A New War:Part Five Jenna padded silently into the den room,finding everyone asleep. Almost everyone. James sat at the table,and looked up when she came and sat beside him,"How's Fox?" Jenna ran a paw through her hair,which was falling out of it's ponytail,"He's alive.Fara and Skye and I managed to clean his wounds,and close the sword cut through his chest.From X-rays,I saw no internal injuries,the sword cut no vital organs,or blood vessels.He did lose alot of blood though,but I think he'll make it." "Thank God,"James stood up,"May I see him?" "I don't see why not.His wife is with him,just be sure you're quiet." "Wife?You mean......" "Fox and Fara have been married for only seven months,I think." James shook his head and smiled. "Also,Fara isn't feeling well,so you're being quiet for her too." "James nodded and began to leave.Jenna's voice made him turn,"Mr.McCloud....." "Yes?" "Welome back to the team,you've been missed for a long time." She watched him go,before going to Bill,who was asleep on the couch.Exhausted, she knelt down on the floor beide him.She smoothed his flopped ears back and kissed his cheek. Bill stretched and opened his eyes,and smiled when he saw her.He kissed her forehead,then his expression turned serious,"How's Fox?" "He'll be okay.There was no internal injuries.Besides losing some blood and just plain exhausted,he'll pull through." "Is it alright if I see him?" "James is down there with him right now,so is Fara.I think it would be a good idea to let them talk awhile." Bill scooted over,Jenna curled up beside him.He pulled out her ponytail and her hair fell loose.He ran a paw through it. "Where's Falco?" "Skye's with him,she found him in the docking bay.They're probably in their room now." "Oh......."Bill laughed softly. It was quiet for a moment,before Jenna spoke up,"Bill?" "Yeah Jen?" "What would you say if.....if I was......" Bill sat up and looked down at her,"If you were what?" She giggled,before sitting up and whispering in his ear,"If.....I was pregnant?" Bill's eyes widened,his jaw dropped before he studdered,"You mean.....you're-you're-" "I am,with twins." "You mean,I'm going to be a....a....father?" "Mmmm-hmmm,"She suddenly became concerned.She searched his face for anything,"Bill,aren't you happy?" "Happy?"He scooped her up in his arms,and began to spin around,"Happy!?!You bet I am!!!" "Oh,Bill!Stop!!Stop!!!!"She cried with delight,"You're going to wake everyone up!" "Too late,"Peppy mumbled,"What's going on?" "What's up you two?"Kimmy murmured,curled up with Slippy in one of the bean bag seats. "Yeah,what's with the noise?"Slippy yawned and stretched. Bill kissed his wife fully,apparently not hearing them,"What are they,boy and a girl,two boys,two girls?" "I think a boy and a girl,"Jenna laughed. "Boy and a girl?"Kimmy got up. "What are you two talking about?"Peppy stretched and yawned. "Wait a minute,"A smile broke Kimmy's face,"Ya mean-Jenna you're going to have a pup!?!" "Two actually!"Jenna cried happily. "Holy cow!"Slippy nearly fell on his face as he struggled to get up. Peppy gave Jenna a hug,shaking Bill's paw,"Congratulations you two!" "And what's more,Fox is gonna be okay!And,Bill and I aren't the only ones expecting." "What does that mean,who else?"Slippy asked,puzzled,"Falco and Skye?" "Yeah,and who else?" "Jenna,you must be joking,"Peppy couldn't believe it,"Fox and Fara?" "Yeah,all three of us!" "This is crazy!"Slippy flopped onto the couch,laughing as Kimmy tried to tickle him. "Hey,when can we see Fox anyways?"Peppy held his sides from laughing so hard. Jenna giggled as Bill wrapped his arms around her,"We'll wait awhile,James is in sickbay with him and Fara right now." "Hey,we've got to get Falco and Skye down here right now!"Slippy made a dash for the hall. "Be better to call them over the com,Slip,"Peppy chuckled,"I don't think they would like to be interrupted quite so suddenly." "Oh,"Slippy snapped his fingers,"I gotcha!" ........................................................................ .................................................................. Fara woke up when she felt a paw on her shoulder.She looked up to see James McCloud. "Hello,Fara,"James quietly pulled up a chair beside her,"How's he doing?" "He's still unconscious,"Fara caught her husband's paw in her own. James touched her arm,"You two have been married for a little while I heard.Jenna told me." "Yes sir,seven months.Did she also tell you-" "You don't have to call me sir Fara,James is fine,you are my daughter-in-law.Jenna also told me what?" "That you are going to be a grandfather,in six-and-a half-months?" "What?" "You're going to be a grandfather." "Oh Fara,that's wonderful." She tried to smile,but a tear slid down her cheek,"It is.But I wish Fox would wake up.I want to tell him." "He will Fara,he will,"James held her in a comforting hug,"He'll wake up." "James,I'm afraid,"She sobbed. James tilted her head up,"Hey,it's going to be okay.I promise you it will." She turned back to Fox.Resting her head gently on his chest,and holding his paw,she whispered,"Fox,please wake up.Answer me,please." A tear slid down her cheek. James hung his head,and tried his best to ignore the moisture that slid down his own tired cheeks. He didn't see his son's eyes weakly open,and scan over the room.They rested on him for a moment,before falling on Fara.Weakly and painfully he raised his free paw and touched her cheek,wiping away a falling tear.His voice was hoarse,"Fara?" She raised her head,shocked.Shock went to relief when he saw a smile spread on her face.She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly,then reached over and shook James. The veteran pilot looked up,taking a breath of relief when he saw Fox,"How are you feeling son?" "Lousy I guess.How did I get here?" "James brought you,"Fara smiled,wiping her tears away on her sleeve. James stood,clasped his son's paw,"We've got alot to talk about,but first,I think Fara has something to tell you." Fox smiled,held up a finger to her lips,"I know,I heard." "But how?You were-" "Hey,just because my eyes were closed didn't mean I couldn't hear you.How far along are you?" She smiled,"Two-and-half-months." "Is it a boy or a girl?" She laughed,"I'm not really sure,but I think it's gonna be a boy." Fox kissed her gently,she curled beside him.She traced her fingers through his while he looked up at his father. "Can you believe this?Fox you're making me old,I'm gonna be a grandfather." Fox laughed softly,before turning serious,"I thought you were dead." "For a while,I thought I was too." "But how did you survive?" James sighed,and sat down again,"This will be the second time I've told someone this." Fox was quiet,James went on,"You know that Pigama betrayed Peppy and me on Venom,and that Peppy managed to escape.After that,I was taken before Andross.He had his fun torturing me,most of which I can't remember,except the pain.When he was finished I was thrown out into Venom's wasteland,thinking I would die." "Oh,dad." James smiled,surprisingly,"There was just one problem." "What was that?" "I didn't die.Somehow I managed to find my arwing,and get out of that hellhole.Despite broken limbs and horribly beaten,I survived.I managed to heal,somehow,that was a time I also barely remember,it was almost unreal,like a dream." "Why didn't you come home?" James spread his paws,"That was my first thought,you and home.But after I thought about it,I thought it would be better to just disappear for awhile,help you from the sidelines." Fox shook his head,"For years,I thought you were gone,just like mom.This is just too far out.One moment you're dead,and now you're here.It's just,wierd." "I don't have an excuse for any of my actions Fox,it's your decision to believe me or not." Fox looked over at his father,"Are you crazy,of course I believe you.Why wouldn't I?I'm glad you're alive,and here." Fara moved as he struggled to sit up,and caught his father in an embrace,"I've really missed you,dad." "I've missed you too son,and things will be different from now on." Fox held his father at arms length,before laughing and wiping a tear from the corner of his eye,"Hey!Where is everyone?I'd like to talk with them." "They're in the den,I'll get them,"Before leaving,he poked his head back in the doorway,"Oh,and Fox?" "Yeah?" "You know that statement you made about your mother?" "Yeah." James smiled,"She isn't dead either." "What!?!" "I'll explain later,"His head disappeared,his footsteps echoed down the hall. "Wha?Fara didn't you just hear what he-" He was interrupted by a full kiss. "Hmmmm......we'll talk later,"He kissed her back. "Fox?" "Yeah?" "Guess what?" "Oh God.What?" "I'm not the only one who's pregant.Jenna and Skye are too." "You must be joking?" "Nope." "Good grief,what has this team turned into,a flying baby factory or something?" She burst in laughter,quieting as she cuddled closer to him,her head on his chest against his chin. "Fara?" "What is it baby?" "Are you sure it's a boy?" "I'm very sure." "Okay,cause if you're sure then I'm sure." "Hey what is that supposed to mean?" He shrugged,and smiled as he got one more kiss.