Jasmine and Mint Tea
Cup 16
“We’re Here.”

“So it’s finally happened.”  Shanoa said as she walked into the room, pulling her long hair back into a bun.  “So….did it happen naturally or were you two playing around?”  The catwolf asked as she walked up to the edge of the bed.

Well…” Tommy said blushing a little. “We were kind of playing around… but not like that. THAT we haven’t done in about a month and a half like you said Ms. Shanoa. It’s been tough but we’ve been behaving ourselves… mostly.”

“I would be more worried about you behaving yourself….I know how boys can be.”  She said with a little snicker.  “So how are you feeling there mom.”

“Ok, the cramps hurt, but it’s not that bad yet.”  She said rubbing her belly absentmindedly.  “Though sometimes they do hurt.”

“Lets have a little look here.”  She said reaching over to the table pulling a pair of gloves from the box and slipping them on.  “You know it’s a good thing that the girl and I went out and got our nails trimmed.”  She said smiling and lifting the blanket up enough that she could get her arm under it but not to much to embarrass the mother to be. After a few moments she leaned back, pulling her arm from under the blanket as she said, “seems you’re dilated about five centimeters, so about halfway there little mother. Your labor is progressing fine and it shouldn’t be much longer… though that’s a relative guess, sometimes this can go on for hours…...or days.” she said.

“Either way I’ll be right here by your side Cat,” Tommy said proudly unable to wipe the huge smile from his face even a little. “Ummm… maybe Jason shouldn’t be here when it gets closer to time though,” he said looking at his younger brother.

“But I wanna see when Tommy goes to sleep and falls down…” the younger polecat said with a little huff.

“Well….long as the mom or dad holds onto Jason, and the other one drags Tommy out of my way….I’m not above stepping on him.”  She said with a little snicker as she pulled the gloves off.  “And Tommy…..you….you’re an insurmountable dork….but your going to be a good dad.”

“Thanks… I think,” the polecat said snickering at the doctors comment. “I’ll be fine… I think. But if I do hit the floor just worry about Cat, she and the babies are all that matter to me right now.” Leaning over the bed and kissing his wife on the forehead he said, “is there anything you need sweetie?”

“I…...I have to…”  She leaned in a little and whispered in Tommy’s ear.  “Pee.”

“Oh… okay, ummmm… doctor Shanoa, what do I do if she has to use the bathroom?” Tommy asked blushing a bright pink in his ears.

“Well, she’s not about to be up walking around just yet,” she said reaching into a small cabinet near by. “She’ll have to use this, and you’ll have to help her there stud muffin,” she replied handing the polecat a bedpan wrapped in plastic.  “You want a gown?  Maybe some face protection too?”  She said giggling.

“Ummm… yea, that might be a good idea,” Tommy said taking the weird shaped piece of plastic from the doctor. “Maybe a snorkel if you happen to have one handy too.”

“Don’t have a snorkel.”  Shanoa said turning and opening a cabinet behind her, pulling out a disposable gown and a face shield.  “This good enough there?”  She said handing him the things.

“Good enough,” Tommy said taking the items and starting to pull the gown on around himself.

“Let me give you a hand there son,” Jeffrey said taking the strings and tieing them behind his sons back. “Better get comfy in that, you’ll be wearing them a lot until the babies go home. They won’t let anyone near them without one until then… well except for their momma that is.”

“Yes.  And I will be showing you how to wash up and all that before you get to hold them.”  Shanoa said smiling and nodding.  “Oh, and I think that we have enough of the gowns, you shouldn’t have to wear one of the pink ones.”

“As long as my grandbabies are healthy and happy, it won’t matter if it’s pink or orange to me,” Jeffery said patting his eldest son on the back.

“As long as they’re all okay it won’t matter to me either,” Tommy said as he walked back over to the bed his wife lay on. “Okay sweetie, ummm lift your butt a little I guess,” he said as she did and he slid the plastic pan under her.

“Umm Sweetie.”  Cat whispered.  “You might want to not slide it under me...I really have to go and I don’t want to spray you down again.”  She said blushing a little.  There was a moment or two of silence before she let out a sigh.

“You okay Cat?” Tommy asked as the caracal seemed to relax a little.

“Yes…..it’s just a little weird to have to go pee like this.”  She said blushing as she did her thing.  “I feel like I’m putting on a show.”

“It’s okay sweet lips, I made sure no one saw anything,” Tommy said blushing a little, “well other than me that is.”

“And it’s nothing that I don’t have to see on a daily bases at this job.”  Shanoa spoke up from her seat.  “So dad, you know what to do with that pan right?”

“Yes ma’am,” he said turning and walking to the bathroom. Tommy emptied it into the toilet and flushed then rinsed the pan out in the sink before returning to his pretty wife with a little grin. “Ready for the next round,” he said walking over and kissing her softly on the lips. “so now I guess we wait huh?” taking her hand in his and brushing the stray hair from her face with the other hand.

“Yup now we wait…..So….one hundred bottles of saki on the wall?”  Shanoa said with a little snicker.

(flash forward to Cat in labor and Tommy by her side)

“Oh fuck, Tommy it hurts.”  The caracal mewled out as another contraction washed over her, the voice of her husband telling her he loved her and to breath mixed with the voice of Shanoa counting as she pushed.

“I know sweetie, you’re crushing my hand with every contraction, but it’s okay, we’re almost there right doctor Shanoa?” the polecat said as he held his lover close, supporting her back as she bore down during the contractions.

“She’s doing just fine.”  Shanoa said looking up to Tommy.  “The first one is crowning….Come have a look father.”

“Ummm… okay,” Tommy said easing his way down along the bed, not letting his wife’s hand leave his. “I don’t think I can get all the way…” he started to say as he looked down between the caracal’s thighs at her groin, the furry curved top of a tiny head showing. “Oh my God… it’s… your  almost there sweetie,” he nearly shouted in excitement, not noticing that he seemed to be going a little bit pale in the face.

“Three seconds.”  Shanoa mumbled loud enough before cutting her eyes over to the father.  “Two.”  She said, her eyes looking back to Tommy.  “One.”

In a flurry of movement that to Tommy seemed to be happening in slow motion Shanoa guided the babies head free, cradling it gently as she tugged slightly and the shoulders slid from the caracals passage. In a matter of a few moments Shanoa held the tiny infant in one hand, the other using a blue rubber bulb to remove something from it’s muzzle a brief moment before they heard it’s first cry. As a nurse rushed in with a small towel and began to clean their first born up a little, Shanoa looked up to Cat and said, “a beautiful little girl there mom, now let’s get her brother out here to greet the world too okay?  Oh and Tommy….you’re doing good too, you might not dent my floor.”

“Than…..thank goodness.”  Cat panted out.  “It’s…..it’s happening Tommy…..”  She said smiling up to him.  “We’re almost a family.”

“I… I love you so much Cat,” Tommy said gazing into her green eyes as he made his way back to her side. “Are you… you ready for one more? Then you can rest sweet lips, I promise.”

“Yes Tommy….I am.”  She said nodding, looking down to the doctor who nodded back.

“Deep breath…...and push.”  Shanoa instructed, before starting to count to ten again.  

Like the first time, the process was the same, Shanoa counting off as Cat pushed and grunted, squeezing Tommy’s hand to the point that he was sure that she was going to snap it right off and that Shanoa would be treating him next.  The time that passed as all of this happened seemed to stop, like the clock stopped ticking off the seconds, for at the moment, there was only Cat and Tommy and their children.

“And here’s the second one.”  Shanoa said  “A healthy, bouncing baby boy… congrats you two, you are now the proud parents of fraternal twins,” she said turning to the rest of the family. “Sorry about this folks, but hospital rules. I need you all to step outside while we get mom and babies cleaned up a bit and all the paperwork and things done. You can see them in a few minutes once we’re done though.”

“Not a problem doctor Shanoa, we’ll just be waiting out in the expectant parents lounge. Maybe make a run down to the cafeteria while we wait,” Jeffery said as he rose to his foot paws, his youngest son in his arms, the boys muzzle hanging open and eyes glued to the sight of his brother as the older polecat boy was handed a bundle of blanket and his daughter for the first time.

“Wooooooooowwww” Json muttered as he was carried out of the room. “That was…. soooo coooooll!”

“Would it be alright to get a little something lite for the new mother to snack on while we’re out?” Tina asked with a knowing smile on her lips. “Maybe a bite for her doctor as well?”

“Well….long as its light yes, a sandwich or something like that.  And for me….they don’t have saki here to celebrate so….a salad would be fine.”  She said giving the two a little bow before turning back to the mother and father.  “Okay you two, first things first,” she said as the rest of the family left the room. “From now until they leave this hospital,” she said as a nurse went to each of the new parents, card and small ink pad in hand, “the four of you will be marked with matching identification bands. No one, and I mean no one but the persons with those bands can take these babies out of this facility, so Tommy, no taking it off and forgetting it at home. The babies will be paw printed and the two of you will need to give a thumbprint each. This all goes into the records and registers the kids to you and only you. It’s standard security these days to keep some fool from taking a baby that doesn’t belong to them. Whether  intentional or not it won’t happen here. You two can rest assured that when the four of you leave you’ll have the right children.” As she spoke the nurses took the babies footpaw prints and Tommy and Cat’s thumbprints as well as started filling out the information on the cards. “So have you two though of the names yet?”  The wolfcat asked smiling and snickering a little.  “I was thinking Chou for the girl and Ichiro for the boy.”

“What… what do those mean?” Tommy asked cocking an eyebrow at the wolfcat doctor questioningly.

“Chou means butterfly, a cute fitting name for the little princess.”  She said smiling, “and Ichiro means first son.”  Shanoa said happily.  “though I’m sure that you two have better names picked out.”

“We have kind of went through a bunch of them, and I think we decide on names that we like and shouldn’t get them teased at school. You want to tell her or should I Cat?” Tommy asked from where he sat on the side of the bed beside his wife as he stared into the pretty little face of his daughter. 

“This one.”  She said smiling down at her daughter.  “Amanda Jennifer Bradley.”  Cat said looking up to her mate, “you can tell her our son’s name.”

With a broad grin on his muzzle Tommy said proudly, “Sam Thomas Bradley,” looking over to the nurse that was writing them down he added, “and just plain Sam, not Samual or anything like that, just Sam.”Leaning in close to the caracal mother of his children he kissed her tenderly on the cheek. “You did it Cat, we’re a family now, you and me and babies make… four.”

“Well…..I think that I need to go see the dentist….I think that I have a little tooth rot from you two.”  Shanoa said smiling and snickering a little.  “But they are just too cute.”  She said looking at the happy family.

Looking up to her husband, smiling softly.  “Yes….This is where it all starts.”  She said softly.  “Our life as a family…..and it’s going to be a good one.”

“Yes it will, that much I promise you, all three of you,” Tommy said gently rocking from side to side, his tiny infant girl cooing up at him.

“We’re almost done doctor,” one of the nurses said as the pair walked up to the young couple and wrapped the identification bands around their wrists and fastened them in place. “They’ll be in the system in a few minutes, then the rest of the family can come back in,” the dark haired serval said as she walked to the door. “You two, congratulations, you have a beautiful, healthy, perfect pair of twins there. Take good care  of them and we’ll see you again tomorrow.”

“They both look so much like you Cat…” Tommy said with a slightly odd look on his face.

“Like a fluffy me.”  She said smiling, purring at the sight of the little one’s ears, the little tufts of fur at the tips.

“And both just as beautiful as you .. just, just promise me something Cat. Promise me that the first time some jackass says something about them not looking like me and I flatten him… promise me you’ll forgive me for it.”

“You know that I will….just try not to get locked up or anything like that.  And just remember that they are stupid and can’t see that you are the dad and the best one at that.”  She said looking up to him.  “Just remember that they are your’s no matter what.”

“I will Cat, always and forever. This is what I wanted, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Tommy said leaning down a little and nuzzling between his lover’s ears. “I guess the rest of the family will be back soon.”

“So can I see the babies now?” Jason said excitedly as the rest of the Bradley family rejoined the new parents.

“You can look.”  She said smiling and nodding to Tommy.  “Pick him up so he can see his niece and nephew.”  She said smiling and looking from one cub to the other.

“I got this,” Tina said scooping her younger son up in her arms and walking closer to the bed. “Now Jason, listen to me, this is really important. They’re very small, and very easily hurt right now. You have to be very careful and very gentle around them for a while, can you do that for me sweetie?”

“Yes ma’am, I can do that,” Jason replied, the young polecat seeming to calm down a great deal as his mother sat on the edge of the bed and he came to rest in her lap. 

“They’re so cute,” Jason said with a big goofy grin on his face. “And… and they have Cat’s ears… and well, they kind of look like Tommy does when he gets out of the fur drier, all puffy and fuzzy.”

“Well it looks like they got their father's fluff.”  Cat said smiling and giving Tommy that ‘see I told you so’ look.  “They will have to get a trim in the summers.”

Looking at his younger brother oddly Tommy said, “you really think they look like me a little?” Scratching his head a little he muttered, “ I guess they kind of do after all. Thanks sport,” he added ruffling his brothers hair a little. “Tell ya what, if you promise me that you’ll sit really still in mom’s lap and be extra careful… you can hold one of them, deal?”

“Do you think that you can do it?”  Cat chimed in, “or would you rather snuggle up here with me and help me hold one of them?”

“Yea… that might be better,” Jason said with a huge grin. “I’m… kind of a little scared I might go to sleep and if I’m cuddling with you it won’t matter if I do.”

“Perfect.”  Cat said smiling and watching as Tommy took his son into his arms and holding him.  “Come on sweetie.”

“Okay,” the younger polecat said as he carefully crawled up beside the caracal girl and lay down beside her. Cat showed him how to gently stroke the babies furry little head and with an even bigger smile on his face he looked up to his older brother and said, “you’re so lucky Tommy. You have a pretty wife and two pretty babies now, you have everything.”

“I know kiddo, I know,” Tommy said with a sparkle in his eyes, which if you looked close enough seemed to be a bit misty as well.

“Don’t worry Jason.”  Cat said smiling down at the little polecat, watching him softly petting the little girl in her arms.  “One day, you will have this kind of life too.  I’m sure that you and Sandy will have some cute little ones.”

“All in good time champ,” Jeffrey said with a slight chuckle. “Cat’s right, you will have what your brother does one day.”

“Just don’t rush it little brother, you’ll know when you’ve found the right girl,” Tommy said as he rocked his new born son in his arms, staring down into the tiny face that stared back at him with a happy little gurgle.

“So Grandma….What do you think of your grandkids?”  Cat asked with a little snicker as she looked over to the new grandmother.

“I think they’re both totally adorable, and I plan to spoil the living shit out of both of them… just so you know what to expect Catherine,” Tina replied with a sly grin. “And trust me, that grandma crack is going to cost you a bunch of sleepless nights in time girl.”

“Well you are a grandma….but that doesn't mean that your old or anything.”  She said poking her tongue out.  “And what about you grandpa?”

Taking his new grandson in his arms the older polecat male smiled broadly down at the newborn. After several long silent moments he began to chuckle softly as he spoke. “Okay little guy, when you hit about five years old you and I have an appointment to keep… I’m thinking rocket powered go carts how about you?”

Looking over to the other mother, “he’s joking right?”  Cat said cocking an eyebrow.  “Or do I need to look into insurance now?”

Looking sideways at her husband Tina responded, “I’m… not entirely sure if he is or not. I think we both had better look into insurance as soon as you and the babies are home.”

“What about him?  You have him and Tommy insured to?  Right?”  She asked with a little snicker before looking up to Tommy.

“Jason and I both have been since birth,” the older polecat boy replied. “Not sure if they knew that I knew about it but with the way things get in Jonestown at times… it pays to be prepared.”

“Ok.  That sounds good to me.”  Cat said pausing for a moment.  “And I think that you three went to get us something to nibble on.”

“That we did,” Jeffrey said not taking his eyes from his grandson. “Oddly enough… we ran into a friend of yours downstairs that insisted on taking care of your snack. Said to make sure the little momma was hungry for bread sticks or something like that.”

“And my salade?”  A familiar voice speaking up as the catwolf walked back into the room.  

“Tony never half does a snack, or as most would call it a meal,” Tommy said shaking his head a little. “Knowing him… there’ll be enough pizza, pasta and salad to feed the entire maternity floor when he gets up here.”

“Well I can call in some friends.  I think that Love Nubs is still in my office napping.”  Shanoa said smiling and snickering.

“The more the merrier,” Tommy said beaming proudly as he held his infant son. “These two may as well get used to a big crowd. I’m pretty sure once news gets out that they’re here finally we’ll have family showing up for days.”

“Sounds like a plane to me.”  Shanoa said snickering and slipping out of the room, returning back in just a few moments.  “Everyone….Love Nubs….Nubs….Everyone.”  The catwolf said motioning to the doe that was now with her.

“Damn it Shanoa….I’m Anna….It’s nice to meet you all.”  The doe said smiling and waving to the family.  “So this is the couple that you were telling me about.  They are just too adorkable.”

“HI!,” the youngest member of the family said with a huge grin. “I’m Jason, Tommy’s brother… you have nice boobies too.”

“God Jason… do I need to tell Sandy you’re flirting with older women now?” Tommy asked giggling a little.

“Well I’d say that he takes after his brother.”  Cat said smiling and looking up to him.

“Well aren't you a little charmer.”  Anna said with a little snicker.  “And it sounds like you have a nice little lady.”

“And he better bring her down to meet his uncle Tony like his brother did with Catherine, if he knows what’s good for him,” an older male voice said from the doorway. “I don’t think we have enough room in here for everyone to sit down and enjoy a little snack,” the honey badger said grinning at the young couple.

“Well I can take over one of the break rooms…”  Shanoa said smiling and snickering.  “Not like the lazy asses that hang out in them are doing anything…..that and I think that most of them are afraid of me.”

With a warm and disarming smile Tony replied, “just tell me where to have the boys set things up pretty lady, I can’t have my favorite little caracal or her friends going hungry on a day like this. And Catherine…” he continued as he focused on the young mother again. “As promised, now that the bambino’s are here no limit on the garlic breadsticks. I don’t care if we give the new papa heartburn or not now.”

“Anna….come on….we have work to do….you to.”  She said as she took Anna and Tony by the paws and leading them out of the room before poking her head back in.  “I will be sending the nurses for you lot when everything is all set up.”  Shanoa said smiling broadly.

“Soooo…” Jeffrey said with a chuckle as the trio left the room. “I am assuming that you plan to stay here with your wife and children tonight Thomas?”

“Well,” the younger polecat said as a blush crept into his ears. “You and mom keep talking about how much things are going to change and all. I guess I should get used to it as soon as I can.”

“You know that he wouldn’t leave me.”  Cat said smiling.  “I missed getting to really snuggle up with him.”  She said, happy that the bed that she was laying in was at least big enough for them both.

“The boy has a valid point,” Tina spoke up from where she sat watching the young couple with their newborn children. “With the nursing staff bringing the little ones in every few hours for feedings and all, he’ll get a taste of what he’s in for when they come home in a few days.” Leaning back, weaving her fingers together over her belly she added, “besides, she just had twins, it’s not like Cat is going to be in any kind of a mood to fool around anyway. He may as well get used to that for a while too.”

“Just…..you two don’t end up getting knocked up.”  Cat said smiling and looking down to Jason.  “What should your mom and dad use?”

“Jimmy hats!” Jason shouted out with a huge grin on his muzzle.

“Yes….we have a few for free if you need them there Grandma and Grandpa.”  Shanoa said as she slipped back into the room, a few nurses with her.

“Oh really? Anything that might be different or exciting in the grab bag doc?” Tina asked with a sly grin.

“Well….come by my office before you leave and I’m sure that we can find you something that will be…..interesting.”  She said smiling.  “I have some nice flavored ones.”

“Sounds like fun, count on it doc,” Tina said cutting her eyes to her husband. “Plan on a stop or three before we get home honey, I think we should take advantage of having this pair out of the house for a few days. Maybe I can get Sandy to come over and keep Jason company…” she said trailing off as she winked at her youngest son.

“Ummm, that’s probably a good idea but I think…” Tommy began to interject.

“YEA!!!” Jason chimed in excitedly. “But I’ll need more Jimmy hats too,” he said ,looking at his mother expectantly.

“Don’t worry squirt, I gotcha there.”  Shanoa said smiling.  “And I think that we have some food waiting on us.”

“So, ummm, do we take the babies with us or…” Tommy asked trailing off as he looked to his wife then to her doctor for an answer.

“The nurses will be taking them down to the nursery to get a little nap in before it’s time for them to feed.”  Shanoa said smiling softly as a cat and dingo nurse walked into the room.

“Ohhh, okay” Tommy said a little hesitantly as he passed his son to the cat nurse. “I guess it’s time to get the little momma fed first so she can keep up her strength huh?” he asked smiling at the caracal.

“Sh….shure.”  Cat said as she handed the dingo nurse her daughter, pausing a moment before squeaking out, “the dingo took my baby.”

“HA.”  Shanoa barked out at the joke.  “That’s what….the fifth time today.”  The catwolf said laughing.  “Oh Joey….I know you have to hate me….but it’s funny every time.”

“Bite me.”  The dingo said shaking his head as he and the feline nurse walked out of the room with the twins.  “I will have you banned from the nursery if you walk past it and yell ‘oh god, there’s a dingo with the babies’ one more time.”

The moment the door closed behind the two nurses TIna burst out laughing, “oh God you really did that? I wish I had been here to see the reactions for that one.”

“I think that one of the moms there called security on me for it…..I was in my street clothes and on the way out when I did it….that was a hell of a story to tell James.”

Holding out his hands to his pretty wife Tommy said, “come on sweet lips, let’s go get you something to eat. Guess we better enjoy what time we have just the two of us while we can… things are about to be a lot different for us from now on.”

“Sounds good to me.”  Cat said purring as she was helped out of the bed and into the wheelchair that Shanoa had brought in.  “I could use a few bread sticks about now.”  She said with a little snicker.

Looking at her youngest son, insuring the boy was fast asleep Tina turned her attention back to the conversation with her daughter-in-laws doctor. “During our little impromptu meal you mentioned something about information regarding the… useless piece of meat that had a hand in giving me two beautiful grandchildren… care to expand on that now doctor Shanoa?”

“That I did, and I’m sure that you know that it’s not…..pretty.”  The catwolf said leaning back in her chair.  “I’m sure that you all heard about the murders that happened a little while back?”  She asked as she leaned forward, opening a small draw on her desk.

“Yes… we did,” Jaffrey said flatly. “And personally… I hoped that one of them was the useless son of a bitch that hurt that precious little caracal that my son has fallen in love with,” the older polecat male said with a sneer on his muzzle.

“He was one of them….though….he’s not dead….yet.”  She said pulling a folder out and handing it to the two.  “He’s locked up…..learning the hard way and repenting for the things that he has done.  This is all of his information….went back and checked things for genetic abnormalities and the like….nothing.”  She said smiling.  “And don’t worry….before he….meets his maker...I assure you he knows he fucked up.”

“It’s good to know that at least he hasn’t passed on any genetic problems that will come back to haunt my grandchildren or my son and daughter-in-law,” Tina said with a look on her face that only a mother could muster. “And I will take your word for it as far as him paying a suitable price for his deeds Shanoa, though I can’t imagine a price that is high enough for the trauma he must have caused her with his sick, twisted desires.”

“Oooooh the things that I did to him just to run the tests….ever have a bone marrow test?”  She said leaning back in her chair.  “That and he is making for a good little test subject for some other…..medical tests.”  She said reaching into her bag and pulling out an envelope.  “This is a little something from me.”  She said sliding them the envelope.

“Never had that test done, but I’ve heard it’s quite excruciating to endure,” Jeffrey said as a slightly evil grin crept onto his face.  “For my part… I hope you took your time and were through in your testing doctor. Though neither our son or his wife need to know of this, I’m certain it would please my son to know that the bastard that hurt his wife paid dearly for it,” he added as he took up the envelope and looked at it’s contents before passing it to his wife.

“For my part as well,” Tina said as she took the envelope from her husband. “they’ve moved beyond that part of her life and they’re happy together. They have two beautiful new babies and are a family now. Just as long as that piece of trash can’t cause them any problems I don’t care what happens to him,” she added as she glanced into the envelop, her eyes going a little wide at it’s contents. 

“It isn’t a lot….but….that, and me….That should get you and them some place.”  She said smiling and slouching back in her chair.

“What it will get them,” Tina said with a little giggle in her voice. “Is a good start on a college fund for my grandchildren. Which is exactly where it’s going tomorrow morning. Though I don't think I really want to know it’s origins, I have a feeling that it’s the one good thing the twins real father will ever do for them.”

“Something like that.”  Shanoa said with a little giggle.  “And don’t worry about the college thing…..that’s covered too.”

Eyeing the other woman oddly Tina said, “what do you mean that’s covered too?”

“Ummmm that it will be paid for when the time comes...is my english that bad?”  She asked cocking her head to the side a little.

“No…” Tina said trailing off for a moment. “I’m just a little confused on where that kind of money is coming from doctor. I highly doubt their biological father was that well off.”

“No.”  She said pausing for a moment.  “That’s coming from me.”  She said smiling warmly.  “I might be evil, but I’m not…..that evil.”

“May I ask why you feel compelled to do something so… extravagant?” Tina asked,  looking at the catwolf suspiciously

“Well.  It’s a bit of a story.”  She said leaning forward.  “I made a promise to a friend a long time ago that I would do everything that I could to help families….to keep things like what happened to her from happening again.”  She said pausing and taking a deep breath.  “That and I kinda get a little family envy.”  The catwolf said as her paw slipped up to rest on her belly absentmindedly.  

“I guess I can understand that, as one woman to another,” Tina said with a look of realization on her face. “Well, I believe we still have one son to get home and to bed Jeffrey,” she said turning to her husband. “And if she wasn’t blowing smoke up my ass to shut me up Sandra’s mother should be dropping the girl off in about an hour. We should be there to meet her so Jason has someone to keep him company for the next few days.”

“That whole going to bed thing is sounding nice.”  Shanoa said as she looked at her watche.  “Hey I got off work….two hours ago.”  She said turning in her chair.  “Nuuuuuuuuuuubs…..we’re going home.”  She said tossing a pillow at the napping doe.

“As are we,” Jeffery said rising to his footpaws and stretching a little.. Walking over to the small love seat where Jason lay sleeping he scooped the younger polecat up into his arms as he said, “come on champ, we need to get home and greet your cute little pudu when she gets there.”

“Okay…” the sleepy boy said in a whisper as he lay his head on his father’s shoulder. “Jimmy hats,” he muttered as a big grin spread across his muzzle.

“I remember, we’ll take care of it on the way home,” his father said with a little snicker as he headed towards the door to the hallway.

“I didn’t forget squirt.”  Shanoa said smiling and walking over to one of the many boxes that she had scattered in the office.  “A few boxes of diving suits to go.”  She said handing them to the mother polecat.  “And just remember, if you need anything….you have my number.”

“I’ll remember,” Tina said taking the boxes from her hand. “And as for that,” she added nodding towards the seemingly forgotten file on the doctors desk, “he’ll pay for his crimes, and he won’t cause problems for my children or my grandchildren. That’s all the information about that… person, I need to know. The rest is apparently insignificant at this point and it’s better that I know nothing more than I do.”

“Sounds good to me.”  She said taking the folder and putting it into the shredder.  “The past is the past and shall remaine lost to them.”  She said smiling and purring as she put an arm around Anna’s hips.  “See you all later.”

(day 2 at the hospital early morning)

The young couple lay cuddled together in the hospital bed, both starting to feel the effects of their new and still odd new routine. They both quickly figured out that it was a good idea to catch naps between the feedings of their newborns when they could. Something that Cat seemed to enjoy actually, being fortunate enough to have Tommy with her all the time and being able to snuggle up to him seemed to make it easier for her to drift off to sleep quicker.

As the pair lay entangled with each other, Tommy wrapping her in his arms almost protectively they were oblivious to the soft sound of the door being slowly opened and two small bassinets being wheeled into the room by the mornings charge nurses.

“You know….they are almost too cute to wake up.”  Joey said as he walked up to the mother and father caracal, softly nudging them.  “Mom, dad.  It’s time to get up, your little ones need something to eat.”

Slowly the mother caracal started to open her eyes slowly sitting up and nudging her sleeping mate up.  “The dingo...it came back to the scene of the crime.”  She said sleepily.

“Ok mom….am I going to have to ban Shanoa from here?”  He asked as he reached into one of the cribs, lifting out the little girl, carefully handing it to her mother, repeating the process with the little boy.  “There you go.”  He said, smiling at the sight of the mother, father and cubs.”

“I think that one might have been more my fault,” Tommy said rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “And I’m sorry she keeps giving you grief about being a dingo sir… it’s just you hear that old joke all the time and it kind of sticks in your head.”

“I’m just joking with you Mr. Joey.  I know that you wouldn’t steal my babies.”  Cat said smiling.  “And I tell you what.  We will be nice and leave the dingo jokes to Shanoa….and I’m sure that you could think of a way to get her back.”  She said with a little wink.

“Oh I know…..at least it’s someone new, making new jokes.”  He said smiling, “and don’t worry….I’m going to get her back….I’m thinking about taking her out….getting her a little….wasted on that saki stuff she drinks and then dying her pink or something.”

With a little yawn Tommy turned to his mate and asked, “so who’s up first this morning Cat? I’ll take care of the changing and all for the other one while you take care of the feedings.”

“It’s Amanda’s turn to go first.”  She said smiling as she tugged the front of her shirt down and carefully guided the baby’s lips to her nipple, letting out a little squeak as she felt her latching on and starting to feed.

“Okay Sam the man,” Tommy said with a big grin as he bent down and scooped his son from the bed into his arms. “Guess it’s guy time this morning while your sister gets breakfast.” Cradling the infant in one arm he grabbed a clean receiving blanket and the rest of the supplies from the small table beside the bed. After spreading the little blanket out with one hand, something he was getting good at rather quickly, he gently lay his son down and began to unwrap him from his warm little cocoon. “I gotta tell you my boy,” he whispered to the small child before him, “I’m a little bit jealous of you and our sister, you two get more boob time than I do these days.”

Snickering and rolling her eyes.  “You say that now….but when they get a little bit bigger you will get them back.”  Cat said poking her tongue out.  “Right now, lefty is for Amanda, and righty is Sam’s.”

Looking his lover in the eyes the polecat grinned and said, “looking forward to it sweet nips. And between now and then I’ll have to think something up really special to celebrate the occasion. In the mean time,” he said as he removed his sons diaper and used a couple of wipes to clean the boys rump and genitals gently but thoroughly, “I have something a bit simpler in mind for your mother when I get to take you three home. I believe she wanted one of daddy’s special baths when she gots to go home from here. That is if you two can be good for a little bit and let me take care of mommy.” 

“Oh god yes.  A nice hot bath….a good soak.”  Cat said smiling and stroking Amanda’s cheek.  “It will be nice to get clean and not smell like this place...though the flowers Shanoa brought help that.”  She said as she looked down at her daughter.  “All done there princess?”

“I know what you mean… this place does have a weird smell to it and it gets everywhere,” the polecat said putting a clean diaper on his son and swaddling him up in the clean little blanket. “I think I’ll need that soak as much as you will when we get out of here.” Carefully scooping his son into his arms Tommy walked up close to where Cat lay propped up. “Okay little man, I think you’re up for breakfast now,” he said laying the infant in his mother’s right arm and taking his daughter from the caracals left one. “Now little princess, we need to get you cleaned up and smelling as pretty as you look.”

“And I can’t wait for the little one’s to see the house...and their room.”  Cat said, smiling down at the her fluffy little son as he started feeding.  “And your family….cause you know that they will all swarm the house to see the little additions.”

“If I remember what mom said, she’s told everyone to give us at least a couple of days to get settled a little bit first,” Tommy said spreading out another of the clean receiving blankets on the foot of the bed.. “But after that, expect either total chaos… or a steady stream of family that’ll last for a week or longer.”

“Well I’m sure that by then, we will be used to the chaos and all that….or at least sleep deprived enough to have reached that higher plane.”  She said smiling as she looked down at the foot of the bed, watching Tommy changing his daughter.

“Well the sleep deprived may not be so bad… we have gotten pretty good  at slipping in naps when the babies go down for theirs,” Tommy said as he cleaned up his daughter and put a clean diaper on her. Shaking his head a little he giggled and muttered, “this is a little weird.”

“Yes…..I thought that you would have lost your lunch doing that.”  Cat said with a little giggle.  “I’m proud of you dad….not barfing on the babies.”  She said pausing a moment, “but it is a little weird, but it feels right.”

“Thanks…” Tommy said as he swaddled his little girl back into her tight warm little bundle. “But that’s not what seems a little weird. It’s… well usually I’m working on getting a certain caracal girl out of her clothes for an entirely different reason. Just seems a little weird to be taking my little girl out of hers is all.”

“Well….you’re a father now….that’s just something that comes with being a dad.”  She said smiling, “and if you’re worried about it, you will be getting me out of my clothes to.”  Cat said smiling and looking down at her son, leaning in, kissing his nose.  “All full.”

“Okay princess,” Tommy said scooping up his daughter and then nodding for Cat to put their son in his other arm. “Now it’s your turn mom, go ahead and get yourself a little freshened up while I take care of these two,” he said walking over to the big wooden rocking chair that had been brought into the room the night before. Settling himself in as best he could he brought both babies up to his shoulders and began to pat them gently on the back as he rocked. “Go on sweet lips, you need a little time for yourself this morning. I got this for now, and the nurses will be checking on us in a few minutes anyway.”

“Sounds good to me.  I’m just going to rinse off.”  She said, smiling and purring at the sight of her husband burping and caring for their little ones.  Slipping off to the bathroom, she let the gown fall to the floor as she turned on the hot water.  As she waited for the water to heat up, she looked herself over in the mirror, considering she just had twins, she looked good, she did have a little tummy left, but she liked it.  Once the water was good she slipped in and just let the hot water run over her hair and fur, washing stress away as she did.

After he had both of his babies burped and happy Tommy carefully lay them in the bend of the leg he had crooked and resting on the other  leg. Looking down at the cubs… his cubs, a huge smile came to his face. “You know…” he started to say as he tenderly stroked their cheeks with his fingers. “You two are pretty lucky, you have a really great mom, even if she is kind of young for the job.” Looking around the room for a moment he chuckled as his gaze fell on the tiny infants in his lap again as they stared up at him. “okay, let’s get this out of the way once and for all. I may not be the guy that made you two with your mother, but as far as she or I am concerned I am your dad. Nothing will ever change that, not now, not ever. I don’t have a damn clue what I’m doing here, and I fully expect to screw up at least a little along the way. Just bare with me and I promise you both, I will do the best I can to take care of you and your mom. I love her with all my heart, and that goes for the two of you as well. You’re my son and my daughter and no one will ever prove otherwise to me. Just… be patient with me when I get a little over protective or overbearing okay?”

“And don’t forget just how great your dad is too.”  Cat said with a little snicker as she walked out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel.  “And Tommy….I know that they are smart babies and all, but I’m not sure they get what you mean just yet….give it a year or two and then warn them about being overbearing.”  Cat said as she slipped into a gown and then made her way back to the bed, sitting on the edge and watching him rock the twins.  “And Tommy….you made them too….your sperm went in there and just kicked….that guy’s…..”  She said nodding.

Looking his lover in the eyes deeply Tommy said, “Catherine, I’m not going to lie to myself about the fact that I am not their biological father. I don’t have a problem with that at all honey. I just… I wanted, no I needed to tell them that now, before they really understand what any of it means and have it done with. Doctor Shanoa said no one would ever really know about it, and I’m never going to tell them otherwise besides right now. They are my babies, our babies and nothing and no one will ever prove otherwise. I guess..” he said trailing off for a moment, seemingly in deep thought about what he was trying to say. “I think my dad said it right, any guy can be a sperm donor, it takes a lot more to be a father, and I promise you, and them, that I will be the best father to our son and my daughter that I can be.”

“And.”  Cat said smiling, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as the polecat got up and joined her, sitting beside her on the bed.  “I will be the best mother that I can be to our children….and the best wife to the best husband there is.”  She said, leaning in a little and wrapping her arm around his shoulder.  “And….I’m all for taking every step with you, Amanda and Sam hand in hand.”

“Just like a family should,” Tommy said smiling at his lovely wife. “Well, guess we have a bit before they check on us. So why don’t the four of us see about maybe catching a little nap together… whatta ya say kiddos?” 

“I like that idea.”  Cat said smiling and purring.  “Come on snuggle bug, lets get them snuggled up and sleeping and then we can do the same.”  She said scooping up her little girl, starting to rock a little, humming a little tune.