However.......
Sergei Sneak sucked in his breath like a drowning [in hormones] man, rather SHAKEN by teh INTENSITY of what he was feeling [Now he KNEW how teh Human Race kept getting itself in Trouble!], and leaned forward to kiss Mir.............
But...........Even as his lips brushed hers and his body felt like it belonged to a drunken, horny teen-ager [and he wanted DESPERATELY to put his hands on HER chest, noda!], Sergei remembered what Stampers had all but DRILLED into his head about BECOMING PARENTS BEFORE THEY WERE READY!!!
*ACK!!* Not only was Sergei unsure about HIS "worthiness" to Father children, but he couldn't even recall MIR ever expressing a desire to be a Mother!!!!!
It took EVERY LAST OUNCE of his considerable will-power [Serg can be a VERY determined person when he puts his mind to it, which is one reason he almost SUCCEEDED in his efforts to get rid of Humanity], but he SOMEHOW pulled himself AWAY from Mir's inviting lips--and WILLING body--and taking both her hands in his [Oh, LORD! They had started "wandering" all OVER him!!!], Sergei managed to croak, in a slightly shaky and definately HOARSE voice--
"Mir...NO! Please STOP!"
"But...WHY, Sergei!? This is FUN!!" she pouted at him, her mouth puckered in a fetching manner--
Doing his BEST to get his breathing BACK under control [and by teh Elders, he was SWEATING, too!], Sergei looked ONLY down at her hands held in his [if he looked anywhere ELSE, he might lose ALL control! *Gulp!*] and tried to explain....
"Mir......do you KNOW how children were......"made" before teh Elders changed everything......I mean, BEFORE......"
She looked at him puzzled, still confused by his refusal to continue teh fun, and NOT understanding what he was getting at--
"Er......No, not REALLY--I just know that teh Elders changed things because it was said that THAT was teh ONLY way to save teh Human Race from its own over-population......What are trying to TELL me, Sergei!? What's WRONG!?"
She was plaintive now, afraid she had hurt or offended him in some way, and he DID look up at her then, meeting her blue eyes....
"Mir.....I hafta tell you something, and I want you listen all teh way thru' BEFORE you ask me any questions, all right? You see, it's VERY IMPORTANT that you fully understand--understand what it
CAN MEAN if you and I........."have fun" in this way...."
"You mean Sex?"
"Yes....THAT, Mir....."
It wasn't easy, and he couldn't answer ALL of her questions--there were a few details he didn't QUITE understand HIMSELF, after all!--but Sergei was EVENTUALLY able to get Mir to understand how sex without "precautions" could lead to Parenthood, ESPECIALLY between two people as healthy and able as THEY were........
She was silent for awhile, absorbing it all, then giving Sergei a side-long glance, Mir asked--"Sergei....if we TOOK those...."precautions"....WOULD you have sex with me...?"
He had been AFRAID she might ask that, but had mentally prepared an answer, of sorts--
"Before I answer that, I want you to answer THIS question for me, Mir.....Would you.....like to be a Mother? And I mean teh "Old-Fashioned" way--they DON'T have teh technology here to do it teh way we did back "home".....
She wrinkled her brow at this thought, a bit unsure--"Maybe......tho' it sounds a bit....."messy"...But, if I hafta have sex, FIRST, I could CHOOSE teh Father, couldn't I...!?"
"Of COURSE! Like I said--this ISN'T like "home", where such decisions are made FOR you...!"
"WELL then, Sergei!" she said, giving him a smile he remembered from her childhood, teh one she always got just before she did something willful or even "naughty"--"Then let me ask you THIS! If I decided I WANTED to be a Mother, and I chose YOU to be teh Father, THEN would you have SEX with me!?"
He let go of her hands and turned away, his feelings a mix of chagrin and hope--"Mir, are you SURE you would WANT me to be teh Father...? I haven't exactly lived up to "expectations"......" [He wasn't QUITE ready to admit to her that he may not be "up" to her sexual "expectations", either!]
She put her hands on both sides of his face, and turned his head gently 'til he was looking at her again--
"Lord Sergei Sneak--what makes you THINK that I DON'T believe that you aren't able to meet ALL of my "expectations" regarding you!!?? If what I'm feeling for you is wuv--and I think it is!--then there's NOTHING you CAN'T do, and do WELL, do you HEAR!?"
He nodded numbly, moved to teh core by her faith--and wuv! She leaned forward to give him a gentle kiss, and he responded in kind, then they sat for a moment, their foreheads leaning against each other, just supporting each other silently..........
"Mir...I don't think EITHER of us is QUITE ready to be Parents, yet--tho' I DO think that when we ARE, we should give it a try, if YOU'RE ready and willing--]
She nodded, agreeing with him--
"I'm ALSO not sure that either of us is...."ready" for sex, yet--I mean, I think we COULD, but....well....I want to know some more things about it first, myself, Mir, because............" Sergei worked up teh courage to look her STRAIGHT in teh eye when he said this!
"Because I want to make SURE I do a DAMN GOOD JOB of it, Mir, for YOU! I want to be able to not only NOT HURT YOU, but make SURE it's teh BEST thing I've EVER given you....I OWE you THAT, Mir.......I...
OWE you....THAT!"
---------------------
Later, when Serg came home, he let me know that he was planning not only to attend those "Special Sex Ed" classes, but that he wanted to have that college textbook back so he could read it, cover to cover this time!
I wiped a smear of lipstick from his face, and handed him teh book with a knowing smile....
"For what it's worth, Serg, I think you'll be a GOOD Father, THAT I DO!"
He *BLUSHED*, of course--
"Thank you, Stampers.....and don't call me "Serg"...."