Author's Note: I'm very sorry for the wait, I had midterms to do and had to concentrate on that. Plus I had some writers block. Now I know I said this would be the last chapter but because I took too long I had to split this into two chapters. Enjoy.

Chapter 18: Unexpected Surprise

Things were silent inside the Sub Rover as Exile piloted it back to headquarters. After taking out the leader of the island the Rovers cleaned up as much as they could until the authorities arrived, once that happened, the canine heroes handed everything over to them and left. All the Rovers went in the Sub Rover, since the Sky Rover was still out of commission and they would have to get it back later. T-Bone and Razor took their jet and trailed them back, since they didn't really know the skies in this dimension.

"So Blitz how are you feeling?" Hunter asked the Doberman. After hearing about what happened to him the retriever was concerned for his friend. But much of the worry washed away after seeing Blitz was ok.

"My hand is still hurting some," he looked down at the bandaged hand, which still radiated some pain but not that much. "I'll be fine in a day or so."

"That's good to hear," T-Bone's voice sounded over their comms. Before temporary parting ways Colleen gave the two toms their frequency so they could talk to each other, and give directions if they got lost. "You made a daring move and I can't tell you how lucky you're able to be walking right now."

Blitz responded to the comment, "Ja, it takes a lot to keep me down."

Krystal, who was sitting next to her husband, held his un-bandaged hand, "In the future hun, try to be more careful."

Blitz smiled at his wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He knew she was concerned for him and scared after his little stunt, "Ja, I'll try." She smiled and hugged the Doberman.

Axel turned in his chair and joined in the conversation, "Either way you did a good job and we got the job done."

Colleen then turned to the Akita, a smile on her face, "We should also be thanking you."

"Why?" he raised a confused eye.

It was then Hunter took over where Colleen was talking, "Well if you hadn't been there to translate anything they were saying them we weren't sure what would happen."

"Yeah, if you hadn't told us what was happening when we were in the air, chances are the damages would have been worse," Colleen spoke next.

"Yeah but-"

"Ron't Roget Ro Rot Rus Rot Rof Ra Rough Rituations (Don't forget you got us out of the rough situations)," Shag added also.

"Wow it sounds like you brought a lot to the table," Razor's voice sounded through the comm. Sounding a little impressed.

"They were all just lucky breaks, nothing more," Axel responded as he sat back. "Right now I'm just glad its all done and we're heading back."

"True that comrade," Exile responded with a smile.

Over the next few hours the Rovers chatted with their two new friends, mostly passing stories from their own adventures. They needed something to pass the time by until they got back home. The Rovers were listening to the story Razor was telling them, "So since Chance didn't tell me he didn't know how to swim he almost drowned."

"Hey I told you before, I don't swim, I fly," T-Bone defended himself, sounding annoyed.

"So what happened afterwards?" Hunter asked.

"Well after saving the city from a huge flooded plant infestation Chance agreed to swim lessons."

"Worst two weeks of my life," The burly tom groaned. "He went all drill sergeant on me."

"Must have been fun," Colleen chuckled, as did the others.

"And here I thought cats hated water," Axel spoke, which brought out a huge laugh from everyone else.

"What?" they both asked, confused.

"Nothing," The Akita responded as the laughter died down.

"Hey we're nearing HQ," Jenna spoke to everyone as she turned and saw the GPS.

"Good, You have no idea how much I want to dress down in some light clothes and take a good rest," Blitz responded as he stood and stretched his limbs. Everyone could help but agree with him, most of them were tired and wanted to do various other relaxing things.

"Wait we have an incoming call from the Master," Hunter responded as he saw a flash coming from the sub's radio. This wasn't a common thing to happen, the Master would only do this if something were up. The retriever switched it on and put it on speaker so they all could hear. "Master what's up?"

"Hunter where are you all?" The tone in his voice seemed frantic.

"Whoa Master what's going on?" there were now confused looks on the others. Did something bad happen while they were out?

"Answer the first question, where are you all?" The tone was still the same.

Hunter looked back at the others, all of them confused as to what was going on as well. Turning back he spoke back, "We're about to enter HQ in the sub Rover, Master what's going on?"

His tone seemed to be relieved some as he responded, "Good, you have to hurry up, Ariel went into labor an hour ago."

"What!" Axel called out as he rushed forward towards the radio. "Master is she alright!?"

"Axel she's fine, you father and professor got her to the med bay but she's been asking for you."

"Ok, I'll be there in a minute," Axel's heart was pounding as the news fully sank in. He was about to become a father and he wasn't there yet.

Hunter then took over as he watched his brother move away, "We're about to enter, over and out." The line disconnected as T-Bone's voce spoke up.

"What's going on we couldn't hear any of that."

Colleen was the first to answer them, "Axel's wife went into labor."

"Whoa, congrats," Razor said over the comm.

That didn't seem to die down the nerves in Axel; he really wanted to dock already so he can be at his wife's side, not sure if he missed the birth yet. He was pacing around the hatch, ready to bolt out of there as soon as they surfaced. Luckily they already entered the bay entrance of HQ and were getting ready to surface.

"Hey can we land in the same runway?" Razor's voice came over the comm.

"Yeah, we'll meet you there," Colleen responded as the sub surfaced.

It took a minute for the ramp to the hatch to connect but once the ok was given Axel had the top opened and he hopped out. The Akita bolted down the ramp and towards the med bay. The others got out as well as Hunter barked some last minute instructions. "Blitz, Krystal stay here and wait for Jake and Chance. Exile, Jenna put the equipment away, after you're done come to the med bay." Giving a silent response they all went to go do their assigned task.

Ariel's yells could be heard as she was breathing heavily, Shadow and Sierra were right next to her, trying to calm her some. "You're doing good, just a little bit more time left before your child is here," Shadow spoke as he held his daughter's hand.

"Where's…Axel?" She cried out with her eyes closed.

"There're almost here," Sierra responded, her motherly instincts taking over. Things were ok an hour ago, the three of them were outside, and enjoying the air the beach gave them. The three of them were talking about the baby that was about to come, but a little way into the conversation Ariel complained about some stomach cramps, of course both parents worried some but the female Akita pass it off by saying she'd been having them for the past few weeks and were nothing to worry about. But soon they got worse and it was then found out she went into labor. Immediately Sierra went to go tell the Master and Professor while Shadow helped his daughter to the med bay. Ariel although kept saying that Axel wasn't here and she didn't want him to miss his child's birth.

Once they were at the med bay Ariel kept on asking the Master to call Axel, whom he did try but they didn't get a response for a while. So they had to wait till they could get a hold of the others, Shadow and Sierra did what they could to comfort her.

Professor Hubert, who already donned his medical scrubs and facemask, checked over Ariel's vitals. All were green so far, although her heart was beating a bit fast, but this was normal. "Ok Ariel it's almost time."

"But…Axel isn't here yet…" She tried to respond, but the pain she was feeling was growing.

"I know, but we won't be able to hold off any longer," the bloodhound responded sadly.

"He'll make it," Shadow whispered into her ear. "He will."

Almost right on cue the doors opened and Axel rushed in, relieved faces appearing on them. Shadow moved out of the way and jointed his wife as his son took his wife's hand into his, "I'm here Ariel."

The female Akita turned to her husband, a look of relief showed on her face, "Axel…" he then hugged him as he returned it. But just then she shouted in pain as a contraction came. The male Akita took his wife's hand into his as she squeezed it hard. "I thought you weren't going to make it."

"I'm here now…" he responded as she shouted again.

The professor looked at the vitals again, still things were green, Turing he spoke to them, "Ok, it's time Ariel I need you to push." She nodded and did what she was told, as another loud shout came. Axel winced some as his wife squeezed his hand, the pain he felt was pushed aside as he spoke calming words into Ariel's ear, "You're doing good, just a few seconds and it'll be over."

"Ok another push Ariel, you're doing great." She let out another shout and squeezed her husband's hand again. The heart monitor showed her heart rate increasing some. Axel could feel a lot of emotions going through his wife right now, but it's almost done now.

"I can see the head, ok give one more big push!" The professor shouted.

It was the moment of truth as Ariel gave that final push, and with a final shout she fell back onto the bed, panting. It was then a loud cry could be heard; the professor then pulled the infant into view after wrapping it in a blanket. Her vitals returned to normal as she started to relax and clam down.

Axel wrapped his arms around his wife, Ariel was relieved that it was over. "You did good hun."

Shadow and Sierra smiled at the two as they turned to the bloodhound, "So?"

That caught the two's attention, "Professor…what gender?" Ariel asked, fatigue presenting itself.

He smiled as he brought the infant to the two, "Congratulations…you're the proud parents of a baby girl."

"A girl…" Axel responded excitedly.

He nodded, "Yes." He then handed the small bundle to her mother. It was then they finally saw what their child looked like. The girl was full Akita; she had her mother's floppy ears, Axel's light brown fur and eyes. Tears were pouring out of both new parents eyes as they gazed upon their daughter, "She's so…beautiful…" Axel choked out.

Shadow and Sierra then looked down at their new granddaughter, both had tears of their own falling. "My god…" Shadow then spoke.

"What is it?" Axel asked his father.

"She…she looks almost like…your birth mother…in a way…" he managed to say.

"She does?" Ariel asked.

"Yes…"

"She looks beautiful," Sierra responded, which made Shadow smile.

"She is," Ariel responded as she looked down at the infant. Looking up at her husband her held her out, "Want to hold your daughter?"

With a nod Axel took the small bundle into his arms. A large smile plastered on his face as the small baby looked up at him, her cries had soften some, and Axel spoke to her. "Hi there I'm your daddy."

"What are you going to name her?" Sierra asked.

"Not sure yet," Ariel responded, but Axel started to think of something.

"Ariel…if it would be alright…can we name her after my birth mother?"

"What was her name?"

"Marina," Shadow answered with a smiled, touched by his son's suggestion.

"That's a beautiful name," the female Akita smiled. "And it fits her."

That's all the confirmation he needed, looking back down he whispered to his daughter, "Welcome to our family…Marina."

Up in the observing room the Rovers, Master and Swat Kats all looked down at the scene. There were almost no dry eyes as they all watched the scene below, a new life had been brought into the world and the sense of peace it brought was indescribable. This was Axel and Ariel's moment now, and no one was going to ruin it. "Congratulations Axel and Ariel…congratulations," The Master spoke out silently as they watched the two hold their child. Nothing else in the world mattered to them and that's what was important to them now.

A/N: I hope you like, once again i'm very sorry for the long wait. I'm trying now and working on the last chapter. Now That one will be the last one. I thank you all for your patiences.