Born a Jewel

A new, squealing life emerged into the world… swiftly to be gathered up and cleaned and swaddled and checked for any immediate defects.

Of course, there were none… The Algorithm’s subtle genetic tweaking and perfectly measured balance of **** and nutrients that had been fed into Betsy for months meant that such risks were no risk at all. He was perfect. How could he not be?

The child was handed over to his teenage mother, lying exhausted in her bed beside the immaculate femboy who had moved mountains to be here. The differences that had grown between them were starker than ever, with Jesse’s slim, perfumed and manicured form contrasted to her own red face and sweat-drenched hair. Tools of different purpose, finally reaching the potentials laid out for them. But when that babe was offered into their arms, such surface concerns seemed shallow and meaningless. Betsy watched her newborn gaze up in fascination at his older brother, and knew the bond between them was as strong as any other she could have wished for.

“He does look a little bit like me…” Offered a sissy with wonder in his voice. “Maybe your plan did work, after all?!”

She smiled at him… but couldn't breach the truth. Not yet. There was too much at stake. Too much she still didn't understand. Out in the corridor, a familiar face appeared… just briefly. 'Joseph' had barely spoken to her in a month, not since she had revealed that name to him and shattered his attempts to hide away from a forgotten past. Yet still, Betsy had spied him creeping around the edges of all the fuss being made of her in the lead up to this moment. Checking in on her health and safety. Making sure no-one had discovered their brief foray into forbidden territory. She wondered just where the older man was, inside of his own head? How able to accept the concept of being a father, not once… but twice now. It struck her that none of the ‘adults’ she’d interacted with: not Daniel the Block H Matron, not the regulars who’d come to the breeding pit day after day… nor even the doctors and midwives here in the birthing wing. None of them really wanted to talk about her child, beyond the cold, medical facets of his arrival. She had been taught the signs of a thousand different complications he might face. Instructed in all the best ways to get him to feed or burp or sleep… but never once asked what name she might give him.

And that seemed now the most pressing question she could imagine. It was the one choice that still remained hers to make, over all the little creature’s future. Something he would carry with him always, regardless of any path the algorithm decided was right for him. Modern convention implied that it was usually best to apply a handle that could be associated with any gender, just in case it turned out femininity suited the boy-to-be better. A situation that Betsy could only consider plausible while admiring his oh-so pretty older brother. In fact… looking deep into the glistening eyes of both such precious beings… There seemed only one logical answer: This baby boy would be her Jewel, more radiant than any diamond. He would shine with a thousand facets, just like Jesse did… and reflect back all the beauty there was left in this world.

“I think that’s a great name!” Sighed her femboy friend and lover, offering a slender finger for smaller hands to grab hold of. “I’m sure he will make all sorts of people very happy one day.”

The slightest shadow flickered in Betsy’s heart, but she quelled it down. She knew Jess-Jess meant it only as the highest compliment. To him, there was no longer anything else, after all. Every lecture she had ever given him, on the joys and necessity inherent in finding one’s true purpose… had finally taken hold. The moody, teenage mope-around that she had had to coax and coerce through all his studies… was gone. Along with all the stubborn refusals to accept just how perfectly he fit that role. Here was the grown up, dedicated sissy that she had always dreamed he’d one day be… And somehow, she was struggling to recognise him. The only boy she had ever fallen for was in there, she was sure. Yet, all that painstaking makeup she no longer needed to help with; suddenly seemed like it was in the way.

“I’ve got to get back to school now.” He whispered, kissing her on the forehead. Unable to read the thoughts boiling away inside. “I’ll come back and visit again on my way home!”

Betsy let him go… grabbing his hand to squeeze for only a second, as he left. Sure that it was just a little bit of postnatal depression, or overtiredness and exertion… That made her feel suddenly so guilty.