“Marrying Chris,” replied Justin calmly.
“Is this for love or for something else?”
“Chris hates the fact that I’m a Lamb,” Justin explained to Josh. “He’s my best friend and is wanting to help me out. He’s knows that I’m not as happy as I could be without freedom.”
“Okay then,” nodded Josh.
“So you’re okay with this?” asked Justin unsurely. For the past week he had been worried about what his friend would think. He knew that Josh had said before that he was okay with business marriages but Justin had been sure how Josh would react when he discovered that Justin was the one who was involved in the business marriage.
“Yeah,” laughed Josh. “I’m glad actually. It was frustrating to see you here, locked up like some animal all the time, especially when I knew what it was like. Before Lance and I got married, my only company during the day was Geek. Yeah, you have other Lambs here so you’re somewhat better off than I was, but I know lately you’ve haven’t been spending much time with the other Lambs. I think this will be good for both of you.”
“I can’t wait to see the rest of Cielville,” beamed Justin. “I mean, I know Chris can take me out anytime I want but it wouldn’t be the same while having to wear a leash and collar.”
“Speaking of collars when did you stop wearing yours?” Josh asked him, noticing that Justin was not wearing a collar to indicate that he was a Lamb when all the other Lambs in the household still wore theirs.
“It, umm . . . broke about six months ago.”
“Broke?” asked Josh raising his eyebrow in wonderment. “How did it break? Those collars are tough. They have a life-time guarantee on them.”
“Well, umm, this one was poorly made.”
“Justin!”
“Okay, I took it off one day since it was bothering me,” admitted Justin. “And Chris didn’t say anything about it so I just left it off.”
“Chris went easy on you,” chuckled Josh.
“Did you wear yours?” challenged Justin.
“Umm . . .”
“Thought so.”
“Did I mention that the baby is due in about three weeks?” asked Josh, changing the subject.
“That’s right around when we’re getting married,” informed Justin. “Chris wanted to get it done sooner but the paper work won’t be through til then.”
“You guys having a ceremony?”
“Nah, not really,” replied Justin. “Doesn’t seem right since we don’t love each other. We’re just going to throw a party about a week later to celebrate.”
“Come over for dinner once the baby is born,” suggested Josh.
“Not unless I can bring the food with me,” laughed Justin. “I love Geek and all but that robot of yours can’t cook!”
“Why do you think Lance and I eat so much at Chris’ place?”
*~*~*
Two and a half weeks later
“Justin!” cried Chris happily, early that morning as he bounced into Justin’s room with papers in his hand.
“Go away Chris!” groaned Justin as he rolled over in the bed, trying to go back to sleep. Chris however was having none of that and proceeded to jump onto the bed, landing on top of Justin.
“Wake up husband!” Chris cried into Justin’ ear.
“I said go away!” grunted Justin as he swatted at Chris with his arm, knocking the older man to the floor.
“That’s it!” teased Chris as he stood up and started marching towards the door. “I’m getting a divorce! You’re a lousy husband!”
“What!?!” exclaimed Justin as he sat up and looked at the papers that Chris had left lying on top of him. “The papers came through?!?”
“Yep,” grinned Chris, turning back towards Justin. “Like it or not, we’re now married! Now get your ass moving! I’m taking you out today to see Cielville!”
True to his word, twenty minutes later Justin was seated next to Chris in Chris’s car as he showed Justin around.
“There are five levels of Cielville,” explained Chris as Justin stared up at the sunlight pouring in from the clear, domed roof. “We live on the top level, Level 1. Level 2 is for businesses and housing for the less rich, and Level 3 is for more businesses. Both Level 1 and Level 2 aren’t really levels because every thing sits on many catwalks and such so that if say someone was on Level 3 they could still look up and nine times out of ten, they’ll still be able to see the sky. Level 4 is docking for shuttles that go to and from the surface, either to pick up more Lambs or to take people to Cielterra for a vacation. Level five is the sewer, and were un-owned Lambs live and work, running Cielville, only overseers of those Lambs are allowed down there.”
“You’ll show me all the other levels though, won’t you Chris?” asked Justin excitedly.
“Yep,” grinned Chris as he steered his car down the closest ramp to take them down to Level 2.
Three hours later the pair walked towards the usual restaurant where Chris had lunch every day with Joey, Lance and Josh. When they arrived there, they discovered Lance and Joey already waiting for them.
“Finally!” smiled Lance, glancing up but not seeing Justin who was standing behind Chris. “I don’t think I could keep Joey from ordering without you much longer.”
“Liar,” replied Joey, sticking his tongue out at Lance.
“I think I’m going to agree with Lance,” laughed Chris as he sat down with Justin sitting next to him.
“Where’s JC?” asked Justin and for the first time, Joey and Lance noticed that he was there.
“Justin!” cried Joey happily.
“I guess the marriage papers came through,” chuckled Lance with a smile. “Josh is at home taking care of Stacy. For about a week, we’ve been taking turns on who gets to stay with her. Normally we both try to stay, but I had a meeting this morning so I decided that having lunch out wouldn’t make much of a difference.”
“We discovered the news this morning,” informed Chris. “Since then I’ve decided to be nice and show my new husband around Cielville.”
“That’s nice-” began Lance before the ringing of his cell phone cut him off. “Excuse me,” he said before standing up and walking a few feet away to talk on the phone in private.
“So what do you think of the place?” Joey asked Justin, while Lance was off talking on his phone. “I bet you never seen anything like it on Terra.”
“Never!” exclaimed Justin. “Terra is just a bunch of small villages, this place is amazing!”
“That would be interesting to see,” replied Joey before Lance came rushing back over to their table.
“I have to get to the hospital!” he cried, as the other stared at him confusingly. “Stacy is having the baby!”