They continued to watch as Leslie sighed, "My biggest concern is of course, the child... especially in this form...", with a frown. "You think they'd be born like green or something?", Bruce wondered. If that was the case, and they couldn't turn back or anything... Bruce didn't want to think of what they would have to do for the child other than hiding them away from the world.
Alfred replied, "You said that you haven't seen much difference between the baby in either body, only narrow differences, like the amount of food and gamma energy keeps them similar, so, since it looked like the baby started from the week before Master Bruce's birthday, it's possible that the baby has gotten the change like their mothers, and it would be natural like a switch of needing either mother, Dr. Thompkins.".
Leslie nodded, "That's a very good point there too...Maybe you're right, Alfred, and if the baby has the ability, She-Hulk and Martha wouldn't care too much as long as they're healthy and strong, and able to feed and do basic things, I suppose I couldn't be too worried, especially when they got them, you, and Bruce to teach them to change at the right time, and learn about emotions as time passes, especially with the fact that She-Hulk is changing more and more on other emotions besides anger.".
"Mainly unrefined though, still.", Alfred admitted. "Not exactly perfect control as I'm sure we'd all like.", with a slight sigh. "Any help with that you found yet, Alfred?", Bruce asked as Alfred shook his head.
"Not at the moment; and believe me, I've certainly been taking in some research but nothing so far yet in terms of perhaps someone or something that could perhaps help.", Alfred said.
Leslie hummed, "Maybe meditation would help. I read that when people do it, they have a clearer understanding of what is of their emotions and their soul.".
Bruce replied, "At least Mama knows joy, shock, surprise, happiness, and other things thanks to seeing the baby in the sonograms, feeling them move and kick, and all the adventures we had this summer. She's a quick learner, Dr. Leslie!", with a determined smile.
Leslie chuckled, "I should have known that a carefree, innocent, and smart child would teach an adult so many things like a son to a mother...I suppose I have never truly thought about the personal, intimate side of things as I'm so used to science and theories and being a general doctor to help the unfortunate and rich people all around...".
Bruce smiled, "It's okay, Dr. Leslie. I know Mama appreciates your checkups and hearing good things from you, I think it means she's practically adopting you into the pack.", and Leslie blinks, "You think so? She-Hulk hasn't exactly voiced it to me compared to Martha...".
Alfred replied, "Maybe she will say it after everything tonight...After all, she has been distracted all those last few months.", with a nod and a reassuring smile, and Leslie was about to thank them with a smile when they heard a thudding slam and a whimpering moan of pain, looking over to see She-Hulk clenching into the side of one cavern wall, leaving a handprint, and quivering in pain.
They quickly got off their seats, coming to She-Hulk, with Bruce replying in worry, "Mama!", and She-Hulk turned around with a warning growl, "Mama sorry to Bruce-pup, but you and Alfred-Elder need to back off...It's time...Leslie-healer, you be please helping me?", taking deep breaths.
Leslie nodded, "Of course, She-Hulk...Come on, let's get you to your den...", gently taking a arm around her shoulders, "How's the pain?", as they slowly headed, turning on to She-Hulk's den.
She-Hulk rumbled, whimpering with a grimace, "Not fake labor pain like Martha-mate...I feeling belly making squeezing like squeeze bottle...", and Leslie smiled reassuringly, "It's real labor pain, She-Hulk, it means that the contractions are starting...They are helping release the protective layers over time, letting go of the baby as it moves into position...Understand?".
She-Hulk replied, "I thinking so...I remember Martha-mate vaguely with first pains before Bruce-pup...I wish stories about Hall-Halloween Bruce-pup said be true about good spirits visiting families...I be feeling better if Martha-mate and Thomas-mate be here with me, I sorry if I offending you, Leslie-healer...".
"None taken... but I must remind that it's probably better if I was here either way; just so someone experienced could do it. Thomas may have been a doctor, but he had never performed a birth before.", Leslie chuckled. "So, I'd still have to be here even if he was here...".
"Make sense...", She-Hulk grumbled as she clutched her belly a bit. It almost was a bit of a surprise to see her in this sort of form; heavily pregnant yet her belly still could clearly show off some defined abs.
Leslie replied, "Breathe, She-Hulk, it's going to be alright...We're almost there to your den, to the really cozy and warm nest...", and She-Hulk nodded, taking deep breaths in almost a rumbling way.
The duo steadily walked on to the den, and She-Hulk felt more relieved as she got closer and closer, feeling at home, and turned around the corner into the den which is like a mix of a wolf's den and an almost alight cavern with warm gentle scent rocks that is in the tucked cords behind them on makeshift shelves as She-Hulk hated even a cord out of place, being a perfectionist for this den, and the duo's eyes widened to see a translucent yet solid person touching and fluffing the closest pillows.
She-Hulk growled defensively, "What you doing to my nest?!", and the person turned around, and She-Hulk, along with Martha in the back of her mind, felt a shock and joy and sadness at the same time as they recognized the person. It was none than Thomas Dorian Wayne...
Thomas smiled warmly, "I couldn't dream of making a mess with this beautiful nest you did for our baby...our new pup...", and She-Hulk whispered in a mix of her and Martha's voice, "Thomas...".
"I'm not going to miss this one...Good thing that being here on Halloween is a freebie...I have missed out on Bruce's birth...", Thomas looked determinedly, and She-Hulk took her arm off Leslie's shoulder, almost waddled in a sprint to Thomas before stopping and bit her lip as she took a step back, taking a seat on her knees as she bowed her head with tears, "I sorry, Thomas-mate! It being my fault for not coming out faster, to save you! Martha-mate says you would've liking me, maybe even love me like you do for her, but I...I not believe her entirely, I failed you...I fell being in love with you too..But you should be hating me because I not Martha-mate yet being like her...I being so sorry...", almost ignoring her slowly convulsing baby bump of slowly increasing contractions as she reacted to a wolf instinct of submission to her deceased alpha mate, the alpha male of her pack, while acting like a human on survivor's guilt and other things, and also, she's afraid that she's dreaming as well, even if she knew that she's awake.
"Please, don't feel guilty about things... I should've taken Martha's advice when she had her concerns... but I didn't think much of danger at that moment. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to attack the man, perhaps he would've just ripped the pearls and run off... but it's very possible he could've killed all of us either... none of us should truly feel guilt over the actions of someone we couldn't control.", Thomas sighed.
She-Hulk looked down as she nodded, and she then heard another sigh, and felt a gentle, familiar hand touching her chin, lifting her head up to look at Thomas, and she then was taken aback as Thomas then kissed her on the lips gently and passionately, smiling softly as he then pulled back, "I fell in love with you too, She-Hulk, and you are a part of Martha, and Martha is part of you...Do I need to kiss you more to convince you, hmm?".
"You...you don't hate me?", She-Hulk whispered as she was shocked of her first kiss, something wonderful and bittersweet she never imagined in her own green self, realizing why Martha really liked those kinds of kisses. Sure, she really enjoyed them through the emotions and such in the window of Martha's body and such, but she never actually experienced a real, true kiss on the lips...until now.
"I could never hate Martha... and that goes with you too.", Thomas smiled as he leaned forward to gently press his lips against hers once again. Obviously, the size was quite a bit of a difference for him compared to whenever he would kiss Martha.
She-Hulk closed her eyes as she kissed him back hesitantly before getting confident in her second kiss now, realizing that the size and the difference of her lips are dark green and bow-shaped than Martha's lips that is heart-shaped and dark pink.
A kick and a contraction caused She-Hulk to moan and Thomas to chuckle as they broke away, smiling, "Come on, let's get you into the nest...", and She-Hulk replied, "I swear new pup being smart!", with a huff as she groaned, getting up into her knees, walking closer to the nest, and stepped over the pillows, into the soft retro-fitted foam mattress, covered with blankets, and the other warm, soft things she found from the manor and in random stores while maternity shopping.
Thomas smiled, "That I don't doubt...Easy, She-Hulk...Breathe...", as She-Hulk nodded, taking deep breaths as she then heard Martha's anxiety and sadness that she wouldn't hug and kiss Thomas while wanting to help She-Hulk get through labor and give birth to their child.
"You hearing my wish you being here, along with Martha-mate?", She-Hulk sat down into the perfect spot of layered blankets, plush fabric, poncho fabric, teddy scarves, resting back against the pillows, feeling the foam mattress conform to her pain and shape and weight.
Thomas smiled, "Of course I did. I'm not going anywhere for tonight, and we got plenty of time...My only condition is that I have to go back to where I can look over you, Martha, Bruce and our new pup, when midnight strikes, as Halloween is over then...But luckily, I was given something that might make this easier with Halloween good magic...", caressing She-Hulk's wrist on her right as she shivered and felt something happen before she saw a black funny-looking symbol appear which wasn't there before.
"What's that?", She-Hulk asked in curiosity yet wary surprise, and Thomas smiled, "It's a connected link between you and Martha, so she can come out of your mind, and be your soul, part of you, while she has you partly in her.".
She-Hulk widened her eyes before replying, "How be I doing that? I want her out, to be happy, to hug and kiss you, to help me together...I being...I admitting being scared if new pup takes too long or something goes wrong...".
"Use her name, her full name with all your love, conviction, and your desires for her to come.", Thomas nodded with a smile, and She-Hulk was a bit confused before nodding, going with it, "Okay...here it be coming...", taking a deep breath, ignoring the pain of her contractions, the fear of losing her pup, the anger of things not being fair, focusing on all her love of her pack, for Martha, Thomas, her mates, her pups in Bruce and this unborn one, for Alfred, her elder-friend-advisor, and for Leslie, her healer-friend, focusing all her conviction to have Martha-mate to reunite with Thomas-mate, to see her joy and tears, to help encourage and be there for She-Hulk, and to have no more nightmares, just tonight as a happy day, "Martha Rosalyn Wayne!", with a roar, and the black symbol glowed, with streams of light flying out of She-Hulk, taking shape into the solid astral form of Martha, almost glowing brighter than Thomas.
Martha was dizzy, blinking for a moment, raising a hand to her head, "What a rush...Felt like a dive through the air...", as her hand was grabbed gently with a teasing voice, "At least it's better than a headache, am I right?".
"Or your whole body being practically turned inside out as it tears itself apart and reforms...", Thomas added as Martha teared up and wrapped herself around him tightly.
Martha sobbed, "Thomas!", as Thomas wrapped his arms around her, rubbing and running his hands up and down, through her hair, "Shh...It's okay...I'm no longer in pain anymore or such...I watched over you and everybody else every day, don't you know? I'm so darn proud of you for doing a bang-up job so far with Bruce, the company, and She-Hulk and the baby.", as She-Hulk watched with a tearful, relieved smile, rubbing her baby bump as she took deep breaths, glad for Thomas's idea, as Leslie stared in shock and astonishment from her frozen spot.
Martha cried, "I never told you that I love you before that damn decision, and it wasn't your fault for even thinking about it...We didn't know...I should have told you not to aggravate that drunk fool! God, I love you, Thomas!", and Thomas murmured, "You can hear everything, huh? I love you too...Oh, I love you so much, Martha Wayne...I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry that I hurt you like this...".
"No, you would never hurt me...Yes, it's true that I and the others hurt from losing you, but he hurt us in the first place, not you...", Martha pulled back slightly, caressing his cheek, looking at him, looking over him with tears, and Thomas murmured at the touch, closing his eyes for a second before caressing it over with his hand, kissing her fingers like he used to do, looking at her before leaning in and kissed her lovingly and passionately, slightly different from what he did with She-Hulk.
The moment was interrupted by a loud groan as they turned their attention back to She-Hulk as she felt another contraction, "It hurts, but not too bad... Martha-mate with Bruce-pup hurt much, much worse...".
Martha quickly sat next to She-Hulk on her right by stepping over a pillow of the nest border, taking her hand as Thomas stepped over a pillow and another one by going around She-Hulk, and then sat next to She-Hulk on the left, taking her hand, with Martha replying, "That's because you are still in the first round of labor. Leslie.", glancing at Leslie who was still stunned, "Leslie! Snap out of it!".
Leslie blinked, nodding, "Right, right!", plunging her hands in the bowl of warm water, which was closest to the nest, scrubbing and grabbing inspection gloves, and then got into the nest, and glanced at She-Hulk, "I'm going to take off your bikini shorts, and then ask you to put up your legs up. Do you want a blanket for privacy?".
She-Hulk breathed, shaking her head, "Okay, and no blanket! Mama Wolf Instinct telling me to going natural! Is that being okay, Thomas-mate?", glancing at Thomas with a blush and a shy smile.
Thomas rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, "I have to admit something, since you two were technically my mates, I took a few peeks at Kel in the reflection while you were naked in the bathroom, Martha.", and Martha blushed, smiling, nodding, "I suppose that's fair as we are part of each other...And Kel?".
Thomas glanced at She-Hulk, "Well, you have to admit that She-Hulk is a mouthful, and well, Kel is a personal nickname to make it easier, like how Bruce does with our She-Hulk, calling her Mama. I found out that it means bright headed which I figure that our green amazon here is bright in mind, being a quick learner, which is fitting. Is that okay to call you Kel?".
She-Hulk, no, Kel now, gave a small nod, "Will take time to get used to...", Kel admitted. "But... I can being used to it...". Thomas smiled by hearing that as Kel gave out another groan from another contraction.
Martha caressed Kel's hair back, "Breathe, Kel...We're here...", as Leslie removed the bikini shorts, helping Kel putting her legs up and apart, and informed, "All that pacing had advanced the dilation, you're past halfway dilated! Looks like it's going to be not as long as I thought...".
Kel murmured, glancing at Martha, "Are you being upset that this being faster in a way compared to Bruce-pup in your labor, Martha-mate?". Martha smiled reassuringly, "No, I'm not upset, rather I'm more relieved that you don't have to suffer much longer in pain than I did..".
"But I being scared...I mean, pain being worse as being closer and closer over time...", Kel replied, and Martha leaned in to look at her closer, "Kel Wayne, it's okay to be scared, but we're all here to help...We will help you if instincts get more insistent or if you're getting tired. We love you, Kel, and out there, is the rest of our family, our pack, patiently waiting while praying with love and hope that this goes well.".