by L. M. Brown
“What is it?” Logan asked.
“A sealer,” Halor replied.
“Oh, of course. I guess that was a stupid question, right?”
Halor smiled. “It does have a proper technical name, but everyone just calls them sealers. Um…”
“What?”
“It’s going to hurt like hell,” Halor admitted.
Another yowl from Kit echoed through the ship.
Logan shrugged. “I’m pretty sure whatever that sealer feels like, it isn’t going to be anything like as bad as what our Kit is going through right now.”
“Good point,” Halor said, and with no further comment, he pointed the device at Logan’s chest and turned it on.
Logan shot back at the burning sensation, only to hit the counter.
Halor grabbed his shoulder to hold him in place as he traced each of the gashes. By the time he reached the end of the first, tears streamed down Logan’s face.
“Please hurry,” Logan begged.
“If I go any faster, I’ll have to go over them more than once,” Halor explained. “It’ll be over soon.”
Kit cried out again, which was quickly followed by Darcy calling for them to hurry back.
“We need to get back to Kit,” Logan said.
“I’m going as fast as I can.”
“Can’t we finish this there?”
Halor shook his head. “The scent of your blood will only aggravate Kit even more. Animal instincts, remember? You’ll need to wash up before you come back in. Take off your kilt too.”
“I’d better put a clean one on if I don’t want Darcy to castrate me.”
“And we wouldn’t want that,” Halor teased.
Logan groaned as Halor used his free hand to swiftly grope him under the kilt in question. “Halor, this isn’t really the time,” Logan pointed out.
Halor ignored him and continued to stroke him.
Logan closed his eyes and gripped the edge of the counter.
Suddenly Halor’s hand was gone.
“What the hell?” Logan asked. “Why did you stop?”
Halor grinned. “Kit, remember?”
Logan glanced down at his chest and saw all the gashes had been closed with the sealer. The four scars were an angry red but no longer bleeding. “You’re done?”
“Of course.”
“I didn’t even notice.”
“I know. You were distracted.” Halor grabbed a couple of damp cloths, used one to wipe his own hands and passed the other to Logan. “Clean up quickly.”
Logan didn’t know whether to be grateful that Halor had distracted him with half of a hand job or annoyed. Either way, Kit needed them, so he swiftly cleaned up. By the time he was done, Halor had cleaned himself and fetched Logan a change of clothes. Logan stripped off, leaving his blood-stained kilt on the floor, and pulled on the replacement as he ran back to the bedchamber.
“It’s too quiet,” Logan said.
Halor pushed through the door with Logan following at his heels.
“Kit!” Logan’s progress was halted by Darcy.
“It’s about time. Here. Hold your son. I’ve cut the cord and he’s breathing okay, but I’ve not had time to wash him because the second one is already on the way.”
Logan’s arms were immediately filled with the small bundle his sister passed to him.
On the bed, Kit cried out again and Halor flew to his side, though Logan could see he kept a close eye on Kit’s claws. “You’re doing wonderfully.”
Logan divided his attention between the baby in his arms and the trio at the bed. “He’s so small,” he commented, more to himself than anyone else. “I never realised babies were quite so tiny.”
Darcy replied without taking her eyes off Kit. “They aren’t, usually. Twins are often smaller anyway, but from what I’ve read up on the ship’s database, Kit’s species have smaller babies generally, perhaps because they frequently have multiple births.”
Kit cried out again.
“That’s it, Kit,” Darcy encouraged. “Now push. One more push, Kit. You can do it.”
“You’re nearly there,” Halor added.
The baby in Logan’s arms gave a small gurgling noise. “That’s right. Your baby brother is about to join you,” he said.
A few minutes later, the brother in question gave a loud cry, announcing his arrival in the world the only way he could. Logan looked up to see Darcy holding his second son, checking him over.
“Well done, Kit,” Halor said. “I’m so proud of you.”
Darcy gave Halor an impatient look. “Don’t just sit there. Come over here and help. You can hold him while I clamp and cut the cord.”
Halor hurried to comply and once Darcy had done what she needed to, she turned back to Kit, who was eagerly straining to see his sons.
Logan stepped closer but Darcy nudged him out of the way before he reached Kit. Logan, who had never been in a delivery room in his life, had been under the mistaken impression that Kit’s labour was now over. Thankfully, his sister was more knowledgeable.
“He’s not done yet,” Darcy said. “He needs to deliver the placenta—or both of them, if they’re not fused. Honestly, Logan, didn’t you read up on anything about births on the journey?”
“I thought we’d be on Furyne by the time he went into labour,” Logan reminded her. “I was researching babies and caring for them.”
Darcy sighed as she administered an injection to Kit, muttering under her breath that she hoped he didn’t have a bad reaction to it before assuring him that he was nearly done and with a little more effort, the final stage would be over and he could meet his sons.
With sweat pouring off him, Kit pushed again until finally Darcy declared him finished.
Logan smiled at Kit, who only had eyes for the bundles Logan and Halor held in their arms.
Darcy, still clearing things up, tried to stay out of the way as Logan and Halor brought the twins to Kit.
“Who do you want to hold first?” Halor asked.
Kit beckoned for the baby Logan was holding. “Can I see him?”
“Of course.” Logan laughed and carefully passed his son to Kit, who studied him carefully before turning to Halor.
“Can I hold him, too?”
Halor didn’t hesitate to ease the second baby into Kit’s free arm.
A brief flash made Logan jump and he glanced over his shoulder to see Darcy recording the moment forever.
Kit purred happily as he held the twins.
“We should get you all cleaned up,” Darcy commented. “I really need to examine the babies properly, too.”
Kit sighed, and with obvious reluctance, let Logan and Halor take the babies back from him.
Darcy took each one in turn, examining, washing, and giving them injections, while Kit dropped off to sleep as only a feline could.
Logan smiled and shook his head as he gazed at Kit. “We really do need to get him cleaned up.”
“And change the bedding,” Halor added.
Neither of them made any effort to wake their exhausted lover. They could give him a few minutes of respite. Logan gave Kit a quick kiss on the head and turned back to Darcy, who proceeded to instruct him on how to care for the newborns. He didn’t even mind how bossy she was being. He was so thrilled with the newest members of his family.
“You’re sure they’re okay?” Logan asked for the tenth time. Darcy had finally done everything she needed to for the twins, who were now safe in their new cribs. Still, he couldn’t help worrying. They were just so tiny and delicate.
“As far as I can tell, they seem to be healthy.” Darcy cooed at the baby in the right-hand crib. “I’m just thankful he didn’t have a full litter the size his people normally have. They’ll need to feed soon.”
Logan bobbed down to take a closer look at his firstborn son. As well as the cat tail they had seen in the holo-scan, he had a full head of fur and the ears of a cat. His tiny fingers appeared human, but Logan had no idea if he had hid
den claws.
He turned to the second crib, where his younger son appeared far more human in appearance. He had the same cat tail, but his ears were human and his sparse covering of hair wasn’t the silky smooth fur of his brother and Kit. As Logan cooed at the newborn, the baby stared back at him, his eyes those of a cat.
“He has Kit’s eyes,” Logan said.
“His brother has yours,” Darcy replied.
Logan divided his attention between the two babies as he took in their similarities and differences.
Darcy hovered beside him. “In case you were wondering, they’re both entirely male. Neither of them has inherited Kit’s uniqueness—at least, not in that respect.”
Logan nodded absently. “I would love them just the same, whether they had or not.”
“I know, but from what Kit has said, being dual-gendered isn’t an easy life. These boys are new hybrids, which is probably going to be hard enough on them.”
Logan knew Darcy was right.
“Have you decided on names yet?” Darcy asked.
“Not yet,” Logan admitted. “We have it narrowed down to about ten.”
A loud snore from the bed reminded Logan to keep his voice down. When he looked over at Kit, he realised Halor was perched on the end of the bed, fingering the sheets. They had taken the precaution of installing protective sheets beneath the fabric ones, and hopefully, Kit’s claws had only damaged the top layer.
“I should go and get some more bedding ready for when Kit wakes up,” Halor said.
“Wait. Don’t you want to come see our boys, now they’re all cleaned up and we can take a moment to relax?”
“Our boys?” Halor asked.
“Well, yes,” Logan said. “Yours, mine, and Kit’s.”
“Not technically mine, though,” Halor reminded him.
Darcy slipped out of the room, mumbling something about getting something to eat.
Logan went to Halor and knelt at his feet. “You are as much their father as me and Kit. It’s not about blood. It’s about being a family.”
Halor looked at Kit, still napping. “You, Kit, and the babies are my family now.”
“Maybe your parents will come round in time,” Logan suggested. “Or at least some of your siblings.”
“Maz and a few of the others may accept what we have here, but I doubt my parents ever will. It doesn’t matter. It just makes me all the more determined to be a good parent to my own children.”
“You’ll be a great dad,” Logan assured him. “I know it.”
Halor gave him a weak smile and Logan could tell he was still thinking about his parents. He hoped in time they could be reconciled, for Halor’s sake, if nothing else.
“Come on,” Logan said. “You need to spend some quality time with our boys. I’ll go get the fresh bedding then get Kit cleaned up. I don’t like to wake him, but if Darcy’s right about the twins needing to feed soon, I’d rather get him washed now than wait.”
Halor didn’t argue any further. He walked over to the cribs and peered down at the babies. Logan watched him for a moment before he went to fetch the bedding. When he returned, Halor was cooing—literally—at the younger twin.
Logan placed the bedding on the chair and went to rouse Kit. “Come on, Kit. Wakey-wakey.”
Kit whined and rolled onto his side. Logan chuckled and gave him a nudge.
“He doesn’t want to wake up,” Halor commented.
“Does he ever?” Logan replied as he gave Kit a prod. The feline opened his eyes and glared at Logan. “Time to get cleaned up,” he said.
Kit gave another whine, this one clearly one of annoyance, but he reluctantly crawled into Logan’s arms and let himself be carried through to the bathroom.
“At least this hydro-shower thing is quick,” Logan reminded him. “And it’s not like I’m forcing you to have a bath.”
“Waking me up when I’m sleepy is nearly as bad as a bath,” Kit muttered.
Logan ignored his complaints as he set about getting Kit clean and helping him dress in clean garments suited for someone who had just given birth. A glance back into the bedroom showed Halor stripping the bed.
One of the babies gave a small cry and Kit hurried into the bedroom in response.
“I believe you’re going to have a lot less sleep from now on,” Halor teased.
Kit stuck out his tongue as he picked up his son and held him close.
Logan helped Halor replace the sheets, and when they were done, Kit sat back on the bed, his son suckling at his breast.
“You’re going to be the greedy one, aren’t you?” Kit said in a soft voice.
“I think his brother’s gone to sleep,” Logan said. “He’s going to take after you.”
Kit gave him a mock glare which turned into a frown of concern when his eyes moved lower. “I’m so sorry, Logan.”
“What for?” Logan asked, genuinely confused.
“I’ve hurt you,” Kit replied, nodding to the still-angry scars across his chest. “I don’t even remember doing it.”
“They’ll heal,” Logan said. “The important thing is you and our boys are well. I’ll admit now that I was worried that we didn’t have a full team of medics here.”
“Now you tell me,” Kit said.
“We couldn’t expect the entire medical crew to come with us,” Halor pointed out, “especially when we’d anticipated arriving on Furyne before the birth. Darcy did good.”
Kit nodded. “Yes, she did.”
“We still need to think of names for them,” Logan reminded them.
“This one has your eyes,” Kit said. “I think we should name him after you.”
“Not Logan,” Logan replied. “It’ll be way too confusing when he’s older.”
“How about Rae?” Halor suggested. “Your second name is McRae, and Rae is a name that is sometimes used amongst avian clans.”
“It’s an Earth name, too,” Logan said. “Yes, I like it. What about you, Kit?”
“I agree. How about you, little man? Do you want to be Rae?”
“Pretty sure he isn’t going to be able to reply for quite a few years,” Halor teased.
Kit ignored him as he concentrated on Rae, who it seemed had finally finished feeding.
In the crib, Rae’s brother began to stir, as well.
“Swap?” Logan said.
Kit nodded and handed Rae off to Halor so he could take the second twin from Logan. “I suspect it won’t be as easy to nurse them one after the other every time.”
“Probably not,” Logan agreed. “Sooner or later they’re both going to be crying to be fed at the same time.”
“We’ll manage,” Halor said.
Kit snorted. “I love the way you say we. It’s not like either of you are producing milk for them.”
“That’s what the pump is for,” Halor reminded him. “You aren’t on your own, Kit. We’re all going to do our share with the babies. Now, what about a name for this little one?”
Kit studied the baby in his arms and smiled. “He’s so small. I’d like to pick one of the Earth names Logan suggested, but there were so many.”
“Are you sure?” Logan said. “His brother has an Earth name, and you and Halor suggested lots of other names that are common to your own people.”
“The felines aren’t that imaginative when it comes to names,” Kit said. “I’m one of thousands of Kits. Your Earth names are so much more unusual.”
Logan laughed. “Not on Earth, they aren’t.”
“But you’re not on Earth anymore,” Kit reminded him. “And if the rest of your people head to New Earth, it’ll be highly unlikely our youngest son will find another who shares his name.”
“I guess. What do you think, Halor?”
“I agree with Kit. I like the Earth names. Amongst our people, they will be unique, just as the twins themselves are.”
“What about Harry?” Kit asked, practically purring the name. “I liked that one.”
Halor nodded
. “Yes, I think he might be a Harry. Logan?”
“Harry sounds good to me. Harry and Rae, welcome to the world.”
* * * *
Later, when the twins were secure in their cribs, Logan stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Kit, having no such difficulties, snored away beside him. On the far side of Kit, Halor also seemed to be asleep. They had decided to get a good night’s rest before finishing their journey. If only Logan could get any at all.
Rather than tossing and turning and risking waking the others, Logan slipped out of bed, intending to head to the living quarters.
“Can’t sleep either?” Halor asked quietly.
Logan jumped. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Halor gestured for him to leave the bedroom and followed after him. “I wasn’t asleep anyway—unlike Kit, who can apparently sleep through anything.”
They settled down on one of the two comfortable sofas.
“Why can’t you sleep?” Halor asked.
“No particular reason,” Logan said. “My mind just doesn’t seem to want to turn off.”
“Same here. There’s so much to think about and organise.”
“I know. Even though we purchased so much equipment, furniture, clothing, toys, and everything else at the spaceport, I can’t help feeling that we’ve missed something important.”
“You’re just worrying. You had the assistance from the staff at the store who are well trained to provide expectant parents with everything they need for babies in general and feline youngsters particularly.”
“I think it’s because on Earth there’s so much else we have to do and I don’t even know if we have to do it here—and if so, how?”
“Like what?”
“Registering the birth for the official records of the country, looking for nurseries and schools, lots of appointments with medics.”
“Darcy will be keeping a very close eye on her nephews,” Halor pointed out. “Felines do have records of births, but as I’ve mentioned before, their record-keeping is pretty bad. We’ll remind Kit to record their births before we leave his planet.”
“What about the avian community? Do they keep records?”
