Chapter 28 Birth
BIRTH
“I know how to make your special day special-er,” Hansel sang.
Crush looked up from massaging Killian’s swollen feet. “Why am I expecting something really strange?”
Hansel pulled out a bulging sack from behind his back. “Ta-da!”
He flounced into the room and reached into the sack, flinging bits of paper at Killian and Crush.
Gingerly, Killian picked one up and read it.
Your round belly is like the supernova of my dreams. It will explode to become a black hole.
The next time I fill you with my love stick, it will suck out all my love juices with the force of a Dickson Vacuum Supreme.
It will suck out my heart and my soul, and now you will have two hearts and two souls in your body.
“What,” Killian said, cringing. “This can’t possibly be a pickup line.”
Hansel beamed beatifically. “It’s the most perfect of pickup lines. I found it at the back of 699 Pickup Lines For Your Wriggly Heart Muffin.”
Crush took the paper from Killian, read it, and made a face. “Two souls in the same body? That can’t be fun. How would you even fuck?”
Hansel’s eyes grew round. “You make a good point. I will consult the holy text for a replacement.”
He pulled out his pink book and scurried off.
Killian groaned. “Am I going to deal with that for the rest of my life?”
“Yes.” Crush laughed. “But if that means you’re with me for the rest of your life, I can’t say I’m too upset by it.”
He leaned in and nuzzled Killian’s swollen belly, pressing kisses all over it. Then he scooped Naddie off the floor, letting her sniff at Killian’s belly. Her rabbit ears twitched.
Killian didn’t think he would ever get tired of this: Watching his alpha cuddling his belly, holding their daughter up to bring her closer to her future siblings.
He was about to say something incredibly sappy, when his body clenched. “That was a contraction.”
“Another one? So soon?” Crush brought Naddie back to his own lap, pressing his palm carefully to Killian’s round stomach. Killian caught his breath.
Then the next contraction came.
They looked at each other, nervous and excited all at once.
“I think they’re on their way,” Crush said breathlessly. “Wonder Cart!”
The cart raced over, squeaking excitedly.
“Here, hold Naddie for now.” He placed Naddie on the blanket in Wonder Cart’s cargo basket, and patted its side. “Things are about to get real busy around here.”
Crush raced around the tiny cabin, gathering things—blankets, towels, things his dads had told him to have on hand.
They had agreed not to have the entire pack present, to give Killian more space to breathe. When Crush had surrounded their bed with water, snacks, pillows, and even the draft chapters of Zenith’s half-written book, he carried Killian there, stripping them both and spooning Killian from behind.
“Is now the time I tell you to breathe?” Crush asked.
Killian elbowed him. Crush grunted. “I did just fine when I had Naddie!”
“And Nadene was just one baby. Now we have multiples!”
“They can’t be in their human shapes, right?” Killian said. “There’s not enough space in here for multiple humans.”
“Maybe small ones,” Crush said. He rubbed Killian’s belly and back, pressing kisses wherever he could reach. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”
Killian purred. “You have. I can’t believe you think so highly of me.”
“I do,” Crush rumbled. Then he growled, long and deep, and the vibrations soothed Killian all over.
“I think I can feel them making a move,” Killian said. “Kind of like pilgrims making a pilgrimage! Or like my foot coming out of my butt after I’ve swallowed it whole.”
Crush groaned. “That sounds strange, but sure.” He rubbed Killian’s belly again.
Killian breathed and pushed with the contractions. Slowly, he felt the first baby moving out of him. “Sit between my legs! Catch the baby in case it shoots out like a football!”
“Crush is a great ball catcher,” Hansel said sagely from the next room.
Crush rubbed Killian’s thighs, making a choked sound when the first baby slipped out of Killian’s body. “I’ve got the first one!” He sounded so excited. “She’s beautiful, sweetheart!”
When Killian peeked, he found Crush with his hands cupped around a bedraggled shape—a tiny wolf pup with her eyes squeezed shut. “That’s so weird. I’m a rabbit! Shouldn’t they be in their rabbit shifts, at least?”
Crush bit off the umbilical cord and cleaned their pup gently, before handing her to Killian. Killian’s heart swelled. He pressed a kiss to their daughter, before looking up at Crush over her little body.
“Whatever shape they come in, they’re beautiful,” Crush said fervently. He kissed Killian’s forehead. “You’re doing great, bunny rabbit.”
Killian helped the pup latch onto his nipple so she could start nursing. Then the next contraction rolled around, and he pushed again.
The next pup slid out, followed by the next. Crush kissed and cleaned each one, before giving them to Killian so he could let them take turns to nurse.
Crush held onto their fourth pup, eyeing Killian with the first three. “Tell me when you have space for this one. I’ll keep him warm in the meantime.”
Killian felt like he could burst, surrounded by his family.
Crush rubbed Killian’s belly. “Any more?”
They waited for a bit. Killian shook his head. “I think we’re done.”
Crush rumbled, lying down facing him. Killian accepted the fourth pup so he could cuddle him too, grinning dopily at his alpha. “They’re all beautiful.”
“Two girls and two boys,” Crush said. “And Naddie.”
“For now,” Killian said. “I think we’ll need to be real careful in the future, so we don’t get overrun with pups.”
Crush grinned and leaned in, kissing Killian softly on the lips. “Whatever the future holds, I’m glad for it, because I’ll be spending it with you.”
“I could melt into goop,” Killian said. “But then you’ll have to clean up my goop mess, and everything will suck.”
Crush laughed, pressing their foreheads together. “Never change, sweetheart. You’re the best.”
“So are you,” Killian said as a chorus of howling started up around them, to welcome their new pups into the world. “I think our life is amazing.”