“Why is it,” Snowhawk began, “that every time you rush to get somewhere, minutes feel like hours?”

“Snow, don’t start that,” Nytehawk replied as she sped toward the hospital.

“Why?” she all too calmly asked.

“Because if you’re already in deep thought, we’re in deep shit.” She swerved around another vehicle and they pulled into the hospital's emergency arrival drive. With Janus’ help, she led Snowhawk into the hospital and they were promptly greeted by a familiar doctor.

“Back again, Ms. Alyandra?” the doctor smiled.

“Indeed...” Snowhawk smiled.

“I wouldn’t need any medical knowledge to guess what’s going on.” The doctor waved over a couple of nurses and a wheelchair. Janus carefully sat Snowhawk into the chair, gently stroking her mane, then the nurses wheeled her away. “We’ll pull her file,” the doctor continued, “but I remember from before. If you could have a seat in the lobby, I’ll let you know as soon as she’s through this.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Janus bowed.

*********

The hours passed slowly for the two waiting. Adian left soon after they arrived, returning to his post at the estate. Janus worriedly paced the floor, almost wearing a path in the carpet. Nytehawk distracted her mind by reading through the magazines in the waiting room, then drifting to sleep.

“Mr. Sininensusi?” the doctor’s voice questioned.

Janus jumped, startled at her sudden appearance. “Yes?”

“Snowhawk is recovering now. It got a little touchy there for a while, but both she and the baby will be fine.”

Nytehawk stretched and stood. “Was it a boy?”

“Yes,” the doctor nodded, “With lavender fur and dark, silvery amethyst hair.”

“His name?” Nytehawk queried.

“Valerian.”

“A sleep aid. Where does she come up with these names?” Nytehawk asked to no one in particular.

“You can go and seem them now if you want," the doctor continued. "They’re on the second floor, in room two forty-eight. There are signs at the elevators. She’s still pretty tired, though, so don’t be surprised if she falls asleep while you’re in there.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Janus replied with a slight bow, then turned and walked off to find Snowhawk’s room, Nytehawk following him.

They found her room easily. Inside, the lights were dimmed and a bassinet sat near the bed. Snowhawk was sitting up, gently rocking the baby’s bed. She glanced up at her visitors, a soft smile on her face, then looked back to the child. “I’d forgotten how much I missed this...”

“Are you changing your plans then?” Nytehawk questioned.

“No,” she said after a pause. “I need time by myself to think,” she replied, still looking at her newborn child.

The other Delphin nodded. “I understand.”

“How long do they want you to stay?” Janus asked, moving closer to the bed.

“Few days. Enough time for me to recover.” She sighed and pulled her legs onto the bed, then leaned back. “Nytehawk, would you mind watching him for a bit? I’m gonna follow the doctor’s orders and sleep.”

“Not in the least,” she replied.

“Thank you,” she replied, then smiled and arranged herself in the bed. Janus pulled the covers up and around her, then gently kissed her forehead. Nytehawk glared at him as he seated himself in the chair next to the bed.

Janus noticed her glare, but waited until Snowhawk was well asleep to say anything. “I don’t think you’re ready to call off this little, temporary truce yet.”

“Not yet,” she replied, still glaring at him. A moment later, she finally asked him, “So, what do you have against Legacy?”

“He allows himself to be controlled by his emotions. He doesn’t use his head to think, especially when he’s distraught. He’s untrained, which makes him particularly dangerous as a Guardian.”

“How so?”

Janus sighed, looking at Nytehawk somewhat aggravated. “If a Guardian’s charge is captured by slavers, dying from some poison, or some similar circumstance, what was the Guardian way to end that?”

Nytehawk knew. The Guardian would take the life of their charge, then their own for failing. “But that was only if the Guardian has failed in their job.”

“And just what does Legacy think he’s done?”

She shook her head, trying not to believe what she was hearing. “Be serious, Janus. Legacy wouldn’t leave his child parent-less.”

“He wouldn’t.” He nodded toward her. “There’s always you and Hunter.”

Nytehawk shook her head again. “You’ve lost it, Janus.”

“Don’t be so certain, Nytehawk. We’ll need to keep a very close eye on her for the next few days.”

*********

Legacy had returned to his and Snowhawk’s apartment when Nytehawk had left. He now sat in the dark, in silence, in the living room. A now two day old printed message telling him that his child had been born, along with the location, had fallen to the floor next to the chair. “And I wasn’t even there. Nor could I protect her in the first place.” He sunk into the chair, dropping his head. “I’ve failed, as a Guardian and a mate.”

He remained in silence for several more minutes, then stood slowly and walked into their bedroom, stopping to remove a couple of small items from a drawer in the dresser. “I’ll finish it all tonight,” he stated, then left the apartment.

*********

Nytehawk wandered around through the hospital’s indoor garden, pushing the two day old Valerian around in a borrowed stroller. She thought that getting the quickly growing infant out of the hospital room would do him good. Delphin do best when they can experience new environments within a few hours after birth. They age very quickly at this stage in life. In a few months, he would be in the same mental and physical stages as a two and a half year old human child. By age two, he would be equivalent to a seven or eight year old.

Nytehawk could already see that his horn nub had grown a little. She smiled at him, and he cooed back at her. “Those are one of your mother’s favorite flowers,” she said as they passed under a trellis of morning glories.

*********

Janus waited somewhat impatiently in the hospital's small cafeteria. “How long does it take to get a cup of coffee around here?” he quietly grumbled. He didn’t like the idea of leaving Snowhawk alone for too long and today seemed especially foreboding. “I’ll feel better when she can get out of here. Regardless of where she goes.”

A disturbance in the hallway caught Janus’ attention for a moment, but almost having hot coffee dumped on him brought his attention back. He quickly paid and started back to Snowhawk’s room, the feeling of dread in his gut stronger than ever.

*********

Legacy had not expected or encountered much trouble getting into the hospital and to Snowhawk’s room. Granted, he had walked into that purple haired girl outside of the cafeteria, knocking her into a cart and making quite a noise, but no one, other than her, seemed to notice. He had quickly helped her back up, apologized, then ran off to Snowhawk’s room.

He stepped into the room, pushing the door to behind him. As he walked to the bed, he reached into his coat pocket and removed the syringe of anesthetic he had grabbed while at the apartment. “Just to keep you asleep,” he quietly told her, taking her arm and turning it over, then inserting the needle and injecting the contents. To be certain she would stay asleep, he gave the anesthetic a few minutes to work. He waited for her to slip into a near coma-like state. His attention was directed completely on her and never heard anyone enter the room.

“What are you doing here?” Janus’ voice demanded.

“Carrying out my duty,” Legacy replied, looking to see the wolf-in-human-form stalking toward him.

“Jumping to conclusions, aren’t you?” the former slaver asked, stopping a few quick steps from the bed.

“Why do you ask that?” Legacy calmly replied, reaching into his other coat pocket for the second syringe.

“As I understand the Guardian code, this was a last resort. Only to be used if your charge was dying and if you were directly at fault.”

“You are holding her captive, so she may as well be dead to us. It was my fault that she was captured.”

Janus could see the Guardian’s hands shaking. “What makes you think she’s being held against her will?” He stepped toward Legacy as he asked this.

“She never returned.”

“Because she wanted to rest. In a secure environment.” He took another step toward the bed as doubt further clouded the Guardian’s face. “Which is what she told you.”

“You brainwashed her.”

“You’re deluding yourself. She’s nowhere near death. No where near enslaved. She is free to go whenever she wants.” He had taken two more steps toward Legacy. “Why are you being so hasty in taking her life?”

The Guardian froze as he reached for Snowhawk’s arm again. “What?”

“Why are you being so hasty? Why do you want her dead?”

“... I don’t.”

“Then don’t do this. Give her the time she’s asked for.” Janus was now within range to grab her away if need be.

“No. You’ll steal her away forever. That’s failure in my job. And failure is unacceptable.”

“She doesn’t need you. But your son does.”

Legacy closed his eyes for a moment, hesitating, then quickly grabbed Snowhawk’s arm. Janus was, thankfully, quicker than Legacy and he soon had her unconscious form protected in his arms. “Give her back,” the Guardian demanded.

“No. Your intentions are all too clear.” Janus snorted at the Guardian. “Go find your son. I’m taking her someplace safe.”

Legacy glared at the human-formed male. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Considering you’ve rendered her unable to, I have to, Legacy.” Janus quickly scooped her up into his arms and left to room to find someone to reverse the affects of the drug he had used.

Legacy sunk down onto the bed and held his head in his hands. “Dammit.” He remained alone in the darkened room for some five minutes before Nytehawk returned with the baby.

“Legacy, what are you doing here? Where’s Snowhawk?” she asked, her voice notably concerned.

“I was going to finish my job, but he took her away,” he replied, still holding his head down.

Nytehawk’s brain took a minute to realize exactly what he meant by finishing his job. “Did you even consider what would have happened if you were to follow through?!” Legacy shook his head in response. “I didn’t think so. You’d be orphaning this boy, and I don’t think anyone wants to explain to him the circumstances.”

“She won’t come back now anyway. He’ll tell her what happened.”

“That may or may not be true. Have some faith in her to make her own decisions. He’s not making them for her.”

“He’s not?” Legacy asked, looking up in disbelief.

“No. I had thought he was too, but I saw otherwise. She’s done this much on her own. She’ll keep doing so.”

Legacy seemed to shrink. “I just– miss her so much.”

Nytehawk kneeled next to the bed, looking at him. “I know, Legacy. But you can not allow your emotions to control you. Especially over your better judgment.”

The Guardian nodded slowly, then stood “I’m going for a walk,” he stated as he left the room.

Nytehawk returned to the stroller, looking at Valerian and sighing. “He means well, you know. He’s just confused.”