"Feels so weird to do this...", Crystal said as she was trying to relax. "At least you're getting used to it now rather than when the other two show up...", Winnie reminded as Crystal nodded, "That's a good point. Better get used to feeding because last thing we need is for me to especially come up short with that.".
Winnie smiled, "Indeed, and look at you. You're a natural already as well...He absolutely loves you too...", watching Ferdinand enjoy his first meal of breast milk, and Crystal chuckled, "Lots of practice...Already talking...Gosh, are they really going to grow up fast?".
"Not so much for now. Ferdinand and Mira would be pups for a year before they would even attempt to walk on two legs like toddlers, and then they will properly grow up. So, small words among being vocal for milk time, along with getting used to a routine of sorts, and of course, teaching them to use the bathroom, and eat food eventually, but that's pretty much it for now.", Winnie explained.
"I wonder if the two I have in here... if they'll be the same.", Crystal wondered as Winnie shrugged, "Maybe... maybe not... I mean, we at least can see them when you do your thing, but... so far from what I'm seeing, maybe not...".
Crystal nodded, "Your eyesight is far better than mine.", with a smile, hearing a squeaky howl, and looked over to Mira and Winnie chuckled, "Wanting attention, eh?", nuzzling and licking her clean, playing with her as she yipped and squealed, trying to wrestle with Winnie's hand, attempting to pounce, but she missed, frustratedly growling as she rubbed her eyes with her paws before opening them cross-eyed, blinking.
She then focused, blinking before finally opening them fully, revealing to be chocolate brown eyes, and she squeaked questionably, looking at Winnie who cooed at her, "Look at you...You got your momma's eyes. Look, Crystal, she got your eyes from your human form.".
Crystal chuckled, "Wow, she's even more perfect than before...Hello, Mira. I'm your momma. And that's your mama.", and Winnie nodded, "That's right, I'm your mama, Mira.", smiling lovingly as she nuzzled Mira.
Mira gave a little yip, but it was very clear that she was a bit shyer than her brother. "I wonder if she'll be the most precious one of the four... the one that the others will all look out for...", Crystal wondered.
Winnie chuckled as Mira whined softly, licking her cheeks, "I think you might be right...She can get outgoing when she wants to be, but yes, she's precious...Right, Mira?".
Mira gave a stronger yip, nuzzling her mama before glancing at her momma, smelling the familiar scent of her brother, and walked shakily, losing balance a few times, but kept going, and then tried to squirm into her lap, putting her paws on Crystal's baby bump, giving out a yip, licking the baby bump, and kicks came, but Mira didn't spook out, and gave a small bark as she smiled gummily at Crystal.
Crystal smiled, "Look at that...You are shy at first, but once you get used to things, you sure are outgoing. They like you too, Mira...", and Mira gave a stronger bark, whining as she tilted her head at her brother suckling Crystal's breast.
Winnie chuckled, "Never far from your brother, huh?", moving closer, picking up Mira by the scruff gently, and placed her into Crystal's other arm as Mira squirmed in surprise before settling down as she realized that she's safe and secure, and watched her brother for a moment before treading Crystal's other breast as she latched into the nipple, and suckled, giving out a happy yip as she liked her momma's breast milk.
"You doing better now?", Winnie asked as Crystal nodded, "Yeah... I think so now that they're both truly awake now... able to see, to hear... certainly puts my mind at ease."
Winnie smiled warmly, "Good, that's really good.", as she sat next to Crystal, leaning her head against her shoulder, with her clawed-hand gently caressing Crystal's baby bump, watching their first two children suckling Crystal's breasts, with her other arm around Crystal's neck and other shoulder.
Crystal smiled contentedly, "It's hard to believe that they are a month old already...And soon, they will see their younger siblings...", and Winnie kissed her on the cheek, "It's totally amazing...They're just perfect...Our Ferdinand and Mira...", with a content sigh.
And so, the lesbians shared the feeding sessions between them, with Ferdinand and Mira becoming able to say small words here and there as time passed, becoming more confident in their playing, and exploring the whole den at their level, which kept the lesbians busy.
As it was getting closer to the time Crystal is looking to be in labor any day, there were an unexpected guest who came to see them, and it was Wyatt, Winnie's father, and he will be quite in for the best surprise of his life.
It was getting dark, and the lesbians were cuddling, watching their pups play with each other, wrestling and yipping when a howl outside the den was heard, and Winnie leaped to her paws, growling, listening to the howl as the pups whimpered and yelped, trying to run over to Crystal, hiding behind her legs.
Crystal asked in concern, "Winnie?", as the howl continued on, and Winnie began to relax, "It's Father...", as the howl stopped, waiting for a response from Winnie.
"Go, Winnie, check. We'll be alright. I know you...", Crystal replied, and Winnie glanced back to see her, protecting the pups despite her pregnancy wearing her down, and she nodded, knowing that she's the only fighter. She knows the howl of her father, but she needs to make sure that it's just him, no hunters or anyone else.
"Something wrong?", Crystal asked as Winnie still was hesitant. "Not really sure... his howl doesn't sound like he's in any trouble. Just... not really expecting him to be here...", Winnie said as Crystal smiled, "I'm sure it's fine, relax... just go out to make sure, alright?".
Winnie nodded, walked back to kiss Crystal and lick the pups reassuringly before leaving the bedroom-nest, through the cavern den, to the front door, sniffing as she pushed the rock carefully, listening for any strange noises, her fur standing up straightforward as she kept tense, sweeping her eyes over the clearing and the distant trees, seeing her father at the edge of the clearing, staying hidden.
Staying in the darkness, she howled to her father, watching the clearing and the trees for any signs of human hunters or anything strange, and her father responded with another howl as he emerged out carefully, walking on all fours, with his walking cane held in his tail, and between them, they watched the clearing and the trees as Wyatt got closer and closer to the den.
Winnie sniffed deeply, smelling no human hunter scent or anything peculiar on her father as the wind blew, just his wild scent with a hint of a train scent, signifying that he had hitchhiked on trains.
Wyatt finally arrived at the entrance, and Winnie saw no wounds or injuries, just him looking excited, curious, and tired from the whole journey. Winnie spoke quietly, "What happened on the last time we visited?".
"I announced that your mate was clearly carrying your pups.", Wyatt smiled, and Winnie sighed in relief as she pushed the rock door back in, nuzzling her father as she helped him stand up with the walking cane, "Apologies for the tense approach there, Father...I am protecting my mate and our family, you understand...".
"Of course...", Wyatt then took a deep breath. "So... are the pups already born? I can smell their scent already on you.".
Winnie smirked softly, "Which pups?", and Wyatt replied, "Crystal's pups, Winnie...Wait, hold on, what do you mean, which pups?", looking at Winnie in confusion.
Giggling, "Come, Father, you're going to be surprised.", Winnie smiled, taking Wyatt's arm, helping him walk on, as he worked his walking cane in his other hand, tapping the floor.
Wyatt wasn't dumb by any stretch of the imagination. He quickly put things together, "No... you're not serious...", his eyes widening. "Oh, just follow me!", Winnie laughed as she led him into the den.
They reached the bedroom-nest, and Winnie called out, "Everything's fine! Father is here.". Crystal sat up carefully, then exhaled deeply with a relieved smile, "Hello, Dad. Ferdinand, Mira, it's okay. Mama's alright, and she has someone who wants to meet you.", as Winnie led Wyatt closer and closer.
Wyatt came around before he finally had a good view of the rest of the family, and especially the two pups and Crystal still obviously very pregnant. "You... you gave birth to those two...", Wyatt whispered as Winnie nodded.
Winnie smiled, "Yes...It was a surprise to us...", as she helped Wyatt sit down, with Ferdinand and Mira cautiously walking over, sniffing as Ferdinand asked, "Mama, who this?".
"This is Wyatt, your grandfather, and he's here to see all of us, Ferdinand.", Winnie spoke warmly, and Wyatt smiled, "Ferdinand, hmm...Oh, look at you...You remind me of myself when I was young...You can call me Papa.".
Ferdinand smiled gummily as he put his paws up on Wyatt's leg, "Papa!", and Wyatt chuckled, "You truly got Winnie and your grandmother's eyes...Your fur is quite unique...Charcoal gray fur with dark blue streaks...And your paws, so different...And your hair, just like Crystal's hair...".
Crystal smiled, "The blue streaks came from my alien form, Dad...along with the distinct look of his paws...", and Wyatt nodded before he felt another pair of paws on his other leg, and looked, "Oh, my! Who is this little one?".
Mira peered shyly at him, and Winnie chuckled, "Her name is Mira.", and Wyatt smiled gently, "Hello, Mira...Your eyes are like Crystal's...your hair is like Winnie's fur, and your fur, strawberry blonde fur with medium blue streaks...My mother had that shade of fur, that is, without the blue streaks, of course...".
"Papa?", Mira yipped bravely, and Wyatt nodded, "That's right, young one...This is amazing, they're both perfect, Winnie.", looking up at Winnie proudly and happily.
"And we still have two more on the way very soon... the original two you were thinking of.", Winnie said. "Have you decided on names for them as well?", Wyatt asked.
Crystal nodded, smiling as she carefully scooted over to them, minding her very big baby bump, "We certainly have, but not quite as you'd think...", and Wyatt blinked, "Oh?".
Winnie replied, "Thanks to a way of finding out their genders, we're having another daughter and son...We decided to do a 'W' name for him, but we will decide the rest of it when we meet him...", with a chuckle before taking a deep breath, "And our girl, she would be the second generation who holds the name...Juniper...".
Wyatt nearly fell backwards by hearing that name as it was a sudden shock to his system. "Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out by saying her name... I know it's a surprise to name her after my mother...", Winnie said.
Crystal replied, "It was my idea in the first place...I'm sorry if it bothers you, Dad. We can name her something else...It was just that I always liked the thought of her spirit somehow helping us get together that day...".
"No, no... it's alright.", Wyatt explained. "Just the name caught me off guard, that's all.", he smiled as he once more looked to his grandchildren.
Ferdinand and Mira smiled at him, "Papa, we play?", and Wyatt chuckled, "I'm sorry, I got old bones and all, little ones, but how about a story?".
Mira barked bravely, "Family story!", and Ferdinand snorted, "No, forest story!", and they squabbled, before Wyatt cleared his throat sharply, "Children!".
Ferdinand and Mira stopped, looking down in shame, and Wyatt replied, "How about a story where I took your mother out to the forest?", and the pups nodded, "Yeah!".
Wyatt chuckled, "Come here and plop here on your papa's lap, and I'll tell you the story.", and the pups climbed, settling and sitting on his lap, and Wyatt began his story.
Winnie cuddled with Crystal, smiling as they watched, "Looks like we're gonna have some company for some time, Crystal...They're already in love with their grandpa.".
"Well, I certainly know that he's not going to leave for a few months... certainly not before these other two are born.", Crystal rubbed her belly. "Any week now, love...", Winnie kissed her cheek. "And then hopefully everything will be good.".
Crystal smiled, "Yes, everything will be fine.", sighing contentedly as she rested against Winnie's shoulder, and that night was the start of a new routine.
The days were filled with Wyatt babysitting and enjoying the laughter of his grandchildren after feeding sessions, with Winnie massaging Crystal's body either in bed or in the bath after starting up the fireplace in the kitchen, making the den very warm, as winter finally arrived, with snow filling up the surrounding forests and fields, and soon, it was the night before the winter solstice, December 21st.
Crystal has been feeling twinges and sores all day, and thought it was just normal back pain as the babies had turned headfirst only a few days ago, getting heavy on her hips and back, and she felt a bit better after the usual massage from Winnie earlier.
Sleeping and dreaming, Crystal rested before a sharp pain woke her up slowly from her deep sleep, and only thinking that it was a kick, she habitually checked on Winnie, and the pups, seeing them slumbering on Wyatt on the other side of the bed-nest, using him as a pillow.
She smiled in amusement, having seen the same sight for the last several nights...The pups absolutely adored their grandpa. Then she hissed when the pain came, shaking her head, muttering, "I swear you want a snack or something, huh?", as she moved her legs, and then felt something wet.
Widening her eyes, she reached a hand down to touch, and brought it to her nose, finding that it's not blood, but water. Wait, water?! She then gasped out in pain when the now-recognized contraction came, "Winnie!", clutching her baby bump, realizing that she's in labor!
Winnie's heart nearly stopped when she heard Crystal shouting. She practically shot upwards hearing her name being called out. "What!?", Winnie shouted as she was positive that she probably woke up the twins with how loud she was.
Crystal gasped out, "They're coming!", and Winnie widened her eyes, moving fast to her side, pushing a button for the dim scones to become a bit brighter, checking as she freed Crystal's baggy pajama shorts, the only thing she was wearing, as she was bundled in blankets, "Oh, by the moon, you're already half dilated. Breathe, Crystal, breathe...".
Nodding, Crystal breathed deeply as she tried to relax from the whole discovery of herself in labor, and Winnie glanced over as she heard their pups asking worriedly, and Wyatt glanced at her as he was blinking awake, "I'll take them to the kitchen.", with a reassuring nod.
"Come, children, your momma is going to be okay. She needs to focus on herself and your baby siblings.", Wyatt firmly yet gently told the twins, and Mira, whimpering, said boldly, "I wanna kiss from momma!", sprinting wobblily over to Crystal who smiled lovingly.
"It's going to be alright, Mira...You go be with your brother and grandpapa, okay?", Crystal asked gently, and Mira put her paws up, "Kiss Momma, be better?".
Crystal smiled, taking labored breaths as she picked Mira up, kissing her on the forehead, and Mira licked her on the nose, and Crystal replied, "I feel better, sweetheart.", seeing Ferdinand coming up, and Crystal dropped Mira down gently, picking up Ferdinand, "Look after Mira and stay close to grandpapa, listen to him, okay?".
Ferdinand nodded, "I be good, momma.", licking Crystal on the cheek, and Crystal smiled, kissing him on the forehead, "Good boy. I love you two.", dropping him down gently, "Go with Grandpapa.", and the twins nodded, "Love you, Momma.", sprinting back wobblily to Wyatt who picked them up by the scruff, getting up with his walking cane, leaving the bed-nest to head to the kitchen.
"They'll be alright...", Winnie reminded Crystal. "Right now, we need to focus on you... how you holding up?", looking at her mate in concern.
"Alright...", Crystal took a deep breath. "I'm glad to hear that I'm already half dilated... that hopefully will mean that it won't be too long..."
Winnie smiled warmly, "Me too, but you're not a werewolf, so this could take longer for you than me...But then again, I can be wrong. Either way, it's happening, my jewel.", kissing Crystal on the lips tenderly.
Crystal smiled, and labored through the slowly increasing contractions, taking a hour where midnight passes into the first hour of the new day, the 21st, the winter solstice.
"I really wish you had warned me about the boring waiting...", Crystal chuckled as she felt another light contraction. It was basically all the two of them could do at the moment.
Winnie smiled, "I apologize, but I was having contractions while I was checking the traps that day, so it kept me busy in a way, but now this is different, as it's nighttime and all.", looking to see the progress of her dilation, and sighed, "Hardly gained a couple of centimeters...".
Crystal groaned, "Oh, come on!", sighing in frustration before feeling her necklace, and glanced at Winnie, "We have to check on them, just to be sure...I need to change...".
