The day comes

Despite the huge life events, despite everything that’s happened up to this point, there’s nothing that can prepare you for the future. Time passes, and soon Sam announces her pregnancy, to the delight of everyone in the mansion. Emi is due any day now, and for the sake of privacy, you have a birthing room set up in the mansion. Normally you would prefer a hospital, but a Hybrid giving birth would attract far too much attention. Thankfully, you married a doctor, and Sam has friends who can be discreet.

Outside of that, not much happens. You try to avoid becoming a recluse, but you find yourself becoming more and more comfortable just staying in the mansion. There’s so much going on in your personal life, and you don’t feel like you’re missing much. Still, you resolve to change your habits once Emi gives birth, and can get around more easily.

When the day finally comes, despite all your preparations, you find yourself in a panic. Somehow, you’re the only one. Emi seems calm, despite the worries you share, and the staff you’ve brought in are confident and competent. The birthing room seems like chaos to you, but Sam assures you that everything is normal. You hold Emi’s hand as she strains and sweats, and before you know it, you hear a sound that’s at once distressing and beautiful.

The cries of your child.

Soon, there are two cries. Twins, a boy and a girl, perfectly healthy, you’re told, though there’s a hesitation in that statement that you wonder about. The hesitation is explained as the two babies are handed to Emi, wrapped in cloth. They look like perfect miniatures of Emi, down to the black hair on their heads, and the pair of cat ears each has.

Cat ears?

You blink, surprised. Emi smiles at you, tired but ecstatic. You kneel by the bed, smiling despite yourself, as she hugs the two little bundles close. As if knowing their mother’s touch, they immediately quiet, looking at her with piercing, yellow cat-like eyes. They’re Hybrids, sure enough. You’re not quite sure why that surprises you, but it does.

Emi gently kisses each one on the forehead. “They’re…perfect, my love.”

You nod, gently stroking Emi’s hair. “You’re right. Perfect, just like you.”

Emi smiles again. “Annie and Milo.”

You smile, nodding again. “Good names. Emi…they’re Hybrids. Like you.”

Emi laughs, tiredly. “They are. Are you surprised?”

You shrug, shaking your head. “I suppose I shouldn’t be. It doesn’t matter, though.”

You lean in, kissing her forehead, and gently doing the same for little Annie and Milo. “They’re our children, whatever else they are.”