by Jessica Snow
"He's so tiny!" she remarked, reaching out with her hand. She stopped until Melanie nodded her assent. Reaching forward, Kimberly took the infant's hand in her finger, pleased when he reached out and pulled on her index finger strongly. "Nice grip there, little guy."
"He's beautiful," Edward said quietly, coming around to stand next to Kimberly. "Amazing."
"I'm just happy he came as fast as he did," Melanie said as she picked up Jay and handed him to Keith. The tiny baby looked barely larger than his father's hand, and Keith held him carefully in his arms, staring down at his son. "You may call him tiny Kim, but it certainly didn't feel that way coming out."
Kimberly nodded and looked at her Sister. She noticed for the first time that Melanie's face was very pale, and there was an IV line running into her left wrist. "How are you doing, Mel?"
"Exhausted mostly," Melanie replied. "Jay didn't come as easily as the doctors had hoped. Nothing permanent, just we're going to have to be careful. Next one might need to come out another way. Seems I'm not able to handle twelve-pound babies too comfortably."
"Twelve pounds?" Edward said, surprised. He looked at Jay, who was nestling comfortably against his father, and whistled in appreciation. “He’s as big as I was.”
"More likely twelve kilograms," Melanie said quietly, before laughing. "Or maybe you just had one hell of a growth spurt?"
"Pretty much. Aklark children tend to be normal sized until we're about five or six. Then we really shoot up."
Keith groaned. "Noted. Five years after you two have a baby, make sure to triple the Lockwood investments in farming, or else your child eats us out of the house and home."
Kimberly waved off the joking men and turned her attention to Melanie. You seriously are all right?
Yeah. It hurt like hell, but I'm okay. The IV is just a precaution, mostly a glucose and antibiotic drip. The doc said I had a bit more blood in my afterbirth than he wanted, but it's stopped. I'll be in here for a day or two, then you'll have me back at home.
Is there anything I can do?
Melanie shook her head then stopped, and nodded. Yeah. About a week from now, I'm going to want to start getting back in shape. Think you mind helping out?
Try and stop me. But you have to make me a promise.
What's that?
When it's my turn, you do the same for me?
Deal.
The two women turned their attention to their Mates, watching in good humor as both men stood next to each other, their heads almost touching, entranced by the tiny little miracle in their arms. Keith had opened up the blanket a little more, and Edward was reaching down, stroking Jay's cheek. "I've been around for a few decades now," Edward said quietly, smiling as Jay turned his face and rubbed his cheek against the massive fingertip, "and I've seen newborns before, but’s a lot different when he's in your own family."
"I agree," Keith said quietly. "I love you, little Jay."
Jay turned his face to his father and smiled momentarily before his face screwed up, and he started to cry. Melanie chuckled and held out her arms. "I agree, Jay. Daddy is very good at holding you, but you're hungry and sleepy. I think Mommy works best for that."
"You look tired too," Edward said. "Would you like to get some sleep?"
"Maybe a bit," Melanie said. "You guys don't have to go, though. It's nice having my family here."
Keith, Edward, and Kimberly sat quietly, and within ten minutes both mother and baby had fallen asleep, Jay nestled against his mother's left breast, listening to her heartbeat. The nurse, who until then had been a ghost in the background, came forward. "I'm sorry Lord Lockwood, but it really would be best if you let Lady Melanie sleep a while. I suggest you go get some dinner, it's past seven in the evening."
Keith nodded and stood up, gathering Edward and Kimberly with him. "So where are we getting food?"
"Delivery," Kimberly replied almost instantaneously. "We're staying here for the next few hours at least. I just want to make sure she's okay."
"I can do that," Edward said. "But I could use a stretch. Would you guys mind if I ran down the street to get something from the fried chicken place down the block instead?"
Keith nodded and pulled out his cash clip. "You need any money?"
Edward patted his pockets and shook his head. "Nah, I'm good. I figure I have enough for forty pieces with sides. We'll be good."
Keith chuckled. "Forty pieces. I might need to increase our agricultural investments faster than just for your child, Edward."
Edward chuckled and left, leaving Keith and Kimberly alone in the waiting room. Kim came over and hugged her brother. "Congratulations, Keith. He really is awesome."
"You know he's as much yours as mine," Keith replied, hugging his sister back. He shuddered and let loose the fear that had been in him. "There was so much blood Kim, so much blood."
"It's okay," Kimberly replied. "Melanie's fine, we can still feel her now. Jay too, I bet. You can feel him?"
"Yeah," Keith replied, shivering as the last of his fear left him. He pulled back, and tilted his head, looking down at his sister. "Kim, is there something you want to tell me?"
Kimberly shook her head, confused. "No, why?"
Keith blinked and touched his sister's belly. "Just.... something seemed different about your Link with me. You sure you're feeling okay?"
"Yeah, just fine. Now, don't get over-excited just because your Mate just had a baby. I doubt Edward and I are in line just yet."
Keith cocked his eyebrow but nodded. "Okay. So, what's on TV?"
"Little House on the Prairie."
Keith rolled his eyes and plopped down on the seat behind him.
Chapter 46
"Congratulations on the birth of Jay," Akiko said over the video link as she adjusted her camera. "My only regret was that I could not have been there for his birth."
"You were quite busy, from what Keith tells me," Melanie replied as she held Jay in her arms. "Apparently you've made some progress on repairing the Great Rift?"
"I have," Akiko replied. "It's a tenuous bridge, but I think so. I had to go through my brother in Japan, who has trading partners in Europe. Using those connections and a few of the other traditional Thornblood allies, I’ve been able to talk to some of the Alpha Females in a few of the European houses."
"Akiko, explain this Great Rift to me please. I understand it has something to do with the American Revolution, but it would seem in all the years since then that the Rift would have healed. After all, if Britain and the USA can be allies again, why not the North American and the European Clans?"
"Houses, my Sister. Only in Scotland and Ireland to the Lycans refer to themselves as Clans. We adopted that system in America because of the strength of the Irish and Scottish Clans that settled here first. As for the Great Rift, basically it comes down to most of the European Houses were supporters of the status quo in Europe circa seventeen seventy-six. Despite the fact that North America was settled by what was more or less the leftover refuse of the European Houses, they thought that the Clans would support their point of view, which was Loyalist to the British Crown. When most of the Clans, including yours I might add, joined instead with the Colonials, it tipped the balance of power in favor of the Colonists. Lycan warriors slaughtered Redcoats on a massive scale, especially every time the British left their strongholds of Boston or New York. Of course, the history gives credit to Colonial sharpshooters, but most were actually Lycans."
"Okay, so I get why the British Houses might have cause for being pissed off two hundred years ago, but that doesn't explain now."
Akiko shrugged. "The American Revolution was the domino that tipped over the European system as well. The French Revolution was just the beginning. Houses that had stood powerfully in the shadows, and sometimes not in the shadows even, for hundreds of years, dating back to the time of Charlemagne or even the Caesars, found themselves destitute and hunted by the emboldened kinbushi. Losing that amount of wealth and power, and turning Hous
e against House in the wars of the upcoming century and a half was quite the blow. Add in that most of the European Houses make Clan Thornblood look like raging liberals, and you get the problem."
"Which made you the perfect person to start and heal that rift. Non-American Alpha Female originally from an Asian Clan, once considered very conservative. Impressive. So what have you been able to discern from them?"
"They’re willing to meet with Keith and Kimberly, as they see them as the leaders of this war on the American side. But they will only do it at Thornblood Hall. In the meantime, their agents within Interpol have agreed to share what information they have with you. Be glad the House in charge of Interpol infiltration and information gathering is French. Their Alpha was moved by the romance of your situation. I don’t want to repeat what some of the British and Russian Houses said about things."
"I bet," Melanie deadpanned. "But I don't care about that, I care about results. Thank you, Akiko. I’ll have Kimberly connect our systems to set up the transfer tonight. Can you have Owen Tchernova assist on your end?"
"He's already set things up," Akiko said. "He’ll send you detailed instructions, you can probably do it yourself if you want. Owen's quite good at simplifying instructions for people like me, who grew up in the non-Internet generation. You'd get along easily."
"That sounds fine then, link him in when we are done talking," Melanie replied. "Kimberly and Edward are busy right now anyway."
"Oh?" Akiko commented, arching a regal eyebrow.
Melanie read her meaning and laughed. "Not that. Keith had a weird feeling right after Jay was born through his Link with her, and wanted Kim to go in for a checkup and everything. Edward is along for the ride, although I think they also planned to do some shopping before the appointment. Edward's getting his workout equipment soon. Keith and I decided to clear out a very large space in one of the Lockwood owned buildings and making it into a space for all Lockwoods, but especially him, to use as they wish."
"I hope they reinforced the floor of the basement," Akiko joked. "Kimberly told me some of the numbers Edward claims. It might have been easier to just have him pick up cars for fun."
"Actually, if I remember right some of the parts are coming from a foundry, using some sort of high strength alloy that is used in building skyscrapers or something like that. Edward started geeking out about it, quoting me A99-this and maraging that, but I kind of tuned it out. He just sounded like a kid in a candy store when he was talking about it this morning at breakfast, I couldn't bear to tell him I had no idea what the hell he was talking about."
Akiko laughed. "I can see his point. Some of the younger Lycans in Clan Thornblood often complain to the elders that they want more challenge and that exercise equipment is too expensive. We at least are able to use commercially produced equipment, we just have to order a lot of it. I wonder what he did in Canada?"
"Apparently dragged trees through the woods and snow," Melanie replied. "I'd hate to think of the amount of power it would take to drag a thirty or forty foot long tree through deep snow."
Akiko shook her head, not knowing either. "Well, I hope he enjoys it. But I don't want to hear about him, I would like to hear about my little Jay. How’s he doing?"
“He's doing great. He's very energetic, but he sleeps well at night. Seriously, I'm getting five or more continuous hours of sleep a night. With Keith agreeing to take care of him for diaper changes and stuff like that half the time, I'm actually sleeping more than I was before I had him. Even feeding him is easy."
"Oh, what do you do?" Akiko asked. "I brought Kensuke to bed with me and Nioclas for the first year he was alive. When he needed milk, it was right there for him."
Melanie chuckled and nodded. "Me and Keith too. The baby room is mostly for storing his clothes and things like that right now. By the way, I love the little outfit you sent. A jinbei, right? It's great, Jay loves it. And of course the red, black and brown work so well together."
"I'm glad. You’re still using the kimonos I sent you, I hope?"
Melanie nodded. "I plan on wearing the formal one when I come and visit you at Thornblood Hall. Tell me, when do these European Alphas wish to meet?"
Akiko's smiled faded, and she shook her head. "Ideally they would like to meet within a week. I doubt that you or Jay would be ready for such a strenuous journey so quickly. Two weeks post-birth is not the best time to travel a thousand miles, no matter how it’s done."
Melanie sighed and nodded. "You're probably right. Well, until then, I'll still be there via video conference, and I'm getting myself back into shape too. When Jay and I can come to visit, I promise you I'll be only half the size I was the last time you saw me."
"I'm sure you’ll be as beautiful as ever. I'll let you in on a secret that your Mate might not know. Since you share his life force, you’ll also find that your body will bounce back from your pregnancy quickly. I've helped a few of the Thornblood non-Lycan women, and they all reported that to me. No stretch marks either."
Jay squirmed in his mother's arms, opening his eyes to blink up at her calmly before turning his head towards the sound of the video. Melanie looked down and smiled at her son. Hey little guy. Good nap?
Love and agreement poured back over the Link, and Melanie smiled. She could sense the question in his thoughts, and she picked him up to look at the screen. She had read he was still too young to be able to focus, but it couldn't hurt. That's your Aunt Akiko.
Taking Jay's little hand in hers, she mimicked the baby waving, and was rewarded by seeing Akiko's smile widen and her eyes glisten. "Kawaii, Sister. He's adorable. I look forward to visiting soon."
“I look forward to it. I'll pass along the information to Keith, and I'll be ready to get the data link setup with Owen as soon as he wants."
"Of course. Just remember, Sister, your number one job is that little bundle in your arms right now."
"That's what all this is for, isn't it?"
Chapter 47
"Lady Lockwood?"
Kimberly was sitting in a standard examination room of the Lockwood clinic, Edward standing next to her after he had figured out he was far too large for the chair in the room. The doctor, an older human male who wasn't mated to a Lycan but was still a trusted confidant, adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Sorry it took so long."
"I'm sure you had a reason, Doc. So what did you find?" Edward said, holding Kimberly's hand. She had been feeling a bit ill since coming into the exam room, and her skin was slightly pale. You sure you’re okay?
Just the smell, I promise. Let's find out what's up.
"Well, we had to say your description of symptoms was pretty vague, although since it was your twin brother who had the feeling, I had to give it some weight. Sorry that involved so many pokings and proddings, I know gathering all the samples was a bit painful at times. In any case, the labs have come back, and you’re in perfect health. Even better than perfect, in fact."
Kimberly shook her head. "What do you mean, better than perfect?"
The doctor smiled and handed her the clipboard. "Congratulations, Lady Lockwood. It seems like you’re not that far behind your brother in terms of having a child."
Kimberly and Edward looked at the printout, where the doctor had circled a section on the paper. The words were clear and highlighted in pink. "Really?" Kimberly asked. "But there's been no morning sickness, no feelings of change, none of the signs...."
"I think that may be to the unique circumstances of your pregnancy," the doctor replied. "Lord Stormstout...."
"Hold on," Edward interrupted. "I'm nobody's Lord. Edward, okay? God, I feel like I should be wearing an ascot or something with half the people I see calling me Lord Stormstout. Don't you jump in on it too, you're not even Lycan. Edward, okay?"
The doctor nodded. "Okay Edward. In any case, due to the unique circumstances of your Mating with Lady.... sorry, I guess I'll just keep it simple, with Kimberly, things are progressing differently. If I may ask, your people, the Arkl
ak?"
"Aklark, but go ahead," Edward corrected. "What about us?"
"Well, the Aklark live near another Lycan Clan, the Kenai, if my notes on your background are correct. You've lived in peace for two generations. In that amount of time, has there ever been another hybrid Lycan and Aklark?"
"No," Edward replied. "While there was peace, the Kenai and Aklark aren't exactly super social. We each tend to keep to ourselves. Ah, Kimberly's kind of special that way."
"You seem to be as well, Edward. In any case, I can say for certain you are pregnant Kimberly, but without further tests, I can’t say exactly how far along. You said your last menstrual flow was nearly one month ago, so it could be just a few weeks or even more than a month. Some women, regular human women that is, have a false flow for a month or two even. They call it spotting. If you don't mind, I'd like to have you come in for a checkup in two or three weeks. By then I should be able to get an ultrasound and give you a better estimate of how far along you are, and an estimate of a date of birth. But since we are dealing with a hybrid, it's only going to be a guess. You could be ready early like Lady Melanie, or you could take longer."
Kimberly nodded. "Then it seems my work must get done faster. I'm not bringing a child into a war."
"Our work," Edward said, sweeping Kimberly up in a hug. "Our work, my love. Come on, let's tell the family. Or are you already?"
Kimberly blinked, surprised. She hadn't even thought of it. "I don't know. It might be more fun to surprise them. Doctor, can you keep this a secret from Keith for a few hours?"
The doctor mock frowned. "Lord Lockwood is the Alpha Male of this Clan, but that doesn’t entitle him to medical information about all the Lockwoods. But I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the assistants let it slip, so I’d suggest you not dilly dally. If you do wait too long, you’re liable to come home to a large banner strung across the lobby of the Tower."