“Evan is Jonathan's male breeder and I am his female breeder,” I choked out. "On Earth we would have Lived in the same place and cared for him together. If I am being told I will never hold my male offspring again, I at least wish his male breeder here for comfort."

“You may turn to your female offspring or your female friend-" Hassar said and I lashed out at her.

“Allow me this moment with my men!" I demanded. "You offered us no time to say good-bye and that is all I am asking for. Comfort from those whom I love and a chance to wish them well in their separate future.”

Hannah didn't give the woman any time to answer and flipped on the screen. It was in black and white, but that did not matter to me. I took Evan's hand as we watched a recording of Jonathan, Hannah said it was the first time he entered the Children's compound.

Tears poured down my face when I saw him look at the monitor. There was no sound, but I could read his lips. He asked where Mama and Daddy were. The Child Keepers herded the new Little boys into the bunk house and the camera changed.

We stood and watched for what must have been hours. My girls had made sure to keep a record of Jonathan for Evan and me. The children were kept intentionally very busy. Hannah told me it helped them forget their breeders. Jonathan's owner also would have given them subtle commands that only their Brothers mattered. Soon the only focus of their world would be on the four other boys in their family. Their first home in the mountains would be a dream or distant memory. Eventually, they would not remember it at all.

Within the first several moons they had them using the Lacquered pots and learning to dress themselves. Games were set up that they played every day to build endurance and strength. I watched Jonathan get stronger and more coordinated quickly.

As I stood, totally fixed on the monitor, I saw his bond with his Brothers get stronger and stronger. He touched them and tasted them constantly. When he slept it was often wrapped around a Brother and sucking the other boy's fingers. The entire little family seemed to sleep in a pile most of the time. They were never separated.

Less and less did I see the motions of his mouth that told me he was saying Mama or Daddy. He was forgetting us, as he was being forced to do. It broke my heart.

I didn't remember dropping to the floor as the crushing sobs gripped me. I clung to Evan as I mourned the loss of the son we would never know. He had been so sweet and wild. I would have loved to watch him grow and Learn with his family. Now all I had was pictures on this black and white monitor of a boy who would find me alien very soon.

“It will not be forever, Sister," Evan whispered over and over again.

“He will grow and we will take him. No more tears, please, he will be safe there."

“There is a cream," I heard Damien beg, “that will help her feel better."

“No," Hassar told him sharply, “grief is normal. This is normal. This woman does not have to be a perfect creature to represent your family's health anymore. If she wishes to be sad, she can.”

“This is pain," Damien argued. "It will harm her. She does not survive well when she is sad. We must protect-"

“Daddy,” Hannah cut in, “please don't worry. Humans can feel sad. Kennedy and I will watch her. It will not be like it was before. She is not trapped and she will not break like that again. We know this about her."

"The sadness is too powerful for her-" Damien started to say and Hannah interrupted.

“The bonds of slavery were too powerful Daddy, the emotion is normal. You have to let her be free. She can be sad or happy. Kennedy and I believe she will make the right choices now that she has the option. We will help her and she will be well."

Damien was silent as Evan soothed me with strokes to my hair and back. We knelt together and I knew the men were confused.

"You all may come separate from the female if you wish to view him,” Hassar said after a moment.

“Thank you," I whispered squeezing Evan's hand and pulling myself together.

I stood with Evan and looked into his eyes. "I love you," I told him simply.