When Venus's door burst open, it jars both her and Peter awake.  

A raid!

Venus's initial thought sent adrenaline pumping through her veins. The weapons are tucked under her floorboards, but they may find the small bits of weaponry that she and the other MBs have collected if a thorough search is done.  Next to her, Peter bolted up in the bed.

"It worked-" a familiar excited small voice exclaims at the door.  Pepa stilled in shock at the sight of the two MB scrambling for clothes.  A blush grew on her cheeks, realizing she walked into a lot more than what she bargained for. 

"Pepa?!"  Peter scowled at his sister as he finagled his pants on under the covers.  

His sister's jaw dropped as she fully took in the situation.  "What were you thinking?!"  Her dark-brown eyes shifted to Venus, who, too, was throwing on the discarded clothing from the night before.  "Did you two even use protection?!"  Disbelief crossed the young woman's face as her good hand flew to her forehead. "Of course you didn't .  You don't have access to it.  Venus was literally made for reproduction.  How do you think this is going to turn out?"  Pepa's scrutinizing gaze shifted between the two of them.

Guilt raked through the young MBs. Finally, she secured her shirt down over her waist. She should have been more mindful of what sleeping with Peter would entail.  She was well aware of what her actions result in, and bring yet another life into this horrid world was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Would you close the door?!"  Peter hissed and pushed up from the bed, bare-chested with only the dull grey pants hanging off his hips. Unfortunately, the ruckus had caught the attention of some passing by MBs.  Their gawking did help the situation and only caused Peter to grow more irritated with his sister's intrusion.  

Peter jerked his sister into the apartment and closed the door behind her, not that it would provide much of a sound barrier between them and spying eyes, but it at least provided the illusion that no one could overhear.

"You need to calm down, Pepa, we are both consenting adults." Peter cast his sister a glare.

This only seemed to infuriate the little firecracker more.  she bristled up as her face puckered.  "Clam down?  Peter!"

"Enough, Pepa!"  Peter's raised voice caused his sister's jaw to snap shut, but it didn't stop the glares from here.  No one in that room needed a lecture on what unprotected intercourse leads to.  They were all fully aware, and Pepa's gripping wasn't going to undo the night before's events.   

Pepa's cheeks puffed put in frustration but didn't say anything else.

"Why are you bursting into Venus's apartment at the crack of dawn?"  Peter crossed the room and sat on the end of Venus's bed.  He wanted to sit next to her, hold her hand, enjoy the morning embrace they were sharing,  but Pepa dunked cold water on all of that.

At his question, Pepa lit up a bit, remembering why she came. "Oh right,  I came to tell you great news."  Her gaze shifted to Venus. "The protest worked!  We got the attention of several new channels.  people started showing up on their own accorded to help in the protest, and it caught the attention of the Prime Minister,  Lord Hallows.  We found out that he'll be holding a press conference, and wants to reaccess your conditions."

Venus frowned as she moved to the end of the bed to sit next to Peter. "What does that mean?  Reaccess?  Wasn't he one of them that set this up in the first place?"

"Well, yes."  Pepa tips her head. "But seeing so many people up in arms about it has caused him to worry about the people feel about it.  With an election coming up within the year, he could lose voters and that's a huge problem for him."

Venus didn't quite see the overwhelming victory that Pepa did.  She didn't want to resign herself to this less than favorable life, but at the same time, she saw the disgusted looks from norms on a daily basis and the struggle to get food that's not even nutritious.  The people who showed up were probably just a drop in the bucket compared to the staggering number of people who hate them.

"We need someone who's truly on our side."  Venus leaned into Peter's shoulder, finding comfort just being near him.  "This Lord Hallows is just appeasing you until the election is over."

"Can anyone run for Prime Minister?"  Peter asked as his arm wrapped around Venus's waist.

Pepa gave a small shrug.  "I don't know. I'd have to check into it, why?"

"Because," he shifted next to Venus, causing the bed to squeak under his weight. "If we had a norm that was actually on our side, then more process could be made. Someone that knows what we are, that sees us as fellow human beings, some one like you."  He pointed to his sister.

Pepa's eyes slowly grew wide at his suggestion before throwing her hand up in the air.  "Oh no.  I'm no polition, Peter.  You of all people know that.  You're the leader in the family.  I'm a doctor, that's it." 

"You know us Pepa.  You watched me grow up, and took care of Venus and MBs like her in the Cube.  You've seen the humanity in us."  Peter practically pleaded for his sister to consider running for Prime Minister.  "You are our voice."

"I'm a foreigner!  I don't know if I even qualify as a canadate?"  Pepa threw her arms out.  "And I hardly look like Prime Minister material."

"Looks aren't what matters."  Venus piped in.  "We need you, Pepa.  Peter's right, you're the only person in the Cube that saw me as a human being."

Pepa let out a heavy sigh as she ran her hand through her thick, frizzy, dark hair.  Her brown-almost black eyes shifted around the room in thought.  "I'll look into the laws and see what I can do.  If I don't qualify though-" She trailed off, unsure what her next step should be.

"You know people that sympathize with us, Pepa."  Peter gave her a soft encouraging smile.  "If you can't do it, I'm sure you can find someone who can."

Pepa groaned.  She came to tell them the good news and found herself weighed under an even heavier burden.  Her eyes grew wide, realizing she had forgotten the next bit of information.  "I almost forgot.  I spoke with mom and dad."

At this, Venus practically sprung from the bed.  If it weren't for Peter's arm around her, she would have.  "And?!"

"They're moving here.  They got clearance from New Anada and are packing up now. "  Pepa's voice lowered just in case prying ears that should hear the next bit of information sho happened to be listening.  "They're working on a plan to smuggle the babies here."

A smile spread across Venus's face as her shoulders slumped in relief.  Her children were finally coming to her, but a hint of bitterness soon followed when she realized their father wouldn't be here waiting for them too.  It was her fault that he was taken from them.  If only she wouldn't have left their house.  She still would have had her family together.

"Do you know when they'll be here?"  Venus's gaze turned hopeful that within days or weeks, she'd have her son and daughter in her arms again.

***

Thank you for returning readers!

I realize now my last chapter was rough, and by rough, I mean really rough. I'm so sorry to everyone that read it. Last November, I went through a life-saving surgery, and I was still on medication and recovering when I wrote part 4, chapter 2.

So id you read that mess, you are a real trooper. I know Breeders needs a serious edit, but wow! Anyway, I appreciate all of you that stick around forever waiting for these updates. I swear I am trying to work on The Breeders when I can. I'm just trying to figure out this revolution. I want to do it completely justice and portray the message I'm trying to send through the story.

I hope you all understand. I know it's annoying to read unfinished work. I am planning on finishing this series. I'm even hoping this is the book that wraps up The Breeders.