proclaiming her undying love, but she did knee a guy in the jewels when he got too aggressive," Sara laughed. Tommi slapped Sara's arm. "You ... you .... you're so bad! What am I going to do with you?" In answer, Sara leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Tommi again. "Hug me, like a good big sister should," she said sweetly. Tommi laughed and did as Sara had asked. "I'm glad you're here." "I feel like I'm at home, even if this isn't really home. You know what I mean?" Sara asked. "Yeah. It's nice." She felt her eyes starting to water. "Roger and Ronnie are so sweet." Sara agreed. "I wish we had parents like them." Tommi wiped at the tears. "Well, we're supposed to call them Mom and Dad, so I guess they think of us like their daughters." ********** The backyard pool was less crowded than Daytona Beach, and there was no sand, nor roar of surf, but to Katie and Sara and Tommi, it was a perfect resort. Sara was lounging face-down on a raft in the pool, while Tommi stretched out in a lounge chair beside it. Only Katie was in the water, swimming slow laps. As Katie swam past Sara's raft, she splashed Sara. "Hey!" Sara flinched from the water, rearing up. Almost immediately, she realized that her bikini top was unfastened so she wouldn't get a tan line. She plopped back on the raft so she wouldn't expose herself. "You did that on purpose!" she complained, as she reached behind herself to fasten her top. Tommi laughed. "Looked like an accident to me." In response, Sara dipped her hand in the water and splashed Tommi. "Hey!" Sara smiled sweetly. "It was an accident." Katie was laughing at the exchange, and, without warning, she dumped Sara from her raft. Sara came up from the water soaked and sputtering. "I know _that_ wasn't an accident," she scowled. Tommi watched the horseplay with amusement, until she saw Katie and Sara eyeing her. "I think I've had enough sun," she said as she darted toward the house. Katie laughed. "Chicken!" Tommi stopped at the patio doors of the sun porch. "I'm _not_ chicken. I just have sensitive skin and can't overdo it." The large splash from both Sara and Katie was expected, but Tommi's reaction wasn't quick enough. She had gotten quite wet before she ducked inside. Katie swam to the side of the pool and pulled a raft in for herself. "Why were you at the clinic the other day?" she asked as she clambered onto the raft. Sara frowned. "Me? At the clinic? You must be mistaken." She climbed on her raft and laid down on her back. Katie shook her head as she likewise lay on her own float. "Nice try, but I don't buy it. I _know_ it was you. You borrowed Tommi's car." "Are you spying on me?" "So, you're not denying it?" Katie continued. Sara shrugged. "I stopped by to talk to Rachel. She's always curious about how Tommi is doing." "If you say so," Katie didn't sound convinced. "That's what happened." "Three times in two weeks?" Katie posed yet another question. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear that you were testing for the program." Sara blanched at Katie's speculative comment. When Sara didn't answer, Katie turned her head, and, when she saw Sara's reaction, she knew the truth. "You _are_ testing for the program, or you're starting the process!" she said, her mouth agape in surprise. Sara's eyes were wide. "Please don't tell Tommi," she begged softly. "You mean Tommi doesn't know?" Katie was thunderstruck. "No, and I don't want her to know. You know how protective she's getting." Katie nodded. "Yeah, but she _is_ your sister, and she does care about you." She shook her head slowly. "You didn't see how hard it was for Tommi last year. It's not an easy way to earn money, believe me!" "Promise me you won't tell!" Sara begged again. Katie sighed. "I'm becoming a regular bank of your secrets!" she said. "Okay, I won't tell - for a while. But you _are_ going to have to tell her sooner or later." She looked back skyward. "Why are you doing it?" Sara rolled to her side so she could look at Katie. "I've got to earn my own way," she said firmly. "I know Tommi loves me and wants to help me, but I have to stand on my own feet. And, besides, I figure that if I go through the program, maybe I'll understand my big sister a little better." Katie shook her head. "Not very good reasons." "That's what Rachel said," Sara countered quickly. "She shut up, though, when I reminded her that Tommi's motive was financial the first time." "How far are you in the process?" Sara relaxed. Katie seemed to accept the inevitability of Sara being in the program, or, at least, Katie had decided to quit trying to dissuade her. "My lab work all passed, so if I pass the psych test and final interview, I'm in." ********** "No, you go on," Katie urged Tommi and Sara. "I promised Dad I'd help him with a couple of chores." Tommi frowned. "This was supposed to be a trip for _all_ of us girls," she complained. Roger shrugged. "I guess it's my fault," he said. "I didn't realize you were going shopping, so I asked Pumpkin to help me." Tommi scowled. "Why don't we just go shopping tomorrow instead," she suggested. Clearly, she wanted Katie to go along. Ronnie shook her head. "Most definitely not. We made plans. The three of us will have a good time shopping. I don't get to see you girls nearly often enough, so we are _not_ going to pass up this outing." She stood, punctuating her decision. "Now go get your purses, and we'll get going." Sara glanced nervously at Tommi, who simply shrugged her acquiescence. Sara looked to Katie, who simply smiled and nodded. "One thing you'll learn is that when Mom makes up her mind, the discussion is over," Katie said with a smile. "Go have fun. We've got several more days to go shopping before we go back." Hours later, the girls arrived home. Sara and Tommi had several parcels and bags from the various stores. Tommi wanted to set the bags down in the family room and kick her feet up to rest. Katie interposed. "You know how Mom likes to keep the family room neat. Besides, I haven't seen what you bought." Roger stood beside his daughter. "Say, why don't you two girls model your new clothes?" Tommi glanced at Sara, a puzzled expression on her face. "Okay," she said slowly. "I guess we can do that." As the two girls walked down the hall, Tommi frowned. "There's something going on here," she whispered. "I'm not sure what you're talking about," Sara replied, confused. "What's this big mystery project that Katie was working on with Roger? Why did Ronnie keep looking at her watch in the last couple of stores? And why did she insist on the outfits we got? They aren't exactly casual college wear!" Sara lifted an eyebrow. "Now that you mention it, it _does_ seem kind of odd." Tommi shrugged resignedly. "Well, if there's some big secret, we'll find out soon enough. We better not keep them all waiting." Tommi was the first one dressed; she emerged from her bedroom in a very pretty cocktail dress. Katie was in the hall waiting, and as soon as she saw Tommi, she intercepted her. "Mom said I should remind you that you're supposed to model _all_ of it," she said sternly. Tommi frowned. "That means putting up my hair and putting in the earrings and ..." She saw the firm expression on Katie's face. "Okay, all of it." As she strode back into her room, she glanced over her shoulder. "Does that include the necklace and makeup, too?" Katie nodded. "All of it means _all_ of it." Tommi closed the door, muttering to herself. Katie smiled to herself when she heard Tommi's words about how the whole thing was like a setup for a formal date. Moments later, Katie repeated the instructions to Sara. Satisfied that the two girls now knew exactly what was expected of them, Katie ducked into her own room. When Tommi and Sara emerged from their rooms, they found Katie waiting in the hall. Katie was wearing a deep maroon sleeveless cocktail dress, with her hair done in a neat French braid. She wore a small diamond and ruby necklace, with matching earrings, and she carried a matching clutch purse. She wore dark hose and matching high-heel shoes. Somehow, between shooing Tommi and Sara back to their rooms, she'd also found time to put on her own makeup. Tommi's eyes widened. "Okay, Katie," she started, "what's going on?" Katie smiled innocently. "What makes you think something is going on?" Tommi spread her arms and looked down. She was wearing an iridescent teal dress. The short sleeves were puffed and gathered at the shoulders. Like Katie, Tommi carried a matching purse and high-heel shoes. While not as fancy as Katie's braid, she'd managed an elegant hairstyle, with the sides anchored back by matching teal barrettes. She had a diamond and ruby necklace and earring set that matched Katie's. Tommi's makeup was a bit more fashionably done; her lipstick and eye shadow were stylish without being too bold. "Are you're going to tell me again that nothing is going on?" Tommi asked incredulously. Sara joined the two, and she was even more confused to see Katie and Tommi's outfits. Her dress was a little shorter than Tommi's, but no less elaborate. Royal blue with a lacy bodice overlay and lacy short sleeves, the dress perfectly matched Sara's purse and shoes. She had been very conservative with her makeup, but she did oblige her hosts by wearing what she now realized was the obligatory set of jewelry - a small diamond and ruby pendant necklace and matching earrings. "Okay, Katie," Sara said firmly, "what's going on?" Ronnie came around the corner into the hall, smiling, and Tommi knew that the entire afternoon had been a setup for something as yet unrevealed. Like the girls, Ronnie was wearing a formal dress. More importantly, she wore the same necklace and earrings. "My, you girls look pretty," she cooed. Roger came down the hall, and his tuxedo raised eyebrows and more questions. "Okay," Tommi demanded. "What's going on here?" Ronnie exchanged a smile with her husband, and then smiled at the girls. "Why, nothing, dear," she said innocently. Katie had been cued in to whatever was going on. "Sometimes, we like to have a formal dinner," she explained unconvincingly. "Mom and Dad are funny that way." "Now, Pumpkin," Roger said softly, "we're not 'funny'." "So we're going out for dinner?" Tommi guessed. "Whatever for, when Roger is such a good chef?" Ronnie seemed stunned by the question. "Now, since we're all here, shall we go to the table?" Roger offered his arm to his wife and escorted her down the hall and through the family room, followed closely by Katie and the two confused sisters. When they came into the dining room, Tommi gasped. Ronnie's excellent taste in home furnishing was long known to the girls, but this room had been transformed into something almost regal. She knew, without seeing and without asking, that the family's formal china and silver was on the table. Ronnie came to Tommi's side, and Roger to Sara's. "Please close your eyes," Ronnie insisted. "The both of you." Not knowing what else to do, Tommi and Sara closed their eyes. The night had already had many surprises, and they didn't want to spoil any that remained. Slowly, they were guided through the dining room, and, with Katie pulling out the chairs, Ronnie and Roger helped the two girls sit down. In moments, the others were seated. Tommi's curiosity was almost unbearable, and she imagined that Sara was likewise near bursting. "Okay, you may open your eyes now." Tommi opened her eyes, and, as she glanced around, she was confused. She didn't see anything that seemed out of place. Everything was normal for a formal candle-lit dinner, with fresh flowers, and .... Tommi stopped as she realized that there was something on her plate. As her gaze drifted down, her attention was riveted by the silver-hued envelope. She looked up, and saw a similar envelope on Sara's plate. Tommi looked at Ronnie, confused, and then to Roger, hoping for some hint. "Go ahead," Ronnie said with a warm smile. "Open them." Tommi glanced across the table at Sara, who sat equally astonished, before she gingerly lifted the envelope. Tommi turned the envelope over and opened the flap. Still puzzled, she extracted a card of the same silver hue. With another quick glance at Ronnie, Tommi opened the card and began to read. Roger, Ronnie, and Katie Snyder would like to invite you, Tommi Sue and Sara Wilson, to join the Snyder family permanently and legally, through an adult adoption. We would be honored to have you as new daughters and as new sisters. Halfway through, she dabbed at her eyes. By the time she finished, she was bawling. Tommi glanced across the table, and found Sara was having the same reaction. Tommi looked at Ronnie, her face expressing her disbelief. "But ...." she started to say. Ronnie beamed with pleasure. "It's real. If you want it, it's real." Roger nodded when Tommi glanced his way. "All the preliminary paperwork is done. If you want, we can finish the paperwork for an adult adoption and make you legally part of our family." Tommi glanced at the card, then she suddenly bolted from the table, wiping at her eyes. "Tommi," Katie called, as she started to rise. Ronnie put her hand on Katie's arm. "No, dear," she said softly. "I think this is a discussion _I_ have to have." She rose and followed Tommi to the back, to Tommi's bedroom. She knocked on the door, and when there was no answer, she peeked in. "Tommi," Ronnie said gently, "may I come in?" Tommi lay on her bed, face down in her pillow. Sobs wracked her body. "Uh huh," she mumbled without looking up. Ronnie closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed, gently rubbing Tommi's shoulder. "I think I know what's bothering you," she said. Tommi looked up. "You want to adopt two girls. But ...." Ronnie smiled. "I want to adopt you, whatever body you're wearing. But I'll bet you feel that it's extra pressure on you to stay a girl, right?" Tommi rolled to her side and glanced up. "Yeah," she muttered. "What happens if I change back? I wouldn't fit in anymore." Ronnie helped Tommi sit up and wrapped her in a motherly embrace. "I don't think that's what you're afraid of, is it?" Tommi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No." "You've already decided, haven't you?" "Is it that obvious?" Ronnie smiled. "To a mother, yes." Tommi nodded. "Rachel and I talked about my decision last week. I was waiting to tell everyone in my own way, when the time was right. Now, I'm afraid that everyone will wonder if I was pressured into staying a girl by ... _this_, because I didn't tell anyone yet." Ronnie gently wiped tears from Tommi's cheeks. "_You_ know what the truth is, and that's all that matters." "Yeah." Tommi didn't sound convinced. "Maybe you need to talk to Sara alone, first?" Ronnie offered. Tommi shook her head. "No. I'll tell everyone together - now." Ronnie nodded. She retrieved a tissue and helped Tommi clean up a bit, and then the pair walked back to the dining room. Tommi stood beside Ronnie, clutching her arm for support. "I need to tell you all something," Tommi announced nervously. She bit her lip, as she struggled to find words, but no magic words came. "Before we came down here, I had a talk with Rachel. I've decided on my future," she said, nervously glancing at Sara and Katie. "I ... you're ... this family is going to have _two_ more forever-girls," she blurted. "I realized that I want to stay a girl, and I'd _love_ to be a part of this family." Sara leaped to her feet, crying anew, as she hugged her sister. "Oh, Tommi," she cried, "I was hoping and praying that you'd stay my sister forever!" Not to be outdone, Katie joined in the group-hug. "I love you, little sis," she babbled through tears. "This is the happiest day of my life!" After more hugging and crying, the family sat down at the table once more. "Now what?" Tommi asked in a moment of silence. Roger smiled. "We have a big day tomorrow. All we need to do is to finalize the paperwork at the lawyers' office, and then we have a court appearance scheduled for Friday. Once that's done, you're part of the family." Sara's mouth dropped open at the speed with which this was happening. She turned to Katie. "No wonder you didn't want me to go to Daytona Beach!" Ronnie grinned. "And all it took to get you here was some caramel pecan rolls!" She looked back and forth between the two girls, her expression growing stern. "Now there _is_ one rule that you two are going to have to follow from here on out." Tommi glanced at Katie, who was still smiling, and then at Sara, who suddenly looked concerned. "Yes?" she replied simply. Ronnie paused for a dramatic moment before continuing. "From now on, you two are _required_ to address me as Mom or Mother. You are _not_ allowed to call me anything else. Got it?" Tommi's concern evaporated instantly, and she started crying again. "Yes, Mom," she answered with glee. She turned to Roger and added, "I suppose you want the same thing too, _Dad_?" She practically jumped from her chair, ran to Ronnie's side, and hugged her tightly. "Mom," she said softly. "I like the sound of that." ********** Katie knocked softly on Tommi's door. Down the hall, Sara's door stood ajar; it didn't take a doctorate in logic to figure out that the girls were together in Tommi's room. "Come in," Tommi called softly. She didn't want to disturb her new parents. Katie closed the door behind her and sat down on the end of the bed, beside Sara. "It's late. What's up?" Tommi wiped at her tears. "Nothing," she lied. "We were just talking." Katie smiled. "C'mon," she urged. "Out with it." Tommi smiled. "You know me almost as well as Rachel does." She bit her lower lip for a moment. "Why did you all decide to adopt Sara and me?" she finally asked. Katie's smile broadened. "It's simple - it was meant to be." Sara frowned. "I don't understand. What do you mean, 'meant to be'?" "I don't believe in coincidences," Katie answered enigmatically. "Neither do Mom or Dad. When you were assigned as my roommate, we all knew that there was something special about you. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened. All the time we grew together, getting to know each other - I wasn't kidding when I said you were my little sister." She wiped at the tears of happiness that were forming in the corners of her eyes. "When you got Sara down to school, I knew _that_ was for a reason, too. When your Ma passed away, and you had all the trauma of reliving your past, I knew it was for a reason. I knew." "Did you know about ... my decision?" Tommi asked hesitantly. Katie nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I knew. And not from talking with Rachel, either." Sara was quiet, unusually subdued. "You're not saying much, Sara," Katie prompted. Sara shook her head. "I don't get it. Why me?" She realized how her words sounded. "I mean, I'm happy, but I don't get it. Your special relationship is with Tommi, not me." Katie laughed. "How many times have you come in to see Tommi, and just you and I ended up sitting around talking? How many times have you shared a secret with me, or have I shared a secret with you? How often do you and I just go out and do things, when Tommi has something else going on?" Sara blushed, suddenly ashamed of her self-doubt. She looked down at her crossed legs. Katie lifted Sara's chin toward her. "You probably didn't realize it, but you and I have grown just as close as Tommi and I." Tommi suddenly frowned. "What do you mean, shared secrets? Have you two have been talking about me?" Sara laughed and looked at Tommi. "Probably no more than you and Katie have shared secrets about me!" "Don't you see?" Katie continued. "It all fit. We were _meant_ to be family. I have two new sisters," she started to cry openly, "and I couldn't be happier." Katie leaned over to embrace Sara. Tommi leaned to hug both her sisters. Tommi's eyes widened. "Is _that_ why Rachel had me get copies of our birth certificates and Ma and Pa's death certificates? Was _she_ in on this, too?" Katie nodded. "Guilty as charged." "So ... how did your parents ..." Sara saw the reproving look from Katie. "I mean _our_ parents," she corrected herself, "get the wild idea to do the adult adoption?" Katie grinned. "Remember at Christmas, after all the nice time we spent here, you two were talking, crying, and wishing you had parents like mine? I overheard, and that's when I took the idea to Mom and Dad. They fell in love with it. After that, Dad just worked with his lawyer to do the paperwork." Tommi wiped her tears again. "You can't imagine how happy today has been for me! This is," she blubbered as she started crying anew, "the happiest day of my life." Sara, too, was crying tears of happiness. "Me, too," she added, for once at a complete loss for words. The girls hugged and cried some more. Outside the door, Ronnie stood listening, a very contented smile on her face. She knew, as Katie had explained, that it was all meant to be. Ronnie's smile turned to a grin, and she stifled a laugh as she heard Tommi interrupt the girls' happy-fest. "Now that we're sisters, I think you _have_ to let me borrow your clothes," Tommi said to Katie. "I heard that those are rules." ********** to be continued