The Delivery

The temple's outer walls were in tatters. Rock and debris lay scattered across the floor along with snow and ice compliments of the numerous, newly created 'doors' and 'windows' at the hands of Sa'lu's Shadow Dragon.

The first signs of sunrise began to show through the mountain peeks, bringing with it a new day and along with it confirmation of the Dragon clan's victory. We were still here.

Sa'lu and her people however, were not. With the Shadow Dragon dealt with, they were easily overcome and defeated. Those who could, fled. Others still, surrendered and found themselves taken into Team Rocket custody.

The village's inhabitants who spent the night hiding in the temple's inner chambers were safe and unharmed, only suffering the effects of a sleepless night. With the sunrise, they emerged from hiding to assess the damage and start on repairs. The place was a mess, but it would be rebuilt. The important part was that we survived.

Giovanni and his men were already packing up and preparing to disembark. The Team Rocket leader stood alone, watching the process when I entered his makeshift 'War Room'. In place of the tables and computer equipment that once lined the chambers were now large, metal crates. Giovanni's face was expressionless as he focused on the activities of his people. His investment was secure, though I was sure there were deeper workings at play in his mind right then. Possibly the fact that he'd let the likes of a Legendary Dragon slip through his fingers. Though I doubted even he could control something like that.

"Giovanni." His head snapped around at my approach. "Thank you." I would be lying if I said it wasn't hard to say that to him.

The Crime Lord simply nodded. His job here was done, and we were enemies once more. "Sa'lu has once again managed to escape. My men found no traces of her at the location you and N left her."

This didn't surprise me in the slightest. The woman, when on her own, was a coward.

"What will you do now?" I asked.

"She can't hide forever. The price I've put on her head…" he let it hang. "I will find her and she will pay." He went to turn and leave but the call of a nervous, young Rocket stopped him mid-stride.

"Sir," the young grunt saluted officially.

"Yes? What is it?" Giovanni snapped mechanically.

"Agent Pierce requests your presence immediately. It's regarding your daughter."

This grabbed my attention, "Kair? Is she alright?"

The rocket seemed to hop about on both feet. "This way."

We followed the skittish little grunt through the countless tunnels that made up this ancient temple, until we came to a bed chamber, which at this point was occupied by the village physician, my mother, Kair's handler and a very uncomfortable looking Kair. She sat back on a bed, red in the face and cursing loudly.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" She yelled across the room, only to spot me and her father and then only yelled louder. "I hate you Lance Drake! I hate you!"

"Kair?" I bolted for the woman but only found myself stopped short and shoved up against the door by my own mother, of all people. Her eyes were wide and panicked.

"Wh…" I was stumped. "What's going on?"

"She is in labour, you fool!" Giovanni's roar sounded aloud over his daughter's insistent cussing.

"Labour?" the word left an eerie echo in my mind that suddenly seemed to insight in me feelings of panic and dread. "Legendaries! Not now! She still has a month to go!"

"She's been in labour all night. Lance, it's time." My mother's words were definite, the physician only confirming this as he made the announcement for anyone not needed in the room to leave.

The Team Rocket agents quickly filed out at this point, leaving just Giovanni, my mother and I alone with Kair and the physician. My mother acted as a midwife as she prepared towels and other utensils, and the two went to work on turning the small bedchamber into a delivery room.

"We do have more adequate facilities in the village," I voiced, but the physician barely took the time to acknowledge me.

"It's too late to move her now, this will have to do."

"Doctor, she's reached ten centimetres. She is fully dilated. Giovanni, Lance, please step back."

The Crime Lord wasn't used to taking orders, but in this instance, he chose to make an exception. We retreated to the furthest corner of the room, awaiting any further instruction while at the same time watched on with eager anticipation.

My mind was a confused mess amid the chaos, so I was caught completely and utterly unprepared when our daughter arrived first. Tiny and delicate, she greeted the world with a squeal that could shatter windows. Quickly wrapped in a towel and given a moment to spend in her mother's arms, I found myself practically stumbling over my own two feet to reach her. She was handed to me and all at once my world seemed to spin on its own axis. Her hair was the colour of a summer sunset, and as I spoke to her, her screaming began to dissipate. Tiny, barely open eyes searched the distance between our faces… searched for the source of my voice.

"Scarlet," I smiled. "What do you think of that for your name?"

"I think it's a very good name," My glance fell on Kair who smiled in kind. She was visibly tired, yet focused on the remainder of her task which was still only half done.

Her contraptions started again, and again I was pushed aside but this time with a beautiful, baby girl in my arms. Words truly cannot express what it felt like to hold her for the first time.

I felt Giovanni's presence beside me as he watched us… watched the next generation to his family tree form into existence.

"Congratulations," his voice was barely above a whisper.

If the Criminal Mastermind had intentions of keeping his emotions in check, then he would find himself sorely defeated at the birth of his second grandchild.

Taking his first breath, the newborn was silent. He didn't scream, he didn't cry. He merely took in his new surroundings and observed them. He was wrapped up in a towel and handed to his mother – the two psychics finally meeting for the first time.

"Father," Kair's exhausted smile greeted Giovanni and he stepped forward only to take the child from her, awkwardly cradling him in her arms.

Bigger than his sister, he had no hair yet, though it was evident that it was also going to be red. His eyes were focused, watching his grandfather with great intensity and I saw in that moment a bond that formed that would not be easily broken.

"Giovanni," in all honesty, I don't know what possessed me to say it. Perhaps some part of me really wanted peace between us after all. "He is your grandson, what do you suggest we name him?"

The leader of Team Rocket was silent for a moment, not taking his eyes off the tiny bundle in his arms.

"Silver," he finally said. "His name will be Silver."