Chapter 27

            "C'mon now Mrs. Raptor, you have to push."

            "I AM PUSHING!!"

            I was pretty sure the doctor there was pretty much aggravated with me by now. I had been several hours in labor now and there was still no progress. At least to me it didn't seem like progress. The doctor and my friends kept on insisting I was doing good. I was not feeling good!! How in the world was I doing good if I was feeling like this?!

            "Mrs. Raptor, we just got a hold of your husband and he's on his way."

            My heart skipped a beat. The last person I wanted there was my husband. What if my baby ended up looking like Copper? What would I do? I had Sabra clenching to one hand and my brother clenching the other. Sabra was telling me just what I needed to do and how to breath. Streaks kept reassuring me that I was doing great. My mind wasn't there though. My body mechanically did what it had to do to give birth, but my thoughts kept drifting. What was I going to do?

            Then pain subsided and a sound of a baby's cry filled the room. "It's a boy!" The doctor cheered. I collapsed. My son's cry brought me into reality again. Sabra whipped off my forehead and before I knew it my son was set into my arms. I looked at the small bundle in awe. He was the most beautiful thing I ever saw in my entire life. His hair was blond and his eyes were green. I brushed the hair from his forehead. He did look like Copper. I'm sure has his body matured and his "animal" features began to show I wouldn't be surprised if he sprouted fur on me. Oh, but he was beautiful.

            "Do you have a name Mrs. Raptor?"

            "Grae Ookami Raptor."

            The nurse took him from me to take him to be cleaned.

            "You did it sis!" Streaks cheered. "He's adorable too!"

            I sighed, exhausted. "Yea, he sure is." I looked up at Sabra. "I don't have to worry for now. My mother was a blonde."

            "Rip…"

            "But in case…just in case …" I clutched her hand. "I want you to get my son out of here before something happens to him. Before, my…"

            "Mrs. Raptor, you're husband is here."

            "Heh?" I looked the way of the door to see Cray walk in, taking off his hat. Sabra and Streaks gave them each a look. He gave them a nod.

            "Streaks, Sabra, do you mind?"

            They each gave my hand a squeeze in assurance before they left. Cray sat down next to my bed and held my hand. I would've jerked it away if I wouldn't have felt so tired. "Good job," he assured. "Too bad they didn't call me earlier I would've made it for the labor. I did he see him."

            "You did?" I questioned.

            "Ah yes," he grinned. "Quite a handsome fellow. Just like his Daddy?"

            I twitched and my eyes widened.

            He gave a chuckle. "Don't be so finicky, Rip. As far as I'm concerned and as for as you're concerned and anyone else is, that pup is my son." He gave me a stern look. "I already knew, dear wife. I knew the moment you made the mistake with that damn wolf. However," his eyes narrowed. "Why should I punish the pup for the sin."

            I couldn't help thing my loving husband had something else on his mind. Some other mind for my son. A plan that I would not allow. Not on my death bed would I allow it. I was raising this child. Not him.

            A day or two after my strength returned to my legs and after Cray had decided to go back to work. I walked myself to the nursery. The person I'd least expected to see looking into the window was standing there. I tightened up my robe and walked over.

            "Why are you here?" I asked.

            "I don't know," he replied, still looking strait into the glass. I looked forward too. My beautiful son was sleeping. He was good sleeper. Which I thanked whatever god out there whom blessed me with that. "A lot of things have been going through my mind lately. I can't think and my head spins about. I…I do want to take responsibility, Rip."

            "No."

            "What?" He turned and looked at me. It was the first time he's looked at me in a long time. I decided not to look back this time. "Why not, Rip?"

            "It would be best," I said. "It would be best like you said it should be. That you and I should never see each other ever again. I was thinking too. I managed to think while birthing little Grae though. I realized something."

            "What's that?" He turned back to look through the window.

            I place my hand on the glass. "If our love was shattered so easily and if the trust we had with each other could be broken through a simple mistake then was it really all that stable to begin with."

            "Yea."

            "To tell you the truth, I am upset that was lost," I said. "But, it hurts to know I lost my best friend. I missed him more than I missed my …whatever he was that night."

            "Yea?" he questioned. "Me too. I miss my best friend too."

            "So, you're getting married, uh?"

            "How'd you know."

            "Cray told me," I said. "She's nice?"

            "Hmm-mmm," he replied.

            "Good," I said. "You need someone good."

            "You do too," he said.

            "Ah, Cray's alright," I replied.

            "Ummm, are you running a fever?"

            "He's been taking care of me believe it or not," I replied. "He does everything I ever wanted a husband to do. Don't get me wrong; I'm still going to kill him. When the time is right."

            "Until then…"

            "I think you and I should avoid each other in public," I replied. "It would be best and least conspicuous. And if we do run into each other make it into something idle. As if we're old friends that haven't seen each other for awhile. Besides it is what we are."

            "Yes," he replied. "We are old friends." He looked through the window. "Old friends that just happened to create life together though."

            I looked forward. "Then, that life will be what connects Copper Ookami and Sindel Raptor together," I said. I sighed. "I'm tired. I need to go rest." I leaned forward towards my life. "Good night, my baby. I'll see you again when you wake up. Mommy loves you." I blow kissed my life. I looked back at Copper. "You need to get out of ere before Cray show up. He's suppose to be here in an hour. I don't want you to colliding into each other when you don't want to. I want to avoid all confrontations."

            "Good idea," he said. "Because, I might end up killing him before you would if that happened."

            "If you did that I'd end up killing you."

            "And I don't doubt that you would."

***********

            Time went by as it did. It wasn't long after that my sister gave birth to a daughter. She was named Karen. I could already the strong life force from this child. I would have to keep an eye on her. I didn't want the military to take advantage of another situation like they did mine.

            It wasn't long after that, that Copper had married. I would've gone to the wedding if I was invited. I knew I most likely was, but Cray would forbid it anyway. I did send them a card and gift though. I sent them a rice cooker and in the card I gave Copper a picture of Grae. He should have one of his son.

            Grae was starting to get is animal like features quickly. I could already see the faint black stripes in his skin. Which in all cases releaved me. He might just be raptor dominate. He should have most of his features once he was four. Cray told me that he would teach the boy to change into a "normal" form before he would start school. After all, it was still illegal to have Midtransformation in public. It was something I didn't understand. After all, Midtransformation was our normal form.

            However it didn't bother me either because I started noticing that Grae's ears were become pointy. He was going to have canine ears. I could already tell. His nail were longer too. But, that was a trait he got from the two of us.

            Life went bye as well. The resistance faction was still moving on. However, even my old war buddies had moved on. Rat Trap even got married! I nearly fell off my chair for that one. He had married! I was invited to that one. Cray didn't even mind me going. He told me I looked like I needed some fresh air. He told me I was starting to look ghostly. I knew a lot of that was do to the fact I had started to use my sorcery now. I figured the chance of killing him would be with these abilities. Because, I could kill him and protect the others if I mastered it.

            It was a Rat Trap's wedding that I saw Copper again and his wife as well. She was a pretty looking wolven girl. He wasn't golden like Copper was. She was more of a brownish color. I also noticed she was well on her way to having a baby. It made me happy and jealous at the same time.

            I brought Grae along with me. There wasn't a place that I didn't bring him. He was my life. Everything I did was for him now.

            "Oh Yaweh, can I hold him Rip?" Sabra came up to me and asked.

            "Sure," I replied, handed my son to her.

            "He's so darling," she said. She examined him for a moment. "I can't decide whether he looks like you more or his father."

            "Cut it out," I replied. "No one hear is supposed to know anything. As far as I'm concerned, and Cray is concerned and even Copper is concerned, Cray is Grae's father."

            She cradled him and looked at me with softened eyes. "Rip."

            "What?"

            She smiled. "He's beautiful."

            I smiled back. "Oh I know he is. He's the most beautiful thing in the world. As far as I'm concerned, Grae Ookami Raptor is first and only man in my life."

            She chuckled. "I bet he is."

            "Are you going to talk to him?"

            "Didn't I tell you to cut it out," I reminded. "Look, when he's aware and he wants to come see the boy he will come see it. I am not risking anything. You'd sware that Cray was watching me 24-7."

            "Really?" she questioned. "If you knew that why are you coming to the base?"

            "I've been able to block whatever it is," I said.

            "Seriously, how?"

            "Well, it's socerery," I replied.

            "You actually believe in that stuff?" she questioned. "Please, there hasn't been a sorcery in decades. What make you think you can do it?"

            I smiled. "Well, call it a sixth sense, Watch this a simple spell." I didn't even look at the glass and it lifted and came to my head."

            Sabra was wide eyed. "Amazing! How did you learn that?"

            "I just did," I replied. "I can do a lot more than that too. The only thing is to do that I would have to let it out."

            Her eyes softened some. She knew what I meant. "Rip, I don't think you should ever let that thing out again no matter what. I see it in your eyes. Even when you don't let it completely out. For example when you killed Leo, there was no way you could've done it. Even with all the training you've had. That demon inside of you shows its face more than you think."

            "How can you tell?" I questioned.

            "Your eyes," she pointed out. "They grow darker."

            "So I've heard."

            Grae began to squirm in Sabra's arms. "He wants to get down."

            "He can walk already?"

            "He's almost two," I pointed out.

            She set him down. I handed him a balloon and he became the happiest baby in the hall. "Would you watch him a moment?" I questioned. "I want to congratulate the groom."

            "Sure thing," she replied.

            I got up from my seat and made my way to Rat Trap. I gave him a pat on his back. "Well, Rat Face, I can't believe you've joined the world of the norm."

            He chuckled. "So that's why you people call yourselves?" he questioned. "Mira is a good woman." He smiled. "However I haven't told her anything about you know what."

            "Ah, underground," I said. "Are you ever?"

            "If I have too," he replied. "You know I almost hate to throw down the government. Everyone seems to be at such peace on this side of the fence."

            "Yea," I replied. "But almost is your key word there."

            He nodded. "So where's Rip Jr?"

            "Haha, Sabra is looking after him for me," I replied. "I wanted to congratulate the lucky rodent."

            "I feel so congratulated."

            Then there was a sudden explosion in the right wall of the hall. "What the hell?" I ducked for cover. People were everywhere screaming and yelling. I knew people got hurt.

            Grae!

            I got to my feet. And ran to where I had left Sabra and Grae. I looked around frantically among the amount of frightened and injured people. "Grae!" Then there was a evil chuckle behind me. I spun around and saw……..me?

            I stood there in awe. My duplicate stood smirking at me. It was cover in a red spandex from head to two long it's face wasn't covered. What was going on here?

            Then there was another chuckled behind me. I spun around and there stood another me. Only this time its suit was covered in black. And, in her hand Grae was dangling.

            "Grae! You put him down!" Black only chuckled again and swung him in front of her.

            "Maie!" My baby was afraid. He wasn't hurt but he was certainly afraid. Then the twin freaks took off out of the hall with speed that was more uncanny then I could've ever imagined.

            "Grae!" I ran out of the hole in the wall and outside. Which way had they gone? Those witches! They had my son!! I turned around. There didn't seem to be anyone hurt badly and Sabra was already doing her job as the greatest doctor in the universe. They would all be alright. I had to get Grae back. I looked from back to forth. Damnit if they only had a smell I could at least go by that.

            Grae's smell! Of course, they didn't need a scent. My baby had his own scent.  All I had to do was follow that. I took off at my own speed. Something was going on here and I didn't like it. I knew there was something wrong when I woke up that morning. I felt the presence. He was here, and the other he wasn't far. They both were here! They.