CHAPTER 237: OOPS! WE MADE AN A.S.S.

Zach was headed back to the house when he received a call on his communicator. Lex’s voice crackled through urgently. "Grandfather, head to the clinic now! Harry’s there in stage II delivery and I hope you get here fast."

Madison wheeled the unit around and tore out toward the clinic.

Zack walked in the room just as the baby was being delivered. Harry was red-faced, breathing heavily. "I tried to wait, but the first pain hit, the second pain hit, my water broke and he was coming. Tim ran me over here."

Zack took his son from Lex’s hands and gently kissed him on his forehead. As he placed him upon his right nipple, the baby started to nurse. "Well, I guess we could name him Speedy, but I want to call him Alexander Samuel Spinelli instead."

"That sounds okay. It’s a mouth full, but it’s okay." Harry managed a tired smile. "I think I’ll just call him Speed Demon because he’s going to be a fast one."

Luther was upset that he didn’t make it in time. "Your father almost didn’t make it in time," Tim responded. "That kid was ready to get out of the oven and break into a new world. What do you think about our baby brother Alexander?"

After he was finished nursing, Luther got to hold him, as did his big brother Tim. When there had been enough holding, Zack decided it was his turn again. This is what it was all about—holding your newly born son.

When Luther looked at his name being written on the birth certificate, he couldn’t help but laugh. Tim was at a loss until he realized what Luther was laughing about. Their little brother—he was a real ASS. Alexander Samuel Spinelli: A.S.S.

Lex was busy entering everything into the computer to send to the vital records and didn’t even notice. He turned around to his uncle and his dad. "Just exactly what is so damn funny?"

"Well, my boy, you just entered a real A.S.S. into the Bureau of Records." Luther looked at his son with amusement.

Lex turned around and read out everything that he had just entered and still didn’t get it until Tim pointed it out. "Alexander Samuel Spinelli spells A.S.S. for short."

"Well, without a court order there’s nothing I can do. I can’t change it—it’s already official." Lex shook his head. "We have an A.S.S. in the system."

When it was pointed out to Harry, he kind of turned red in the face, but Zack got the biggest laugh out of it. "Well, we can’t say ’don’t make an ASS out of yourself’ because he’ll always be a little ASS." He chuckled. "When people ask me what his name is, I can tell them he’s a true A.S.S. and I won’t be lying."

The little boy was very quiet and a nice 9 pounder. Dad and son were both doing great, and in an hour they could both go home. Zack put an announcement out to everyone that he would be taking off a couple of days due to the birth of a new son, but if it was a true emergency it would be taken care of.

As Madison drove up to the main house, Harry could see that the front porch, other than the entrance to the door, was stacked with gifts for the baby. He looked at Zack fondly. "I am truly blessed to live here on the Z1 because it’s just like one big family. You make me very happy and I love you, Zachariah Spinelli." He gestured toward the sleeping bundle. "Now let’s get this little A.S.S. inside before he wakes up."

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Over the next couple of days, there were plenty of messages of well wishes for young Alexander, welcoming him to the world—the wonderful world of the Z1.

Lonnie, Danny, and Jason were settling in quite well. Lonnie was a little concerned—he was less than a week along and had already put on 12 pounds. In fact, his lower belly was already showing signs of his pregnancy with twins. Wolfie was thrilled and took pride in telling everyone they were having two Wolf Cubs. Danny was a little more reserved about his pregnancy. He let Patrick do all the talking while he just stood next to him, holding on to his arm like eye candy. Talk about a beautiful pregnant Genmen that glowed—that was Danny. Jason, on the other hand, had taken certain attributes from Jim, and the baby had almost doubled in size. Jim was so proud; he just hoped that Jason wouldn’t have any problems birthing such a large child.

It was the first day that the three boys were going to be alone at the house, and they really didn’t know anyone yet. Yeah, they had met the neighbors, but it still wasn’t routine for any of them. At about 10 o’clock there was a knock at the door, and Lonnie cautiously opened it to see who it was. It was Constantine and Chas, and Chas was holding a delicious-looking four-layer chocolate cake.

The guys entered the house and introduced themselves. "We’re here to give you three a cooking lesson so that you can make a dessert that looks like this for your mates when they come home tonight. But first, get some coffee going because we’re going to eat this one." Constantine smiled. "I’m preggers too, so this baby has got to eat something, and it looks like all three of you are also."

"Boy, how many are you expecting?" Chas looked at Lonnie.

"It’s my first time and Wolfie put twins in me. I’m sorry I’m getting big fast." Lonnie touched his expanding belly self-consciously.

"Heck, I find that I’m pregnant one day, the next day I’ve already gained 10 pounds." Constantine waved dismissively. "You have nothing to be sorry about. You just keep those babies well fed—proper nourishment is mandatory when you’re expecting twins, and for a first timer, you keep it up."

All of the guys had a really good time. Lonnie and Danny didn’t really know what it was like to have friends to talk to. Jason was young and he bonded with Chas. They attempted to make a cake—it didn’t look anything like Constantine’s when he brought it in, but he assured them that the guys would not complain or make jokes about it because at least they were attempting to do something.

Lonnie asked about working outside of the house. He needed sunshine, he needed fresh air. It would be okay for Danny to learn to cook and even Jason, but he just didn’t have the knack.

"Sometimes they need help over in the construction office filing forms or paperwork, but Big Ben is hard on people." Constantine considered this. "He has a few that can really stand up to him, but I could talk to him and put a good word in. But first, Lonnie, you really need to talk to Mr. Zach."

Danny looked thoughtful as he spoke to Constantine and Chas. "We had a tour of the new interactive Museum, and the Genmen section of the ship was an eye-opener. It really gives a person a new outlook of where we came from, what we were, and what we’re becoming now. I hope that one day all Genmen will be free to choose. I was given a choice of my Patrick or punishment by the Council. Mr. Zack—I think he did the best for us that he knew, and I thank him for everything that I have."

Lonnie and Jason both agreed that they were much better off here on the Z1.

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Almost three months passed by. Things were going great at the ranch. The museum and interactive Genmen exhibit, including the ultimate experience starring Tim as the ultimate Genmen, was a success. When people came out of the exhibit into the main lobbies where the shops and restaurants were, they had a totally different outlook on Genmen and what they had been through. Even Genmen that came from other ranches were shocked at their history. It was now a part of the criteria for the Z1’s breeding program. Slowly, Sheraton and Shannon were getting caught up in their lives and in their children’s lives. Shannon had a little rehab, as did Sheraton, and their mates Earl and Nordstrom were right by their sides.

Zack realized that there was a little cabin fever going on with the six pack, as he called them, and decided it was time for them to venture out on a special trip Friday night to Constantine’s for a meal. It would be inside dining only for the boys, since intelligence and surveillance had caught wind of another group looking for them.

Lonnie had been helping out Ty and others on the security detail since he knew all about the recovery teams. He showed them a lot of faults in their programs that could allow hackers into the system and how his training with the security recovery teams allowed them to access other people’s systems. Lonnie had a vested interest in preventing their recapture—actually two very special reasons.

Lonnie and Ty worked together to set up a trap at Constantine’s so that anyone who attempted to abduct the boys would be caught in their own snare. Jake’s team had set up the whole entire surveillance system outside of the travel plaza, the travel lodge, and the storefronts inside and out for extra precautions. The locals were also let in on the problems that might face the Z1 and were more than willing to help out their friends.