His blue eyes flashed. “No straws were needed. I asked to accompany you. I had a feeling my skill set as a more levelheaded Military Model would be useful.”
“Is there such a thing?” Reaper asked as he waltzed over, his battle axe prominently displayed on his back.
I smiled. “Well, I still have my head, so the data would suggest Military Models are capable of using their brains instead of their battle axes.” I stepped up to Reaper, ignoring the warning bells inside my head that screamed danger. “I know I wasn’t your first choice for Brone. Hell, I wasn’t a choice at all, but Brone told me you were willing to fight to free me. Thank you, Reaper, even if you did it only for Brone. He has my heart. I am glad he has friends like you to help protect his.”
Reaper’s gaze seemed to bore directly into my soul. “Treat him well, female, and the two of us will get along fine.”
“I promise.”
He nodded. Turning on his boot heel, he walked away, and I let out the breath I hadn’t known I was holding. I didn’t think Reaper and I would be best friends, but as long as we had an understanding, I knew we would be fine.
“He’s a bit scary, isn’t he?” Ion whispered.
I watched as he pulled Aria and Theo to his frame, enveloping them in a hug. “I used to think so, and he’s intimidating as hell, but leading the rebellion wasn’t easy. He might be tough, but underneath it all, he is just a cyborg who only wants what is best for those he loves.”
Arms wrapped around me from behind.“He will love you, too, one day. Just wait and see.”
I leaned back into Brone’s frame. “Missed you.”
A rumble vibrated along my back. “I was only gone for a few minutes.”
I twisted in his arms, peering up at the massive cyborg that had stolen my heart. “Still missed you.”
“Brone.” Iris cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt, but I have something that belongs to you.”
I felt my Tank Class’s frame freeze and I turned around to see a gray stuffed rhino in Iris’s outstretched hand.
My cyborg carefully reached out, plucking the Beanie Baby out of Iris’s hand and cradling it in his large fingers. I had only seen one gifted prior to Brone’s, and that had been to Torque after his death. Watching my cyborg’s face as he held the tiny stuffed animal made my chest tighten. The look in his eyes, the pride and disbelief he had been granted such a gift, was beautiful.
“His name is Spike.” Iris smiled. “You were willing to give your life to save us that day. You didn’t hesitate, rushing towards danger, your only thought to protect your family. Your heart is as big as your frame, Brone. I am so happy that you are still with us and I can give this to you.” She rose on her tiptoes and hugged him. “And you were wrong that day. All of us would have missed you.” She rubbed her belly. “And I am so grateful that my son or daughter will be kept safe by such a fierce protector. Love you, big guy.”
I didn’t bother fighting my tears. Instead, I let them fall, pride for my cyborg swelling inside my chest.
“Love you, too, Iris,” Brone rasped, one of his fingers trailing over the rhino’s horn. “I will cherish Spike always. And congratulations. I know you and Dash will be incredible parents. Both of your hearts have so much love to give.”
Iris smiled. “You do too, Brone.”
As Iris walked away, Brone’s words played back inside my head. “Wait! Iris is pregnant? When? How?”
Brone tucked his Beanie Baby into the pocket of his cargo pants, leaving the rhino’s head peeking out. “Well, when a cyborg loves a female very much…”
I smacked his chest. “Scientist, remember? I think I know how babies are made. But I know that normal methods don’t work with cyborgs, so how is Iris’s pregnancy possible?”
“I don’t have the specifics, but Dax has found a way to make it happen. The baby will be a Service Model like Dash.”
That would mean…“So, I could have a miniature Tank Class one day?” The idea of having a baby with Brone hadn’t even crossed my mind. Even though I knew about Theo and Ever, I had yet to get any type of explanation as to how they had come to be. The scientist in me had been dying to find out, but I felt it wasn’t my place to pry.
As far as I was concerned, Theo and Ever were miracles. Ones that I was now lucky enough to watch grow. But Iris being pregnant? My world had shifted once again. I could make a baby with Brone. Not today, of course, but someday.
I swayed and Brone caught me.
“Does the idea of having a child with me upset you?” Brone tugged me into his arms. “Do not be upset, Nara. I am more than happy to share my life with you and our cyborgs. I do not need a child of our own to be happy.”
“It’s not that. I never thought I would find someone to share my life with, let alone have a baby.” A hand drifted to my belly before I looked up at the cyborg who had altered the course of my life with one toss over his shoulder. “You would make a wonderful father, Brone. And any mini Tank Class that came from you would be adorable.”
He sucked in a breath. “So, does that mean…”
“That means I would love to have children with you some day if Dax can make it happen.”