Shayera sighed as she rested her head against John's broad chest. She felt perfectly safe in his arms. She was happy to be back with him. She never thought the day would come. Granted, she did feel bad for Mari, but she knew….heck everyone knew…that she and John were meant to be together. She rested her hand on her bulging stomach. She was cranky and a week overdue. She hoped that Rex would be born soon. He sure was taking his sweet time about it. Kind of like his father did most of the time. Shayera looked down to the floor. Brendon and Deidara sat playing with each other. She'd never been big on kids until it came time to have her own. Diana was in the hospital another night because she needed I.V. fluids. Bruce was forced to take a meeting because of his new partnership, and Alfred, she could tell, just needed a break. So, she volunteered, despite her own condition, to watch the boys with the promise that if anything happened at all they would be sent to stay with J'onn and Mai, who were in town for the next two weeks since Thanksgiving was soon approaching.

Brendon laughed as his red race car zoomed around the track they had constructed. Around the television set, under the couch, and around the loveseat it zoomed, Deidara's blue car not far behind. Deidara merely smiled like he held his own dirty little secret. Shayera watched as Brendon's car seemed to slow down, almost like it was being held by something as Deidara's car crossed the finish line.

"You cheated," Brendon exclaimed, knowing it was true, but that he had no way to prove it, "I demand a do over."

"Face it, Bren-Bren. I'm you're big brother. I always win," Deidara smirked, leaning back as if beating his younger brother had been no effort at all.

"Now you two," John gave the boys a stern look, "Brendon, it is always best to except defeat graciously. Don't be a sore loser. You were too cocky that you were going to win. Dei's shadows were the only thing that slowed you down; you were already slowing because you thought you couldn't be beat. As for you, Deidara, it's good that you don't allow him to win, but you shouldn't cheat. You are there to guide your younger brother. Be a good example."

Shayera smiled at John's advice. She could already tell he would be a strict, but wonderful father. She poked Brendon's nose, "You should know, Bren. Don't count you're chickens before they hatch."

Brendon scowled a bit, "I swear everyone is gaining up on me. I will beat you one day Dei."

"Only in your dreams, Bren-Bren," Deidara smirked, picking up his car and looking at the clock, "We should get to bed. It's getting late."

"Alright," Brendon sighed, knowing that Dei was the leader among them and there was no arguing; he turned to look at Shayera, "Aunt Shy, I have a question….where to babies come from?"

John waited for his girlfriend to respond. He knew there was no telling what Shayera would say to the three-year-old, so he stepped in, "Well, Brendon when two people love each other very much, there love creates new life."

"Well, I know that. Mommy told me that when two adults are in love it makes a baby," Brendon sighed, "What I mean is do you lay eggs, Aunt Shy?"

Shayera gasped for air, unable to control her laughter at the question. Wally had asked her once and she slapped him, but coming from a curious, innocent child. It was so sweet and funny at the same time. She clutched her side, "No, Brendon….I don't lay eggs."

"But, you're a bird," Brendon shook his head in confusion.

"Brendon, my people used science to cause us to grow wings. I'll give birth the same way that your Mommy did. Since, Rex is half-human. He won't have wings like I do, but if his father had been Thanagarian, he would have wings….but he still wouldn't come out of an egg," Shayera smiled, standing from the couch and taking the two boys each by the hand, leading them to the guest room, "Does that make sense?"

"Sorta," Brendon shrugged, climbing in the bed, "Are you going to read us a story."

Deidara nodded, "It's tradition to read a story before bed."

Shayera pulled a book from the shelf, seeing that it held a few fairy tales within its pages. John watched from the doorway as Shayera read. She was his angel. Her red hair was longer now than when they first met. He always loved it. It reflected her fiery temper, and while he always argued with her. It was their way of saying they cared. She stood up to him when he got in his moods. He liked that. Mari never did that. Mari was seductive sure….beautiful yes, but she wasn't Shayera. Shayera was the woman he'd fallen for. She was the woman that he'd never gotten over. He forgave her easily because he knew that their love had never been a lie. Watching her now, he realized how great a woman she was. She was going to make an excellent mother. She changed her voice from character to character as she read the myth of Demeter and her daughter who stayed in Tartarus. He felt sure they boys had heard the story many times from their own mother. He waited as Shayera kissed each boy on the forehead and made her way back to him in the doorway. She slowly shut the door, leaving it open just a crack.

"This is nice you know," she smiled, kissing his cheek softly, "Us…parents. I can't wait until Rex is born."

"Me either," John smirked, "I can teach him catch, and you can teach him how to break a window while playing baseball."

"Hey, that only happened once John Stewart," Shayera laughed as he tickled her before groaning in pain, "John….I've been hurting off and on all day, but it's worse now….I think…I think."

"You're in labor," John's eyes widened, "We have to get the boys to J'onn's place."

"I don't think we have time," Shayera's eyes widened as she clutched her side.

Deidara and Brendon ran out of the bedroom. Deidara rushed to her side, "Aunt Shy, are you okay?"

John placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "Grab your backpacks. Your Aunt is in labor and we have to get to the hospital."

Deidara grabbed his backpack as well as Brendon's, "I can use my powers to get us to J'onn's. It's a lot of effort, but I can do it."

"Fine," John realized he really didn't have a choice, "But send word when you get there."

Shadows enveloped Brendon and Deidara. It was really quite creepy if you didn't know how innocent Deidara truly was. His eyes went completely dark instead of their usual green. His relaxed expression became more concentrated than ever. Slowly, the darkness faded from the room until it was lighted again. Deidara and Brendon disappeared. John then turned his attention to Shayera. He lifted her in his arms, grabbing her travel bag. A note appeared from the shadows with only two words on it, "word, Dei."

John sighed with relief, as scary as Shy was in labor, Bruce was more terrifying to him, especially if the man's kids were involved. John moved the street corner, trying to hail a taxi, but it seemed as if every driver passed him by. Shayera was going to give birth soon, and with the hospital several miles away, he didn't think he could carry her all the way, and flying didn't seem safe, "Finally."

Shayera let out a grunt of satisfaction as John sat her down in the taxi. The man rushed toward the hospital, but the contractions seemed to be getting closer and closer together. Shayera's eyes watered, "I hate you John Stewart! Why did I ever let you do this to me! I really really hate you!"

John rubbed his lip after she slapped him to find it was spilt, "Shy, you've got to calm down. Stress is not good for the baby."

Shayera bit her lip, "John, take off my sweats. Rex is coming now. You're going to have to catch him."

John looked to the taxi driver, who seemed about as white as he did in this moment. He ripped the sweat pants from her body, pulling off her underwear as well, "I can see the head! One more push, Shy."

Shayera pushed with all her strength, John reacting quickly in catching the baby boy. He grabbed Shayera's pants. He wiped the little bit of blood from the baby as he started to cry. Shayera smiled, "Take your shoe lace and tie off the umbilical cord. They'll cut it at the hospital."

John figured he would never forget this moment. The birth of his first born in Cab #238, "Welcome to the world Rex Jonathon Stewart."