#Jaspis bomb

[imtryingbuck]

Neighbours.

~ gif not mine credit to owner ~

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader

Summary: Bucky’s moved next door to you and your children, your children wants to play matchmaker.

Word count: 7,322

Warnings: fluff. angst (only a tiny bit though) children being adorable. reader nearly takes her finger off/blood. mention of a dead beat dad. Bucky being the cutest. Alpine being the cutest. swearing. mention of health insurance problems? I’m British so if I’ve gotten it wrong just…leave me alone. small mention of financial issues/being in debt. 

Masterlist

Opening the door to the apartment you shut it again, opening slowly before repeating the action a few more times, sighing in defeat that nothing had changed you took in the sight of the once cleaned apartment that now looked like a bomb had hit it.

Toys laid out on the floor, your daughters toy prams laying on their sides with the baby dolls hanging out of them, legos scattered around, broken crayons laid amongst the chaos.

“Kids?” You called out as you removed your coat.

“Oh…hi Y/n the kids are next door” Poppy your kid’s babysitter says as she pops her head around the corner.

“With Ms Hopewell?”

“Um no the new guy”.

Your heart stopped. The apartment next door had been empty since you and the kids moved in to your apartment two years ago, hearing that there was now a tenant living there didn’t bother you what bothered you was that it was a man who was alone with your children whilst the babysitter was-

“What was that?”

“They, um their next door” Poppy replies quickly.

“No I got that bit but what I want to know is who just coughed?”

“I-it’s my boyfriend-“

Oh your day just kept getting better and better.

“Get out. Your sacked”

“B-but Y-“

“No. Tell him to put his shirt on and I want you both to leave my home. Now”

The regret of not listening to Marina the mum of your daughters friend who had warned you not to hire the sixteen year old babysitter was hitting full force but at the time you was desperate and in need of a babysitter so you could work. Now you felt foolish that you gave her the benefit of the doubt, just for her to think it was acceptable to bring her boyfriend who you did not know into your home and to allow your children to be next door with a complete stranger.

Not listening to Poppy’s excuses you told her one more time to leave as you went next door where you could now hear your children’s cheerful voices.

The front door to the apartment was open, calling out for your kids where you heard them running towards you.

“Momma”

“What the hell do you think you two are doing? How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers.” You scolded despite seeing them okay and well.

“Mr Bucky isn’t a stranger momma” Cora your daughter says sheepishly.

“Mama” Jasper your son - the youngest out of the two - laughs as he pulls on your shirt.

Before you could reply to either child you hear soft footsteps coming towards you.

“I’m sorry Ma’am-“

“You can’t just let strange kids into your home-“

You cut yourself off when you look up. Not expecting a six foot, built like a brick wall yet looked soft oddly enough man. His bright blue eyes shined through the dimmed hallway, brown hair long enough to be pulled up in a bun that sat low on the back of his head, with a few strands of wavy hair framing his handsome face.

“Momma Mr Bucky has a black arm and it’s cold!” Cora giggled pointing at her left arm.

“Cora!” You scolded, apology on the tip of your tongue before this Mr Bucky laughed.

“It’s true, I do have a black arm” And that’s when you notice it.

“Momma guess how he lost it? Guess, momma guess” Cora jumped around on the spot causing Jasper to do the same.

“I-umm I’m not sure sweetie”

“He didn’t eat his veggies and his arm fell off!” She laughed “he told me and Jaspy that we have to eat all our veggies so it don’t happen to us” her eyes widened comically.

Looking up at the man who you assumed the worst of as he stood there with his arms crossed and a huge grin on his lips making his eyes crinkle.

“It’s true ma’am”

“Mama kitty” Jasper tugs on your shirt again, taking your eyes away from the man to your son who was pointing at a ball of white fluff as it came trotting over “name kitty mama”

“Her names Alpine-“ Cora tries to correct.

“No name kitty” Jasper pouts causing you and the man to laugh.

“You’re very right, her names kitty” he smiles softly. “By the way I’m James, well everyone calls me Bucky�� He holds his right hand out for you to shake.

You tried to ignore the way his hand was warm, calloused yet soft, shaking his hand. “I’m Y/n”.

“It’s nice to meet you. And listen I’m really sorry that I had your kids in here, um they were outside in the hallway-“

“Excuse me?”

“T-they were outside” he points behind you “I had just came back from the store when I saw them, um Cora said that Poppy had a boy inside and they were told to play in the hallway” He winces as he scratches the back of his neck.

“It’s true momma. They were kissing” you grimaced and the anger you felt for your now former babysitter increased.

“Cora said you was at work and at the time I didn’t see the harm in letting them in to my apartment b-but now I see I did the wro-“

“No no no, I-thank you.” You cut him off, feeling slightly ashamed for overreacting.

“It’s okay, they’re great kids.”

“Thank you, I best get them back so I can feed them. I’m sorry if they caused any problems for you” you smiled, finally stand whilst picking Jasper up and placing him on your hip.

“They didn’t cause any problems, don’t worry. Bye Mr Jasper bye Miss Cora”

“Bye bye Mr Bucky and Miss Alpine” Cora waves already leaving.

Jasper just waves, his thumb sliding into his mouth.

“Bye Bucky”

“Bye, oh um Y/n… I would wash the bedding, the bedroom closest to this wall if I was you” He says grimacing as he knocks on the wall to his left.

Your bedroom.

“Great. Just great, thanks for the tip”. Giving him a tight lip smile you give him an awkward wave and walk back into your home.

“I-I’m sorry Y/n please just give me another chance” Poppy begs.

“Absolutely not. Now I want you to leave”

“But I need this job Y/n please”

“You told my children, the same children I pay you to look after, to go and play in the hallway so you could have sex in my bed! Oh don’t look so shocked, I found the used condom on my floor - thanks for that. Now don’t come back”

“Wi-will you give me a referen-“ You slammed the door in her face.

The audacity of this girl.

“Mama kitty” Jasper catches your attention and sure enough there’s Alpine walking around in a circle around your two year old.

“How did she get in here?” All you got in response was Jasper sticking his tongue out out you. “Let’s get her back home yeah?”

Now here came the tricky part, did you pick her up? Or just open the door and pray to a higher power that she didn’t run off?

You really hoped that she wouldn’t run off as the thought of chasing after a cat exhausted you but picking up the cat wasn’t your fan favourite either, from thirteen years old you’ve had a fear of touching cats after the neighbours tabby dug his claws into your skin and clung on for dear life.

“Okay bubba I need you not to move, I’ll be right back okay” great parenting leaving a two year old home alone, you scold yourself. Running out of the door and rapidly knocking on Bucky’s.

“Hey, Y/n are you okay?”

“Alpines in my apartment and I’m scared to touch cats so… come get her”

“Shit. I’m sorry I don’t know how I missed her getting out-wait did you just say you’re scared to touch them?”

Rolling your eyes as he chuckles “don’t laugh it’s a real phobia”

That has him practically crying. “So you’re afraid of cats?”

“No, I just don’t like touching them unless they’re asleep-stop laughing!”

“I’m sorry doll- hi Mr Jasper, come on missy you’re scaring our neighbour” he laughs as he bends down to pick up the cotton ball of fluff.

“I’m not scared of her!”

“Whatever you say doll, whatever you say”

“It’s-“

“A real phobia I know” winking at you “where’s Miss Cora?”

“At her friends for a sleepover so it’s just me and little man tonight” even though your daughter is two blocks away, you couldn’t help but miss her and mainly worry despite knowing she’s safe.

“That sounds like fun, I’ll see you”

And just as he’s about to cross over the threshold Jasper interrupts him. “Kitty stay”

“No baby kitty has to go home now”

“No kitty stay mama”

“Not tonight baby”

Here comes the waterworks in 3…2…1…

Jasper burst into a fit of tears, throwing himself backwards kicking his little arms and legs out.

“Kitty stay” he stutters, it breaks your heart hearing him cry like that.

“Ma-maybe if it’s okay with you Alpine can stay for a bit? I don’t mind honestly and she’s great with kids” Bucky offers and at his words Jaspers tears start to cease.

“Yeah umm yeah that’s okay with me” you say smiling lightly at Bucky.

“Behave missy” he tells the cat who’s trying to jump out of his arms, and once she’s free she runs over to Jasper rubbing herself all over him that he starts giggle at her fur tickling him.

“Once he’s asleep just knock on the wall and I’ll come and get her-“

“Stay” you blurt out instantly feeling the heat warm your cheeks “th-that’s if you don’t have anything better to-“

“I would love to” he smiles.

And so Bucky and Alpine join you and Jasper for dinner and some cartoons.

You was sitting next to Bucky on the couch when he taps your shoulder and nods his head in the direction of Jasper and Alpine, you couldn’t help but take your phone out and taking a picture of the two cuddled up together, fast asleep.

Months had passed before you had even realised. Bucky and Alpine spent most of their days now at your apartment, which you couldn’t complain as you now had another adult to talk to.

You had just left to go and get something from the store leaving Bucky alone with the kids. Jasper was playing with his toys with Alpine whilst Bucky and Cora was sat on the couch together.

Everything was good until.

“Momma doesn’t have a boyfriend” Cora told Bucky causing him to choke on his drink.

“Oh…”

“Do you want to be momma’s boyfriend?”

“I erm I’m not sure why?”

“Momma will make you happy, she makes me and Jaspy happy and she makes us dino nuggies for dinner and she reads us bedtime stories and makes sure there’s no monsters under the bed”

“Really?”

“Yep she would do that for you too if you was her boyfriend” the six year old put her hand on Bucky’s left arm as she told him.

“I’m not sure Cora…”

“Why not? Do you not like my momma?”

“I do sweetheart but it’s just a little bit more complicated than that”

“Momma said she likes you, I asked her. You can make her happy and she’ll make you happy. I don’t want momma to cry anymore”

“What do you mean?”

“She cries at night when she’s in bed but she doesn’t know that I know. If you be her boyfriend she won’t cry anymore”

Bucky knows Y/n cries at night, due to his enhanced hearing he can hear her. It pains him to hear her sobs until she’s eventually cried herself to sleep.

The knowledge that Cora knows it happens too makes his heart hurt. She’s six years old and all she wants is her momma to be happy even going as far to ask him - the ex brainwashed assassin who’s over a hundred years old - for help.

And the way she’s looking at him doesn’t help.

“So… will you think about it?” Cora asks when she doesn’t receive a response.

“Yeah I’ll think about it”

Five minutes go by.

“Have you thought about it?”

“Not yet”

“Okay”

Another five minutes go by.

“Now?”

“Still thinking Cora”

Jumping up from the couch when he hears the door come open he jogs over to help you with the shopping.

“Hey, thanks you’re a lifesaver” sighing in relief as the bags are released from your arms.

“No problem”

“Did they behave?”

“Yeah, well apart from Miss Cora” he winks at Cora as she comes over.

“No momma it was Mr Bucky that was naughty”

“Why what did he do?”

“He ate all the cookies and didn’t let me have one” she pouts.

You had to stifle the laugh from coming out as Bucky’s eyes widen and jaw dropped open, gasping dramatically at the claims.

“Y/n it was the other way round! I swear”

“No it wasn’t momma I have witnesses” holding her one finger up to you she runs back into the living room to get the witnesses. Bucky stands there with his arms crossed and lightly tapping his foot.

“They saw it happen” laying her dolls down on the counter she looks at you then at Bucky with a smug smile.

“Y/n whatever they say it’s a lie!”

That time you couldn’t hold the laughter in any more.

“You two…” shaking your head.

Seeing a grown man arguing with a six year old and her toys about them being liars makes you laugh even more.

Later that evening Cora says goodnight to Bucky and Alpine, you hear her ask him “have you thought about it now?” Causing your eyebrows to furrow.

Walking him to the door you ask “what was Cory talking about before she went to bed?”

“Oh nothing doll, see you tomorrow”.

You was in the kitchen cooking dinner when the knock at the door had Cora running straight towards it.

“Hi Mr Bucky hi Alpine”

“Hello Miss Cora”

“I’m a princess today”

“I see, hi Princess Cora” he chuckled.

“Hello, would you like to come into my castle?”

“Yes please, thank you”

Their footsteps got closer towards you, turning round you saw Alpine run past jumping straight on to the couch where Jasper was sitting.

“Momma Mr Bucky’s here” she told you before going back to the living room.

“Hi Bucky”

“Hey, so Cora’s a princess today then?”

“Yep. That’s her fourth dress change since she came home from school”

Chuckling as he sits down on the stool he watches you move around the small kitchen. “Do you need any help?”

“Oh no I’m fine, how was work?” You asked.

“It was fine just the usual, Sam being a pain in my backside”

“Fair enough” you laughed “hey um Bucky I need to ask a huge favour, you can say no okay so don’t fee-“

“Doll ask me”

“Remember you can say no, okay? But I have to work tomorrow as someone’s off ill and it’s Saturday so I was wondering if it’s no issue for you to look after the kids for me?”

He doesn’t even think about his answer as he answers “of course, just tell me when I should come over”

“Really? Oh Bucky you’re a lifesaver, I’ll have to pay you next week if that’s okay?”

“No absolutely not Y/n, I’m not going to take money off you”

“But I can’t ask you to look after them for free”

“Your not, I’m not taking money off you doll and that’s final”

He gets up off the stool and moves into the living room, you hear him tell the kids that they’ll be spending the day with him and the kids cheering.

Ever since you sacked Poppy you’ve been struggling, luckily your boss has been understanding that you need to work certain hours however the hours you now work is way less then what you use to, tomorrow will be the day you work longer that five hours.

Ms Hopewell from next door normally looks after Jasper but since it was the weekend she didn’t need to, plus her daughter was taking her out for the day-

“Shit-fuck goddamnit!” So lost in your thoughts you didn’t realise how close the knife was to your finger that was until you felt the sharp pain and warm sensation of blood trickling down your hand.

“Shi-shoot Y/n are you okay?” Bucky comes running over stopping when he see the blood.

“I’m fine-is it suppose to hurt this much? It really hurts”

“Doll we need to get you to the hospital”

“No, no it’s fine I’ll put a plaster on it-can you hand me the first aid kit from the cabinet”

“Y/n you need stitches-“ He attempts

“I can’t. I don’t have insurance anymore” you mutter.

“What?”

“The kids have but I had to give mine up so I could have insurance for Jasper. I can’t afford to pay the hospital bill Bucky”

You’ve never been ashamed of the fact that you couldn’t afford treatment for yourself it was just one of those things, your kids or you - it was an easy choice. There’s only ever been one time that you slightly regretted that decision and that’s when you broke your ankle just before you moved into the apartment, it had healed fully after nearly a year of being broken and the only time it affects you is in the winter or when you stood up to fast.

You knew he was right about needing to get stitches as you was pretty sure you could see the bone - you couldn’t - but you couldn’t help the shame that crept into your veins admitting it to Bucky that you couldn’t afford to pay for said stitches. The thought of getting another letter with big bold red letters telling you that you was in debt made your heart pang with fear.

Despite the pain in your finger and the cramp that was starting to seep into your hand you was still not going to go to the hospital.

“I’ll pay for it doll. Come on let’s get it sor-“

“No absolutely not. I’m not your charity case Bucky, just pass the first aid kit over and I’ll put a plaster on” You snapped. Instantly regretting it when you see Bucky’s eyes go sad.

“I’m not saying you are Y/n but a plaster isn’t going to do anything doll, I honestly don’t mind paying please just… just let me help you out”

“I can’t Bucky okay, I just can’t ask you to do that for me.”

“Okay. Okay how about I take you to my work place we have a doct-“

“What part of I can’t afford it don’t you understand?”

“She’ll do it for free! If you could stop interrupting me for one second. Dr Cho will do it and she won’t charge I promise.”

Nibbling on your lip as blood splashed down the counter you started to shake your head.

“I can ring her now and ask her to come here if you want?”

“I-will she?”

“Of course give me a minute” he steps away to ring the doctor. “She’s on her way” he comes closer and helps you wrap your hand in the tea towel.

“Bucky, I’m really sorry for snapping I-“

“Y/n it’s fine okay. Cho’s on her way she’s nice and she’ll fix your finger”

“Momma what happened?” Cora goes pale at the sight of blood.

“Momma had a bit of an accident Princess Cora, can you go back to Mr Jasper and Alpine for me?” Bucky says before you had the chance.

“Okay but is momma okay?”

“Yes sweetheart she is, don’t worry”

Cora looks at you waiting for confirmation and when she gets a smile and a nod she runs back to her brother and Alpine.

“Thank you Buck-shit it’s really stinging”

“I know, she should be her-“ the knock at the door cuts him off, just before he walks off he kisses you on your forehead.

Hearing him talk to the doctor your fingers lightly grazed the part where he had kissed, a small shy smile made its way on your lips.

“Cho this is Y/n, Y/n this is Cho”

“Hi it’s a pleasure to meet you, James said that you’ve injured your finger?”

“Hi, and yeah I-I wasn’t looking at what I was doing and sliced myself” awkwardly lifting your hand up that now had dry blood on your arm.

“Hi Miss who are you?” Cora comes over with her hand on her hip.

“Hello I’m Helen”

“Hello Helen I’m Princess Cora, that’s momma, Mr Bucky and over there is Jasper and Alpine”

Helen curtsy’s at Cora making the six year old giggle “It’s nice to meet your family Princess Cora”

The implication that Bucky was apart of your family didn’t slip your notice and by the look of Bucky’s face it didn’t him either, neither one of you said anything to correct her though.

Cora walks off once again and Helen turns her attention back to you, unwrapping the towel she turned to Bucky telling him what she needed out of her medical bag.

With him distracted you looked at Helen “I-I can’t pay you so it’s okay just to put a plaster on it, it’ll be fine in a few days”

“Don’t be silly I’m not charging you” she says softly. “Thank you James, Y/n this might hurt but I’ll try and be as gentle as I can”

It was weird because it hurt until Bucky held your other hand. Strange.

“All done, if it’s easier for you I’ll come back here in a few weeks to remove the stitches”

You thank her once again as Bucky walks her to the door. 

“You okay?”

“Yeah I’m okay. Bucky I really am so-“

His lips cut you off. Said lips being attached to yours.

“Stop apologising, it’s my turn now - Y/n I’m really sorry for that” he says once he’s pulled away.

“Did you not like it? Was it bad?” You panic, it was your first kiss in over two years to you it was magical but not to him as he apologising.

“God no doll, to both questions. It’s just I should have asked first-why are you smiling like that?”

“C-can I have another one?”

Bucky chuckles just as his lips gently touch yours again.

A week after nearly chopping your finger off and having not one, not two but three kisses with Bucky, he knocked on the door and let himself in like you told him to do.

“Hi Buck”

“Hey doll, where’s my two favourite people in the world at?” Pressing a kiss to your temple.

“Jaspers down for a nap and Cora’s in her room, Buck she’s upset”

“Why? Who’s hurt her?”

“One of the girls in her class is having a sleepover and invited all the other girls in the class, apart from Cory”

Your heart breaking again remembering how sad she looked coming out of school, normally she was all smiles and talking a thousand miles per hour, filling you in on what she had done that day but not today. It wasn’t until you got home where she finally broke down in tears.

“When?”

“Tonight, apparently all the other girls knew and was told not to tell Cora”

“Is her friend going?”

“Abbie? No she’s in a different class so she’s hasn’t been invited either”

“Give me 20 minutes and I’ll be back”

“Where are you going?”

“It’s a surprise doll” he winks before kissing you and leaving.

And sure enough twenty minutes later he was walking back through the door. This time he had two bags in his hands.

“Bucky?”

“Me, you and the kids are having our own sleep over and it’s going to be way better than that snobby-“

“She’s six Bucky”

“And? She didn’t invite the best girl to her sleep over so there for… she’s snobby”

Shaking your head you couldn’t help but smile as he pulled different snacks and drinks out of the bag onto the coffee table.

“So I’m thinking that we’ll make a pillow fort, watch movies and eat snacks and I’ll order us a pizza from Cora’s favourite place?”

Every fibre in your being was screaming at you just say those three words but you couldn’t, not yet at least. You and Bucky wasn’t even dating all you did was share a few kisses, it’ll be weird to blurt out them words.

“Mr Bucky you’re here” Cora says coming out of her bedroom.

“I’m here sweetheart, did your momma not tell you what was happening tonight?”

“No, what’s happening?”

“Us four are having a sleepover”

“Really?” She squeals and runs into Bucky who lifts her up. “Thank you thank you! This is the best day ever!”

You hear Jasper call out for you from his room so you leave Bucky and Cora alone. Picking Jasper up from his bed and walk in to the living room where the two year old says something that stops not only you in your tracks but Bucky and Cora.

“Dada”

His little arms reaching out to the only man in the room. Bucky’s eyes bounce from you then to Jasper, then to you. You can see it in his eyes that he’s begging you to tell him what to do but you can’t, you’re completely frozen.

“Bucky” he says slowly as to make Jasper understand but all he receives is-

“Dada” Jasper giggles and repeats the word a few more times.

Bucky finally puts Cora down and slowly makes his way over to you two and when he’s just in reach Jaspers jumped out of your arms and into Bucky’s. As soon as Bucky has hold of him you walk out of the room going straight to your bedroom. Shutting the door you burst out crying.

“Doll? I’m coming in okay?” It had been close to ten minutes since you had walked out. “Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry”

“Why are you sorry for?” Wiping your tears he pulls you into his chest.

“I tried correcting him but he just wouldn’t stop, even Cora told him not to”

“Did she say anything to you? About their father I mean.”

“No she just looked really upset.”

“He erm, he-“

“Y/n you don’t have to tell me, it’s okay”

“No no I want to, I trust you. He left, well he kicked me and Cora out when I was four months pregnant. Everything was fine that morning when we woke up, he went to work I stayed at home and when I was putting his dinner out he came home with an envelope in his hands and threw it on the table, he walked into Cora’s bedroom walked out with a huge bag a few minutes later then did the same with our room” wiping the fresh tears that had fallen, you hadn’t spoken about that day to anyone - not even your family.

“He told me to open the letter so I did an-and inside was paper, right. When I read it, it said that he had given up his rights to Cora and the unborn baby. I asked him why he was doing this and he told me I ruined his life when Cora was born and I was doing it again with the new baby, said he wanted to live his life without being tied down. Kicked me and a crying three year old out, at first I thought he had been cheating on me but it turns out he wasn’t, there was no one on the side he just wanted to live his life”

Bucky was practically shaking, you could feel the anger coming from him.

“I found out a few months later that all of our friends knew what he was doing, promised him that they would keep his secret and that he started the process when I was a few weeks along. Everyday he told me and Cory he loved us, spoke to the bump saying he couldn’t wait to meet them all while he and everyone around us knew what he was doing.”

“Y/n… doll I’m so sorry”

“Why it’s not your fault, you know Cory never even mentioned him after it happened not once, I thought she would of because she was such a daddy’s girl three nearly four years old and she knew, she knew he didn’t want her anymore so she never asked when she was going to see him or called out for him during the night. If he had just told me he didn’t want me anymore that I would have been okay with bu-but to not want anything to do with his kids? It didn’t make sense to me”

“Has he even been in contact with you since?”

“No. I got a phone call once from his friend who told me that he was really struggling to sell the house and somehow it was my fault”

“How was it your fault?”

“God knows, he started rambling off then started calling me names when he heard Ms Hopewell’s son talking in the background, said I had moved on pretty quick when I hadn’t. He was there helping me fix up my bed after his mum found out I was sleeping on the floor”

“Doll-“

“Don’t apologise again please Bucky, I got through it I’m fine now. I think hearing Jasper call you dada made unwanted emotions come up you know? You’ve obviously realised that he doesn’t speak much even at two there’s only a few words he can say, I don’t know where I went wrong with that but I’ve tried, I’ve tried teaching him other words but he just don’t.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong Y/n you are an incredible mum, those two kids out there are the most sweetest loving people. Jasper will start talking soon, I just know it”

You tried, you really did.

“I love you”

Oh the silence was killing you.

“I love you too” he smiled softly.

He leant in for a kiss when-

“Is Bucky our new daddy?”

“Not yet sweetheart” not yet played in your mind over and over even as he stands up winking at you and taking Coras hand in his and walks back to the living room.

That night after all the excitement needed to come to an end all four of you climbed into your bed. Cora tucked snuggly in your arms, Jasper in Bucky’s, Bucky’s left arm over your waist pulling all three of you closer to him. Alpine slept curled up in a ball at the bottom.

For the first time in just over two years you went to sleep dried faced and peacefully.

And unbeknownst to you, it was the first time in a very very long time that Bucky only had happy dreams as he slept.

It had been a month since the sleepover and confession, within that month Bucky had practically moved in. Alpine spent all her time with Cora and Jasper, sleeping with Jasper at night.

Bucky had to go on a work trip, he’d been gone for just over two weeks now and to be truthful you was missing him even if you did speak to him everyday, him ringing every night to say goodnight to the kids and speaking to you for a few minutes before he had to leave.

It was Wednesday afternoon and you couldn’t stop worrying when Bucky hadn’t called you the night before or that day. As you was cleaning the apartment the knock at the door made you jump. Cora went to jump up and answer it but since you knew it wasn’t Bucky you told her to stop receiving a frown in response.

Answering the door you froze.

“Hi, are you Y/n?” Nodding your head at the man he smiled. “Hi I’m-“

“Momma it’s Captain America!” Cora squealed from behind you.

Turning his attention from you to Cora he smiled softly “hello you must be Miss Cora, Bucky’s told me all about you”

“You know Mr Bucky? Momma he knows Bucky”

“I-I know sweetie” your eyes still trained on the blonde “would you like to come in?”

“Thank you”

Pulling Cora closer to you, you watched as Steve walked into your home. You couldn’t put your finger on it but for some reason you didn’t like the feeling you had in your stomach. Steve walked into the living room where Jasper and Alpine was.

“Cora take Jasper and Alpine into your room please”

“Why momma?”

“Just do as I say”

Cora listened and picked up her younger brother who had Alpine in his arms and walked into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her you let out a deep breath.

“Hi, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, is Bucky alright?”

“Yeah he’s fine, he asked me to come over and pick you guys up. It’s better if he explains”

“Where is he?”

“He’s at the tower, I need you to pack some clothes and come with me”

“For how long?”

“Enough for a few days”

“What’s Bucky’s favourite book?”

“Huh?”

“What’s his favourite book?” You asked again with your arms crossed.

“The Hobbit, why?”

“Okay, I’ll be right back”

“Why did you ask me that?”

“Just to see if it was really you” Steve’s laugh made you smile as you walked into Cora’s room.

Once packed Steve stood there holding the bags in one hand and in the other Cora’s hand as they both stood watching with amused smiles as you struggled to get Alpine into the cat carrier that Bucky had brought over a few weeks earlier when you both took her to the vets.

After almost ten minutes of struggling all it took was Jasper to pick her up and place her inside.

Never in your life have you been more thankful for your two year old.

“Bucky gave me his car keys” giving Steve a questionable look, he smiled “he said that he brought car seats for the kids and since we don’t have any laying around the tower it would be better if I took his car”

You didn’t know that he had brought car seats…

“O-oh”

You watched in awe as Steve strapped Cora into her seat that was princess themed easily, when he caught you staring at him “Bucky and I practiced with Morgan, Pepper her mum helped us figure it out. Got to say we’re naturals now” he laughed.

“I honestly didn’t know he was doing this”

“He really likes you and these kids, don’t tell him I told you this but he’s been reading books about kid’s development and stuff.”

“No he hasn’t…” you say as you put your seatbelt on.

“He has. That’s how I found out about you guys”

“I-I’m-wow. I didn’t know”

Steve chuckles at your shocked expression, “like I said he really likes you”

The rest of the drive was quiet between you and Steve, Cora asking the blonde a million of questions about everything and anything and him answering all of them with as much enthusiasm as she gave.

You didn’t have very much time to stare in fascination at the huge tower as Steve pulled into the underground garage, the squeals from both Cora and Jasper had your attention going to where they were shouting, Bucky stood there with his hands deep in his pockets and a large smile on his face as the car pulled up to a stop, going straight to the back door where Jasper was sat.

“Hey little man”

“Dada!”

“I’m here buddy, come on let’s get you out of this seat, yeah”.

Steve had already gotten out and making his way to help Cora out of her seat.

“Bucky it’s Captain America and he’s my friend” she said making both men smile.

“Is he now? Am I still your friend?”

“Of course Bucky! Your my best friend”

You had removed yourself from the car and made your way to get the bags out of the boot when Steve’s voice stopped you.

“I’ll get them don’t worry”

“You’ve done enough-“

“No honestly it’s fine”

"Come on doll, he'll be fine plus everyone's dying to meet you” Bucky says as he places Jasper further onto his hip.

"Are you sure Steve?"

"I'm sure, don't worry"

Reluctantly leaving Steve to grab the bags you take Bucky's free hand and hold onto Cora's, all four of you make your way into the large building.

"Doll, after I introduce you to the team you and I need to talk” Bucky whispered in your ear making you nervous slightly. 

“Ah here’s the Manchurian Candidate’s little family, welcome I’m-“

“Iron man!” Cora cut him off.

“You know who I am then?”

“Yes! You fly in the air and it’s so cool!” She says excitedly.

“I fly too” Sam Wilson laughs - Cora’s eyes go wide at seeing him.

“T-the Falcon! Momma look it’s the Falcon a-and Black Widow an-and Scarlet Witch! A-a-and momma it’s Thor!” She spoke so fast she started to stutter, her entire body shaking with excitement making everyone chuckle.

You all heard hurried footsteps and a voice speaking with a hint of panic come closer. “Are they here? I’m sorry I’m late”

The loud gasp had everyone’s eyes snapping down to Cora - including yours and Bucky’s. “I-it’s Bruce! M-momma he-it-Bruce-Hulk” she lets go of your hand and runs up to a very confused looking Bruce “I’m-your-your hulk! You’re my favourite! I have so so so so so many toys of you don’t I momma? I do Bruce!” Once again everyone chuckles at her, not that she pays any attention to them, too busy looking up at the man who she’s pretended to be when she’s playing.

“Hi, you must be Cora?” Bruce says with a soft hue coating his cheeks.

Her eyes widen comically, turning to you slowly her chest rising and falling fast. “B-Bruce knows my name mo-momma”

“I know beautiful, just breathe okay”

“Can I hug you please?” She asks politely and nearly squeals when he nods and crouches down to her level. “This is the best day ever!” She declares whilst keeping her arms around Bruce’s neck.

Whilst the team was distracting the kids Bucky took your hand and led you both to his room. “I need to tell you something, and maybe ask you something.”

“Okay?”

“When I was in Wakanda Shuri promised me that if I ever wanted to go back I was welcome, and that I could live there, work there, have a life there and… and doll I want to retire, I’m done with this life, I’ve been doing it for so long.”

“Do it.” You said after a few minutes of silence, the hopeful look in his eyes hurt your heart, and even though it meant that what ever you two were was now at an end and you would have to explain to the kids that they wouldn’t see him or Alpine again, you couldn’t find it in yourself to ask him not to go.

“What?”

“Retire, move to Wakanda and have an amazing life there.” You smiled softly at him. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, you deserve to be free Bucky.”

“B-But that’s the thing Y/n, I have you and the kids and I don’t want to leave you three behind.”

“You can always visit or we could visit you?”

Moving closer to you, taking your hands in his, he shakes his head. “No doll, I don’t think you understand. I’m in love with you and I love your kids like they’re my own and I’m happier than I have ever been since meeting you three, I want to ask if you will move with me? If-if not I can stay here with you, I don’t want to lose my family”

For the past year Bucky lived happily in Wakanda, true to her word Shuri welcomed him with open arms and even showed him a farm house that she got built just for him - right where his hut use to be. He had his own farm, his own sanctuary and he loved every single part of it.

Bucky would admit that he had missed New York, especially Steve and the little life he had for himself there but he knew he made the right decision by walking away from it all.

As he was walking towards his home some of the local children were playing with a football, all stopping their game to run over to him, all wanting a hug from the White Wolf as they still called him.

“Daddy!”

“Ah, there’s my little girl! How are you princess?”

“I’m okay, are we going home?”

“You can stay out and play for a little bit? I don’t think momma will be mad.”

“No, I want to go home now.” Watching as she waves goodbye to her friends, she lifts her arms out for him to pick her up.

“You are so heavy now.”

“No I’m not!” She giggles.

Walking through the gate and down the pathway Bucky opens the door, helping his little girl take her shoes off as well as his own, Alpine trots over to them giving them a welcome home meow.

“Momma we’re home!”

They both stand there hearing footsteps come closer to them. “Did you have fun Cory?”

“I did momma, where’s Jaspy?”

“He’s in the living room baby. Hey handsome.”

“Hi beautiful.”

When Bucky asked if you would move to Wakanda with him, you was skeptical, it’s not that you didn’t want to go but you had two children to think about. You asked Cora about it and she seemed happy about moving to a new place, Tony let Bucky take a jet for the four of you to fly out to see how the kids took to the place.

Cora’s jaw dropped wide open when she met Shuri. “A-A real princess!” She stuttered, you thought she was going to collapse the second Shuri opened her arms for the six year old to hug her. Cora instantly made friends with some of the children she met, and when she met the farm animals it was that moment she was sold on moving there.

Jasper seemed happy too, he was fascinated by the goats and wanted to touch each and every one of them. Bucky told you that Alpine now had competition.

After a few days in the beautiful land you came back to New York, the next day you sat the kids down and asked them if they wanted to stay - both shaking their heads- or go to Wakanda - both of them screaming ‘yes’. A week later both yours and Bucky’s apartments were empty and ready for new people to call the places home.

“How are my babies doing?”

“Jasper and Alpine decided to wreck the play room.” You both chuckled. “And this little one has been very active today.” Bucky’s hands went straight to your growing bump, his eyes lighting up at feeling his third child move around in the love of his life’s stomach.

Five months ago you found out you were pregnant, and whilst you was happy you couldn’t help but feel nervous about Bucky’s behaviour changing towards Cora and Jasper, when you told him he burst out crying and kept saying that he was going to be a dad again, he kissed you and your stomach. It wasn’t just you that was scared but Cora was as well, Bucky promised that he would love all his children equally, later that night he promised you that nothing would change and that he is still Cora and Jaspers dad regardless.

“I love you and I love our perfect family.”

Tags: @imcinnamoons | @pigeonmama | @capsbestgirl77

[calamitydarcy]

jaspis playing with each others' hair when they get too tired to fight. soft gestures that look almost caring, almost romantic out of context. holding each other close, talking about their pasts, even exchanging a kiss here and there. "i hate you" and "i love you" thrown about. floating on the surface and watching the stars twinkle through the night sky. wishing that these tender moments would last forever, hoping that maybe this time they will.

but they don't, of course, because they stop being tired. they regain their energy, they become restless, ticking time bombs. one of them sets the other off and it's back down into darkness, anger, and pain.

[ashtheodd]

Log 1

[slimgems]

Can you draw more Skinny and Carnelian I Love these two and I Love your'e Art so much!!❤️

aaaa thank you!! expect lots more of these two ;v;

[shirii]

buff orange giant and smol blue gem x 2

[littlestarcafe]

For the character ask, Lapis Lazuli ^^

SEND ME A CHARACTER AND I’LL DO THIS;

Sexuality Headcanon: Bisexual Gender Headcanon: GenderfluidA ship I have with said character: I don’t have anyA BROTP I have with said character: LapidotA NOTP I have with said character: JaspisA random headcanon: Lapis quite enjoys bath bombs, mostly because they have cool paterns and make water looke ven prettier than she imaginedGeneral Opinion over said character: She is a good character, she has her moments and tbh, they all are fine, but I really would like to know more about her, how was her life back in Homeworld before the war? Her relationship with other gems back then? and also more moments with the Crystal Gems, specially Steven

[stapisislove-lapivenislife]

Admin Speech ~ 19/2/2017

As I search for Steven/Lapis content for today, I aware that there is an event this week and today is the last day. It is #LapidotWeek. Well, I was thinking when will LapivenWeek/Bomb will occur? As I ship this about 2 years, I don’t saw any event for this ship yet like we have pewey, jaspis  and other ships have their event. Also, are they any event for Steven x Gem yet? Aside of that, I just  forgot about Valentine’s day. I search back for the date but sadly I can’t find any Steven/Lapis fanarts. Like I don’t want to sexual just giving card or flower but no. It caught tears in my eyes a bit...

[stereonobe-no-futo]

JASPIS BOMB DAY 6: Pranks/Tomfoolery

“LAPIS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE LUNCH”

---

meanwhile, in a nebulous representation of steven’s kitchen...

alright, im gonna be skipping the au one for now since i actually want to do something NICE for that one

just went with a quick and sloppy doodle with this one because i couldnt really think of something nice and well-composed in such a short amount of time, OH WELL

sooooooo, looks like i’m not gonna be able to do every prompt in time before the end of the day, so im probably only gonna be able to do one more tonight and then the other two are gonna have to wait until tomorrow :c

[clarinet-keys]

you say "you again?" as if you didn't just come to the lapidot tag trying to start something. And yeah, I do consider the lapidot doodle as better evidence that the ship will be canon. I'm not gonna dig through RS' likes to find out if she really did like that jaspis art, but I'll take your word for it. I think it's likely that RS supports multiple pairings; people are allowed to like more than one thing, especially the creator of the characters. The difference is that of the three (lapidot, amedot, and jaspis) RS has only drawn lapidot in a situation that is undeniably romantic. And no, RS drawing jasper and lapis in jeans is not undeniably romantic.

In terms of canon, which I notice goes mostly undiscussed in pro-jaspis/anti-lapidot circles, lapis and jasper are "really bad for each other". the chance of it happening is next to zilch. lapidot, on the other hand, is a relationship that is very close in canon and, of course, is still developing. the recent bomb showcased how deeply they care for one another, and how lapis' absence affected peridot. You probably don't share the same opinion, but it's clear to most that lapis is coming back. I've no doubt her relationship with peridot will only grow closer when she does. In essence, I guess what I'm trying to say here is that RS liking amedot/jaspis fanart on tumblr basically has no bearings on what happens in canon, and it's pointless to try to make that argument. You know it's pointless. After all, the reality is that Lapis isn't crawling nude into Jasper's lap, she's punching her across the sea with a giant watery fist.

I doubt any of this was particularly convincing to you, so all I'm gonna ask is that you keep the ship hate to yourself and out of the tag. Thanks.

@fancysaxophone you again?? I’m guessing you mean the lapidot evangelion “kiss”, which I gotta say is nothing compared to lapis sitting naked on top of jasper while jasper holds her lol And brah she’s drawn jaspis too, quit kidding yourself son

[ero-eri]

Last day: DemonxAngel Au. @jaspis-bomb

Jasper is Ame’s bigger sister soo she is a minotaur and Lapis a mermaid, I came up with a design with wings-like-fins.

[sapphire-the-crystal-gem]

Jaspis Bomb: Day 8- Anything

[aw-crepes]

I might be late but here's my last day of Jaspis Bomb : Whatever u want Probably singing this https://youtu.be/nNpW8KZOVhw

[stereonobe-no-futo]

JASPIS BOMB DAY 4: Date/Hangout

went with something a bit more lowkey than what the prompt probably actually meant but oh well

this one turned out a bit better, i think. backgrounds still make me wanna die tho

HALFWAY DONE, I SO GOT THIS

[ero-eri]

Proobably the last malachite I draw for now! @jaspis-bomb

Warm Sunset.

[sapphire-the-crystal-gem]

Jaspis Bomb: Day 7- Headcanons Lapis would probably love treating Jasper like a big fluffy tiger

[vintage-squid]

Coming Up For Air

Prompt for Jaspis Bomb!  Day 5: Favourite AU (I know, I know, we’re a day late)  Summary: Pregnant with her selkie mate’s babe, and very near her due date, Lapis is glad to have Jasper’s sea lion cousins, Rose, Garnet, and Amethyst, there to help when the situation turns dire. 

Selkies can take the form of both seal and human, shedding their beastly coat to do so. Cruel humans will steal this pelt, forcing the trapped selkie under their bidding. Lapis is not one of them, however! To read more in this au, and for a little back story as to how this two came together, check out our series on AO3! 

Warnings: This is a birth fic, but nothing too graphic; mentions of blood and nakedness at worst. 

Again, this wouldn’t have been possible without my Jasper, @xensilverquill Love you babe! 

------------------------------------------------

With a pained groan, Lapis lowered herself onto the couch next to Jasper with Garnet's assistance. The three new selkies had arrived a few weeks ago late one evening. Lapis was glad she had no neighbours; that had been a lot of noise, and even more naked women. She hadn't minded once things settled down - well, as much as they could with Amethyst around anyway. Like Jasper, the others often chose to go without clothes, and now that Lapis' middle was very round, it wasn't unusual to see her lacking constricting layers as well.

At the moment, she wore a loose fitting crop top without a bra and stretchy capris sans underwear. The dark skinned selkie sat on her other side, keeping her safely surrounded and protected, something the very pregnant woman appreciated. She ran her hand in slow circles over her swollen belly with a small smile. Though carrying was exhausting, she was excited to be near the end. Any day now, Rose had said.

Tucking her face into the side of Jasper's breast with a deep inhale, the pregnant woman struggled to find a position that didn't press uncomfortably against her bladder.

-----------------------------------------------

"Easy there," the white-maned selkie chided, wrapping her arms carefully around the woman. Silently, she nodded her thanks to Garnet. The dark-haired selkie got on her nerves no less than the other did, but she was a sensible and gentle enough sort around the human. Jasper nuzzled the top of Lapis' head. "With you being so close, you've gotta be careful, little blue. How're you feeling?"

-----------------------------------------------

Wrapped in Jasper's arms, Lapis smiled a little wider, kissing the breast she was tucked against before carefully snuggling closer. "I know, I know, you worry-wort." The chiding was only half hearted, however; her lover's ever constant watching was appreciated. It had saved her a few times already, when the persistent artist refused to let pregnancy slow her down from her active lifestyle.

"I'm a little uncomfortable right now, though," she answered honestly, leg bumping into Garnet's. "Little one is moving around a lot, and I can't tell if I'm hungry or need to pee again."

------------------------------------------------

“Won't be much longer," Jasper promised. Flick her chin at Garnet, the two selkies helped to move the woman into a more comfortable position. Twisting her on her side, Jasper kneeled on the floor beside the couch. Her large hand skimmed over Lapis' belly, and she leaned forward to nuzzle the soft, bared skin. If she concentrated hard enough, she could feel their little pup kicking and wiggling inside. It seemed the babe was just as eager to come into the world as their parents were to meet them.

"Having fun, you two?" came the deep, chime-like voice of their midwife. Rose poked her head around the corner, her curly and rosy hair something else to behold as she moved. She took a seat in the chair across from the sofa, brown eyes bright and laughing. "Jasper, you look as anxious as my Greg did when we were waiting for our little Steven. I never would've thought it!"

-------------------------------------------------------

"I can't wait," she grinned, with only a small twinge of pain that time - those were definitely getting more frequent, weren't they? Shifting to lay on her back was an ordeal, though one definitely made easier with both Jasper and Garnet's help. Situated against the pillows, she pet through the thick, white mane, smiling as her mate nuzzled her swollen belly. Garnet had sat on the far arm of the couch and was carefully lifting her foot to massage out the deep rooted tension; it wasn't easy carrying around this much extra weight.

About to reply to Rose with a giggle, Lapis suddenly gasped sharply, holding onto her belly with both hands. "Ah!" A sharper pain had rippled down through her abdomen, before it felt as if she had seriously wet herself. "Um, g-guys?"

----------------------------------------------------------

"Lapis!" The bloody, womb-scent of her mate's water breaking washed over Jasper like a fierce breaker. In instant her mane was on end and she was clutching the little human's hand. She rumbled low in her throat, gently stroking Lapis' face a moment before the gravity of the moment hit her.

The baby was coming.

"Rose," the selkie snarled, voice strained and tight with sudden tension. "Right now might be a good to do that mid-wifing thing."

"Calm down now," the pink-maned selkie chided, coming up beside them. Her voice was stern as she nudged Lapis to sit up. "Neither of you need to be getting too excited now. I need you to keep your head especially, Jasper. All right? For the sake of your mate and the little one. Now you and Garnet help me move her to the bed. Amethyst, I'm going to need those towels and sheets!"

-----------------------------------------------------

Lapis clutched her mate's hand until her knuckles nearly whitened. The pain wasn't climaxing yet - more of a strong menstrual cramp cutting through her abdomen to her lower back - but the young woman was suddenly terrified. The baby was coming. She was going to give birth. Trying not to hyperventilate, she tried to focus on the way Jasper stroked her face, or Garnet's hands rubbing her lower legs in a soothing, repetitive motion. As the wave of pain passed, lasting a few seconds that had felt like eternity, she was able to sit up slowly with Rose's assistance.

Garnet nodded to the instructions, reaching to hold Lapis' free hand. "If the pain has stopped, it is safe for you to stand and walk to the bedroom if you feel able to do so. We'll be here for you," she smiled, patting the back of the hand she held. When the pregnant woman nodded her consent, she was very carefully helped to her feet, supported before she could sway too far.

Amethyst had poked her head out of the kitchen doorway when the commotion had started, dropping her partially eaten sandwich on the floor. "Ahh that baby's coming!? Towels. Right! Uhhh." Shit oh shit shit - where had she put those? "Rooose...."

------------------------------------------------------------------

“In the hall closet, Amie,” Rose reminded her gently, patting the younger selkie’s shoulder in passing. She spared a moment to smile at her protégé. “We all just need to stay calm for now, and that goes for you, too. Don’t worry, all right?”

Meanwhile, Garnet and Jasper guided the woman to the bed. They laid her down gently on the sheets that had been spread out beforehand. Not once did the larger selkie let go of her mate’s hand. She rumbled reassuringly against Lapis’ skin. Brushing a stray lock out of the human’s face, she plastered on a smile for her benefit.

“Everything’s gonna be alright, okay?” she purred. “We’ve got you and the pup, little blue.”

----------------------------------------------------------------

"I am completely calm!" She slapped her hands over her mouth after the outburst. "Sorry.." Lapis turned a small, tight, smile towards her mate. "I'm really glad you're here.." She didn't know what she would do without Jasper's unshakable strength to lean on, not to mention Rose's calm certainty. It eased the new mother to know someone with plenty of experience was looking after her too.

"Is there anything you need?" Garnet's voice questioned from the other side of the bed.

"Maybe another pillow to prop up on? Laying back this far is a little uncomfortable.." Lapis shifted, a small part of her enjoying the feeling of the cool sheets on her bare legs. "And..maybe get me out of these capris? They're all wet and sticky now.."

--------------------------------------------------------------------

While she nodded to Garnet to see to the pillow situation, the larger selkie made quick work of her mate's pants. She threw the article of clothing into the laundry bin in the corner of the room.  Once again she gently palmed Lapis' belly, and if she concentrated hard enough she swore she could feel the fluttering heart beat of their pup just beneath its mother's own. At the sound of light footsteps, Jasper glanced up.

"Comfortable?" Rose asked the mother-to-be as she walked. "Well, comfortable as you can be considering the circumstances?" Pulling a chair up beside the bed, she patted Lapis' shoulder and smiled. "I've seen my fair share of pups born from selkies and humans. Everything's going normally so far, sweetie. It'll be at least a few hours before things get serious again. We'll keep your company until then. In the meantime... I know you must be curious about the tales of your mate and your pup, of their people. Would you like to hear one?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone began to move around her, and Lapis didn’t know who to follow. Bend forward for the pillow, or lean back to remove her pants. Settling on pausing Garnet so Jasper could remove the discomfort from her lower body, the woman then allowed herself to be eased forward so another pillow could be propped behind her. Much more comfortable now, considering the situation,  she smiled as her mate's hand rubbed long circles over the swell of her belly. "That feels really nice.."

Glancing over to Rose, she gave a small nod. "Yeah, I'm doing okay." Garnet sat in the reading nook under the window, close enough if help was needed without crowding the pregnant woman. Amethyst came trotting in soon after, towels stacks higher than her head. She dumped them on the ground at the foot of the bed before clambering into the mattress below Lapis' feet to listen in.

"Thank you, Rose," the human murmured, hand resting over her mate's. "I'm glad to have you all here. Jasper's told me a bit about herself, but I haven't heard many tales of selkie's other than the myths they tell in town. I would love to hear one. Please," she added on with a sheepish smile.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Laughing low in her throat, Rose's brown eyes gazed kindly upon the woman. There were, sadly, too few humans like Lapis. Humans who were not only accepting of selkies but trustworthy enough to  keep the secret of their kind and not steal their irreplaceable skins. (Involuntarily her hands twitched to feel the leather of her own coat. She chided herself gently, reminding herself that it was safely tucked away with the others' coats in an unlocked chest in Lapis' house.) And it was the exceptionally rare human that could stand to bear selkie pups.

"Hm, let me think," she hummed thoughtfully, leaning forward to rest her head in her chin. "You know, Lapis, you remind of some cousins of mine. They've been centuries gone from this world, and that tribe of selkie no longer swims the seas. But I'll tell you the story of the ribbon seals."

-------------------------------------------------------------

The laugh brought a gentler smile to Lapis' face; Rose was a unique soul in this world - selkie or human. She really lived up to the beauty of her namesake. Holding Jasper's free hand up to her cheek, she lay upon it, nuzzling the large palm. Her other hand nudged her mate's lower in the curve of her belly. "Can you keep rubbing while she talks? It feels really good..I think the pup can feel it too.."

Kissing the palm, she breathed calm and nodded towards Rose. "That's so sad.. What happened to them? Why aren't there anymore? I bet they were beautiful, weren't they?" Nuzzling her mate, Lapis mustered a quiet laugh. "No more beautiful than a leopard seal though."

At the window, Garnet had turned to look out over the sea; she had heard this tale before, it was an old favourite of hers. Amethyst had heard it as well, but that didn't matter. Every story Rose told was one to hold onto again and again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Anything you want, Lap," Jasper rumbled. She kept rubbing at her mate's belly, and she leaned in to nuzzle Lapis' neck. The selkie snorted at the human's last comment. "The Slétt Kló is fiercest and strongest selkie clan of them, in the south or otherwise. Haven't ever met a ribbon selkie, but I'm pretty sure I could take 'em in a fight and beat 'em for sheer looks."

---------------------------------------------------------------

"I have no doubt you're stronger and more gorgeous, babe," Lapis murmured fondly. She leaned in closer to her larger mate, taking comfort in their increased contact. The white mane draped over them both as she nuzzled Jasper's temple with a soft exhale. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"You won't be saying that in a few hours!" Amethyst piped up from the foot of the bed with a cackle. Even Garnet's glare could only silence her to a muffled chuckle.

------------------------------------------------------------------

"And if you're done posturing in front of your mate," Rose chided gently, a laugh in her voice, "I'll start." Clearing her throat, she began---

At the beginning of the world, the Goddess shaped us from the sand and the surf, then breathed life into our seafoam bodies. There were many selkies in the sea in those days, and all were beloved of Her. Yet the greatest of their number and the true pride of the Goddess were her own daughters, the Matriarchs of the clans.

Now each Matriarch had her own special gift that set her apart from the others. For instance, Tönn, the walrus Matriarch, had teeth sharp as a puffer's spines and long as the Arctic night. With a single bite she could cleave entire icebergs in two, and it is said it was she who carved the great ice flows of the north. Another, Ofra, the leopard Matriarch, was the fiercest of warriors. With her bone-shattering bite and her flesh-rending fury she defended her kin against all danger. Even orca packs fled in terror in her wake.

A smirk passed the lips of one of the listeners. Jasper rumbled with pride at the mention of her ancient ancestor, of the legacy her pup would inherit. Rose quirked an eyebrow at her before continuing.

The youngest Matriarch, however, was different. For unlike her sisters, Vetra had no special gift.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Once everyone had settled, to Lapis' relief, the story could finally begin. She listened raptly, unconsciously beginning to lean forward to catch every word. Selkies had such a gorgeous history... She wished she could be a part of such a proud heritage. Looking down, she rubbed her belly with a smile. "Hear that? You have a wonderful history, and I know your story is only going to make it more grand.."

----------------------------------------------------------------

"Heheh, the pup'll make my whole clan proud," Jasper laughed, pride ringing from deep within her. Climbing up on the bed, she sat gingerly beside the human. "Well, what's left of us, anyway..."

Vetra was a sleek and fair selkie, with eyes the deepest blue and hide black as the bottomless ocean. Of all the Matriarchs, she was most at one with the Goddess and the sea. None of her sisters could real the tides and the winds and the currents like she could. She could swim, swift and graceful as a dolphin, through doldrums and storm-tossed waters alike. She was friends with nearly all the folk of the sea, and so kind and sweet was her manner that not even the most ill-tempered bull shark would think to harm her.

Yet she was no great Matriarch like her kin. Her sisters surpassed her in nearly every respect. Always they stronger, quicker, more cunning than the Goddess' youngest child. Vetra did not have Tonn's teeth or Ofra's courage. She could never hope to live up to their image. She had nothing, and she wept to be so dull next to her siblings.

Oh, but if she could have only known how brightly she would shine in the end.

One full moon, the Goddess called her precious daughters together, to join Her in the silvering dance of the night upon the waves. The Matriarchs got to talking amongst themselves, boasting of their accomplishments to their mother, of what they would bring to Her in tribute to prove their devotion. It eventually got to be a game between them. Some barked, "Mother, I will dive to the deepest fathoms and bring You back their dark wonders." Others yipped, "Mother, I will climb upon the rocky shore and bring you back treasures from the land, from kingdoms our people have only ever heard of in gullsong."

"Mother," Vetra piped up boldly above the others, "I would bring you a better treasure, one grander and more beautiful than all the wonders and treasures of the earth."

Her sisters jeered at her. For what gift could be better than what they had already offered? And even if such a thing existed, how could their power-less little sister ever hope to find it and bring it back? But the Goddess bade them silent, and Vetra went on.

"Mother," she cried, "I would bring you the sun, the moon, and the stars."

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[2015-08-28 7:56:21 AM] Lapis Lazoomerboobie: The bed dipped with Jasper's added weight, but Lapis curled with it eagerly. She tucked herself as far into her mate as possible, all but hiding under the great white hair as she listened to Rose's hypnotic storytelling. "They'll be jealous.. You're going to teach our pup how to be the strongest hunter in the seas," she whispered with a fond smile.

Head resting in the crook between Jasper's shoulder and neck, Lapis breathed in and out, slow and even. She could feel the beginnings of another small contraction coming on. Stubbornly keeping silent, it would pass quickly she was sure, Lapis tried to focus on the tale to take away from her pain.

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Rose smiled to see the two mates nuzzle up to one another as she told the story. It made her ache for her own lover and pup. Greg and Steven were thousands of miles away on the other side of the world, awaiting her return along with Pearl and all of her clan. She could scarcely wait to return to them - though it warmed her to know that Jasper and Lapis would soon know the same joy of a family.

Her tale wove long into the afternoon. Vetra's journey to bring the sun and the moon and the stars to the Goddess had been a great odyssey. By the end, all the sea loved and knew her name, and she became one of the greatest Matriarchs their people had ever known.

... and so Vetra brought back the treasures of the heavens upon her own coat. The silvery white light of the heaven's starry band was forever set in her skin. And the Goddess named that starry band - the Milky Way - the Vetrarbrautin in honor of her bravest young one. And forever after Vetra, her clan, and all seals of her kind bore the very heavens upon their coat, moving ribbons of starlight in the sea.

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Held safely within Jasper's arms, Lapis listened raptly to the ancient tale. She was safe here, but how she ached to be able to experience the wonders that Vetra had known. Oh to be a selkie.. One with the sea and sands. Her dreaming was cut short as a ripple of pain went through her. Another contraction. They had been persisting throughout the afternoon, occurring more frequently as the tale drew to a close.

Lapis gasped, jolting from her secure warmth against her mate as a significantly more intense burn squeezed her lower abdomen. "Aahh...ow..Jasper..," she whimpered, clutching the other's large thigh. Breath short, she wrapped an arm over her belly for a tense moment.

Twenty seconds. Garnet had counted twenty seconds before Lapis relaxed - collapsed was probably a better description - back into her pillows. "You're getting close."

Forehead damp, the pregnant woman glanced over with a weak smile. "I can do it. Just like Vetra got the stars.."

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A low whine echoed up from the selkie's throat as she leaned down to nuzzle her mate. Throughout the tale she could feel Lapis' body tense up more and more. Their was pup was going to be a fighter, and indeed they seemed to be fighting their way out of their dame's body at this very moment. Jasper glared at her mate's belly, as if her gaze would admonish the little selkie within into a gentler birth.

"And you must be as strong and brave and patient as her, young one," Rose encouraged gently. She stood up from her chair to go and kneel at the foot of the bed. "Ame, dear, will you go take of few of those handcloths and wet them in some cold water for me? Garnet, I'll need those hands of yours to help ease the passage. There's a dear, both of you."

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A keen stretched from her throat as she tried to bury herself within her mate. Panting as the wave of pain began to pass again, she shuddered as some of it lodged within her lower back. "J-Jasper? Can you rub my l-lower back? I-It hurts..."

Amethyst hurried to do as Rose requested, jumping off the bed and scrambling for the pile she had brought over. She winced at Jasper's growl as her movements jolted Lapis. Lowering her head to bare the back of her neck submissively, she slunk towards the bathroom with her cloths in hand.

Garnet had stood from her spot at the window sill and resituated herself next to Rose. One hand balanced her weight on the mattress while the other reached out to begin massaging around Lapis' hips. "Easy, young one," she crooned, working to soothe the over tight muscles.

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Gently prodding about here and there about Lapis' lower end, the midwife hummed thoughtfully. Her lips turned downward in concentration. This pup was certainly a large one, and it was being stubborn in its passage into the world. Rose tried her best not to let her concern show on her face. This was not going to be an easy birth.

"Jasper, I don't need you growling at and scaring my assistants right now," she warned the leopard selkie sharply. "I'm sure Lapis would rather have you here than not, but if you insist on being a bully then I will escort you out of here myself. Do you understand?"

The leopard selkie only snorted before leaning down to nuzzle Lapis and massage her lower back as she asked.

"Now Lapis, dear, your contractions are getting closer together. The pup is coming very soon. in a few minutes I'm going to need you to start pushing, all right?"

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It felt weird to have someone touching her down there while she was in pain - that was somewhere she normally associated with pleasure, and Jasper. Now, however, she felt heavy and uncomfortable. Groaning, she buried her face back into her mate, hair sticking to her temples. "You stop that and you stay here, damnit," she growled, clutching the large selkie. She didn't want to have to go through this alone just because Jasper couldn't control herself.

Amethyst returned, wet towels in hand, as Lapis was nodding to Rose's instructions. "Here you go," she whispered, handing them over before stepping back again, uncertain of what to do with herself now. She had only been to a handful of birthings with Rose so far, unlike Garnet, and didn't have the intuition to know what to do next like the more experienced midwives.

Lapis whimpered as another contraction hit. The hand on her belly felt the muscles harden with the strain. Garnet had guided her legs open, baring her to the other women in the room as she tried to keep her breathing steady.

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“Ame, sweetie," the matron said, calling the youngest selkie's attention. "You're doing a fine job helping me, and I'm going to need you to help me a little more now. Will you go and hold Lapis' other hand? That way she's two big and strong selkies to hang on to in a minute." She patted the human woman's knee. "Easy there, young one. You're doing fine so far."

"Don't worry, little blue, I'm not going anywhere," Jasper murmured in Lapis' ear. Her heart was pounding like mad in her chest, and she struggled not to let her worry show. She had brawled with sharks, braved storms, and bitten chunks out of orcas. And yet watching her little mate in pain was enough to make her want to whimper like a lost pup.

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Amethyst jumped at her name, nodding so fast her hair fell over her other eye. "Y-Yes! Got it! I can do that!" She scrambled to the other side of the bed, cautiously climbing up this time so as not to disturb Lapis too much. Wiggling closer to the pregnant woman, she offered over her hand, patting the top of the slim one that was given in return. "I know I'm scrappy and really annoying, but I've seen Rose and Garnet do this a bunch of times. You're in totally good hands right now, I promise."

Lapis wheezed a breathless laugh, giving the smaller hand a small squeeze. "You're no more annoying than Jasper some days, don't worry about it." She tried to smile, but a grimace overtook her features instead. The next contraction was coming fast.

"Nnnn Jasper..." Tears pricked in the corner of her eyes. Her body was hurting, she was scared, she didn't know if she could do this but she didn't have any other choice.

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"All right, Lapis," the midwife rumbled, her voice dropping in pitch as her concentration sharpened. Grabbing a washcloth, she wiped the woman's forehead down and patted her shoulder. "When your next contraction comes, I need you to push, understand? Push as hard as you can. Garnet, we've got those blankets set aside, right?"

Meanwhile the leopard selkie was growing worried. Bringing her arm around Lapis' chest, she whine sympathetically under breath. Everything breath and touch said, "I'm here, I'm here." She tried to keep the panic at bay, tried not to think of her mate suffering. Everything was going to be all right - it had to be.

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Lapis nodded, another whimper passing her lips. "I understand.." Her breathing was uneven as flares of pain coiled down her belly and centering between her legs. The agony peaked at the height of the contraction, drawing a scream from the slender woman. She clutched the hands around her own tight enough to break bone should the selkies have been made of weaker stuff. Sobbing, she tried to keep pushing as Rose had said. Something was wrong. She had never done this before, but a deeper instinct said it shouldn't be this way.

Finally, finally , the contraction ended, her muscles loosening again as her body collapsed back again. Her scream died into a choked sob as she released Amethyst to cling entirely to her mate. Shaking hard, she wanted to curl up and hide, to be done with this already. Even though she was no longer tense, her body burned with waves of pain.

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Sensing something was amiss almost as soon as Lapis did herself, the Matriarch looked up from where she was keeping an eye on the mother-to-be's condition. She exchanged a worried glance with Garnet. Though the human might not have been able to smell it herself, there was blood in the air where it should not have been. No, the bleeding should not have started until after the pup had come out along with the afterbirth, and-

"Bl-blood..." Jasper's eyes had gone wide, and not with the pain of her mate's hand squeezing hers. She was sharking and glancing back and forth between Lapis and the midwife. "Rose, why am I smelling her blood? What's going on? This can't be normal!"

"... Garnet, Jasper, I need you to help me carry Lapis down to the shore. Amethyst, grab my skin from the chest. Hurry now."

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Amethyst was beginning to hyperventilate. She had never witnessed a birth go this astray before. Trembling, she could only nod to her Matriarch before dashing from the room.

Shoulders shaking with each sob, Lapis clung to her mate desperately. Why was she still hurting so much? Shouldn't the pain have eased when the contraction passed? Terrified, she tried to lose herself in the smell and feel of her lover, only to be snapped back to reality by the selkies' words. "Blood!?" Sitting up too fast, she cried out and curled over her belly. Tear filled eyes looked up at Rose. "Why is there blood? What's happening to me? Is the pup going to be okay?"

Garnet lay a hand over her belly, expression neutral as always. "Just keep breathing, alright? We've got you. Jasper, you take her upper body, stay close with her."

Down in the kitchen, her mess on the counter and sandwich still in the floor, the youngest selkie threw open the chest by the back door. There was her pelt, and Garnet's..ah! Rose's! Clutching it to her chest, she turned to return to the others, only to see the group carefully making their way towards her with a sobbing Lapis in their arms.

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“Thank you, Ame," Rose muttered her breath in a rush, hooking the her dark brown coat over her arm. Just as quickly though she turned back with a snarl at Jasper, the expression truly terrifying on the midwife. The two large selkies had been arguing back and forth since they had begun carrying Lapis towards the door that lead down the landing the beach.

"Rwy'n tyngu, Rose, os unrhyw beth yn digwydd i naill na'r llall ohonynt..."

" Moel eich dannedd yn mi eto, welp, " the midwife growled back, " a byddaf yn rhwygo'r eich gwddf allan gyda fy nannedd. "

It was a challenge getting down the long steps on the cliff-face to the beach below. Rain was pouring down from the skies above, and thunder rolled in the distance. Every time they went over a bump or jostled the woman in their hold, Jasper leaned down and rumbled a broken apology to her mate.

"Please, little blue," she growled, "just hold on. It's going to be okay..."

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Being lifted from the bed and supported in the air was even more uncomfortable than before. She had nothing to brace against, and writhing too hard in pain could cause her to fall. Though she trusted Jasper's strength, everything about this terrified her.

Partway down the stairs, another contraction hit. Lapis' screams echoed over the crash of the waves below, more ragged than before as her body refused to give up her babe. She clawed at the hands holding her, sobbing and pleading for the pain to end. It was too much; she didn't want to do this anymore! Jasper's murmuring was the only thing to break through her haze of agony - everything else was a blurr.

"Make it stop, Jasper, please, please, it hurts..I hurt.. The baby, oh god the baby.. Jasper the baby - aaah!"

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A real whine escaped the leopard selkie's throat now. Never had she heard her little human in so much pain. She cast a pained snarl at the other three selkies present before leaning down to nuzzle what little comfort she could offer for her mate. The grave truth of the situation sat like a lead weight in her chest: if they did not fix this soon, Lapis would die.

"Now let's lay her in the surf, easy now," Rose commanded. The selkies brought the little human into the frothing waves. They kept the woman's head just above the water as they moved deeper into the sea.

As Garnet and Jasper held her up, the midwife took a few moments to don her skin. The pale, pink-haired woman disappeared, and in her place of a mighty sea lion bull emerged from the water. A loud roar escaped her as she dove beneath the waves. A moment later, the sea around them was swallowed by a white light.

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Panting raggedly through her sobs, the tortured woman yelped with a weak thrash as she was lowered into the icy water. It was brutal on her body, the storming waves crashing against her belly, though her head was kept safely from harm's way. "No, no, no, no! Out! Get me out!" What were they doing? She didn't want this! Water so cold it burned bit up the inside of her bare thighs, chilling her to the core.

Shaking even more violently now, Lapis looked up at her mate in betrayal. Was she too weak? Was this Jasper getting rid of her for being unable to birth their pup? She wanted nothing more than to just release herself to the waves, but the selkies' tight grips and her own stubbornness to see her child into this world kept her clinging and fighting.

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“Lapis, please," the selkie whined, looking down in her mate's pale face, "please, you've got to calm down. You're hurt and bleeding. Do you understand? The pup... the pup is going to kill you if we don't do this." Leaning down, she tucked her head next to Lapis'. Letting out a shuddering breath, Jasper squinted her eyes shut. "Rose... Rose is pleading to the Goddess to spare your life and pup's. We all are..."

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Chest heaving, Lapis threw her head back to stare at Jasper with wild eyes. Her face was gaunt and pale, not even her screams could bring a flush back to her cheeks. Teeth chattering, she whimpered. "You're n-n-not get-ting rid o-of m-me?" Hiccuping another sob, she buried her face into the crook of her mate's neck, reaching a hand back to cling desperately.

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"The Goddess herself couldn't make me get rid of you," Jasper soothed, smiling sadly into her mate's damp hair. "I promised I would always protect you and the pup, and that's not gonna change any time soon. Just keep going a little longer and I'll take it from there, all right? I'm here for ya, Lap, I'm right here..."

Suddenly, the white-lit water around them began to warm in degrees. A quiet humming could be heard upon the air and in the water below. The hair of Jasper's wet mane began to stand on end, her pupils narrowing to pinpricks in her face.

"L-Lapis?"

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It took a moment for her numbing brain to register the change in the water temperature, but when she was finally able to crack her eyelids open again, Lapis gasped. A soft light radiated around them, around her, protecting them from the storm's fury. Her pain eased away with each pulse of the light. She could feel another contraction hitting, and instead of agony, she was able to bare down and truly begin to push their child into the world.

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With a gasp, Rose emerged in her human form above the water. She was pale and shaking and dark shadows dragged beneath their eyes, but there was a small smile on her face. The old midwife looked as shaken as the younger woman as she waded through the surf to hold Lapis’ hand.

"You're doing excellently, little one," she encouraged. "I just need you to push a little more. You're almost there."

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With a hitched breath, her sobs tapering off, Lapis nodded and tried to lose herself within her mate. Rose's reassurances returned and with them, a little more of the human's hope. At the encouragement, she pushed, body baring down, exhausted but still fighting. The stillness dragged on into an eternity until finally the moment Lapis had been waiting for arrived.

She yelped, biting down on her lip hard enough to bleed, and pushed . She felt her pup moving free of her body, the pain oddly muted and detached. Her muscles gave one last, forceful squeeze until she collapsed in Jasper's arms.

Still supporting the woman by her legs, Garnet was the first to reach out as the seal pup was born. Holding Lapis carefully with one arm, her other guided the babe up to the surface first for its first breath of air.

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A tiny, squeaky whine echoed up from the water as the tiny form was lifted up. Preoccupied as she was with keeping her mate aloft, Jasper almost missed the quiet cry of the newborn. She went still as Rose took the pup from her assistant, and the lion selkie hummed softly as she nestled the child between the two new parents. Jasper's breath hitched in her chest as the downy fur of the pup brushed against the bare skin of her arm, and her yellow eyes stared in wonder at the new little life in their hold.

"Goddess bless you both," Rose whispered softly, smiling. "It's a little mare."

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Lapis panted, slumped in Jasper's arms. Her eyes closed, she felt only relief that her struggles were finally over. The quiet mewling pulled a gasp from the exhausted woman. Opening her eyes as the little one was handed to them, the human looked upon her pup for the first time. She was...perfect. Tears slipped down her face as she caressed her babe's soft fur.

"Jasper..," she whispered hoarsely. "She's so beautiful..."

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"She's... she's ours, isn't she?" the selkie rumbled with a tremor in her voice, her fingers brushing across the soft, dappled fur. She felt the hum of magic beneath the pup's skin, saw the sentient and intelligent spark in those deep brown eyes that marked the difference between selkies and mere animals. A soft smile curled on Jasper's lips. If she thought she had known pride before, it was nothing compared to the burning warmth in her chest now.

"Let's get the three of you back inside now, shall we?" Rose reminded them gently, nodding to Amethyst and Garnet to help them move. "We've still got a few more things to see to before you rest."

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"She's ours.. Our precious little pup.." Letting Jasper hold her entire weight, Lapis cradled the babe to her chest, fingers continuing to brush down the side of the soft fur. The little one radiated the same sort of warm magic that her sire always bore with her.

"Inside...right..." Lapis couldn't tear her gaze away from her child to acknowledge the rest of them. Her perfect little family..

With a gentle smile, Garnet stepped forward again. "Jasper? Would you like help carrying them up?" She figured the new sire would be fairly protective of her mate and new pup, as they usually were, and didn't want to antagonize what had been a stressful situation any further.

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Garnet was correct in that respect, for nearly as soon as the others began to step forward the smile dropped from the leopard selkie's face. A deep, warning growl rumbled from low in her throat. Glancing from side to side, her arm came up beneath Lapis' legs and she gently hoisted up both her mate and pup. Slowly turning for the shore and the house above the cliff, Jasper's sharp gaze never quite left the others. She had two little charges to protect now, and anyone who wanted to harm them would have their throats ripped out by the leopard selkie's fangs.

A little while later, after she had taken them back up to house and Rose had made sure Lapis was in a stable enough condition to be left alone, Jasper lay curled around her new family. Her toothy smile had returned as she watched the exhausted mother and their equally exhausted babe. Yet she could see the little one fidgeting in her dame's hold, the sound of her fur against the sheets a little rustlerustle in the dark.

"Settle down now, you," Jasper scolded gently, a laugh in her voice. "You've given your dame one hell of an evening. Time for the both of you to rest now. It's time for you to sleep and let your sire watch over you for a while. But first..." Gently nudging her thumb under the pup's chin, the selkie gingerly peeled away the coat of their newborn. A little blue-eyed human infant peered up at them as she pulled skin away, a fluffy soft shock of dark hair sticking up all over the place.

"Hmph, she definitely got her looks from her dame..."

She was perfect.