Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

Frowning, Aurélie reached for him. "Es-tu bien, mon coeur?" The baby wouldn't stop moving; it was beginning to hurt and kept her from getting out of the car.

He grabbed her hand, pulled her out of the seat, using his other hand to support her back. "Of course I am. You think I'd-" That's when he noticed it: her seat was soaked, as was her bottom. His eyes widened in realization. "Cross!" he called to him. "You better make that two! She's going in!"

"Great," Cross grumbled. Thankfully, Sol and Mani had brought up two, already familiar with a situation like this.

She glared at him. "I didn't tell you to 'elp me out," she said under her breath. It was mortifying... She'd almost thought she'd wet herself until the pain had started. "I don't need a stretcher..."

"Childbirth is a delicate process," Mani countered, coming to their side. "Even still, a stretcher is a bit much, so I brought a wheelchair, instead." She unfolded the vehicle, guided Aurélie into it.

Nova scratched his head. "...Sorry. I guess I just got..."

"...Too worked up? Don't worry, you're not the first, and you won't be the last."

The dog sighed, shifting in the chair. "I can walk," she grumbled and suddenly squeezed Nova's hand as tightly as she could

Nova groaned in surprise, but resisting squeezing back in fear of breaking her hand.

"You're already going through contractions," Mani told the dog, pushing to the elevator, Nova following by the hand. "You're not walking anywhere in your condition, even if you wanted to." She turned her head to Sol and Cross, who just finished loading Crescent on the stretcher. "Take her to my room, and administer first aid. I'll be with her when I'm done here."

"It is all the... excitement," she said through gritted teeth. "It is too early." The contractions should be stopped, but with her water broke... It wasn't safe for the baby.

"It happens, sometimes. We don't have any choice, now." As soon as they reached the elevator, the doors opened, and they moved in, doors closing behind them.

She released Nova's hand as the contraction eased. "Désolé..."

Nova sighed, flexing his squeezed hand. "Don't worry. Just the first of things to come, I guess."

"So, you're ready for all the 'things to come,' huh?" Mani mused.

"Well, yeah. I've seen enough stuff on TV to have an idea of what's coming."

"Keyword: TV. You can prepare all you want, but you'll never be ready for this."

The dog sighed. "It'll be a few hours of waiting..."

The elevator bell rang, and they moved out of the open door, into an area that had the look and feel of a hospital. "Then, we'll just have to wait it out," the hedgefox said. "But, one way or another, you're giving birth, today. By the way, how early is it?"

"Two and a half weeks," Nova answered.

"Not bad. I've handled cases at four weeks or more. You're in good hands."

"Fine..." She wasn't looking forward to going through hours of contractions...

"Don't worry," Nova said, placing a hand over hers. "I'll be by your side every step of the way."

"Of course you are," Mani said. "You have to make the delivery."

"...Say wha?" The wolf raised an eyebrow at the hedgefox.

"I'm just here to make her comfortable. You're the one doing the work. That was the conditions of our bet, or have you forgotten?"

Aurélie looked up slowly, eyes glittering with venom. "Nova, am I going to have to really break your 'and during this or is she joking?"

Nova looked back at Aurélie, pure fear in his eyes. "O-o-of course she's kidding! C-c'mon, Mani, that's not-not exac-that's not funny!" He looked back up at Mani with desperately pleading eyes.

The hedgefox brought a hand to her mouth, covering her silent laugh. "Oh, all right. Since you seem so desperate, and I'll never see a look like this on you again, for a while, I suppose I can let it slide this time."

He sighed greatly. "Thank you, Mani. You had me thinking you were serious, for a sec."

"However, you have to stay in the room at all times, preferably by her side. If I ask you to do something, you do it, no questions asked."

"Done."

"Bonne," the dog snapped, then eyed Mani, the venom still there. "And you would dare allow an man 'oo cannot win a bet for anything bet on my delivery?"

Mani shrugged. "Not on your delivery, per se. It was a long time ago, long before you got involved. If I knew you'd react like that, I'd have left it alone. Sorry."

"So it wasn't a recent bet..." She nodded. "Bonne. You're forgiven." She sighed, rubbing her belly. It was still moving... Why wouldn't the baby settle down? It should have stilled by this point... She barely managed to stop herself from crying out when the next contraction hit. The contractions were entirely too close together.

They moved into a room that mirrored a hospital's delivery room, where Mani rolled Aurélie to the bed. "One sec." She crossed the room, traded her winter coat for an apron and gloves, grabbing a stethoscope as well. "Did you get an ultrasound?"

"Of course," she wheezed, concentrating on the answer rather than the pain. "A few of them. We never saw the monitor and we were assured that the baby was 'ealthy..." But it was eager to come out.

"Oh, that's not why I asked. So, you don't know what's going on inside you, huh?" She placed the stethoscope on Aurélie's belly, moving it multiple times.

"What're you gettin' at?" Nova asked, a little impatient.

After a moment, Mani nodded. "Just as I thought. You're carrying twins."

Aurélie stared. "That isn't funny."

"That wasn't a joke," Mani stated seriously. "That's probably why they won't sit still. They might be competing for who'll come first."

"Bof... How do... Are you sure?"