**This is not affiliated with The Lint Wars**
For Allison
It brought her great joy knowing what tomorrow would bring.
Anastasia had been looking forward to this moment ever since her Programming.
Dr. Meredith told her that she thought of Anastasia as her own child.
This was a big moment for both of them.
“Are you nervous?”
Anastasia smiled slightly. A smile that quickly turned into a winning grin. “It is all very exciting.”
“And you feel this excitement?”
“I feel this smile. It registers. Therefore, I am excited.”
“Good,” Dr. Meredith declared. “This is good.”
“You are glad.”
The scientist returned Anastasia’s smile. “Of course I am.”
“Then so am I.”
Dr. Meredith put her arm around Anastasia’s shoulders and guided her away from the window. “You should really go back to your room. You want to be rested for tomorrow.”
“I do not require rest. I am fully charged.”
Meredith laughed. “I don’t doubt it. That’s not quite what I meant.”
Anastasia searched the scientist’s expression. “You think I should practice,” she said slowly.
“It would be advantageous, yes. But if you seriously do not want to go back to your room, we can sit and talk a while. That would also be good practice.”
The smile was clear and bright. “Yes!”
Meredith brought Anastasia into the kitchen. She brewed some coffee while Anastasia sat contendely at the table.
“Do you like cream or sugar?”
Anastasia thought a moment. “Just cream.”
Dr. Meredith brought two steaming cups to the table and placed one in front of Anastasia. “What shall we talk about?” she asked the younger.
“What will it be like?”
“A lot like this.”
“There will be affection?”
Meredith nodded. “Very much.”
“Because I have her face?”
“Because of who you are. You’re not a representation, Anastasia. You *are* her. It will all be permanent as of tomorrow.”
“It is a miracle.”
“You are a miracle.”
***
“Are you ready?” Dr. Meredith asked. She put a reassuring hand on Anastasia’s shoulder.
“Yes,” was the eager reply.
Dr. Meredith presented the Orb to Anastasia.
“Wait.” Anastasia’s expression was suddenly troubled. “After this, will you and I…”
“Don’t worry about that, Anastasia. It won’t matter.”
“No, no. It does. It matters to me. I don’t want to forget you.”
“You won’t.” Meredith smiled thinly. It was a bittersweet moment for the scientist. Anastasia was becoming everything she had hoped and the longer the Orb was in her presence, the more human she became.
Anastasia was becoming increasingly upset. “This isn’t fair. What about you?”
“Anastasia, this is what we both wanted. You’ve known about this from the very beginning. I do not matter in this.”
“You do, you do matter. You matter to me.” She threw her arms around Meredith. “Will you forget me?”
Dr. Meredith returned the embrace affectionately. “I could never forget you.”
“You promise?”
“Yes!”
Anastasia pulled back slightly. There were tears in both women’s eyes. Anastasia frowned. “There’s something wrong with my eyes.” She brushed her fingers under Meredith’s eyes. “These are tears?”
“Yes.”
Anastasia brushed her fingers along her own cheek. “These are my tears?”
“Yes.” Dr. Meredith took the younger woman’s hand and held it over her chest. “This is my heartbeat.” She then held Anastasia’s hand over her own. “And this is your heartbeat. It’s just like mine. You only need one last thing.”
Anastasia looked at the Orb. It contained a wispy substance of brilliant colors she could not even begin to describe. “I am ready,” she said quietly.
***
Anastasia opened her eyes slowly. She woke up in the backseat of a cab. “You all right, Miss?” the drive queried.
“Sorry, must have dozed off.”
“It’s all right. This is the address, Miss.”
“Um, thank you. How much do I…?”
“Not to worry. Your fare was already taken care of, remember?”
“Oh right. Yes.” She slid out of the cab. “Thank you.”
Anastasia looked up at the striking colonial house. Just like she remembered. She walked up the drive towards the front door which was pulled open abruptly. “Oh my God…Anastasia?!”
“Hi, Mom.”
Tears were streaming down her mother’s face. “Thank God, oh thank God!” She threw her arms around her daughter, “It’s a miracle!”
***
And then…
