"I can change you all back... for a price." The old man said with a sad inflection in his voice.
Alan and Janet both gave a sigh of relief.
"Thank God!" Janet boasted in his mach growl. "Anything Mate you name your price and we'll give it. I probably don't have the cash on me but is credit tokay for-"
"No, no!" The old man interrupted. "You misunderstand. I'm not asking for money."
Alan and Janet gave each other worrying looks. Alan started to subconsciously twirl his hair as he looked back at the shop keeper.
"Then, what do you want?"
"I don't want anything. I can change all four of you back to normal no problem!" He exclaimed.
"What?" Janet yelled, starting to get angry. "Then what's the issue?"
"You four would all be fine, but.... that little one won't be." He sadly said.
"What little one?" Alan asked confused.
"I'm sorry Mr. McCoy, I know this may be awkward. I don't know what the real relationship between you and your current wife is before reality changed, but did you two... do anything?" He asked Janet.
Janet's eyes shot wide as her heart sank far past he stomach.
"Oh my God." She whispered before slowly sitting down on the floor.
"Mom?!" Alan exclaimed. "Are you okay? What does he mean?"
"Your, uh, father and I.... we didn't think. I mean after Megan we had been trying for so long to have a child, so we didn't think... especially like this...." She attempted to explain.
"Shut. Up." Alan said, slowly realizing what she meant. "Dad's pregnant?!"
"I'm afraid so." The old man replied for Janet. "And, the book is a mischievous little artifact. It's hard to fight its will. I would be able to return you all to normal, minus the fetus, but I have no idea what might happen if I try to bring the fetus to you. Adding a 5th soul will make the book able to mess thing up quite more."
"Can't you just fix it after that? Like once it's easier? Or can't you just change my parents back and then us?" Alan asked.
"Sorry Ms, but again, this book is powerful, somewhat sentient, and reality warping. If I change you all back, then I gotta do it at once. Who knows what could go wrong after that. Look, take your time, it's your choice." He explained.
Janet sat on the floor with her arms on her head. If she was still a woman, she would be bawling. Her testosterone merely left her with some quiet tears. Alan sat down and gave his mother a hug. She hugged him back and snapped herself out of it. Janet quietly picked up her phone, and called her husband.
"Dad?" Megan asked confused. "Dad, what'd Mom say?"
Steve could only stand like a statue, clutching his stomach. A few minutes later and he and Megan arrived at the shop. At first, Steve was enraged, demanding the man explain himself, and accusing him of being in league with the book. Then, he sat down crying, begging Janet to tell him it was a lie. Megan and Alan both stood back, not fully grasping their parents pain but understanding it was there. After a half an hour more, the old man spoke up again.
"So, have you decided?"