“Hey Ben, package arrived for you today.”

Ben paused in the doorway of the apartment he shared with his college buddy Zack, and then continued his usual routine.  After he’d hung up his keys and his coat, he set his backpack in its usual spot on the shelf by the door.  He cautiously moved into the living room, where a small brown paper wrapped parcel was sitting on the table.

“I’ve heard of Gringoblins before.  Pricey stuff.  What on earth has Mr. Penny-pincher bought?  Have you been saving up for this?”

“I don’t suppose I can get away with just taking it to my room?” asked Ben, resignedly.

“Not a chance.  They sell some of the best magic around.  How did you even afford...”  Zach gestured around at their humble accommodations.  “We’re barely squeaking by.”

Ben sighed and dropped into his usual spot on the couch.  “Hard work pays off.  I got a raise a few months ago, partly because I’ve been putting in overtime whenever they asked.  And yeah, I’ve been saving every penny I could for months.”

“That covers how.  Now I’m curious about what, and why.”

Ben pulled out a pocket knife and used it to cut open the wrapping on the parcel.  It revealed a garish pink and blue box extolling the virtues of the ZAPPY 2000 transformation ray.  “Never be without a date again?” read Zack.  “Be the you you’ve always wanted to be?  Are they serious?”

“Yeah, well.  This was literally the cheapest thing I could find.”  Ben nicked the tape holding the lid on, then lifted it away and set it aside.  Despite the overwrought printing on the box, the inside was plain white cardboard, with a lid that lifted away to reveal a sleek metallic device that looked like a prop from a science fiction show designed by someone far too enamoured with crystals.  Half a dozen small purple crystals glowed down each side of the barrel.

“Ooh.  It looks very cool.  But why’d you get the 2000i?  It says on the lid the duration is indefinite.  Doesn’t that mean it’s permanent?”

“It swaps gender, so if you use it a second time you go back to how you started.  The only other one in my price range only lasts an hour or two at a time.  You can see how that’d be inconvenient.”

Zack tilted his head.  “And now we’re getting to why.  Why would only being a girl for a couple hours be inconvenient?”

Ben could feel his cheeks warming, and looked away.  “Because what if you change back while shopping at the mall, or...” his voice dropped to a whisper, “on a date.”

“Oh!  Well, yeah, that would be a little inconvenient.  It doesn’t change your clothes, does it?”

Ben shook his head.  “Just... you.”

“Me?  You wanted to zap me?”

“No!  I wanted to be zapped.  To be a girl.  For a while, not... always.  I like being a guy.”

“Why?” asked Zack, watching Ben avidly.

“Remember that incident at the mall about six months back?”

Zack nodded.  “Half the people there got body-swapped.  Must have been chaos.”

“Yeah.  It was.  I was there.  Spent a couple hours in an older woman’s body, trying to deal with her kids.  She was in my body, and helped but the kids were too young to explain it to...  So I didn’t really get a chance to try it out.”

“So you went from that to...” Zack pointed at the zapper.  “This?  Saving for months because... maybe you wanted to be a girl?”

“You remember the vacation I took four months back?  I went to Salt Lake City specifically to visit the Tiresian temple.  Spent three days as a girl.”

“And?”

Ben picked up the zapper.  “I saved up for this, didn’t I?”  He glanced down at the folded slip of paper revealed underneath it.  “I should probably read the instructions first.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Ben had already set the zapper down, and started reading through the information.  “Optimal firing distance for full coverage is ten feet?  So I can’t change myself with it?”

“Bummer.  Want me to zap you?” asked Zack, reaching for the ray-gun.

“I... you’d do that?”

Zack grinned and nodded.  “You want this, it’d be churlish to deny you.  I might want a favour in return, though.”

“Anything,” promised Ben fervently.

“Don’t hide away as a girl.  You bury yourself in your room all the time, and if you’re going to be pretty...”

Ben chuckled softly.  “And here I figured you’d want a date, or at least a striptease.”

Zack smirked.  “Thought about it.  I figure the long term play is the better one.”

“Long term?” asked Ben.

Zack waggled the zapper.  “This isn’t something you buy for a one off.  Do you have female clothes hidden away?”

“Just a couple sundresses and a sports bra.  I don’t know what size this will make me.  Yet.”  Ben stood up from the couch and stood in front of the door.  “That should give you a clear shot.  Don’t want anything metal blocking the beam.”

“Why not?”

“You end up partially changed.  I’d rather not end up half and half.”

“Especially with a permanent... I mean ‘indefinite’ change.  Might be fiddly to get you evened up again.”

“There was a note about that.  It’ll smooth things over if you line it up reasonably closely.”

“Good to know.  Ready?”  Zack lined the zapper up on his friend.

“Yeah.”

Zack pulled the trigger.  All the crystals on the device went dim, but there was no other visible effect.  “Was that supposed to happen?”

Ben patted himself down, then grinned.  “I’m changing!  Didn’t realize it’d be so slow.”

“You look the same to me.  Are you sure it’s working?”

“I can feel the internal cha... yeep!”  Ben’s voice cracked higher.  “Do I sound different?”

“A little.  And I think I can see your boobs pushing out your shirt.  Is that it?  No sexy bimbo, just... you as a girl next door kind of girl?”

Ben shrugged.  “The Tiresian egg gave me bigger boobs the first time I went to the temple.  The second time, I was more like this.  I don’t need balloons on my chest.”

Zack snickered.  “Aww.  Heck, if this is as far as it goes, you could probably go to work like this and nobody would bat an eye.  I don’t think your hair changed at all.”

Ben put his hand to his hair, he’d grown it long enough over the past few months for it to pass as gender-neutral.  “Good. Might have to.  That thing takes a while to recharge.  Might be a day before I can change back.”

“Then why’d you let me zap you on a Thursday night?” protested Zack.

“I had to know.  Worst case, I call in sick.  Look, I know you wanted me to not hide away, but can I at least get properly dressed?”

Zack gestured magnanimously with the zapper.  “Sure.  I’d like to see if a dress improves things.  Otherwise I might just figure you’re puffing out your chest and putting on a fake voice.”

Ben rolled his eyes and turned toward his room.  “Do I have to strip to prove it to you?”

“Let’s see how you look in a dress and go from there,” chuckled Zack.  He looked the zapper over a few times, shrugged, and set it back in its box.

When Ben emerged in a conservatively cut yellow sundress Zack whistled.  “Where’d those come from?”

“What?”

“You have boobs!”

Ben looked down and smirked.  “And a few other curves besides.”

“Show me.”

Ben had the dress halfway off before Zack realized what he was doing.  “I meant, give me a little spin to show off the curves.  Going straight to the peepshow was not the plan.”

Ben paused, then let the dress fall back into place.  “No?  It was the first thing I did...  I wanted to see.”

“Not saying I wouldn’t like to see what’s under the dress.  But that seems more like a second date kind of thing, right?”

Ben’s eyebrows lifted.  “Are you asking me on a date, then?”

“Uh...  What the hell, sure.  Tomorrow, after work.  I’ll buy a nice dinner for both of us.  Since you’ve spent all your money on that toy.”

“I’ll have more to spend next paycheque.  Aw foo, I was hoping to do some clothes shopping this weekend, too.”

“I can loan you a bit to tide you over.  If you’ll show me the stuff you’re trying on.”

“Lech.”

“Should have remembered that before agreeing to date me,” replied Zack, sounding more confident again.

Ben giggled.  “Hey, you’re the one that stopped me taking the dress off.  You’re not that much of a lech.”

“I’m just biding my time.  If you decide to stay female long term, I get lots of eye candy.  Who knows, I might even see you emerging from the shower, naked.”

“Play your cards right, and you might even be in the shower with me,” teased Ben.

Zack snorted. “In that tiny thing?  Not a chance.  Hey, you said you were making more money.  Think we can find a nicer apartment now that you’re not saving every penny?”

Ben shrugged.  “Depends on whether or not I get fired tomorrow for showing up as a poorly disguised girl.”

“They’re not going to fire you.  Wrap your chest in a bandage, fake a cold, and they probably won’t even notice.”

“I guess you’re right,” Ben admitted reluctantly.  “I’d kind of expected something more...  I don’t know.  Life changing.”

“You’ve been a woman before, a couple of times.  Was it life changing?”

“Well...  Not as such.  By the time I left Utah I was... it sounds weird to say it, but getting a little tired of bras and skirts and such.”

“Huh.  Then why’d you get the zapper?”

“Because about a week after that, I was missing the boobs.  And... to be honest, the dress.  There’s something about the way it flows around your legs when you walk, especially if it’s breezy.”

Zack shook his head.  “I don’t get it.  But I don’t have to.”

“You could...”

Zack blinked at Ben stupidly as he worked through what Ben meant.  “Oh!  You’d let me use it?”

“Sure.  Once it has recharged, anyway.  I’ll be fine staying like this until Monday, so if you wanted to spend Saturday as a girl, you could.”

“But...”

Ben held up a hand.  “Hey, if it’s okay for me to want to be a girl sometimes, it’s okay for you not to want to be one.”

“Yeah, but... is it really safe?  You’re sure you can change me back?”

“Gringoblin guarantees the stuff they sell.  You’ll be you again... once it recharges.”

Zack looked at the box.  “I didn’t see a recharging cable or anything like that.”

Ben shrugged.  “The instructions said something about recharging from the ambient mana field, whatever that is.  It varies from place to place, so we’ll just have to see.”

“Huh.  So... what’s it like being a girl?” asked Zack.

“You’ll find out on Saturday.”

*** *** ***

“Hey Ben.  Man, you look beat.”

Ben paused in the doorway of the apartment, then continued her usual routine.  After she’d hung up her keys and coat, she set her backpack in its usual spot on the shelf by the door.  “It has been a hell of a day.  I told Mr. Nichols about the whole ‘stuck as a girl for the day’ thing, and my plan to cover for it.”

“Seriously?  You told your boss?  Are you trying to get fired?” asked Zack, incredulously.

“I’d rather be up front about it than have it get back to him when someone else figures it out.  Thing is... nobody did.  That damned bandage did its job just fine, but I need it gone.”

Ben turned away from Zack and pulled open her shirt to get at the bandage.  As she was unwinding it, she heard Zack wolf-whistling.  “Pipe down.  You’re not getting a show.  Yet.”

Zack laughed.  “Oooh, yet?”

Ben ignored him, and tossed the bandage at the garbage bin.  Only half of it made it into the bin, so she grumbled and stomped over to shove it the rest of the way.  Then she rebuttoned her shirt before turning back to her friend.  “It gets worse.  Company policy allows for gender change, but there’s a huge raft of paperwork involved.  And Nichols is going to be sticky about it.  Any further ‘accidents’ need to be covered up like I did today.  Which I hated.  So much.  So that’s not going to fly.”

“Are you going to do the paperwork?” asked Zack.  “Seems a small price to pay...”

“Except if I do, then I have to show up as a woman every day.  And I’m not going to want to do that, either.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“Get out of this damn monkey suit, for starters.  Back in a bit.”

When Ben emerged from her room in a purple sundress she looked significantly happier.  Zack raised an eyebrow when he realized that part of his read on her happiness was the way her nipples were tenting the dress.  “Going to rock the braless look at dinner?  I approve.”

“Lech,” grumbled Ben, but she was grinning.

“Not sure the patrons at Callahan’s will be quite so approving.”

“Oh right, the date!  Uh... crap, fine, I’ll put the bra on.  It’s more comfortable than the bandage.”

“Don’t do it on my account...”

Ben headed back to her room, speaking over her shoulder.  “I’m not.  I’m not ready for random strangers to see my nipples.”

“And non-random friends?”

Ben giggled and closed the door.  She returned a few minutes later and posed elegantly by the door.   “Better?”

“I had no objection to the other.  You look nice either way.  Did you do something with your hair?”

“Brushed it out properly, that’s all.  Do you think I should get some makeup?”

Zack shook his head.  “You don’t need it.”

“Aww, thanks.”

They headed out to the restaurant, it was a short walk from their apartment.  The place was busy, but Zack had called ahead for reservations so they didn’t have to wait for long.  Their waiter was attentive, but not intrusive, and they ended up with a lot of time to talk.  Unsurprisingly, a lot of their talk turned on Ben’s experience as a woman that day, and grousing about work generally.

“So look for a job that’ll let you swap on the regular, then.  If you’re good enough at what you do to get a raise, you can do even better somewhere else.”

“What, I’m just supposed to add ‘would like to show up as male some days and female other days’ to my cover letter?” asked Ben.

Of course, that’s when the waiter showed up with their food.  He smiled as he set each plate down, said nothing about the comment, and withdrew.

“There’s actual magic for sale and in use all over the place these days,” said Zach.  “I’m sure you’ll find somewhere that’s kept up with the times.  Just try, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Why, because you like me as a girl?”

Zach grinned at Ben.  “Yes.  But also because you’ve been smiling all evening, despite bitching about work.”

Ben touched her face, and her smile broadened.  “I have, haven’t I?  It just feels... right, despite hardly feeling different at all.  Maybe it’s the dress.”

“We should definitely get you some sexy dresses tomorrow.”

Ben giggled.  “Are you going to get any for yourself?”

Zack’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth and he stared into the distance for a while.  “One,” he said eventually.  “One dress.  Just for the experience.”

“No bra?”

“Fine, and one bra.”

“And panties.  Men’s underwear doesn’t fit right.  At all.”

“Okay, fine.  But that’s it.”

Ben’s smirk made it clear she figured Zack would end up with more than that, but she didn’t speak of it again until they got home.  Once there, she picked up the zapper and checked the crystals.  All of them were glowing evenly, and they’d been close to that state in the morning.

“Looks like it’s eighteen to twenty hours per charge.  We could zap you now and change you back tomorrow night, or zap in the mornings.”

Zack gnawed on that for a bit.  “So either way I’m going to have to sleep as a girl?”

“Looks that way.  It’s not hard to get used to.  And if you decide you like it, you could get two nights...”

Zack laughed.  “If I decide I like it?  How likely is that?”

“You’re at least willing to consider it, so... middling likely?  There are nice things about being a woman.”

“Such as?”

Ben thrust her chest forward, and cupped her breasts with her hands.  “Your very own boobs.”

“If I play my cards right, I get to play with those...” Zack noted with an over the top leer.

Ben just laughed.  “I can tell you with complete certainty that it’s much better when they’re your own.”

Zack chuckled, and admitted that Ben had more experience than he did in the matter.  After several more minutes of indecision, Zack finally agreed to get changed before sleeping.  He justified it by noting it would leave the zapper more time to charge, and give them more flexibility later.

Ben suggested that he change into something loose-fitting, so Zack disappeared into his room for a bit and emerged wearing a T-shirt and track pants.

“Ready?” asked Ben, zapper in hand.

Zack hesitated for a moment, then shrugged.  “As I’ll ever be.  It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“Nah.  Feels pretty weird to feel stuff shift around on its own, but it’s not painful.  Well, assuming your clothing is loose enough, anyway.”

“Do it.”

Ben pulled the trigger, and watched to see how subtle the changes would be.  Her eyes widened as she realized that at least one part of the change wasn’t subtle at all.

“Hey buddy, eyes are up here,” joked Zack as Ben’s staring went on.

“You’re stacked!  What the hell?”

Zack looked down and his eyes widened.  “Woah.  Where the hell did those come from?  You got little bitty tits, and I got...”  He cupped his hands under the fleshy orbs that were straining at his shirt.  “Holy bazongas.”

“Doesn’t your sister have...”  Ben gestured to her own chest, cupping imaginary breasts much larger than her own.

Zack nodded.  “Mom, too.  Guess it runs in the family?  Wow.”

“Yeah.  Wow.  We have to get you something sexy to wear.”

“What?  No!”  Zack covered his chest with his arms, a gesture that entirely failed to hide the cause for his concern.

“Oh come on.  A body like that and you’re going to cover it up?” protested Ben.  “Come on, live a little.  You’ll get to learn what it’s like to be ogled.”

“Already have.  Seriously, Ben.  Keep it in your pants.”

Ben giggled.  “There isn’t anything in my pants.”

Zack suddenly grabbed at his crotch.  “Holy crap,” he exclaimed as his voice cracked to a distinctly higher register.  “It’s gone!” 

“Don’t be a baby about it.  You can change back tomorrow evening.  It’s just for a day.”

Zack narrowed his eyes, glaring at Ben.  “Easy for you to say.  You... uh...”

“Been there, done that.  Take a deep breath, and try not to panic.”

Zack did as he was told, and his straining T-shirt creaked as he inhaled.  “I need something looser.  Crap.”

“I’ve got a robe you can borrow... but it’s kind of girly.”

“I don’t care!”  Zack tugged at the T-shirt.  “This is way too tight.  I can’t breathe.”

“Calm down.  Take it off and I’ll be right back with the robe, okay?”

Ben returned a moment later, a pink satin robe in hand.  She halted, mouth agape, at the sight of Zack standing naked in their living room.  “Holy...”

Zack looked up and blushed.  “I...  Just give me the robe already.”

Ben took a couple steps closer and held the robe out to her friend.  She tried to look away, and then her head snapped right back to Zack the moment he moved.  “God, you’re so beautiful.  Please stay...”

“What?” asked Zack as he wrapped the robe around his shoulders.  Even with the belt tugged tight, his breasts were left half-exposed.

“I... this is insane.  But...  Have you really looked at yourself yet?”

Zack shook his head.  Ben led him to the bathroom, where a spotty old mirror told Zack the tale.  “Holy crap.  You just looked like you, I’m...”

“Still a lot like you in the face, but the body.  Woof.  No way your face looks remotely male with that body underneath it.  And that voice...”

“What voice?” asked Zack.

“Haven’t you listened to yourself?”

Zack shrugged, and sung a few bars of Sinatra’s “My Way”, crooning it softly in his honeyed voice then getting into the sound of it and belting out “I did it my way” to end the verse.  “Damn.  I sound fantastic!  We have to go do karaoke like this.”

“It took me a day to get used to my voice.  Yours is way different and... karaoke?”

Zack laughed.  “With a voice like this?  I’m not going to hide it.  Might be easier to accept because it’s so different?”

“Or you’re just that flexible.”

“Maybe.  Check with me in the morning after I’ve had to sleep with these gazongas.”

*** *** ***

In the morning Zack was not so chipper.  “How the hell do you sleep with these things?”

“Extra pillows.”

“I know they are, but... oh, yeah.  Maybe we could shop for a few more pillows today, too.”

Ben giggled.  “Planning to sleep like that tonight, too?”

Zack sputtered, then turned to the problem of finding something to wear.  In the end he settled on an oversized hoodie and some track pants, as next to nothing else fit.  

Ben shook her head at Zack’s outfit.  “You look ridiculous.”

“Thanks.  I feel ridiculous.  Let’s do something about it.”

*** *** ***

When they returned, Zack was wearing a professional looking blouse and skirt combo, and Ben had a pretty new dress.  “Wait, weren’t we going to get you a dress?” she asked.

Zack shrugged.  “I liked this outfit better.  The dresses that fit made me feel like a hooker.”

“You looked good in them!” protested Ben.

“Yeah.  Too good.  Nobody’s going to take me seriously if I dress like that.”

“Take you seriously?”

Zack rolled his eyes.  “It’s bad enough when their eyes get stuck to my tits, I don’t need them thinking that pawing these babies is okay, too.”  He cupped his breasts in his hands and bounced them to emphasize the point.

Ben snickered and shook her head.  “I envy you those looks, you know.  Nobody even looked at me twice while we were out there.  You completely overshadowed me.”

Zack gave his rack another shake for good measure.  “The gals can overshadow anything.  They’re amazing.”

Ben had to grin.  “Yeah, they are.  Still feel up for karaoke?”

“Oh hell yes!  Two professional women out drinking and singing, what could possibly go wrong?”

*** *** *** 

“Ooogh, my head,” groaned Ben.  “What time is it?”

“Not so loud,” whimpered Zack.

Ben startled awake abruptly and stared at the woman beside her in the bed.  “What are you doing in my bed?”

Zack’s only answer was to pull the covers over his head.  Ben gingerly levered herself out of bed, and slowly realized that she was not in her own room.  She reviewed what she could remember of the night before, but after the third round of sake it got blurry.

Ben crept out of Zack’s room, closed the door quietly behind herself, and headed for the kitchen.  A hot cup of herbal tea helped to stop the world from spinning quite so badly, and settled the queasiness in her stomach.  A bowl of cereal helped fill the hollow there, and a warm-ish shower helped her feel distinctly more human.  She was watching TV in her bathrobe when Zack finally emerged.

“About time you showed up.  How are you feeling?”

“Blargh.”

“Want me to make you some tea?  I should probably do a little grocery shopping so we can make dinners here.  I could make you something simple...”

“You cook?”

Ben nodded.  “I started to save money for the zappy, turns out it’s not that hard.  And it’s way cheaper than getting takeout all the time, once you’ve got the basics.”

“Sounds better than trying to go out feeling like this.”

“Poor baby.  I’ll get you some water, then that tea.”

Once Ben had set Zack up on the couch with water, tea, and a small plate of crackers, she swapped her robe for the sundress and headed out to restock on enough staples to feed both of them for a few days.  Once she returned she started on dinner, and the smells from the kitchenette drew Zack out of his hung-over self-pity.  He made his way cautiously to the kitchen to see what sort of magic was going on.  “That smells so good.”

“It’s just some ground beef and a jar of spaghetti sauce.  But yeah, it’s nice to have something on the stove.”

Zack frowned.  “How did I not notice this before?”

“I went a little simpler for my own stuff.  Just jar sauce and pasta.  Ramen noodles more often than not.  And I got some spices, too.”

Zack sighed happily and leaned against the wall next to the fridge.  “You’re rocking the ‘50’s housewife vibe, and I am so here for it.”

Ben giggled.  “Aww, thanks.  I wanted to do something nice for my girlfriend.”

Zack suddenly straightened up and frowned.  “Uh...”

“We’re dating, right?”

“Yeah, but... girlfriend?  I’m not a girl.”

Ben’s gaze dropped from Zack’s face to his chest.  “Could have fooled me.”

“Oh crap.  Don’t you have to be male tomorrow?  That means... ugh, I either have to call in sick or...”

“You’re not seriously considering going to work like that, are you?” Ben asked, incredulously.  “I can fake it if I have to, maybe I can find a more comfortable bandage...”

Zack shook his head.  “No, you hated that.  When you’re a girl you’re all girl.”

“And when you’re a girl... what are you?”

“A guy with tits,” replied Zack, then started to laugh so hard his boobs shook.

Ben moved the saucepan off the heat then strode closer to her friend.  “Are you okay?  That’s not funny, is it?”

“Don’t you see?  It’s fucking hilarious.   I love tits, and these ones are spectacular.  It’s just...”  Zack tapped his temple.  “I’m still a guy up here.  Loving the view, but...”

“No dysphoria?  You don’t hate the body you’re in?” asked Ben worriedly.

“Nah.  Definitely has some perks.”

“So... boyfriend with tits?” asked Ben, opening her arms wide to offer a hug.

Zack stepped into the offer and wrapped his arms around Ben, giggling anew at how their breasts squished.  “I could get used to this.  Is this dinner a date?”

Ben smiled, then pulled away from the hug to return to preparing dinner.  “If you can find some candles, sure.   Karaoke was date two, so...”

Zack bit his lip, and with his feminine looks it was super cute.  “I...  You’re not going to claim that we should have sex just because it’s the third date, are you?”

“I am... open to the option.  You’re still figuring out how all this works, and I’m only a couple weeks ahead of you.”

“You’re not afraid it’d make things weird between us?”

“Dude, we’re already dating.  How much weirder can it get?”

Zack started laughing uproariously again.  “Do you really want to find out?”

Ben nodded slowly.  “I do.”

That quieted Zack.  After a while, he turned to dig through the closet for the emergency candles, and set two of them on their rickety little table.  One of the chairs was buried under his dirty laundry, so he hauled all that away and dumped it on top of his hamper.

Once the food was ready, Zack lit the candles while Ben brought the plates to the table.  “Not super romantic, I’m afraid, but...”

Ben smiled at him fondly.  “It’s the thought that counts.”

Zack took a bite and grinned.  “Hey, this is pretty good.”

They ate in silence for a time, then Zack collected the plates and put them in the sink.  “So... now what?”

“If it’s the thought that counts, what were you thinking?”

Zack sighed.  “That I have no clue what I’m doing but this feels nice.  Why are candles romantic?  Is it the risk of fire?”

Ben giggled and shook her head.  “No!  It’s about the ambiance.  Things look better by candlelight.”

“Because you can’t see them so well?”

“There’s something atavistic about firelight.  I wasn’t a huge fan of camping, but I loved campfires.  You can stare into the flames and just...”  Ben watched the candles dance, smiling at a memory.

Zack blew the candles out.  “Enough.  Talk to me.”

Ben turned her full attention on Zack, and the weight of her regard made him stumble.  “Holy hell.  You are serious.”

Ben nodded.  “You’re gorgeous like this.  I know this is crazy, but I would literally do anything you asked.  Stay female for you and play housewife.  Have your babies.  Anythying.”

Zack snickered.  “I can’t get you pregnant like this...  Oh.  Wow.  I can’t, can I?”

Ben shook her head, eyes shining.  “Nope.  But you can get pregnant, as can I.”

“You’d have to stay female for months and months if you were pregnant,” protested Zack.  “I thought you didn’t want to be a girl for more than a week at a time.”

“Yeah, but...”  Ben’s gaze was distant again, staring at the last wisp of smoke trailing up from one of the candles.  When it vanished, she sighed.  “I think I’d like to find out.”

“With me?”

Ben’s eyes met Zack’s, held them like a snake staring down its prey.  “Absolutely with you.”  An impish smile crossed her lips, and she turned her back to him.  “Unzip me?”

Zack stepped closer, tugged at the zipper.  He’d only meant to draw it down a little way, but the curve of Ben’s shoulder drew his hands, and before he knew it he’d slipped the dress down to her hips.  Ben wriggled out of the dress, then stepped over it where it pooled on the floor.  Zack followed a pace behind as she led him to her bedroom, and then to her bed.

*** *** ***

In the morning they had to scramble to get ready.  Zack zapped Ben back to masculinity, though he pouted a little at the necessity.  “Promise me you’ll start looking for a job that’s not stupid about this.”

“I just hope yours won’t be,” replied Ben, as he struggled into his clothes.  “Damn, I’m missing the dress already.  Did not get enough female time.”

Zack smirked.  “All the more reason to look.”

Ben closed with Zack and put his arms out for a hug, an offer Zack eagerly took up.  Zack gave Ben a quick peck in the cheek.  “Be good.  Good-ish.”

Ben snickered.  “I’m more worried about you.  Are you seriously just going to waltz into work looking like that?”

Zack laughed.  “I’m giddy with anticipation.  It’s going to be a riot!”

“Hopefully not a literal one,” Ben muttered.

*** *** ***

“How goes the job hunt?” Zack asked as Ben slumped into the apartment.  

Ben put his keys and backpack away before replying.  “Barely started.  How about you?  Are you looking for work?”

Zack laughed uproariously.  “God no.  My commissions on today’s sales will be amazing.  Top of the leader board!  I’m tempted to just stay this way.”

“Just because it’s better for business?” asked Ben, incredulously.

Zack suddenly looked serious.  He moved closer to Ben, put a hand on his arm.  “Not just that.  I remember what you said last night.”

Ben blushed and looked away.  “So you want me as a girl?”

Zack purred in his ear.  “I want you as whatever makes you happy.”

Ben whined softly and stared at the zappy.  “I wish I could.”

“Quit.  Just fucking quit.  You’ll find work in no time.”

“I have to give two weeks’ notice.”

Zack smirked.  “How quickly will they fire you if you show up as a woman?”

“They have to give two weeks... oh!”

Zack’s smirk turned into a broad and genuine smile.  “See?  It’ll all work out, I promise.  Now get the zapper so I can turn you into the girl of my dreams.”

Ben eagerly retrieved it and handed the zapper to his lover.  He took a few steps back and posed for the zap, trying for a coquettish look that worked far better once his body started to become her body instead.  Once the changes had settled she giggled.  “Girl of your dreams?  Really?”

“Absolutely.  I seem to recall some promises about traditional wifely stuff.  Dinner, then...”

Ben’s smile was transcendent.  “I’ll have something whipped up in no time.”  She darted for her room to put on a dress Zack hadn’t seen before, then went to work in the kitchen.

Zack leaned against the counter and watched her work.  “How happy are you like this?”

“Oh my God, so, so happy.  Thank you.”

“What, for pushing you to do something you obviously wanted to do?” asked Ben, smiling at her sweetly.  “You’re welcome, but it was in my own self-interest as well.”

“Ah?”

“Damn, girl.  You were there last night.  That was amazing.  I will happily give up my masculinity for more of that.”

“What about in two weeks, when I want to be a guy again?” asked Ben.

“Honestly?  I’m looking forward to seeing how that goes, too.  I bet you’ll make an amazing lover in either form.”

“I’ll take you up on that bet,” Ben replied with a chuckle.  “What are the stakes?”

“Loser bears the first child.”

Ben dropped the spatula, spattering sauce on her dress.  She didn’t notice the mess.  “Don’t joke about that.”

Zack pulled Ben into a hug. “Oh, sweetie.  I’m not joking at all.”

“But you said you’re a guy inside!”

“And this guy would very much love to carry your child.  How can I prove this to you... ah.”  Zack got down onto one knee, and took Ben’s hands in his.  “Will you marry me?”

Ben started crying, then flung herself at Zack.  “YES!”