Chapter 26

They got home a couple days later and made sure General Pepper was informed that the planet of Papetoon was inhospitable. Little over a year later, James and Vixy finally had their long-awaited wedding. Vixy had a local garden set aside to be the venue, decorated with various flowers of blue and purple in gorgeous designs. There were also strings of lights displayed to give a beautiful mood.

About a month after the wedding, James and Vixy had gone on their honeymoon. Dad and grandma McCloud were anxiously waiting at home for James and Vixy to come home. "I never knew how nerve-wracking it was to be waiting for a child to come home" grandma stated.

"You never worried about James coming home while we were at the Academy?" dad asked.

"Of course I did" she answered, "just after you two got abducted, I've become increasingly more worried each time you go on a mission."

"Mom, I hope you know both James and I are planning on moving out of this home soon" dad stated.

"That's fine" she smiled, "both of you are married now and have made enough of a living already for you to be living without Robin and myself."

The front door opened, with the voice of Uncle James ringing throughout the home. "We're back!" he declared.

Dad rushed over to the front entrance, hugging both of the vulpines. "Welcome home" he said, "how was your trip?"

"We had a good time" James said, "thanks for the suggestion of visiting Kuebos. It was even more vibrant than when we were there last."

"James, honey, I'm feeling a little tired from the flight back" Vixy said, "I'm going to head to bed."

"Okay, love" James kissed the vixen "I'll be in soon."

"What was that about?" dad asked when she went into the bedroom.

"I'm not entirely sure" James said, "she's been feeling off for a few days."

"I wonder if she could be pregnant" grandma suggested, "sounds like typical first signs of pregnancy."

"Really mom?" James asked.

"Yeah, I could go ask her if you want" she smiled.

The two young canines followed her to James' room and James knocked on the door saying, "Vix, sweety, my mom would like to ask you a few questions."

He opened the door to see the vixen wasn't there. "She's gone!" dad exclaimed.

A door opened down the hallway and Vixy walked out. She saw the three canines standing outside the room asking, "What's up you guys?"

"I think I know why you've been feeling different lately" Grandma McCloud said.

"Marian, wait, before you say anything can we talk in the bedroom?" she requested.

"After you, dear" Grandma McCloud gestured, "you boys go wait in the living room I'll be right back."

They went to the living room, as requested and dad said, "I've got a feeling mom is right. I think Vixy might be pregnant."

"If that's true, then wow that didn't take long" James smirked.

"You didn't waste anytime that's for sure" dad laughed.

Mom walked in, getting home from work, and noticed the two sitting on the couch. "Welcome back James!" she said, hugging the fox "Where's Vixy?"

"She's in our room with my mom" James replied.

The two vixens emerged from the bedrooms and mom rushed over giving Aunt Vixy a hug. "How was your honeymoon?" she asked.

"It was lovely" Vixy replied, "I actually have an announcement to make."

Before she could say anything, Grandpa McCloud walked in, carrying me. "Who's crazy kid is this?" he asked.

"Hi Wolfie!" mom exclaimed, "Did you tell Mr. and Mrs. Greenhill thank you for picking you up from school?"

"I did mommy" I said.

"Come sit by me, buddy" dad said, "Auntie Vixy was about to tell us something."

Once we were all seated, Vixy said, "So, as James might've noticed, as we were coming home, I had been feeling a little strange recently. I went to the bathroom to test something."

She pulled out something from her pocket and placed it in front of us. Mom shouted, "Oh my God, you're pregnant!"

"Yeah, I'm pregnant" she smiled.

All of us started cheering and James rushed up to her kissing her. "This is amazing news!" he exclaimed.

"You think you're ready to be a dad?" she asked.

"I'm so excited to be a dad" he said.

"Congratulations, James!" dad said, hugging the fox "You two really didn't waste time."

They turned to me saying, "What do you think about this, Wolf? Uncle James and Aunt Vixy are going to have a kit."

"I'm going to finally have a cousin?" I asked, "That's cool!"

"We're glad you're excited about this dad said.

"We might need your help coming up with some names for the kit in the near future" James said.

"You're going to have to schedule a doctor's appointment soon" Grandma McCloud pointed out.

"We also need to tell your dad" James said, holding Vixy's paws.

Over the next couple months Vixy's belly steadily grew and the family was catering to her needs. James had also given General Pepper a notice about Vixy's pregnancy. Peppy and Bandit Hare had been coming around more often and brought a friend of Peppy's with them consistently. His friend is a short, chubby, ugly pig with beady eyes, named Pigma Dengar. Pepper had agreed not to schedule either dad or Uncle James for any off-world missions. Instead, they were brought onto the scientific division. Every once in a while, the canines would be asked to work with Andross, who grew to be fond of Pigma.

One day, Aunt Vixy stopped by for her lunch break. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Andross asked, "What brings you here, foxy lady?"

"I came to have lunch with my husband and brother-in-law" she stated.

Upon a second glance, he realized who he was talking to. "You're McCloud's girl, aren't you?" he inquired.

"That's right" she said, "who are you again?"

"Why I'm…"

"…Andross!" James exclaimed, kissing Vixy "Are you okay, love?"

"I'm fine, honey" she said, placing a paw on her belly "we just wanted to have lunch with you and Maverick today."

Andross noticed the placement of her paw. "Wait, did this little shit knock you up?" he asked.

"Excuse me?" James stated, walking toward the ape "That is my wife you're talking about!"

"James, don't" she said, grabbing the fox's arm "I don't have that long of a lunch break left, let's go find Maverick and grab something."

As the foxes were walking away, Andross said, "Don't worry, sweetie, eventually you'll see you should leave this loser for a real animal."

James stopped walking, and Vixy could tell that he was fuming. Dad entered the room, noticing the fox clenching one of his paws. "James, what's going on?" he asked.

Upon hearing the lupine's voice, he relaxed. They exited the room and enjoyed the lunch Vixy had brought them. After Vixy left, James said, "Andross is really starting to press his luck."

"Don't let him get to you, Bud" dad said, "you know he's just trying to get a reaction out of you."

"I know, I just don't like how he was talking to Vixy, today" he stated.

"Just think about it this way" dad began, "this is only temporary until Vixy has the pup. After that we'll be back on our crazy missions across the universe."

James smiled, "Why are you the best brother?"

"I've only had seven years of practice with you" he winked.

The next few months were tough for Aunt Vixy. As the pregnancy continued, she grew increasingly uncomfortable and experienced many cramps over various parts of her body. Due to these cramps, they also led her to experience drastic mood swings. One steamy summer day, in early July, the family was sitting in Grandma McCloud's living room. Vixy was sitting with her legs up on a cushioned chair, drinking a tall, cold glass of lemonade, when she suddenly dropped the cup to the floor and screamed. James rushed over to her asking, "Are you okay, Vix?"

"I… I think it's that time" she said, trying to catch her breath.

"Wait, are you saying…" James began.

"You're about to become a father!" Grandma McCloud exclaimed, "Hurry, let's get her to the hospital."

So, we gathered up all of the items that Grandma and mom had prepared for just this very scenario and rushed Vixy to the hospital. When we got there, James wheeled her in saying, "Hello, my wife, Vixy McCloud, is ready to have our baby today."

"Wonderful!" one of the nurses exclaimed, "Has she been experiencing any contractions?"

"Yes she has" Grandma said, "they've been about ten minutes apart."

"Excellent!" she smiled, "Let's get you set up in one of our semi-private rooms and the doctor will be in to see you shortly."

"Are you going in with her?" dad asked, looking at Uncle James.

"Am I allowed to?" he questioned.

"You're the father to be" mom stated, "if anyone's going to be able to go in, it's you."

"Nurse, am I allowed to come back there with you?" James asked.

The nurse turned to James saying, "Only family is allowed in to see her."

"I'm her husband" James replied.

"Oh, then yes you may come back with us" she smiled, "we can't delay."

The three went through the doors taking Aunt Vixy away, while she was trying to control her breathing. About an hour later, James came back out to the lobby. "How's she doing?" dad asked.

"Sounds like she's got a couple hours to go" James explained, "the nurse told me to come out to the lobby and relax for a bit."

"Yeah, child birth is a long process" mom said, "it took me nearly eight hours till Wolf came out."

"It was eight hours worth the wait" dad smiled, hugging me.

Over the next few hours, mom and dad were granted permission to see Aunt Vixy. Reuben had also been contacted and informed about what was going on. When he arrived at the hospital, he asked "Is there any update on my little girl?"

"Sorry, dad, we haven't heard anything recently" James explained, "though last I was told was that she's doing well and is right on track for a normal birth."

The nurse, who carted Aunt Vixy into her room, walked up to us saying, "Sorry to interrupt, but your wife is dilated at ten centimeters and is ready to head to delivery. I thought you'd like to know incase you'd like to join us, since you're the father to be."

James hesitated, looking at the rest of us and dad placed a paw on his shoulder saying, "What are you waiting for? Go see your child get born. You only get to experience becoming a parent once in your life."

So James went back with the nurse and about an hour later came to the lobby, slowly, while cradling something in his arms. "Hey everybody" he spoke, softly and quietly "I have someone for you all to meet."

Everyone shuffled up to James, eager to meet the newest addition to the family. "Absolutely adorable" mom said, "what gender are you holding there?"

"This here is your nephew" James smiled.

"That's amazing, James!" dad smiled, "Have you and Vixy thought of a name yet?"

"We haven't discussed a name for him yet" James replied, "any suggestions?"

"You could always name him after someone close to you" dad winked.

"I see what you're getting at" James smiled, "I've got to get him back. Vixy is resting."