Eight: Birth

Time went by and finally it came to that point when the babies were due and both Candy and Jessica were so big they could hardly get out of the beds! They had an assistant on hand for the last few days, she was a skunk called Verity and one of the other girls that Candy had worked with before that had actually had experience as a nurse before and was the most suitable for the job. She was always a bundle of energy and excitement, which was more than both the rabbit or the racoon could really handle as they’d both been feeling so heavy and round they could almost roll around the house on their bellies, but Verity was always somehow able to make them groan and force a smile.

More importantly, she was checking their blood pressure and the baby’s heartbeat and development as time went by. She was starting to get a precise idea on whose baby wanted to see the light of day first and it looked like it was going to be Candy. It fascinated them both as Verity had been explaining the growth and the position shift, Candy’s had moved to the right position and that meant, she was going to have the baby first! Jessica was more than a little surprised by it, but she was utterly excited for her best friend, especially as Candy was still humming over names.

“I reckon it’s going to be a boy and I don’t know what to name it… Rocky’s too common, Bruce was my dad’s name, Ted is pathetic and if I call him something similar to my name, he’s going to be a laughing stock.” Candy had been grumbling, lounging on the deck chair outside in the brilliant warm sunshine and letting her belly cook. Despite the fact they were both exceptionally hot from their babies growing, settling outside in the cool breeze and enjoying a bit of belly bathing still felt good. Funnily enough, it was in fact autumn and the wind was bitterly cold, but it was the right temperature for them both to lounge like others had in summer. Jessica’s ears twitched and she strained one towards Candy as she gave a sudden giggle.

“Your dad was called Bruce? Never really thought of Bruce as a racoon name…” Jessica beamed playfully and Candy gave a scoff, wagging her pink banded tail with another scoff as if Jessica were being rude. Jessica beamed though, she could understand that Candy was not impressed with her little joke, but she was pondering over it too. If they did think it was a certain problematic doctor that was trying to breed Ferals from Anthros like them… were they going to have babies or… pets? “Do you think it’ll be like us… Anthro?”

“I don’t expect it not too… the pregnancy has gone on too long for it to be like with the pets and wildlife… but I see what you mean. I reckon they’ll be both like us, on two legs and chaotic… mine will probably be a sweetheart like you and yours will probably mildly hyperactive with an attitude problem like me. That’s my opinion.” Candy mused, grinning wickedly and flashing those sharp racoon teeth of hers. It made Jessica give a giggle at the thought of it, she would probably only just be able to manage a puppy like that but, she was still concerned about how she was going to explain it. Candy was having a racoon so it was not going to ask questions that Jessica’s baby might and well, she was not sure how she was going to be a good parent when there would be such an obvious difference. Candy could sense something was up and so she thought to distract her again. “So… what names are you thinking about? Don’t say Jeff either… that’s a terrible name!”

“Pfft… Candy… I’m not going to call my baby Jeff! I don’t want to give it a sort of simple name like that, I want it to have a good name that’s unique but works for it.” Jessica beamed, glad of the sudden distraction as she turned to the iced drink that Verity had made them earlier, even with her little black paws trembling at the cold wind. Jessica heaved a soft sigh as she grasped the drink and then began to suck on the straw gently. She really was not too sure what she wanted, she assumed hers was a boy too, it just sort of seemed right and Jessica gave a soft hum again as she thought about it. “I reckon mine is probably going to be a boy but if it’s a girl I’d like it to be Liberty… if you have a girl instead, it should be called Liberty?”

“Oh boy is that a corny name! But it’s different and weirdly I think that suits the kind of thing you’d chose, Jessica. You’d suit having a daughter called Liberty being called ‘Libby’ and a son called Justice that you called ‘Justin’… yup…” Candy teased in amusement and it was enough to make Jessica snigger and whine in disbelief. She might like the name Liberty but she certainly was not going with a theme! The pair swatted and pushed at each other gently, smirking at the other before lounging back .They both took another sip of their drinks and sighed softly in relief before Candy gave a grimace. “Either war… the critter’s getting awfully fidgety in there… I’m starting to get a bit worried he's up to something.”

“Oh but Verity said if you have a long glass of cold water they usually have a good jiggle in response to the cold.” Jessica beamed playfully. But she could tell that Candy was just getting a bit concerned that her baby was indeed up to mischief and trying to get out into the world already. The racoon groaned as he lounged back with a soft snort of frustration, not really sure how to respond to that when she hadn’t been able to sleep much that night thanks to the familiar sensation of someone using her like a punching bag. She gave a soft scoff as Jessica gave a gentle chuckle again. “I’m sure it's going to be fine…”

“Urgh…” Candy gave a groaned of frustration, slapping back against the back of the chair and then putting the glass down onto the table again. She then brought her paws to her belly, stroking the huge bump gently and muttering to herself. Jessica smirked as she watched her, only to give a sudden sharp gasp and jolt slightly, sitting upright as Candy turned to look at her in surprise. “You alright?”

“I… I felt this sudden sharp sensation… its gone now.” Jessica stated gently, lounging back onto the chair and giving a slow breath to help clam her body. She stroked at her belly, she was quite sure her baby had turned during the night, but Verity had said she hadn’t noticed a change when she’d looked to her belly. Verity was out doing the big weekly shop and fetching the baby cribs, so she’d been in a rush that morning after making sure they had their breakfast. Jessica was a little concerned about it but as Candy was watching her cautiously she then lounged back again with a sigh. “I’m not sure if I’m going to be a good mother…”

“I’m not going to be a good mother… I’m going to be a chaotic mess on the verge of complete collapsed because like baby pets, baby babies are going to drive me insane! But… I’m going to work hard to be a good mother when I know you’re going to be a great mother beside me. Think about it Jessica, how hard you’ve worked with Norman to make him such a good dog… it’ll be harder with a kid but as you’re willing to put the work in, its bound to be the best kid ever!” Candy stated with a soft snort of amusement before sniggering in amusement. She then straightened up slightly, rubbing the top of her hips with a groan of frustration, before then shaking her head. She knew that Jessica had nothing to worry about, they’d both take care of one another and work with one another and the community was keen to be on their best around the babies too. There was still the question of how they were going to arrange being parents and sex workers but then Candy gave a soft grunt. “I don’t mind going back to work alternate days to whatever you’ve got to do to work... when the time comes.”

“Thanks Candy… its going to be a while before I’ll even think about work again with the baby but… let’s get through the initial chaos. I’m just surprised our boar boss is so willing to look after us and do whatever we need or want…” Jessica stated, still surprised that their boss was so eager to look after them both. When Jessica was able to have sex again and willing, she knew she was going straight to the boar to give him a night like he’d never had before. But it made her chuckle thoughtfully as she gave a soft sigh and then lounged back against her chair again. She gave a soft grimace before then sitting up again with a sharp sensation. “Oooh… maybe its indigestion?”

“Hmm… should I send a text to Verity and see where she is? Tell you what, I’ll turn the timer on my phone and we’ll see how far between just in case. They could be the Braxton Hicks again…” Candy began, looking towards Jessica in concern, just in case this was the moment that everything was about to go down for her too. Candy was a bit worried, considering her own birth was supposed to be the first one and she quickly pulled her phone up and turned the timer on. As she waited for the next one, Jessica was grimacing thoughtfully as she turned around to look at her with a grimace of frustration. Candy then gave a soft grimace. “Even my stomach’s feeling a bit off… maybe it was something we had giving us both some indigestion?”

“Yeah… I hope so…” Jessica stated anxiously and then she stood up and began to waddle towards the kitchen. Candy swung her legs out and slowly stood herself right up too, only to hear Jessica give a sudden whine. Candy waddled to her side and patted at Jessica’s shoulders gently before resetting the timer. Jessica thanked her and they both marched to wear the milk of magnesia was sitting in its giant pink tub for both of them to practically chug down! Both of them waddled into the kitchen and Jessica pulled out the two spoons so they could both take some and as they settled down, both of them were looking very uncomfortable.

As they both took down their spoonful of the hideous pink muck, both of them grimaced and then headed to sit down inside. Jessica though gave another painful whine and just as she was reaching the sofa, she gripped the back of it and whined in agony. Candy looked in surprise as suddenly, Jessica’s water broke and flooded the floor, making Candy give out a yelp of shock before then immediately grabbing her phone and dialling in the number for emergency services. She was there a few seconds before she began to let them know what was happening, only to give a sudden shriek herself as her waters broke too.

“Oh no… oh shit… my water’s broke too… oh god… there’s two of us giving birth!” She whimpered down the phone to the startled but reassuring phone operator who insisted they would be fine and to monitor contractions. Candy put the phone on loudspeaker so they could all be listened too and she was grateful for it as they were told to calm their breathing, set themselves down on the floor with legs open and just focus on breathing, not trying to push. They were both anxious and then the door popped open as Verity skipped in with Norman only to give a yelp of shock when she spotted them.

“Oh gosh… hang on, I’ll put Norman in his kennel and then I’ll come to you both. You called the ambulance right?” Verity called and the operator informed them what was going on. Verity put the dog away and then came down, insisting she was a former nurse and knew what to do but would appreciate help. With the operator monitoring Candy’s contractions, Verity focused upon Jessica’s and was stunned as the rabbit was panting harder and things looked to be opening out faster as Verity gave a squeak. “Eep… well, the baby’s in the right position but… it’s coming out fast!”

“What… but… but… shouldn’t I be in the ambulance or the hospital first!” Jessica yelped in surprise, grasping hold of Verity’s hand and looking towards her with an expression of despair. Had she done something wrong? Was this normal? Why was her baby coming now when Candy’s was supposed to be first? She looked petrified and panicked, but Verity patted her shoulders and waggled her big puffy tail with a soft smile.

“It’s all good Jessica… seriously it will all be perfectly fine and you’ve just got to focus on the breathing. Now, you’re probably feeling a sensation like you’ve gotta push, like it’s almost like you’ve gotta pop it out, but don’t do that yet, let me check and get a clean towel. Breathe and pant okay, go steady and try not to be too fast so the oxygen gets everywhere to help with the pain.” Verity beamed but Candy gave a growl of fury, insisting that no amount of breathing was going to make this any better. The operator insisted that they should listen and relax, but both the racoon and the rabbit were looking unpleasant and frustrated thanks to it. As Jessica whined though, Verity was back with a clean towel straight from the tumble dryer and she lay it out gently underneath Jessica’s legs before she called to the operator. “Jessica’s probably going to birth here and now so… I apologise that we’re going to have a baby here when they arrive.”

“I don’t want to have it here!” Jessica whined in dismay, but then she was encouraged that it was time to bear up and push with all her might. She did not want to, but her body was adamant and so with a firm push and a scream to echo around the room, Jessica managed to push the mastiff head of the puppy out of her stretched open body. She howled and screeched at the sensation, swearing she was ripped when she gave a whine as Verity beamed.

“Time to push one more time!” The skunk beamed and Jessica almost fainted, she did not want to do this and certainly, she did not know how she managed it when the next push came and with it, the strangled cry of a baby met her big ears.

Jessica was a mummy now!