Satin Bruises

Jason tapped his feet nervously, completely unable to sit still. The twins powers were crawling over his skin like an army of phantom insects. Jean-Claude had taken Connor to get something to eat, leaving the poor wolf alone in the hot, electric, sterile waiting room. He got up and started pacing, swiping at bugs that weren't there. Someone viciously grabbed his shoulders and spun him around. Suddenly, he was staring into frantic, startling green eyes. Micah shook him harshly. His mouth was moving, but Jason couldn't focus on what he was saying. Eventually, he just pointed down the hall toward Raleigh's room and Micah ran off.

The Leopard King burst through the swinging doors of the delivery room. Raleigh was drenched in sweat and screaming, her voice already hoarse. The doctor casually glanced over his shoulder.

"Welcome to the best night of your life," he said cheerily. Micah saw Raleigh's eyes roll. He rushed over to her, practically tripping over a nurse.

"This may be the best night of your life," Raleigh grumbled. "but so far it's pretty much sucking for me."

"You say that now, but you know once you see those boys you'll be in love."

"I blame you. Just thought I'd let you know."

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Jean-Claude leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, staring at his feet. Outwardly he was statuesque and calm, contradicting the turmoil and excitement brewing beneath the surface. He felt Rielly's energy diminish. Seconds later, Asher appeared in the hall with a broad, almost stupid, grin plastered across his face. The vampires stared at each other for a few seconds before Asher ushered his lover into the delivery room. Reilly was fast asleep. Even in the tiny hospital bed she had dragged the blanket over her head and tossed the pillows on the floor, exactly the way she did in their own bed.

Beside the bed was a tiny crib where a tiny baby slept, wrapped in a little pink blanket. Awe struck, Jean-Claude stood next to the crib and stared down at his daughter. Asher stood next to him with his hand on his shoulder. Jean-Claude looked at Asher, then back down at the baby.

"You CAN pick her up. You know that, right?" Asher whispered.

"She's so little," the dark haired vampire cooed, enamoured.

Asher smiled and gently scooped the baby out of her crib. She sighed quietly in her sleep as Asher handed her to Jean-Claude. His heart swelled when he clutched his daughter to his chest. She was tiny, delicate and beautiful. Brilliant blonde curls peeked out from underneath her little pink cap. Jean-Claude imagined her eyes must have been a beautiful shade of cerulean. Or maybe a mixture of blue and green, a moving blend of Reilly and Asher. The new father smiled hugely.

"She chose your name," Asher whispered.

Jean-Claude heard his lover's words, yet they meant nothing to him as he whispered his daughters name. "Claire-Sophie."

The baby's eyes opened, Jean-Claude felt like someone had punched him in the chest. Those new born eyes burned into his mind. They were brilliantly green with bright flashes of blue. He instantly knew that this child would be the center of his universe, anything she wanted she would have, all she had to do was bat her eyes and smile sweetly. The world would be hers. Slowly, the Master of the City sat down in the little rocking chair next the the bassonet. Asher, having nowhere to sit, simply lowered himself to the ground and stretched out his legs, watching his lover. In this emotional occasion, he hadn't even noticed Raleigh's energy still pulsing throughout the clinic.

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Raleigh gripped Micah's hand tightly. Tiny rivulets of blood inched across the back of his hand, oozing from the bites her fingernails left. The leopard was unfazed as he stood beside her, stroking her hair and calmly telling her to breath. Tears rolled down her cheeks, mixing with the fine layer of sweat on her face, but Micah said nothing. She was tired, in pain, she needed support. The first boy, Mason, was no problem. Tanner, on the other hand, apparently was not ready to come out. Finally, the doctor said the words the parents needed to hear.

"I have a head," he said quietly. Raleigh's head fell back with a smile.

"Oh thank God," she whispered. Micah smirked secretly into her hair.

"Alright, count of three I need one more great big push. One. Two. Three!"

Raleigh screamed and pushed with all her energy, making the air crackle through the entire floor. Jason fidgeted anxiously in the waiting room. Jean-Claude and Asher looked up from their daughter. Reilly woke up from a dead, drug induced sleep. A baby's cry permeated the air. Raleigh finally held both of her sons in her arms. Both children had Micah's green eyes and thick black hair. Tanner, the difficult one, had a series of leopard spot birthmarks starting on his right shoulder and speckling his right side.

After Raleigh had fallen asleep, the twins were wisked away to the nursery. Micah went to the waiting room and found a relieved Jason slumped in a chair next to a sleeping Connor. The wolf looked up at him before shooting out of his chair.

"Is everything okay? Are the boys alright?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine. Jason, you should see them."

"They yours?"

"Without a doubt," Micah laughed. "They look just like me."

The were's stood in the quiet, abandoned room, just looking at each other until Asher glided to them. He placed a hand on Jason's shoulder, smiling.