Chapter 37: Arrival
Elizabeth lay propped on the sofa in the sitting room at the very back of the shelter, as far away from her and Usagi's bedroom as she could get. Dr. Morris had moved the furniture in the room out of the way and was busy placing things she thought she'd need on a nearby table. Michelangelo and Mondo were hovering close by, looking as nervous and agitated as you'd expect two young males in this kind of situation to look. Mondo had about worried that necklace of his to pieces.
Hyena had parked himself in the doorway, acting as sentry to keep the other animals out of the room and out of the way. They clustered persistently behind him, chirping and chattering anxiously.
"Will she be okay?" asked a puppy.
"She looks awfully pale," observed a kitten.
"Nah, she looks red," disagreed a bird.
"She looks pale and red," said a mouse.
"Silence," snarled Hyena. "Or the next thing you'll be wondering is how much longer you have to live after my teeth have punctured your throats."
The little ones squeaked in fear and went quiet. Elizabeth groaned as another contraction hit.
Brow furrowing, Dr. Morris came over and felt her midsection for a moment. "This is happening a bit early," she said, "but both of them have already turned. Delivering them now shouldn't cause any complications."
"Thank goodness," said Elizabeth with a wince. The pain subsided and she sank, panting, back against the cushions piled under her. Mondo was eyeing the mound of clean towels Dr. Morris had gathered, an uneasy look on his face.
"Shouldn't we get out of here?" he asked. "You know, before it gets...messy?"
Dr. Morris turned to give him a pert frown. "When it comes to childbirth, do you know what the difference between a boy and a man is?"
The mutant gecko looked confused. "Um, no. What?"
"Nothing, as far as I can tell. When I meet someone who doesn't look like he's going to faint at the mere mention of labor, I'm going to marry him."
Elizabeth started to laugh, then bit back a cry as the pain spiked again. "Usagi could handle it," she sighed as soon as she could talk again.
Her heart was thudding with excitement, but it was also stinging with pain. Her wonderful husband was missing this. She knew he would be devastated when he found out, but what else could she do? Knowing that his babies were on the way would undoubtedly get him excited—too excited. She couldn't take that chance.
It was so unfair it brought tears to her eyes. If the Rat King ever showed his face again...
She sniffled and pretended her tears were caused by her contractions. Dr. Morris checked her watch. "They seem to be coming a little closer together," she noted. "But you probably have hours before it's time to deliver."
Michelangelo actually went pale. "Hours?"
Dr. Morris pursed her lips in disapproval again, but Elizabeth wasn't about to chide him. She was having the same reaction. The pain came and went again, and while she was catching her breath, Splinter came into the room. Michelangelo looked up in surprise. "When did you get here?"
"He came with Dr. Morris," Elizabeth told him with a tired smile. "He's been keeping an eye on Obento."
"He is still asleep," the gentle rodent reported as he came over to the sofa. "I do not believe he will wake before morning."
Instead of looking relieved, Michelangelo was frowning. "If you're here, who's looking after Becky?"
Splinter turned sober. "Tonight took several unexpected turns. I decided to leave her be once she fell asleep but never meant to stay away so long."
The orange-clad turtle looked upset. "She has no idea the doc changed her mind about leaving. Do you realize how she's going to react when she wakes up all alone?"
The aging ninja master lowered his head, clearly remorseful. Michelangelo was already hurrying for the door. "I'm going to go make sure she's okay."
"Want me to come with?" asked Mondo.
"Nah, I won't be gone long. Stay here and keep an eye on Lizzie."
The mutant lizard looked like he felt funny staying with people he barely knew, but he did what he was told. Even though she understood Michelangelo's concern, she was glad Splinter was here right now. His fatherly presence was comforting.
For the next few minutes the four of them sat in silence, Elizabeth wincing against the cushions while the others made themselves comfortable on the floor, keeping close at hand. The petite redhead noticed Mondo kept flicking glances at Dr. Morris, his expression sly. "Guess this means you have to marry him," he suddenly remarked.
Dr. Morris gave a start. "Excuse me?"
"Him," the mutant gecko clarified, pointing at Splinter. "You said it yourself. First guy who doesn't faint around childbirth gets dragged to the altar. He's up close and personal and doesn't even look squeamish."
He had a point. Splinter looked like he always did; calm, cool, and collected. At least he did until a moment ago. Now he was reddening. Pulling her glasses off and pressing her face in her hand, Dr. Morris did the same. Elizabeth would have thought she'd shrug the cheeky remark off.
When the next contraction hit, she had to cover her mouth to muffle her cry of pain. Dr. Morris had commented earlier that yelling during labor was beneficial—it helped relieved the mother's tension and created pressure that often aided delivery. But Elizabeth couldn't yell. If Usagi heard he'd come running. She couldn't risk it.
"Ouch," she whimpered, sweat trickling down her temples. Dr. Morris sent Mondo to fetch a damp cloth; when he returned she blotted Elizabeth's face with it.
Michelangelo came back a few minutes later. "Becky's fine," he reported, taking a seat beside his reptilian friend. "Donatello's with her. Oh," he added, eyes shifting to Dr. Morris, "you owe her a bottle of milk and story time."
"Did she say that?" the pretty scientist asked.
"No, but I just did."
The doctor's cheeks darkened again. She cleared her throat and resumed blotting Elizabeth's face. "How much longer?" she asked weakly.
"At least another hour. Maybe two."
She lay there for over three. Plenty of time for her to worry about ruining the sofa once delivery actually began, and plenty of time for the young reptiles to fetch a shower curtain and arrange it under her. By the time she was settled again Elizabeth felt like she'd been in labor for days. To her it seemed like the pain was coming constantly now, yet through her foggy mind and the ringing in her ears it suddenly dawned on her how long her husband had been alone. "Someone needs to check on Usagi."
"It should be me," said Dr. Morris, though she was clearly hesitant about leaving.
"I'll be fine," Elizabeth said dully. "I'm going to be here for hours more, right?"
Wordlessly, Dr. Morris took a peek under the hem of the young mother's yukata before getting up and hurrying from the room. Splinter took over blotting her face with the cool, damp cloth. It seemed like only a few seconds later when another contraction hit. Only this time the pain didn't stop. She waited it out for minutes but it just kept going.
"Is it time now?" she gasped out as the pain spiked even sharper. "This means it's time now, right? I'd look myself, but..."
Splinter studied her a moment, then shot a look at the two reptiles sitting nearby. Taking his meaning, they both flushed and hid their eyes. With the utmost care, Splinter lifted the corner of her yukata and took a peek. Frowning, he lifted the corner higher.
In spite of the pain, Elizabeth propped herself up on her elbows curiously. "What is it?"
"Part of a head, I believe. A grayish one—oh, and a short, pointed ear."
That was enough to convince her. "Okay," she said shakily, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Going to start pushing now. I can do this."
She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince; the others or herself.
Splinter was already unfolding and placing out towels, as well as a pair of tiny blankets taken from the nursery. Elizabeth's heart went wild at the sight, already picturing the twins warm and snug in them. This is it, she thought. This is happening.
"Okay," she said again as she braced herself. With a big intake of breath, she started pushing. The pain grew even worse, her ears buzzed and her head swam, her eyes clouded with tears, yet she kept pushing, and pushing—until all of a sudden the pain eased away, the pressure ebbing like a tide. She gratefully let herself relax and panted for breath, while Splinter worked at the opposite end of the sofa. A second later there was a tiny, pitiful cry.
Her pain forgotten, the young mother eagerly sat up as Splinter finished gently blotting one of her babies dry and wrapped him in a blanket. "You did very well," he told her as he placed her son in her anxious arms.
"Wasn't so bad," she decided.
Actual birth had taken a lot less time than she thought it would, and she didn't wonder why. Her firstborn was smaller than she had been imagining—and she somehow knew before looking him over that he was a he. The gentle crying stopped as soon as he was in her arms, and she settled back with a quiet laugh, the joy she was feeling too strong to stay inside.
"You can look now," said Splinter.
Elizabeth looked over and laughed again; Michelangelo and Mondo were sitting with spare throw pillows pressed to their faces. Mikey peeked cautiously over the top of his pillow—and dropped it in a hurry as he scooted closer. "He looks just like Usagi," he said, sounding impressed. "Only...bald."
"Of course he is, he's a baby bunny. He's still beautiful."
Instead of downy rabbit fur, her tiny son had skin that was the palest of grays, with the faintest blue tint around his large eyes. His nose was pink, and as she continued to cuddle him, running her fingers over his delicate cheeks, his eyes slowly opened. They were big and bright and blue. Exactly like his father's.
Tears of happiness flooding her eyes, Elizabeth sniffled and kissed his face. His furless skin felt impossibly soft—like velvet and silk. He was chubby and a little wrinkled and couldn't be more perfect. She was still studying him in amazement when Dr. Morris came back into the room; she stopped in surprise. "I was only gone five minutes."
"He was ready," Splinter said simply.
The pretty scientist came and knelt beside the sofa, where she gave the tiny bunny a look over. Elizabeth could tell she wanted to give him a more thorough examination but didn't take him away from her just yet. Instead she prodded her middle for a moment. "It shouldn't be much longer before the other one is here," she noted.
The petite redhead nodded, heart speeding again. While the doctor was unfolding more clean towels, Mikey suddenly edged closer and leaned over Elizabeth's shoulder. Her son blinked his big blue eyes. "You think he'll grow up to be as gnarly a samurai as his daddy?" the young turtle wondered.
Elizabeth felt herself beam. "I'm sure of it."
Grinning, Michelangelo reached over and touched one of his large fingers to her son's tiny fist. "Welcome to the team, little dude," he whispered.
Her eyes moistened again as she turned to smile at him, her heart warming with affection and gratitude. "Thank you for staying."
Smiling back, he laid his hand on her curls. "No prob."
He went back to sit next to Mondo who, now that the anxiety of being exposed to childbirth for the first time was wearing off, was starting to look a little sleepy. Elizabeth wasn't feeling anxious anymore either; just excited. She'd already done it once, she could do it again. And as contractions started to hit, she knew she would be doing it again very soon.
Dr. Morris took her son from her and handed him to Splinter for now. "I'd like to weigh and measure him later, once I have the proper tools with me," she said.
"We have a scale," Elizabeth told her with a pained grunt.
"Thank you, but I would prefer something sterile."
She checked her watch, noting that less than ten minutes had passed since her son was born when it was time for Elizabeth to start pushing again. Knowing what to expect now, she thought it was quicker and a little less painful the second time. Only a few pushes and then the doctor was cleaning her second child with a towel, another tiny cry briefly filling the air. Dr. Morris smiled as she wrapped the second blanket around her son's twin. "It's a girl," she announced.
Elizabeth sank back against the cushions, drained beyond words but too happy to care. She held out her arms expectantly and her daughter was placed in them. Like her brother, she stopped fussing once she was in her mother's arms and opened her eyes soon after. The sight made Elizabeth catch her breath; the large, clear orbs gazing up at her were as deep and green as her own.
Splinter was still holding her son; she shifted her daughter to the crook of her arm and held out the other. As he was carefully passing her daughter's twin to her, Michelangelo set his throw pillow down with a yawn. "It's been real, but I should probably get going."
"You sure?" Dr. Morris asked wryly. "You might have to carry your friend if you do."
All eyes turned to Mondo, who still had his face covered with a throw pillow. He was lying on the floor with his shoulder propped against the leg of a chair, and the muffled but distinct sound of snoring was coming from behind the pillow. Michelangelo covered another yawn. "You don't mind if we crash here?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "Of course not. Here; use these."
She wanted to lie back and go to sleep anyway, so Splinter and Dr. Morris helped take the mound of cushions and pillows out from behind her. Michelangelo was soon curled up comfortably beside his snoring friend. Most of the animals had fallen asleep too, though the handful that were still awake were watching her and her babies closely.
"Can we talk now?" asked the puppy in a whisper.
"Keep it brief," Hyena said gruffly. He got up and disappeared down the hall.
"Congratulations," whispered the kitten.
"They're just beautiful," said a little bird. "We're so happy for you."
"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered back, heart warming.
Dr. Morris was busy laying out more pillows and a spare blanket she found. "I'll be staying for now too," she said, as she pulled her glasses and shoes off and made herself comfortable. "After all, someone needs to keep an eye on you, the twins, not to mention Usagi."
"And Obento," added Splinter, though he wasn't in the same danger Usagi was. Elizabeth's heart sank and she tried not to think about that. Not right now.
"It is an awfully full load," the gentle rodent went on. "I shall stay the night as well and help any way I can."
"Call Donatello and let him and Becky know," Michelangelo mumbled, already three-quarters asleep.
"I will," Splinter promised.
Dr. Morris smiled warmly as she settled back on her makeshift bed. "I'm glad you were here to help," she said.
Elizabeth glanced at her. Something about the scientist's tone suggested she was glad Splinter was here, period.
"She totally has a thing for him," whispered the bird as the animals finally left the doorway.
Hiding a smile, the young mother closed her eyes and fell blissfully asleep.