"Wait a minute. 'Baby Engineering'? Is that even possible?"
"It is possible in the Future. You just donate your DNA, they combine it with another one from a volunteer and... well, it's a complicated process. Believe me if I had known you before, I would've never resorted to such thing. But I was desperate back then so I signed a contract with the labs".
"Can't you cancel it?"
"I tried, but the process had already started. I'm sorry, Ann, the last thing I wanted was to complicate our lives like this".
"And what are you going to do now?"
"Well, there isn't much I can do, except that I'll have to take care of the baby".
"You'll have to?"
"I mean, I don't have to adopt him, but I'm required to support him. And... I must accommodate the volunteer during her pregnancy".
"Accommodate her, you mean in your house?"
"I know it doesn't sound good, but those are the rules".
Ann was angry for a few days, during which she hardly talked to Robin. She didn't know what to make of the situation. What if Robin was lying and such labs didn't exist? What if he didn't have a "volunteer" but another wife in the Future? After all he traveled there a lot. But if he was cheating on her, why would he tell her all this? Wouldn't it be easier to keep it a secret? Besides, Robin wasn't a liar, he had always told her everything about the Future, so he was probably telling the truth this time too.
"Alright, I believe you and forgive you, on the condition that this issue does not interfere with our marriage".
"It won't, I assure you. Everything's gonna be fine, you'll see".
"I hope so, 'cause I have something to tell you too. It's good news".
"Oh, did you get a promotion?"
"Much better"
"..."
"I'm pregnant again!"
"W-what?"
"Yes, love, we're having another baby, aren't you happy?"
"Of course I am, but..."
"I thought we had enough with Jessie".
"Well I thought that, after having a girl, it would be lovely to have a boy too, don't you think?"
"S-Sure, but now I'll have three babies, counting the one with the volunteer, I mean". I'll have to work the triple to support them.
"And? Is that a problem? You just said that issue wouldn't interfere with us".
"And it's true, it's just..."
"Come on, Rob, say it'll be okay".
"It'll be fine. I'll just have to work a little more, it's no big deal. I will install the workshop here and I'll bring my two plumbots to help in the house and with Jessie".
"Then you are happy?"
"Yes, dear I'm very happy... What do I do now? I wanted a child, now I'll have three! True, I wanted a progeny, I still do. But it won't do any good to have a family if they won't make it to 2054. Now more than ever I must talk to Emit, I must make sure that Ann and all my children get to the Future alive".
"Robin? Are you sure it's alright?"
"Yes, dear, I am".
And he was... until he got a text message from Dustin, telling him they should talk about something urgent.
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