After arriving back at the base and having an hour long lecture- more like a yelling from one Joe leader and one second in command, Scarlett and Jaye, grabbed Colleen and the girls and took refuge in Sky Dancer's hospital room, barricading themselves with an army of dogs from all sides. Even Cayden and his long needles could not enter the private female domain.
Duke and Flint all night long interrogated all Joes on base with countless questions and finding no answers. Nobody had seen anyone leave the base. The security tapes were wiped off by a virus, and it showed that the leak was a master in technology, which worried the commanders. Answers on what the leak was hunting were also unanswered. The warrant officer had informed the general on Sky Dancer's findings, but the puzzle remained unsolved.
The women broke out during dawn's early light, taking Sky Dancer along, who vowed if any medic came within ten feet with a needle, they would had to watch their back from a diving plane in the future.
Cayden scolded both his mother and pilot, but his words only came to deaf ears. He shook his head, leaving them at the Mess, after making sure both of them were fine. Also knowing that his best friend had claimed guard dog position next to his fiancée, like a third Doberman, he knew that if she even felt a slight lightheaded feeling, he would rush her back to the Infirmary, no questions asked. He lastly checked on his wife, making sure she ate something. His concern grew, knowing that her appetite had decreased from a few days ago.
The baby was due in a few weeks, and everyone knew it. The pool buzzed with bets on when Colleen's water will break and how many times would Cayden lose his composure. His nerves were on edge and they knew it. It had started that morning, with Shipwreck rushing into his office, looking panicky, and telling him the water broke. He jumped, rushing to the Mess, only to find out that Colleen broke glass of water. He mumbled in Gaelic and returned to his patients. He took a deep breath, walking in Bazooka's room, where the man still had fear in his eye for thinking that there was a bomb inside him, ready to explode. After calming down the Joe, he stepped into his office, drank some coffee and sat in the computer, typing his report.
His door banged open, slamming on the wall, causing a vibrant sound. Alpine stood in the doorway, his eyes wide. "Dr. Caveman! Come quick!"
"What's the matter?" Cayden said as he stood up.
Alpine breathed heavily, clutching his chest. "It's ..It's Colleen! Her water broke!"
"Where is she?" Cayden asked worriedly walking around his desk.
"In the Mess!" Alpine pointed his hands madly toward down the hallway, out of the Infirmary. "Scarlett says it's all over her!"
"Oh God! Colleen!" Cayden exclaimed as he rushed out of his office and out of the Infirmary and rushed to the Mess.
Joes glanced up from their morning meal, when the medic burst into the room, panic in his face, and they slowly turned toward Spades, who looked extremely interested at the moment cutting his wife's pancakes.
Scarlett, Jaye, Colleen, Sky Dancer, and Kastor looked up from their table at the far end of the room.
Rowan leaned over to Eryn. "He looks scared."
"Maybe he has to pee," Eryn said shrugging then taking a bite of her pancakes.
"Then isn't he in the wrong room?" Rowan asked, pushing her plate away, watching her brother-in-law, trip and fall to the ground.
"Cayden!" Colleen cried out, starting to stand up from the table, her yellow shirt mostly damped. A towel fell to floor, that had been on her lap.
"Colleen!" Cayden cried out worriedly as he stood back up. "Don't worry, I'll get you to the Infirmary quickly!"
Jaye looked at Scarlett. "Again?"
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "I think there are some Joes on suicide missions," she whispered to her best friend.
Sky Dancer and Kastor shared a snicker.
"What are you talking about?" Colleen asked confused, watching him run toward her, his eyes filled with panic.
Cayden didn't seem to hear her. He just picked her up and started to rush toward the door.
Jaye snickered. "Does that bring back memories?"
Eryn looked at Rowan and whispered. "I fink your sisters wegs don't work."
Rowan looked at her best friend in sadness, and started crying, tears dropping down her cheeks.
Scarlett glanced at her youngest child. "Rowan?" she looked at her best friend, then son and future daughter-in-law.
"Don't cry, Rosey." Eryn said hugging her best friend starting to cry herself.
"Cayden, put me down!" Colleen demanded, hanging on to her husband's neck, her long strawberry blond ponytail swaying back and froth.
"No time," Cayden said. "The baby's coming."
"What the bloody blue blazes you talking about?" Colleen asked, her features turning into surprise, still holding on
Joes chuckled, watching the couple dart out of the room.
Alpine snickered from the doorway, then did a secret high five with Shipwreck, behind his back.
"Your water broke. Just look at you," Cayden told her as if she did not understand.
"You mean the apple juice?" Colleen asked her husband, feeling the wind on her face as he carried her out of the building.
"Apple juice? What are you talking about apple juice for? You can't have anything to eat or drink during labor," Cayden said incredulous.
"Cayden Daniel Faireborn! Stop right now!" Colleen commanded, while they neared the Infirmary. She spotted Doc opening the door for them.
"No time. I have to make you comfortable," Cayden said and ran through the open door. "Doc, her water broke."
Colleen rolled her eyes, hanging on.
"Cayden, stop," Doc requested, holding up a cell phone. "It's your mothers. They demand Colleen back so she can finish her pancakes and apple juice, which also spilled all over her from Eryn hugging her before."
Cayden stopped in his tracks. "This is apple juice?"
Doc was trying really hard not to laugh.
Colleen kissed him on the cheek. "You are much worse than my father." She rested her head against his shoulder, placing her hand on her large stomach, feeling the movement inside.
"I'm sorry. Alpine said..." Cayden started.
Doc walked over and put a hand on Cayden's shoulder chuckling softly. "They did the same thing to your father when your mom was pregnant with you," he informed his young protégé.
"Can I go back now?" Colleen requested, glancing up at his handsome features, his green eyes staring down at her face, filled with love.
"Again?" Rob the Tech asked, spotting them in the hallway coming out of one of the offices, walking over, alongside Ben.
"How many times again this morning?" Ben asked, rubbing his black hair with his hand.
"I do believe this is three." Doc laughed. "Shipwreck, Alpine and his father scared him when he said that he saw Colleen holding her stomach looking like she was in pain.
Cayden sheepishly set down Colleen on her feet.
"Doc, permission to take my husband to the Mess, and let him relax for a few minutes?" Colleen asked, wrapping her arm around her husband, then let out a small, her hand touching her stomach. "Ooh."
Cayden's features turned panic looking. "What is it? Is it a contraction?" He started to pick her up again. "Doc..."
"No, it was a kick," Colleen answered.
Doc shook his head. "All right, just get out of my sight for a few hours!" He crossed his arms with a strict expression at them.
"Come on, Ben," Rob The Tech said, his hands in the lab coat, chuckling. "We are going to breakfast, and telling everyone on Panic Caveman."
"Yeah, " Ben chuckled, walking out of the Infirmary. "False alarms Folks!" he yelled at the entire group, waiting outside.
A groan sounded from the crowd.
Cayden looked embarrassed. "Can't I just spend the rest of the day in my office?"
"No," Colleen stated victorious. "That's a direct order!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the building, dragging him back toward the Mess.
They entered the room and cheers followed their entrance. Colleen led him to the table, and made him sit on the chair, then sat on his lap, relaxing her head on his shoulder.
"Who was it this time?" Jaye asked her son with a smirk on her face.
"Alpine," Cayden grumbled.
Kastor chuckled.
"I fink Alpine told Cay Cay dat Colly's wegs don't work. But day do." Eryn whispered to Rowan.
"Yeah," Rowan nodded, still in her mother's embrace.
"I wonder how many more times they are going to get him?" Scarlett asked with a smile. "Because I'm on the five times."
Sky Dancer shook her head. "I have ten," she said, pushing her plate away. "What happened to Rob?" she asked, nodded over to a few tables over, indicating to her friend's hand, which had been wrapped in gauze.
"I don't know," Cayden said, glancing at his assistant.
"I'm on seven times," Jaye said.
"I have twelve," Kastor said with a laugh and pushed the plate back in front of Sky Dancer.
"Dad has twenty two," Rowan blurted out, and snuggled close to her mother, her cheeks rosy.
Scarlett bent down and kissed her on the head. "Your father will never win."
Sky Dancer pushed the plate away again. "Did they find Gung Ho?" she asked, hoping her friend wasn't in league with the terrorist group.
"Yes, he was sleeping in his quarters!" Scarlett pointed out. "Duke found him in the closet, snoring his lungs out."
"Eryn, would you like more pancakes?" Jaye asked her little girl who refused to answer her.
Scarlett glanced at the girls, then spotted her husband and warrant officer walking into the Mess, their faces not pleased and she knew that they had come up with nothing.
"Looks like you guys are going to sleep on the couches tonight," Kastor teased as he tried to get Sky Dancer to eat more.
"Us?" Scarlett, Jaye, Colleen and Sky Dancer asked at once then looked at one another.
Sky Dancer quickly picked up a pancake and tossed it on Kastor's head, sending it down his face and landing on his lap. "You really should stop teasing," she claimed with a smirk on her features.
Flint walked over to the table, bent down and kissed his wife on the cheek. "My blood pressure is through the roof," he said, shaking his head. "No thanks to you two." He jumped out of the way from her flying hand, and walked around the table to his daughter, picked her up and set her on his lap. "Hey, Speedy."
Eryn said nothing to her father. In fact the only person she's talked too is Rowan. She did lay her head against her father's chest though.
Jaye gave her husband a worried look.
Cayden looked at his baby sister. He had examined both girls when they got back and both were all right though Eryn had bruising on her back, side and leg as well as both girls having bruises on their necks where the darts got them. He didn't know why she wasn't talking.
Colleen rubbed the back of his shoulder gently. "She'll be fine, after all, she is a Faireborn, not to mention a Hart-Burnett." She kissed him on the cheek.
Kastor took the pancake off his lap and started to clean himself off with a bunch of napkins.
Cayden smiled at his wife and kissed her lovingly. "Thanks."
Sky Dancer smiled at her fiancé. "Need help?" she giggled. The headache had mostly passed from her ordeal, but her shoulder still continued to throb. And knew that even though she was not in the Infirmary, every Joe member was keeping a close eye on her, for any indication of her being in pain.
Scarlett leaned over toward her best friend. "I'll be sleeping on your couch tonight," she whispered, glancing over to her husband who had stopped in the middle of the room, glancing left and right, apparently looking for something, or someone.
Jaye bent closer to her friend to whisper in her ear, "Maybe not."
Rowan climbed off her chair, walked around the table and headed to her father. Her long braid in the back, swayed against her blue dress. She took hold of her father's hand, gently, looking up at him, and asked in a soft voice, "Are you angry?"
Duke looked down at her and smiled as he picked her up. "No honey, Daddy's not mad at you." He kissed her tenderly on the cheek. He spotted his family and headed for the table.
Eryn cuddled in closer to her father, still not saying anything.
Flint played with his daughter's hair. "How about you and me go Sky Striker flying later? We can take Lady and Gem too."
But Eryn only shook her head and held him tighter.
Colleen leaned over toward her best friend, while feeding her husband a mouthful of pancakes. "I wonder how many punishments we are going to have?"
Sky Dancer lowered herself in the chair. "He may give me life for those trash cans we exploded. I still can't believe one flew and fell right on his new car!"
Duke sat down next to his wife, his daughter still in his arms. "How many times so far?" he asked his wife.
"Thirty seven," Scarlett joked, patting his arm gently.
"Dad, don't listen to Mom," Colleen teased, feeding another mouthful to her husband. "Eat, you soon to be Papa."
The entire table laughed.
"I don't want anymore," Cayden said with a chuckle, pushing the fork away.
"It's only been three times total," Jaye told the commanding officer.
Colleen sent a pout to her husband. "Pwease, for Colly Wolly?" she requested, battering her eyes, causing more laughter.
A sound of a dog barking caused everyone to turn towards the entrance, where one kennel master stood with two Dobermans, and a Rottweiler.
Scarlett smiled, reaching behind her husband's back and tapped the pilot on the shoulder. "Look who's here," she gestured toward the door.
Sky Dancer turned her head while pushing her plate back toward her fiancé, and a surprise gasp came out of her throat unaware she sent the plate on Jeffrey's lap. She slowly stood up, watching the dogs walk toward her.
Apollo barked excitedly again, then in the matter of seconds burst as quickly as he could with his cast, Athena racing ahead of him, at top speed, both sniffing the air.
"Incoming!" Alpine shouted, diving out of the path of the dogs, landing on the floor, and causing more laughter.
The dogs headed toward their dog handler, then ran passed her for the other table and lunged at the tech, sending him to the ground.
The entire Mess went in silence just as a agonizing cry shouted in the air.
"Get them off!" Rob the Tech begged, trying to pull away from the sharp teeth that connected to his upper arm and leg areas, pinning him down.
"SKY! Stop them!" Mutt cried out to his protégé.
Sky Dancer didn't need any further commands but looked to the attacking animals. "FUSS!"
Apollo and Athena stopped simultaneously, and rushed to the handler's side.
"What the hell, Reena!" Rob the tech stated, slowly standing up, his bandage from his hand falling to the ground.
Duke rushed over toward him and saw the bite marks on Rob the Tech's hand and also the dark bruise. "Well, well, well."
Jaye stood up and was going to go after him realizing what this all meant.
Eryn let out a yelp but said nothing as tried to get away.
Flint stood up, gave his daughter to his wife and two large steps toward the tech, who tried to crawl away.
"How could you?" Sky Dancer asked in shock, feeling lightheaded from her friend's betrayal.
Rob the Tech's smile turned thin and upward, almost simulating pure evil. "I tried to stop you, Pilot," he hissed.
The warrant officer grabbed him by the shoulders and whisked him off the floor like a baby doll. "I'm going to break every bone in your body!" he threatened, his eyes turning cold and deadly.
"Why?" Cayden asked in shock, holding his wife protectively.
Kastor tried to get passed his father to get to Rob but Duke stopped him.
The entire Mess became silent, watching the scene, not believing that a traitor walked among them.
Ben blinked. "I thought you were my friend. Just like Dance's and Gung Ho's! How could you! You used me!"
Rob the Tech let out a chuckle that sent shivers down the spine. "Fools! All of you! " He glanced toward Sky Dancer. "Especially you, Pilot. It was easy to give Cobra the information on the rescue missions, while you were given them to me!"
Flint rattled the man back and forth. "You are nothing but a murderer!"
Sky Dancer touched her locket, holding it tightly. "But why?"
A chuckle sounded from the depths of the man's vocal chords. "You really want to know, Pilot?" he grinned, knowing he sent shivers down her spine from the name. "It was easy to convince the old fool General Hawk that I was adopted, he never checked my paperwork, but when Hauser here waltz back in the picture. I had to work faster, to find what my father wanted me to find all these years."
"Jeff, sit down," Duke said then went over to where Flint held Rob the Tech. "Flint, take him to the brig!"
"I'll kill him," Jaye growled then cursed him in Gaelic after sitting her daughter down. She tried to go after him.
"Allie, sit down," Scarlett requested her friend. "Let them handle it." She held on to her own daughter, comforting her.
Flint turned to his wife. "Sit," he ordered her, then turned back to the tech. "Who is your father and what was your mission! What were you doing with those files with the numbers and letters?"
"Like I'm going to tell you," Rob snickered evilly.
Ben stood flabbergasted, his eyes wide. "The formula! He was going after my formula!"
Duke turned to the young scientist. "What formula?"
Cayden stood up and sat his wife down at the table and stood in front of her as if protecting her.
Ben turned the commanding officer. "Sir, its the indestructible steel formula," he explained. He had been working years on the formula in his laboratory, which was well hidden on the base, and only a few members of the Joe Unit knew its location. With the formula, any object made of steel could never be damaged. Falling into the wrong hands could have been deadly, very deadly. Especially if those hands were Cobra's.
As the attention had fallen to Ben, Rob tried to escape but Flint held tight. "Don't even think about it!"
Gung Ho and Spades walked next to the tech. "We got him, Flint," Gung Ho said, looking very angry at the young man.
Eryn grabbed a hold of her mother's leg and held tightly, crying in terror.
Jaye reached down and patted her little girl's back.
"Take him to the Infirmary and have him put in hard restraints. His wound looks pretty bad," Cayden said sounding just like his father. "You better pray Sky Dancer had all her shots, because you of all people know how she is about needles!"
Duke chuckled and thought, "He's got his mother's imagination". "You heard him, boys."
Gung Ho nodded. "Let's go, Robbie," he growled, pulling the man along with Spades.
Flint and Duke followed the men, both changing into command mode, ready to spit some nails out of their mouths.
As they watch them leave the room, Scarlett looked to Jaye. "Let's take the girls to the playground," she suggested."
Jaye nodded. "Come on, Munchkin." She picked up her daughter that hugged her in fright.
Cayden walked over quickly and kissed his wife. "I'll see you in a bit. I have to go play mad doctor with the traitor." He grinned and left.
"I'm going with them," Kastor said to his fiancée. He kissed her and followed the others.
"You two want to come with us?" Jaye asked the two young women.
Colleen shook her head. "I think both Reena and I need some rest." She slowly stood up and strolled over to her best friend, who still looked in shock, wrapped her arm around the other woman's waist, and led her out of the Mess, which continued to remain silent.
Sky Dancer looked downward, her dogs by her side, her eyes sorrowful, filled with sadness, anger, and withdrawal.
"You all right?" Colleen asked her gently, leading her out of the building and heading for the barracks.
"I can't believe it, right under my nose," Sky Dancer replied, her gaze still glued to the ground. "How could I be so foolish?"
"You didn't know," Colleen told her gently. "None of us did, we were all fooled."
They walked into the barracks and up the stairs, straight to the pilot's suite. Walking inside, the mail greeted them, along with another yellow envelope.
"I'll get rid of this," Colleen went to bent down and retrieve the letter, when her eyes widened.
"Colleen?" Sky Dancer grabbed her friend to support her. "You all right?" she asked, concerned.
Colleen nodded. "I think I just got kicked, hard." She smiled, her dark blue eyes sparkling. "Go and sit down, that's a direct order. I'll fix us some tea."
Sky Dancer nodded, her legs turning to mush, walking over to the couch, sitting down slowly, and the dogs rushed to her side. She turned to see her friend head for the cupboard for the mugs and the next instant heard a glass breaking. "Colleen!"
She raced to the kitchen, stopping in her tracks, spotting her friend, holding her stomach, her eyes wide and her mouth mimicking.
"Water..." Colleen went to say only releasing a massive scream that almost shattered the glasses.
"Hang on!" Sky Dancer grabbed her, lowering her to the ground. "I'm calling to call Cayden!" She dashed to the phone, calling the medic, listening to it ring. "Come on, Cave! Pick up!"
On the second ring it got answered, "Dr. Caveman's torture chamber. The doctor is busy practicing IV insertion on an unwilling participant and can't come to the phone right now. This is his insane assistant Kastor The Cruel speaking. How can I help you?" Kastor's voice came.
"Jeffrey, it's Reena, Colly water..." Sky Dancer spoke quickly on the phone. "Hurry!"
"I need to hurry over to get her a glass of water?" Kastor asked clueless. "Can't she get it herself or is her belly making it hard so she can't reach the glasses in the cupboard?"
"Sto diatano, Jeffrey!" Sky Dancer nearly yelled. "Her water broke!"
"Oh my God!" He pulled the phone from his ear. "Cayden! Cayden! Colly's water broke!"
"This better not be another joke!" Cayden could be heard saying from a close distance.
"I don't think it's a joke. I just got sworn at in Greek!" Kastor told him.
Several sounds came apparent before, "Who is this?" Cayden asked over the line.
"Cayden! Get here now! I need help! I can't lift her!" Sky Dancer urged on the phone, glancing over at her friend, who looked ready to scream again.
"Okay. Where are you?" Cayden asked, with a hint of a panic in this tone.
"My suite. Hurry!" Sky Dancer answered, but her words were swallowed by Colleen's scream.
"CAYDEN, BABY!" Colleen screamed, holding on to her stomach, starting to do her breathing excersises.
"I'm coming, Bunny!" Cayden yelled and before he heard Sky Dancer's reply, he threw the phone to the ground and ran out of the Infirmary at top speed and toward the barracks. He knocked over Alpine on the way there and brushed past Shipwreck and Anchors on the way into the building. He climbed up the steps two at a time and finally after what seemed like an eternity came to Sky Dancer's suite. He burst through the door. "Bunny?"
"Here!" Sky Dancer cried out from the kitchen, her voice frightened.
Cayden rushed into the kitchen and fell to his knees next to his wife. He gently pushed on the lower part of her swollen belly. "How many contractions have you had?"
"Just a few!" Colleen puffed, then her expression changed, shutting her eyes tightly, and grabbed his collar. "Faireborn, you are going to give birth next time."
"I wish I could do this for you," he said sincerely as he picked her up off the floor and headed toward the door leaving Sky Dancer's suite.
Sky Dancer followed them, leaving the dogs at the suite. They raced to the Infirmary, where apparently Kastor had called all the soon to be grandparents.
Nearing the Infirmary, Colleen clutched on to her husband. Her expression filled with pain, and a cry shot through the air. Several of the Joes nearby covered their ears from the sound.
Doc rushed to meet them near the doors. "I have everything ready, get her inside." He pointed to one of the rooms.
Cayden quickly brought her inside and laid her down gently on the bed. "I'm here, Bunny. Everything will be all right."
"I'm scared," Colleen admitted afraid, holding on to his arm.
"I know you're scared, Bunny," Cayden said and kissed her forehead. "It will all be over soon.
Fourteen hours later, Cayden had just about wore a hole in the floor. He now stood there holding his wife's hand as she seemed to be trying to break it.
"Nurse Brown!" Doc yelled for the nurse to come in. "Colleen, you are very close. Just keep pushing."
"Okay," Colleen nodded in a small voice, her face tired, and her eyes half shut.
"Push!" Doc instructed. "On three, one… two…. three!"
Colleen pushed, holding on to her husband's hand with all her might.
Cayden tried to ignore the pain in his hand, knowing it was nothing compared to what she was enduring.
"Keep pushing!" Doc praised. "I can see the head."
Colleen gritted her teeth and pushed with all her might, letting out at the same moment a cry of pain. She glanced up at her husband. "Hope you're happy, Caveboy!"
"I wish I could take your pain," Cayden said, kissing her forehead.
"Head's out," Doc announced.
"Oh you may have it dear love, when I run you over with the Wolverine and feed you to Reena's dogs!" Colleen threatened, pushing again, hard.
Doc cleaned out the baby's mouth and nose as she rested for a second.
"It will be over soon, I promise," Cayden told her, ignoring her words.
"All right, now push!" Doc urged, holding onto the baby to guide it out.
Colleen pushed with all her strength, clinging on to her husband's hand for support.
"It's a girl!" Doc announced as he placed the small newborn on his mother's stomach and started the procedure to clean the baby.
"Sh...she's beautiful," Cayden said choked up and then kissed his wife's head.
Colleen reached with her other hand, gently touching her daughter's hand lightly. "And she's ours," she whispered tiredly.
Doc looked up at her. "All right it's time to do it again. Push!"
"Push?" Cayden asked as he tried to comfort his wife.
Colleen didn't answer her husband as she began pushing once again.
"Good, Colleen. You're doing great. Keep it up I can see the head." Doc told her.
"Head?" Cayden asked in shock.
Again, she didn't answer her husband, only breathed and pushed, laughing deep inside.
"The head's out!" Doc announced and proceeded to clean out this baby's mouth and nose.
"Two? We're having two?!" Cayden asked in excitement.
"I didn't know…" Colleen said through gritted teeth continuing to push again. "Faireborn men could count."
"It's another girl!" Doc called out and put the baby on her mother's stomach and finished cleaning her up before taking her over to the nurse.
"I've got to sit down," Cayden said, feeling dizzy from the overwhelming news.
"Doc! My husband is about to-" Colleen went to say when Cayden dropped to the floor, unconscious. She shook her head mumbling, "Pass out."
Doc rushed over to him and first made sure there were no injuries from him passing out then used the smelling salts he had kept in pocket just in case to revive the young man.
Cayden shook his head. "How did I end up on the floor?" he asked as Doc helped him to his feet.
"You decided to take a nap, while I did all the work," Colleen smiled down at him, her eyes half opened.
Cayden went over to her. "How are you feeling, Bunny?" Momentarily forgetting about the babies.
She sent him a content smile. "With my bunny slippers."
Doc shook his head. "Why am I not surprised! Why!"
Nurse Brown came over with one of the babies and handed her to her mother then quickly returned with the other and handed her to her father.
Cayden just looked at them in awe.
Colleen smiled down at the little bundle of joy. "Welcome to our Joe world," she murmured, bending down and kissing the little forehead. She then turned to her husband. "I wanted to surprise you."
"And it was a wonderful surprise," Cayden said and softly kissed her lips.
Colleen giggled glancing over to her second daughter. "They look so much alike. And quiet too." She smiled at the closed eyes of both the newborns when the one in Cayden's arms started screeching, loudly. "And that one takes after her grandmother."
"Oh God. No!" Doc shook his head. "Anything but that!" He walked toward the door, and turned to them. "You have two minutes of free time before I send the stampede in."
"We need to name them before they come in," Cayden said never taking his eyes off his beautiful babies.
"Well," Colleen smiled at him then at her daughters. "How about you name one and I name one?" She rocked gently the little bundle in her arms. "You, my little starlight, are going to be named, Caitlin Shannon."
"That's beautiful, Bunny." Cayden said to his wife then kissed her head before turning to baby number two. "You my sweet little angel are going to be named Devan Alanna."
The baby screeched, demanding to be heard, while the second one remained quiet and composed.
Colleen giggled. "Well, at least we can tell them apart!" she stated, her eyes shining with happiness. "Should we surprise the worried mob outside now?"
"Oh yes. My mom is going to freak," Cayden said giddily.
Colleen shook her head. "I think they are all going to freak." She smiled at him.
He sat on the bed, next to her and with his free arm, wrapped his arm around her. "I think you're right."
She glanced up at him, her eyes smiling, her face glowing and she kissed him on the cheek. "I love you," she said softly.
"I love you too, Bunny." He returned her kiss.
The door slowly opened and Scarlett's head popped inside, her eyes soft and tender, smiling at them. She spotted the bundle in her daughter's arms, then her gaze traveled to the second bundle in her son-in-law's arms. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Colleen Katherine!" she exclaimed, entering the room.
Colleen smiled at her mother. "Surprise, Mom." Her grin grew wider watching her father, her in-laws and her brother with his fiancée enter the room who also held the two little girls.
Scarlett walked to her daughter's side, kissing her on the forehead. "They are beautiful, Colleen." A tear came down her cheek, and she wiped it away.
"Oh my goodness!" Jaye exclaimed and rushed over to her son's side and kissed his cheek before looking down at her new grandbabies. "They're perfect."
Duke walked over and stood behind his wife and smiled proudly down at the babies.
"Congrats, Cole," Kastor said happily.
Eryn just looked down at the babies without saying anything.
Flint picked up his daughter, making sure she got a closer view of the babies. "See, Speedy. You're an Aunt now." He kissed his daughter then his eyes bulged wide open. 'I'm a Grandfather!" he declared, glancing around the room. "I'm a Grandfather!" He strode dazed towards the door, Eryn still in his embrace, and walked out, now starting to yell. "I'M A GRANDFATHER!"
Everyone burst out laughing in the room.
"Hey Grandpa!" Shouts came heard from down the hall and more laughter irrupted.
Rowan walked over the bed, and touched the pink blanket. "They are too too cute!" She looked up at her father. "Can I have one?"
Sky Dancer walked timidly toward the bed. "Colly, they are both darling!" she said, with a smile on her features.
"No sweetie, you are way too young," Duke told his little girl as he picked her up and kissed her.
Jaye gently stroked the side of the second baby's head. "What are their names?"
Colleen smiled, glancing all around her. "Everyone, I would like you to meet, Caitlin Shannon, who is sleeping in my arms, and Devan Alanna, which is squirming in Cayden's arms," She turned to her mother. "Here, Mom." She gently lifted the newborn, letting her mother take the baby.
Scarlett gently held her granddaughter in her arms. Her dark blue eyes stared down at the ivory skin, and closed eyes of the baby girl. She bent down and kissed the forehead, then glanced up at her husband, who stood right beside her, with their adoptive daughter. "Well, Grandpa Hauser, looks like we have two more worlds to love."
Cayden handed the newborn he had to his mother who cuddled the small girl. She smiled at her husband that just walked back into the room.
"Conrad, we need to place an order for six hundred cigars for the men!" Flint shook his head, still holding to his daughter, not wanting to let go.
"Hey, what about us women?" Sky Dancer joked.
Colleen nodded. "Well, after all that hard work, I don't mind for a cigar myself." Her dark blue eyes twinkled with mischief.
"A bubble gum cigar maybe," Cayden said kissing her forehead. Everyone laughed.
"Funny, Caveman," Colleen muttered, resting against him, watching her mother and mother-in-law hold her children.
Scarlett glanced at her husband. "Want to hold her?" she asked.
"I..I...I don't know. I don't want to drop her," Duke said causing his son to chuckle.
Jaye walked over to her husband and daughter. She smiled at her husband. "Eryn, look at your niece. Isn't she cute."
Eryn looked at her then turned and buried her face in her father's shoulder.
Flint kissed the side of his daughter's head. "I think someone is jealous. Hart Burnett style." He turned to his best friend. "Come on, old timer, let take the girls to playground."
"You want to go play, Rosey?" Duke asked his little girl.
Rowan looked straight into her father's crystal blue eyes. "I'll go anywhere you go, Daddy," She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him with all her might.
Duke chuckled. "Come on, let's go play." He walked over to his best friend then the four of them left.
Scarlett called out after them. "Be careful!"
"Don't worry Shana, the girls are in perfect hands!" Flint's voice floated into the room from the hallway.
"I'm talking about you and Conrad!" Scarlett replied, making Cayden snicker from her comment. She looked at the other remaining couple in the room, and glanced at her best friend, winking at her.
Sky Dancer stepped closer to her fiancé. "Think this is a good time to retreat," she whispered. Knowing what the women had concluded. But her wishful thinking came too late.
"Oh, come on, you two. Don't you want a cute little bundle of joy?" Jaye asked teasingly.
"I...ummm...We need to go," Kastor stuttered, trying to get out of the room.
Cayden started laughing. "Chicken."
Colleen started to cluck like a chicken, causing her mother to laugh. "Are the Godparents too scared to hold their Godchildren?"
Scarlett stepped in front of her son. "Here," she said with a smile, gently handing him the little baby before he could even react.
Sky Dancer stood by her fiancé, glancing down at the little bundle, then looked up at him. "I'll see you in my suite later, Uncle Jeffrey." Then tried to make a hasty retreat.
Kastor looked lost as he held the baby somewhat away from him.
"Oh no, you don't," Jaye said and went to give the baby to Sky Dancer.
Scarlett took hold of her son, leading him to a chair and sat him down, helping him hold the newborn. She kissed his forehead, knowing that he could have missed this moment.
Sky Dancer backed away. "Please, Lady Jaye, I don't want to hold her." Her gaze never left the second baby.
Everyone's eyebrows arched up.
Colleen took hold of her husband's hand, squeezing it gently.
"Reena, sit!" Jaye ordered.
Kastor looked uneasy.
Sky Dancer sighed, defeated, and walked to the second chair in the room, sitting down, right next to the man she loved.
"Reena, you don't have to hold her if you don't want," Colleen said to her friend, who looked petrified.
"I didn't mean it the way it came out," Sky Dancer explained, looking at the new parents. "It just that..." Her voice trailed off for a second, and her hand flew to her locket. "It's just that I've never held a baby before."
Jaye walked over, handing her the newborn and showed her how to correctly hold the baby. "Don't worry, hon. She will not break."
Sky Dancer glanced up at the older Joe, with a grateful smile, then turned her attention to the little newborn in her arms, whose face resembled a newly picked strawberry. Her own hands quivered from being nervous from fear of dropping the baby or holding her too tightly. But something deep inside overcame her and she held the child motherly. Sadness crept in, knowing her own mother would never meet her grandchildren. She bent down and kissed the baby's head before promising, "I will always protect you-both of you, for as along as I live."
Scarlett smiled, glancing from her daughter and son-in-law to her son and her soon to be daughter-in-law, who were both continued to hold her granddaughters. She took a few steps, grabbed the camera from her purse, and with a cunning smile said, "Say newborn Joe!"
From the flash, both babies started crying, and the two older best friends look at each other and cried out. "Switch!"
Sky Dancer handed Scarlett the baby she held slowly, while Kastor really quickly handed the second one to Jaye.
"Shana, this one takes after you," Jaye said as she held a squalling newborn.
"And this one," Scarlett pointed out while trying to calm the little bundle in her arms. "takes after you!"
Colleen shook her head. "And we thought they took after us!" she joked, nuzzling against her husband.
Cayden pulled her close to him and smiled with pride. "I love you, Bunny."
"You better." Colleen smiled up at him. "Can I fly now?"
"I'd rather you stay nice and safe on the ground," Cayden told her before kissing her softly on the lips.
Sky Dancer snickered, holding her laughter inside. She tapped Kastor on the arm. "They never stop, do they?" she whispered.
Kastor smiled. "What's the matter? Wish it was you?" He wrapped his arms tightly around her and drew her to him.
Sky Dancer went to reply when Scarlett's voice interrupted them. "Are you two going to stick around for the feeding?" They both glanced at the redhead, then at each other with wide eyes, grabbed each other's hands and with a quick "Bye!" ran out of there faster than a Sky Striker!
