“Well?”

It’s not a question, it’s a demand. With Varos holding one hand, looking grim and white-faced, and Kuras holding the other, the silence is killing me. “Are they healthy?”

The squealing of two voices fills the delivery room and the nurse in attendance comes close to where I can see her. In each arm, she’s holding two red-faced, red-headed, shrieking, perfect little boys.

“They’re perfect,” she says, holding one out for Varos. He’s unwilling to let go of my hand but he’s also not given another choice. The nurse thrusts one of the babies at him and he’s caught like a deer in headlights when his arms are filled with one, tiny baby.

Kuras touches at the bed controls and lifts the head so I’m sitting up instead of flat on my back. He helps the nurse transfer the second baby into my arms.

The moment he’s there, he grows quiet. Not coincidentally, his brother quiets down in Varos’ arms.

“That’s so neat,” Kuras says, sitting with a wide grin on his face.

“What? Is that normal?” I won’t panic. This is Kuras’ sphere of knowledge. All of my research prepared me intellectually for this moment. Kuras was a huge influence in preparing me emotionally.

“It’s not bad, Ronnie, take it easy. It’s just something I noticed with my twins. They’re so in tune with each other’s emotional state it can be a little eerie. Just like now. One going quiet, then the other.”

Oh.

“That’s good, right?” Varos doesn’t look uncomfortable holding his baby now. It makes me smile.

“I think so. When they’re two years old, walking and talking? That I’m not so sure about. I guess we’ll see.” Kuras squeezes my arm. “But they’re healthy and at full weight. Everything with your birth line looks good and should seal up on its own in a day or so. You’ll be sore for a while, so don’t lift anything heavy and… don’t rush back to work.”

I must look horrified at the thought of not working because Kuras starts to laugh. “You’ll live, Ronnie, I promise. And your job won’t collapse without you there. Just take it easy. You’ve been carrying around two little lives inside of you. Your body needs time to readjust to being normal size again. Don’t rush it.”

“Don’t worry,” Varos says. “Taran knows I’m taking the next two weeks off from the shop, so I’ll make sure Mr. Bould-Runice stays put and gets the rest he needs.”

“Good.” Kuras kisses my cheek, then Varos’ before he stands. “You have my number if you need me. We’re all available to make supply runs if you need anything.”

I watch as Kuras leaves, grateful that he was there to coach both Varos and me through the pregnancy. I don’t know if we’re prepared, exactly, but we’re as close as we’ll ever be.

Varos settles on the bed next to me. “Austin says that the rest is learning by doing. We’ll be fine.”

He sounds so confident. I know Varos is right. “Well, That’s how I learned to hack networks. I can hack parenting.”

He laughs softly, trying not to wake the now sleeping baby boys. “I don’t think it’s going to work like that but sure, knock yourself out.”

Shifting on the bed, he holds our baby out. “Here, hold him. I have something for you.”

It’s a little awkward holding two now but I figure I should get used to it. I have this feeling that it’s going to be something I do quite a bit. At least until they’re too heavy to carry.

Once I have the baby securely in my arms, Varos goes to his jacket and uncovers a box about the size of a loaf of bread. “This is a tradition that is passed down among my breed, as we start a family.”

“Is this a dragon thing?” Not only do I need to learn about babies, but I have a whole world of shifters that I need to learn about. I know very little about dragons and since my boys are half-dragon, I think it’s something I need to get a handle on fast.

“More specifically, a Runic dragon thing.”

He opens the box and holds it out for me to see.

Nestled inside are two statuettes. One is a dragon, coiled as if wrapping around something. The other is a fox, sitting in a very playful pose with its tail curling up.

“I wasn’t aware that taking a fox mate was so popular.”

He pulls them from the box and holds them up. “It’s not. I had it commissioned not long after we bonded.”

Pushing the box to the side, he gently fits the two statuettes together. Now that they are as one piece, I can see how the dragon wraps around the fox protectively, and the fox’s tail is flicking up to touch at the dragon’s nose. “Cute,” I say with a chuckle. “And something a fox would do.”

“I figured as much. I won’t deny that one day I hope to see you in your fox form. I’m sure you’re just as cute as this little guy.” He takes them apart again and returns them to the box.

“So what do we do with them? Put them on the television? Book ends?”

Varos moves the box off the bed so he can sit next to me and take one of the babies. I’m grateful because my arms were getting tired.

“No, they’ll actually sit on the bedside tables in the bedroom. The fox will sit on my side, the dragon on yours. It’s a reminder of who we have keeping watch as we sleep.”

That’s actually really sweet and my face heats up. “I don’t have anything to give you. Other than to change and shove my bushy tail in your face.”

Varos leans forward for a kiss. “That would be perfect. You should do it every night before bed.”

Although I was joking, it occurs to me that might not be a bad tradition for us. At least shifting to our animal form and spending time together.

Settling back and watching as both the babies sleep and seeing the proud expression on Varos’ face, I’m resolved now to find ways to start traditions for our new family.