So... remember that 4 day break I talked about? I was called in twice. 8D Yay. I hate everything.

Raptor
Drop Anchor
Chapter 28: Pillow Nest

Zach frowned as he pulled the crappy cell phone away from his ear for the third time. Failed video call from the computer and three unanswered calls from the crappy phone without a camera. Zach honestly didn't even know they made cell phones without cameras anymore. What was the point? It was torture that he couldn't take selfies with the girls. And now with Baby Indigo and just hatched baby Minnie, Zach really missed his phone.

He'd been in the kitchen, heating up the gross baby dinosaur food Owen had instructed him to make when Indigo had swiveled her tiny head. Zach frowned, watching her. "What?" Indigo turned her large eyes to him. She let out a tiny squeak. And damn. If that wasn't the cutest thing ever. Zach smiled as he scooped her up. He hurried back to the bedroom.

Minnie's egg was starting to crack. Zach set Indigo down and she waddled over to the drawer on shaky legs. She then proceeded to help her sister be born. Minnie came out identical to Indigo. The only way he could tell them apart was if they stood right beside each other. Indigo was clearly bigger. Again, it was the cutest thing he'd ever seen and he really hated that he didn't have a phone. He smiled again and remembered the stories Owen told him of the raptors being born. His eyes widened, as he thought about the girls. Echo was going to be so mad! Well... it served her right, sleeping outside and pouting.

Zach grabbed both newborn I-Rexes and carried them to the kitchen area. He got them settled on the counter with bowls of the gross slimy stuff and they both pretty much inhaled it. "Uh... okay..." He opened up the refrigerator and pulled out another container. "I guess you two are bigger than the raptors." He heated it up and filled the bowls again. Then he turned to the computer. He tried to call Owen again. No answer. Once more on the crappy cell phone, too. Still no Owen.

Zach breathed out and glanced at the newborns. Who were both trying to eat their plastic bowls. Zach shook his head. "No." He pried the bowls away. "No eating the dishes." Indigo tilted her head and Minnie squeaked at him. This was going to be hard. At least with the raptors, he could guess. They'd leaned human mannerisms. These newborns, starting at him with wide, pink eyes... they were mildly terrifying. In a one day they'll be bigger than the hotel at the plaza kind of way.

Those eyes followed him as he moved about the small kitchen area, cleaning up. He finished and turned back to them. He smiled awkwardly. "Uh... you're fed. That's good. Uh..." He wasn't really sure what to do with them next. It was still pretty early. The raptors were still asleep. Owen was probably still asleep. Gray was hopefully still asleep. The kid had a test first thing at school. Zach didn't want to wake him up. Zach leaned back against the counter for a minute. He breathed out a sigh and crossed his arms. Babies. Because he was going to treat them like babies. Just as Owen had. Feed, sleep, change, spit-up. So... not completely like human babies. But in theory... yeah, he could handle it.

"We should go check on Sylar." He said with a nod. He scooped them up and held them against his chest. And he swore they felt heavier. Like a lot. "Damn." He dropped them on the bed and Minnie bounced a bit and let out a squeal. Zach smiled as he climbed up beside them and pulled the drawer closer. He inspect the last egg. But there wasn't any cracks or signs of hatching. Zach let out a sigh. He picked up the drawer and scooted to the edge of the bed. He intended to move the drawer and then come back for the twins. But as he stood up, they hopped off the bed to follow. "Uh... okay. Follow me."

They followed him into the living room. He couch was still missing, the floor empty. Zach set the draw down off to the side. Then he headed back into the bedroom to grab the pillows and blankets. And the couch cushions. And Echo's pillow and blanket. He moved around the small trailer, collecting everything he could find and throwing it in a pile in the living room. The twins followed him everywhere, occasionally tripping over their own feet. They were like little ducks, following their mom around. The thought settled in his head and his chest as he dumped the last soft thing he could find on the top of the pile. It was an overly large, overly fluffy, completely unmanly pink robe. In Owen's defense, it looked more faded red than pink. But still. It was closer to pink now. And it was hilarious.

Minnie hopped onto of the pile and squeaked. Indigo tried to follow and slipped down.

Zach smiled as he pulled both of them off. "Hang on, let me finish." He pushed the pillows into a large circle and started draping the blankets overtop them. The fluffy robe he spread out across the bottom. When it was done, the make-shift nest took up most of the floor. He paused after he finished and stood up. He made a nest. Why did he make a nest? Zach glared down at it and crossed his arms. He wasn't entirely sure what had possessed him to make a nest. But he had. And it would work fine.

Indigo let out a squeak and looked up at him.

Zach blinked for a moment. Then he let his arms drop and shrugged. He pulled the incubator drawer close to the blanket nest, within reaching distance. Then he settled down inside. Minnie scrambled up and stood on top of one side. Indigo followed and bumped into her. Minnie let out an indignant sounding squeal as she tumbled down inside. Zach smiled and picked her up. "You're fine." He said, pulling the squirming I-Rex into his lap. Indigo squealed as well. Zach reached over to grab her, too. Minnie snapped at her sister and Zach poked her. "Stop it."

They settled against him, curling up together. And fell asleep nearly immediately. Zach stared down at them and smiled. He felt it again, the weird feeling settling in his chest. This was weird. Was it weird? Surely, it was weird. And it wasn't supposed to happen yet. Owen was supposed to be here. They were supposed to imprint on Owen. That was the plan, that was how Owen was going to make up for having to destroy Ida. Zach breathed out a sigh and leaned back against the wall of pillows. The weird nest was actually pretty comfortable. And he had stayed up late. And woken up early. And the I-Rexes were heavy to carry around. He closed his eyes for just a moment.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The sun was high. Well not that high. But it was getting high. And bright. And annoying. Echo opened her eyes and squinted. She closed them quickly and rolled over. She stretched her legs and tail out. And earned herself a kick. She craned her neck around and snapped at the still sleeping Delta. [Up!] She said. [Sun up!] She kicked Delta again, this time on purpose, and then scrambled up and darted away.

Blue was already awake. She had been for the last few hours. She had an idea of what was going on in the trailer. She'd smelled the new additions to their odd family and listened at the door. When all got quiet again, she moved away from the trailer. She was standing tall and alert, her eyes and ears on the line of trees. There may not be a killer dinosaur after them anymore, and Rexy was their sister now. But there were other threats on the island. Other dinosaurs Mole and Firelady hadn't gotten back in their pens. And other humans. Blue was smart. She understood the words Trip and Mole said. More humans were arriving this day. Many more humans after that, Blue was sure. They would come for Trip and her sisters. It was nice, while it lasted. Being free. Even if Alpha was stuck in the fixing place. She had hoped Alpha would be back before all the humans.

So Blue would stand guard. No one would come any closer. Not without Trip's permission. Echo zipped past her, braying laughter. Blue narrowed her eyes and snapped her teeth. [Echo! Stop!]

Echo slid to a stop. A very sudden stop. Her momentum kept her going and she ended up toppling over. She rolled over in a heap.

Behind them, Delta let out a loud snort.

Charlie walked up beside Delta, her head tilted. [Echo?]

[Echo kick me!] Delta snapped angrily, lowering her head.

[Not mean to.] Echo scrambled up and shook the dirt off. [Echo sleep!]

[Delta sleep!] Delta snapped. [No good.] She stuck her tongue out and shook her head. She hadn't slept well. Her stomach felt funny.

[Sick?] Charlie asked softly.

Delta nodded her head.

[Delta too many squishy clouds?] Charlie asked.

Delta let out a groan and nodded her head.

Echo laughed. [Delta get fat!]

Delta's gaze snapped over to her. [Echo fattest!] Her eyes narrowed into a glare.

Echo let out a squeal. [Echo sit on you!] The youngest raptor took off towards Delta who ran the other way.

Blue watched them for a moment and breathed out. She shook her head as she turned towards Charlie. She stepped closer. [Charlie watch?]

Charlie nodded her head.

[Check Trip.] Blue said, walking around her.

Charlie straightened up, clearly trying not to wiggle in excitement just like Echo. Her fake tail moved with her. It had been a while since she was left to guard.

Blue turned for the trailer.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

He hadn't meant to fall asleep. But the moment he laid his head back, he'd fallen right asleep. He woke quickly when he heard the door creak open. He opened his eyes and sat up, jostling one of the twins. They were heavy in his lap and one let out a squeak. Zach glanced down at them, placing his hands on them. They quieted quickly. "I got you." He glanced up at the door. Blue's head was poking in. She tilted to the side, watching them. Zach smiled. "Just you?" He asked softly.

Blue nodded her head.

"The rest up?"

She nodded again.

Zach was still smiling. "Come on in. We'll start with you."

Blue pushed the rest of the way inside slowly. She pushed the door closed with her tail, never taking her eyes off of the babies. She moved slowly as she stepped closer. Indigo let out a whine and Minnie snuggled closer against Zach. Blue lowered her head as she continued forward, even slower.

"Uh... this is Blue... She's... uh..." Zach glanced up at her. "Your big sister, sorta. I guess. Though you're gonna get a lot bigger than her." He said with a smile.

Blue let out a huff.

"Well it's true." Zach pointed out.

Blue snorted and tilted her head.

"Fine." Zach said, rolling his eyes. "You explain it better. Pretty sure they don't actually understand me like you guys. They just know the sound of my voice."

Blue snorted again and breathed out, sounding like a laugh. She was close enough Zach could reach out and touch her. She bent her head down, just a couple inches from the babies. She stopped. Indigo tilted her head. She looked up at Zach and then turned back to Blue, like she was trying to figure the larger reptile out. She seemed almost confused.

Zach breathed out. They probably were confused. He was certain they had imprinted on him. Yet he looked nothing like them. Not even close. And here's this other dinosaur, who at least looked closer to them. Yeah, it was confusing. He hoped they could understand Blue, that she could explain it as they grew. He lifted his hand from Indigo and reached out to touch Blue's nose.

That was all it took. The moment he touched her, Blue was deemed safe and it was enough for both of the tiny I-Rexes. Minnie moved first, stretching out her tiny neck to touch her nose to Blue's. Not to be ignored, Indigo let out a squeal and bumped into Blue, a little more roughly. Blue let out a low warble and the twins cooed back. The twins bounced off his lap and hopped up on the wall of the pillow nest.

Zach smiled as he stood up. He yawned and stretched his arms. He walked over to the door and opened it crack. There was no sign of Echo or Delta. Charlie was standing not too far away. "Hey Charlie!" He hissed lowly. "Come here."

Charlie turned and looked at him. She tilted her head to the side.

Zach laughed and waved at her. "Come on." Zach stepped aside and waited until she walked inside past him. "Two of them hatched." He said, walking around her.

Blue stepped back and let Charlie get closer. Charlie let out a few noises and the twins rubbed against her. Zach smiled at crossed his arms. Damn. He wished he had his phone!

Charlie barely had an introduction before there was a loud crash. Zach and the raptors turned to look but it happened so quick. The door burst open and Delta came flying through, Echo right behind her. Delta tried to stop but she slid into Blue, who slid into Charlie, and Echo slammed into them all. Suddenly it was one giant pile of flailing raptors.

Zach managed to dive in front of them, pushing the incubator drawer out of the way and grabbing the twins. He held them tight against his chest. "Damnit, Echo!" He snapped. "No running or wrestling inside the trailer!"

Echo wiggled from her spot on the top and rolled off. She lifted her head and her eyes settled on Zach. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open in a very human-like manner.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: I didn't get everything I wanted in this chapter. So... anticipate another baby chapter.