Around her the diner quieted, and she looked up to see what had happened. Rian sat uncharacteristically quiet, staring down at the box in his hands. Rebecca looked at Ashby, who smiled at her. She looked back to Rian.
“I didn’t mean to make you mad,” she whispered.
Rian set the box down on the table carefully, as if it were made of the most delicate crystal. He looked up and his normally laughing eyes were brimming with tears.
“How could I ever be mad at you? You’ve made so many wonderful changes in the past year, I barely recognize myself with how happy I am. The entire town is thriving and coming together because of you. We’re all here and celebrating together because of you.” Rian stood and placed his fist over his heart, paying tribute to her.
Chairs scraped on the floor as everyone in the diner stood. Rebecca looked around at her friends who smiled down at her. Beside her Aleks took her hand. Kate, Bran and Caleb placed their fisted hands over their hearts. Liam, Kent and Sebastian smiled and raised their fists to their chests. The wolves and the lions throughout the diner followed suit.
Gabriel stepped forward and bowed elegantly. Behind him every vampire in the diner bowed after their Prince. Rebecca covered her mouth with both hands, overwhelmed at their display of acceptance and love.
“I don’t know what to say.” She sniffled.
“You could tell your mate that you’re in labor,” Sebastian suggested.
“What!” Aleks bellowed. Everyone in the diner began to talk at once, except for her bear, who steadily and systematically began to lose his mind.
“Stand. Stand. Go.” Aleks pointed to the door. Rebecca rolled her eyes. He was down to simple, one-syllable words already. Wonderful.
“In a minute, I want to finish my pie.” She was reaching for her fork when Aleks lifted her, chair and all, and strode toward the door.
“Pie! I want my pie!” she yelled.
“Doc. Come!”
Kaden jumped up and opened the door, wide-eyed. The door shut behind Aleks as he carried his mate in a chair to the clinic, with her bellowing for pie. When it closed completely, the diner was suddenly quiet. Doc and Felix stared at each other at their table and both sighed.
Unable to contain his laughter a second more, Ashby began to chuckle.
“Can you imagine his reaction when he finds out she’s been in labor since last night?” Sebastian laughed.
“Good luck, Doc!” Connor yelled.
“Remember, bob and weave. Bob and weave.” Rian bobbed his head back and forth, holding up his fists.
“I have my taser in the car,” Madison offered.
“Don’t tempt me,” Doc murmured, getting his coat on.
“Doc. Now!” The roar from outside made the windows shake.
“It’s going to be a long fucking night.” Felix followed after his mate to the clinic to bring the new Arkadion prince into the world.
Hours later, the Christmas party was still in full swing when Aleks burst through the door, grinning.
“It’s a boy!”
“We knew that already. How big is he? Is Rebecca okay?” Kate asked.
“We were worried for a while. Rebecca’s heart rate dropped a few times. But, she is fine now, the baby is…hold on.” Aleks dashed back outside.
Ashby shook his head. A few minutes later the door was flung open again.
“He’s twenty-three inches long!” Aleks announced like the proud Papa he was.
“How much does he weigh?” Sebastian asked.
“Hold on.” Aleks ran back outside.
