I'm not saying anything about this chapter I:}

...

Perry's POV

No evidence is found for the next ten days.

I get more and more restless, imagining my mate in a small cage with just our egg for company. If they haven't already taken the baby away from her.

My friends do everything they can to take my mind off Priya. Pinky, Peter, and Terry take me to the pub, where we chat and drink Ferbeer. This does distract me for a few hours.

Major Monogram is the most helpful. He gives me a task to do: repaint the walls of each office floor. This is most useful because if I am given a task that I need to complete, this takes up most of my focus. I put a CD on—the CD of every PFT song ever that Hazel gave to Teddy and which I borrowed from Teddy.

So, with amazing music from my former owners blaring out, I furiously repaint all four walls and the ceiling of all three office floors, plus the IT department.

It takes me a week, and I barely think about my mate during that time. I know it sounds bad but I need to forget about her for now; she's in trouble and I can't help her.

But on the tenth day, I can't stand it anymore. I leave OWCA without telling anyone except Pearl where I'm going. I'm going to get Priya back. Our child is not going to be taken. Not on my watch.

…

Priya's POV

The incubation period is coming to an end. I've been sitting on this egg, just like I did with Teddy, for the last ten days. I've been so tense. Every time someone came into the room, I would panic that they were here to take my baby away, but for now all they did was monitor my situation and leave.

Come on, Perry. Last time, he arrived just in time and we all got out before anyone took the baby.

But of course this is different. LOVEMUFFIN didn't even know I was pregnant when they captured me. These people know about the baby. It's the whole reason they brought me here in the first place.

The egg suddenly shudders. My heart leaps into my throat as I gently pick up the egg and cradle it in my arms.

This is it.

I only have to wait ten seconds before cracks begin to form along the shell. I wait with baited breath. No matter where I am or how many times I've done this, it still takes my breath away. It's the miracle of life.

The egg breaks completely, leaving a small platypus in my arms. Its fur is blue.

It's a boy.

I smile, a couple of tears dripping down my face, as I gaze at my new son. I've been suffering for so long. Illness and pain were the only two things I knew during my pregnancy. Now that was all worth it.

Remembering my promise in regards to the baby's name, I say, "you shall be called Hermes. After the God of thieves and messengers."

Hermes rolls over in my arms and nearly falls right out. He squeaks. I let out a chuckle as I hold my new son under his arms and bring him up until our beaks are almost touching. He reaches out with his little arms and pats my beak. I laugh and nuzzle my son lovingly.

Artemis was right. My maternal instincts have not gone away. I feel just as protective over Hermes as I had over Teddy, Hazel, and Quinn.

I'm still cuddling Hermes when I hear the door open. I quickly wrap my arms around each other, hiding Hermes from view.

I hear Dimitri's voice arguing with Bill's. Then Bill himself bends down and sees me.

"Where's the egg?" he demands.

I glare defiantly at him and say nothing.

Unfortunately, he works it out. His eyes widen. "Hey, Dimitri? The egg's hatched."

"It has?"

He sounds surprised. "Has it been ten days already?"

"Apparently. Now come on and help me. We're going to have to hold her down."

He opens the door of the cage and reaches in. I hiss and snap my jaws at him but he picks me up and takes me out of the cage, still clutching Hermes.

Dimitri comes towards me and reaches for Hermes. I gnash my jaws and struggle as hard as I can but he gets his hands on Hermes and tugs, cruelly pulling my baby out of my arms. I scream and cry as Bill shoves me back in the cage, sans Hermes.

"Let's go," Dimitri says dully.

They begin to leave. Hermes begins crying, then. Screaming and sobbing, I desperately reach my hands through the bars as far as I can, trying to reach my distressed newborn son. All I can do is watch them leave through the door, Hermes's cries echoing throughout the room. I sink to the floor of my cage, still sobbing uncontrollably.

I've lost him. I've lost my baby forever.

...

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