Zella looked behind herself at the freezing market. She had been hiding out of the public eye more, but she needed provisions as well as frozen dinners at Zeph's insistent requests. Time was passing faster and she was beginning to show. Not being married, but having children, wasn't something others showed pride in.
She often shopped at the freezing market at the end of her block, but she knew from experience they didn't have Lasterian brand frozen dinners, so she had to drive to the upper class block's freezing market.
"Morning. Hey, you're new to the block." The owner hunched over her counter.
"No, I'm not from here, but I need something special," Zella confessed. "Lasterian frozen dinners?"
"Mmm..." The owner shook her. "Sorry, this block doesn't carry that. We've got nuthinlike's and poerts. To tell you the truth, I don't know where you'll find Lasterians in Fallensworth. I don't know..." Zella watched as the owner started to shout beside her at the vegetable marketer. "Martis! Do you know where to find Lasterian frozen dinners?"
Zella turned around to look at the vegetable marketer but he shook his head. He in turn asked the fruit marketer, and even the meat and dessert marketer.
"Sorry." The freezing market owner shrugged her shoulders at Zella.
Zella nodded to the owner. She should still buy something, maybe he'd try it? If he complained much more about her cooking, he'd have no choice. "I would like a container of-"
"I recognize her, that's Cattral. She's not married."
Zella stopped as she heard the evil gossip again. Couldn't warno's leave her alone already? They wouldn't be speaking so loud had Zeph been there, but he'd studied all night and was still asleep. Besides, it was nice to get away from Yo-yo Zeph every once in awhile, even if it meant associating with less understand individuals. Although being ten blocks away, she thought a little less gossip would be heard. Guess she was flat out famous now.
"Ma'am?" the owner asked again.
Zella snapped out of her thoughts and looked back at the counter lady. "I need twenty poerts." Zella watched as the owner set about looking through her frozen containment doors. Zeph had better appreciate whatever I buy.
"Here you go." The clerk brought out a large cooler and shoved the various frozen dinners inside. "Ten wiggles, dear."
"Ten wiggles?" Zella blinked. "Could you check that again?"
The owner chuckled, "Be lucky I didn't have Lasterians, they're ten wiggles each."
Zella sighed as she pulled out her money. Guard taste was damn expensive. She reached for the money to pay when she overheard another rude statement. She pressed on as if she had not heard it, but the clerk had to say something.
"Don't worry your little head about anything." The clerk took the wiggles from her hand tenderly. "I'm sure you'll find the one soon. For some it takes longer."
Zella looked at her, slightly puzzled. "What do you mean? I'm not even dating right now."
"You aren't?"
The comment was so loud and abrupt, Zella had to turn to see who said it.
"Gosh. Well, you better get with the program." A woman crossed her arms with a sour expression. "If you're having troubles, then go shell out some money and hire a Guard."
"She already has a Guard," one of the women from the back said. "She wanted Lasterians after all."
Now Zella was deeply confused. "What do you mean? My Guard doesn't even want me dating after the baby's born." She gave a light chuckle as she thought about Zeph. "He'd rather I never date again at all."
"Are you kidding?" An older man came up from behind the line. "Sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." He flashed his former Guard license at her. Expired, but it still proved his experience. "What level is he? Is he confused about what to do when the client is already pregnant?"
"I don't know if my Guard has ever done pregnancy before," Zella admitted. "He's the highest level."
"The highest level?" The former Guard seemed quite shocked. "This A level Guard of yours knows how it works? Are you sure?" He crossed his arms in a manner that resembled the sour woman beside him. "If you are pushing him off, then that is not helping you."
"I don't understand." Zella's patience was starting to dwindle, nobody was making any sense. "What do you mean?"
Zella watched the way the former Guard stood. Oh great, she'd known Zeph long enough as a Guard to know what that stance meant. Here comes a speech that was meant for papers, not people. The much loved 'and/or' with run on sentences would most likely be used, depending on its seriousness.
"If you are pregnant," the former Guard began, "and there is no father willing to help out and/or known and/or not wanted slash wanting to help, then your Guard should be either helping you find someone through your pregnancy or waiting until after the babies are born to help you find someone with unclouded eyes." The Guard finally finished.
"Unclouded eyes?" Zella thought about his speech and tried to put it in general terms. Even though the words were, to say the least, a run on term paper, she still couldn't understand it. Surely Zeph knew what he was doing, right?
"Unclouded eyes. Guards will not find someone by looks and/or charm that females often mistake as good companions. They will judge by a combination of other factors and find someone who is deemed worthy to be with you and your children unconditionally by a written contract."
Zella looked stunned. She understood that. "Unconditionally? Why?"
"Because no one should raise warno children alone. Even within dens they are a handful." The Guard announced, "I think you should let your Guard know that you are ready. If you are in fact having twins, as the gossip around here is saying, it may not be smart to wait until after the babies are born."
Zella couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did Zeph really know about that? "Well, thank you former Guard. I'm sorry, I missed your name."
"Just call me Syo, I'm not a Guard anymore," He chuckled. "Now go talk to your Guard and work out whatever needs to be worked out."
Zella nodded, picked up her cooler and went on her way. He is an older warno. Things may have changed since he'd been a Guard, she reasoned. I don't know. Come to think of it, maybe that is why warnos always have two parents? It's just not spoken of? Zella bit her lip gently. Besides Marni, I really don't know who else would fit anymore. Having to raise my children unconditionally with him as well? She reached for her phone in her purse. Maybe Muin would know what to do?