Lacey
Reilly was here. She could hear him, smell him, feel him. He was here, and she was able to relax a little more. He'd been there the first time she gave birth, only a stranger at the time but the only person she had, and she'd wanted him here for this time too. Routine, almost. Or, as routine as these things could be. Giving birth was terrifying. She was barely a woman herself and here she was having another child. Another of his.
And of course it was his.
Because there'd never been anyone else.
She wondered if it hurt Reilly, a quiet ripple of a thought in her weary mind, to see her birth yet another lavender child. Yet another that wasn't his, now that she knew he had feelings for her. She couldn't seem to look at him as she cleaned the baby's little nose, or even as he kissed her forehead and told her, Ya did good, love. All she ever did was hurt him.
Why was he always so nice? She didn't think she deserved it.
She didn't deserve him.
"You're amazing. She's perfect," Kirby said, brushing her sweat-dampened hair from her face and smiling that goddamn smile at her. I know, she snipped with a glare, hating him for that ache of hurt he still put in her heart. It didn't stop her from using him to stand and steady herself. It was the least the bastard could do. But she let go immediately once she was holding her own weight. God, but she was exhausted. She couldn't wait for the baby to take her fill and let her lie back down again. Let her disappear while everyone cuddled this little beauty.
It seemed everyone was there, the whole family. Kylin too, at her brother's side, of course. Always at each other's sides. She asked what Wallace would name her, their newest little sister, and she sighed quietly. It was probably best she not name the girl. Reilly was better at names. Maybe he should name her. Or even Kirby this time maybe.
But she didn't get the chance to even suggest it. "Kharon?" Kirby prompted, and her baby girl gave him the biggest, beautiful grin that sent another sting through her heart. He was such a good father. Reilly was perfect too. She was a terrible mother. "I think she'd like Kharon to do the honors, if that's okay with everyone." He glanced at her, and she instantly turned away from those gray eyes, masking her face and giving a shrug. Whatever.
She moved carefully to Reilly's side and waited silently. Finally, everyone got their hellos in, Kharon named her Kali, and her Kali came to nurse. Her muzzle bent to nudge little Badden, guiding him to eat as well. Twins might have run in her family, maybe, but she supposed Baddie would sort of be Kali's twin this time. Or something. Handsome little thing, he was.
She let Reilly's large body shield them, wishing they'd all just go away already. She loved her family, but she hated all the attention even if only the barest bits of it were directed at her. Maybe it was a mother's instinct to want space for her and her newborns, but her growing annoyance was clear in the edgy way she shifted her weight impatiently, hiding behind Reilly like he could keep the rest of the world out.
She was a terrible mother. Terrible at family in general, it seemed.
Terrible at everything, really.
