***Aubrey's POV***

I would love to say I have been an angel the last week and a half. I would love to. Like really love to. That would be a major lie.

I am miserable. My back hurts so bad. My butt feels like it is ripping in half. My breasts feel like overfilled water balloons. The babies are everywhere and it friggin hurts.

I am whiny. I am cranky. Worst of all, I complain. ALOT! I'm sure that everyone is ready for these precious pups to make an appearance. I know I am.

"I just want to walk." I sob.

"No." Luce denies me a simple human pleasure.

"You're mean. You are all awful." I whine pointing accusingly around the room at my friends.

"Probably." Claire giggles.

"I hope you get pregnant with quints." I scowl at Claire.

"Oh, I see the Queen is in a fantastic mood today." Jackson comes in rolling his eyes. He throws a wink my way.

I shot him two fucking birds.

"I just want to see my feet. I want to feel my own butt. I want to sleep in my bed." I argue. They can't possibly understand.

"A couple more days. You just have to wait." Brian is now tsking me.

"DARIUS!!!!" I yell into the air.

"Ah fuck, who pissed her off." Darius mumbles.

"I heard that." I slam my heel into the ottoman.

"Parvulus, what can I do to help you get more comfortable?" Darius pleads with me.

"Make love to me please. Hear me out. It's been weeks. Please. Please. Please." I beg.

"This is insanity." Darius huffs.

"What?" I ask.

"I can't even give you the smallest satisfaction." Darius complains.

"Call Dr. Christy. A few days may not matter." I bargain.

"I'm going to call her, but her word is final. Do you hear me parvulus?" Darius barters.

"Yeah, yeah. Get on the phone." I wave off my sexy man dismissively.

As it turns out, every day counts. Blah. Blah. Blah. So, here I am, bored. I have no less than three days left of utter torture. Don't hate me. I love my pups and I want what is best for them. The issue is, what is best for them is inconvenient for me.

Go figure!

I send everyone away so I can wallow in self-pity all by myself.

I swear to god I just heard Celine Dion sing that in my head.

After flipping through all the channels, surfing Netflix and Hulu and throwing the remote across the room (where I couldn't reach it) I give up.

I huff as I swap positions on the couch.

Left side, feet in my ribs.

Right side, feet in my ribs.

Back, feet in my ribs.

Ugh! I just want to walk.

I throw my head back and close my eyes.

Sometime between pitching fits and huffing, I must have fallen asleep. I wake to soft kisses on my eyelids.

"Amica Mea. Are you hungry?" My sexy as hell mate asks.

"No." I shake my head.

"Since when?" Jackson asks.

"I'm so full. My stomach hurts." I groan in discomfort.

"Do you want a bath, baby?" Darius asks.

"Dr. Christy said no." I shrug off the idea of a heavenly bath in warm bubbles.

"Alpha, she looks exhausted. Aubrey looks off." Luce whispers but, I hear here.

"I'm going back to sleep." I grunt as I move infinitesimally.

<<<<<<<<

When I wake I see the morning sun shining brightly in the sky lights of the castle living room. I groan and stretch lightly, careful not to jostle my pups.

"Good morning Queen." Dr. Christy smiles as she takes my blood pressure.

"Two more days. Then you can work on evicting your pups." Dr. Christy gives me a warm look of empathy.

"It's okay. I'm glad they have stayed." I yawn as my body reacts to movement.

"Have you been moody or tired?" She asks.

"Both!" I laugh. I feel bad for my family.

"They understand." Dr. Christy pats my hand as she checks the fetal monitor.

"Everything looks fantastic. You have done an excellent job of keeping your word." Dr. Christy praises me.

"I am not a good pregnant person." I confess.

"Aubrey. You have twins and you have been through a lot with this pregnancy. I think you have done well." She attempts to soothe me.

"Can I go back to sleep?" I whisper as my eyes fall in and out of heaviness.

"Sure." Dr. Christy stands up and I fall into a dark slumber.

***Darius POV***

I come home from working on a case to my beautiful Queen sleeping. Again. I call Dr. Christy immediately.

"She has slept for almost 28 hours in the last 32 hours." I confess my worry.

"She is preparing to give birth. It's pretty normal." Dr. Christy confesses.

"Okay. I will stay calm." I promise.

"No, Alpha. If she sleeps for a few more hours, I would like you to bring her in. We may have to keep her admitted until she births the babies." Dr. Christy places an emergency plan in motion.

So we wait around while my Angel continues to sleep. An hour passes and I try to wake her again. We cook. We have Persephone call. We do manage to talk to Serriphina, who tells us everything will be okay.

Honestly, I just want Aubrey admitted. I can't take the stress at all.

Once three hours have gone by since the call with Dr. Christy, we all agree enough is enough.

I have the girls pack bags for Aubrey. Jackson and I get Aubrey into the truck.

We carefully make our way to the hospital. There is a special wing where we can all comfortably wait out the next day and a half.

Aubrey never stirs once. She is completely passed out cold.

Dr. Christy hooks up all the machines I have become too familiar with. The IV's run out of both of her arms. Aubrey is on a mild pain killer to relieve the pressure from the contractions. Turns out all the fullness she complained about is the beginning stages of labor.

Our pups are on a big screen in the studio apartment that is our Wing. 24/7 live coverage of the royal pups is on display for us and the whole kingdom. The website to watch the feed scrolls across the bottoms of the screen.

"Wow. They are so tiny." Abi sniffles.

"She is definitely having smaller pups than usual. She just couldn't gain the necessary weight with all the complications." Dr. Christy explains.

"Are they healthy?" Jackson worries.

"Perfectly. Just tiny things that's all." The nurse confirms.

We sit for hours while nurses and Dr. Christy walk around fulfilling Aubrey's unspoken needs.

"It's too quiet." Brian whispers with his head in his hands.

"Yeah, I want her to wake up." Claire whimpers.

"She will." I promise.

Goddess please make sure my wife is safe.

When the early morning sun breaks thru the clouds, I blink and smile. The mornings are always the most breath taking. I walk over to my Queen and kiss her sweet lips. The countdown begins.

In less than 24 hours our pups can safely enter our world.

"Darius?" I hear the most beautiful sound to grace my ears.

"Amica Mea! I missed you." I kiss Aubrey as tears leak from my eyes on their own accord.

"Where were you?" Aubrey asks.

"Sweetie you have been asleep for an entire day." Ethan explains.

"Wow. I'm so sorry. Where am I?" Aubrey questions.

"We are at the hospital. We have only 24 hours until you are allowed to go into hard labor." Claire kisses Aubrey's forehead.

"Your pups are on display for the whole kingdom." Brian smiles as he points out the big screen.

"We have been watching them for hours." Abi smiles.

"Awe, they are so tiny." Aubrey coos.

"Aubrey, good morning!" Dr. Christy greets as she walks in the door.

We sit as Dr. Christy explains the next day of our lives. Some of the information we are already aware of. We really pay attention when she explains the stages of labor.

I have been thru the late stages with Aubrey in her past life. However, this is altogether different. This time, she is mine. These pups are ours.

Come hell or high water, we are walking out of here as a family. Aubrey, myself and our two healthy pups will be a family.

Dr. Christy takes her leave and we spend time together. This will be the last day that the eight of us spend as an adult unit.

We laugh and recollect some of our less than stellar moments. We reminisce about times before we were blessed with the four women who are now by our sides. Then we remember the joy that is Aubrey.

"This time tomorrow we will all be Aunts and Uncles." Ethan beams.

"I will be a dad." I feel tears pinch my eyes.

"I will finally know what it's like to have a baby to hold and love." Aubrey whispers and we all sit and stare. Aubrey struggles to lift her hands as her lips quiver and her eyes well with large tears.

We say nothing. Each of us surrounds our Queen in love. This time is going to be better.

We spend hours watching television. Aubrey falls in and out of naps. Eventually food is sent from some amazing citizens who caught wind where we were.

My kingdom never fails to impress me.

Aubrey is forced to eat soft and liquid foods. Unfortunately, a cesarean section may be necessary. Therefore, Aubrey can only have a limited diet.

The pain is building though. So, Aubrey is less comfortable and she denies almost all food regardless. She is extremely distressed. Small moans and whimpers slip passed her lips even in her slumber. Aubrey shifts back and forth between positions.

Luce paces near the monitor that tracks the contractions. I stay routed to Aubrey's side. Jackson, Bryan and Ethan take turns checking in with the Royal Guard.

Abi is asleep. She is only a month from birth herself at this point, six weeks at most. Claire is trading out wet rags for Aubrey. Aubrey has been sweating as the contractions get stronger.

The night just settles in this tensed air of anticipation.

Everyone naps in between rounds of nurses and vitals. Aubrey sleeps peacefully as her body prepares itself to evict the two small beings who have made a home in her womb.

I doze often and wake each time a whimper escapes my Queen's lips.

She is so beautiful. Aubrey is so strong. This pregnancy has been rough and she really has done very well. I know she thinks she gave us hell. But, we gladly accepted it.

We are all excited for this new chapter in our lives. These will be the first ever Royal pups born to the King and Queen of all Werewolves.

I find myself yawning and I smile as I drift into sleep. The thoughts of my amazing mate and our new family shimmy at the edges of my mind.

It was way in to the early morning when I woke from my sleep. I feel a severe pain in my stomach as I sit up. My breath is completely yanked from my reach.

"Alpha?" Jackson panics.

"Aubrey!" I yell as I jump from my chair and cross the room to her bed.

The pain is hers. Yet, she is not saying a word. Her breathing is labored and she is completely still.

Claire slams the room door open as Ethan presses the call button.

Claire starts ordering nurses to get into gear.

"Get Dr. Christy STAT." Claire barks.

Abi rubs my back and Brian is whispering to Aubrey.

Aubrey doesn't speak.

"Alpha." I hear Abi scream.

The monitors go crazy, beeping, screeching and buzzing fills the air.

I frantically search Aubrey.

When I pull back her covers, I see it.

I howl into the air in utter distress.

"What's wrong?" Dr. Christy frantically demands.

"BLOOD!" I whisper as I unveil the massive red puddle that has pooled between Aubrey's legs.