20
Plan C
I hook my arm into Ray’s as we make our way down Bayswater Road to Vivaldi’s. I have a grin plastered across my face, stretching my cheeks so wide they’re starting to ache, but I couldn’t remove that grin if I tried.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re really here,” I gush. “Does this mean you’re…you know? Are you…?”
He stops abruptly and twists me around to face him. “Yes, Blake. I’m human. I hope to hell you haven’t changed your mind about me, because it’s permanent now.”
I stare at him, my heart so swollen with joy I think it might burst. “You gave up immortality for me?”
He looks me deep in the eyes. “This is where I’m meant to be. I understand that now. When we were apart I couldn’t breathe. Now that I’m fully human it feels so different. I feel so…alive.”
I plant a quick kiss on his lips. “Welcome to the human race.”
He smirks at me, one eyebrow arched. “I was expecting more of a welcome than that.”
“Oh don’t worry, you’ll get what’s coming to you,” I tease, “but first I need to build up my stamina with a caffeine fix.”
“I think you need to eat too. You’ve lost a lot of weight while I’ve been away.”
I hook my arm back through his and we carry on to Vivaldi’s, grabbing our favourite table out front. As well as coffee, I order a couple of chocolate pastry twists. The pastries are quickly devoured and then I shuffle my seat closer to Ray so we can chat confidentially.
“What made you change your mind?”
“I was lonely. I’ve felt loneliness before but never like that. It was like someone had dredged my innards, leaving an empty void inside.”
“Yes!” I agree. “I felt exactly the same.”
“Before I came to Earth, I’d never experienced true companionship before, but after meeting you, there was no way I could go back to my previous existence. My father isn’t much company.”
“How does he feel about all this?”
“About me going rogue and giving up everything to be with a boy I’d only lived with for two weeks?” A slow smile spreads across Ray’s face. “It wasn’t even an issue.”
“How come?”
“Because he knew. He knew all along this was how it would turn out. Remember I told you my real name?”
“Yes. Astatine. I remember. It’s the rarest element on Earth.”
“And short-lived. I was never meant to be immortal like my father. This has always been my destiny. That’s why my father named me Astatine. He knew all along.”
“You also told me that you can see the whole of the timeline, as it stands at present, so how come you didn’t know this was meant to happen?”
He shrugs. “My father must have hidden it from me. He wanted me to go in blind, without any preconceptions. If I’m to give up immortality, and everything I have ever known, for eighty years as a human, he wanted me to do it voluntarily. Not out of a sense of duty but because I love you. It’s my choice. I’ve made this my destiny.”
“No regrets?” I ask tentatively.
“I will miss my father, of course, but I can still commune with him.”
“Won’t he get lonely, floating around up there all on his own?”
“He can bud more offspring whenever he likes. He will require another deputy so I’m sure my replacement is already in the works.”
“How quickly will your replacement be up to speed? I mean, will they be taking over your mission?”
“No, I intend to complete my mission, as planned.”
I almost choke on my coffee. “You’re still looking for a girl?”
He twists his seat around to face me, his elbow resting on the table, so he’s leaning in closer to me. “With your help, I hope.”
“But, I thought you and I were…”
“We are, but I still need to complete my mission. I liked your suggestion of a surrogate.”
“So you don’t want to have sex with a woman, you just want to provide the sperm?”
He nods.
“But how is that going to work? You’re one of us now. Your descendants are going to be born with the same genetic defects as every other human.”
A smirk slowly yawns across his face. “I might have retained a certain enhancement.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t think I was going to give up my specially formulated semen, do you? I can still get a female pregnant at a thousand paces.”
I snort. “You wish!”
“Okay, you’re right, I’m not quite that good, but I wasn’t going to settle for that insipid goo you’re carrying around in your sack.”
I huff. “Don’t knock my insipid goo until you’ve tried it.”
He chuckles. “I can hardly wait.”
We finish our drinks and head off back to my apartment.
“I am fascinated by the cultural phenomenon known as outdoor sex,” Ray tells me as we stroll along. “Can we try that first?”
I grin at him. “Well, I’m sure it can be arranged, if that’s your thing.”
“I have the perfect spot in mind.”
“Where’s that?”
“Piccadilly Circus.”
I halt in my tracks and he stops one pace in front of me, turning to face me.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Why would I be joking?”
“We can’t have sex there. It’s too public.”
“I thought that was the point. I thought we’re supposed to have sex in public, where everyone can see us.”
“Not in public, just in a public place. Somewhere there’s a possibility of getting caught.”
“Well, why not make damn sure of it and do it in Piccadilly Circus?”
“I don’t think you’ve quite grasped the concept. It’s almost like a dare. It’s the thrill of knowing you could get caught. That’s why you do it, not because you want to get caught. We’d get arrested if we did it in Piccadilly Circus.”
Ray laughs. “You humans do make up funny games to play.”
I correct him. “We humans. You’re one of us now, remember?”
“Yes, I remember. Of course, we can’t actually have sex until I’ve sorted out the other issue.” He turns and carries on walking, leaving me to catch up.
“What other issue?”
“Maybe we should discuss this when we get back to the apartment.”
I grab Ray’s arm and hurry him along.
Back at the apartment, sitting on the sofa, I repeat the question.
“What other issue?”
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to retain my enhanced sperm. I think, as I use it up and make more, it will become diluted.”
“So you’ll end up with the same insipid goo as me?” I tease.
“Precisely. Therefore, it is imperative that the load I am currently storing is put to good use and not wasted on mere sexual gratification.”
“Ha! Spoken like a true virgin,” I scoff. “Sexual gratification is never a waste.”
“But you see my point.”
“Yes, I get it. You want to blow your first load into a vial.”
“And then I’m all yours.”
I pluck my phone out of my pocket. “Let me get straight onto it.”
Ray has several episodes of Bell End to catch up on, so he watches TV while I do the research. I type the appropriate question in my browser and soon all the information is at my fingertips.
When Ray sees me scowling at my phone, he turns the TV down.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“I had no idea surrogacy would be so expensive.”
He gawks at me. “I have to pay someone to have my baby? This is an honour I’m bestowing on some lucky female.”
I huff. “Listen up, stud. I know you think your sperm is the best thing that ever happened to womankind, but as we have to keep its special qualities a secret, let’s not assume every female on this planet is going to be swooning at the very thought.”
“Well, if I could impregnate you, wouldn’t you be thrilled at the prospect?”
My lip curls up of its own accord. “Maybe you should watch a documentary on childbirth.”
“But look what you end up with afterwards.”
“How about if I could impregnate you?” I ask, turning the tables on him.
“What, with your insipid goo?” he scoffs.
I roll my eyes. “Getting back to my research, you don’t actually pay the woman to have the baby. That’s illegal in this country. You just pay her expenses. Don’t forget, she has to carry the baby for nine months.”
“And how much are the expenses?”
I shrug. “Varies, but we’re talking about a five-figure sum.”
He blows out a long sigh. “So we’re back to square one. I have to find a random stranger to have sex with.”
“No way! We are not going back down that route.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“We need a plan B.”
“We’re already on plan B. Remember that girl I picked up at the pub? That was Plan A.”
“Okay, so a Plan C then.”
“What other options do we have?”
“I don’t know.” I toss my phone aside. “I might have to ask my dad.”
Ray scowls at me. “How does your dad fit into this?”
“I’ll have to ask him for the money.”
“Oh, I see. Is he rich?”
“He used to run a law practice in the city.”
“Used to?”
“He’s sort of semi-retired. He moved to Kent and set up a small practice with a younger guy, but dad only works part-time now. He doesn’t need the money, it’s more of a hobby these days.”
“So you just have to call him and ask?”
“It isn’t as simple as that. I’m not going to do it over the phone. We’ll have to go and visit.”
“Visit your parents?”
“Yeah,” I reply tentatively. “Is that a problem?”
“Can’t wait!” he enthuses.
“Oh good!” I say, relieved he’s not daunted at the prospect. “There’s just one thing, Ray.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, if my parents pay for this, you understand what we’re committing to, don’t you? I’m not just talking about the baby. I’m talking about us. I don’t know what your plans are once the baby is born, but if we ask my parents to help, they’ll want it to be their grandkid. Do you understand what I’m saying? We’d have to bring the baby up together—you and me, as a family unit.”
Ray smiles tenderly. “I can’t do this without you, Blake. I was never meant to do any of this without you. That’s the bit I realised while I was away. It was always supposed to be you and me. Nobody but you and me could ever understand how truly special this child will be. Of course we must bring it up together, in a loving and caring environment.” He leans forward until his mouth is just a breath away from mine. “Do you love me?”
“You know I do.”
“So then, isn’t this the part where you’re supposed to pop the question?”
“What question?”
“The question.”
“Oh, you mean the down-on-one-knee type of question?”
He nods.
My heart swells and I beam back at him. “Actually, I was expecting you to ask me.”
“Oh, you were, were you?”
“Yeah. And then I was going to go to Pluto for a couple of months to think about it, the same way you left me until you figured out what a fantastic catch I am.”
He chuckles softly.
“Besides,” I add, brushing my lips against his, “we haven’t even fucked yet.” He pulls me in for a mind-blowing kiss, but when my hand begins to roam he pulls away.
“We must be patient,” he whispers against my lips.
“Patience is something I’m fast running out of,” I tell him. “I need to arrange this visit to my parents as soon as possible.”
Ray nods. “In the meantime, I think it’s best if I sleep on the sofa.”
I groan. “Why are things always so complicated between us?”
He gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’ll be worth the wait. I promise.”