"I'M HERE!" Mr. Sharp yelled as he burst through the door. A nearby nurse's scolding glare was wasted on him as he gaped at the bed in the center of the room.

It was difficult the last time too. He had been confined outside for three agonizing hours. The midwife had beckoned Artemis in, and he had collapsed beside his wife and firstborn son. Last time Maggie had looked just as exhausted and terrified as he felt.

This was not like last time.

"Mr. Sharp," she said in a steady voice, "How good of you to come."

Margret Sharp sat upright in bed, propped up by at least five pillows. On her left side little Jaspart was attempting, and failing, to climb onto the bed. On her right side was Hilda, who was cooing at the little bundle in her sister's arms. A smug smile played on Maggie's face, dead proud of herself it seemed.

Exhaling and smoothing back his wind-ruffled hair, Artemis strode over to the bed. Jaspart released his grip on the covers to claw at his father's legs. When Artemis knelt to pick him up, the boy scrambled into his arms and peered wide eyed at his new little br-

Wait.

WAIT.

"Maggie," Artemis said slowly, "Why is the blanket…pink?"

The woman smiled, almost sheepish.

"Doctors have been wrong before Artemis," she said, "Although it does make things tricky, we agreed on David."

"You didn't-" he began, then had to start over, "She doesn't have a boy's name does she?"

Hilda laughed.

"Whaat?" Jaspart whined, craning his neck to get a better view, "Is somethin' wrong wit him?"

"Her," the midwife corrected kindly, "She's your little sister Jaspart."

The boy began to wiggle out of Artemis's frozen grip.

"But Ma!" he yelled, "You said he'd be-"

"Shush Jaspart," Maggie snapped, "You have to be calm or Auntie will take you outside."

"Margret!" Gasped Artemis, "What did you name her?"

Maggie smiled warmly.

"I thought I'd wait," she said, "Although we should reach a decision soon, your little girl has been nameless for twenty minutes now."

Artemis felt his face go red.

"Y-" he sputtered, "You have to vent hydrogen slowly…" My little girl…hissing hounds!

He inched closer to her side, and stared into the little face. She was so little, sleeping with one tiny red fist in her mouth.

"Olivia?" He suggested.

Maggie stuck out her tongue.

"I had a bitter old teacher named Ms. Olive," she grimaced, "How about Janette?"

"Hilda!" said Hilda excitedly, throwing up her hands. Noticing the look on her sisters face, she slowly lowered them and muttered, "Just a suggestion…"

"Rosey," Jaspart offered, "Judy, Sherry, Mary…"

Artemis knelt on one knee to accept the little bundle. He tried to ignore the chatter of girl's names. It wasn't so disappointing, but he had liked David rather a lot. Was there some female equivalent? Something with that same ring to it? Danielle, he supposed, but the name sounded a bit…fusty. Dianna? No.

"Deryn?" He muttered quietly.

Maggie's head snapped up.

"Artemis, that's practically a boy's name," she said.

"Aye," he agreed.

But…

Deryn. Deryn. Deryn Sharp.

"But its not a boy's name," he continued, "Its her name."

"Deryn Hilda Sharp?" Hilda offered quietly.

Maggie and Artemis answered at the same time.

"No."

"Hell, why not?"

Artemis smiled and bounced the baby a little.

"Deryn. My little Deryn Sharp…" he muttered. Then, suddenly filled with a spurt of excitement swooped her carefully up to his face to kiss her head.

"Artemis!" Maggie gasped, "Careful!"

Artemis only smiled. Deryn Hilda Sharp, welcome to the madness.