Afterwards Ch. 02-04

Peter arranged for most of his furniture to go into storage. He had sold his house in just a few months. He moved in with David after that. He resisted slipping into his "Petra" mindset. They were both worried they would bet caught. Even in 2022 there were plenty of narrow-minded people that would make their lives hell.

The plan they had was hold on until they moved into a new house with each other. They wanted the few friends they had to keep their memories of them as two normal men. They were both in their late fifties and things like that mattered to them.

Peter was going to tell the small amount of family he had, that he was moving to Canada. He would change as soon as they arrived at their new house, then stay as Petra forever.

They had discussed it at length in the evenings while watching TV together.

David asked,

"You do realize that you will never ear trousers again? I like my women to look feminine always."

"Yes Dave, I'm happy to do that. Stop worrying."

"Your whole life will be, knickers instead of pants, skirts instead of trousers, blouses instead of shirts, stockings instead of socks, slips instead of vests, bra's instead of, I don't know. It's a big change."

"Yes one that I'm really looking forward to. There will be makeup, wigs and perfume. I'll have time to pamper myself. With the money I have in the bank we won't need to work. We can enjoy life."

"I just don't want you to have any regrets. When we move in I will never treat you as a man again. My best friend Peter will have moved to Canada, and I will be living with Petra."

"My job is to be the best woman I can be. Yours will be showing how much you appreciate my effort. I am going to register with a doctor there and tell him I'm transgender. I want a gender recognition certificate."

"Do you? You want to go all the way?"

"Well possibly not. I just want to be officially recognized as a woman. You don't have to have the op to get the certificate."

"I'll support you any whatever happens. I'm really missing Petra. I just wish we both didn't have these hang ups."

"Petra is missing you too Dave. It will be worth it. We'll have the rest of our lives together."

David felt like kissing him, but knew they would both feel awkward.

They went house hunting at the weekends. Peter did all the searching while David was working out his notice. They had an offer on Peter's house a week later. All they needed to do was find their forever home.

That weekend they viewed an empty bungalow at Frinton. It was high on a hill that looked over the Essex coast. Peter knew that due to the high percentage of older people retiring that Frinton was affectionately known as God's waiting room.

A few weeks later they had donated all the furniture they did not need to charity and the moving date was set. Peter would not help with the move. He was going to stay in a hotel and arrive as Petra the next day.

He was very emotional when he left the night before the move. He had tears in his eyes as he hugged David and said goodbye.

"What's the matter Peter? I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."

"If all goes well Dave, you'll never see Peter again. I know this is what I want, but it feels like Peter is dying. You may never see him again."

"Oh Pete, you can be Peter anytime you want. I won't mind."

"No Dave. I want you to grow to love Petra. That won't happen if you wake up next to Peter. Just say goodbye and you will see Petra tomorrow."

Peter had planned to stay in the premier inn just outside Clacton, He would stay the night and remove all of his hair using depilatory cream. In the morning he would have his breakfast and turn into Petra. Forever he hoped. He planned to throw his last male clothing into the bin.

When he arrived at the hotel he checked in and saw the little plastic box to deposit the key when you left. Perfect, he thought. He paid for his room and his breakfast as he checked in. Peter arrived, and the next morning Petra left.

She had remembered that she would need to change into trainers to drive and took her two inch heels off as she sat in the car. It felt so different for her sitting in her car in a skirt and stockings. As she drove she felt her nylon covered legs rubbing together. It stuck her, this would be the sort of thing she would feel for the rest of her life.

Genetic women would never think like this, as they wear soft sensuous clothes all their lives. It becomes common place, and probably a nuisance. She thought. She wondered if she would get to that stage. She hoped not. She knew David enjoyed feminine women.

She waited at a junction to turn onto the main road. The stream of car was continuous. A car flashed her. The driver smiled and let her pull out. Well she thought, that didn't happen much to Peter.

A few minutes away now, she practiced her female voice. She had found she could talk in a higher voice if she put on a slight Scottish accent. She practiced with David until she didn't sound like Mrs. Doubtfire.

The front door was open when she arrived. David had been sorting out the boxes in the kitchen.

"Leave that Dave. This is my domain. You sit down and I'll make us a nice cup of tea."

David looked up and gave her a broad smile.

"Petra, I'm glad you're here. This place needs a woman's touch."

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her as she was standing at the sink filling the kettle. He kissed her gently on the back of the head.

"I missed you Petra. I don't want you to go again."

Petra felt his strong arms around her. It felt so right. She felt protected and didn't want the moment to pass.

"Come on Dave. Let's have this tea. Then I'll go and make the bed. Then it's the bathroom, Kitchen and living room to sort out. Do you mind if I don't cook tonight?"

"No problem. There is a chip shop half a mile away. I'll nip out when we are hungry."

They both worked hard over the next few hours. Petra noticed David wouldn't let her lift anything heavy. He was really into the idea of her being Petra now. Around six, they both slumped down on the sofa to rest.

"Right love what do you want from the chippy?"

"Just chips for me. I'm watching my weight. I know they aren't healthy, but the smaller the better."

"You're the boss Petra. I should be back in about twenty minutes."

As David drove off she walked around the house. It felt strange. She was now the lady of the house. She would take on all the jobs a wife would traditionally do. Cleaning, washing, ironing and cooking. She would choose the decorations too.

As a widower, she knew how to do all those jobs. Now though, she would be doing them dressed and acting like a woman. This sent a shiver of anticipation through her. She had dreamed of this since childhood.

Back in the 70's she knew she would have probably been sent somewhere horrible if she had told anyone. She had read accounts of people being given electric shocks to stop them wanting to be female. It was sick that these people would think. "Why would any man ever want to be a woman?" You must be insane.

She had bottled it up and "manned up" and joined the Army. That was when Peter met David. He had been Peter's friend and a protector ever since. Peter loved his wife, and her love kept him strong enough to suppress the need to be a woman. It never went away though. When she died the urge came rushing back. She didn't regret her marriage, but did regret the time she wasted not being who she was meant to be.

When Dave arrived carrying a bag of delicious food, he found her with her head in her hands sobbing.

"Oh Petra, whatever's the matter?"

"Nothing you've done Dave. I just can't believe this is true. I get to live my dream. I didn't hate being Peter, but it was like I lived my whole life in disguise, behind a mask. Now the woman that has struggled to be free has been released."

"Petra I have to tell you; I have been attracted to you since we met in the army. I would never have told you though. I felt so bad about. I thought I was gay. It messed my head up. You know how gays were treated in the army. When I met Linda I realized I loved women too. She was my first and only. I loved her feminity. When I saw Petra, I felt the same about her. I loved Peter as a brother. I could love Petra as a woman. Does that sense? Because it confuses me."

"Yes it does. I could not kiss you as Peter. Petra wants to kiss you and more."

"Well that's that sorted. Dry your eyes and dish the food up, it getting cold woman."

As Petra took the bag into the kitchen he gave her a friendly smack on the backside.

Another first, she thought. There would be so many more of them in her future.

Part 3

After dinner they both got ready for bed. Petra checked her chin. She gave it a quick once over with a safety razor. Her beard growth had slowed down as she got older. She thought if she saw the doctor she could get female hormones prescribed. Perhaps that would help. The only other thing would be laser hair removal or electrolysis.

She wanted to be as feminine as possible. She had a lifetime of being a man. Now she wanted to be as much of a woman as possible. She had read up on how difficult it was to change gender using the NHS. She had the money to travel and get any operation she needed though. As she was nearly sixty she wasn't sure if she wanted the "full works", or just the cosmetic option.

The cosmetic option offered a lot faster recovery time, and a lot less risk of complications. There would be a less "maintenance" after. She had seen pictures of the result and they looked amazing. She had read that if she went for this, there was an option of procedure called sigmoid colon after.

Her head was spinning with the options open to her. With a very good application of makeup she did look passable. At least David had told her. She hadn't been outed in any of her trips yet. She had thought about facial feminization surgery and breast implants.

She just didn't know what to do first. She wanted to be as much of a woman she could be. She knew that it was own opinion that counted. She also knew what David wanted was just as important. He might like her just the way she was "down there".

Tonight would be the second time that Petra shared a bed for the whole night with a man. This time though, Petra would remain.

She slipped into a long silky black nylon nightdress and climbed into bed next to David.

"Mmm. You smell nice Petra."

"Thanks, It's Charlie. Old but still one of my favorites."

He turned to face her and pulled her into his body. She reached down and grasped his hardness. Just the sight and smell of her had caused that. She felt proud of that. She had worried that he would be disappointed.

As she moved her hand she felt him grow.

"Oh god, that feels so good. You don't have to you know. I'm happy just to be with you."

"I want to do this for you. It makes me happy, to make you happy."

"Well your'e certainly doing that my love."

His hand went behind her head and pulled her to his lips and kissed her.

She quickened her pace. His breath was hot against her neck.

"I'm not going to last much longer Petra."

"That's OK, come on, come on."

David let out a long sigh, then got up to go to the bathroom.

He came back to bed grinning.

"That's the first time someone has touched me there for over two years. Thank you. Do you want me to return the favor?"

"No, honestly Dave. I'm not sure what I want. I am overwhelmed with what has happened in the last few weeks. It 's something I have always desired, but I haven't worked out my true feelings. We need to talk about what I'm going to do. Do you want me to have surgery to become a complete woman?"

"Petra, I do see you as a woman. I won't make that decision for you. It's your body. Just being with you is enough. Whatever you decide will be fine with me. I will support you and love you."

She looked at him through misty eyes. Having someone like him to help her on this frightening but wonderful journey was so important. He was the best friend a man could have. Now he would be the best partner and perhaps husband she could have wished for.

"Come here and hold me like you did last time. You lovely lump of manhood."

"Oi, not so much with the lump stuff. I've lost weight recently."

She turned away from him and his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her into him. They lay in bed spooning and fell asleep.

When she woke his arm was still around her. She gently got out of bed and went to the bathroom. Another quick shave and wash, then light makeup. She would definitely have to see about laser hair removal. She didn't want to have to keep shaving.

She got breakfast started. She wanted to bring him breakfast in bed like she did at their first meeting. She felt "right" as she turned the bacon and stirred the tomatoes. She remembered seeing her mother cooking and wanted to be just like her. She had admired how she seemed to do ten things at once and managed to produce wonderful food.

She had admired women all her life. It was something she aspired to be. She knew many women saw it as domestic drudgery, she saw it as domestic bliss. Although she knew her opinion may change in the coming years. At that moment though, she was in heaven.

"Wake up sleepy. Breakfast time."

"Oh, wow, you don't have to keep spoiling me you know."

"I want to look after my man. What you said last night means so much to me."

"I mean it my love. You decide, and I'll support you. You need to register us at the G.P.s' on Monday. You can ask about an appointment about your gender dysphoria then."

"Yes, I'll do that. Now eat your breakfast."

That day she dressed in the oldest housedress she owned and thick black tights. Not her favorite clothes, but unpacking boxes and straightening out their new home wasn't a fashion parade. All day David did not let her do any heavy lifting. She enjoyed arranging the ornaments in the living room, while David connected the television and the audio equipment.

When they finish she got some flowers from the garden and placed them in a vase on the table. They stood in the middle of the room and looked around. The room looked great. It had a combination of both of their tastes. David wrapped both of his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck.

"You know Petra. I think everything is going to be alright for us."

"I hope so Dave. I love you."

Part 4

On Monday night David arrived home to a quite house.

"Petra where are you?"

He was carrying a box of chocolates, a card and a single rose. He found Petra in the bedroom sobbing into a pillow.

"Baby, whatever's the matter?"

She turned to face him. Panda eyes red with tears.

"The doctor, the bloody man told me to come back next year! He kept calling me Mr."

Dave felt a wave of rage. He felt protective about Petra. His instinct told him to go and punch the doctor. He knew that was stupid. He sat on the bed and held her.

"Tell me what happened."

"I registered us and asked to see a doctor. They had a cancellation so I went into to see doctor James. He is in his sixties and very abrupt. When I told him I wanted to start the process for changing gender he laughed."

"He did what!"

"He called me Mr. Barber. He asked why I thought I as a woman. I told him all about my life, but he said it was just a phase because of my wife's death. He said he wasn't prepared to waste NHS money on my fantasy."

"Was that all he said?"

"Yes. He said come back next year if I still felt this way. Oh and he gave me some leaflets about HIV."

He could see how upset she was. He needed to stay calm. He had been surprised when he read that one in seven transgender patients are refused healthcare by GP's in the UK.

"Right, first call tomorrow and ask to see another doctor. Who else is there?"

There are two more GP's one is a woman in her thirties, the other the same age as doctor James."

"Get an appointment with the woman. She is younger and will probably understand transgender people better. If not we will change doctors, or go private."

He dried her eyes and gave her a tissue to finish the job.

"Oh I got you these Petra."

He gave her the flowers and the chocolates.

"Thank you David. Thank you so much. This is the first time Petra has had a valentine."

They kissed and he pulled her in tight. He could smell her perfume and felt himself getting turned on. No time for that he thought.

"Right, get your glad rags on. I'm taking you out."

"Where? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Come on Petra, you've known me long enough to know I'm spontaneous. I thought it would be nice for valentine's day."

"Yes like anywhere has tables left on valentine's day. You planned this Dave."

He gave her a lopsided grin. He could see she was cheering up.

"Guilty as charged. I have been thinking about us a lot. Here open your card."

She carefully opened it and saw the picture of young lovers on the cover. Inside there was a poem.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I know this is corny

But I'm so in love with you

I know our future may hold trouble and strife

I can face it all with you as my wife

She looked up from the card with a lump in her throat. He wasn't there.

"Ah hem"

She looked down and saw David on one knee holding an engagement ring.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes, yes I will!"

Her heart was pounding. This is what she had dreamed of for so long. She held out her hand and he slipped the ring on.

"One other thing Petra."

"Anything Dave, I'd do anything right now."

"Can you help me up?"

She helped him to his feet and they kissed. He held her tight. She knew now. Although the next few years would be hard. With his love, they would get through it.