Sean blushed at the mention of Duke, "Well, I know it has been four years since I started dating Duke...I think if he's going to stick around after graduation, he deserves to know the secret, you know? I mean, Jane is dating Luke for six years already, and I think he's being like Mr. Fox at the company, picking up something about us, but she hadn't told him yet.".
Daphne replied, "Terry's doing great, but he is like stuck between going to college or staying in Gotham, but yeah, same thing here like Sean...".
Waylon and Poppy shared a look before Waylon spoke warmly, "You two turned 18 last week, and we can't stop you from sharing something big, but perhaps best to be careful, even if they have good opinions of the Guardians already.", knowing that the boyfriends of their dear children are fans of the Guardians.
"Yeah, no idea how to think of that conversation…", Daphne admitted. "If things go far with us, I'm gonna have to eventually tell him.".
Sean replied, "Don't worry, sis, we can do it together as I need to tell Duke too. And it's up to Jane too, even if she's 19, with Luke too, she deserves support there, even with Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Caroline probably saying the same thing as Dad said.".
Daphne smiled softly, "Thanks, bro...Let's have some dessert and head back to sleep in.", and Sean nodded, with Waylon and Poppy proud of their twins, smiling, praying that things go great for them and Jane, as the other older kids found their soulmates and all.
A few hours later, Poppy is helping some of the others pickle and smoke some veggies and meat from hunts Tessa successfully did, and from the gardens, and Poppy groaned softly as she adjusted her back from shucking peas, with Kel asking gently, "Are you alright, darling?", while the boys are adding the Tamaran accents to the main Greek Wayne house, making it into a modest palace in a way as it's home to Komi and Kori, living together with Dick and Carrie, in respectively half wings of the palace.
"Just Ryan being heavy on my back again...I finally get the idea of how you managed this with me and Stormi, Mama..", Poppy replied as she still can't get used to the feeling of pressure on her hips for the past few days up to now.
"Wasn't easy.", Kel chuckled. "And how was it exactly when you gave birth to me again?", Poppy wondered. "Just asking in case I want to go green with the birth and all.".
Kel hummed, "Well, it was almost 6 hours with you, so, honestly, not too different from human, just shorter, but still painful. Stormi was easier in a way as my body remembered the procedure of birth, but harder, thanks to my physical age, and of course, getting used to feeling vulnerable as human, and of course, she took 8 hours which is the norm for humans.".
Poppy nodded, "Right, so going green is the shortcut, then.", and Kel replied, "I must warn you, going green, it affected me to seek a private, safe place, though I was half wild, acting like a wolf, and I needed a den to give birth in a secure nest of sorts. So, I don't know if it would affect you since you are technically less hulk, thanks to DNA, even though you are more human and smarter as a hulk than I was while I was sharing with your mother.".
Martha piped up, "Your mama's got a point. I mean, after all, you were green when you were in labor/in miscarriage, thanks to some instincts for you to build a nest for the eggs, and you snapped out of it when the twins' egg was in need of help to come out, I cannot forget that, as you were really protective, only wanting Waylon, growling at your father and brother and such, through it would have been part of croc instincts as you were and is Waylon's mate. So, maybe it can't be helped, and we don't know with Tamarian instincts either even if you are carrying Ryan, and the girls really don't know the true facts apart from the fact that Tamarians carry for 12 months, through you were lucky with Hera's magic and Hades' blessing with the 12 week pregnancy, as the girls had been experimented on for years between being children and escaping as teenagers, so, things could be fuzzy on that.".
Poppy pursued her lips, listening to both her mothers' words, and replied softly, "Do you think maybe if I go green, the Tamarian instincts might kick in? It's literally the deadline, and I don't want to go overdue and all, and I really want him out...And if I see how the Tamarian instincts work, maybe I could help Komi and Kori in that so they can know what to do then with their children.", as it was both easy yet hard to say which one is expecting with their bodies and of course, slightly similar timing when they started lovemaking with their soulmates.
Martha and Kel shared a look before Kel replied, "That's also a very good point. Either way, if you choose to go green, best to go slow, just for the sake of Ryan, as I'm afraid that going the quick change like for patrols, is probably too risky and too fast on Ryan, and he deserves to know what's happening. He may be mischievous and wild within you, but he's smart and able to hear by now.", with a nod, and at that, Poppy felt a high kick from Ryan, and she managed to smile despite the wince at the brief pain in that kick.
"I think you're pretty right about that.", Poppy gave a small laugh. "He just kicked me, so I think he's making sure that we know he is in fact hearing us right now.".
"Well, so were you when we were carrying you.", Martha smiled. "Clearly a side effect of those gamma genes, you are pretty much the smartest in this family.".
Poppy smiled with a blush, "So you tell me every other week.", humble about it, as she rubbed her baby bump, and grunted softly, "I'm going to take a little stroll around the garden over there. I've had enough of this sitting.", before getting up, adjusting her balance as usual, and went to stroll, walking for a few minutes.
She murmured warmly, "What do you think, darling? Do you want me to take a chance to go green?", and a kick responded, and she asked, "You sure?", and the kick came harder, and she winced, smiling, "Okay, okay...The womb might feel a bit bigger than usual, but I don't know. And if you hear the hum, that's the gamma genes coming through, don't panic, okay?".
A high-five punch came, and she chuckled, "Alright, Ryan, here it comes...", exhaling slowly as she steadily, slowly called her gamma genes on, going green, hulking out, and five minutes later, she was completely hulked out, and to her surprise, her baby bump remained the same yet she exhaled, realizing that Ryan is enjoying it, tumbling and kicking and she felt some sort of warmth around the womb.
She winced, smiling, "Guessing that it's your Tamarian powers you're playing with...", realizing that the gamma genes are streaming and playing around Ryan who is attempting a first bout of Tamarian powers, and she began to stroll again, not telling Ryan to stop as the pain was less in her hulk body, but still noticeable.
Several minutes later, she then felt some instincts urging her, to find a safe place, to head to a birthing pool, feeling minor squeezes as Ryan is finding his position, resting on her hips, and she exhaled, glancing at the few family houses that has a tub, and no, as she quickly realized, the newfound Tamarian instincts and the Hulk instincts are shouting at her to find a natural birthing pool, with the sun warming it up, to go now.
Poppy left the community garden, hearing Tessa's voice, "Hey, where is she going?!", and Kel's voice calling out, "Waylon, get down from that roof, I think Poppy's going into labor, and she's needing to go somewhere, thanks to instincts!", as Poppy headed for the forests and meadows, knowing that her husband will catch up to her fast and protect her as she had to obey her newfound Tamarian instincts and Hulk instincts.
One could easily hear Waylon starting to scramble the moment Kel said that, rushing to quickly be there with his wife. "Hopefully, he doesn't hurt himself in the rush...", Kel made a little joke.
Martha rolled her eyes, "He's nearly indestructible, Kel, but yet, almost, yes.", with a snort, and Kel snickered. Luckily, Waylon made his way off the roof, all but running in the rush to Poppy.
"Poppy, what do you need? Is it time?", Waylon asked quickly, and Poppy replied as she kept walking, "Not yet time, but needing to go. I need a natural birthing pool with the sun warming it up...Can you smell one out while protecting me, Waylon?", showing that she's serious.
Waylon replied, "You know I will always protect you, Poppy, and yeah, I can smell freshwater...That way.", helping his wife, keeping an eye out for danger, shifting into his Croc form, knowing his fangs and claws will defy anyone away.
It was two hours as Poppy was picky, between finding too small or too big birthing pools under sunlit caverns, forest nooks, meadows, while getting more progressive into her labor, with Waylon getting a bit worried before they found a completely dormant geyser pit full of pure spring-fed water, with the sun beaming upon it, with shading bushes around the borders.
Poppy declared, "This is perfect...", with a deep breath from a contraction, "Help me get out of those clothes, now.", clutching into Waylon's arm. "Slow or do you want me to just kinda go animal out on them?", Waylon asked as she rolled her eyes.
"Well, if we have guests, then I think it might be better if at least I have something to cover... or especially when we're done, I'm not in the mood to walk back naked.", Poppy said as Waylon nodded, "Right, right... didn't think that one through...".
Poppy caressed his cheek, "Hey, I know you were getting worried when I was being picky about the perfect place to give birth, especially when I'm getting close...Just do it now before I get impatient.", before breathing deeply from another contraction as she groaned.
Waylon replied, "Yes, ma'am.", taking off her Hulk-infused clothes carefully with his claws, as he is determined to keep an eye out for danger and protect his mate and their unborn child, folding them into one of the bushes, taking off his Croc-infused clothes except his boxers, doing the same in hiding them, and helped Poppy in a bride carry, stepping into the pool, "That actually feels nice and warm, not too hot...", minding the bushes that gave them privacy.
He laid Poppy on a natural-made wide step of the geyser pool, and she smiled, "Yes, you're right, the water's perfect too...OOH!", as Waylon saw her contract in pain, seeing the water change, realizing that her water's breaking, making the clear water pink and such before it dissolved.
"Oh, god, Wally, check if I'm dilated!", Poppy shouted as the pain both increased yet decreased at the feeling of the water smoothing her aches and such while Waylon nodded, "Right!", helping Poppy spread her legs, glad for the information of dilation progress he learned from Thomas and Epione, "You're a third of the way dilated, Poppy! Looks like all that walking has done some good there.".
Poppy smiled in relief, "Good.", before gasping and groaning in pain from another contraction, taking deep breaths, "Unfortunately, it means more pain than before...even if the water's helping, this is still painful...".
"You'd think pain wouldn't be as much of a thing...", Waylon admitted. "I guess gamma on gamma fighting does cause some serious pain... feels like that fight with Bane a while back.", Poppy groaned.
Waylon replied softly, "Do you want to shift back to human, Poppy?", and Poppy thought about it a moment before a mix of a kick and contraction came as she groaned, wincing, "Ryan is willing to try...Okay, I'm going back to human...", taking deep breaths as she steadily and slowly shifted back to human in several minutes, as Waylon changed back to human quickly for himself, watching her carefully.
She moaned and gasped at another contraction, "Ooh...I think the serious pain is gone, but still sharp pain...", as her baby bump then contracted faster, "Oh, god! I think it's almost time!", groaning and breathing deeply and shallow.
Waylon looked again, "You're so close now, Poppy! Just three more centimeters to full dilation!", and Poppy gave a small smile, "Looks like that shifting back helped...", as she labored for an hour and half, with Waylon giving her gulps of water from his cupped hands before she pleaded, "Wally, please! Tell me that I need to push!".
"Yes, you're full dilated, Poppy! Push!", Waylon encouraged, and Poppy clenched into the borders of the wall behind her, taking deep breaths and pushing, groaning and gasping in pain for the next 30 minutes before she shouted in pain, "He's coming!", as she felt the wall of fire.
Waylon laughed with tears, "I see him! He's crowning headfirst! You got this, Poppy! Almost there!", and Poppy sobbed in relief to hear the bit of good news, and took deep breaths as she pushed again, shouting out in pain as she felt the head coming through steadily. "One more push, Poppy, the shoulders are coming!", as he held into Ryan's head, holding into the bit of his back.
Poppy took another deep breath and shouted loudly in pain as she pushed, heaving, becoming into a cry of pain as she panted, feeling tired and smiling with tears as a hearty wail was heard, seeing Waylon holding into the wiggling, wet, goopy, and shivering baby boy.
Poppy sobbed happily as her fears was dashed away to see that Ryan is so healthy, loud, and alive, as Waylon looked at her with a tearful grin, "He's really special...There you go, Ryan, to your mama...", having swiped his shirt into a makeshift blanket, placing him into Poppy's arms, as Waylon scooped her up into a small section of private grass between the bushes, sitting behind her to prop her up.
Poppy smiled with tears, "Hi, Ryan...Look at you...You're so perfect...So handsome...", as Ryan settled his cries, cooing, gazing up with vibrant full green eyes, just like his beloved sisters, and having the trademark sunset orange skin like them as well, yet now he's different with his looks, having the Wayne jet black hair in a tiny messy swoop of fine hairs, with the eye shape from Poppy, Waylon's nose, his grandmother Caroline's forehead, Poppy's cheekbones and smile, and Waylon's nose, and shoulders as well.
"I'm your mama...", Poppy whispered, and Ryan cooed happily, his little fingers sparkling with that glow for a brief moment, nuzzling into Poppy's caressing of his little head, and she glanced sideways at Waylon with tears, "I think he's saying that he loves me...I already love him so much...", as Waylon is resting his head on her shoulder.
"Do you think he remembers?", Waylon asked. "His previous life, his time during death? I'm sure he probably remembers Komi and Kori faintly, probably would have good feelings when he sees them.".
Ryan seemed to attempt to scowl at the second part of what Waylon said before gurgling excitedly at the last part of what Waylon said. Poppy raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying you remember, not liking your past life with the other parents, but you're excited to reunite with your sisters?".
Ryan gave a loud coo at that, and Waylon chuckled, "Smart, indeed. You love your mama here...and me, your papa?", looking nervous as he wiggled his finger, and Ryan squealed happily, squeezing Poppy and Waylon's fingers firmly, and Poppy laughed, "Well, he's loud about his opinions, alright...I love you too, Ryand'r of Tamaran, how special you are...".
Waylon replied, "Yeah...I love you too, kiddo...You are making your mama happy...She was so worried and scared, but you came so good...Now, how about a middle name for you, Ryan?".
Ryan gurgled and cooed inquisitively, blinking at them, and Poppy looked thoughtful before smiling, "Kenith. It means born of fire or handsome, and since your sisters are Kori and Komi, why not have something more like them besides your beautiful skin and your radiant eyes?".
Ryan thought for a brief moment before squealing happily as he squeezed their fingers again, and Waylon smiled, "We got a winner, then...Welcome home to New Tamaran, Ryand'r Kenith Jones-Wayne...".
Ryan cooed at them before his belly grumbled hungrily, and Poppy smiled, "There you go, darling...", adjusting her arms to bring Ryan closer to her breast, and he latched into it immediately, suckling, and his eyes closed contentedly as Poppy kissed his head lovingly, "Good thing he is used to the nudity custom as he doesn't care...", with a chuckle.
"You did great, Poppy...", Waylon smiled, kissing her on the cheek, "He came just fine, no worries...", and Poppy smiled, "I know...I was scared for no reason as Hera is really careful and all to bring him home again, even if it's a new home, a new world, a new life, he's safe...Those bigots didn't realize what they had...".