you can hear their hearts beating{Midian}

[Stryker Loup Garou]

I wasn't quite sick yet. Not much in the way of morning sickness, which Timber was quite envious since she had morning sickness in her pregnancy. I knew without a doubt I was having twins, saying it with such surety, some may think I was crazy. Far from it. This whole experience was different from my pregnancy with Arya, for one I could remember every stage and wasn't doped up on so many drugs it could kill a horse, and two I was with my family and the clan, so naturally, everyone wanted to help or talk or ask questions. Nyta had made up something to help settle my stomach so I could eat without feeling sick, Arya would prod my stomach before giggling, knowing she had a baby brother and sister that were going to be born soon. Synge was the ever proud uncle as Midian seemed to glow with pride at being a father again. Syren couldn't wait while Cole seemed more at ease, though between you and me, he couldn't wait either. Just don't tell him that came from me!

It was around seventh months in and another couple to go, it didn't feel that long at all. Time really wasn't a factor in the whole thing, each day was met with me unable to wait until they were born so I could hold them and cuddle them, all the stuff I missed doing with Arya. Only drawback was having to use a ritual to shift now, since that would make the babies shift too, otherwise they could die. I wasn't too worried, though it felt strange unable to shift at will when I was just getting used to that once again. "Syren, I'm going to King's Pointe, can you let Midian know?" I had a habit of going there, so calming and relaxing during my pregnancy that I was keen on carrying on. I know it was sacred, but I wasn't going right up top. I knew if Cole or the clan had minded, then I would know. Simple as that. I was free as long as I didn't do any dark magick stuff up there, which trust me, not on my agenda of things to do. Sorry, it wasn't who I was.

When Syren assured me that Midian would know, I pulled the jacket over my arms, feeling the material slide along my skin before leaving it open. Not like I could do up the zip anyway. My stomach was larger than I was ever thought possible, sporting two babies inside which made my heart melt. Having to fit my jeans with a new waistband to compensate, I felt rather okay. It wasn't like I hated this, no, I was going to be a mother again, Midian another father. And that was all we ever wanted. It was worth the no shifts, the erratic sleeping patterns, all of it. Glancing around while I walked out of the main camp area, Arya was playing with some of the other clan members, Vita watching warily before waving and grinning my way. A paranoid huntress, Vita was scorned as a young wolf and she was a mother too, though hers didn't live in the clan. Heading out I made my trek, taking it easy so I didn't do anything stupid like get myself into early labor. The silence below King's Pointe made my lips turn into a smile, accompanied by the faintest of kicks in my mid-section.

[Midian Loup Garou]

I was stoked, nearly bursting with pride at the fact I was about to be a father for real. Not that Arya wasn't my daughter in all the ways that counted. But the twins Stryker carried were of my blood, truly my kin. I spent lots of time with Arya, assuring her that she'd always be my little lady. I wasn't about to lose my bond with her just because we were having twins too.

Stryker wasn't sleeping all that well, tossing and turning a lot in her sleep, trying to get comfortable. Her belly had grown quite a bit in such a short time. Most nights, after dinner, I would lay with my head in her lap, listening to our pups. Mostly I heard gurgles. One of them even kicked me in the cheek once, it was their first movement that we could feel outside of her stomach. She'd said on more than one occassion they must be rough housing in there, since she could feel them rolling around.

I woke up this morning alone, not unusual since Stryker's sleeping patterns had changed the further along she was in her pregnancy. Not to mention the odd cravings at all hours. Speaking of cravings, I could faintly smell breakfast, and I knew that like every morning, a giant breakfast was being cooked up by a number of clan members. I rolled out of bed, pulled on a pair of ripped and scruffy jeans that were mostly clean, and padded outside, rubbing sleep from my eyes at the same time I ran a hand back and forth over my hair.

I grinned at waved at a few friends and family members as I plodded to the nearest fire to check out what was being cooked up. Grabbing a large plate, I began to pile on pancakes; a skillet mix of sausage, egg, peppers, potatoes and cheese; frech toast, bacon, hashbrowns, tons of fresh fruit, and a couple biscuits smothered in gravy. Chowing down as I walked around, Syren caught up with me, letting me know Stryker had gone up to King's Pointe. I thanked her and made my way, plate in hand, up to see my mate.

She stood in the sunlight, her hair streaming back in the wind, a hand on her stomach. I stood there for a moment, gazing up at her. I loved her so much, and our kids. I never dreamed it would be like this. At some point I remember to finish chewing what was in my mouth, swallowed and went to meet her. I leaned in, planting a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "Good morning, beautiful." I smiled at her before sitting down on a smoother outcropping of rock, still poking at the mountain of food on my plate. I held it out a bit, offering Stryker anything she'd like. I leaned in close to her belly. "How's my little man, and my little girl doing in there?" I pressed my free hand to her stomach, smiling up at her. I couldn't be happier than I was now. It just didn't seem possible.

[Stryker Loup Garou]

A smell was accompanied upon the wind, that sweet, gentle scent that tickled my nose in the greatest way possible, my eyes drifted towards my side, staring at the ground with a soft grin upon my facade. All my worries could be soothed by that one scent I knew so well, even when I worried that Arya would feel left out once the twins were born, assuring her and myself that she would still be part of our family, and no matter what, we would still spend time with one another. I don't think it even worried Arya the way it did me, she was just stoked to be a big sister and helped whenever she could. Midian and I were truly blessed with Arya. I knew that after her little play and tumbles with the other clan members she would be learning things from Nyta. Already she had said, pretty much on no uncertain terms was she giving up this whole learning thing with salves and other nifty stuff Nyta had made, and the little lass made a stunning point, it was hard not to smile with such pride. Of course, none of us were going to deny her that.

"There you are Midian." I snickered, a soft, sweet sound escaping from the back of my throat, that scent? It was Midian, stronger than the fainter smells about so I knew it was him and not just his scents from an old trek. "And you brought food. My knight." Grinning, and nuzzling into his neck after his little kiss. "Well, it was your breakfast, but couldn't help saying that." Snagging a piece of bacon and popping it in my mouth, the salty taste exploded my taste buds that I grinned. Some days I could eat anything while others, some food were off limits. It was annoying at some times, because it was normally with a rough feeling of wanting to be sick and that was never nice. Reaching up a bit, careful not to stretch my stomach too much, I gave Midian a soft kiss on his lips, licking the taste of left over gravy. "I swear the food just gets better and better. Even though it was amazing to start with, I swear." Shaking my head, I laughed softly, in good spirits today.

"Rough housing, again, which frankly is no surprise." Grinning, I lowered my hand over his, pressing it a bit more into my stomach. "it's not going to hurt if you press a little bit more." I told him, still with the happy smile on my face. They seemed to know who was touching my stomach, for their movements became more rapid, kicking out as if trying to communicate. "They know that your there. They know your their father." I was elated, glee shining in my eyes while one hand moved through his hair, pushing the strands back, with tender, pure love replacing the elation. "You can hear their heartbeats. Listen. It's like a soft, sweet melody of life." Closing my eyes, I could feel and virtually see the young ones growing, their hearts beating in unison but it was easy to tell which one was which. The lighter beat was our daughter, while the more heavy beat was our son. I still hadn't come up with names yet, even Arya was asking if we had named them. "Not long now until they are in this world."

And what a day that would be, I could just see it. We would have our hands and paws full with the twins as well as Arya, for she would be welcome in everything we do. We would not leave her out of things, that wasn't the type of parents, or people, we were. "I love you Midi. So much." Running my hand over my stomach, I never thought I'd be able to trust someone so completely that being hurt would never happen, that I could allow myself in engage in those sorts of acts. Something beautiful came from it, life, two lives, and that alone was worth it all. Plus I proved to myself that I could trust, that I wasn't so broken or damaged, and Midian and all my family had helped me with that. I was the happiest werewolf alive! I could sing and dance and fly to the moon if I could(that was an exaggeration by the way but you get my point). I was in love completely with my soul mate. I was going to be a mother again. It was worth it all.