THE FAMILY IN RUTWELL FOREST

By Kthanid

With input from SerenaKtty

Chapter 17: Moody Blues

“So you an’ daddy went and told Auntie Binky so she could blab everyone else?” Tina asked.

“Er…No,” Martin said with an embarrassed grin. “But we did tell all our neighbors…including Binky. Then she blabbed to everyone else.”

“Martin…” Serena smirked.

“What?” Martin said, looking particularly innocent.

“So mommy Serena had to carry us around an’ get pampered longer than mommy Monica?” Tarin asked.

Martin and Monica looked up at the ceiling with little smirks on their faces. Serena took the hint and cleared her throat.

“Umm…well, yes,” she said, looking a little embarrassed. “But Mommy Serena wasn’t…Well…She wasn’t very appreciative.”

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The next week was filled with visitors and well wishers coming over to see Monica’s eggs. Serena was grateful for the small diversion from everyone trying to wait on her hand and foot. Monica, Martin and the twins took turns keeping the eggs warm so Serena found it easier to plan out her walks for when Martin had ‘sitting duty’. The initial diversions of attention didn’t last, however. Serena once more found herself the center of attention and more as Monica now insisted on looking after her as well when she wasn’t warming her eggs. Additionally, with less attention being lavished on Monica now that she had laid her eggs, she found herself doubly pampered. Her belly continued to swell as the weeks passed and this did even more to sour her mood. Partially due to the fact that she really did need help getting around and partially due to the raging hormones racing through her system. And then there was the problem of not getting enough ‘intimate’ care. At six months, she had found it difficult to mate with Martin as her added girth caused no small amount of logistical problems, not the least of which was Martin’s desire to not injure her or the kits she carried. She wanted, even needed to be intimate with her lovers, but between their own fears and Cleo’s advice to take it easy her frustration levels increased.

Monica was understanding of Serena’s occasional but increasing outbursts of frustration and took them more or less in stride. Shiela weathered the outbursts steadfastly, resolute in her responsibilities given to her by Cleo to watch over Serena. Martin would fret and worry when Serena snapped at him and redouble his efforts to pamper her which only added to her moods. Shelby quickly learned to avoid Serena when she had a mad on.

During this time, partly in an effort to keep Martin out of Serena’s fur and partly because Shelby wasn’t always available as he also had to take his turn with the eggs, Shiela began to exercise her rights to play with her sister and Martin. Martin was typically reluctant but quickly succumbed to the aggressive younger platypus’ charms and determination. It was during one of these ‘distraction’ encounters that Serena happened to struggle out of bed.

She looked at the clock and found that was well into the late afternoon. She looked into Monica’s nest to find Shelby on duty, snuggled in amongst the eggs and sporting an enormous erection as he dreamed peacefully. She smiled and waddled out into the living room on her way to the kitchen. There on the couch, Shiela lay underneath Martin with her arms and legs wrapped tightly around the mink as he mated her with no small amount of enthusiasm. Shiela clung tightly to Martin whimpering and grunting urgently as she coaxed the mink to fuck her harder and faster.

Serena felt a pang of want and need flush through her. The pair of mating furs seemed completely oblivious to her presence. While Serena knew they would be fumbling over each other if they knew she was there in their attempt to help her, she couldn’t help but feel left out and even a little jealous.

“A-almost there,” Shiela squealed as Martin thrust urgently into her. “Need to cum! Gotta…gotta…”

For Serena, the situation was too much and she did the meanest thing she could think of.

“Having fun, I hope,” she said icily as she walked past them.

“Oh…Yes…” Martin grunted. “We…S-Serena!?” Martin Knelt bolt upright on the couch, consequently pulling out of his near orgasming partner, much to her dismay.

This, of course, was exactly what Serena had intended. She smiled to herself as she went out the front door with the sound of Martin trying to scramble off the couch and Shiela voicing her profound frustration at having been cheated of her orgasm.

Hmph! Can’t mate with me in this condition, Serena groused to herself as she waddled her way down one of the forest trails. Didn’t see Monica…She must be picking up groceries.

Having witnessed Martin and Sheila mating had got Serena very aroused. She needed relief but her condition inhibited even simple masturbation. She was angry, horny and frustrated as she left the trail to make her way through the lass traveled forest paths.

If Willowmeena were to pop up now, I’d get down on my hands and knees and let her lick the fur off my pussy!

Thinking about it only made her feel worse.

After a time, she came across Bobbi Fox sitting beneath a tall pine tree in a clearing. The she-male fox was clad in a blue dress and looked very depressed.

“Hey Bobbi,” Serena said as she lumbered slowly over. “What’s the matter?”

“Oh…Hi, Serena,” Bobbi sniffed sadly. “I…I just ran across Harley and his…His mate.”

“Mate?” Serena asked. “I didn’t know he had a mate.”

“That big Saber-toothed tiger female,” Bobbi said.

“You mean Wannah?” Serena giggled. “Don’t be silly. Wannah isn’t Harley’s mate. He just doesn’t know quite what to do with her. He doesn’t want to hurt her feelings, that’s all. He really does like you. I can see it in his eyes.”

“But she says she belongs to him and that I should stay away.”

“That’s just the way she is,” Serena explained as she eased herself slowly down to sit next to Bobbi. “Her species is very territorial. I don’t think Harley knows that she thinks she belongs to him, though.”

“I want to be with him…You know, THAT way,” Bobbi sniffed. “But when she’s around I can’t get near him. It… It’s almost like he’s avoiding me because of…”

Serena noted that Bobbi was looking pointedly at her lap.

“You don’t think he is, do you?”

“Not at all,” Serena said smiling warmly. “He really does like you.”

“I’m sorry, Serena. I didn’t mean to unload my problems on you. Especially since you’re…Well…In your condition.”

“Not at all,” Serena said. “I like listening.”

“How come you’re out walking around by yourself?” Bobbi asked suddenly.

“I was feeling a little constrained,” Serena said, her mood darkening once more.

“But what if you start to…I mean I’d want my mate close to me if I were in your condition.”

“Martin was…Busy,” Serena grumbled.

“Busy? OH! You mean with Monica.”

“No…With Monica’s sister.”

“Monica’s…You mean Sheila?”

“It’s all right, I guess. We did tell the twins that they could play with us. But I just feel so left out.”

“Then I guess you and I have the same problem,” Bobbi sighed as she scooted next to Serena. “We both feel a little left out.”

“No one will let me do anything,” Serena said dejectedly as her pent up frustrations broke loose and poured forth. “As big as I am and because Cleo said I shouldn’t everyone is getting more than me. Everyone treats me like an invalid…‘Take it easy, Serena…Let me get that for you, Serena …Slow down, Serena’. I can’t do anything except sit on my furry butt and watch TV or sleep.”

“They love you, Serena,” Bobbi said as she gently rubbed Serena’s belly. “They just want to help and you’re already doing so much.”

“I know, but they treat me like a glass doll…Like if the drop me I’ll break or something. I know they mean well and I appreciate it. I just wish they’d let me do something.”

“How about we go back to my place,” Bobbi suggested. “I’ll let you make us some hot chocolate and we can feel left out together.”

“That sounds nice,” Serena said, looking up at the darkening sky. “But it’s starting to get late. I’m sure they’re worried about me. I should be getting home.”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Bobbi said as she got to her feet and held out her hand to help Serena. “Need a hand or…No, You can do it yourself can’t you.”

Serena smirked at Bobbie.

“Yes, I think I can,” She said.

“I’ll see you around then.”

Serena smiled and waved Bobbi goodbye until the vixen/male had disappeared into the forest. Her smile faded however when she tried to stand up, she found the task too much for her.

“Oh great,” She groused under her breath. “Just when I get to be independent, this happens!”

Serena made several more attempts to get to her feet but found that she could not get herself to budge. She told herself that some one would come along to help her. She huffed in frustration as the sky continued to darken and the air took on a slight chill. She was about to despair when she suddenly heard a faint whistling nearby.

“Hello?!” she called out. “Is someone there?”

“Hello?” came back a voice.

“Can you help me?” She called, the question grating on her frayed nerves. “I’m stuck.”

A moment or two later, Thomas Wolf entered the clearing.

“Serena?” He asked, amazed to find her out alone in the forest.

“Help,” Serena said quickly. “I’ve sat down and I can’t get up.”

“What are you doing out here?” Thomas asked as he hurried over to Serena’s side. “And in your condition? You could catch cold and then where would your kittens be?”

Serena bit back an acerbic remark and merely glared at the concerned wolf.

“Can you please just help me up?” Serena said flatly.

“Your wish is my command,” Thomas said as he gently scooped her up in his arms. “I’d better get you home though. It’s getting colder by the minute.”

Thomas Started walking with Serena in his arms. As usual he started off in the wrong direction.

“Where are we going?” Serena asked, chafing at not being allowed to walk on her own.

“Your place, of course,” Thomas said confidently. “You know, Serena, you really should take better care of yourself. You’re in a delicate condition. You can’t just think of yourself, you know.”

Being lectured on top of being treated as if she couldn’t take care of herself was the last straw for Serena. She glared at the warmly smiling wolf and struggled in his arms a little to make him put her down.

“I can walk on my own,” she said peevishly.

“I’m sure you can,” Thomas smiled at her. “But I’d feel better if we didn’t tire you out…And don’t look at me like that. I’m just helping out a friend.”

Serena glowered at Thomas as her temper flared.

“Let…Me…Down…NOW!” She growled.

Thomas was surprised by Serena’s angry outburst but he remained resolute. He frowned back at her.

“Not until I get you home, young lady, NOT before,” he said as if addressing a disobedient kit.

“I said NOW!” Serena growled, her ears flattening back against her head as her struggles increased.

Now it was Thomas’ turn to get angry. He bared his teeth and growled at his struggling charge.

“I’m going to help you in spite of yourself,” he growled, hoping to intimidate her into not struggling. “For the sake of your kittens, deal with it!”

Serena began to kick and beat on Thomas’ chest and shoulder.

“You can help me by putting me down!”

Thomas became afraid that Serena might inadvertently hurt herself or her kits or worse make him drop her.

“Serena! Stop that!”

“I want down!” Serena shouted as she increased her kicking and hitting. “I’m NOT helpless!!”

Afraid that he might drop her, Thomas put her feet on the ground and stood back trying to reign in his temper.

“All right! All right!!” he growled. “If you don’t want my help, then I won’t help you! Just remember that I tried, you ungrateful little…”

Thomas didn’t finish his sentence. He had just wanted to be a good friend. He knew there was nothing more to say and turned and stormed off into the woods. Serena looked after him, even after he had gone. Her anger ebbed and she regretted deeply having shouted at Thomas. She knew he had only wanted to help, but telling her what she should be doing had so infuriated her…

“What was all that about?” came a familiar voice behind her and low to the ground.

She turned around and found that Thomas had taken her as far as Randy Rabbit’s burrow. Randy’s head and arms were outside the entrance hole and he regarded her casually. She sighed heavily.

“Nothing…” she lied unconvincingly. “I just wanted to walk by myself and Thomas wouldn’t let me.”

“He was right, you know,” Randy said easily. “As much as you might not like being helped, you should be thinking of your kittens to be. He was just trying to help. Would it really have hurt your pride all that much to have let him help you out?”

Serena’s temper flared again and her tail frizzed out behind her.

“Not you too, Randy?!”

“Yup, me too,” Randy said in a serious tone that quite took Serena by surprise. “And any other gentlefur worth his fur who considers themselves your friend. It might piss you off but you shouldn’t have to worry about it much longer. If you treat your other friends like you treated Thomas, you won’t have any friends left who’ll WANT to help you. Take it easy.”

Serena could only stare open mouthed as Randy popped back down into his burrow.

“I…I just wanted a little space…” she said to no one in a small, almost frightened voice.

After a few moments…After Randy didn’t pop back up from his burrow, Serena turned and started off again. She intended to go home, but decided to take a side trip down by the lake. The sun was just a thin red line along the tops of the trees when she reached the lakes shore. The breeze off the lake was cold and she hugged herself to try and keep warm. She liked to walk along the lake but tonight it brought her no comfort. She spotted Olivia climbing ashore a little ways away and waddled her way over. Olivia smiled brightly as she hauled up a salmon from the lake.

“Hi Serena! I didn’t expect to see you out and about. Care for some salmon?”

“Actually, I was on my way home,” Serena said. “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Sure. Oh, by the by, Martin was by looking for you earlier. He seemed upset.”

Serena felt a twinge of guilt as she recalled her earlier interruption of Martin and Shiela.

“Olivia, can I talk to you?”

“I’m all ears,” Olivia said as she began cleaning the Salmon.

“Why is it the females here don’t insist on helping me or lecturing me but the males do? It’s a little aggravating when they insist on helping me when I don’t want help. I mean…Every one of them is treating me like I’m a glass doll…
Like I’m too fragile to take care of myself. There are some things I like help with but not EVERYTHING.”

“Hmmm…I think they can’t help it, Serena. It’s in a male’s nature to protect us females I guess. That and maybe a little guilt. After all, they get to be in on the fun part of making kits but the female has to carry the kits for the next 9 months…Unless you’re a duck or a platypus…And even then they hafta deal with laying the eggs. They want to feel useful.”

“But why can’t they take ‘no’ for and answer? I got into a nasty argument with Thomas because he wouldn’t let me walk on my own two feet. He insisted on carrying me home. CARRYING ME! And then he lectured me…Told me I should ‘think of the kittens’…Him and Randy both. Between my hormones running out of control, my frustration and the fact that Martin, Monica and I haven’t been able to mate for weeks, I sorta blew up at him. I hurt his feelings, Olivia. He stormed off.”

Serena looked at the ground and sniffed trying to fight back the tears that began to fill her eyes.

“Randy said that if I kept up like that then none of the males would want to be around me or be my friend,” Serena said as her tears flowed freely. “I don’t want them to go away…I just want them to slow down.”

Olivia went over to Serena and put an arm around her, letting her cry into her shoulder. She gently stroked the back of Serena’s head.

“That’s just the way males are,” Olivia said in soothing tones. “You’re about to do what they can’t…bring new life to the world. They feel helpless and useless. They need to help you.”

“I just want to feel useful too,” Serena sniffed. “With out someone breathing down my neck.”

“Tell you what,” Olivia grinned. “When you need some space or need to feel useful, you know where I live. I promise, I won’t breathe down your neck.”

Then she added with a mischievous grin.

“Unless you want me to.”

Serena smiled and wiped away some of her tears.

“Thank you, Olivia,” Serena said. “Did you see which way Martin went?”

“You are most welcome, Serena. I think he said something about Randy’s place.”

“Thank you,” Serena said again as she turned and started back toward Randy’s burrow.

When she got to the burrow, she was surprised to hear sounds of sobbing coming from the entrance hole. She stole quietly up and listened.

“It’s not your fault, Martin,” Randy was saying. “Serena told the twins it was okay for them to play with you guys. Serena’s just…well…She’s pregnant. She gets moody. It’s bound to be a strain on her. Look how independent she’s been before this and look at how dependant she has to be now. She’s frustrated, not mad at you…Not really.”

“Y-you really think so?” Came Martin’s unsteady voice.

“Absolutely,” Randy said confidently.

Serena sneezed and sniffed as she hugged herself against the chill of the night air. She knew Randy’s sensitive hearing would have heard her.

“Randy?” she called down. “Are you home?”

“Well speak of the…” Randy said as he popped his head and shoulders out of his burrow entrance. “Come on in. I already have the ladder set up. Come in and get warmed up.”

“Well actually I was…I was wondering if Martin was here?”

Serena sneezed again and shivered in the cold. Randy frowned at her.

“Damn it, Serena,” He said with a disapproving tone in his voice. “You’re going to catch cold out there. Swallow your pride and get in here. At least get warm before you walk home.”

Serena was a little taken aback by Randy’s ‘invitation’ but none-the-less she squatted down by the hole and slipped her foot in, feeling around for the ladder. Randy dropped back into the burrow to make room for Serena.

“Serena!” Martin exclaimed as Serena’s foot looked for the top of the ladder. “I was so worried. So are Monica and the twins.”

Martin hurried to the ladder and guided Serena’s foot to it. Serena started down, her back to the ladder. Martin was beside himself trying to help her down.

“Ease up Martin,” Randy grinned. “She’s a big girl. She can do it herself.”

“I could use a little help,” Serena said, smiling warmly at Martin.

After a little effort, Serena set both feet on the floor. Randy slipped a comforter over her shoulders which Serena pulled tightly around her.

“Look,” Randy said. “I know you two have things to discuss. I’ll just hop on over to Joy’s burrow and see if she’s up. And remember Martin, when you get home, you still owe Shiela an apology.”

Randy hopped out of the burrow. Serena looked at the floor.

“I guess I owe Sheila and apology as well,” Serena said. “And you too. I’ve been a real selfish pain in everyone’s rump lately. I don’t mean to be…”

“No, Serena…It’s not your fault. I didn’t understand. I felt so helpless and useless while you and Monica were carrying our kits…I had to take care of you two to feel like I was doing something useful. I didn’t realize that you didn’t want to be taken care of.”

“It’s not that,” Serena said. “It’s just that…Ever since I lost my parents, I’ve had to take care of myself and pull my own weight. I don’t mind being pampered a little. It’s just that I don’t like being treated as though I’m helpless. Between that and my hormones running amok, I’ve gotten a little…well…Difficult. I don’t want to break up our family.”

Martin took hold of Serena’s arms. Serena looked up into Martin’s sky blue loving eyes.

“You could no more break up our family than Monica or I could,” Martin said tenderly. “Because we are a family. You aren’t alone any more, Serena. We are a family. And our family is only going to grow and become more special. Monica and I are both there for you…The twins too.”

“I love you so much, Martin,” Serena said as she put her arms around him and nuzzled his cheek.

Martin kissed her tenderly and nuzzled her back. Serena turned her head suddenly and sneezed.

“Bless you,” Martin said as Serena sniffed. “Maybe we should get you home and take care of that cold. Maybe you could make yourself some soup?”

Serena smiled. She let Martin Help her up the ladder and out of the burrow where she kissed him.

“I guess my work here is done,” Randy said from where he leaned casually on his mail box, Surprising Serena and Martin. “Guess I’ll turn in.”

Randy hopped over to the burrow entrance.

“I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier with you and Thomas, Randy,” Serena said as she took the comforter from her shoulders and held it out to the warmly smiling rabbit. “My hormones just got the better of me.”

“I figured as much,” Randy grinned. “And hang on to the comforter. It’ll give me a reason to drop by.”

Serena put the comforter over her shoulders again. Randy stepped over to Serena. He kissed her full on the lips…A passionate kiss of love and desire. Serena melted into it until Randy broke it and looked into her eyes.

“I said it when we first met, and I’ll say it again. You are one sexy kitty. On top of that, you’re a good friend. Now, get on home before you catch more than the sniffles.”

Serena leaned over and kissed Randy’s cheek.

“You’re a real sweet heart,” she said with a warm little smile. “When you want to be.”

“Just don’t spread it around,” Randy grinned. “You’ll ruin my reputation.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Serena smiled. “Good night, Randy.”

Serena took Martin’s arm and snuggled against him as they turned to walk home.

Upon their return there was much fussing and discussing and apologizing. There was a general agreement that Serena could do certain things on her own and that she would try to police her outbursts a bit more diligently. Martin and Serena promised to make up for Sheila’s coitus interruptus at the earliest opportunity. Not long after, the household settled down for the night.

Serena awakened suddenly with an ache in her abdomen. She looked at the clock by the bed. It read 1:30 AM. She sat up slowly, Slipping out from under Monica’s arm gently so as not to wake her or Martin who slept soundly on the other side of Monica. She held her belly and went slowly toward the bathroom. Monica stirred and opened one sleepy eye.

“Mmmm…S-Serena? Are you okay?” she whispered.

“Go back to sleep, Monica,” Serena whispered back.

Monica’s eye closed. Serena leaned against the bathroom door frame as another pain hit. She grit her teeth and slid partway down the frame. She took a couple deep slow breaths.

“Serena?” Monica whispered from the bed as she propped herself up on her elbow.

“Oh dear!” Serena said, no longer whispering. “I think I’m having a contraction.”

“Now?” Monica gasped, her eyes snapping wide awake as she sat bolt upright in the bed. “You’re having them now? But I thought you had another month!”

“That’s what I thought,” Serena Gasped. “Where’s that familiar, Cleo gave me?”

“It’s in the top drawer…I’ll get it,” Monica said as she scrambled from the bed. “Martin! Martin, wake up!”

“Oh dear, here comes another one…” Serena said as she grimaced in pain.

Martin stirred and rolled over but continued to sleep. Monica snatched Cleo’s familiar from the drawer and rushed it over to Serena. Serena took the little phallus with legs and gave it a quick kiss as Cleo had instructed her to do. The bizarre little creature sprang from her palm and dashed about ten feet before it vanished in a puff of green sparkles.

“Martin,” Serena called to her and Monica’s sleeping mate. “It’s Baby time!”

Martin sat up instantly, a look of absolute panic on his face.

“It’s TIME?”

Serena smiled sheepishly and waved at him from where she sat on the floor. Martin tried to scramble from the bed and got tangled in the bedding. He crashed to the floor in a heap of fur and blankets and sheets. Monica grimaced in sympathy for Martin then turned and knelt down next to Serena.

“Can you make it back to the bed?” she asked.

“I don’t think so,” Serena grimaced as she tried unsuccessfully to get up. “Th-they can’t come yet…We don’t have names picked out!”

“Martin, help me get her back to the bed,” Monica pleaded.

Martin’s struggles had managed to get him completely tangled in the bedding. In desperation he bit into the cloth and shredded his way free. Serena looked horrified.

“Martin!” Serena gasped. “Those were my good sheets! I…Oh dear! Here comes anotherrrrr…”

Martin rushed over and slung Serena’s arm over his shoulder, helping her to her feet. He and Monica helped Serena to the bed.

Out in the forest, Binky poked her head out of her burrow and sniffed at the crisp night air to clear her head.

“Ah’m gonna be walkin’ bow legged tamorra an’ that’s a fact,” She sighed happily.

Beuford was in a particularly frisky mood tonight, just the way she liked him. She had taken a moment to get a quick breath of fresh air to clear her head from all the musky sex smell that filled her burrow and give her hound-dog lover a moment to recover. As she relaxed at the entrance to her burrow she spotted Cleo rushing through her yard.

“Hey, Cleo!” Binky called as the purple cat hurried past. “Whot’s th’ rush at this hour o’ th’ mornin’?”

“Serena’s in labor,” Cleo said without slowing down.

“She’s WHOT?!” Binky gasped. “Beuford! Git Dressed! Serena’s gonna drop th’ load!!”

Binky hopped out of her burrow and waited impatiently for Beuford who crawled awkwardly from the hole, trying to finish tightening his belt and slip on his vest at the same time. With a wry grin he tossed Binky her shorts and shirt. The Blue bunny looked down at herself and blushed as she snatched her clothes and quickly dressed. The pair hurried through the forest pausing only long enough to thump at Joy’s burrow, Fetish’s log and Randy’s burrow so that Binky could pass along the news.

Back in The Mink family’s bedroom, the door suddenly burst open and Wannah barged in, a look of concern on her face.

“What noise?” She growled.

“Did something happen?” Harley said as he hurried in behind Wannah in his female form.

“Is no time for Har-lee to be girl,” Wannah growled. “Find Magic rabbit and change back to boy.”

Harley glared at the big Sabre-toothed tigress, ignoring her ‘suggestion’. Sheila squeezed past Wannah and Harley and rushed to Serena’s bedside with a delighted squeal.

“All right, Giver some room,” The younger platypus commanded. “Serena, just breathe like Cleo taught you.”

Sheila raised Serena’s oversized nightshirt and quickly stripped off Serena’s panties. Serena was taken aback by Sheila’s taking charge of the situation and her rather free way of exercising her authority. The younger platypus re-arranged Serena’s legs so they were drawn up and her knees spread wide while she instructed Martin and Monica to stuff pillows under her head and shoulders.

A knock on the door sent Shelby rushing to answer it, but he bounced off Harley’s rump as the ‘vixen’ beat him too it. When the door opened, Cleo rushed in demanding to know where Serena was. Shelby pointed to the bedroom and Cleo rushed in that direction. Harley was about to close the door when Binky, Beuford, Joy, Fettish and Randy got there. The furry throng gathered at the bedroom door way as Cleo hurried over to Serena. Serena blushed but looked very annoyed at having her nether-regions so prominently displayed for her friends and neighbors.

“Honestly,” She grunted as another pain swept over her. “Does everyone need to be in here? You all act like you’ve never seen a baby being born before! Please, can I just have Martin, Monica and Cleo in here?”

“Y’all huhd huh,” Binky said ash she turned to shoo the others out. “Everyone out inta th’ livin’ room!’

With Wannah’s help Binky managed to clear the doorway and get the door closed. Joy hurried over to the phone and started making phone calls. Sheila waited by the door expectantly, hoping to hear Cleo call for her help. Shelby paced the living room like an expectant father. Harley, realizing ‘she’ was sans clothes hurried into ‘her’ room to get dressed. Joy hung up the phone after chatting with Patti and started calling Olivia.

“We getting’ th’ whole Brigade in heah?” Binky asked, a little annoyed that Joy had got to the phone first.

“They gotta know!” Joy said.

“Jest as long as Sylvestah don’t put in an appear…”

As if on cue, there came an insistent knock at the door and a tell tale tattling sound. A despairing groan swept through the assembled furs.

“Do we have to let him in?” Randy asked.

“Maught as well,” Binky sighed as she went over to the door. “He’ll be even worse if we don’t let ‘im in.

Binky opened the door and Sylvester Svengali Serpent slithered quickly in, glaring at everyone with his tattler tattling away.

“I should have known you collection of perverts would be here!” He ranted. “You can’t even let a poor ladyfur give birth without ogling her to get some cheap thrill, can you!? Well at least our fine constable is here to keep you degenerates under some small measure of control!”

“If y’all hadn’t noticed, deah Suh,” Binky said, glowering at the tattle snake. “Th’ door ta Serena’s bedroom is closed and except fuh huh mates and Cleo, we’s all out heah.”

“Due no doubt to the constable’s influence,” Sly hissed. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves!”

“Oh PUH-Lease!” Binky sighed as she flopped on the couch next to Beuford. “Hey! Wait a minute! How in the hoo hah did y’all fahnd out about this?”

“I was on my way home from my weekly tattle club meeting when I overheard Randolph speaking to Joy as they hurried through the forest. I figured I should come and lend my moral support. Something sorely needed in this particular gathering of furs.”

“Well th’ last thing Serena need ta heah t’night is y’all flappin’ y’all’s scaly lips!” Binky said, shaking her fist at the snake. “So fahnd y’sef a corner ta curl up in an' shut y’all’s yap or Ah’ll toss y’all out on y’all’s asp!”

“That’s tellin’ him, Binky,” Randy grinned.

Sylvester ‘Hmphed’ and slithered off to a corner of the room. Harley came back out, adjusting ‘her’ ill fitting clothes. Wannah snatched Randy up from the floor and shook him at Harley.

“Fix Har-Lee,” She commanded the surprised rabbit.

“No!” Harley said, stepping back from Randy who began to grin slyly. “N-not Now, Wannah. There are more important things to worry about now.”

“Later then?” Randy asked, his grin spreading across his face.

Harley glared at Randy.

“This waiting is terrible,” Shelby said as he continued pacing.

“Tell us about it,” Binky sighed. “How long does it take ta have a baby?”

“Maybe it’s a big litter!” Joy said hopefully.

An hour ticked slowly by. Many of the guests nodded off once or twice and Olivia and Ursula arrived to add to the throng. At last Cleo stepped out of the bed room. All eyes turned to her as she quietly closed the door. She turned around, seemingly enjoying being the center of attention, and addressed the assembled furs.

“Serena, Monica and Martin would like to thank all their friends for their support and concern. Serena is just fine. She had a bout of false labor pains. She regrets any inconvenience this has caused anyone and once more thanks all her dear friends for your concern.”

“False Labor Pains?!” Binky exclaimed. “Is that even possible?”

“It happens sometimes,” Cleo explained. “It can feel very real. Especially to someone who has never actually given birth before.”

“So Ah guess we can all go home now?” Binky yawned and leaned against Beuford.

“Yup,” Cleo said cheerily. “Nothin’ more to see here… Tonight, anyway.”

The assembled furs said their good-bye’s and left their well wishes with Monica’s sibling before they left for their respective homes. Beuford carried Binky in his arms. Binky snuggled against his chest, a sly smirk on her sleepy face.

“So,” she yawned. “When do ah git mah fawns?”

Beuford choked and stumbled.

Y’all’s WHAT?!” he gasped.

Binky continued to grin and pretended to be asleep.

Continued