Chapter 36: New addition 2
After a few weeks' things start to return to normal. We start to laugh, and play again. Susan and I go for nightly ethics puzzles, and we begin to see what Gab meant about a different way of thinking. Gab request the we bring Mom and Dad tomorrow night. How do we explain the meadow to them? At supper the following night we broach the subject.
"Mom, Dad, Gab has requested that we bring you to the meadow tonight". "Why would your imaginary friend want us"? "I don't know dad, but he's not really imaginary, he does exist". "Well I suppose we could, do we have to do anything special"? "No dad, Susan and I will link with you and mom, bringing you to the meadow". "I've always wonder if this place you guys talk about is real", says mom. "Believe me mom, it's real". "Ok, son, if you say so". As we start to fall asleep, we sync up, and link up with mom and dad, and head for the meadow.
We head over the rise, and go to wake up mom and dad. "Wake up dad, mom". They both sit up, stretch and yawn. As they look around, dad is still a bit skeptical. "Daniel, I felt your bond with Susan as you linked up, are you sure this isn't a dream"? "No, Nick this is not a dream", says Gab walking over. Dad is kind of startled, but he hides it. "So, where are we"? "Well Nick you are in the meadow, the meadow is halfway to dreaming from wakefulness". "So where is that"? "Ah, a skeptic, let's just say that the meadow is on a different plain of existence". "So, what would you like us for"? "Nick, stop being so rude". "It's ok Judy, a little skepticism is a good thing. To answer your question, I need you to follow me".
"Daniel, Susan, no classes tonight". "All right Gab". Susan and I just blink out. "Where did they go"? "They just went to dream land". Nick and Judy get up and follow Gab. He leads them to a small glade. "Gab have you been training Daniel"? "And the rest", answers Gab. "So, you trained him in his gift"? "Yes Nick, I have trained him in many things, and will continue to do so as he gets older". "So, is his bond with Susan real"? "Yes, it's real, but I didn't train them in that, they trained themselves". "Will it hurt them in the long run"? "I don't believe it will, they have a bond that only death will shake". "And do they love each other"? "Yes, Nick they love each other".
"But that's not why I brought you here tonight, tonight is for you two. This glad is private, secure, and peaceful. You can use your time here to meditate, talk to each other, or just hold each other. This is also a place to confess one's hearts desire to each other, and then ask for that desire in the way only a couple can. I must leave you, use your time wisely".
"Nick did you understand what he meant"? "I believe I do, Judy my hearts desire is for you to have my children". "We already have children". "You misunderstand fluff, I want to put kits in your belly". "Oh, Nick I want that too, I want to feel the kit growing inside me, I want to feel them kick, I want to have the morning sickness, well maybe not that, I want to have the pain of child birth, I want to feel like a mother".
"Then Judy my love we need to ask like only a couple can". Judy Squeaks, "here, in the open"? "Gab did say we were private". "I don't know Nick", "it will be all right love, I won't push you". "Oh, Nick I guess it can't hurt to ask can it"? "I don't know, why don't we find out". As they lay down and bring there lips together.
Judy wakes up "locked" in the embrace of her husband. He pulls her closer and starts to purr. Judy snuggles in tight, and starts to chirr. They fall back asleep in each others arms.
I wake up feeling refreshed, Susan wakes up and turns to me for a kiss. We kiss for a little while till the alarm goes off. We get up and head down stairs. We have family members missing again, but we start the routine. "Ah, Daniel, should we not get your parents down here"? I guess we should, I'm dreading what I will find, but Susan links with me and we go look.
We come back a split second later, and we both turn beet red; everyone laughs, grandma doesn't get the joke. "Daniel what is it"? "Ah, they aren't coming this morning, they are doing another form of exercise". grandpa falls down laughing as he gets it. grandma just stands there till it finally dawns on her what I meant. "Daniel did this happen before"? 'Yes grandma, the morning you and grandpa didn't show up". Grandpa just starts to howl as grandma turns a dark red.
About two weeks before Christmas, the morning sickness hits both mom and Grandma, at this point they are just starting to show. they think they have gotten a flu bug, but Susan and I can see the new life force in them, we just look over with knowing smiles, which puzzles them both. The gestation for rabbits is not as long as for foxes so the kits, and the pups should be born at the same time. We're dying to tell them, and then I come up with a plan. Miss Watts gets what we need, and we put it into action the next day.
Davis has been making a protein shake for them both, and this helps with the morning sickness. They're both sitting on the couch when we all come in. "So, mom's, what are you going to name them". "What are you talking about Daniel? And why are you calling us mom's"? "Well I just thought by now Grandma you would have connected the dots, does any of this feel familiar"?
Grandma thinks for a minute, and her eyes get big and wide. "Daniel, I can't be, I'm to old". "Well why don't you find out"? I hand her a pregnancy test. The whole-time mom is taking this in and she come to the same conclusion. "Daniel, I can't be pregnant your father and I are just two different species". "Humor me mom, here's one for you too". They both head for their own bathrooms. A bit later we hear a howl from grandma's bedroom followed by a scream from the master bedroom.
They both rush out and clutch each other. "Daniel, how did you know"? "Susan and I can see the life energy inside of you both, we wanted to tell you earlier, but I don't think you would have believed us till the morning sickness started". "Oh, God how are we going to tell our husbands"? "Well, you could fix them a fancy meal and hand them gift boxes". With that I hand them two boxes just the right size for pregnancy tests. "Daniel, theirs's that wicked sense of humor again, but I like it".
Grandpa and dad come in the door about 10 minutes apart, grandpa is in a chipper mood and dad looks exhausted. "Long day dad"? "You know it son, parking duty is the roughest form of punishment". "Well guys you'll be happy to know supper's ready. Go wash up kits", "ahh, mom", "don't ah mom me, move now". we go wash up. Then we come back, and sit down, everyone starts to eat. "Wow this is good love, what's the occasion"? "You'll see", was all they would say. As the desert is served, mom and grandma pull out the boxes.
"Here you two, Judy and I have little gifts for you". Mom hands dad her box, and grandma hands grandpa his. They open them at the same time and look in. The shocked look on their faces was priceless. Susan and I took pictures with mom and grandma's phones. "Is this real"? asks dad. Grandpa gets up, and going to his bathroom comes back with a stethoscope, he puts it to grandma's belly, the look of wonder on his face a few seconds later, says it all. He then shifts over to mom and puts the stethoscope on mom. He then takes the ear pieces out and passes them over to dad, dad puts them in his ears and hears the heart beat for himself. Both dad and grandpa kiss their mates passionately. "So, when do you figure they are due"? Grandpa just looks at dad "can't say right now". I look at them both, "about 31 days guys". "Daniel, how can you know that"? "Ah, I just counted from the day of conception", I turn red at this point. "Daniel, how do you know the time of conception"? "I'm counting from the day you were missing from the DOJO". Well, says grandpa, "Gab did say to ask as only a couple could". Dad gets a surprised look on his face, "he told Judy and I the same thing. So, this meadow is real". "It was as real as I could see".
Mom and grandma were snuck into the hospital by grandpa, and he gave them both an ultrasound. With pictures in hand, we went to Bunny Borrow for Christmas. There were so many of us that we booked a compartment for us all. All us kits had our noses pressed to the glass as we watched the scenery go by.
Stu and Bonnie had rented a large mammal van for the holidays, so we could move around easily. We all come into the Burrow, the adults manage to side step the kerfuffle, but the rest of us are taken away. Mom and grandma keep their jackets on till the kitchen.
"Judy dear, are you putting on weight"? asks Bonnie. "Yes, mom I am putting on weight". "Won't that interfere with your job"? "Well, yes, for about six months". "Why six months"? Judy takes off her jacket, and turns around. "That's how much maternity leave I have". Bonnie's paws fly to her mouth and she looks like she is ready to pass out. "You wicked, wicked doe you, your mother looks like she is ready to faint", says Nick. Stu looks like a fish out of water.
"Who's the buck dear, asks Bonnie"? Once she gets herself under control. "Mom, I have never slept with anyone else. Nick was my first, and he will be my last". Nick leans down and kisses her. "But how is this possible"? "We don't know", she then holds out the picture of the ultra sound. "But as you can see, she is definitely a vixen, with short rabbit style ears". "My word, when did this happen"? "About six weeks ago". "So, she is due in two weeks"? "Well yes, about the time that Nicks brother is born".
Vivian having taken off her jacket turns around. Again, Stu does his fish out of water impression, and this time Bonnie Does faint. When Bonnie comes too, she can't find any words. Vivian holds out her ultrasound. "As you can see, he is a wolf, with a fairly long tail, Peter and I feel that it would be fluffy like a fox tail". "but how"? "Don't know, but we love them already".
"Couldn't you have given us some warning"? asks Stu. "We could have, but where's the fun in that", reply's Judy with a grin. Stu goes to the cabinet and pulls out two bottles, places one on the table, and hanging on to the other fills a glass and drains it in one go. Judy and Vivian get juice from the fridge, and everyone else has a drink.
We are taken to the play room by the Kerfuffle. William decides he is the "frankinfox" monster. He does big slow steeps, and moans loudly. The kerfuffle squeals in glee and darting in and out, try to touch the monster before he can get them. he catches a few, and blowing razzberries on their stomachs, pretends to eat them. Susan and I start the routine in the corner of the room. Soon the ones that remember the routine from the summer, join us. Suzy has some, singing Christmas carols in the other corner. Some continue to play, but others come over to watch. An adult sticks her head in to see why it got quiet in the room. She shakes her head, and closes the door.
Soon the same adult sticks her head back in, and hollers that it's supper time. On mass we leave the room, and head for the washrooms to clean up. "Daniel, can you remember your way to the small kitchen"? I nod my head yes; "good your parents are waiting for you there". I lead everyone to the small kitchen.
"Hey son, have fun"? "Yes dad", all us guys answer. Dad just shakes his head, "William, son, can you come over here please"? William is still not sure about calling Nick dad, but he goes over. "Stu Bonnie, I'd like you to meet William, Daniel's older brother". "Well hello William, aren't you the cute little mammal". Bonnie leans down and picks him up for a hug. "Nick are you sure? there was a lot of confusion back then".
"From the records we could find, William was born about two months before Daniel and his littermates. He was born to a rabbit. Along with his sister". "Was this the one who passed"? "Yes Stu, we have a little memorial down in the court yard at the house. You guys are welcome to visit after the kit, and pup are born". Stu looks at Bonnie, "we would love to visit, would the last weekend in January be good"? "That would be fine, Peter can you pick them up at the train station"? Peter nods his head yes. "Ok, just let us know which one you will be on".