Epilogue

It was finally happening. Tawna was in labor. The contraction pain started in the evening, just as everyone was preparing to go to bed. No one was thinking of sleep now. Crash was sitting on the couch, continuously tying and untying his shoe. Every time he heard Tawna scream, he cringed and a horrible chill ran up his spine. However, his reaction was nothing compared to Crunch. To say Crunch was a nervous wreck was an understatement. He was pacing back and forth across the living room floor, fiddling obsessively with the dials on his metal arm. Crash wished he could do something to reassure the giant lug, but he was afraid that if he opened his mouth Crunch would smash him to a pulp. Crunch was a physical being, and Crash was sure that one word out of him would tip him over the edge.

Another scream tore through the room, and Crunch gripped his head as though he was the one suffering.

"What the hell's going on in there?" Crunch demanded, obviously unnerved out of his mind. "This can't be normal. I have to do something."

As he marched toward the door, Coco shot up and ran toward him.

"Crunch, wait!"

Coco gripped his arm.

"This is normal Crunch. She's going to be fine."

Crunch stopped before he reached the hallway, staring at the room where Tawna was inside with Aku Aku. Crunch took a deep breath, turned, and began to pace again. Crash remained silent, unable to even try and distract himself with his shoelaces. His anxiety kept growing the longer Tawna remained in that room. He knew Aku wouldn't let anything happen to her, but perhaps something was happening that even he couldn't prevent. A dozen worst-case scenarios played out in Crash's mind, and he needed to deliberately switch his mind to something else before he went crazy with worry. As Crash tried to manage his own stress, yet another scream of agony echoed through the house.

"Dammit!" Crunch roared has he slammed his fists against the back of Crash's seat. "Why is this taking so long?"

"Don't take it out on the couch, mate!" Crash shouted at him, needing an outlet to channel his own nervousness.

Crunch glared at Crash with an angry expression.

"I'm not in the mood for you." He growled.

"That makes two of us." Crash returned hotly. "Why don't you quit throwing your weight around and sit quietly like normal people?"

"I swear, Crash." Crunch said in a dangerous voice. "I'll knock the stuffing out of you if you don't shut your yap."

"I'd like to see you try." Crash returned with more bravado then he intended.

Crash was almost certain they were about to come to blows, but Coco threw herself between them. She held a hand on both of them, doing what she could to keep them separated.

"Now is not the time for this idiotic ego contest." She stated severely. "Aku already told us that everything Tawna is going through is completely natural. So both of you sit down and stop freaking out."

Crash and Crunch continued to glare at one another for a few more moments. Coco left them both and headed back to her chair where she collapsed heavily into the cushions.

"Or beat on each other. I don't care. Just don't make a lot of racket."

The agreement not to stir up trouble struck Crash and Crunch simultaneously. Crunch eased himself down on the couch, and remained there, still and silent, for a while. A few minutes later, Aku floated out of the room. All three bandicoots jumped to their feet, but Aku only wanted Crunch. As fast as a bullet, Crunch shot past Aku into Tawna's room and the door was shut behind them. Crash and Coco remained in silence. Crash, overcome with overstimulation, gripped his ears and dropped down to the ground.

"Crikey, they say childbirth is such a wonderful thing. This is awful."

Coco stepped toward Crash and knelt down beside him. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"You boys always blow everything out of proportion. Think of when the baby is born."

"A baby isn't worth all this stress." Crash muttered as he slumped forward.

Coco undoubtedly had a response to that, but she didn't have a chance to voice it. The screaming had stopped, and the house was held in a period of wonderful silence. The door eased open, and Aku floated out. He was wearing a bright smile upon his face. Crash and Coco jumped up again, and took a few steps toward him.

"Is she okay?" Crash blurted, unable to stop himself.

Aku nodded.

"She is absolutely fine. So is her daughter."

Crash and Coco exchanged glances. Crash didn't know what to think or how to feel. He felt numb. Coco placed her hands together.

"Can we see them?"

"Of course."

Crash followed behind Aku and Coco as they made their way to Tawna's room. He was still in a state of uncertainty. Then he stepped into the room. Tawna was sitting up in her bed, her face glowing with happiness. Her eyes were fixed upon a tiny little ball of fur resting in Crunch's arms. When Crash saw the beautiful little baby all his former anxieties dissolved. Crunch looked happier than Crash had ever seen him, cradling the baby with slow and gentle movements. She looked so absurdly tiny in Crunch's massive arms. Crash heaved a heavy breath of relief.

"Wow, girlie, that was an intense bit of childbearing there."

"It certainly was." Tawna agreed, the experience no doubt still vivid in her mind. "But it was worth it. Every minute of it."

Crash watched the couple for a few moments, gazing down at the beautiful child. The scene was of the sort that had the capacity to bring tears to one's eyes. Fortunately, Crash defeated that impulse. Coco spoke out next.

"Have you guys decided on a name for her?"

Tawna and Crunch exchanged a tender glance. Then Crunch brushed a strand of black hair out of the child's face. The baby cooed in response to the contact, and reached out and gripped Crunch's metal finger. Crunch smiled affectionately.

"Her name is Ailyn."

A/N:

And...FINISHED! Well, that was the longest Crash Bandicoot story to date. Can you believe that came out to eighty-six pages on Microsoft Word? I can hardly believe what compelled me to write such a...tediously...long...story. I think it must've been all the characters, and the fact that they were all doing their own things. Well, I promise that my next story will be much shorter, probably around the forty page range. I think I'm going to try and make that my average.

Anyway, thank you to all who are still with me. Also, to those of you amazing reviewers that I have yet to draw a gift for, don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I was just so busy with finishing this story up, and now I'll get back to drawing. I am very happy with how this story went, and am feeling quite excited to begin my next enstallment. I will be sure to write a quick preview on my profile page as soon as I can, but for now I will at least reveal the title. The next story in the Chronicles is New Revolution 3: Reawakening. I hope that you will all join me as I begin my next story in this expansive Crash Bandicoot series, and I hope you will continue to enjoy yourselves.

Until we meet again,

~Bandi-cute~