“Pups!” Wolf wanted to howl with joy. He walked over and sniffed his mate. She was asleep and the pups were quiet. He walked out of the room and checked the hall for danger. He didn’t find any, but this wasn’t his den. Not his territory. He nosed his way back into the room and curled up on the floor. “Pups!” he thought again as he went to sleep.
*
Ginny and Patrick cleared the work roster and closed down the business for the week. They both knew that work would be the last thing on anyone’s mind. Then they headed to the hospital. Cal promised to feed Fezzik and Buttercup. Peter and Kevin headed over to give ‘Solda a hand to make sure the house was clean and ready for their return after the babies were born. Ginny had also promised to call Sam, Angie and George the minute there was any news.
“Where are you headed?” Ginny asked Patrick when they didn’t turn towards the hospital.
“Our favorite burger joint. I’m picking up food for Luc. You and I both know he has totally forgotten about eating. Last thing we need is a worried hungry new father,” said Patrick.
Ginny nodded and laughed.
Forty minutes later, they pulled into the hospital parking lot. Ginny grabbed the bag full of burgers and they headed inside. It didn’t take long to figure out where Meg was. Luc was outside the door pacing.
“Hey Luc, how is Meg doing?” asked Ginny.
“She’s dilated and Jeff is checking things out. I got told to leave the room,” said Luc.
Ginny looked at Luc. “Were you growling?” she asked.
Luc went red around the ears. “I can’t help it!” he said.
“Dad was never good around Mom when she was in labor either,” said Patrick. “How about you eat some of this food we brought you.” He handed the bag to Luc.
Luc looked into the bag and smiled. “Oh man, just what I needed,” he said as he sat down and started to devour a burger.
“Figured you might be hungry. We’ve got work taken care of and ‘Solda’s cleaning house with Kevin and Peter. Oh, and we’ve called all the gossips so that they will pass out the news as it happens,” teased Patrick.
Luc laughed around a mouthful and nodded. He knew that once a few people knew, the whole pack or family would know in minutes. He finished off the first burger and started on a second one.
Ginny slipped into the room as Luc ate and Patrick kept him occupied. She waved at Meg who was holding onto a nurses hand as Jeff was poking and prodding.
“Don’t just stand there,” said Martha from the other side of Meg. “Come hold her hand while I get some circulation back in mine.”
Ginny laughed and walked around to the far side. “How’s it going Meg,” she said.
“Tired. Felt better, and oh do they mean labor when they call it labor,” Meg gasped. She panted through a contraction.
“Good work Meg,” said Jeff. “Keep it up and you should have a baby in about three more pushes.”
“Go get Luc,” said Meg. There was no way he was going to be out in the hall no matter how much he growled.
Jeff nodded and the other nurse let go of Meg’s hand and went to get Luc. Luc and Patrick came back in with the nurse. Luc took Meg’s hand and held it. Patrick stood off to one side and waved at Meg. She nodded a hello and went back to pushing.
“Good thing she’s not a shifter. As hard as she’s been squeezing my hand, I’d have broken fingers,” said Ginny.
“Hon, I worked maternity in regular hospitals for years. One gal broke her husband’s arm she squeezed so tight,” said Martha. “Broken fingers are nothing.”
Jeff nodded. “Get fingers caught between things all the time,” he said. “Meg, Push. I can see the first one’s head.”
Meg drew as deep a breath as she could and when the next contraction came, she pushed. Luc stroked her head and was murmuring something to her and Meg nearly curled up with her knees to her nose as she pushed.
“Ahhhhh!” came a muffled cry from Meg.
“Keep going!” said Jeff.
“You can do this Meg,” said Ginny. She felt a bone pop in her hand.
Martha moved in quickly as Jeff guided the first baby into the world. A quick shift of the hands and the baby slid free of Meg. Jeff clamped the cord and then put the baby on Meg’s chest. The baby cried softly.
“This one is a girl,” Jeff said. “Next one in about two minutes.”
Meg looked down at their baby. She kissed the bloody little head. Luc sniffed the baby and then touched her back. Then Meg felt the next contraction.
“Martha,” Meg squeaked.
“Hold on a second,” said Martha as she gathered the first baby up and took her off to be weighed and measured. She also took a glance at Jeff who was ready for the next one.
“Push Meg. We’re nearly done. Just push,” he said.
Meg nodded and pushed with the contraction. This was the hardest thing she had ever done. Exhausted and exhilarate all at the same time. She felt that burn as the head pushed through the birth canal and then the relief as the baby was born. She closed her eyes as she heard the baby cry. Tears ran down her face too.
“And this one is a boy,” said Jeff. He placed the baby on Meg’s chest as he had the first one. Meg opened her eyes, and kissed his head. Luc sniffed the baby and then took the blanket from Jeff to wrap him up. He carried the baby off to where Martha was making his daughter fuss and cry.
“Now let’s tend to you,” said Jeff. “We have two afterbirths and then you are all done. Both babies look healthy.”