Three Girls and a Boy

Ellen and Mark arrived back in the room they woke up in. On the table was a note, ‘Mark, you have thirty minutes to recover and change before your date with Ellen.’ Mark collapsed on the bed, exhausted. “Ellen, if you could pick out appropriate attire for both my forms for whatever your plan is today, I would appreciate it.”

“Sure, though your current outfit as Mark is good. Your outfit as Mary might be a tad revealing.” Ellen walked over to the table and placed the cactus down. While Ellen was picking out clothes, Mark lay face down on the bed with his head buried into a pillow. “Was it really that bad for you?”

“Yes.” Mark groaned through the pillow. “Large groups of people are awful. Too much noise, too much information.”

“So, if I wanted you to walk the red carpet with me?”

Mark rolled over, keeping his eyes closed. “I’d do it, but I’d be doing it for you, because you wanted it. I might also need to crash after whatever the event is.”

“Noted. I also appreciate that.”

“We aren’t doing that today, are we?”

Ellen let out a musical laugh, “Heavens no. Though I was planning on taking you somewhere that is public. Which I can promise you will cause rumors to spread that we are dating.”

“Not worried about that tarnishing your image?”

“How so?” Ellen turned genuinely confused.

“Well, I was engaged before the show. Which I assume you are having us go to events around the time we went missing. If people identify who I am, well, it will look like you are actively going after a guy who is engaged.”

“Mark, you do realize that the only reason no one reacted weirdly to your appearance at your wedding is that Cassandra gave you a reality adjustment as part of Allie’s package, right? You haven’t actually bought one yet. No one will recognize you as Mark Garret, looking like that, and definitely not looking like Mary.”

“I… huh… I guess after my wedding, I assumed people would recognize me like this.”

“Well, they won’t. Cassandra specifically asked if I would like that, and I said no.” Ellen had picked out another black dress, but this one was more conservative, having long sleeves and going down just past Mary’s knees. “Here for Mary.” Ellen held out the dress. Mark shifted, then nodded as Mary, then started to change.

“Not going to tell me the surprise?”

“No. I also didn’t check if it would be a problem.”

Mary smoothed out her dress. “Why not?”

“Because that isn’t how relationships should work. Mary, I want to get to know you by spending time with you. Not by being told things about you. If I were planning something crazy, I might ask, but I’m really not.”

“I’m just concerned. Especially since Cassandra said she was tightening the criteria for losing points.”

Ellen sighed, “If you’re really concerned, why not just tell me then? What gives you anxiety?”

Mary gave her an incredulous look. “Ellen, it’s a lot. The list also contains ‘literally nothing’, and ‘simply existing’.”

“Look, Mary, I’m not going to go ask Freya or Cassandra unless I think it is something that is a common phobia people have. There isn’t anything here that should be a problem, and if everyday things can set you off, I need to be able to deal with that, and so do you. Now, could you shift back to Mark? I’d like to show off… You know what? I guess we didn’t establish what we are. Mark, would you be my boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend? Not Master?”

Ellen rolled her eyes. “Mark, you are already my Master, not by my initial choice, but still. We probably will need to establish things on that front more clearly with Laura. But yes, I want you to be my Master in the bedroom. I’m asking you to be my boyfriend, though.”

“Is it an issue that I’m romantically entangled for you?”

“Yes, but I’ll deal. I want a romantic relationship with you, if we are going to have a sexual one.”

“Then yes.”

~POP~

“Oh boy, that was a blast,” Cassandra said, reappearing. “I see you two are ready for your date.” Before either could say anything more, she snapped her fingers, and they found themselves somewhere else.

---

Ellen and Mark were standing in a fancy kitchen. Both recognized it quite well. Ellen had been here regularly, and Mark saw it during the last challenge, during Laura’s segments. What neither of them was prepared for was the two naked individuals in the middle of having sex on the kitchen table. Jennifer froze, locking eyes with Mark and Ellen; all three went beet red. “OH! PATRICK! STOP!” Patrick paused for a moment, confused. “We have guests.” Jennifer was panting and pointedly not looking at the two of them. “You might want to put on pants before turning around…”

Ellen turned to look away. “PLEASE DO DAD!” Then she walked out of the room, and Mark followed her to the living room. Ellen started muttering invectives under her breath. “That little… I’m going to **** her! She did this on purpose! I’ll wring her tiny little neck for this.”

Mark put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I take it the first stop was meeting your dad?”

“Yes, though I actually wanted you to meet Jennifer, too. I just wasn’t expecting you to see her like that.”

“If it helps at all, I didn’t see much of her…”

“It doesn’t really.”

Patrick and Jennifer walked into the living room. Patrick coughed, embarrassed. “Hi Ellen, it’s so good to see you again.”

Jennifer was much less shy about walking over and giving Ellen a great big hug. After a moment, she hugged her back. Then Patrick walked over, and Ellen stopped him from hugging her for a second. “Dad, did you wash your hands?”

“Umm… I’ll be right back.” Jennifer snorted a laugh as he rushed to the kitchen.

“So, how long has it been for you?” Jennifer asked.

“Umm… a little less than a week. What about you two?”

“The same, actually.”

“Not that I’m not happy you and my dad are getting along… but I honestly didn’t expect to still find you here after a week.”

“Sweetheart, I can’t go to work looking like this. I’m currently burning through my PTO. I’m simply using the opportunity to get to know Patrick better.”

“I can see that.”

Jennifer turned towards Mark, “I assume you must be Mark? I’m Jennifer, Laura’s mom. Though I feel like you already knew that.”

“I did, and it’s nice to meet you.” Mark held out his hand in greeting. Jennifer shook her head as she pulled Mark into a hug. How is she so strong? Oh, right, she’s just as fit as Laura…

“You aren’t getting out of a hug. Handshakes are for acquaintances.” She broke the hug and smiled up at him. “DAMN, are you tall.” Also, he smells incredible. Am I interested in my daughter’s boyfriend? Shit, I better not be.

“Jennifer… I asked you not to swear.”

“Sorry, dear, but look at him, he is a giant.”

“I know, though I forget sometimes between being Lucia and Mark being Mary sometimes. He isn’t always this much taller than me.”

Jennifer turned to Mark, intrigued, “Mary?”

Patrick returned from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. Patrick extended his hands to his daughter, who immediately wrapped him in a tight hug. “I missed you, Dad.”

“Missed you too, cinnamon roll.” He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Her turned his head towards Mark, not letting go of his daughter. “I take it you’re Mark?”

Mark nodded. “That’s me.”

Patrick assessed him, then extended his right hand to Mark, while keeping his other firmly on his daughter. Mark shook it. “Sooo… what brought you two by so unexpectedly?”

Ellen answered as she finally broke the hug and took a seat on the couch. Mark sat next to her, and Patrick and Jennifer sat on the sofa opposite them. “I wanted my boyfriend to meet my dad.”

“Boyfriend?” Patrick said skeptically. “Ellen, are you sure this isn’t Stockholm syndrome?”

Ellen frowned, and in a more hostile and serious tone than Mark had heard from Ellen before, “Dad, stop that right now. We went over this before. Mark isn’t my kidnapper. He was kidnapped as well. Yes, he has a better position than the rest of us, but he is trying to make this work just like we all are. Mark is a good person, and I’m not going to let you speak poorly of him. That is actually one of the reasons I wanted you two to meet. So you could see he isn’t a bad guy. When this all started, Mark had a fiancée whom he has now married. One or both of them could have told us that they weren’t playing along with this, and I would have been screwed. Both have been extraordinarily accommodating.”

Patrick said sarcastically, “Yes, what a sacrifice, being willing to sleep with a bunch of women.”

“Dad, I love you, but are you telling me that if shortly before you married Mom, that you wouldn’t have considered it challenging to be with eight other women you hardly know? Knowing that it almost certainly would have hurt her? Simply because the alternative would be to condemn those women?”

“That’s not—”

“NOT WHAT!? Fair? You’re right, it wouldn’t be fair to you, to mom. If you mean a fair comparison, bullshit! That is exactly what it would be like.”

Mark looked at Ellen, slightly alarmed. He put a hand on her shoulder to calm her. “Ellen, your dad is just worried. It’s okay.”

“No, it isn’t. Dad, I don’t need you to be the overprotective father. I need you to be supportive.”

Patrick sighed and, after a long moment, said, “I’m sorry, dear. You’re right. I’m sorry, Mark. Thank you for looking after Ellen.”

“I’m trying my best.”

Jennifer cut in, “Now what was this about, Mark sometimes being Mary?”

Ellen said, “That is another thing I wanted to show you. Partially to reinforce the fact that Mark is also **** into this. Mark, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Umm…” Mark hesitated. “I’m not sure that is the best idea…”

Ellen looked at Mark, confused. “Mark, they won’t judge you negatively about this.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about judgment. I’m worried about Jennifer here finding me incredibly attractive. Especially because I’m pretty sure she took in a big nose full of my aroma when she hugged me.”

Ellen’s eyes went wide. “Shit!”

Patrick asked. “What’s wrong? Ellen, it isn’t like you to curse.”

“I forgot about Mark’s transformations effects. Jennifer, you should be careful around Mark and even more so around Mary. Both forms essentially release a pheromone that causes arousal in women.”

Jennifer said, “That… that would explain why I’m so turned on. That makes me feel better. Also, Mark, I hope you know that under no circumstances are we ever doing stuff together.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I love Laura and would never do something like that to her. It is partially why I hesitated about swapping to Mary.”

“Mark, I'm straight. You don’t have to worry.”

Mark shook his head, “Doesn’t matter. No woman is straight when looking at Mary. It is a literal magical effect that causes all women to be attracted to me in that form.”

“Well, are you never going to be Mary around me? If that isn’t the case, then just go ahead and show us.” Mark nodded and swapped to Mary. “Wow! You weren’t kidding. It isn’t a slight thing either. Also, dang, you are short.”

“Yeah, apparently this is me if I were born a woman. Oh, minus the massive breasts, those are temporary.”

Patrick looked at Ellen, “Are those temporary too?”

She replied, “Eh… sort of? I can increase my bust and hip size for a time, but they revert. Though something happened recently, and for a while, I’ll be an L-cup at a minimum. Though Mary here says that it should be reversible.”

“Okay… so did you just stop by to say hi?”

Ellen shook her head, “No, I was hoping we could all have lunch together.”

“That’s fine by me. Jennifer, you want to join us?”

“If I wouldn’t be imposing.”

Ellen replied, “You wouldn’t be, I very much would like you to join us. Though… umm… considering what we walked in on, maybe we should go out to eat.”

Jennifer and Patrick looked slightly embarrassed. “That might be for the best.” Patrick confirmed.

Patrick and Jennifer excused themselves to go get changed. After a few minutes, the two returned, and the four walked out the front door.

---

Patrick was driving with Ellen sitting up front with him and Jennifer and Mary in the back. “So, Mary, you’re married?”

“For just less than a week, yes.”

Jennifer looked at her. “Oh? You didn’t get a honeymoon?”

“Not really. It’s complicated too, since Cassandra, who's the host of the show, used time travel so my wife Allie and I could have our originally planned wedding exactly like we had wanted. Which would have been and is a few months from now.”

Patrick shook his head. “What do you do for work?”

“Daaad…”

“What? You want me to get to know… Her? Him?”

Mary answered. “Just use the pronouns of my current body. I’m not going to be overly fussy about it unless you are being deliberate about getting it wrong. I know my situation is really odd.”

“Okay. You wanted me to get to know her. What do you want me to ask her about? Have you two had sex? Is Ellen pregnant? Do you want kids? I sort of figured those might be a little embarrassing.” So did Ellen, and she shut up.

“To answer your question, Patrick, I was unemployed before the show started, but I’m in data science.”

Patrick let out a low hmmm. That Mary thought had some disapproval in it. “Have you thought about how you will be supporting Ellen and the rest of the women?”

“Yes, that and taking care of my future children, which I do want, were major concerns of mine. I already came up with a solution.”

“OH? Do tell?”

“Have you heard of Talia Winchester?”

“Yes, Laura mentioned that she was part of your harem, too. I’m going to be honest, you landing Ellen seemed like a stretch to me, even in an alternate timeline line but Talia? Sorry, I just don’t buy that.”

“Well, that’s because before the show, she wasn’t a billionaire, and she was actually older than Ellen or me. I’m the one who made her a billionaire, and it isn’t a question of if I marry her but when. I made her that rich because I knew taking care of so many women and the plethora of children would cost a fortune.”

Another hmmm. Jennifer cut in, “Patrick, you don’t have to sound so disapproving, dear.”

Ellen looked over her shoulder. “Dear? Are you two officially a couple?”

“We haven’t formally decided that yet. I will say I haven’t gone back to my house except to get some clothes, since the last time I saw you.”

“I did not need to know how active you two have been.”

Mary spoke hesitantly. “I was actually wondering something, since I didn’t see any condoms, but are you using protection?”

Jennifer chuckled. “Mary, I’ve gone through menopause, I don’t have any eggs left.”

“Ehhhh… that might not be true.” Jennifer looked at Mary like she was joking. “Sorry to tell you this, but you have your body from when you were twenty-seven years old. Which knowing Cassandra means you’re fertile again. Knowing her, she likely set it so you began your ovulation either when your age reverted or shortly afterwards.”

The car screeched to a stop. Patrick looked over the back of his seat. “Are you saying Jennifer could be pregnant?”

Mary nodded. “Depending upon how everything fits together, Jennifer could actually be extra fertile.”

Jennifer asked, “Why?”

“You have your daughter’s youth and fitness. Depending on what Cassandra folds into fitness, it could include fertility. Laura is… extra fertile now, as she is literally a goddess of fertility now. Personally, I would bet on you being pregnant as it would a) be good for ratings, and b) be good for harem unity.”

“What?!” Patrick and Jennifer exclaimed.

“Look, Laura and Ellen getting shipped together as twin sisters was popular. You two getting together and providing them a joint baby sister or brother would make the audience ecstatic. Speaking of you two were definitely naked on the show. Sorry.” The car went quiet for a while.

Mary got out her phone and sent a message to Cassandra.

Mary: Any chance you could answer the question?

Cassandra: What is the answer worth to you?

Mary: What do you want?

Cassandra: The answer to three simple questions.

Mary: Which are…

Jennifer said, “Mary? Are you there?”

“Sorry, what? I spaced out. I was messaging Cassandra to see if we could get an answer if you were pregnant.”

“We were asking if you wanted Mexican or Japanese. Though, thank you for thinking about me. Did you find out?”

“Japanese. And let me check.”

Cassandra: One: Where were you as Mary on the day of your wedding? The recording has a significant period where I couldn’t find you anywhere. Two: Tell me why you think you have more power over me than I do over you. Three: Why did Harper send you a scroll of Identify through me?

Mary: Your producer. Now pay up. Is she pregnant?

Cassandra appeared next to Mary in the back seat between herself and Jennifer. “Mary, that doesn’t answer my questions, and isn’t a funny joke.”

“That is the answer to all your questions, Cassandra. Now, is Jennifer pregnant?” Jennifer and Patrick were both glaring at the woman with undisguised hatred in their eyes.

“Yes.” Cassandra said matter of factly. Patrick slammed on the brakes again. A moment later, he pulled over to the side of the road and parked the car.

“Mary, I want an explanation.” Cassandra said.

“I’m sure you do, but I doubt you want to have this conversation in front of witnesses, and this is supposed to be Ellen’s uninterrupted date time.”

“Fine, but know we will be talking about this soon. Jennifer, would you like to know the babies’ sex?”

“Umm… Yes?”

Cassandra looked at Jennifer’s belly. “Three girls and a boy.”

Patrick clutched his chest, Jennifer gasped, Ellen whipped her head around in shock, and Cassandra vanished into thin air.

After a moment of silence, Jennifer asked Mary, “Was… was she maybe messing with me?”

Mary shook her head. “No, Cassandra wouldn’t lie. She’s a lot of things, but if she says you are pregnant with quadruplets, you probably are.”

Ellen said in a hushed tone, “Holy shit.”

Jennifer placed her hand on her belly. “This is insane.”

Mary said, “Congratulations.” Then she shook her head in disbelief. “I’m wondering how Laura is going to take the news that she’s going to have another four half-siblings on top of the five she already knows about.”

Jennifer relaxed for a moment thanks to the distraction. Ellen and Patrick, though, were still staring at Jennifer in disbelief. Jennifer said, “She’ll be fine. I spoke with and met her sister, the other Laura. We talked for a bit, she said my Laura didn’t hesitate to help her and take care of her. Said that she was her little sister, and that was the end of it. I think Laura always wanted siblings and more family growing up. She always asked about her father. Kevin was honestly the least shitty of the options. Now lunch? I’m apparently eating for five now, and I was already hungry.”

Patrick stuttered, “How—What—But—Four kids?”

Ellen placed a reassuring hand on Patrick’s shoulder. “Maybe you should let me drive while you process this.” Patrick nodded and got out of the car and swapped places with Ellen. The car ride was a bit tense but silent. Ten minutes later, they were at the restaurant. Mary decided to remain as Mary, figuring it would be easier to find a chair or booth to accommodate her while small. They ordered their food. Ellen finally broke the relative silence of the group, “So, Dad, I assume you will be stepping up for my siblings, right? You’ll take responsibility, right?” Ellen said it in a teasing but slightly threatening tone.

It was then that Mary realized, physically, Ellen was the oldest person at the table, and how odd her comment might have been to anyone overhearing them. Patrick looked at Ellen. “Of course I will. I would never abandon my kids.”

“Wonderful. I'm glad. So when’s the wedding going to be?”

“Wedding?” Patrick and Jennifer asked simultaneously.

“Oh come on, don’t tell me the thought hasn’t crossed your minds. You two have memories of a life together. You are going to be raising four kids together. Are you really telling me you two aren’t going to get married?”

“Jennifer and I will discuss it on our own, thank you very much. Now, I could use a distraction, so could we please return to the original topic? Getting to know Mary here better?”

“I don't know, I sort of like not being the center of things, for once. I'm sure I could ask Cassandra for a bit of help if you two wanted to get married quickly, before you start showing Jennifer.”

Jennifer scowled. “Patrick is right, we will figure it out ourselves. Plus, who said I was keeping them?”

Mary raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Not saying you have to, but considering you kept Laura even though you would be a single mom tells me a lot about you. You'll keep them.”

Jennifer continued to scowl, but her face softened as she knew Mary was right.

Ellen came to her rescue, “Mary, as much as I would love to chastise my dad over having unprotected sex, despite repeatedly lecturing me about it growing up, we do have limited time, and I’d like for them to get to know you better.”

Mary shrugged. “Fair. I guess I can start with the basics, but you’ll have to ask beyond that. I’m thirty-two, though both bodies are younger than that. I grew up Catholic, though I wouldn't call myself such now. I have a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s in data science. I’ve mostly had contract work since graduating, and I’m currently between positions. I’m a huge nerd. Finally, approximately a month ago, from my perspective, I was kidnapped and given the responsibility to care for nine women, though that number has grown to twelve since then. Any questions?”

“Several, yes.” Jennifer spoke up first. “Do you love my daughter?”

“Yes.” Mary replied without hesitation or equivocation. “I know she loves me, too. I hope to one day marry her, and if she desires to have children together.”

“That’s a bold claim, given you’ve known her for about a month. A month that you’ve had to split your time considerably between multiple women.”

“True, but magic, stress, and shared trauma are great social lubricants.”

Jennifer didn’t seem to believe Mary. “How did you get her to fall in love with you?”

“Magic cock. Not that it compelled her or anything, but she has uttered ‘that was the best sex of my life’ multiple times. I’m pretty sure I’m all of the top ten sexual experiences Laura has had.”

Ellen said, “I’m not sure about that. I’m pretty sure Talia takes at least one spot in the top ten.”

Mary considered, “Okay, that’s fair. Talia does have hentai physics to give mind shattering orgasms. That’s some steep competition.” Mary and Ellen took a while to notice Patrick and Jennifer’s eyes wide in shock.

“Sorry, Dad. I guess we are a bit desensitized to talking about sex.”

After regaining her composure, Jennifer said, “Well, that would explain it to some degree at least. Next question. How do you plan on raising so many children? Or are you going to let your wives handle raising them?”

“I’m not going to be an absent parent if that’s what you mean. As for what that is going to look like will depend on a lot of factors that I can’t answer right now. I would expect to have a nanny to help care for my kids. I also have no intention of working a traditional job as I simply won’t have the time.”

Patrick was the one to hop in, “You don’t have a problem leeching off of all the people in your…” He finished in a hushed tone. “Your harem?”

“I hardly consider spending time with, raising, and caring for our children leeching. Also, I only need to count on Talia to support all of us, and I’m at least partially responsible for her situation.” Patrick frowned again. “I take it you think I should be providing for my family?”

“No. I have no issue with you being a stay at home father. I’m actually pleased about that. I’m annoyed with you relying on money you or your partners didn’t really earn.”

Mary shook her head, “Patrick, tell me realistically, do you think someone even say thirteen someones could earn enough to provide for more than a hundred people?”

“A hundred?” Patrick asked confusedly, “I thought you said there were twelve women, including Ellen.”

“That's true, at least for now, though I expect that number to go up, too. Actually, it's technically at thirteen women already, but it's complicated. But I expect that I'll have at least one kid with each woman.”

“That's not reasonable to expect from them.” Patrick scowled, “They don't owe you a kid.”

“You misunderstand. I mean, based upon known information and what each of them wants, I expect that outcome. Like I mentioned, Laura is a goddess of fertility now. Both of her girlfriends are going to be particularly fertile because of her transformation; she will be too. My wife got a fertility bump, and there is no way we weren't having kids. Multiple other women have fertility transformations as well. So yeah, a hundred people. I'm just glad I have a staff, paid for by the show, forever. But onto a separate matter. You said I didn't earn that money. Which I am not sure I totally agree with. I had an opportunity to make a change in Talia’s life for the betterment of my entire harem. I took it. Also, almost no one actually earns that sort of money. Talia might be an exception if it wasn't for the fact that her history was rewritten, but I'm not certain.”

Jennifer cut in, “Okay, you two, maybe we don't continue the money talk since it isn't going to be productive. I'm more interested in how you are handling all of this.”

Ellen said, “It's crazy. It doesn't help that we are currently in a twelve day long competition with half the harem directly against the other. But I think we are handling things fairly well. Considering what we are going through. I think most of us have come to terms with being part of Mary's harem. With one of the newest additions being the exception.”

It was at this point that their food arrived, breaking up their conversation. They continued to make small talk, mostly about Mary's family life and interests, for the rest of the meal.

When they finished and got back to the car, Ellen said, “Okay, so this is where we part, Dad. Look after Jennifer.” Ellen wrapped her dad in a hug. “Also, I will be upset if you two get married and Laura and I aren't there at the wedding.”

Mary was simultaneously being squeezed to **** by Jennifer. Jennifer whispered to Mary. “You'd best take care of my girls and treat them right. I can either be a great ally or your worst nightmare when this is all over.” She then pulled back and said, “Take care, you two.” Jennifer went to hug Ellen. While Patrick shook Mary's hand.

Mary replied, “We will. Also, don't worry, Patrick, no way Cassandra lets them miss your wedding, so plan it whenever. I'm sure Laura will be ecstatic to hear the news.” With that, Mary and Ellen disappeared.

Jennifer turned to Patrick. “So, how's it feel? Knowing you're going to be a daddy again.”

“I still can't believe you're pregnant, let alone with quadruplets.”

“Yeah… then again, we did have a lot of sex. I'll just let you know my ring size is five.”

“You seriously want to get married so quickly?”

“Patrick, I have realized a few things talking with Mary. First, I do want these kids, and she's right, I have all these memories of us together. We were happy in those memories. Second, while I'm not particularly into porn myself, with Laura as my daughter, I am well aware of a lot of fetishes. They are on a sex show, I don't want to get dragged on it as the MILF, or for some weird ass mother daughter thing. So yes, I want to get hitched both for practical reasons and because I think we work well together. Plus, we are both going to be eternally twenty-seven physically, at least as long as my daughter loves me. It would be nice not to have a partner die of old age on me.”

“Okay… want to go ring shopping with me then? Or would you rather it be a surprise?”

“Oh, this is going to be fun.” Jennifer replied, giving Patrick a kiss, then she got in the car.