Meeting the family

Yril’k and Jaisyl stood outside the hospital, watching the gentle bubbling of water through the ornamental gardens that surrounded the building. They were both there for different reasons - Yril’k because while she was fanatically dedicated to Trea’k and Dustin, she was technically not family as far as officaldom was concerned and thus had been asked politely if she would wait outside to make room in the visitors area for families other than Dustin’s harem. Jaisyl, on the other hand, had arguably more claim to be there than almost any one else in the harem given her marital status - but since that marriage remained merely a fiction her father had dreamed up, she had elected to follow the many-limbed warrior outside.

“You’k do not wish to wait’k with the others?” Yril’k asked after a while, breaking the silence between them. “Aricia’k might appreciate’k your presence.”

The Tho’unn woman shook her head. “This is a moment for them, not for me. I’m not… my place isn’t there.”

Yril’k glanced her up and down. “You have changed’k, princess. The last few months’k have given you a better’k perspective on’k life, I think.” The warrior paused, turning to look back at the building. “My queen has’k had her child’k.” He words were soft, and awe-inspired as she stared at the structure.

Jaisyl frowned. “How can you tell? Bleu said it might be a day or more before the births?”

The warrior shrugged. “Pheromones. Though the building’k filters the air’k significantly, there is only’k likely to be one’k Vex’ess envoy giving’k birth in there, so’k I feel my assumption’k that it is Trea’k I am detecting’k is a safe’k one.”

When Dustin returned to the visitor’s room, seven faces turned to look at him. Sinking into one of the high-backed chairs and slumping down, he let out a long sigh of relief. “Everyone’s fine,” he murmured, letting the stress of the past days drain out. “And it’ll all be alright.”

Sharp ears caught his words, and Defia slid into the seat next to him, red eyes glittering. “Statement. You have been emotionally struggling over the past weeks. Enquiry. Will you be willing to share your concerns with us now?”

Dustin blinked, then gave a terse laugh. “I should have known I couldn’t keep it from all of you. Yea, I’ll share my worries - though they’re just my issues really. How many of you figured out something was wrong?” As it turned out, between those that had spotted something and those that had been asked by the others if they knew what was up, everyone had held concerns about him of late. Sighing at the sea of raised hands, Dustin shook his head. “Fair enough. Well, I’ll explain - but not now. When we’re all together in a day or so. For now… Meli and Trea’k are getting some sleep, but Bleu’s promised to let us know when they wake up.”

Of all of the assembled women, Emely struggled the most with the wait. Between her delight for Meli and Trea’k, Dustin’s promise of an explanation for his odd vibes recently and her own pregnancy, she very much wanted to get to the point of meeting the new arrivals. Even curling up with her head in Dustin’s lap wasn’t doing much for her anticipation, her tails twitching behind her as she rested.

Finally, however, Bleu appeared in the doorway, the medic now back to her usual appearance having shed her scrubs. “The ladies are awake now - but…” she said, raising her hands rapidly to stop the stampede, “…for the sake of the other patients, we can’t all go in at once. Two at a time to each of them, please - Dustin, if you could show Emely and Rye the way, Meli has asked for them to come in first. I’ll go get Yril’k, Trea’k’s asked to see her and Naera. I hope the rest of you don’t mind waiting.”

With Defia, Sammie, Aricia and Yaerwen indicating their agreement - all four of them more than happy to go along with the new mothers’ wishes - Dustin helped Emely up and led her and Rye through the doors and into the ward. Meli was still exhausted-looking when they entered her room, the two babies gurgling contentedly in their cots as the fox and bunny girls moved to stare down at them.

The four of them talked softly, not wanting to disturb the tranquillity of the moment. Emely and Rye’s congratulations were enthusiastic but subdued, and there was the expected discussion on which baby had gotten which of the names. Duv’an stirred, Dustin lifting him from the cot before his complaints at the absence of a parent could wake his brother. Rye went very quiet at that point, her gaze hard to read as she watched Dustin gently cradle his offspring - admittedly pointlessly as shortly after he’d lifted Duv’an, William awoke as well, announcing the fact loudly.

After both babies had fed yet again, the trio lent forward to kiss Meli softly before moving rooms to see Trea’k. In the corridor, they passed Yril’k and Naera coming the other way, Bleu shepherding the two women past medical equipment and a tea and coffee trolley that looked about to do the rounds. In Trea’k’s room, C’harl’ette was awake and cooing contentedly in her mother’s arms. Four eyes flicked to the new arrivals with more intensity than Dustin would have expected from a newborn - but Trea’k had forewarned him that if their child had inherited any of the Vex’ess’s senses she would likely try and bring them to bear on new sights, sounds or smells far earlier than a human would.

Again, Dustin got the opportunity to hold his child. Where Duv’an had been contented to just be held and William had squirmed irritably, C’harl’ette just stared up at him, four eyes seemingly staring into his soul. Rye’s hard-to-read expression returned, the bunny girl shaking her head rapidly when Trea’k offered her a turn carrying the infant.

Outside, some time later, Dustin took the Rabyth woman to one side. With the others either visiting with the newborns or busily discussing the celebrations they’d hold once everyone was safely back home on the Solar Ascent, a quiet spot to talk without being overheard wasn’t hard to find. “Alright, love, what is it? I know I’ve got stuff to talk to everyone about, to explain why I’ve been off lately, but you’ve been giving me weird looks ever since I picked up Duv’an. What’s the matter, Rye?”

The bunny girl sighed and stared out the window at the gardens. When she turned back to Dustin, she frowned, then sighed again. “Ya know I’ve been…” she paused, then restarted, “seeing ya with the babies…” before again falling silent.

Dustin reached out and took her hands in his, the warmth of their touch helping to ground her as he spoke. “I take it you’ve made a decision then? A final one this time? We’ve been doing this dance for a while, love. You know I support you whatever you deci…” his words were suddenly cut off by the golden-haired woman leaning forward and kissing him.

Pulling back, Rye blushed furiously and stared at the floor as she mumbled “’m ready.” Then she coughed, looked up at him, and repeated herself a little louder. “I’m ready.”

Dustin smiled, and pulled her into a hug. “Then we’ve decided.” He said softly - before realising that any hope the pair of them had held of having a private discussion had failed utterly due to a certain Feliax woman and her exceptionally sharp ears. Emely’s squeal of delight was followed by a rapid scurry of feet - due to her pregnancy, the fox girl’s usual missile-like approach had slowed to more reasonable pace, but even so it was only a few seconds before her arms wrapped around them both, the others close behind.

“About damn time, bun-bun” Sammie said with a grin, patting the Rabyth on the top of the head. That earned a round of agreement, along with more than one chuckle at the irritated expression on Rye’s face. As they continued their embrace, new faces joined them as Bleu led the last group of women back from meeting the new arrivals and the situation was explained to them.

The medic herself was the last to join the hug, effortlessly flowing through the gaps between bodies until she reformed her face right next to Rye’s. “I am glad you’ve made a decision to get on with things - I’ll make a start on the relevant treatment plan for you shortly, once I’m sure my current patients are okay and we’ve transferred them all back to the ship.” Then, she leaned in and planted a kiss on Rye’s cheek before adding “don’t worry, bun-bun, I’ll make sure you stay healthy even if you do love rolling in engine grease,” then ducked back before the Rabyth could turn to glare at her.