He pulled the van to a stop in the driveway of the rundown little cottage. The work vehicle and the small payrise had been a welcome addition to Junhui's life when Minghao took over from his father. Junhui now even had an apprentice, a bright and clever young man, and they were busier than ever.

It was needed. The extra money each week had gone straight into a savings account to prepare for the changes in their happy little home. The house was about to get a whole lot smaller.

"Junnie!" Wonwoo called out as he opened the door. His ears, shining in the late afternoon sun, gleaned silver and shining with good health. His skin was glowing and his brushy tail waved happily behind him. His belly, round and swollen, did nothing to slow him down as he moved with less grace than usual into Junhui's arms.

"Feeling okay today?" Junhui asked as he led Wonwoo back into the house. The fox nodded and grinned as Junhui rubbed the enormous swell of his belly. Dr Hong had warned them the litter was at least two but it was hard to tell.

The home was warm although autumn was almost over.  Wonwoo's nesting instincts were in full swing and dinner was on the table, the fireplace was lit, and everything was spotlessly clean. "You're supposed to be taking it easy," Junhui said as he kissed his love gently on the lips. The shiver of happiness went all the way up to Wonwoo's ears as he yipped a little. He moved slowly through the kitchen, piling a humble but delicious dinner onto a plate, Junhui always one step behind.

"Let me do that," he tried to hustle the little fox out of the way but he was steadfast. "No," Wonwoo finished piling the meat and rice onto the plate and handed it to the man. "I might not be able to do this much longer." Junhui took the plate to the kitchen and the fox followed with his own. Pregnancy had finally given him the light layer of fat and flesh Junhui had always hoped for. His love looked happy and healthy and stronger than ever.

"You've still got six weeks to go," Junhui smiled as the taste of the simple meal filled his mouth. "I don't know if I will last," Wonwoo shoved a big spoon of rice into his mouth and leaned back in his chair. His hands went to the swell of his huge stomach and he rubbed it lovingly as he chewed his food. Neither of them spoke the words that worried them. His belly was so full already. They knew he wouldn't make it much longer.

He didn't.

Junhui woke up to find Wonwoo washing towels at 4am. "Petal, are you okay?" Junhui asked with bleary eyes and Wonwoo nodded. "I can't sleep. I feel restless," he said as he folded the stack of fluffy towels he'd just pulled out of the dryer. "Come back to bed," Junhui pleaded but deep down he knew what was happening. He didn't go back to bed either. He went to the kitchen to make tea and wait as Wonwoo searched the linen cupboard for more blankets. He stayed out of the way while Wonwoo piled them high on the bed and lay in the middle of them before falling back into a fitful sleep.

Half hour later he sat up clutching his stomach and Junhui grabbed his phone. "Dr Hong, I think it's happening," he said down the phone. He was surprisingly calm. He unlocked the front door and settled into the nest with Wonwoo and held his hand while his Petal smiled through the pain. "You're strong," he whispered and Wonwoo nodded. He was strong. He knew that. He knew he could do this.

When he saw the doctor he hissed and Junhui had to rub his back to calm him. "It's Dr Hong," he whispered as he soothed the panting fox and he finally relented between contraction. "It seems to be moving quickly?" Junhui asked as the Doctor gently palpated the fox's stomach. "He's not a human," Dr Hong reminded Junhui as the fox twisted away from his touch. "He'll want to do this his own way. He needs to follow his instincts."

"Is he okay," Soonyoung paced with panic all over his face. "He's fine," Dr Hong smiled weakly at the odd little gathering. They'd been listening to Wonwoo's guttural screams for about half an hour. Minghao was on edge and Soonyoung couldn't stop pacing. Mingyu just made endless mugs of sweet tea. And Junhui kept them updated, bringing towels out and fresh ones in, keeping his Petal strong and as comfortable as possible.

"It's happening," Junhui called our just minutes later. At the sight of the doctor in the doorway Wonwoo hissed again and Junhui had to calm him. "He's not going to touch you," Junhui held his arm while the fox crouched in the middle of the bed. "He's just going to help me."

"I can feel the head I think," Junhui called out to the doctor as he tried to see what was going on. "Okay, just let him keep going," Dr Hong replied from his spot in the doorway and Junhui rubbed Wonwoo's back again. The little fox groaned and began to bear down and Junhui's eyes flickered over to the doctor in panic. "He's pushing," he said and the doctor nodded. The towels under the crouching fox were wet and his forehead was streaked with sweat as he laboured his hardest to get his kits out.

With a gasp of relief and a rush of fluid Junhui saw a head with thick dark hair. "Check for the cord," Dr Hong called out to him and Junhui's fingers quickly checked the neck as Wonwoo sobbed. "One more push Petal," Junhui urged him on and with another grunt the tiny kit slipped out and into Junhui's hands. "She's breathing," he called out to the Doctor as a small but wilful cry filled the room. "Wrap her in a towel," the doctor said and Junhui worked quickly because they weren't finished.

The next few moments were a blur as the baby mewled and Wonwoo laboured. The next one was almost as big, her head almost bald, in contrast to her older sister. She too was wrapped and Wonwoo was able to see them as he sank back onto the pillows for a breather. "They're perfect," Junhui sobbed as he cradled them and Wonwoo wiped his brow. "I'm not done...." he groaned and crouched again and Junhui barely had time to react. The third one, easily the smallest, slipped out with ease. His hair was dark and his mewl was the softest and sprouting from his head was a pair of tiny ears.

"I'm done,"  Wonwoo declared as he collapsed back onto the pillows. "Give then here." Junhui wouldn't dare deny him. "Please let Dr Hong check you all," he begged and Wonwoo nodded. His primal instinct to birth in safety had been satiated and he was happy to welcome the Doctor closer.

"Perfect," Dr Hong pronounced after checking the two little girls and one tiny kit. He checked a whining Wonwoo over and declared everything to be just fine.

And it was just them. Junhui and Wonwoo alone in their nest with six sets of eyes staring at them. "How are we going to do this?" Junhui wondered aloud and Wonwoo just laughed. It was loud and wild, carrying all the joy and slight hysteria of adrenaline, but also raw and honest and beautiful. "It's a bit late for that now!" He cradled the smallest one in his arms, the one with a tiny tail tucked into the warm towel, and smiled down at his miniature pert grey ears. They were just like his.

Junhui sat cross legged with the little girls in his lap and looked up when there was a knock at the door. "Can we come in yet?" Minghao asked when he poked his head in, "Mingyu is dying out here." Junhui beckoned them in and the odd little friends group filed into the room silently. Until Mingyu saw the babies and one tiny kit and squealed with delight. "They're perfect!" He exclaimed and looked over at Minghao who shook his head. "Don't get any ideas," he smirked but still smiled gently when he looked over into Junhui's lap. "They look like you," he said with uncharacteristic softness in his eyes and a little waver in his voice.

"Please let me hold one, please please I'll be careful," Mingyu's eyes begged the new parents and Wonwoo passed the tiny kit over with just a little reluctance. "I think I need a bath," he said as he winced with pain and Junhui needed to get up. "Fine," Minghao took one bundle and Soonyoung took the other and Junhui helped Wonwoo into the bathroom.

"With our family," Junhui suddenly said as he filled the bath with hot water and Wonwoo's brow furrowed. "You know, how are we going to do this? The answer is with our family." Wonwoo nodded as he tossed his old tshirt onto the floor and let Junhui help his body into the bath. "Don't drown," Junhui said as he went to the door, "I have to check on them."

He found Mingyu and Soonyoung on the couch still managing the towel wrapped bundles with ease. "Minghao is going to make soup," Mingyu said as he swayed his big body with the tiny kit in his arms. "I'll stay tonight on the couch if you want," Soonyoung smiled his trademark grin at his friend with a baby girl in each arm and one started to cry. "She'll want fed," Mingyu said straight away and then the other little girl began to cry too and Junhui nodded. "Please stay tonight," he begged over the sound of two mewling newborns. The scent of rich chicken soup began to waft in from the kitchen and their little home had never felt so full.

Full of life and love, full of warmth and laughter and tears.

Full of family.

The End