‘You want a baby, someone you can care for and nurture and protect and raise.’ She nodded, her eyes softening again. ‘I know you’re forty, and...I know I’m a little old to start. But I want to try. I want a family. Us, our baby. I need more in my life. Not just you, but you and a baby. A family.’ He kissed her. ‘Then you’ll stay?’ ‘Is that a yes?’ He nodded. ‘An enthusiastic yes.’ Her tears increased, her eyes sparkling. He felt the tension leave her body and she melted into him. He held her. Not as tricky, the Marine Commander was willing to admit but much, much faster, even with the enhanced reflexes and musculature that his fellow Marines possessed these days.As his feet hit the deck Bert, as he was known by his peers made his way to the cage that held his kit and pulled out a towel. Behind him the AI began using various beams and transporter nodes to collect together the remains of the balls it had been using as projectiles, recycling them for the next training session.Bert. I don't hate men, I just never found one that was worth much. I know Lilly feels the same way." Maybe so. But folks is saying that you two are lovers. The way you come in shining sometimes I could believe it."Daisy was a little shocked. Her and Lilly had been very discreet. They never touched each other off the farm. The pat that Billy Taylor saw wasn't much of one. But she realized that it was enough to start the rumors flying."Bobby" she said absently, "I get that shining look from hard work,. He just stood there like he was God's gift. I think he expected us to take one look at him and blow him on the spot or something. So Ruth tells him that we were Andy's harem girls and then basically pushed him out of the room." We decided that he was going downstairs and tell all sorts of wild rumors about us," Elizabeth chimed in. "So we figured, what the hell! We'd play along. Sorry that we forgot to fill you in." When we call down for lunch, we're going to act like prim and proper ladies.