Do What Feels Right
Two young adults experience the beauty of new life, and then some.

This was RPed with BM-Atticus of deviantART (http://bm-atticus.deviantart.com/).

Cast
Annae: BM-Atticus.
Fenris: Me.
Various NPCs: Both of us.

Credits
Annae (c) her, BM-Atticus.
Fenris (c) me, Si "Evertide" M.
Pokémon (c) Nintendo, Game Freak, etc.
Denny's and Midol (c) themselves, I guess.



"Move it, dammit!" Annae yelled at the traffic as she sat in her car. All she received in return were honks from her fellow drivers. The anthro cat's ears folded back as she slowly inched her way to work. Her belly, which reached the steering wheel, was peeking out of her shirt, orange fur and all. She was almost at the end of her pregnancy with...well, she wasn't sure how many she was carrying, and any sane woman in her condition would be on the couch watching TV or something. Annae, however, needed the overtime pay rather badly. She flinched as she felt one of her kittens express its displeasure at being squished by the steering wheel. "Easy there," she said soothingly as she patted her belly, "we're almost there. Today's the last day, and then we can relax for a while," she told her coming litter.

Meanwhile, Fenris was growling to himself as he crawled his own way through traffic. He rested his left elbow on the car door and his head on that hand as he let out a loud sigh, his eyes half open in boredom and frustration. After failing to move for almost a minute, he sighed again, shrugged, and crossed his arms, forced to do nothing but wait. The Houndoom's mind started wandering onto his coworker Annae. How could it not? The cat had continued to come into work despite being so close to the end of her pregnancy. Most of their coworkers found her to be annoying, but he couldn't help but respect and admire her dedication: he had broken up a few coworkers joking about her behind her back, but he didn't want to pretend he was some kind of hero, he just wanted them to either leave her alone or be nice. He shook his horned head. "Well, not as if she's not pretty, of course...buuut she has a full plate coming up," he said with a chuckle and a grin, having bettered his mood.

After another thirty minutes of inching, honking, and cursing at other drivers the tabby cat finally pulled into her designated parking spot, which for now was a handicapped parking space. Slowly but surely, both Annae and her belly maneuvered out of the small car. She couldn't help but glance at her vehicle as she lumbered into the office. "I just hope everyone can fit," she said with a giggle before entering the office, her hands resting atop her belly. The young cat had an unshakable feeling that people disapproved of her. She supposed it was her lack of, and indifference to, a mate. Annae had always been more or less an independent sort. But even she became lonely once in a while, hence a night of passion resulting in a belly full of kittens. As soon as the tabby caught sight of her boss she pulled down her shirt and began a string of apologies for being late, starting with the traffic. This was her morning routine before she sat down at the front desk and began to take calls from the customers. That was, after all, the job of the secretary.

It took Fenris almost forty-five minutes to arrive at the office; he noted that Annae's car was indeed there. He smirked. "Wow...she's something else," he remarked to himself. After ten minutes of trying to find a parking spot, the canine Pokémorph finally succeeded. Upon entering the office, he cast a quick glance in the direction of Annae's desk and gave the tabby a smile and a little wave.

Annae was in the middle of writing a message to relay to her boss when she spotted Fenris. She greeted him with a wide smile and a happy wave. Unlike with most people, who usually showed at least a little disapproval to her upon learning that she was going to be a single mother, she always felt a lot of good vibes from this man and she enjoyed being around him. She couldn't believe he was still single; he was often the main subject of many of the ladies in the women's bathroom. She was brought back to earth when the caller from the other line asked if she had taken down the note correctly. With a little squeak of surprise, Annae had realized she had completely missed the message! The tabby cat apologized over and over and asked the caller to repeat the message.

Fenris felt his spirits lift a little at their mutual greeting: Annae was one of few non-Pokémorph women who were nice to him. Their building was in a part of the city where Pokémorphs were much more common than anthros, and although Pokémorph/non-Pokémorph couples were gaining acceptance, there was still a lot of progress to be made: a wolf walking down the street arm-in-arm with a Machoke would draw a fair few stares. Annae, however, acted as if she simply refused to acknowledge this barrier. She did, after all, work in a building where Pokémorphs were the dominant race and wasn't going to let her pregnancy slow her down. What he liked most about her, though, was that she was nice to him: Houndooms' reputations tended to precede them, and he was no exception. The truth was that he wasn't belligerent. He'd dated too many girls who thought he was looking for a fight or a mate who was all toughness. "Too bad she's going to be so busy from now on...should've asked her out when I had the chance," he thought with a sigh. "Well...maybe I can help her out around the house." He sat down at his desk and, rolling his neck around a little to loosen up, started to get to work.

After about an hour and a half of answering calls and taking messages, the tabby cat got up from her seat and stretched. "Time for a well-deserved break," she said to herself and started to waddle down to the vending machine.

As she made her way down the hall, Annae tried to keep her eyes forward and avoid the stares and whispered comments. She knew full well how odd she must seem, what with her belly about to burst and no mate to support her. But she shook her head and pushed the negativity all into the back of her mind. "It doesn't matter what they think. I handle myself just fine," she mentally assured herself.

At about that time, Fenris felt nature call, so once he put the finishing touches on the document he was writing, he pushed away from his desk and sighed. "Okay, that's enough of that. Time for a side quest!" he said cheerfully to himself as he stood up and headed over to the men's room.

Eventually, the anthro cat reached her goal: the vending machine. She carefully made her selection: a pretty big candy bar. She looked at it, then at the vending machine, then at her huge stomach, which began to growl. "...Maybe just one more...."

Fenris washed his hands and started to head back to his desk when he felt the munchies strike. "Mmf...really shouldn't, but why not?" He walked over to the vending machine, happening to take the path opposite Annae's.

By the time Annae began her trek back down the hallway, her "just one more" became half a dozen selections of junk food. "Well, I needed to get rid of some that extra change anyway," she rationed. More thoughts that could have occurred were interrupted as she passed by an open door leading to one of the work rooms, voices coming to her ears.

"...And have you seen her stomach? Heaven only knows how many she's carrying!"

"And no mate to be seen. If someone that loose is even allowed to KEEP all of those kittens, can you imagine what sort of mother she'll make?"

Annae froze and nearly dropped all of her snacks. The tabby cat stared down at the floor, trying to force what she had just heard out of her head. She knew she shouldn't listen...they were wrong...she would make a good mother...right? The anthro's eyes began to tear up as her ears flattened. Hearing those sorts of things made her wonder if she really WAS fit to be a mother. She loved her kittens dearly; she loved to daydream about them; and she couldn't imagine living without her kittens anymore, but...was that enough? The orange tabby leaned against the wall and sniffled, trying to regain her composure before going out to the front desk once more.

The Houndoom, who had been on the other side of the door and out of Annae's sight, had also heard everything, causing him to stop in his tracks. His eyes opened wide in shock, then narrowed as his hands clenched into fists and he trembled where he stood, his pupils fully contracted and his lips pulled back in a snarl. Snorting a small cloud of smoke tinged with a few embers, he stomped into view, Annae still hidden to the side. "Whoa! What the hell did you just say?!" he shouted.

The furs looked as if Death itself had been standing in the doorway, their conversation instantly stopping as they looked at him with wide eyes. A Pidgeotto male stammered, "Um...we uh...."

Fenris slammed his closed fist on the wall, growling in a very deep voice, "You were talking about her again, weren't you?" Upon receiving no answer, he walked over and leered down at the bird Pokémorph, who cowered before him. Quick as lighting, Fenris's hand reached out and grabbed the bird's collar and brought him close, a bit of smoke leaking out from between his teeth. A couple furs started to get out of their seats, but Fenris's furious glare made them sit back down. He leaned close to the Pidgeotto. "Listen to me. I know that you're one of the biggest specieists in this building: I've overheard more of your jokes than you think. Remember a week ago?" The bird shook his head. "You made a particularly cruel joke about our boss's husband, right? Something about our boss being a 'dog fucker,' yes?"

His eyes widened in realization that Fenris had heard him, and then he smirked. "You can't prove anything."

Fenris smirked right back, though his smirk carried a heavy undertone of malice as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tape recorder. The bird's eyes opened even wider. "Now just lay off, okay?" The Pidgeotto nodded quickly, and Fenris turned to leave.

Annae's ears perked up as Fenris's voice reached them. Her already teary eyes began to overflow, but for a very different reason. He really WAS nice. He didn't wave at her every day just for the sake of being polite; it was because he was a genuinely nice person. When she heard the Pokémorph leaving, she briefly considered just scurrying back to her desk, but she then realized that she wasn't some shy schoolgirl; she was a working woman! The tabby waited until Fenris was in view before approaching him. The tears in her eyes showed the depth of her gratitude quite well and she was smiling happily. "...Thank you," she said softly, "for being so kind to me and standing up for me. I know I'm a bit of an oddball, but knowing that someone around here isn't a prejudiced asshole is a big relief."

Fenris's indignation vanished upon realizing that she had heard everything and his eyes opened wide in surprise. "Um...uh..." he mumbled, scratching the back of his head and blushing a little, "no problem. People like them," he gestured toward the room with his head, "need to be reminded that it's not up to them how good a person you are," he smiled at her belly for a moment, "and definitely not how good a mother you'll be." Annae giggled a little and attempted to hold out her hand to shake his, only to remember the armful of snacks in her possession. Working up a little courage, Fenris stood next to her and put an arm around her shoulder to try to comfort her, watching closely for signs of rejection as he offered his other arm to carry some of her snacks. "Heehee, guess the little 'uns know what they like, huh?" he asked with his usual friendly smile.

Annae gratefully placed some of the snacks into Fenris's free arm. "Thank you. And yeah, they just love junk food," she remarked with a giggle. "Sometimes I wonder if there are a lot in there or if they're just fat from all the crap I shove down my throat." The tabby cat's tail swished happily behind her, grateful for a companion. She was so happy knowing that she had a true friend here; it made coming to work far more bearable. Annae opened up one of candy bars and began to nibble on it as she walked, her mood having gone from depressed to gleefully happy.

Fenris chuckled a little, his spaded tail giving an occasional wag as he slowly walked next to her. "Aww, I'm sure you know what you're doing. At least you're listening to what your body tells you: most women would be embarrassed to just eat like that." His blush returned at realizing what he said. "Erm, not, not that it's bad or whatever!" he quickly tried to cover, averting his gaze, which happened to then rest on her middle; he could see some of her orange tummy poking out of her shirt, causing him to blush a bit deeper.

Now that one of her hands was free she could return to her habit of pulling down her shirt. "Honestly," she huffed, "the woman at the maternity store told me it'd be more than enough to cover this far along. More than enough my furry little ass," she grumbled. But the smile on her face said that she wasn't very worried about it. "Oh, you can have one of the snacks if you like; I think I bought a little too much anyway," she said with an embarrassed smile.

He waved his hand to signal that he wasn't interested. "No thanks, I'm sure you need it more than I do. I seem to have lost my appetite from that little...episode back there." He returned his gaze to her face, smiling knowingly. "And there's no need to be embarrassed about that around me: you're pregnant! Smile and rejoice in it!" he said cheerfully, patting her shoulder. "Besides, you're a very pregnant woman." His eyes widened as he blushed furiously and covered his mouth, almost dropping the snacks. "Erm, p-pr-pretty, a pretty woman! Mmf...."

Annae stared at the Pokémorph strangely for a moment before bursting out into a fit of laughter. "My my, you backpedaled so far, you're about to fall off a cliff!" When she finally got a hold of herself the orange tabby cat straightened herself up but this time left her shirt the way it was. "You're a very interesting person, Fenris. I like you a lot. Of course, now I'm wondering if like me or just my belly...." She grinned a little and took his hand in hers. "Come with me, mister voyeur," she said, giggling merrily.

Fenris cocked his head in curiosity. "Hey, you didn't always have that belly, you know...and it's not as if it's going to stay. But um...I do mean that you're a very pretty woman, and now you have that pregnant glow to accentuate it. I can only imagine what you'll be like after your kittens are born...."

As they walked down the hallway, the tabby cat rested her head on the Houndoom's shoulder. Of course she had heard all sorts of rumors about his kind: that very few of them were good and the Dark types were particularly depraved. But as she had learned throughout her life, stereotypes would eventually let you down. "After all, look at me! A single cat with God only knows how many kittens on the way," she mentally remarked. Annae grinned as they reached the large supply room. She led him inside and shut the door, turning to him, and motioning for him to place the snacks on a shelf, which they both did. "You seem to like large bellies. Want to feel what's the cause of mine?" The tabby pulled up her shirt to reveal her very pregnant belly in all its orange glory. "Go ahead, put your hand on it. They're all being really active right now for some reason."

Fenris's eyes shot wide open and his knees almost lost their strength at the sight of the pregnant cat revealing herself. With great hesitation, he slowly reached out and gently set his palm on the top of her belly. Indeed, he soon felt a kitten nuzzle him and his heart instantly melted as a soft smile spread across his muzzle. He knelt and placed his other palm on her belly, feeling more movement; he could even see her belly jump about. "Wow...you're such a lucky woman, Annae...how is it that you can be blessed with so many kittens and such a sweet personality, yet not have men...or, well, women if you're into them lining up for you?"

Annae smiled softly at Fenris. Despite his somewhat fierce exterior, when his gentle side shone through, he looked like the most loving canine she'd ever seen. She blushed a bit at his last comment. "W-well, I'd never really thought about finding myself a mate. These little guys were sort of an unexpected accident, although a wonderful accident for which I am very thankful. That and I'm a very strange person by cat standards. I've always been pretty independent; I guess people mistake that as antisocial." She chuckled a little. "But that was okay with me...for a while."

He looked up at her face, beaming with joy. "Um...I know we don't know each other all that well, and I'm not saying you can't do it by yourself, but...would you want me to be your coach or whatever when, you know, it's time?"

Annae almost squealed with happiness. "You really want to?! Yeah, of course it's okay with me! I'm not too fond of hospitals so I'd prefer to have them at home. I already have a big basket for them so they can all sleep together. Thank you so much, Fenris." She took his hands in hers and pulled up, indicating that she wanted him to stand. He did so, and she kissed him on the cheek. "You're a very sweet guy, I'm very lucky to have you around. And so are these guys by the way," the tabby said, patting her well-rounded stomach.

The Houndoom, surprising himself with his boldness, put his arms around Annae and gently held her in a hug, not an easy task with such a big belly but the sentiment was still there. "Thank you, Annae...that means so much to me. It's a great honor that you want me to be there."

Annae laughed a little as the Pokémorph pulled her into a hug. She did her best to hug him back before speaking again. "Oh, after work, do you want to come with me to get something to eat? I wanted to eat out to celebrate my last day of work for a while, but it's kinda boring eating alone. I'd like it if you came."

Fenris nodded eagerly. "I'd be delighted." He surprised himself again when he leaned down and gave her belly a quick kiss before he reached for the doorknob, adding, "You all keep her company before we go eat, okay?" He moved his gaze to look her in the eyes as he stepped out, saying, "See you at the end of the day, then."

Annae blushed a deep shade of red but her smile was happy and sweet. He was so...ideal, at least to her. So what if he was a Pokémorph? He was nice; he was polite; he was honest; he seemed to have concern for her and her kittens' comfort and safety; and he seemed to really like her kittens before he even knew them. That was enough for her! It didn't matter if he were a cat or a Houndoom or even a human (even if they were rare these days). The tabby barely remembered to pull down her shirt and grab her snacks when she left the supply room.

Annae found it difficult to concentrate the rest of the day. Thoughts of Fenris clouded her mind and her pen seemed to move slower than normal. The only things that snapped her out of her daydreaming were either her boss or some annoying cramps that were cramping up her lower stomach. But they weren't painful, just annoying.

Fenris was also distracted: the lovely cat swam through his head, whether she was pregnant, cuddling her kittens, or...well, when he had time to daydream during a meeting, he saw himself getting out of bed...her bed...to tend to a mewling kitten. When he was called on during that meeting, he blurted out, "I'll take care of it," as he snapped back to reality. Fortunately, it was the right thing to say even though he was talking about the imaginary kitten. He made a mental note to find out what he had just agreed to do before he started to drift away again.

When it came time for her to leave, the anthro cat waited outside the building, holding her purse nervously. Why was she being so nervous?! It was just a little dinner for God's sake! She shook her head, trying to regain some of her composure.

Fenris inspected himself in the bathroom mirror for correctable imperfections, and, finding nothing, took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom, soon arriving in front of the building and happily walking up to his friend. "Well then, shall we be off? I'll follow your lead," he said happily, offering his arm to her.

Annae grinned when the friendly Houndoom came into view. "Yeah, I know a perfect place." She hooked her arm around his and led him down the street. The tabby cat was completely unfazed by the stares she and Fenris received. She almost dared them to say anything. Knowing she had a friend at her side made her feel untouchable.

The restaurant was in no way fancy or formal; there was no way the tabby could have afforded such anything very high class. It was more like a Denny's but it was still nice. Not surprisingly, the two received a strange look from the waitress but the teenaged Raichu morph kept her comments to herself as she seated the two. Fortunately, the Raichu didn't drag her ass bringing them their food. Annae ordered anything and everything that looked good to her. Why not indulge herself just this once? If only those stupid cramps would go away; then it would be perfect. Well, she'd take Midol or something when she got home.

Fenris's eyebrows rose in surprise and mild amusement; he had just ordered some water and a burger. "Well...guess I don't have to worry about you undereating...." Watching the waitress leave, he caught sight of two furs talking in hushed tones and pointing to him and Annae with their thumbs. He waited until they looked at him, giving them a grave look and a slow shake of the head. Their conversation stopped and he turned back to his friend. "So, um...you really want to birth at home? That's really admirable of you. I'd do everything in my power to convince my mate to birth somewhere but a hospital...well, if I had one, of course," he said with a grin.

Annae looked at him from her food. "That's surprising, that you don't have a mate I mean. You're a very nice guy and you seem to like kids, and definitely know how to make a fat person feel pretty. It's hard to believe such a sweet guy is still single." The tabby bit into her sandwich and swallowed before continuing. "I've always been somewhat of a loner so I've never thought about a significant other, but lately, I know I'll need some help with the kittens. I don't know how many I'm carrying but my family is prone to big litters. I think I should start looking for someone." There was a small glimmer in her eyes that few could see. It was affection and it was aimed at the Houndoom in front of her. If she had to choose a potential mate it would definitely be him, but...would be really want to be tied down to a cat with a new family? He liked kids, it seemed, but liking kids wasn't enough: a person had to know how to raise children too.

Fenris cocked his head in sympathy. "Well, I'd be happy to help in any way that I can. I'm on pretty good terms with our boss, so I could definitely request some time off to help you," he said with a smile as he reached over and took one of her hands in his. "Of course, I wouldn't want to make you feel as if you're inadequate...and I don't know how many you're carrying, and I have no pups of my own, though I do give friends and neighbors what help I can with their kids when they need it." He averted his gaze a little. "I have to admit, the thought is...daunting, to say the least," he said with a chuckle before looking her in the eyes, "but if you can find a way, then so will I," he finished with a soft nod and a gentle smile.

Annae smiled brightly, her tail swishing back and forth. "You're such an incredible person, Fenris, I'm so happy I have you to help me. I don't know what I'd do if I were by myself. I've always flown through life by the seat of my pants...not a good strategy, I know, but it's always been the way I am." She laughed a little bit. "At least you're organized! Have you seen my desk lately? I can't even find my papers under all of those candy bar wrappers!" This drew a hearty laugh from Fenris, his tail wagging merrily. She started to laugh harder but her face turned a rather bright shade of red upon feeling a warm liquid run down her legs. "I must have laughed a little too hard," she thought. How could she get out of here without completely embarrassing herself? The anthro cat flinched as a particularly sharp cramp hit her gut. "Oooww..." she moaned, "Midol sounds REALLY good right about now...."

The Houndoom immediately tensed up and held her hand tighter, his expression changing to concern and a bit of worry. "Annae? Is it the kittens?" he asked.

The tabby's eyes widened slightly in realization, and then a small, embarrassed smile crossed her features. "And here I was thinking I was having cramps and accidents...I guess that's kind of a relief." She grimaced a little as another quick contraction made itself known. "Umm...do you...think you drive me home? Somehow I don't think me driving would be a very good idea." She laughed a little and pointed to a nearby stack of take-home boxes; just because she was in labor didn't mean she was about to waste perfectly good food!

Fenris nodded, not being able to help but chuckle at her surprisingly positive attitude as he took a gulp of his water and helped her pack up her food as well as his own. He helped her stand up before taking as many boxes as he could carry in one arm and linking his other arm with hers, gently holding her hand. "Okay, hon, just go at your own pace and lean on me if you need to. Just ignore everyone else, you know what to do," he said softly.

The laboring tabby couldn't help but giggle. "I've been going at my own pace and ignoring everyone for almost my entire life, not too hard to do." She grinned for a moment but gasped and moaned as another pain descended upon her body, this one actually lingering. She leaned against Fenris and took a few deep breaths. "...T-These guys had better get me one hell of a Mother's Day gift," she mumbled. As soon as the contraction ended she grabbed the last box and waddled out of the restaurant with Fenris close to her side. She knew if Fenris hadn't been here she would probably be freaking out, but knowing he was there to support her made her feel comfortable and still able to joke about her little situation.

Fenris stayed close to her, gently kneading her hand and rubbing his muzzle of against the top of her head as they walked down the street. "Well...for now, I think they are in and of themselves a precious gift," he murmured, trying to keep her thinking positive.

Annae smiled a little and nodded. "I suppose so." The tabby pressed her lips against his cheek. "Now let's get going before I give birth on the sidewalk."

Fenris let out another little chuckle accompanied by a brief wag of his tail. "Heh, with that attitude, this should go really well." He gave one of her ears a friendly lick.

It seemed to take forever to finally get back to their building; her having to slow down when pains hit didn't help. When the two located Fenris's car she whistled. "Not a bad ride you got there. Just how much are they paying you anyway?" She knew her job as a secretary didn't pay very much and it made her rather curious as to what her fellow employees made just in case she decided to find another job in the future.

He scratched the back of his neck (his horns made scratching the back of his head difficult) in embarrassment. "Eh, heh heh...well, enough to get by...." He led her over to the passenger's side and, after moving the seat back, helped her get in.

Annae was mostly silent in the car ride back to her home except for the occasional direction, and moans of pain when another contraction hit, during which the tabby would grab onto Fenris's arm as she tried to weather the pain that was labor. "F-Fenris..." Annae whimpered, "I, I think the pains are getting worse pretty quickly...."

Fenris nodded but kept his mind on the road; now was no time to lose his cool, not in a car and not with Annae counting on him. "It's okay, Annae, we're going to get you comfortable in no time," he said softly.

After perhaps half an hour--well, it felt longer to Annae--the two finally reached the apartment complex where her home awaited. "Heh, home sweet home," the tabby remarked with a chuckle as she hauled herself out of the car with a "Hup!" deciding to leave her food in here until later. "I was lucky enough to get a room on the first floor," she said as she hurried as quickly as she could down the sidewalk, Fenris keeping pace beside her. As usual she forgot to lock her door so she just opened it and led him inside. The apartment itself wasn't too bad. It was clean for the most part and it was of a decent size. There were books on childrearing and baby care almost covering the couch along with empty wrappers and two empty cartons of milk on the coffee table.

Fenris looked around, nodding in appreciation. "Here, I'll help clean this up," he said as he cleared the couch and coffee table. He then came back to her and put his arm around her waist again. "How about you change into something comfortable? I promise to keep my eyes closed if you want, but, um...well, considering why I'm here, I guess there's not much need to hide anything...." He averted his gaze, blushing brightly.

Annae giggled a little at Fenris's renewed modesty. "Such a gentleman, aren't you? I know exactly why you're here and if I was uncomfortable with getting naked in front of you, I wouldn't have accepted your offer to be my coach. Besides, these are my most comfortable clothes nowadays." With skill that comes from a lot of practice, the tabby cat removed her light pink skirt, her maternity shirt, and her black bra in less than a minute, just in time to have another contraction rip through her body. She moaned loudly and let herself fall onto the couch. "Auuuuugh...Feeeenriiiiis...this isn't fun anymore...ahn!" she groaned. It was really starting to hurt! That, along with the constant liquid flowing out from inside her, was beginning to scare her.

The Houndoom was at her side in a moment, holding her close to him in a hug as he nuzzled her cheeks and licked her face. "Your water's breaking, but it might trickle for a while before it really breaks. That's supposed to happen, so it's okay...let's move you somewhere more comfortable once this is over," he said in as calm a tone as he could.

Annae nodded and rested her head against Fenris's surprisingly tough chest with small whimpers of pain coming out of her mouth, but she kept her wits about her. Having the Houndoom this close made her feel that nothing bad could happen. Once the contraction was over she looked up at Fenris. "...I...wanna go to my bedroom. If I'm going to get lady juice all over the place I might as well do it in one spot. Plus, the basket for kittens is in there." The tabby managed a pained smile. "And...thank you for being here...I would be in a panic if you weren't here...." With a bit of effort, the feline lifted her head and kissed the Houndoom softly on the lips. She wasn't shy about expressing her feelings and she certainly wasn't about to let Fenris slip away from her. He'd make a better dad to her kittens than anyone else she knew.

Fenris stroked her cheek as he kissed her back, pulling away after a few seconds and smiling warmly at her. He stood up, taking her hands in his, and pulled her to her feet, then stood next to her much as he had done before, his arm around her lower back. "Ah, you already know what you need to do. I'm just here to remind you," he said quietly with a rub of the small of her back.

"Well, in that case, thank you for being here to remind me," Annae responded with a smile. "Oh, might want to get these off...be a bit tricky giving birth with them on," she remarked as she pulled down her panties and wriggled out of them. With Fenris's help, and sticking to him like glue, the tabby made the slow trek to her bedroom knowing she wouldn't be leaving without a kitten or two...or five.

Almost the moment the two entered the bedroom a small scream escaped from Annae's mouth as a powerful contraction followed by a popping sensation tore through her body. "AIEAHHHHH! Ahhhnn...." The anthro cat grabbed onto Fenris for dear life, spreading her legs as much as she could without toppling over as a gush of clear fluid flowed from inside her body. Once most of the pain was gone, Annae looked up at Fenris, breathing heavily. "I...I guess this means...we're getting closer...huh?" She whimpered a little as the contraction started to build again before it was completely gone. She had no idea giving birth would be THIS painful. "Fenris...help..." she panted, her voice timid and fearful.

The Pokémorph held her close to him but remained calm, leading by example. He ran his index finger across her cheek as he smiled down at her, leaning in and kissing her on the lips, the hand he used to stroke her cheek then moving down to her chest, carefully trailing his nails around her breasts as his other hand rubbed her back. "Mm...such a sexy woman, you are...did you know that?" he asked, trying to divert her attention to pleasure instead of pain.

A small blush crossed Annae's face. She didn't remember anyone ever telling her something like that and clearly not just trying to flatter her. But the movements of Fenris's hands were beginning to calm her down and soon she started to purr from the pleasure. Her nipples started to become quite stiff and blood-engorged from the arousal, and the contraction was starting to leave as she couldn't help but focus on his gentle touch. It was still there, and to the tabby cat the pain of labor mixed with the pleasure of a trusted friend's touch felt...very arousing.

Fenris moved to stand behind her, slowly rocking her from side to side and keeping his hands on her. "Mm hmm...pregnancy's been very good to you. I only wish I could have watched you get bigger as more than a coworker." He licked the corner of her mouth, waiting for her to make the next move: this was her show, after all.

Annae smiled a little bit, keeping her eyes forward. "There's always the next litter, Fenris..." she said softly. The tabby felt another contraction coming...they were short but fast and powerful, but she wasn't about to let this one get the best of her. Fenris's pleasure strategy seemed to work quite nicely, so with one hand holding the Houndoom's forearm, her other hand traveled down to her still-wet sex and she began to stroke herself through her contraction. Moaning followed but it wasn't a moan filled with pain, but rather pleasure. Annae spread her legs a little wider to allow herself more access; "difficult" didn't begin to describe self-pleasure at this point but being a cat, she was flexible. She imagined it was Fenris's fingers instead of her own and so far it was working rather well for her.

The Houndoom let her touch herself where she wanted, moving his hands to gently cup her breasts. "Well, you just take your time before then...." He hefted her chest a bit, murring loudly. "Heh, they're pretty heavy...hope supply can keep up with demand," he murmured, licking at her ear.

Annae started to pant as she worked her folds, which were quickly becoming wet her own juices. It wasn't a bad feeling, and if it kept the pain of the contractions away then she certainly wasn't ashamed of it, not with such an understanding and sympathetic coach...no, not a coach, a companion next to her. Indeed, she couldn't keep her mind on pain anymore. The tabby shut her eyes and leaned into the Houndoom's touch, breathing heavier. "W...well, I think there might be more supply than demand...I've already had to get rid of some of it...cuz I'd leak some of the milk at work...." She blushed a little bit, just realizing what she had said, but the tabby felt she could say anything to Fenris. He just had that feeling about him.

Fenris chuckled a little. "Well, it's too bad that we didn't become friends sooner...I'd have been happy to help you with that." He curled his neck around to lick her throat. "Of course, I'm still happy to take care of any surplus...." He let the obvious offer hang.

Annae let out a small gasp as she slipped one of her clawed fingers inside herself when she felt something drop inside her. She was slightly disappointed when she felt nothing out of the ordinary...guess it would still be a while before a kitten made it down that far. But they were definitely moving, she knew that much.

Fenris tensed up a little bit at hearing her gasp. "I think we should get you in a more comfortable position, sweetie. Once a kitten starts coming down, believe me, you'll know it. I know it might sound odd, but if you can help it, try not to push: it'll come at its own pace. If you need to push, that's okay too." He nuzzled her cheek to let her know he was here for her all the way.

Annae nodded. She looked over at her basket at the side of her bed where the kittens would sleep. Once the contraction ended, she let go of herself for now and waddled over to her bed. Instead of climbing onto it the tabby slowly sank to her knees and placed her arms on her bed and rested her head on the soft mattress as well; it was a little difficult due to her oversized belly, but the anthro found a way to make it work, Fenris's hands not leaving her body for a moment as Fenris got on his knees behind her. "...'Don't push,' huh? 'At its own pace'..." she repeated Fenris's words. "Yeah, why no- OOOOHHHMYGOD!" Annae cried out as a rather strong pain hit her. She gripped at the sheets and lifted her tail slightly as well as her rump, exposing herself to Fenris. Like before, the tabby cat wasn't about to spend this birth writhing in pain and placed her hand back on her clit and began rubbing it eagerly. "Fenris..." she breathed, "if you still want to help me with my surplus of milk, feel free to do so...or anything for that matter...ahhh...ahhhnnn...." She groaned as she lifted her tail and rump higher. There was suddenly a lot of pressure in the very pit of her lower stomach...yep...that had to be a kitten.

Fenris kissed her neck and stroked her belly gently. His heart leapt when she moved and lifted her tail. "All right, sweetie, you know what you need to do: if the kitten's coming and you can help it, just let the kitten come, but if you need to push, you go ahead and do it...but it's a bit difficult to give you a hand with your milk with you turned around like this," he whispered into her ear. "And if it hurts, just say the word and I'll do whatever you want."

Annae slowly got up off her knees and onto her feet in a squatting position. The tabby inched her way around until she was facing Fenris. "H-hey there...long time no see," she whimpered with a pained smile in an effort to make herself laugh, knowing that through most of her labor Fenris had been right there with her.

Over and over she repeated Fenris's advice: "Let the kitten come, let the kitten come, let the kitten come...." Oh, it was coming all right, no doubt about that, and the small scream that came from Annae's mouth was definitely an indication. A not-so-small kitten had started to make its way down the birth canal and made sure to stretch it as much as possible, or at least that's what it felt like to Annae. She used her hands to spread her legs as wide as they could go and allowed the side of her bed to keep her balanced. "O-okay Fenris, it hurts...feel free do anything you think will make it stop." While it was said in a joking manner her face was completely serious and starting to become fearful again. At this rate, the tabby thought that nothing short of an orgasm could keep her from trying to force these kittens out.

The Houndoom helped with actions, not words, as he immediately kissed her full on the mouth, tongue and all, and moaned down her throat as his hands went between her legs, rubbing the backs of his hands over her sex. He noted that her clit was fully erect. "Heh heh, who says this has to be a trial?" he thought.

Annae froze for a moment, not sure how to react until her body reacted for her and began to relax. She began to kiss him back to the best of her ability, which wasn't much considering her lack of much experience and her attention to the kitten inching down her body. Her moans became far more sexual than painful as the tabby gently pushed down on Fenris's hand, wanting more of his attention. She couldn't believe how much of the pain had left her. This guy definitely had a good gift going for him in personality and in...intimate pursuits.

He disengaged his mouth from hers and brought it down to her neck, licking lustily at her throat before one of his hands reached up to cup one of her breasts as his tongue reached her collarbone, its intended destination obvious.

The tabby cat began to push her chest into Fenris's hand. "God, Fenris..." she moaned, "don't...don't stop...." She let out a gasp as she felt a powerful contraction move her kitten ever closer. Then she felt something odd. A new urge. "Push," it said. "Just one good push." So Annae listened to her body. With one hand holding the back of Fenris's head and the other clutching her blankets, she grit her teeth and threw her head back as she began to use her lower muscles to push. "Haa...HHAAAAGHH!!!" she cried as the kitten moved slightly faster than it had been moving. She relaxed herself once more and concentrated on Fenris because his touches were making something else build up, something she hadn't felt in too long.

Fenris took this as his cue to take the next step: he latched his muzzle onto one breast while he stroked its twin. There was already a small bead of colostrum on her nipple: his strategy must have been working, but he knew that the kittens would need it more than he wanted it. He felt a rush of fluid on his other hand, which he thought was probably a mixture of her love fluids, blood, and whatever water she still had. He wondered how much it would increase once she actually came.

Annae's body suddenly became stiff as she finally orgasmed. "Oooohhhh goooddd yeeeeees! Fenriiiiis!" she cried as her body was washed over in absolute bliss, her juices covering Fenris's hand. After the tabby regained her senses she realized just how quickly she had come and would have blushed had her groin not been hit with pressure as she had never felt before. She gasped and looked down. "F-Fenris," her voice was a mix of excitement and a little nervousness, "there's...there's something...down there- ahhhhnnn! Ahhhghh...FenrisIthinkit'sakitten!" She let go of Fenris's head and used both hands to grip at the bed. She let out a yelp when she felt something finally start to press on the inside of her lower lips.

Fenris's mouth and hand left her breast as he softly licked her face and whispered, "Shh, it's okay, sweetie, this is what you've been waiting for." He gently took one of her hands and guided it to her crotch. "Go ahead and feel: this is your first blessing, your first little one. Just relax: imagine yourself opening up and letting your kitten come. It'll be here soon, and then you'll be a mother. I know you can do it."

Annae made a slightly grossed out face when she felt all kinda liquid under her. "Blessing or not, that's really nasty down there." But she got over it the instant she felt something small and furry begin to push out, then recede back inside. The tabby was in a stupor. "...That...that was my kitten...." Any fatigue faded away if only for now as she was hit by a powerful second wind and she gripped her bed with one hand and pushed hard. She felt her lips start to open again as the furry lump emerged once more, and then she felt her body squeeze the lower muscles and hold the kitten in place to keep it from disappearing again. The tabby felt her tears begin to spill as she looked up at Fenris. "I...I can feel it...right there, I can't believe it...." She removed her hand to try to show Fenris a small, wet, bright orange lump that was beginning to emerge.

His heart leapt again and he nodded happily; he couldn't see the kitten under her belly but he could very carefully feel the hard, wet lump. "That's right, it's going to start crowning. Just keep it up, you're doing it, I'll help you," he whispered, moving his other hand to her nethers, gently stroking both her hand and her sex.

Annae looked at Fenris with a little smile. "Th...thank you." The tabby dug her free hand into the bed sheets and let out a moan as she started to push again. She felt herself being stretched as the kitten began inching its way out. "Owww...I don't think I was ever meant to stretch this far...." But she kept her hand on the kitten as she pushed. It reminded her why she was working so hard and for whom she was doing this.

Fenris nuzzled her face and felt the kitten stretch her open, whispering words of comfort and encouragement. "That's it, the kitten's coming, just a bit more...."

She pushed again and bit back a scream as the widest diameter of the kitten's head crowned. Suddenly there was a rush of birthing fluid which caused her to yip. It only took her a moment to realize what had happened: she was now supporting her kitten's head. She was utterly thunderstruck. The tabby ever so gently felt the head that had emerged from her. "Ohhh...my god...it's...it's my baby...." Annae let the next contraction wash over her; all urge to push was gone for the moment as she traced the tips of her velvety-soft fingers around the kitten's head, which was now nestled between its mother's thighs.

The canine gently licked Annae's muzzle and placed a hand on her free hand, not pulling it off of the mattress but gently stroking it. "Okay, sweetie, I need you to reach down and turn the head sideways as best you can so the shoulders can get out easier. You're this close to being a mother," he said softly.

Annae could only nod. She was nervous about hurting her kitten but she trusted Fenris. With careful, gentle touches, Annae maneuvered the kitten to its side. She let out a long whimper as her sex was stretched and distended and she started to give little pushes. The tabby cat cried out as the shoulders slipped through and stretched her lips to what she was sure was their limit. Her free hand automatically shot down to catch the kitten with Fenris as it slipped out.

She brought the little boy up to her chest as she shifted her body to rest her weight on her rump instead of her feet. He looked more like a wet orange rat than a kitten but she didn't care. She loved the little wet thing in her arms more than life itself. She nuzzled the whimpering kitten and held him close, hardly believing he was finally here as tears of joy, a kind of joy she'd never thought possible for her to feel until that moment, flowed freely. "Hello, my little one..." she whispered to her kitten as she had done so many times while he was still inside her.

Fenris very softly licked the kitten's head, whispering, "Don't cry, little kitten...she's your mommy. You're safe here with us." He moved away to let them bond, rising to his feet. "I'm going to get some towels...all of them, probably. Don't worry about cutting the cord just yet; I'll handle that," he said softly before he left the room.

"Thank you, Fenris..." she said tiredly as he left. She knew there were quite a few left judging from the size of her belly but she was too occupied with the little kitten in her arms. A small smile crept to her face as an idea for a name came to mind for the orange ball of fur. The kitten had stopped whimpering and just settled in his mother's arms. "Your eyes are still shut and won't open for another week. Until then I'm afraid you're confined to your basket," she said with a giggle. She couldn't believe how much love she felt for her little one already...it physically hurt her heart. And Fenris seemed so gentle and loving even though he wasn't the kitten's father. "You may not be their father, Fenris...but if you want to, you can be their daddy...."

Just then, Fenris returned with an armful of towels and set them aside, ducking back into Annae's bathroom. After a short while, he emerged holding his wet shirt in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He knelt in front of her and held the glass to her lips. "I'll pour slowly, go ahead and keep holding him, just mumble a little if you want me to stop. If you can get him to breastfeed...well, that's probably a good idea right now."

Annae didn't respond. She felt a familiar wetness between her legs but this wasn't from the birth; she was sure of that. She already thought that Fenris was handsome, but for a guy with a desk job he also had a nice build, but in his own way: he was on the lean and agile side of physical fitness...no wonder he was on the minds of the ladies in the office. The tabby was a little too preoccupied with her thoughts and forgot to take a drink. She snapped back when she felt her kitten paw at her breast; Fenris must have thought she wasn't thirsty, since he had set the drink down. Annae decided she'd have a drink later and gently held the kitten's head next to her nipple and watched as he slowly opened his mouth, clamped his tiny muzzle around the flesh, and started to suck. She took a deep and peaceful breath as she felt her long-awaited kitten nurse from her.

Fenris used his nails to cut off a strip of his shirt as he waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing before he tied it. He turned away, used a very weak Flamethrower to sterilize his hands, and then cut the cord with a nail. His task finished for the moment, he regarded the newborn in Annae's arms, stroking the back of the kitten's head. "He's beautiful...and he's only the first of your blessings," he said softly.

The tabby nodded. Speaking of blessings, she felt the next one starting to make its way out, but unlike last time, she was prepared and there was not a hint of fear in her mind anymore. She grunted a little to work herself back into a squat. "Fenris...what you were doing with me to make the pain stop...I liked it...a lot. Do you think we can do it again, only...moreso?" She smiled, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "If we could make all those little parts of it pleasurable, why not the entire thing?" The tabby's smile broke into a grin. "I think we could have a lot of fun now that I'm not so scared."

Fenris cocked his head, suddenly becoming shy again. "Um...er...how do you mean? I uh, I don't know what all's safe and what's not, but...y'know what, maybe I'll just follow your lead...as much as I'm comfortable, you understand...."

Annae grinned a little. It was cute how quickly he went from confident to shy. "Fenris, just do what you told me. Go with your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, then don't do it. You won't hurt my feelings or anything," the tabby said in a playful tone.

After the kitten finished nursing, Fenris gently took him out of Annae's arms and wrapped him in a towel, carefully setting him in the basket. He then moved closer to Annae, his muzzle only a few inches from hers.

Annae's grin became a soft smile as she gently licked the Houndoom's muzzle before softly kissing him, putting her arms around his neck. The contractions were rearing their ugly heads once more but she could already tell it was going to go smoother.

Fenris sighed through his nose, realizing that she was right. After all, she clearly had complete trust in him, so maybe it was time to start following his own advice. His hands went around her torso to rub her shoulder blades as he kissed her back, licking at her lips for a moment before he started to move his mouth to the side of her head and under her ear, licking her cheek the whole way. "Well then, I am at your service, Annae," he murmured.

Annae smiled gratefully at Fenris. Her grip on the Houdoom tightened slightly as her muscles contracted to bring the kitten further down. "It...it doesn't hurt as much...it's a lot smoother than the first...." For that, the tabby was infinitely thankful and it wasn't long before she felt the overwhelming pressure and began to push. All the while, Annae kept her arms tightly around Fenris, thinking about his presence and his touch.

Fenris moved his hands down between Annae's legs. "Just go ahead and push, I'll handle this one." He softly kissed her on the lips again to keep her attention focused on positive thoughts. "Or, if you want, we can both catch it...."

Annae placed one of her hands next to Fenris's. "Both of us sounds pretty good to me...." The anthro cat placed all of her thoughts on Fenris and all of her instincts on pushing as she brought the second kitten's head out into the world. Annae gently felt the head as she had done with the first. It felt like a wet rat...but it was her wet rat.

Fenris licked Annae's face as he, too, carefully felt the head that had just slipped out from Annae's body. With little nudges, he started to turn the kitten to its side. "Just tell me if I'm going too fast, sweetie," he whispered.

Annae flinched a little but didn't say anything as she felt Fenris move the kitten ever so slightly. To her surprise the kitten slipped out on its own, causing the tabby to yelp but she managed to keep her hand down to help Fenris catch it.

Fenris brought the mewling little girl up to his bare chest and cradled her as if she had been his own, gently licking the top of her head. "Shh, you're okay, sweetie, you're with people who love you...."

Annae smiled weakly as she looked down at the kitten. She was a calico, like her father...well, not exactly father...more like the guy who supplied the sperm. "She's cute...let's hope she has brains to go along with that beauty," the tabby said, laughing a bit.

Fenris chuckled at her remark and licked the kitten's face a little before handing her to her mother. "I'm sure she will if she's like you, Annae," he said.

Annae tried not laugh as she took the kitten. "If that's what you want to call them, then by all means." The tabby gave her kitten a little nuzzle before returning her to Fenris to cut the cord, which he did. "I'll worry about feeding 'em once I get them out," she said with a bit of a grin.

The Houndoom nodded and wrapped the kitten in another towel before laying her next to her brother. He patted Annae's belly. "Sounds like a plan...how many more do you think are in there?" he asked.

Annae rubbed her belly a little. "I don't know for sure...my mother's litters usually had five or six...so I'm hoping that it'll only be around that number. I don't think I could afford any more." She laughed a bit, but she knew just how serious that statement was. She was independent but not stupid: she knew that if she truly couldn't support her children, she'd have to give them up, as much as the thought pained her. Annae let out a startled gasp as a painful contraction brought her out of her thoughts. "Oh yes, I still need to give birth...okay, worry about the future later; right now, give birth." The tabby once again maneuvered herself into the squatting position and pushed...and pushed and pushed, but nothing came from it. Annae began to get worried. She tried to relax as the contraction ended but the thought of a stuck kitten terrified the cat too much. "Fenris...i-it's not coming...d-do you think something's wrong?" she whispered, not bothering to hide her fear.

Fenris stroked and licked her face. "Shh, it's okay, hon, maybe this one's just bigger. Take some deep breaths, and when the next contraction hits, just grab onto my horns and go for it." He mentally prayed that things would just be held up for a little while; as much as he'd read about pregnancy and birth, he was ill-equipped to handle such an impediment as a stuck kitten.

Annae nodded and did as Fenris instructed, grasping the Houndoom's horns. When she felt the next contraction the tabby squeezed her eyes shut and pushed as hard as she could. As the pressure ebbed away she let out a frightened mewl; still nothing. Her ears drooped as she put a hand on her stomach. "Fenris, I think it's safe to say that I'm getting pretty scared now." The tabby looked right into the Houndoom's eyes, pleading with him to help her. She was getting tired and by the looks of things she still had a ways to go before this birth was finished.

Fenris nodded. "Don't you worry, Annae, we can do this. Let's just try a different position." He took her other hand off his horns and held it firmly, waiting for her to make a move.

Annae stared down at her tummy and then back up at Fenris. "Umm...besides lying on my back, I don't know any others. The books I have never said anything about it and squatting seemed to be the best way do it so I never looked it up." She blushed a bit in shame about her lack of preparation. "If you know of any, I'm open to suggestions." At this point the tabby was willing to do anything to get things moving along again.

Fenris nodded again in understanding. "Not a problem at all. We'll just start simple." He moved her so she was lying on her back on the bed while her upper torso was propped up by pillows, and knelt between her legs, which he held up to her chest. "Okay, when a contraction hits, go ahead and curl around your kitten as you push, and tell me how it feels. If it's working, great. If this is too uncomfortable, we'll try something else," he said in a soft voice.

Annae took a few deep breathes, trying to relax. When the next contraction hit she did as Fenris instructed and curled up as she pushed. Before long, she let out a small groan of frustration: there had been little to no progress as far as she could tell. "Why isn't this working?" Annae looked down at her stomach and gave it a bit of a poke. "It can't be that exciting in there...."

Fenris considered his next move before he leaned down to give Annae a kiss. "Mark my words, we're going to get that kitten out." He turned the laboring tabby so she was on her side and moved to kneel in front of her, holding her leg up. "Let's try pushing on your side, then," he said quietly before he licked her face. "Don't be afraid, Annae. We're just going to have to plug at this one a little. I'm sure he or she is going to be just fine, and so will you."

Annae smiled a bit at Fenris. She felt better knowing he was so calm. As soon as the next contraction hit, Annae gripped at the bedsheets and pushed. To her surprise, she felt her cervix starting to stretch. The tabby looked at the Houndoom excitedly. ''I-I think it's working!" she exclaimed with a smile but she flinched as she felt her cervix opening up painfully wider. "I've never been so happy to be in so much pain."

Fenris nodded and smiled happily. "All right, I told you you could do it! Now go for it, babe!" he encouraged. He took one of her hands in his and used his other arm to keep her leg up.

Annae smiled happily and rested for a moment before tensing up again and pushing harder, her morale having been renewed. Small moans escaped the tabby as her kitten made its way down. The tabby pulled her leg back as far as she could when the head began to show. Her moans became cries of pain as her sex was stretched further and further. "Ahn! Ahhhh...oww...I-I think you were right about this kitten being big..." she whimpered after the contraction ended.

Fenris licked her face and let her pull back her own leg, reaching down and gently rubbing her bulging sex to try to give her some pleasure through the pain. "Okay, sweetie, now might be a good time to try to let it stretch you more slowly; I don't want you to tear and you've done an incredible job so far. In other words, if you can help it, don't push."

Annae was about to comment but the new placement of Fenris's hand caused her to moan in pleasure instead. "Mmm...that...that feels really good." When the next contraction hit it was a strange but welcome mix of pleasure and pain, something that Annae was really beginning to like. The tabby's legs spread as far as they could for her savior, more than willing to let Fenris continue.

Fenris happily obliged her and leaned down to kiss her, hoping to further distract her from pain as he rubbed his open palm on her opening. He knew it might take a while for this one to come if it was bigger and going at its own pace, but he wasn't going to risk Annae's health by rushing.

Annae was more than willing to return the kiss as one of her hands found its way to the back of Fenris's neck and rested it there. The tabby moaned from the pleasure she was receiving coupled with the now dull pain she felt as her body gave a great heave, pushing the kitten further through her cervix.

Fenris caressed her rough feline tongue with his velvety canine tongue. He pulled away from the kiss but kept his mouth right in front of hers. "Do you want to feel, or...." He let the question hang.

Annae smiled a bit. "Why don't you do the honors?" she said weakly. The tabby was starting to get very tired, but judging by the looks of her stomach there couldn't be too many more in there. In most ways she was grateful that her first litter was small, but also a little sad because then Fenris wouldn't need to touch her anymore...at least not without being asked.

He nodded and went back to kissing her and rubbing her, kneading her hand. She was slowly but surely bulging more; he hoped she could handle it, but if he could keep her relaxed and thinking positive, he was sure she could have these kittens.

Annae let out a small whimper as her lips began to part to let the kitten pass. All the while she kept on thinking about Fenris and his soft touches. There was pain, oh yes, no doubt about that but she knew from before that if she just concentrated on the pleasure all would be well. But still...ouch.

The Houndoom felt the top of the kitten's head begin to emerge but he kept up his touches, carefully tracing his fingertips around the cat's nethers. He again pulled away from the kiss long enough to speak. "Good girl, just keep up this pace; if it hurts too much, I'll go further."

Annae let out another whimper from both the pain and the pleasure she was feeling, but despite the arousal, the kitten was stretching her sex further than she ever thought possible...and its head was barely sticking out! She tried to concentrate on Fenris but now it was getting hard. She whimpered and shut her eyes tight as the kitten slowly but steadily inched forward.

Fenris took this as his signal and left Annae's face, moving down to her crotch. Hoping she wouldn't be too grossed out but determined as he was to see to her comfort, he licked his chops and leaned forward, starting to lick at Annae's reddened sex. It was a strange taste, the mixture of her love fluids, birth fluids and probably a bit of her blood, but his desire to see to the safety and comfort of Annae and her kittens more than won out over the potential unpleasantness.

Annae's eyes snapped open. Well, she certainly hadn't been expecting this of all things, but she wasn't about to complain. She let out a long pleasured moan as the pain began to fade away. The tabby moved her hips closer to Fenris's face, wanting more of his attention.

Fenris gladly gave her what she wanted. The kitten's descent seemed to be halted for now, but he figured that her lips were just relaxing for the upcoming effort. He used his thumbs to very carefully start to spread her outer lips, ever watchful for signs of pain and careful to not let his nails poke her or the kitten.

Annae's breath hitched slightly but she didn't feel much pain. The tabby let out a gasp as her body gave a great heave, far more powerful than any of her pushes, and with it came the kitten's head. She smiled a bit, relieved at the hardest part was over. "Wow..." was the only word capable of passing her lips. She never thought her body was capable of such things!

Fenris's eyes widened as he was suddenly hit in the face with a rush of various fluids when the kitten's head suddenly emerged in one go..."wow" indeed. He pulled back and wiped his face on his bare arms before he put his hands under the kitten's head, holding it level with Annae's hips. "Well then...I guess we know what works now, don't we?" he quipped, trying to keep her in good spirits.

Annae looked down at Fenris and laughed a bit. "Yeah, I think we do." The tabby couldn't help but notice just how...deflated her stomach had become. There couldn't be too many more in there. It would be nice to be able wear more normal clothes again: finding maternity clothes when she was this big was a bitch.

Fenris winked at her and licked his chops again. "All the oral you could want, free of charge, babe."

Annae laughed again, surprised that she could laugh while doing something like this. She never thought she'd be this relaxed while giving birth, but that was Fenris for you.

Fenris gently started to turn the kitten on its side, getting a bit of lewd pleasure from seeing Annae stretched so tight. He tried to keep his more lustful thoughts out of his head: he was there for her pleasure and comfort, not the other way around.

A small gasp came from her mouth as the kitten was moved, her smile never wavering, though it did finally droop a bit as her body clenched its lower muscles and pushed her third kitten out, further stretching her sex.

The Houndoom carefully brought the kitten to his chest and stroked the back of his head, whispering quietly to him, "Wow...you're a big guy. Made your mother work for you, huh?"

Annae propped herself up on her elbow, happy that she was now able to see over her stomach. "I'll bet you that one was the one keeping me up all those nights." She grinned and looked down at her stomach. It strongly resembled a deflated ball, though she did see and feel another lump making its way down. "It's almost over...and after that, I think this little one shouldn't be a problem."

Fenris quickly cut the cord, wrapped the kitten up and set him in the basket before he went back in front of Annae. "So do you want to push on your side again, or...."

Annae's ears twitched a bit at the thought. "...Just how many positions are there anyway? Not that I'm complaining. But yeah, I wouldn't mind trying out another." The tabby smiled and sat up. She felt the progress of her fourth kitten but after the ordeal with her last kitten it was nothing more than a dull ache.

Fenris smiled. "Um...is that a trick question? However many you can think up. But uh, there's all fours, sitting as upright as you can..." he shrugged, "they're really only limited by creativity and what feels right."

Annae slowly rolled onto her back. "I think I'll sit up for this one. I mean, this isn't going to be the last time I have a litter. There's all sorts of thing we could try then." The tabby blushed slightly, realizing what she had said. "I-I mean if you're still around...but you don't have to be if you don't want to...but if you did...." She laughed nervously. "Sorry, I'm babbling." With that, Annae scooted to the headboard and sat up against it with her legs spread, hoping Fenris would forget about her little Freudian slips.

Fenris smiled at Annae as he sat on his shins, waiting for the next kitten. "It's okay. I'm sure I'll be hanging around at least." He idly started to wonder...did she like him that much? Sure, she kissed him and clearly trusted him with her body, but was that because she needed his help or because she really liked him?

Annae had no trouble with the next kitten; by now she had gotten it down to a science and the kitten slid out easily. The tabby sighed in relief at the sight of her deflated stomach. "Well...that's the last one," she said, looking at Fenris. "Thank you so much, Fenris. I really don't think I could have done it without you." Four kittens...she was the mother of four beautiful kittens.

The Houndoom nodded softly as he cut the cord and wrapped the last kitten, another calico girl, in a towel. He kissed the little girl on her forehead and offered her to her mother. "I guess the only things left are to deliver the placenta and then...I dunno, snuggle."

Annae took her youngest daughter into her arms and smiled. "Well, I'm sorry to say it's not much, but this is home. One of these days I'll find a house." She barely took notice of the placenta until she actually saw it. "Ewww...okay, now THAT is just nasty." She shut her eyes until Fenris finished wrapping it in a towel and set it aside. "Remind me to burn that towel." The tabby motioned for Fenris to lie next to her, which he did, and she rested her head on the Houdoom's chest. "Fenris...you truly are a wonderful person. This isn't even your litter yet you've already acted more fatherly toward the kittens than their real father would have. I know it's silly but I wish you were their father." The tabby laughed a bit and played with her daughter's ear. "I really do like you Fenris. You're a dream come true to someone like me. I hope I'm not asking too much, but...it'd make me happy knowing the kittens had some sort of a father figure...I mean, there's just some things a mother can't do...so...I'd like it if...well...you'd be a part of their lives." Annae blushed, knowing it was long winded, but she wanted to word it carefully. She didn't want to force the job on the poor guy!

Fenris's eyes widened at Annae's request. "I...I really don't know what to say...I mean, I'm deeply honored that you'd ask me to be their father, but...er...me? We've barely seen each other outside of work," he stammered. "I-" He was interrupted by a mewl from the basket, moving down and picking up Annae's first daughter, gently rocking her in his arms and smiling warmly.

Annae grinned and poked Fenris in the shoulder playfully. "See that? That's how I know. You treat them like they're your litter. You're a natural with them. I'm not saying you have walk down the aisle with me or anything...just...you know...be there when they need you. I know it's asking a lot, but I trust you. After all of this, you haven't given me a reason not to."

He shyly scratched his head, using his arm to keep the little kitten balanced. "Eh heh...well...." He looked down at the kitten in his arm, then at the kittens in Annae's basket, then over at Annae and her second daughter. He took a few seconds to consider his answer before he smiled and chuckled. "'Go with your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, don't do it,'" he echoed Annae's advice from earlier. "You know what, Annae? I can't think of anything that'd feel more right than this." He lay next to her again and gently kissed her on her lips.

Annae used her free arm to hug the Houndoom tightly, breaking off the kiss after a little while. "Well...I guess I can't put off the inevitable huh? I'm sure the other kittens are getting hungry. Of course after that, I can't guarantee how long I'll stay awake."

He nodded. "Just do what you can and center as much of the kitten's weight as you can on your body rather than your arms. I'll help support you if you want."

Annae looked up at him for a moment. "I had no idea you had to put so much thought into breastfeeding...and here I thought you just let the kid latch on and off you go...so yeah...I think I need your help," she said, laughing a bit.

Fenris laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck. "Er, well, I don't think there really is much to it. I'm just offering suggestions. I mean, you did fine with your first kitten...just lean back and let the kid go for it, like you said."

Annae grinned slightly and held the little kitten to her breast. The tabby was surprised she found it so quickly. "Wow...looks like you're not gonna have any trouble with this, are you?" Annae leaned against the headboard with her kitten in her arms. Only then did she realize just how tired she really was. Shutting her eyes, the new mother fell asleep with her kitten nursing in her arms.

The Houndoom sat next to her and held her kitten in place until she was finished, then carefully took her from Annae's arms and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. He wrapped her in the remaining towel and set her with her siblings, taking out the third kitten and dutifully holding the kitten at Annae's breast.

Annae's grip tightened slightly in her sleep to make sure her kitten didn't slide down or anything. Being a bit bigger than the others, the kitten took a little longer to finish his feeding, and then curled up in his mother's arms, ready to sleep for a while.

As Fenris took the kitten and placed him in the basket to swap him with the remaining girl, he saw a completely blissed-out smile creep onto Annae's face. He smiled back at her in her sleep. "Keeping your kittens despite what everyone else thinks, working during a quadruplet pregnancy, and delivering at home...you should be very proud of yourself, Annae," he said quietly as he brought the last kitten to her breast, giving Annae a kiss. "I certainly am."

Annae returned to work about two months after she had given birth with Fenris's help. While she received the same treatment for the most part, Fenris had become even more protective of her in the office. Now that the Houndoom was helping her out, Annae had enough money to afford a daycare center catering to infants while she was at work.

It took her about another month to get into a solid routine and even then there was always something unexpected that threw off the entire thing, but today was thankfully a Saturday and the tabby could spend some quality time with her kittens. Now at six months old, the litter could eat simple food as well as her milk.

She smiled at her oldest as she put him in the high chair. "All right, let's see if we can get more food IN you then ON you, shall we?"

Fenris, meanwhile, was busy keeping the other kittens entertained, tickling one girl and letting the other try to grab his wagging tail, the remaining boy watching his sisters and acting father while he sat on a blanket. Fenris laughed along with the little girl he was tickling.

Annae managed to get enough food into her eldest kitten and lifted him out of the high chair. With a playful grin the tabby snuck over to Fenris and set her kitten on his shoulders, and he immediately grabbed at the Houndoom's horns, giggling. Annae snickered and scooped up one of her girls. "They see those horns of yours as some kind of playground."

He shook his head a little playfully, chuckling at the kitten's antics. "Aren't you supposed to tell them not to play with things that'll poke their eyes out?" he asked.

Annae laughed as she took her youngest daughter into the kitchen. "I don't think that'll happen. You're more responsible than that," she said over her shoulder. "Sorry for the mess, Sarah, but you know how your brother is," she told her youngest as she set her in the high chair. Sarah didn't seem to notice or care, especially when she spotted the food on the table.

The dog shook his head a little more, but the kitten on his head just laughed. He was about to reach up and take the boy off when he let out a little "yipe" from the girl at his hind end scratching the spade on his tail with her newly-discovered claws. He made a mental note to find a new toy for her before she wound up cutting his tail off.

Annae gave Sarah a little rubber ring to mouth and went to check on the source of the yelp. "Honestly, come here, Roe." The tabby picked up the kitten and set her down in front of Fenris. "I think later tonight I'll call my mother and ask for some advice on scratching...and you had better find something else to scratch," she said, poking Roe in the stomach playfully before returning to Sarah.

The kitten giggled at her poke, drawing a smirk from Fenris as he pulled the boy off of his head and set him down next to his sister, though he felt the other boy kitten, who had crawled over while he was distracted, grab his tail and start to lick the spade in a tentative attempt at grooming. He pulled his tail away, causing the little boy to swat at it playfully. The Houndoom chuckled a little. "Heh, 'fraid my parents wouldn't be much help; their main problem with me was teething," he quipped as the twins in front of him smiled at him.

Annae eventually came back with Sarah and sat down on the floor with her litter. "They're just everywhere today. I don't know how mothers could handle more than this...but then again with the right frame of mind you can do just about anything." The tabby smiled and wiggled her finger at Roe who began to swat at it with her claws. "You know...before I had the kittens, my biggest fear wasn't actually raising them; I was scared to death they were going to get taken away. I mean, you know how rare it is for a cat to be without a mate...and with my income, child protection would be on my back day and night...but lucky for me, I happened to meet you by the vending machine," she said with a bit of a giggle.

Fenris looked over at his feline friend with wide eyes and a raised eyebrow at her admittance of fear. "Well, I think both of us were pretty lucky to have met each other. I mean, heck, I love these little buggers and I love spending time with you, too. In fact, um...." He scooted over to Annae and blushed in his cute way before continuing, "I was thinking...maybe I should move in with you or you all should move in with me...that way I'm always on hand to help out and it'd save a lot of transit time." The blush on his cheeks intensified. "I, um...I'm not saying we can't just keep up what we have...."

Annae studied Fenris for a moment before her face broke out into a bright grin. "I was wondering when you were going to ask that, because quite frankly," she said as she scooted up closer and gently kissed the Houndoom on the lips, "I was so sad whenever you left. It didn't feel...right. If it's all right with you, I wouldn't mind moving into your home. I'd say you could stay here but there's these people who live upstairs that make all kind of noise and wake up the kittens. If we moved in with you at least we could all get a decent night's sleep. Right, Sarah?" The kitten in question just gurgled in reply and pawed at her brother's tail.

Fenris let out a sigh of relief and matched Annae's grin, reaching around her shoulder and hugging her close, giving her face an affectionate lick. "I promise I'll only be touchy-feely when you want me to," he said playfully.

Elsewhere, on the far side of town, a calico cat sat in an office, looking none too thrilled. "What do you mean, 'you saw her'?"

The other anthro cat, a friend--and coincidently his lawyer-- nodded. "I'm afraid so. That means she probably lives in this area. But you told me yourself she was drunk. Even if she sees you there's no way she would recognize you, let alone blackmail you."

The calico shook his head. "I don't want to risk it. Think about it: if word got out I sired a bastard litter, things wouldn't bode well for this company." He scratched his chin in thought, thinking of any sort of plausible solution. "...What if I took the litter? I have no heirs to this company and if the press saw me 'adopting a litter of kittens' they'd go crazy with it. This company would get more attention than ever. I'd just toss them in daycare or hire a nanny or something."

The lawyer shook his head. "But what if she wants to keep them?"

This brought a small, malicious grin to the calico's face. "My friend, in this day and age, money and the media can get you anything."

A couple of days later, Fenris studied the merchandise of a jewelry store with a practiced eye. He rubbed his chin and squinted in thought. "Hmm...they're pretty nice...but it needs to really connect with me. It needs to feel right," he murmured as much to himself as to the salesfur.

The young Spearow morph looked at the Houndoom and then at the merchandise. "Well what sort of item did you have in mind, sir? If you're looking for something to please the missus, I'd get her a necklace to match her wedding ring, or..." he started with a growing smile, "if you're planning on finding a missus, I'd recommend something like this." He bent under the counter and pulled a black velvet box out. Inside was a gold band which held a decent-sized diamond. "There's enough room to carve a small message on the band."

Fenris took a closer look at the band and nodded. "Hmm...not sure about that ring in particular, but the message idea, I like that." He leaned in to look at the rings of similar style to the ring the bird just showed him. "Lemme see...a ring big enough to carve a mess-...wait...." His eyes squinted and then widened as a wide grin crossed his face and he tapped the glass over his selection with a nail. "That's it. That's the one," he said in a very certain tone.

The bird couldn't help but grin. "I think you've made a fine choice, sir. There's no way she could say no to that one, and it's a pretty reasonable price if I might add. So will you be buying it now or would like me to hold it for you until your next visit?"

Still grinning radiantly, Fenris nodded. "Oh, I'm buying it now...but I guess I have to leave it here until you write the message, huh?"

The Spearow returned the nod. "Yes, so what message would you like me to carve into the band?" he asked as he moved to the register to ring up Fenris's selection. "We have a few precarved messages if you're interested."

Fenris shook his head and wrote his message on a piece of paper, and then handed the paper to the Spearow before paying for his purchase. After he left the store, he thought, "I'm not quite there yet, Annae...but I can feel I'm falling in love with you. I know you're an independent sort and you follow your own map, but I hope you'll share your journey with me."