Man, I feel so bad for Taylor Swift fans (Swifties) right now. Ticketmaster literally crashed because of the unprecedented demand, and is now being investigated by the feds. Scalpers are literally reselling these said tickets for 95 THOUSAND BUCKS. Like, damn.

In other news, for better or for worse, Twitter is dying. I guarantee that within 2 years, this app will be internet history. Not that I ever had a Twitter. I only use "the gram" if you fellow Gen Z get what I'm saying.

Anyways, there's only one more chapter after this one. Thanks for all the reads- mitch :)

paw patrol: all grown up #25: tying the knot

chapter 9: housewarming

3 WEEKS LATER

After reaching her 6th week of pregnancy (also just after Everest said she was expecting), the house that Chase and Skye had envisioned had finally been completed. A small, cottage-style home with a wrap-around porch and white picket fence indeed. The couple moved in and the expecting mother held a baby shower the next day. But the stress of the pregnancy had been coming to a head in the last few weeks. Skye pulled out of her job and was confined to the new cottage house that they resided in. Chase, sticking to his promise, began a work hiatus to support his wife and help raise their future puppies for a month or two afterwards. Both were replaced by two Robo-dogs that could do their real-life canine counterparts' jobs admirably. Still, Ryder and all their other friends missed talking to the german shepherd and cockapoo on a regular basis. While the last month of her pregnancy was hard, the last days of the pregnancy were physically and mentally almost unbearable for Skye. Both married couples had second floors in their respective homes: for raising their future pups. Skye had to stay in a small area with a wall raised four feet high around her. The cockapoo lulled around impatiently forever for the moment to happen. But it seemed like it wouldn't come. She was experiencing more pain than she ever imagined in her life. Just standing and walking around became a thing of the past. Skye felt heartbroken by that, and Chase sensed that sadness as well. But Skye knew that eventually, she would be able to be herself again. To socialize with friends. To be able to fly her old helicopter. But that had to wait.

But there was something first. The due date.

At 1 AM that morning, the cockapoo awoke suddenly, shrieking in surprise. Both knew it was finally time, and Chase knew what to do. As his wife began to experience unimaginable pain, the german shepherd hustled downstairs to a phone that was attached to the wall. He called Katie and Ryder to come ASAP, and they responded. Katie, being a veterinarian, was set to deliver the puppies, and Ryder was the transportation, bringing his ATV. The two humans high-tailed it over to Chase and Skye's residence, and without saying a word, Katie ran upstairs to tend to an ailing Skye. The girl told Ryder and Chase that neither of them could go upstairs during the cockapoo's labor delivery, fearing that distraction would cause disaster. The boy and the German shepherd nodded. For hours, they both sat in the living room while they overheard Skye howl, wail, and scream noises of anguish that neither wanted to hear.

At 6 AM, nearly five hours after the delivery process began, and just before the sun had risen, both boys' patience was wearing thin. Ryder and Chase desperately wanted to see how Skye was holding up, but could not. Ryder was beginning to feel sleepy, dozing in and out. But Chase could not sleep. His mind was running at mach speed, pacing the floor back and forth so much that he could have dented it.

"I can't imagine what's going on in your head right now…I can barely stay awake…" Ryder yawned. It was at that moment that the police dog couldn't take it anymore. The anxiety and fear of not seeing or aiding his wife in her hour of need made the german shepherd a ticking time bomb.

"How can I sleep at all?! Skye is giving birth, man! And I'm not allowed to see her at all! I knew that this was going to happen. The complications. The pain she's feeling right now. I feel helpless right now. Ryder…I'm scared…" Chase whimpered, feeling tears come down his eyes. He was truly fearful of his wife's well being.

"Chase…it's alright being nervous. Then again…I can't imagine being in your situation." Ryder admitted as he embraced the first canine friend he truly had. Just after the boy displayed this sentiment, the cries of the pilot on the floor above them ceased. Both had sat for fifteen minutes more, unknowing if Skye and the puppies had come through the delivery. Just past 6:30 AM, Katie wearily walked down the stairs into the living room of the home.

"Katie, Katie, Katie!" Chase cried as he rushed over to the veterinarian.

"Yes, Chase?" Katie asked.

"Are the puppies okay?" The German shepherd inquired with concern.

"They made it out just fine." Katie replied casually.

"Is Skye okay?" Chase then asked, his old puppy eyes showing. The veterinarian girl laughed quietly.

"Yep. She's alright."

"Wait…does…does that mean…" The police dog muttered to himself, putting two and two together.

"Congratulations, Chase. You're officially a father." Katie broke the news to him, petting his head.

"Oh my goodness…" Chase stuttered in surprise. He couldn't believe it, almost fainting in shock.

"Yep. She's sleeping right now." Katie added.

"Does this mean I can go up and see them?" Chase asked in a puppy-like tone.

"Absolutely. You earned that right more than anyone else." The veterinarian answered. She yawned and was about to head out the door with Ryder until Chase stopped them.

"One more question: How do the puppies look?'' the german shepherd asked with curiousity.

"Your puppies are the cutest I've ever seen. You'll love them at first sight." Katie smiled, yawning once more.

"I'm gonna take Katie back to the Pet Parlor. She needs some rest. Your canine friends and I are gonna come up to see you guys in a couple hours." Ryder told Chase, waving goodbye to his police dog and leaving the small, cottage-like house.

"Hey…Katie?" The police dog stuttered.

"Yeah?" Katie inquired, turning to the german shepherd.

"Thanks…for taking care of Skye and…our puppies for us." Chase spoke up, immensely grateful that the whole delivery was a resounding success.

"It was all worth it, Chase. My work here is done." Katie grinned, embracing the new father. She then walked to Ryder's ATV, and the two sped off back home to Adventure Bay.

The german shepherd stood still like a statue for almost five minutes. He still couldn't believe it. It was a miracle. He walked over to the window overlooking the front yard. The sun had finally risen over the mountains. He took a deep breath and looked up the stairs. Nobody was stopping him now from seeing his new family. Chase slowly walked up the stairs, and when he finally made it up, he stared straight ahead. He continued to walk to the little four-foot, and inside was Skye. She wasn't just his wife any longer. She was a mother to six beautiful puppies. Skye was in a deep sleep, but that wasn't what he was looking at. Chase couldn't stop staring at the puppies. Three of them were shepherds, and the other three were cockapoos. They were all getting milk from their new mother simultaneously. At that moment, Chase got over the barrier quietly and laid next to his mate and their new offspring. There was a window on the second floor, and the window began shining a very bright light onto Skye and the pups. The german shepherd got emotional, weeping tears of relief and satisfaction.

The scent of her mate filled the nose of the cockapoo, and she opened her eyes. The pilot turned to the love of her life with a very exhausted but earnest smile.

"Hey, babe…" The german shepherd said gently.

"Hey…" Skye whispered, licking her husband's face in return.

"How are ya?" The german shepherd asked.

"I'm so tired…but I've never been so happy before…" The cockapoo replied. Thanks to the immense pain of the labor process, Skye could barely talk due to her vocal cords being stretched to the limit.

"Look…look at what we made." Chase spoke, turning his attention back to the puppies that changed his and her life in an instant.

"They're so beautiful, aren't they?" The cockapoo asked her mate. The feeling of transferring her milk to her new babies felt so weird-it was going to take some getting used to- but it felt so right.

"Just like the mother." The police dog smiled. Both looked into each others' eyes, then their puppies, and back to each other. We did it. They both thought simultaneously. The new parents kissed one another briefly before Skye pulled away. She was simply too tired to stay up any longer. The cockapoo lied on her side and closed her eyes, leaving her husband to watch over the family that he was set to provide for.

"Love you, Chase…" The pilot mumbled, not knowing if her mate would hear. But the german shepherd did indeed pick up her words. He licked all 6 of their puppies on the head and smooched Skye on the forehead.

"Love you, too, Skye…" The police dog smiled, laying next to the love of his life and his pups and beginning to catch some rest himself. It had been a really long morning, but it was all worth it.

45 minutes later, as both Skye and Chase were getting their rest, The german shepherd heard the doorbell. He didn't think that his friends would come over this early to see their newborn pups, but anything was possible with them. Chase tiptoed downstairs to see an Orchard Park police car in front of the house. He couldn't be happier. It was his dad. The elder german shepherd walked up to the white front porch, where his son greeted him.

"Howdy, son!" Sam grinned as the two bro-hugged one another.

"Dad, what's up, man?" The younger german shepherd asked.

"Just wanted to see my son become a dad himself. And I wanted to see my new grandpups. Definitely the last part." The elder german shepherd acknowledged.

"So, did you and Josh finish your shift or what?"

"Yeah, we worked from 11 at night to 7 in the morning. I got your call during my shift, and I didn't want to create some unneeded chaos, so I let Mother Nature do her thing. I told Josh that we were heading over here the moment our shift was over. Believe me, you and Skye aren't the only ones who are exhausted." Sam explained.

"Thank god…"

"So, what's it like being a dad, Chase?" Sam asked his son.

"Based on my limited experience, it's the greatest honor I could ever experience. I've never felt so at peace before. Like, ever." The younger K-9 said, feeling giddy about his new family.

"That's amazing. How's Skye? She hold up well?" The elder K-9 inquired.

"Yep. She's a trooper, man. She's up there sleeping. She could barely even talk right now due to…well…you know." Chase elaborated.

"Right. Why don't we go and see those little youngins?" The elder german shepherd suggested. The duo walked into the house and upstairs, into the second floor where a certain mother and pups were.

"There they are, pops. That's my new family." Chase grinned, showing them off. The elder german shepherd walked over to the barrier, gazed down and was in astonishment instantly.

"Oh my goodness, Chase…they look amazing." Sam gasped. Once he laid his eyes on them, it seemed like everything bad and wrong with the world vanished. Everything was great and everything was grand.

"Hey, Sam…" Skye mumbled, taking one moment to open her eyes and see the elder german shepherd peering over the barrier.

"Howdy, Skye! Glad to see you're holding up." Sam spoke up.

"I'm honestly surprised I am." The cockapoo muttered in sarcasm before drifting off back to sleep.

"So, did Ryder or your other pup friends come over yet?" The Orchard Park K-9 asked.

"Nope. They're gonna come over in a few hours. You're the first one to come over and see 'em." The young german shepherd replied.

"Man…this is something else…you come up with any names yet?" Sam inquired, curious to hear any baby names that the pair have come up with.

"We already did. We're gonna wait until tomorrow to name every one of them." Chase answered kindly.

"That's amazing, son." Sam grinned as he embraced his son.

"I still can't believe this is really happening." The Adventure Bay K-9 gasped.

"Chase…remember that I'll forever be proud of who you are." Sam smirked as he patted his son on the back.

"Thanks, dad."

"Can't wait to see my grandpups grow up."

"Thanks for stopping by, Dad. You're free to come over anytime." The younger german shepherd told his father.

"Gotta get home and get some shuteye. Josh is just as tired as I am." The elder German shepherd spoke as he left the new parent's cottage. Life was sure going to be different. Very different. But Chase and Skye couldn't have been more hyped.

3 HOURS LATER

Ryder let Rocky, Zuma and Rubble sleep the entire night, and they had absolutely no idea what had taken place in the last 12 hours. The three dogs were the only ones who still lived at the lookout anyway. As soon as the boy got back to the lookout in Adventure Bay, he hit the sack to catch up on some sleep. Ryder put a note on the elevator for the trio to not bother him while he got his morning nap, and the canines who were there respected that. Ryder then awoke at 9:30 AM, and saw the three canines plus Hailey when he went down to the main floor of the lookout.

The four asked him why he slept in, and he replied with the simple yet effective answer: Chase and Skye's puppies were born very early that morning, and he needed to catch some rest. The four canines were simply overjoyed by the news. Rocky hustled to the wall phone not too far away and told Jasen to come over as soon as possible. Ryder then took it to himself to inform Marshall and Everest the news. The husky and dalmatian were eating breakfast in the kitchen at their cabin when the boy called them through their pup tags. The two began celebrating like little children upon hearing the revelation, and were eager to see them right away.

Jasen took almost twenty minutes to get from Orchard Park to Adventure Bay through a bus, and he met up with Ryder, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma and Hailey at the lookout. They then got into the PAW Patroller, drove to the husky and dalmatian's cabin to fetch the couple, and then finally arrived at Chase and Skye's cottage just after 10 AM. Chase was busy smoking a cigar on the front porch when he saw his friends getting off the PAW Patroller, and all of the canines rushed up to him.

"Aye, look! There's a proud papa if I ever saw one!" Marshall exclaimed as he bro-hugged his friend tightly.

"Man, it's so nice to see y'all today. The sun is shining. Birds are chirping. Today's just a good day." Chase remarked as he looked out into the sky above him. It was just too good to be true.

"So, when can we come in and see the puppies?" Zuma asked the german shepherd.

"Yeah, man! I've been DYING to see my new nieces and nephews." Rubble pointed out.

"Also, since you guys are my best friends, you guys are officially the aunts and uncles of my pups." The police dog spoke up, clearing the new obvious out of the way. He saw his PAW Patrol teammates, Jasen, Hailey, and Ryder as family, and wanted to make it semi-official.

"Uncle Marshall and Aunt Everest. I really like the sound of that." Everest spoke to her husband.

"We've been practicing for this for weeks, man." Marshall spoke to the german shepherd, and the two nodded in agreement. Chase, Marshall, Skye and Everest took time over the cockapoo's pregnancy to practice calling themselves "uncle" and "aunt" and were really liking it.

"So, who's gonna be the godparents of your pups?" Rocky asked the new father.

"Skye and I have decided that Ryder and Katie be the godfather and godmother to our offspring." Chase decreed, with howls of celebration from all of the canines around the boy. Ryder was stunned and most of all, touched by the revelation.

"Chase…I…I'm so honored. Thanks for giving Katie and I such a title." Ryder commended his secret favorite canine.

"Is Skye awake right now?" Hailey asked Chase.

"Oh yeah, she's up. She woke up about thirty minutes ago and hasn't stopped talking to me since." The German shepherd grinned.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go see those little ones." Jasen proclaimed. All the others agreed, and Chase led the way upstairs. Finally, when the whole gang reached the second floor, the proud father stood next to the four- foot wall barrier that held the mother and her pups behind it.

"Friends…this is Skye, the mother. And here are our puppies." The german shepherd introduced his friends to the new the canines stood up and looked over the wall. Nobody could believe their eyes.

"Aaaawwww!" All the canines and Ryder gushed as they looked at the puppies for the very first time.

"Oh my god, look at that!" Rubble rejoiced.

"Woah, that's crazy!" Rocky remarked.

"Skye, some of them look just like you!" Everest gasped in awe.

"I just realized that I am allergic to adorableness." Jasen gushed.

"They are sooo cute, aren't they, Zuma? I just can't stop looking at them." Hailey remarked to her boyfriend, licking his face.

"Yeah…I can't believe they did it." The chocolate lab smiled as he put his hand around her. Hailey…I hope this will be us someday. You'll be stunning as a mom. Of course, that's gonna have to wait. Zuma thought to himself. He was in no mood to rush anything they had going, but couldn't help imagine things like that.

"Ha, there's no way we're having kids!" Rocky cheered to his boyfriend.

"Yes sir, we can't reproduce!" Jasen added with jest, getting in on the joke and high-fiving the mix while everyone laughed.

"Chase, man, you did a fine job! Look at those fine german shepherds down there." Marshall complemented the father.

"Marsh, there's a bunch of cockapoos down there, too. They're mine, don'cha know?" The german shepherd remarked to his best pal, making sure the dally didn't forget the puppies that looked like his mate.

"How does it feel to be a brand new mommy, huh?" Everest and Hailey asked the new mother in eager unison. She took a moment to turn her neck to the two best girlfriends a girl like her could possibly have.

"Girlfriends, it feels so relieving getting these puppies out of me. It was super painful, let me tell you. But the moment they start getting your milk, it's just like you forget the pain. It's so rewarding. Like, I just realized that my body could actually do this. It's insane. Katie did a great job, Everest. She's such a trooper. I guarantee that your due date is going to be easier than mine." Skye told the two girls. Then, she gave the husky a look she would never forget. One of love and excitement for the husky herself, no less.

"Five weeks, Marshy. Five weeks." Everest spoke to her husband gently. The two felt her stomach with their paws and nuzzled one another. Both were crazy excited for the future, and the pregnancy itself was going relatively quickly. It seemed like every minute, the husky's stomach was getting bigger little by little.

"Uncle Marshall and Aunt Everest oughta be taking some notes here!" Rubble pointed out to the couple, causing everyone to laugh.

"I could just sit and look at Skye and our babies and never get tired of it." Chase admitted, gazing fondly to his offspring.

"Neither can we." Hailey spoke. For a few minutes, nothing was spoken between anyone. They appreciated the significance of the moment without words being used. The actions spoke for themselves.

"You think of any names for these little rugrats?" Zuma snickered.

"We did come up with names, yeah." The german shepherd remarked.

"Chase and I are gonna wait until tomorrow to officially name them all." Skye spoke up. She and Chase already came up with names for up to five names for both the boy and girl pups they would have the day after Skye announced she was expecting.

"Man, Ryder, you're the weirdest guy I know. You just sit there and take everything in. Like, you never say anything." The police dog called out to the boy. He was indeed standing not too far away. He walked over to Skye and Chase and knelt to their eye level.

"Chase…Skye…I'm not the guy for making speeches, but…words can't really show how privileged to have known both of you as not only members of the PAW Patrol, but as my best friends, too. I wish you two the best of luck in raising your puppies together and I can't wait to see them grow up. Hey? One or two of them might be in the PAW Patrol some day, who knows?" Ryder spoke to the two proud parents.

"Awww, Ryder…come on, bruh…" Chase laughed.

"He may be right. Those german shepherd genes are among the most physically gifted of all dogs, ya know." Jasen pointed out.

"And her mother's genes might go through the cockapoos or something. Name one of them Luke, Skye. You know what I'm getting at." The recycling dog spoke up, wondering if one of the cockapoo puppies she had would become a pilot like the mother.

"One of the cockapoos is a boy, Rocky, you're right. Chase and I will think about it." Skye told the mix. She and the german shepherd looked at each other for a moment and nodded in agreement.

This is the beginning of the end…Ryder thought to himself. He knew that the PAW Patrol he loved was going to come to an end eventually. All the dogs in the PAW Patrol (hopefully) were going to have pups on their own and retire from their positions, maybe for their own offspring to replace them. But this is the beginning of something else. Something I can't put my finger on yet.