The Path to Peace

"Mind if I cut in?" I asked, jokingly.

"Helen," Nick spun around and reached to embrace me, "I'm glad you're here. Maybe this visit we'll have time to really show you around."

"Last time you two were a little pre-occupied. This time we can have some fun." I was already feeling more relaxed than I had in months.

Virginia was already in the kitchen starting dinner. "Can I help?" I offered.

"Sure," she replied, handing me a salad spinner. "Cut a salad, OK. The rest of dinner is almost ready."

"So, what have you two been up to?" I asked, interested in catching up.

"Working, going to school, you know, the usual." Nick answered.

"The usual newlywed stuff, huh," I said, giving Nick a wink. Instead of laughing, Nick and Virginia got really quiet. I felt terrible, but didn't know why. I decided I had to ask. "I don't mean to pry, but is something wrong? "

Nick and Virginia looked at each other. Virginia finally said, "She'll find out eventually. We may as well tell her now."

"Now you're scaring me. Tell me what?" I was getting a really bad feeling.

"We can't have kids," Nick blurted out, "we found out yesterday. We got the test results, and they were conclusive. No kids for us unless we adopt."

"I'm so sorry," I didn't know what to say. "Is there any chance that they're wrong? I mean. I've heard of doctors being wrong."

"We've been to three specialists," Virginia, looking at Nick told me, "there is no chance. I have no eggs." She started to cry. Nick came over and held her.

Nick said to me, "I'm sorry, we didn't want to ruin your visit, it's just the news is so new." Then, to Virginia he said, "We can still have the family we talked about. We'll adopt, that's all."

Virginia had stopped crying, "I know, and that's wonderful. But I know how much you wanted to have kids. I just feel like I've let you down."

"You haven't let me down. I didn't marry you to be a baby factory. I love you. The qualities I love about you are the qualities that will make you a wonderful mother." After kissing Virginia, Nick continued, "Besides, think of all the money we'll save on birth control."

Virginia actually laughed at that. Letting go of Nick, she wiped her eyes. "I'd better get back to work," she said, "or dinner will be ruined."

We finished preparing dinner, sat down and ate. Once we got past the discussion of children the mood lightened considerably. Nick served wine with dinner, and he made sure to keep filling our glasses. We sat around the table laughing and drinking for a couple of hours after the food was gone. Finally, I decided it was time to go to bed. It had been a long day and I was exhausted. I offered to help with the dishes, but they both shooed me out, assuring me that they would handle it.

After changing, I slipped into bed. Before falling asleep I decided to go visit Sally. As I masturbated my thoughts went to Nick and Virginia. The last tie I had been here the sound of their lovemaking had been the catalyst for my own sexual activity. Tonight, it was the memory of it that was my inspiration.

It seems Sally knew exactly what I was thinking about. "You've been masturbating to the image of Nick having sex for a long time. I guess nothing changes."

"Well, some things change. This time it's all my imagination. I've never actually seen him have sex with Virginia," I answered defensively. Even though I understood that watching my brother have sex wouldn't be wrong, it just seemed that admitting I'd like to see it would be wrong.

"You know, you can help them," Sally told me.

"Help them how?" I asked, "Help them have sex? I think they've got that one figured out."

"No, silly." Sally explained, "You can help them have kids. You have the power."

"What? But Virginia is sterile. She's been to three different specialists. What can I do about that?"

"You remember when you and Mike switched bodies? Well, you and Nick will do something similar. You and Nick must prepare Virginia through foreplay. Then, when she is ready for intercourse, you and Nick will embrace. The two of you will switch bodies. You will then be the one to enter Virginia.

When you climax, instead of being here with me, you will be inside Virginia. You will actually be in her fallopian tube. You will find a cell, one of Virginia's non-viable eggs, and you will breath life into it. Once you do that, you will find yourself back in Nick's body. When you go to embrace him again, the two of you will once again return to your own bodies."

I was overwhelmed, yet again. "So, let me get this straight, I've got to convince my brother and his wife to let me join them in the bedroom, having sex. Then I've got to get my brother, with a raging hard-on, to come and hug me." I was very skeptical.

"Right now, they're desperate for a miracle. Tell them the truth, that you can help them."

I was sure this was crazy. I told Sally that. "They'll never go for it. They won't believe me."

"You're right, they won't believe you. But, they're desperate enough to be willing to try anything. Don't tell then what will happen. Just tell them you need to be there for their lovemaking, and that you and Nick need to hug before intercourse."

As much as I trusted Sally, I was sure this plan was going to get me kicked out of my brother's apartment. "When should I approach them with this?"

Sally had the answer I was dreading, "There's no time like the present. They're just finishing the dishes. Do it now."

I protested, "But I just got into bed. I'm having a wonderful orgasm, then I plan to fall asleep."

"New plan. Go, help them. You can sleep late tomorrow."

Sally was gone, and I was back in bed at the tail end of a very nice orgasm. All I wanted at that moment was to fall asleep. Unfortunately, I had a mission. I got out of bed and put a robe on. I walked out into the living room just as Virginia and Mike were coming our of the kitchen.

"I thought you went to bed," Virginia said.

Nick chimed in, "Yeah, I thought you were exhausted."

"Guys, can we talk a minute?" I started. "Sit down. You're going to have trouble believing what I'm going to tell you."

We all sat in the living room. "Virginia, I love you like a sister. Nick, I love you like a brother. I want to help you."

Nick looked confused as he asked, "Help us how?"

"I can help you get Virginia pregnant." They both looked at me like I was crazy. "Before you get upset, let me explain. Nick, you remember Sally?"

Nick wasn't looking very happy right now, but he nodded, "Sure."

"Well, she and I talk regularly."

"Helen, she's dead, remember." Nick was sounding even less happy.

"I know that Nick. That's the point." I reached out to hold Virginia's hand. "This is going to be hard to understand, but she told he how I can help you get pregnant. It simply involves doing two simple things."

"Do we need to kill any chickens," Nick asked, obviously mocking me.

Virginia, on the other hand, was desperate for any chance. "Let her talk," she instructed Nick. "What do we have to do?"

"The first part is to have me in the room as you two start to have sex. I need to be there for the foreplay. Then, before Nick enters you, he and I need to embrace."

"Wait a minute," Nick interrupted, "You're not saying I have to screw you, are you?"

"No, Nick. You and I need to hug only. We will not have intercourse together. That's all there is to it."

"And that's going to get me pregnant?" Virginia obviously didn't believe it. "I basically don't have any eggs. How will Nick hugging you before he does fucks me help get me pregnant?"

"Virginia, I wouldn't make this up. If you give me the chance you will see what happens. What have you got too lose?"

"You mean besides letting my husbands little sister watch as we make love?" Virginia looked over at Nick. She wanted to say no, but couldn't stand the thought of turning down anything that might get her pregnant, no matter how strange it seemed. "You wouldn't be comfortable with that, would you honey?" she asked Nick.

Nick was between a rock and a hard place. If he said no he risked having her eventually blame him for not trying everything possible to get her pregnant. Yet, saying yes meant he was going to have sex in front of me on purpose. He was sure it made no sense. Finally, he decided that his embarrassment at having me watch him would pass, where as Virginia's doubt might not.

"Virginia, I'll do whatever you want."

Turning to me, she asked, "You're not making this up? This isn't just some weird plan to watch me and Nick make love, right?" Virginia wanted to believe, but the idea was so outrageous that she was having a hard time agreeing.

"It's not about seeing you two make love. It's about helping you get pregnant. Please trust me."

Virginia agreed. "OK. We'll try it. When?"

"Now," I answered.

"Then let's go," Virginia said, standing up and taking my hand. The three of us walked to the bedroom.

I could tell that they were hesitant about undressing. I was only wearing a robe, so I opened it and let it drop to the floor. Virginia looked at me and started to undress. Nick was having trouble looking at me. I was his little sister, he wasn't comfortable seeing me naked.

"It's OK Nick, look at me." I stood in front of him. "I'm a grown woman. Looking at me won't turn you to stone."

He turned his head to look. I could tell he appreciated what he was seeing. Virginia finished getting undressed. I looked over at her and commented, "You're beautiful."

Virginia blushed, but said, "Thanks."

Nick was still dressed. I think he was having trouble getting undressed in front of me. Virginia went over to him and started undressing him. He looked uncomfortable, but didn't protest. Very quickly he was standing there naked. I could tell Nick was uncomfortable. Despite being naked with two women, he was still flaccid. Virginia slowly started to caress his penis. He quickly responded.

The three of us were standing there naked, but I could tell Nick and Virginia were uncomfortable having me watch them. I wanted to make it as easy as possible, so I said, "Remember, you just need to get Virginia ready for intercourse."

I think nick understood that I meant he didn't need to spend a lot of time on foreplay. He laid Virginia on the bed and immediately knelt between her legs, performing cunnilingus. Virginia, despite having an audience, started to respond immediately. She kept her eyes on Nick's head, being careful not to look over at me. As for me, the sight of Virginia receiving oral pleasure combined with the sight of Nick's erection, was getting me excited too.

Virginia picked Nick's head up from between her legs. By her very look he knew it was time. As he went to climb on top, I stopped him, "Not yet, Nick."

He looked over at me. "You're sure," he asked.

"Yes." I walked over to him. Meeting me at the foot of the bed, we embraced. I felt his penis press against me, then a wave of disorientation swept over me. Suddenly it was my penis pressing against my body. I heard Virginia gasp is astonishment. Nick and I separated. The look in his eyes as he scanned up and down his body was amazement mixed with fear. Then he looked down at my body, his hands reflexively touching the body he was in to see if it was real.

I returned to Virginia. From the look in her eyes I knew she had seen the transformation. As I prepared to enter her she looked at me and whispered, "Helen?"

I answered, "Yes, Virginia. It's me. I told you to trust me."

She reached up and put her arms around my neck. I positioned my penis at the entrance to her womb, and pushed in. We both let out sighs of pleasure. Only once before had I enjoyed the sensations a man feels as he slides in and out of a woman. They are very different then what a woman feels. Keeping in mind what it takes to satisfy a woman, I kept myself buried in her most of the way, rocking my hips to cause my pubic bone to rub her clit. She was staring straight into my eyes, looking to see if she could see me in her husband's body. From the look in her eyes I knew she could tell I was in there. The way I was fucking her was different then the way Nick did. The strokes and caresses were different. She was having sex with a new partner, but it was still her husband.

I could see that she was approaching orgasm. She was losing focus even as she was still looking at me. I too was approaching release. And then, unable to hold off any longer, my orgasm raced through me. My penis started shooting seamen into Virginia convulsively. Then without warning, I was being shot into Virginia. My being was inside her.

I was disembodied, floating inside my sister-in-law. There was a white haze all around, similar to the haze that exists when I meet with Sally. This time though, Sally wasn't here. I started looking around, exploring, trying to find my way. Then I saw it, a small cluster of spheres. They looked gray and lifeless. I reached down and picked one up. I brought it up to my face, examining it closely. Then, without thinking, I blew on it. As I did, it changed from gray to light pink. Suddenly it didn't look dead. A breeze kicked up and blew the orb out of my hand. I watched as it floated away.

Suddenly I was on top of Virginia again. We were both spasming in the final throes of orgasm. The final few spurts were coming out of me. As we finished, I leaned over and kissed Virginia. She returned my kiss.

I got up and looked over at Nick, still standing there, wearing my body. He was clearly aroused by what he had seen, as well as being shocked. I walked over to him and hugged him. In a flash, we were back in our own bodies.

As we broke our embrace, Nick asked, "What just happened?"

"We just impregnated your wife," I answered, knowing that was not what he meant.

Virginia was now sitting up on the bed. She asked more directly, "Helen. What did we just witness? How did you and Nick do that?"

"We'd better talk," I answered, "should we go to the living room?"

For the next hour I explained everything to them, from the beginning. I explained the entire plan for the Path to Peace. Some of it I had to review two and three times. Finally, Virginia said, "I need to go to bed. I can't even think about this anymore. Let's talk in the morning." Nick and Virginia went to their bedroom, I went to mine.

The next day we talked some more. I could tell that they had processed a lot of what I had told them. It also became obvious that they had spent time talking together. By lunch time they had made a decision. Nick said, "We want to join the Path to Peace."

He said it as simply as that. "Are you two sure? Do you two realize what this means?" I needed to be sure they fully understood. "It will change your life, and your relationship."

"We understand," Virginia took up the challenge, "Nick and I have always been confused by the sexual taboos that we have been forced to accept. What you told us last night was a revelation to us. And that, combined with what we saw, convinced us. We believe you, we believe in what you're teaching, and we want to be a part of it."

"You don't even know if what I did last night was successful," I cautioned, "Don't you want to wait to find out?"

"It doesn't matter," Virginia continued. "What we witnessed was a miracle. If I am pregnant, that's a second miracle, but either way we are convinced. We believe what you are teaching, and want to follow you."

I stood up, and we all hugged. "Welcome," I said. "When you come visit me we'll do the formal initiation."

The next three days we did exactly as we had planned. We saw the city, did al the touristy things, and had fun. As we were making dinner the third day, Virginia excused herself to go to the bathroom. A few minutes later she came out, tears streaming down her face, a smile a mile wide and pregnancy test in her hand. We knew from her face, it was positive."

The Return of Grace

Fall was turning to winter, and the Christmas season was upon us. I used to love Christmas, but now I find it all commercial crap. People are more interested in presents than 'Peace on Earth.'

It's been a few months since anything major has happened. I did get the Victorian house and the island, just as Sally had told me. My parents weren't too happy about me inheriting everything, but it wasn't their call. Nick didn't seem to mind, especially when he found out that I was using it to build Sanctuary.

Fred had started construction. He's been spending a lot of time visiting the site himself. I decided that right after the first of the year I would move to the house. This way I can be closer to the construction. Fred has offered to renovate the basement of the house to make it a temporary Sanctuary. I was originally going to close the temporary one we have here, but Mike convinced me to leave it. He pointed out that even after Sanctuary is built, we will need satellite Sanctuaries from which to spread the word. I had to agree that he was right. After we all move to the island, Mike and Annie will spend at least half of their time back here.

Nick and a very pregnant Virginia have promised to come for a visit the last week of December. They are both anxious to undergo initiation at that time. Virginia will be our first pregnant initiate. It should be interesting.

Mike and Annie were now living together, which gave me more privacy. I was getting dressed to go over to their place for dinner, when the phone rang. When I answered it, the voice on the other end said, "Helen, this is grace."

I was surprised to hear her voice. I hadn't seen or heard from her since our confrontation in front of the church just before I went to visit Nick. I still considered her a part of our group, though she was a lost member. "Grace," I burst out, "how are you? Where are you? I've missed you. I tried calling you, Mike and I even went over to your house. "

"I needed to try things my way for a while, Helen. But," I could here the hesitation in her voice, "you were right. I see that now. Can you forgive me?"

"You don't even have to ask. There's nothing to forgive, you had only the best intentions."

"I'd like to come back to Sanctuary. Can I come to the next meeting?" She still sounded afraid of what I would say.

I tried to reassure her, "You have always been welcome there. We're meeting in the morning. We'd all love to see you there."

"We'll be there. Oh, I didn't tell you, I'd like to bring someone. I was telling him about the Path to Peace and he wants to join."

"We'd love to meet him. He can certainly observe our meeting, and then I'd love the opportunity to talk with him." I was wondering if this was some guy that Grace had grabbed coming out of a church, someone who was just interested in joining something. This little thing made me realize we were heading into uncharted waters. All of our members so far had joined after witnessing a miracle, but I knew that couldn't always be true. There was going to have to come a time when people joined just because of what we were teaching. This was especially true because I knew that my time here was limited, and once I was gone the miracles would stop. This new person could be the key to our future.

That night I discussed it with mike and Annie. I was trying to impress upon them just how important the meeting tomorrow would be.

Mike understood, and reminded me, "We can't put on a special show for him. We need to show him the real us. He's got to see things as they are. Only that way can he make an informed choice."

Annie chimed in, "I agree about being open and honest. But, there are two things. One, in a way we do need to put on a show. Someone has to show him what an initiation is like. We can't tell him that he's going to have to get up in front of a bunch of other people and masturbate unless he sees at least one of us do it first."