I am SO sorry for taking so long to update… School's been taking a lot of my time, and the time I had time to write, I had some sort of writers block… Only posted at AFF at the moment, 'cause of a stupid upload error at FFN...anyways, enjoy

Previous time:

' 'crezia, wait.' he quickly said standing up as well. He approached her. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent.
'You smell familiar, but it's not your own scent...' he observed.
'I just came from Dermails. You probably remember the scent of his mansion.'
'Maybe, but i smell something else too...'
'It can be everything.'
'I know...but this...this is a scent i've only smelled two times before. One when we saved Dermails mare, and one today, when I was lying in my favorite tree...That's how you know...The wounded slave...it's a Neko, am I right?'
'I...you...how...ehm...yes...' she said softly. 'Sorry for not telling you...'

Chapter 16

'Why didn't you tell me that Dermail made another neko?'asked Milliardo
'Because I thought you would go and search for him, which is just too dangerous for you. If Dermail even sees a single hair of you on his property he'll kill you.'
'I wouldn't have searched for him.'
'Yes you would've.'
'No, I wouldn't have.'
'Yes, you would've.'
'…Okay, I would've wanted to see him…But Master Treize would've stopped me anyway…Sorry I yelled at you 'crezia.' apologised Milliardo.
'It's okay. Now go and find Trowa, tell him you're getting a triplet.' she said smiling.
'A triplet? Wow, thanks again.' said the blond. He transformed to his white tiger shape and went to the stables.

After a few minutes of watching Milliardo and Trowa play in the long grass, Lucrezia searched for Treize.
'Your excellency?' she asked after knocking.
'Come in Lucrezia.'
She opened the door and saw that Treize was also watching Milliardo and Trowa play.
'Nothing wrong with the kittens I guess?' said Treize turning to Lucrezia.
'No. Everything's perfect. It's gonna be a bit more easier for him this time. With Dermail he had four, now there are going to be three.'
'And this time the circumstances are totally different.' added Treize.
'There's one more thing you should know though…' said Lucrezia. 'Dermail just finished another Neko projec.t One of his stable boys, Quatre, has been made a neko, just like Milliardo…And Milliardo knows.'
'How does he know?'
'He found out himself. It started with the mare, which ran away from Dermails. The mare got frightened when Quatre transformed into a lion right beside her. That's why she ran away. Milliardo probably smelled something familiar on the mare, and that's why she was so important to him.' said Lucrezia sitting down in a comfortable leather chair. 'And Quatre has been on your land when Milliardo was up in his favourite tree. I'd told Quatre about Milliardo, and he was just too curious. So he made a small excursion to see him. Luckily the wind was in the right direction for Quatre, 'cause Milliardo noticed someone had been watching him, but he was too late to see who it was. And just now when I told him the results of the tests he could smell Quatres scent on me.' she said. Meanwhile Treize sat opposite of her.
'I think sooner or later Milliardo will go and search for Quatre.'
'You might be right…' said Treize. 'I'll keep a close eye on him.'
Lucrezia smiled. 'Thanks. I don't want to see him getting hurt because of Dermail. Anyway, I've got to go now. Quatre has been beaten up badly not so long ago, I should check on him again.'
'Take good care of the boy.' said Treize nicely.
'I will.'

'Love. I'ts nice and warm, having a tiger for a blanket, but you're getting heavy.' teased Trowa while he was petting and cuddling Milliardo.
'Then why didn't you say so earlier.' teased Milliardo while licking Trowa in his face.
'Hey!' said the brunette, pulling at the tigers tail.
'Hey! Cut it out!' said Milliardo laughing.

In the next two months Milliardo didn't try to find Quatre. Treize was surprised by this, but didn't say anything about it. Milliardo spend a lot of time with Trowa, playing, talking, doing nothing. He was also much more around Treize. The pregnancy turned Milliardo in somewhat in a docile cat. His temper, well known by Treize, hardly showed anymore. In the last week Lucrezia stayed at the mansion, prepared to help with the labour.

'Just do what your body tells you Milliardo. Don't take the initiative. Take the time.' encouraged Lucrezia while giving the tiger a back massage.
'I know…' said Milliardo slightly panting. 'Like the previous time…'
Not too long later the first kitten came. Lucrezia gently took the cub in her hands and cleaned it's mouth with a towel. She rubbed a finger on the little ones stomach, stimulating it to breath on it's own. A soft mewl came out of the kittens mouth.
'A girl.' said Lucrezia wrapping her in a towel, giving her to Trowa. 'Try to rub the blood of softly. When Milliardo is ready and has energy enough left he'll clean them better.'
As soon as she handed over the little kitten the second one was born. She repeated what she'd done with the first and gave it to Treize. 'Also a girl.'
The third kitten took a bit longer. When it was out it didn't react on Lucrezias finger.
'Is it okay?' asked Milliardo a bit out of breath when he didn't hear the third mewl.
'I'm afraid it won't start breathi…'
mewl
'Hey little one. You gave us quite a scare…' said Lucrezia. 'A boy.' she added while soflty rubbing him clean.

Meanwhile Trowa sat down on the ground next to Milliardo and gently lay the kitten between Milliardos paws.

The first kitten was completely white. Not even one stripe on her body, but she did have a small black tip on her tail.
Meanwhile Milliardo began cleaning her. She mewled softly, but began purring soon afterwards. Milliardo, Trowa, Treize and Lucrezia smiled when Milliardo was finished cleaning his daughter. Her fur was one big mess. A clean mess though.

'What are you going to call her?' asked Lucrezia, still softly cleaning the third kitten with a towel.
Trowa looked Milliardo in his eyes, making clear he wanted Milliardo to choose.
'Innocence. I think that would be a good name for her.'
'A very beautiful name.' said Treize.
'Though I bet her name will be different than her behaviour with parents like you two.' teased Lucrezia. 'Anyway, Trowa, can you take this one for a sec? I've got to prepare some milk.'
'Of course.' said Trowa. 'hey little one…I hope you'll never scare us again.' he said smiling.
'Master, may I see the second?' asked Milliardo.
'Of course. She's your pretty daughter.' he said smiling while he gently unwrapped the blanket and lay her next to Innocence. She gave a soft mewl when the warmth of the blanket was gone, but as soon as Milliardo started to lick her clean she stopped mewling.
'It's too bad their eyes won't open yet…' said Trowa stroking his son with his finger. 'I'd love to see what colour eyes they've got.'
'Yeah, me too.' said Milliardo. 'We've got to wait a couple of weeks before that happens though.' he added.
'Frannin.' said Trowa. 'If I remember correctly that's a name you liked love…'
'yes, I like the name.' said Milliardo smiling. 'Frannin it'll be.' he said nuzzling her.

Frannin was a brownish coloured color tiger, with a lot of black stripes, and very little white fur.
When Frannin noticed her father didn't pay too much attention to her anymore she crawled closer to his body, seeking the warmth of her fathers body.

'And last but not least, our only son.' said Trowa. 'I think we should call him either lucky or…'
'Phoenix.' said both Milliardo and Treize.
Trowa smiled.'Then we all agree in Phoenix.'

Phoenix was a beautiful red/brown coloured tiger, with three white socks, one black.
'Now that's unusual…' said Treize. 'I don't think that's happened before, three white socks, one black…. I wonder what they look like in their human shapes…'
'So do I….' said Milliardo. 'So do I…'

Lucrezia came back with three bottles of milk not too long later.
'You finished naming?' she asked while closing the door beghind her.
Milliardo nodded. 'Frannin and Phoenix.' he said
'Pretty names. Trowa, your excellency, you help me feed them?'
'Of course.' said Trowa.
'Are you sure you don't want to do it Milliardo?' asked Treize nicely.
'I need to change back first, and at the moment I don't think I have the energy to do so.' he said smiling

Lucrezia gave Trowa and Treize both a bottle of milk and showed them how to hold the kitten.
Treize was holding Innocence, Trowa Frannin, and Lucrezia Phoenix. When Innocence was about half way through the bottle of milk, Nathan entered the room.
'Your excellency, you've got a visitor.' said the butler.
'I'm coming… Milliardo, Trowa, are you two okay with it if I take Innocence with me for a while? That way she doesn't have to stop drinking.'
'Sure.' said Milliardo. 'Be careful though.'
'Don't worry. I will.' said Treize smiling.

Treize went to his study to see his visitor. He opened the door with his elbows.
'Good afterno…cousin? What brings you here?' asked Treize, truly surprised when he saw Dermail.

Meanwhile Milliardo tried to stand, and after a few wobbly seconds he could stand on all his four legs.
'I'm going to take a bath.' he said. 'I won't take too long, okay love?'
'Of course Love. Lucrezia and I will watch the kittens.'
Now let's hope I've got the strength to transform back… thought Milliardo while making his way to the main stairs. if I can't it'll take a hell of a time before my fur is dry…

he was lost in thoughts until he passed his Masters study. He could here two men talking, his Master, and Dermail.

Innocence is in the same room as that bastard!

Milliardo pushed the ajar standing door open with his nose.

'Master? Lucrezia has to take a look at Innocence.' the tiger said when he was in the study.
'I'll bring her to her as soon as I'm finished.'
'Master, she'd rather do it now. If it takes long, I can take Innocence back…' offered Milliardo, trying to get his daughter away from Dermail as fast as he could.
'How do you want to do that?' mocked Dermail. 'Let her sit on your back?'
'I'll take her the way wild tigers carry their children, sir.' he said glaring at Dermail. 'Master, may I take her back?' he added.
'If you want to take her with you like that, go ahead.' said the ex-colonel. He bend through his knees to be on the same hight as Milliardo.
The tiger carefully took Innocence in his mouth, not hurting her one bit.
'Don't wear yourself out too much.' Treize whispered in the tigers ear.
Milliardo nodded slightly and left the study.

TBC

Again, I AM SO SORRY for the late update…and a short chapter too… kill me! Please!

Anyways, thanks for reviewing guys