Chapter 43
To no one's surprise, a few weeks later, Kitty still had issues with her so-called new 'lifestyle', the one prescribed by Naomi and Yuri. Evidently, their quest to make Kitty a 'lady' was only paying mixed dividends…
Naomi---when she had the chance---flicked her appraising gaze over at her charge, who sat beside her in the passenger seat of her Lamborghini. Kitty had grown her hair out---only slightly!---and now took the time to comb it neatly---well, most of the time, that is. Naomi also observed that Kitty's posture had improved a good deal too…sitting up straighter now, head held up proudly, shoulders slightly back. The adorable little vixen still adamantly refused to wear any more cosmetics than was absolutely necessary though…a hint of mascara, and a whisper of eyeshadow…that was it! Naomi was proud that she had stuck to her guns in making Kitty wear dresses and skirts. Kitty, much as Naomi had expected, initially protested wearing such womanly garments most begrudgingly. However, over time, familiarity had apparently worn the rough edges off the tomboy, and she now willingly wore skirts as she had formerly worn pants. Which, Naomi thought with a grin, was a bonus…as it showed off Kitty's very lovely legs to good effect. Naomi's grin widened as she remembered the lingering looks Kitty's Ling had given her legs of late. No doubt Kitty's snow leopard beau at least approved of Naomi's enforced wardrobe changes. Well, Naomi admitted only to herself, it is a start, no?
Kitty sat looking out the window of the speeding Lamborghini, her thoughts somewhat all over the board that moment. She was surprised at the changes in herself, first of all. Like how she really didn't seem to mind wearing skirts now, especially when she caught Ling stealing peeks at her exposed calves every so often. Like how she felt a bit better about herself, more confident maybe, now that her posture had changed. That had been a trial, Kitty mused to herself, flickng her bright blue eyes quickly over to where Naomi competently negotiated driving in Paris' busy streets. Kitty could still hear Naomi's softly spoken, but imperative, instructions inside her head. "A lady always sits with dignity, her back straight and her feet firmly on the floor, Kitty." Kitty then sighed in a sort of melancholy way, and slowly began to nibble at her nails. That was a nervous habit she had developed of late…one that Naomi would undoubtedly break her of just as soon as she discovered it. Kitty found she only chewed at her nails when she was feeling uncomfortable about something. Like, she told herself, this dreaded visit to the beauty parlor she now faced…
Naomi spotted Kitty gazing forlornly out the car window, nervously chewing her ragged nails. "Tut tut, Kitty…biting your nails, hmm cheri?" Naomi softly chided her, shaking her platinum-haired head wearily.
Kitty could only sigh. "Sorry 'bout that, Naomi. A nervous habit, I guess," Kitty explained quickly, snatching her hand from her mouth.
Naomi gave Kitty a small smile as she drove. "Come now, Cheri…there is nothing to be afraid of, you know," Naomi soothed warmly.
"Is that right?" Kitty observed, then laughed a hollow laugh. "No, of course not. I mean, we're only going to the beauty parlor, at which I have quite a reputation. Which I understand as that's where I and my attitude towards makeup are very well known." Kitty closed her big blue eyes a moment, sighed despairingly, then re-opened her eyes. "Gah, Naomi…I swear they try their level best to make me as uncomfortable as they can." Kitty began to nervously nibble her nails again.
"Kitty, stoy," Maria instructed with a forgiving smile, even as she leaned forward to gently pull Kitty's fingers away from her mouth. "Pahoolsta, tovarisch…please calm down. It will not so bad," Maria tried to assure the nervous vixen.
"Not that bad?" Kitty growled, her face paling. "Are you kidding? C'mon, Maria…they know me by name there! And, I swear ever since that first time I went through those doors, they've been going out of their way to torture me!"
Svetlana frowned in her seat directly behind Kitty. "But, Kitty…whatever makes you say that, tovarisch?" Svetlana asked, reaching out to softly rub Kitty's shoulder.
Kitty grinned, then blushed a hot red. "Er, um, well…I guess it might have something to do with me having called nearly everyone there a bunch of bimbos. Heh, heh…" Kitty posed, grinning in acute embarrassment.
"Mon Dieu," Naomi gasped soflty, wincing.
"Bozhe moi," Maria and Svetlana groaned.
"Don't remind me, okay?" Kitty growled, upset with fate…which led her back to this upcoming trial of hers.
Naomi brought the Lamborghini to a smooth stop beside the curb. "Be that as it may, amis…the past cannot be changed. Kitty, you will have to do your best. For, we are here, amis: Le Petite Beauty Parlor," Naomi announced with a small smile.
Kitty looked out the window of the low-slung sports car to the beauty parlor, her face paling noticeably. "Oh, man…I am so dead," Kitty whispered, her teeth actually chattering slightly from her dread.
"Nonsense," Naomi corrected her primly. "It is apparently high time you made amends for your most unlady-like behavior, Kitty. So…the very first thing you must do when we are inside is to apologize---and mean it!---to all the beauticians and cosmetologists, hmm?"
"Aww, man," Kitty groaned, leaning her head wearily against the window a moment. "Do I really have to, Naomi?"
"Yes, petite…you must," Naomi told her, then hardened her gaze at the headstrong, yet still adorable Kitty beside her. "Am I perfectly clear on this, Kitty?"
Kitty looked back at her dismally, but ruefully nodded her assent. "All right, I will. I promise," she pledged.
"I knew I could count on you, cheri," Naomi told her with smile, then leaned over to give Kitty a comforting one-armed hug. "Now, my Kitty…chin up, cheri! This exercise is for your own good, ami."
"Right," Kitty answered woodenly, her color still fading. "Yeah, sure…"
Naomi felt slightly horrible, but knew the lesson had to be imparted to be learned by the stubborn Kitty. "Oh, and another thing, Kitty dear…you will cease biting your nails…immediately! It is a nasty, very unlady-like habit, and is unsanitary as well. Do you hear me?"
Kitty frowned, but nodded again, not trusting her voice just that moment. She cleared her throat a moment later, then gulped, and spoke. "All right, girls…let's get this over with already," she ordered, levering open the Lamborghini's door and stepping out. Naomi did the same on her side of the car, and then Kitty and Naomi helped Svetlana and Maria, respectively, out of the confines of the Italian sports car.
Once all four were steady on their feet, and the doors were closed and locked on the Lamborghini, the four women made their way toward the entrance of Le Petite Beauty Parlor…the youngest of them a bit green in the face…
The very same time, at Interpol Paris Headquarters…
Captain Trish Connelly made her way briskly back toward the holding cells. The Irish vixen smiled appreciatively…happy with the knowledge that she had some most likely very welcome information to impart to a certain Japanese leopardess…
"Mornin', Constable," Trish greeted the guard on duty, as fate would have it, Constable Dombrowski. "Top o' the day to yeh, laddie…"
"Good morning, Captain," Stanislaw Dombrowski answered, his deep voice soft but rumbly. "What brings you here this morning, ma'am?"
"Why, I'm here to see yer Ms. Zuikawa, laddy-buck," Trish replied cleverly, her pretty green eyes twinkling. "Might I suppose the lass' calendar might be clear, eh?"
Constable Dombrowski chuckled…he liked Captain Connelly, she was a funny and pretty lady. "Pff!" Dombrowski snorted with laughter. "I am sure she will have time to see you, Captain."
Trish grinned. "Ah, an' what a grand lad yeh are, Constable," Trish teased, tossing her reddish-blond hair back over her shoulder.
Dombrowski found himself blushing slightly, shaking his head. He felt decidedly uncomfortable when the pretty vixen said things like that…but, in truth, he really didn't mind…that much, at least. "Follow me, Captain," he instructed.
"I'm right behind yeh, bucko," Trish assured him, grinning still.
The two moved through two security points---complete with guards and barred doors---until they entered the two rows of holding cells. Dombrowski moved before Keiko's cell, and rapped on the thick metal bars with a beefy knuckle. "A visitor for you, Zuikawa," he announced, nodding over at Trish.
"Thank yeh, Constable," Trish told him. "I'll be callin' yeh when I'm through, to be sure."
"As you say, Captain," Constable Dombrowski answered, then began to make his way to the closest guardpost.
Trish didn't say a thing at first, and just gazed into the cell that held the Japanese heiress. She was most surprised to see that Keiko no longer wore her green kimono and white obi. Instead, the svelte, attractive leopardess now wore one of the regulation orange prison jumpsuits. It was pretty apparent by looking at the disapproving frown on the lovely heiress' face that she did not in any way approve of her change in garb…no, not one bit. "Good mornin' to yeh, darlin'," Trish said cheerily, as there came an electronic gong, then the door to Keiko's cell slid open. Trish wasted no time, and stepped inside the cell, and watched the door slide shut and lock behind herself.
"Ohayo, Captain-san," Keiko replied politely yet woodenly. She returned her gaze to the small figure she was apparently constructing from naught but sheets of paper. Keiko's clever fingers moved expertly and surely, and before too long she produced a remarkable life-like paper crane.
"What's that yer doin', love?" Trish asked, interested.
"It is a Japanese art form, Captain," Keiko answered, but without any emotion in her voice or expression. "It is called origami…you may of heard of it."
"Aye, I have, girl," Trish answered with a nod. "May I?" she asked, indicating the white paper crane with her hand.
"Hai, please do," Keiko answered, nodding to the crane, even as she began work on another piece.
Trish examined the delicate folded paper sculpture, of a crane with its neck held high and proud, one leg bent beneath it. "Amazin'," Trish observed. "This is some fine work, darlin'…aye, so it is."
"Domo arigato, Captain Connelly," Keiko answered, a small smile, no more than the corners of her lips rising. "Now…" she continued as she finished her latest work, a graceful swan. "I am sure an Interpol Captain has far more important things to do than admire my origami this morning." She gazed up at Trish, her slanted brown eyes curious. "What really brings you here to me this morning, mon Capitan?"
"Fancy yeh should ask me that, lass," Trish told her cleverly, her green eyes lit with pleasure. "I thought yeh might like to hear somethin' I heard on me way into work this mornin', so I would." Trish locked eyes with the surprised leopardess before her, wagging an eyebrow at her. "So, darlin'…are yeh game?"
Keiko gathered her long dark jet hair behind her head with a hand and swept it back, securing it with a rubber band in a long, glistening ponytail. "Hai, I will," the proud young woman answered with polite smile, then shrugged. "It's not like I have a great deal else to do, neh?" She grinned sardonically at her witticism.
"Aye, yeh have a point there," Trish allowed with a soft chuckle. "So, if that's the case then, give a listen…" Trish removed a micro-recorder from her inside jacket pocket, laid it upon the small table, and pressed 'play'. Almost immediately, the voice of a popular morning newsperson began to speak.
"…in other news, today the Immigation and Naturalization Section within Interpol arrested the well-known shipping magnate Senji Zuikawa in Japan, after having learned that he had been involved in a smuggling operation that transported illegal immigrants into the Los Angeles area via his ships---all at the orders of the nefarious Yakuza, otherwise known as the Japanese Mafia. Interpol also reports that before Interpol's daring raid, the Japanese Police department staged a successful rescue of Zuikawa's wife, Ochiba, from the mobsters' clutches, who had only minutes after Mr. Zuikawa's arrest, destroyed the entire Zuikawa compound with a charge of plastic explosive." The female new anchor then paused a moment, then continued on. "More details about this case in just about an hour…"
The recording turned to the muted hiss of blank tape, and Trish reached over to switch the mini-recorder off. "So, a right fine bit o' news…don't yeh think, lass?" Trish posed to her, smiling.
Keiko just sat rigidly upon her bunk bed, saying not a word, her big beautiful eyes blinking again and again…then, without any warning, the young leopardess suddenly broke down to weep happy tears of relief. "Oh! Oh, th-th-thank you, Captain-sama!" Keiko managed to get out through her weeping.
Trish noticed she'd received a bit of promotion in status…no longer 'Captain-san', but now 'Captain-sama'. "Yer welcome, darlin'," Trish told her sincerely, yet softly. She didn't want to intrude on Keiko's happiness just then.
Keiko's grateful weeping subsided after a few minutes, and then---wiping the tears from her pretty brown eyes---she looked up into Trish's eyes. She gave Trish a most thankful, bright smile…then stood up, and bowed deeply to her from the waist. Her eyes downcast, she said in deep gratitude, "Domo arigato goziemashita."
Trish smiled, having learned enough Japanese to know Keiko was thanking her as deeply as she could. "Like I said…twas a real pleasure, darlin'…don't yeh trouble yerself none now," Trish told her, moving over to sit down beside the still sniffling young woman. Trish patted her knee once companionably, then continued to speak. "Now, seems to me at least, lass, that you shoud try to get yerself some sleep." Trish then frowned slightly, then continued with the now not-so-pleasant news. "Mainly because we'll be transportin' you to a French jail sometime tomorrow, y'see. So…can't hurt now---can it? ---to get a wee bit o' shut eye, eh?"
Keiko looked down, her breathing now a bit more rapid. "So, Captain-sama?" Keiko asked in a timid voice of a much younger girl. "Um, exactly how many years in prison do you think I will receive?"
Trish was torn, she felt a bit of a kinship with the Japanese gal…but, well, she committed a crime, was caught, and now faced the consequences. That was how life was sometimes. "Well, darlin'…forgery itself isn't that big o' offense, mind yeh, so…I figure yeh'd add a few years for all those people you've swindled along the way. Hmm, and then…why, I suppose the judges…why, they'd knock off a few years for yer helpin' to take down yer rat o' a father. Eh, don't know…but I suppose nought but two to three years time, Keiko lassie."
Keiko sighed, frowned, but a moment later, smiled softly and nodded. "Hai, much as I figured, Captain Connelly. I just wondered was all." Keiko looked one last time into Trish's confused green eyes, and smiled. "If you haven't anything more…?" she asked very politely.
Trish shook her head, not understanding this girl at all. "Nay, I've got nuthin' more, darlin'," Trish told her. "Sorry."
"Understood, Captain-sama. Good day to you," Keiko replied, and she leaned back and resumed constructing origami figures out of paper.
Trish signaled for the door to the cell to be opened, then she departed, shaking her head.
Three months later, at the Sing Chateau…
Yuri Sing grinned, even as the once-svelte snow leopard woman waddled over to take a seat in a comfy chair. Her waistline had blossomed over the ensuing months, and her initial assessment of her girth she had given to her Bentley way back when hadn't been too far off the mark, it appeared. Oddly enough though, while many women grew irritable in this phase of their pregnancy…Yuri did not. She continued to move about her ancestral home with the same content smile on her lovely face, her hands most often rubbing her distended belly soothingly.
Bentley, on the other hand, was becoming a nervous wreck, it seemed. He fussed over Yuri until all the other women in the house wanted to scream. He was bossy, he was tart, and he worried…about nearly everything!
Svetlana and Maria studiously avoided Bentley as often as they could, being only able to handle so much of his obsessive-compulsive behavior. The normally sweet tigress more than once had to move out of the room when Bentley railed at her…for a couple of reasons. One, so she could calm herself down. And, two…so she could relax the muscles in her forearms…allowing her claws to retract again.
Maria was more patient with Bentley's behavior…but, only up to a point. The unassuming Arctic vixen was the only one that could actually shut Bentley up…all without uttering a single word. All it had taken was one time of Bentley seeing Maria's normally bright blue eyes go a glacial dangerous icy blue and he shut up and hurried away, his face pale.
Then, one day---a Wednesday, I think---the expanded Cooper Gang was over to visit their pal and his expecting wife. They had just finished lunch, and had assembled in the chateau's great room to relax. Bentley insisted on helping Yuri to her chair---despite her assurances that she was more than able to do such a simple thing herself. Once seated, they all chatted and enjoyed one another's company…as friends do.
It was at one-thirty exactly---Kitty had just glanced at the clock, you see---when Yuri gasped all of the sudden, her hands clutching her expanded belly in alarm. "Oh!" she exclaimed, as her abdominal muscles heaved unexpectedly. It subsided, and Yuri leaned back to relax. "Relax, my friends…it was no---ooh!" Yuri exclaimed again, her abdomen tightening again. "Oh, dear!" she whimpered, then much to everyone's surprise---including her own!---a gush of water erupted from Yuri on to the floor. Yuri gasped and rubbed her belly, her green-gold eyes wide now. "Mon Dieu!" she managed. "Bentley! I need you, cher!" she called.
Bentley goggled at the sight of his distressed lady love, and the puddle of water at her feet. "Yuri! Wh-What's the matter, babe?" he squeaked, suddenly nervous enough to have kittens himself…as the saying goes.
"Call our doctor, Bentley," the now calmer Yuri instructed, even as her friends all had gotten to their feet in their concern for her. "And, be sure to tell her that my water has just broke."
"Crap!" Kitty exclaimed, her blue eyes huge just then.
"Bozhe moi!" Svetlana gasped, rushing over to Yuri's side, her pretty face showing her concern. "Yuri…are you all right?"
Bentley snapped then, glad to have something to finally rant about. "Does she look all right, you idiot?" he yelled at Svetlana.
Svetlana's face went pale, and she appeared stricken. Tears of hurt sprang into her eyes, and she softly bit her lower lip. "I---"she gasped.
Yuri, her abdomen beginning to contract periodically, still had the presence of mind to turn to Bentley, disapproval written all over her face. "You will apologize to Svetlana, Bentley," she commanded in a tone that would brook no dissent. "Now!"
Bentley blinked, then paled himself. He readjusted his spectacles, and then grimaced as he saw the disapproving looks from all of his friends. It was only then that he realized how he must of sounded to poor Svetlana. He looked over to where the sniffling tigress was being comforted by her friend Maria, whose eyes were paling even as he watched. "Gee, I—I'm sorry I snapped at you, Svetlana," Bentley told her, feeling sort of wretched right then. "I just…well, sort of panicked, you know?"
Svetlana looked over at Bentley, her deep brown eyes analyzing him. She then nodded her head, and---because she had such a big heart---she forgave him on the spot. "Apology accepted, Bentley," she told him with a smile. "We are all worried about Yuri, you know…"
"I know, I know," Bentley replied, wringing his hands. Then, he realized he still hadn't placed the call to Yuri's obstetrician. "Be back in a few, folks! I got a call to make!" The short turtle fellow sped out of the room at a pace Naomi would have been proud of.
Meanwhile, pandemonium still was ramping up…much to Yuri's dismay. Sly and Carmelita cast worried looks at the now panting Yuri, then to each other, then back again. Naomi was doing her level best to keep Murray from dashing out to back his panel truck into Yuri's great room. Svetlana and Maria were softly rubbing Yuri's hands and fussing over her.
That left only Kitty. Kitty saw that everything was going to hell in a handbasket…and took action. She stuck the index finger of each hand into her mouth, inhaled deeply, and whistled an impressively shrill and impossibly loud call. "STOP! Hold on a minute, everyone!" she bellowed.
Everyone froze…well, except Yuri, who continued to breathe as she had been taught. Kitty nodded in satisfaction, then began again. "Okay, folks…here's the plan." She turned to Bentley who had just returned, phone in hand, her voice even and commanding. "Yo, Bent! You call the doc and the hospital. Once Yuri's doctor is on her way, you make damn sure they have a bed ready for Yuri. Got it?"
"Understood," Bentley replied, already dialing the phone hurriedly, but with purpose now.
Kitty then turned toward Naomi, smiling. "Okay, next. Naomi, you're the fastest one here, and know Yuri's tastes the best. I want you to dash on upstairs---would you?---and pack some clothes for Yuri to wear for her hospital stay." 'General' Kitty continued barking out orders, liking being in charge.
"Yo! Carmelita, you're a good driver…get yourself out and warm up the Ferrari---no! wait a minute!" Kitty began, then balked at the ridiculousness of her proposition. "Carmelita, Sly, and Murray…I need you three to get the panel truck warmed up and prepped for a trip to the hospital. Move it, you three!" Kitty dismissed Carmelita, Sly, and Murray, who all hustled to comply with her demands.
Kitty then turned her attention to Svetlana and Maria. "Svetlana, Maria…come on, we've got to get Yuri standing up and moving. Once Murray and crew get the panel truck here, we're so outta here!" Kitty then surveyed her 'command'. "Now, does everyone got their orders?"
Her assembled friends all grinned and saluted Kitty, who couldn't help but laugh.
Murray, Sly, and Carmelita returned just then, slightly out of breath, but all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. "Did someone call for a taxi?" Sly teased.
Fifteen minutes later, Le Hospital Paris' Maternity Waiting Room…
"What's taking so long?" Kitty griped as she paced the carpet of the well-apported waiting room. "This is worse than when Carmen had her kids…"
"Relax, sport," Carmelita advised, sipping at a hot steaming cup of coffee Sly had bought her from the vending machine. "I know it's hard…but, these things happen on their own schedule."
"How come Bentley gets to be with Yuri?" Kitty demanded then, still grumpy. "He'll only faint when the first one's born." She turned to Carmelita, her surrogate sister. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Carmelita could do nothing but grin at that. "Maybe he will, sport," Carmelita returned then. "But, he is the father…it's his right."
"Rats!" Kitty grumped, and continued her pacing. Sly then motioned Carmelita over to sit beside him, and the two watched over the nervous and agitated Kitty.
"Yuri will be fine, cher," Naomi soothed the worried Murray, holding his hand. "You will see. Women have been having children for ages, my Murray. It will go just fine, trust me."
"But, she was doing all that gasping and moaning," Murray pointed out, his face pale. "Are you sure?"
"Oui," Naomi told him patiently. "There is pain, that is true…but, that is what a woman must do if she wishes to be a mother, cher."
"I don't see why the men can't do it, "Kitty grumbled, now sitting down beside Carmelita to leaf through a magazine.
"Kitty," Naomi warned Kitty, giving her a most disapproving look.
"Yeah, yeah," Kitty grumbled under her breath. "Whatever…"
Three hours came, and three hours passed. Then, on the stroke of one in the afternoon, a young calm panther woman approached the gaggle of Yuri's friends. "The Sings? Are you friends of Madame Sing?" she asked hopefully. By now, there were about two dozen people in the waiting room.
"That would be us, Miss," Sly quickly answered, getting to his feet, then helped Carmelita to her own.
"Wonderful," the panther woman answered with a smile. "I'm Nurse LeBeau, Sophie LeBeau." She then moved so they all could see her when she spoke. "First of all, Madame Sing came through the birth like a real trooper. She was a model patient, and delighted her doctor with her performance. She is doing just fine, by the way." Sophie then grinned awkwardly, then continued. "Monsieur Bentley, however, is still being revived by the surgical staff. He was fine for the first three births…but, er, well…the last one sort of unnerved him, poor dear. I'm afraid he fainted dead away…"
"Told you," Kitty supplied, only to grunt in pain as Carmelita's killer elbows wreaked their vengeance once more. And, if that wasn't bad enough in Kitty's opinion, Naomi's furious scowl of disapproval was going a bit too far to her.
"But, do allow me to assure you that he'll be fine," Nurse LeBeau told them. "In fact, he's most likely in the room with Madame Sing already." Sophie smiled a moment, then continued. "Now, Madame---as I said---delivered four very healthy, beautiful children…two boys, and two girls." Sophie then gazed at them leadingly. "Now, would you all like to see your friends…and their new children?"
"Lead on, Sophie!" Kitty crowed, eager as all get out. "I---oof!" Kitty glowered at Carmelita, who again brought her up short with an elbow in the ribs. Kitty rubbed her ribcage gingerly. "Gah, easy with those things, woman!"
Sophie just shook her head, grinning. "If you all would follow me then, s'il vous plait?" she instructed, beckoning for them to follow her. Nurse LeBeau led them all to one large room, and then ushered them in. The room was softly lit and the walls were a comforting soft pastel blue and pinks. It was only then that they heard a most familiar voice.
"I have been waiting for you all," offered Yuri's beautiful yet very tired voice.
They all looked in and saw the beautiful snow leopard woman lying contentedly in a hospital bed, sheets and a soft blue blanket over her form to the waist. Svetlana's face beamed upon seeing Yuri safe and well, and she dashed forward before any could stop her to hug then kiss Yuri repeatedly. "Oh, Madame! I was so worried!" Svetlana whispered between kisses.
Yuri giggled softly, hugging the ecstatic Svetlana with one arm. "So I see, cheri," she laughed.
"We all were, pretty lady," Sly offered a moment later, which made them all grin. "I hear congratulations are in order, hmm?"
"You better believe it, pal," came Bentley's proud voice from behind them. They turned to see Bentley---still in his blue surgical gown and hat, his mask hanging loosely about his neck. "But, Yuri's the star today…" He smiled at the gorgeous snow leopardess he loved.
"Cher," Yuri replied with a loving grin. "Now, come…you must see our children, hmm?"
"Babies!" Kitty gushed, nearly bouncing up and down on her toes. "Now we're talking!" For once, Carmelita saw fit to keep her elbows at bay.
In basinets---two to a side of Yuri's bed---there resided the newest members of the Sing family.
"Ooh, quadruplets!" Kitty observed, smiling over to Yuri and Bentley, who now stood proudly beside his tired, yet content fiancée. "That's so cool. You guys know that four is a lucky number, right?"
"Whatever you say, Kitty," Bentley said, then leaned over to happily kiss Yuri's forehead. "Whatever you say…"
"Aw, mon Bentley…aren't they absolutely adorable?" Yuri asked smiling. "Did I do well, cher?"
"Yes, yes you did, babe," Bentley assured her, kissing her cheek this time. "And, yes, they are adorable." He then grinned into Yuri's face, and beamed when she smiled back. "However, as adorable as they may be, they are nowhere near adorable as their lovely mother," Bentley told her, kissing Yuri on the cheek once more.
Everyone gathered in around Yuri's bed and the assembled basinets to better see and saw that Yuri and Bentley had one of each gender and type: a snow leopard girl, a turtle boy, a turtle girl and a snow leopard boy.
"So, Madame…have you decided on what you are going to call them all yet?" Maria asked in a whisper, concerned about scaring the little children if she talked too loudly.
"Oh, of course, Maria," Yuri replied, allowing Bentley and Murray to help her into a sitting position. "Now, allow me to introduce you all, hmm? Hmm…this is my oldest, and she will be named Celeste," Yuri told them all, smiling and beckoning for Maria to pick up her snow leopard daughter, which Maria agreed to do quite happily.
"Now, next, we have our eldest boy, whom shall be called Austin," Bentley explained, then smiled and gently lifted his turtle son into his arms.
"After that, would be our youngest girl, whom we have called Belinda," Yuri offered next, smiling, then handing the cute turtle girl over to Svetlana, who tucked the child to herself and happily began to sing a soft Ukrainian lullaby to her.
"And, last but certainly never least…this is my darling little baby boy, whom we have called Phillipe," Yuri announced, smiling, then handing the last of her babies over to a most happy Naomi, before leaning back against her pillows to rest.
Kitty smiled. "You know…I guess I'm kind of surprised, Yuri," she professed with a half-grin of sorts. "I mean…well, they don't look like mixed breeds to me," she observed.
"True, cheri," Yuri replied, giving Kitty a smile. "No, not at first look they don't, perhaps…but the signs are still there, Kitty."
"Hmm, is that a fact, darlin'?" Sean observed to Yuri, even as he moved to wrap his arms softly around Svetlana, then coo at Belinda in Svetlana's arms over her shoulder. "What sort o' things might we be lookin' fer then, love?"
Yuri paused, thinking a moment. "Hmm, well, perhaps you should take a look at my Celeste, hmm? If you look carefully, you might observe that the spots on her back form a pattern very much like that on her father's shell. Do they not?"
"Mary an' Joseph, but they do!" Sean declared a moment later with a laugh. "I wouldn't o' noticed if yeh hadn't o' pointed it out to me."
"It is a subtle thing, Sean," Yuri explained, grinning with happiness. "Then, we have Austin, who you might notice has a bit paler green skin than my Bentley does. That is most probably due to the fact that---for the most part---my fur is white."
Bentley blinked then grinned down at his son. "You know, Yuri…you are right. Isn't that amazing?" he said reverently.
Yuri gazed fondly at both her son and her husband-to-be. "Now, Sean," Yuri pointed out. "Take a good look at Belinda's shell pattern. Does it not look very much like the pattern of my spots to you?"
Sean grinned, then kissed the top of Svetlana's head, which made her grin. "Yer spot on with yer assessment, Yuri," he told her, shaking his head. "It's uncanny. But then again, well…it does make sense too, I suppose."
Yuri nodded, then grinned as she watched Jack making little Celeste giggle as he tickled the little girl's nose with one of his huge fingers. "Last but hardly least, observe my little Phillipe, hmm? Now, according to my doctor, I was told he may need glasses when he gets older. Now, let me tell you…that does not come from my side of the family." She grinned over at Bentley, who could only laugh.
Everyone gushed a bit longer around the children until the panther, Nurse LeBeau returned. "I am sorry, Monsieurs and Mademoiselles. I know you all wish to stay, I do…but, however, regulations will not allow that. So, much as I might regret it, I must ask everyone but the father to leave at this time."
"Aww!" Kitty groused, enjoying softly rubbing little Phillipe's soft fur on his head.
Sophie smiled in understanding. "I know, amis. But, if it is any consolation to you all, I ask this also because I would like to show the parents how to feed their babies," she explained.
With their fate now decreed by the friendly but unyielding Nurse LeBeau, everyone moved in to give Yuri and Bentley a hug, then regretfully handed back the children before they turned and left the hospital for the day.