Rosy's story:

Contractions run through my body and terror runs through my mind. I don’t want this kitt, this tool of control that has been forced on me. There is no break between contractions, one rolls into the next without pause. Fear and desperation run hand in hand with the movement I feel deep within me. I gasp for a quick breath before bearing down again. A quick burst of pain, burning and stretching beyond my limits. Another contraction hits before I can manage more than a quick gasp for breath as I push again. Pain burst forth anew, even greater, and then I feel something slide free from my body taking the pain with it.

I gasp in the aftermath before turning my head to look behind me. A naked blood smeared pink thing wriggles and waves tiny arms and legs and I look at it with shock and disbelief. I am not sure what I think, what I feel for a few moments. A soft mewl comes from the newborn kitt, faint at first but the second cry is much clearer and stronger.

Conflicting emotions rise within me. The urge to care for my newborn springs to life but so does resentment. I have no doubt that Wade meant for this kitt to force me to conform to what he saw as the role in life a female werecat should have, the role of breeder. Everyone’s concern for the welfare of the kitt before it’s birth, my own welfare seeming to be of second concern. And when I was intent on not being involved with Micah the main concern everyone seemed to have was that the kitt stayed a part of the Williamson clan.

I shake my head and look away from the kitt. I know my own fears and insecurities must have coloured my feelings and the way I saw things but still … what I had thought and felt had been the way things seemed to me. No matter how warped and twisted everyone else thought my feelings were. It was the way I had felt and I had the right to my own thoughts and feelings as much as anyone else.

The kitt begins crying in earnest and I turn my head to look at it with an annoyed hiss. Unaffected the kitt continues to cry, arms and legs are waved with increasing desperation and I eye it silently. I know this little creature is innocent in all this, it didn’t ask to be conceived. I eye the umbilical cord attached to his stomach, yes definitely a boy and turn to my first aide case. I find what I want and open the sterile packets with my teeth. I use clamps to pinch the cord tightly before cutting my son free with a sterile blade. A small hand catches hold of my pinkie finger and I tense as he stops crying. My hand is pulled towards his mouth and he begins to suck on the tip of my finger vigorously, his face scrunches up and he begins crying once again as I pull my finger from his grasp.

A pang of guilt shoots through me at his cries and I reach out to stroke his cheek, he stops crying to turn his head, mouth open, searching. I jerk my hand away and stare at him uneasily, every now and then I glance away before looking at him again. I long to pick him up and at the same time feel resentment towards him so I end up just easing myself into a comfortable position and eyeing him unhappily.

I give a slight shiver as the morning air cools the sweat on my body. I tense then look at the kitt where he lays covered in and surrounded by amniotic fluid, I see him shiver and frown. I hesitate a moment then reach out and pick him up awkwardly, I hold him at arms length for a few moments before bringing him closer to me.

"Body warmth," I mutter to myself. I place him on the bed between my knees, pull my t-shirt up and tuck it beneath my chin exposing my bare skin. I lift the kitt, less awkwardly this time and hold him against myself with one hand as I use the other hand to pull my t-shirt down covering his little body as well as my own. He wriggles and I feel him slip a few inches before I get both arms around him to hold him more securely.

He turns his head and rubs his face against my chest, he nudges against my breast for a moment then he opens his mouth wide as if knowing I have no idea what I am doing. He takes my nipple into his mouth and I feel his lips move as he begins to suck. I gasp and flinch as a strange sensation assails me, he drinks and I lean against my pillows, I hold him close as I expel the afterbirth.

I grimace as I take in the state of the bed and the strong odour of birth. Awkwardly I get off the bed and gather fresh clothing for myself. I glance down where the kitt is now resting against me and consider for a moment. I can’t just leave him to get cold and after my shower I don’t want something smelling of blood and birth fluids near me. I hesitate a moment then give a low snarl, I’ll just have to figure out how to wash him as well as myself.

I resent the extra time it takes to lay him on a bed of dry soft towels as I strip, turn the shower on and adjust the water temperature. When I step beneath the body temperature shower I am holding the kitt in my arms and I take my time washing all traces of the scent of birth from both of us.

Dried and dressed I wrap him in a dry towel before heading back to my room only to turn away at the smell of the room. I growl low in my throat as I sneak in to grab a few items before turning and searching through the other rooms in the building. I am not sure what I am looking for until I pause in the middle of the room I had once shared with Micah and Steven. I breathe deeply as I inhale the scents and I begin dragging the blankets from their beds to pile them in the furthest darkest corner. I had done this last night when the stress of Jazzy stealing my boys had me frantic with fear for them. So far I have defended them from one female werecat bent on their murder.

Finally satisfied I lay down in the nest I have made and pull a blanket over myself as I settle the sleeping kitt against my body. I am exhausted and yawn as I lay my head down but my eyes stay fixed on the small blonde head against me. I undo the buttons on the shirt so he can find his own food if he wakes. I finally close my eyes and let myself slip into a half doze.

The soft whimpers of the kitt as it nudges against me bring me fully awake and I reach down to help him find his food. I relax as his mouth works against my breast, when he stops feeding and falls asleep I settle him beside me once again. I frown as I feel his wet towel. The banging of the screen door and the sounds of footsteps reaches me. I growl low in my throat uneasily as I lift my head to watch the doorway, I hesitate a moment before lying down and curling up against the kitt to keep him warm.

"What is that smell?" Justin asks from the far end of the sunroom and I begin growling again.

"Yes what is it?" Donovan asks and I hear them moving closer, "Why is Rosy growling and where is she?"

"Justin! Donovan! Get outside now! Donny go tell Mitchell to get over here now!" Dwayne says urgently.

"I can smell blood!" Malcolm hisses.

"Justin go find Micah, Steven and Sam now! Now! Don’t ask questions just do it!" Dwayne orders.

I hear hurried movements and the screen door bangs several times but it is the slow cautious approach of footsteps that has me watching the doorway as I ease up to crouch on my feet with my hands on the floor for balance. Something drives me and I growl again as I hear movement in the sunroom and moving my way.

None of these toms are the father of this kitt! They might want to kill it!

‘That would save me the trouble of doing it.’

This is our kitt! Of our blood!

‘But I didn’t want the blasted thing!’

Soft stealthy steps go past the doorway and I snarl silently as I keep low and out of sight.

"Oh shit! I’ve found what’s causing the smell. There’s blood so much blood … is that? … Rosy! Rosy where are you?" Malcolm calls and I can hear the fear in his voice.

"Oh shit she’d had the kitt!" Dwayne hisses before lifting his voice, "Rosy, we’re here to help you. Rosy?"

"Hey Stray! You missed out on a good hunt. We found some feral deer," Malcolm calls.

"Rosy where are you?" Dwayne calls and I can hear them systematically searching the rooms. Fear for this unwanted kitt of mine grows as I listen to them getting closer.

Micah’s story:

Justin is nearly breathless as he races towards us. Steven, Sam and I are sitting in the early morning sun trying to figure out how to get the two boys off Jazzy and back to Rosy. Justin slows to a walk and bends forwards as he stops and sucks in several big breaths of air.

"You’re needed at … the quarters … Rosy … strange smell, growling … we could smell blood …" Justin pants quickly.

"Shit!" Sam exclaims beside me but I am already launching myself onto my feet and am several steps ahead of Steven and Sam as I break into a sprint.

I curse the fact that we stopped so far from the quarters but the small clearing had seemed so peaceful. Different scenarios run through my mind as I race towards home. Rosy has gone into labour, something has go wrong and Rosy is in pain and bleeding heavily. Rosy has fallen and hurt herself. I don’t want to think it but there is another scenario that comes to mind … Rosy has had her kitt while she was alone and killed it as everyone feared she would in her state of mind.

As I get close to the quarters I can hear angry screams from inside and barely slow my pace as I burst through the screen door. I am forced to slow as I take the turn into the sleep out and I can barely understand the screams.

"I am not leaving!" Wade yells aggressively.

"Just leave, you’re making things worse!" Dwayne yells and I guess it is in response to Wade's yelling.

"Get out! Get out of my room! Get out!" There is an edge to Rosy’s shrieks of rage and I rush along the sleep out. I realise the voices are coming from the room I share with Steven and I grasp one side of the doorframe as I use my momentum to turn me into the room.

Shock stops me in my tracks for a second as I take in the scene in front of me. Rosy is trying to attack Wade who is about five feet into the room even though Dwayne is in between them. Dwayne has his back to Rosy and is trying to force Wade to back towards the door. Rosy is lashing out with punches and slaps, many of which are hitting Dwayne on his back and shoulders as he tries to force Wade from the room.

"I’m not leaving Marissa in here unprotected!" Wade yells bringing another screech from Rosy as Wade manages to take a step forward making Dwayne give ground. In that instant I see Marissa against the far wall edging towards the far corner as she keeps glancing back towards the others. Her face is pale but her lips are pressed together tightly and there is a look of intense determination on her face. She scoots a small step towards the corner, pauses watching the fight for a moment, turns her attention back towards the corner before taking another small step.

The fact Rosy is desperate to get Wade from the room registers as I take everything in in that second or two. I don’t think as I step forward and grab Wade from behind hooking my arms under his armpits and dragging him backwards towards the door. I am surprised by the power in his struggles as he fights my hold. I note in my mind the way Rosy dodges around Dwayne to come after us and hurry to try to get out the door.

"Dwayne! Get Marissa!" I yell over the screams from both Rosy and Wade. I am pleasantly surprised as Malcolm appears at my side to help drag Wade from the room. Some corner of my mind tells me he must have been back against the wall near the door just inside the room.

The fact Rosy breaks off her assault as we get outside the room barely registers as I struggle to contain Wade. I know Malcolm is doing his best to help but he is still recovering from his life-threatening injury. I have managed to drag Wade nearly to the hallway door when help in the form of Steven and Sam arrives. Steven immediately grabs hold of Wade but Sam pushes past to rush to the room where there is still noise.

"Help me get him outside!" I yell at Steven.

When the security door clicks closed locking Wade out of the quarters he howls in anguish and I try to ignore him as I turn and rush back towards the bedroom. Dwayne is in the sleep out several steps back from the doorway and he glances back over his shoulder at me as I rush up. He raises one arm to block me but I push it aside roughly as I push past to reach the doorway.

I stop in the doorway in shocked surprise. I can hear Rosy growling menacingly as she stands at the bottom corner of my bed frame. Sam is halfway between her and the doorway talking in a low soothing voice while Marissa is kneeling in the far corner. Marissa keeps glancing nervously at Rosy, then down to something in the pile of blankets and sheets. Outside Wade is yelling as he moves along the side of the building and I watch Rosy as she turns her head to follow his progress along the side of the room.

I realise with some shock Rosy is dressed in a loose shirt that buttons down to about her navel. Only one or two buttons are done up and the fabric clings softly to her surprisingly full breasts before falling loosely down a body that no longer holds an unborn kitt. The realisation surprises me even though I had been aware of the possibility she had given birth.

"Is any of the clothes for the kitt still here?" Marissa asks quietly and Rosy turns towards her with a snarl.

"He’s mine! Get away from him!" My heart jumps up into my throat as Rosy stalks towards Marissa who leans into the wall averting her face but holding her ground.

"Rosy! Stop!" Both Sam and I yell as one.

Rosy turns towards us with a savage snarl, I see her eyes open fractionally wider. I see her pupils dilate until her eyes are two black orbs ringed by white, and then the wall of emotions hits me.

Fear, panic, and exhaustion along with the driving need to protect the kitt and at the same time conflicting hate for the kitt and all it represented causing confusion. The sensation of pain, and deep bone weary exhaustion. The delivery has left her more drained than she had realised. Part of her still doesn’t want the kitt but it is her entire reason for being at the moment. The knowledge she can’t continue to protect her kitt from these toms …

I look away breaking the connection. I turn my head and hunch one shoulder slightly as I take a slightly submissive pose even as I back out the door.

Food! She needs to eat!

"Get out of my room!" Rosy screams in a voice that is starting to go hoarse.

"I’m leaving, I’m leaving," I say softly in soothing tones. "Are you hungry? Do you want some breakfast?"

"Get out! Get out! Get out!" Rosy screams and I glance her way to see she has turned her attention to Sam.

"Sam back up a bit," I order in the harsh silence.

"Rosy your son needs a nappy and clothes on," Marissa says softly. This gets a hiss from Rosy and I watch through narrowed eyes as Rosy moves uneasily from foot to foot as she looks at Marissa with an uncertain look.

Rosy doesn’t see Marissa as a threat. She doesn’t trust Marissa but neither does she consider her a threat.

I store this bit of information away in my mind. Sam has eased back a step or two but he is poised to intervene if Rosy were to go after Marissa. I am aware of Dwayne, Steven and Malcolm poised silently beside me and behind me and I turn my head to speak to them without taking my eyes from Rosy.

"Steven, that box of new born clothes. Where did we put them?" I ask. I had gotten rotten drunk the day I had packed the clothing into a box and taped it closed. I had been so drunk I had passed out and it had taken a lot of alcohol to make me do that.

"Sam, in the top part of the dark mahogany wardrobe there’s a sealed box. Get it out and place it on the bed frame for Rosy and Marissa." Steven says quietly.

Rosy’s reaction to our voices is immediate, she turns to face me once again only this time she doesn’t start yelling as she looks at me standing just outside of the room.

"Rosy, are you hungry? Do you want some breakfast?" I repeat my questions. I can see the fear and confusion in her eyes as she looks at me before turning her attention to Sam who is lifting a cardboard box out of the top of my wardrobe.

"I’ll make you some breakfast okay. Once you’ve had something to eat and you can settle down for a rest you’ll start to feel better. If you need any help with your Kitt ask Marissa, she’ll be happy to help you." I tell her in soft soothing tones. I watch as she glances away before looking back at me hurriedly, I can see her confusion and even Sam is watching the interaction between us closely.

"Okay, breakfast it is," I say and back out of sight.

Steven and Dwayne follow me a little way down the sunroom and Dwayne catches me by the upper arm before I go too far.

"Are you sure it’s smart letting Marissa in there with Rosy?" Dwayne demands worriedly. "Rosy actually attacked Wade!"

"Rosy is worried about her Kitt is all," I say quietly.

"She’s most likely killed the poor thing or injured it so bad it will die," Dwayne says unhappily.

"I think we’ve all failed to give Rosy credit," I say evenly. "And I think Marissa has found the kitt."

"Did you see something? Hear something?" Steven asks hopefully.

"No but I think I might have gotten a slight idea of what is going on inside Rosy’s mind at the present," I say before pulling away and heading for the kitchen.

Rosy’s story:

I watch as Marissa eases small clothing over the head of the kitt I gave birth to. She keeps glancing past her shoulder at me but I avoid looking at her face as I move nervously. I can hear Sam’s breathing behind me and I turn to the side so I can look and see what he is doing. His eyes meet mine a few seconds before he chances a quick glance towards Marissa.

"He’s just perfect Rosy," Sam’s voice is soft and filled with awe as he speaks.

"Don’t look at him!" I scream frantically and it hurts my throat. I’m scared and confused. I don’t know what to do, what I want to do. My head hurts and my throat is sore from screaming but I am terrified someone will hurt the kitt.

I glance at Marissa anxiously, some instinct warns me I shouldn’t have let her near the kitt but a feeling deep inside me tells me she would never hurt him. I hear scared whimpers and realise with a start that they are coming from me. I bite my bottom lip and turn away from Marissa and look towards the door. I can hear the faint shuffle of feet outside every now and then but no one had came into view since I had screamed at Micah making him leave the room. I glance at Sam and realise he is talking, talking to me in a very quiet voice. I focus on him and listen, the lines around his mouth and the creases in his forehead ease a little bit.

"It’s okay. We’re trying to help you. Just take it easy and we will help you if we can," Sam is murmuring to me.

His words make sense and I watch him a moment before glancing at Marissa, I shift uncomfortably on my feet, I am exhausted and just want to lay down to rest.

"Rosy, Rosy come on, pay attention to me," Sam’s voice increases slightly in volume as I turn back towards Marissa and my kitt. She is fastening a disposable nappy on him and I take several steps forward so I can see exactly what she does as she slips one hand beneath his diapered bottom and one hand beneath his back. I hear her heart rate increase slightly and then she is lifting my son into her arms! She is going to steal my son just like Jazzy stole my two boys!

"No! He’s mine! You can’t take him!" It feels like the plea is ripped from my chest tearing me apart. I am beside Marissa trapping her against the wall before I am aware I am going to move. I rock back and forth on the balls of my feet slightly as I glare at her, the instinct to keep her away from him waring with the feeling she means no harm. I am grabbed from behind and only struggle briefly as I am pulled back several steps.

My gaze doesn’t leave Marissa or the tiny form she lifts to her shoulder, the little blonde head bobs several times as she rubs his back in circles. A couple of jerky little head movements, a whimper and then a loud belch comes from my son. Sam is changing his hold to a more secure grip but I attempt to shrug away from his hands.

"You need to burp him in the middle of a feed and when he is finished," Marissa says gently as she kneels to place him back in the nest I had made.

Sam forces me to move back as Marissa straightens and edges past to head for the door. The sight of her walking away sparks something in me and I snarl angrily as I struggle to get free and go after her, she had touched my newborn kitt!

"Let me go!" I yell angrily but Sam has a firm hold on my upper arms.

"Shut the door," Sam calls and I see a masculine arm reach in and pull the bedroom door closed behind Marissa as she goes out. With the door shut I am pulled several steps back away from the pile of bedding and then released. Instantly I turn on Sam and raise both hands to shove him in the middle of his chest forcing him to back up several steps away from where my kitt is. I follow up with several more shoves as I hiss furiously at him, he avoids looking at my face as he gives ground but doesn’t retreat from me. Half way to the door I stop pushing him and give a low growl as I turn away, I pause as I eye him from the corner of one eye before snorting in anger.

"You keep away from my kitt!" I snap before moving back near the pile of bedding. I pace anxiously, I am unable to sit down or lay down near the kitt. Doubts surface, do I want this kitt? Should I look after it? Two totally different urges are in my mind. At the front, foremost, is the knowledge this isn’t the way I had planned my life. Ties and responsibilities I had never wanted from the moment I had become aware of what I was. A werecat.

But he is our kitt, a part of us.

I glance at the small form on the bedding, so small, so helpless and I remember the feelings I had once felt towards him. The love, the acceptance even though his father wasn’t the one I had wanted.

"Hey Rosy, you hungry?" The voice catches my attention. Micah! It is almost as if my thoughts have conjured him up. He is standing in the doorway with a tray held in front of him and I marrow my eyes as I look at him with suspicion. He meets my gaze for a second then drops his gaze slightly as he lifts the tray bringing my attention back to it.

"I’ve made breakfast for you," Micah says quietly and I watch him silently.

"Scrambled eggs, some bacon, toast, juice, a couple of bottles of water," Micah says in a coaxing tone when I don’t respond.

The lure of something to drink has me moving forward, I lift my top lip as I bare my teeth but I am more interested in the drink and food than Micah at the moment. Besides, he had made Wade go away and now he was offering me something to drink and eat.

I glance at Sam and narrow my eyes as I growl at him as I pass him then I turn my attention to the tray held by Micah. I eye its contents eagerly before tilting my head and glaring at Micah from the corner of my eyes. He isn’t watching me. His gaze is fixed firmly on the tray and I take the last couple of steps and grab the tray. There is no resistance from Micah and I turn my back on him with a slight huff before hurrying back to sit just off the pile of bedding.

"I’ll tell you if you’re to make me more food!" It comes out sharply and I don’t bother to look his way as I open one of the bottles of water and drink thirstily.

"You want more food let me know," Micah says evenly from the doorway. "You want something special for lunch, let me know."

I lower the bottle of water I am drinking from and eye him for a moment, tip the bottle up for another mouthful of water and lower it slowly as I swallow the water.

"Okay," I say surprising myself with my reasonable tone before ignoring Micah and putting the bottle aside to reach for a piece of bacon. There is bacon in the scrambled eggs as well and I reach for that instead. I smile as I pick pieces of crisp bacon out of the scrambled eggs and chew them savouring their rich salty taste even coated in fluffy eggs, I remember those few seconds of nearly unbearable pressure and pain just before the kitt had slid free of my body. It had seemed to last forever and yet it had been over so quickly. I glance at my Kitt and see he is asleep, one hand up near his little face, his head turned towards me.

I glance towards the door, there is no sign of Micah and Sam is leaving the room, closing the door behind him as he goes. I slowly relax in the solitude of the room, I can hear the others at the far end of the building moving around and talking quietly. I settle down in the blankets once more before stretching out on my side next to my son studying his face as I watch him sleep. I am resting quietly when I hear Mitchell’s footsteps in the sunroom and I glance over my shoulder as I hear him pause in the doorway.

"Hey Rosy, okay if I open the door?" Mitchell asks quietly.

"You got Jazzy with you?" I ask with an angry growl.

"No he hasn’t," Micah says startling me. "I thought it best Jazzy keeps away for a while,"

I can’t control the angry growl that erupts from my throat. I want Jazzy here. I want to take my boys back from her.

"Can I open the door?" Mitchell asks again after a minute or so.

"Okay but don’t come in," I warn as I glance at my kitt before I sit up and face the door. The door opens slowly and Mitchell moves to where I can see him but makes no move to enter the room.

"How you doing? You okay?" He asks quietly. I watch as he cranes his neck trying to get a glimpse of my kitt.

"I’m fine," I say tightly.

"Do you want Sam to sit near by while you sleep? Make sure no one comes up this end of the quarters?" Mitchell asks. I am about to refuse his company when I realise it would let me rest better.

"As long as he is quiet and lets me sleep. And no trying to touch my kitt either!" I mutter as I reach for a large bottle of water beside the empty tray.

"You can tell him that. Just make it clear what you expect from him," Mitchell says quietly.

I hesitate a moment before giving a brief nod then I take a deep drink of my water, I drain the bottle before I am satisfied and glance towards Mitchell. Sam is standing in the doorway with an excited look on his face. I frown suddenly unsure of my brother and fuss with the blanket covering my son.

"Hey Rosy," Sam says softly.

"Sam, Rosy wants you to stand guard and keep everyone well away from her and her kitt while she rests." Micah says from just out of view.

"I can do that," Sam says with a thread of excitement in his voice.

"You got to be real quiet or don’t be in the room, and no closer then the end of the bed! And no trying to peek at my kitt or trying to touch him!" I warn tensely.

"I’ll just be here to keep everyone out of the room and see that you get anything you want or need," Sam tells me quietly. I eye him silently knowing I can trust him but more than just my own safety and well-being are at stake now.

‘Okay then," I say grudgingly.

"I’ll just get a chair and bring it in so I can sit at the end of the bed," Sam says quietly.

"Don’t make any noise, he’s asleep." I say relenting slightly.

"Does he have a name yet?" Mitchell asks encouragingly.

I hesitate for a moment as I look at my son. I hadn’t thought of a name for him in what seemed like forever. Suddenly it comes to me and I look up to meet Mitchell’s eyes.

"Yes. Wynn

– it’s short for Tangwyn. Tangwyn Alejandro Williamson," I say confidently.

"Yes! Yes!" I hear Micah hissing excitedly outside the room and I get to my feet restlessly suddenly unsure whether to go and investigate or not.

"Micah! Enough! If you are going to stand there be quiet!" Mitchell orders firmly.

Sam and Mitchell leave quietly shutting the door and I resettle myself. I pull the covers up and tuck it in around my neck taking care not to cover the Wynn’s head. When Sam returns I am almost asleep but stir long enough to lift my head and glare at him but he is true to his word and sets the chair at the end of the bed to sit on it leaving me in peace. Wynn wakes me as he squirms against me and I am sitting up when he gives a soft cry making me reach for him.

"Is he okay?" Sam asks, a slight trace of worry creeping into his voice.

"I think he’s only hungry," I say as I put Wynn to my bare breast. He immediately latches on but fusses instead of feeding. I grimace at the feel then glance at Sam who is staring at Wynn with delight. I struggle to stay calm as Wynn refuses to feed, I am beginning to feel panicky and glance at Sam.

"Can you get Marissa?" I ask uneasily and Sam starts guiltily as he glances at me before hurrying from the room. Wynn lets go of my breast and refuses to latch back on as I try to get him to feed. He lets out a strong cry that quickly turns into a wail and another and another. I jiggle him trying to quieten him but he continues to cry and turns his face away from my breast as I offer it to him once again.

Wynn’s cries quickly increase in intensity and I rewrap him in his blanket hoping that will help, but his cries turn to screams and I lift him to my shoulder rocking my body back and forth as I try to settle him down.

"Hey Rosy," The softly murmured words startle me and I hiss as I look up to find Micah standing half way between the bed and the door. "What’s wrong with him? Why’s he crying?"

"I don’t know! He won’t drink!" I say and I hear the near panic in my voice.

"Could he need to burp or have his nappy changed?" Micah asks gently and I glance up from Wynn to Micah who has moved to the end of the bed, I clutch Wynn to me tighter and he increases his loud screams to even higher volume.

"Keep away from him! I won’t let you hurt him!" I say fiercely.

"I don’t want to hurt him," Micah whispers soothingly. "I want to help you. I won’t touch either of you. Does he need to burp? How is his nappy?"

I look down at Wynn nervously and loosen my grip before carefully lowering him to the bedding. I give Micah an uneasy glance before starting to unwrap Wynn. When I open his little body suit I get my first smell of a soiled nappy and glance towards Micah startled.

"His nappy is dirty," I say and take a further sniff, "Wet too."

"I’ll go grab the nappies and … I’ll bring the entire box of stuff so you can get what you need." Micah tells me gently. I watch him move quickly from the room and turn my attention back to Wynn, I have his nappy unfastened and I am wiping the worst of the mess from his skin with the nappy when Micah returns with the box of nappies and another box with all the lotions and wipes for use on Wynn. He places them within reach before stepping back and letting me work on cleaning up Wynn. With his bottom cleaned and a new clean and dry nappy in place I slip the now silent Wynn back into his clothes and wrap him up in his blanket once again, he lays there as if watching me and I pick him up and place him against my shoulder. I am rewarded with two loud burps and I settle him in my arms rocking him slightly, I watch as he yawns and closes his little eyes.

"You managed that real well," Micah says proudly and I glance up to see him sitting on the chair Sam had been using. He is leaning forward watching me, his elbows resting on his thighs as he rests his weigh on his arms. I give a slight smile before settling him on the bedding and stretching out beside him as I pull a blanket over both of us. I am just getting comfortably settled when the screen door slams and hurried footsteps head towards the room, I sit up uneasily to watch the doorway and glance at Micah as he stands and faces the door.

"Marissa will be here in a few moments!" Sam pants slightly out of breath as he looks from me to Micah and back again, "What are you doing in here?"

"I came in to see if Rosy needed a hand but she managed quite well without any help," Micah says calmly.

"You mentioned he might need his nappy changed," I say as I lie back down.

"But you fixed him up all by yourself," Micah points out and I give a slight snort of annoyance as I tuck the blanket up around my shoulders taking care Wynn has a gap for fresh air.

"Doc has just arrived and Marissa is coming to the screen door," Dwayne says from just out of sight. "Everything alright?"

"Everything is fine," Micah answers.

"You can go now," Sam says firmly to Micah who gives a low growl of annoyance.

"Get out of the room both of you!" I snarl as I fling the blanket back and begin to climb to my feet as I glare at the both of them. There is no way I am allowing them to stay in the room and fight around Wynn!

"What ever you say, you’re the boss." Micah says softly as he moves to the door quickly. Sam hesitates a moment and I growl low in my throat as I take a step towards him, which is all that is needed to send him walking calmly from the room with Micah ahead of him. I settle my self beside Wynn once again and listen intently as several lots of footsteps make their way up the sunroom.

"Why isn’t someone in there with her?" Marissa asks worriedly.

"Rosy sent both of us from the room," Micah says lightly.

"One of them growled and Rosy ordered them both from the room," Dwayne says dryly.

"She didn’t just order us from the room, she got to her feet pretty fast as if she was going to come after us." Sam says tightly.

"You’re lucky she didn’t! No she-kitt or Queen who has not long given birth to a kitt will tolerate anyone growling in the same room as the kitt when it is so young!" Doc says sharply, "Now I hope you haven’t upset her too much."

"Hallo Rosy, Sam said you wanted me." Marissa says as she walks into view. I rise up onto my elbow to look at her before lying back down once again. "Do you mind if I come in? Doc is here as well, can he come in?"

I consider it a few moments as I tuck the blanket around Wynn carefully, "Ok but none of the others," I warn firmly.

"Can Micah stand in the doorway where he can see Marissa isn’t in any danger?" Doc asks calmly.

"Yeah," I agree readily knowing Micah won’t come into the room without provocation.

"Ok then, I’ll just have a look at the young fellow to check he came through the birth okay." Doc says lightly as he walks into the room and comes over near me, I narrow my eyes as I watch him.

"You are not touching my son!" I hiss as I get to my feet. Doc stops abruptly, he drops his gaze away from me and holds still a few moments before taking a couple of steps backwards.

"Get out," I growl threateningly and take several steps towards Doc as he backs up. He stops moving and I stop, I watch him through eyes narrowed to little more than slits. I am acting like he is my prey, I am aware of it and I know he is aware of it also, but I can’t seem to help myself.

"Rosy, you are going to let Doc back out of the room," Micah says firmly. I growl at the sound of his voice but stand still as Doc takes a cautious step backwards. I watch as Micah moves to his side and positions himself between Doc and the rest of the room, finally I am able to turn away and stalk back to near the nest I made from the bed clothes.

"Everyone go away!" I snap tightly.

"I’ll make sure no one even comes up this end of the building," Micah says soothingly.

"I’ll shut the door for you but I’ll be just outside the door," Sam says softly. "Just call me if you need anything,"

"I’ll stay out here and make sure these toms understand they have to leave you alone and not bother you," Marissa says forcing a lightness into her voice. "I can come help you anytime you feel you need me to. Anytime no one has upset you,"

I watch silently as the door is shut and I am left alone. I sit down slowly and look at Wynn. He is awake but lying silently in the blankets, he turns his head as if he can see me and a faint whimper comes from him. I stretch out beside him and cuddle him close, he wriggles for a moment as if getting settled and then I hear his breathing even out. I glance down and see he is asleep. I study his little face for the first time. His hair is an unusual light brown with gold and white blonde strands through it. I know his eyes already have traces of brown flecks in the cloudy blue of a new born. The shape of his eyes is the same I see whenever I look in a mirror but the shape of his jaw line and chin is definitely from his paternal side of his heritage. Strangely he resembles Dwayne and Justin more than he does Edwin.

"Looks like you’re stuck with me little man," I whisper to him before laying my head down and closing my eyes.