Cody: Hooray, we finally got a new chapter done! Only took almost a freakin' month...Got some help from a couple good friends, so it was pretty fun to put together. It's about time for me to hit the hay like Lilly already has, so all I've got to say now is enjoy everyone! Hope you all like it and remember to drop a review!
Sometime early in the morning, Eve started to stir awake, her eyes fluttering open only to see a wall of black fur in her face. She smiled a little to herself as she lifted her head away from Kevin's chest, quietly yawning as she stretched out. The sun was just starting to shine through the windows next to the front door, so she knew it was still quite early. She looked over at Naomi, Todd and their new pups all sound asleep, quiet snores coming from them. She smiled more and carefully moved out of Kevin's comfortable grasp before getting up and going to the door, hopping up and pushing the handle down to open it. It quietly squeaked as it slowly opened and she went out, just as quietly closing it behind her.
She stepped out onto the porch and stretched out with a sigh, feeling her back pop a few times as she did before she sat down. The sun was just getting up over the mountain peaks in the distance, giving the sky a beautiful orange and purple color. She smiled to herself again and let out a happy sigh, thinking about what her and Kevin had talked about, possibly going to Jasper Park for a little while. The thought of going back to her old home scared her more than anything, mostly because she was sure everything would be so much different. But at the same time, she really wanted to know how much, if at all, it has changed.
As she sat there and watched the sun coming up, thoughts of Jasper were running through her head until she heard a quiet click behind her. She turned to see Todd coming out, looking like he'd just woken up. She smiled and said "Morning, Todd. How come you're up so early?" He yawned and sat down next to her, saying "I have no idea. Guess I wasn't tired anymore….How about you?" Eve shrugged and said "Same reason, I guess. Naomi still asleep?" He nodded and said "Yeah, she is. I don't think she'll wake up for a little while longer. She as probably exhausted as hell last night…." Eve giggled and said "Yep, most likely. How's it feel being a father, hmm?"
He smiled and said "Scary, I'll admit that….But, also exciting. It's something I've dreamed of for so long and now that it's real, I couldn't be happier!" Eve smiled too and said "Well, I'm glad to hear that! I know you'll make a really good father, to be honest." He smiled more and nodded, saying "Thank you, Eve!" She giggled again and looked back at the sun coming up for a moment before saying "I don't know about you, but I'm going back in." He nodded and said "I'll stay out here for a little bit." With that, Eve got up and went to the door, opening it and going back inside to see Kevin was awake now. He looked over to see her coming in and smiled, saying "Morning, honey!"
She walked over and nuzzled him, saying "Morning, Kevie! Sleep good?" He nodded and said "Pretty well, can't complain. Todd outside?" She nodded as she laid down beside him, leaning against his side a bit as she said "He said he'll be out there for a little while." He chuckled and said "Is he okay?" She smiled and said "He's fine as far as I could tell. Probably quite a bit nervous, but who could blame him? After all, you weren't much better when Naomi was born…."
"Yeah, yeah, I know….I really miss when she was still a pup….She grew up way too fast…." Kevin said, smiling a little as he looked over at their daughter curled around her pups and quietly snoring. Eve nodded and said "I know how you feel. But, she's not a little girl anymore….She's a mother now." Kevin nodded and let out a sigh, saying "Yep….Are you worried about them?" Eve lifted her head and asked "What do you mean?" He motioned over to Naomi and the pups, saying "Them, the pups. They're premature…." Eve weakly smiled and said "Yes, I am, but I'm trying not to think about it. They were doing good last night, so I'm sure they'll be just fine."
Kevin nodded again and said "Yeah, I guess you're right. So, anything you feel like doing today?" She shrugged and said "Not really….It's still pretty early yet, so maybe later we'll find something. I think Cody's going back to work today, which means Lilly and Serenity would be going, too. I'm actually thinking of having a talk with Alexis and Chase…." He chuckled a bit and said "What about exactly?" She smiled and said "Nothing bad, trust me. I just need to hear from them if they're truly in love, or just think they feel it. Not that I don't want them to be, I just want to make sure." He nodded and said "Well, as long as you're nice to them…."
Down in Cody and Lilly's bedroom, they were awake as well as Serenity, who was nursing off her mother. Lilly was laying against Cody's leg, soft purrs escaping her as Serenity nursed. It was actually what woke her up instead of Cody's alarm, which was okay since it was only about ten minutes now until it would've gone off. He wasn't complaining either since it was rather enjoyable to watch their daughter nurse, greedily sucking down her mother's milk. He was a bit worried about how anybody might react at work today if they see Serenity, but Lilly was determined to go and they bring her as well, so he eventually agreed with her.
"I don't think we need to worry about anything, really. I mean, who wouldn't fall in love with her!?" Lilly giggled, nuzzling Serenity. Cody chuckled and said "Well, can't argue there….Think she'd be okay sleeping in the bed with you?" Lilly nodded and said "Yeah, I think so. I'm sure Donna might find or have something, though." Cody nodded and about then, Serenity finished nursing, letting go and curling up a bit. Lilly smiled and said "Well, guess she's good and full now. Mind cleaning my tummy off?" Cody chuckled again and got up off the bed, going into the bathroom and getting a hand towel damp before coming back out and carefully cleaning her stomach off.
Lilly softly purred and licked his neck, saying "Thank you, babe! Feels a little better now." He smiled and kissed her cheek, saying "I'm gonna start getting ready for work now. Wanna take a shower with me?" She smiled and shook her head, saying "Nah, I'm good today. We'll see you in a bit then!" He nodded and kissed her again before going into the bathroom, closing the door and starting the water. Lilly happily sighed to herself before looking down at Serenity curled up by her stomach, squeakily purring a little. "Okay, baby girl, let's go out to the living room….How're we gonna do this?" Lilly asked herself as she got up, gently putting her jaws around Serenity's neck like she did for Dakota and Lupa.
She carefully picked her up and to her surprise, it didn't seem to hurt her or anything, so she carefully hopped down off the bed and headed out to the living room, hearing Serenity still purring a little. When she got out there, she hopped up onto the couch, laying down at the other end from Naomi and their pups still asleep. Eve smiled and said "Morning, Lilly! Little girl there asleep?" Lilly smiled too and said "No, I don't think so. She just finished nursing a little bit ago." Eve nodded and said "Well, that's good. Cody's getting ready for work, I take it?" Lilly nodded and said "Yep, he's in taking a shower. How's Naomi been doing?"
"Seems to be doing well. I don't think she's woken up yet, but she seems good to me." Eve said, glancing over at her sleeping daughter and smiling again as did Lilly. About then, the front door opened up and Todd came in, closing it behind him as he went over to Naomi. "What were you doing out there?" Lilly asked, giggling a little. He smiled and said "Not much, just enjoying the morning. Still a little tired, though…."
A Few Hours Later
The door chime beeped as the front door opened at the vet, getting Cody's attention. He looked out from behind the counter to see Garth walking in by himself, kinda surprising him since he normally always came with David. "Hey, look who it is! How you doin', bud?" Cody asked, smiling as he walked out to the waiting room. Garth smiled too and said "Not bad, how about yourself? Nice to see you're back now." Cody chuckled and said "Yeah, feels good to be back…." Garth smiled more and said "If you don't mind me asking, how come you were gone? Sick?"
"Cody, is that Garth?" Lilly excitedly asked, laying in her bed and her tail wagging a little. "Yep, it's me! Where're you at, Lilly?" Garth asked as he looked around. "Back here behind the desk. Come here, you need to see something…." Lilly giggled and Garth chuckled to himself before walking over behind the desk, turning the corner to see Lilly laying in her bed there, curled into a half ball or something. "What's up?" Garth asked as he went over, a smile on his face. Lilly giggled more and said "Remember I was pregnant before?" He nodded and then Lilly uncurled herself, revealing a sleeping Serenity next to her. Garth stopped in his tracks and his eyes went wide, stammering "Wh-wha….who…."
Lilly smiled again and said "Garth, this is our newest daughter, Serenity….Come here…." He looked between them all for a moment before hesitantly walking over, not sure at all what to say or even think. "Your….daughter?! But she's….not a wolf…." Lilly nodded and said "Mostly, but she still has a lot of wolf in her. Just look at her….Her fur, her face….She looks more like Cody then me, but she really is part wolf." He leaned down a little and carefully sniffed her, taking in her scent a little and sure enough, he could detect quite a bit of wolf in her. He smiled a little and said "I don't quite believe it….Other than her body, she looks a whole lot like you, Lilly!"
She giggled and said "Sure does! She was just born last Wednesday….Our little girl now…." He smiled more as she nuzzled her, saying "She's a beautiful little girl, too….Congratulations, you two!" Cody chuckled and said "Thank you, Garth." He nodded and then asked "How's everybody else doing? Alexis and Chase doing well together?" Lilly smiled and said "They've been amazing! Naomi gave birth to their pups yesterday. Quite a bit early, too." He looked concerned and asked "HOW early?"
"About three weeks, but they're all doing good right now. Been nursing like normal and before we left to come here, they were awake and crawling around a bit." Cody said, sitting in one of the chairs behind the desk. Garth nodded and said "Well, I'm glad to hear that. And how's Naomi been doing? Good, I assume?" Cody nodded as well and said "Yep, she was doing great when we left this morning. Had some breakfast and nursed the pups, so I'd say that's good." Garth smiled and said "It'd be great to see them! Have I met Naomi's mate yet? I don't feel like I have…." Lilly smiled too and said "Well, actually, you have…." He looked at her funny and said "What do you mean?"
"Can you remember back to Jasper, when that war was starting?" Lilly asked, shifting around next to Serenity a little. Garth nodded and said "Yeah, sorta….Am I supposed to?" Lilly smiled more and said "There was a particular wolf that you helped escape….He was in the Northern Pack…." Garth thought for a few moments, trying to remember what she meant until bits of a memory came to him. He lifted his head and said "I think I do….Is he the same wolf?" Cody and Lilly both nodded and he said "The very same. He's said he owes you his life on more than one occasion…." Garth smiled a little and said "I'll need to meet him one of these days….Does he know I live around here?"
"Actually, we haven't mentioned that to him. Just slipped our minds….How about tomorrow we ask if he'd like to come along? I'm sure he'd be thrilled to know you're still alive." Lilly said, giggling a little. Garth nodded and said "Yeah, that'd be great! Can't wait!" Cody chuckled and about then, the front door beeped as it opened again and he looked up to see Thomas and Lyla coming in this time. He smiled and said "Hey, guys! What brings you in?" Thomas smiled a little and said "Well, I wish I could say it was for a social visit….Lyla's sick…." Cody nodded and got up, going around to the waiting room where they were. He kneeled down to Lyla and she just looked miserable. Her eyes were bloodshot, she looked exhausted….
"Hey, Lyla. What's wrong, exactly?" He asked, putting his hand against her cheek. She didn't feel extremely warm, which was kinda odd considering how sick she looked. She shook her head and said "I have no idea….I've been throwing up like crazy all morning….I've hardly slept recently….I feel like complete shit." He weakly smiled and said "It's alright, we'll figure it out. You wanna come on back to an exam room?" She nodded and he stood up, leading them to the back where Lilly and Garth were. "Hey, girl! Not feeling too good?" Lilly asked, smiling at her a little. Lyla weakly smiled and said "Not at all….How've you been?"
"Pretty good, can't complain. How long have you been feeling bad?" Lilly asked. Lyla shrugged and said "I don't know, the last couple days. I wasn't feeling nearly as bad when we came to see you guys, but I think that's when it was starting." Lilly nodded and said "Well, just let Cody take care of you. Who knows, it could just be a bad cold…." Lyla smiled and nodded, saying "Thanks, Lilly. I'm hoping it's nothing too bad…." She looked over at Garth and said "Hi, I don't think I've met you before. I'm Lyla! Thomas and I are friends of theirs." Garth smiled and shook her paw, saying "Nice to meet you both. Name's Garth. I'm from the same pack Lilly's from, but I live here in town now."
"Oh, okay! Well, nice to meet you too, Garth!" Lyla said, smiling back at him. He chuckled a little and right then, she put a paw on her mouth and her cheeks bulged out before she ran over to a trash bin and threw up. After she coughed a couple times, she said "That's the sixth time today!" Thomas weakly smiled and rubbed her back, saying "It's alright, we're gonna find out what's wrong now." With that, the three of them walked into one of the exam rooms and Cody closed the door after he got a clipboard and a new set of files for Lyla. "So, you said this started yesterday?" He asked, writing on the piece of paper.
"Day before yesterday is when I started to feel it. It started as just a slight head and stomach ache." Lyla said, rubbing her paw on her belly. Cody nodded and said "And since then, it's gotten much worse. Still get the headache as well?" She nodded and said "Sometimes. Mostly after I eat." He nodded again and said "Okay, let me get your temperature and a small blood sample to run." Her cheeks flushed as she asked "Are you gonna have to….put that thing…." Cody chuckled a bit and said "Yep….I don't enjoy doing it any more than you would having to go through it." She sighed and looked to her side at Thomas, saying "Do I have to do this?"
He smiled and kissed her cheek, saying "Unfortunately….I know, you don't like anything getting around there…." She blushed quite visibly and said "Oh, shut up! Just get it over with…." Cody chuckled again and got a thermometer out of a drawer, taking the cap off and saying "Alright, you ready?" She nodded and closed her eyes, moving her tail a little and Cody gently inserted the thermometer, causing her to whimper a little. "I know, I'm sorry….Just a few more seconds…." Cod said, waiting for the display to settle. After a few more seconds, it finally did and beeps, so he took it out and wrote down what it said.
"Well, it's a little high….Not too bad, though. Now all I need is just a blood sample and we should know soon." Cody said, opening another drawer and taking a needle and blood vial out. "This part I'm okay with, as long as you do it quick…." She said, smiling a little. He smiled too and felt for a good blood vein in her foreleg, soon finding one and inserting the needle. She flinched a little, but then relaxed as he took a rather small amount before taking the needle out and putting a cotton ball over where it was. Thomas held it there and Cody said "Alright, let me put this in the machine and we'll know in a few minutes!"
"Would you mind if we see Serenity while we wait?" Lyla asked, her tail wagging a little. Cody smiled and said "Of course not!" With that, he opened the door and they walked back out to where Lilly was, still laying in her bed with Serenity, but Garth was gone now. "Hey, love! Where'd Garth go?" Cody asked as they came out. She looked up and smiled at him, saying "He had to head home. Everything go good in there?" Thomas and Lyla nodded and she said "For the most part." Cody went over to the machine they use for the blood test and dropped the vial in, closing the lid and pushing a button on it. It made some noises before starting to spin around like it normally does.
"Just gotta wait for that to finish now." Cody said, going over to the bed and gently picking Serenity up, apparently causing her to wake up. She squeakily whimpered as he did, making them all smile and he said "Shh, it's okay, baby girl…." He carried her over to Thomas and Lyla, kneeling down beside her and she smiled, saying "Aww, she's so beautiful! Look at her little feet…." Thomas chuckled and said "Won't be very long until she's bigger than her mother…." Lilly giggled as she got up and came over, saying "I'm really hoping she grows kinda like a wolf does. I don't want to be near the end of my life before she's old enough to walk and talk…."
Right then, Serenity suddenly sneezed, a bit of snot hanging out her nose. They all laughed a little and Cody got a tissue, wiping her nose off and then noticed something around her eyes, so he got a new one and wiped it off as well. When he was done, he kissed her forehead and she yawned, her eyes suddenly starting to flutter open! Lilly and Lyla gasped and Lyla said "Ohmygod, her eyes….They're…." Lilly and Cody looked at each other and said at the same time "Both of ours….."