Kitty, Kitty, Slave Epilogue

“Look how little she is…” Cohen whispered, ghosting a trembling hand over the silky smooth cheek of a newborn. One of his newborns.

“Yeah, they both are.” Reen whispered back, though not as breathlessly. Steadily, he moved closer, holding the little bundle closer to his kitty, allowing him to touch her freely. He was still too weak to hold one himself, now being the first time he’d even been able to see them at all, even though it’s been two full days. The pain and blood loss had nearly taken him away forever. The doctor had said that Cohen had developed a rare condition in which the baby in the womb would break through the surrounding abdominal wall and reach the surface through force. The doctor had said that Cohen was extremely lucky he hadn’t actually died, but Cohen hadn’t seen it that way. He’d wanted to see the twins the moment he’d woken up, but he hadn’t been allowed.

“Can I hold one?” Reen bit his bottom lip, slowly shaking his head.

“The doctor said you weren’t allowed. Your body doesn’t’ have enough strength right now.” The boy looked crushed at the news, tears building in his eyes. He wanted to see them. To touch them. He’d already lost two days. What if they didn’t know him? They had to know his. They had to love him. He already loved them so much. Holding back a sniffle, he nodded. Reen’s heart dropped. He couldn’t stand for him to be so heartbroken. “I think I have an idea. Scout over a little bit.” Agonizingly, Cohen slid towards the side of the bed. “Okay, now lay down on your side.” He did, whimpering slightly as his stitches stretched. He didn’t care. If it would get him closer to his children he’d happily bare any pain that came. “All right.” Slowly, Reen lowered the tiny bundle to rest beside him, the soft pink blanket even with his nose. His startling eyes stared captivated at the little girl, his little girl. His and Reen’s without a doubt. She had Reen’s brown hair and his beautiful green eyes. Her features were undoubtedly Cohen’s, that small, button nose, those tiny bones, those ears twitching of so cutely on her adorable head. Undoubtedly, she was a hybrid, her ears and tail striped as his was, though a mixture of mocha and vanilla. The cat couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he gazed at her.

“Him too.” Cohen nearly jumped as Reen lowered a smaller, blue bundle. Their little boy. A perfect replica of the girl, only smaller. And those eyes…they were Cohen’s. Cohen’s startling eyes. Their tails had the slightest variation, the girl’s had a brown tip, while the boy’s had a creamy vanilla. Shaking, Cohen lifted a hand to touch the boy’s face sa he had done the girl’s. “Cute, aren’t they?”

“Yeah…”

“What should we name them?” The boy shut his eyes, slowly rolling the question through his mind. What should they name them? They were so beautiful. So perfect.

“They look just like jewels…” Reen smiled at that, rubbing one of Cohen’s twitching ears.

“A ruby is a jewel.” Cohen ran his pinky along the little girl’s jaw.

“Ruby…I like that. But, what about him?” The boy’s eyebrows knitted together. “Do you know any other types of jewels?” Reen leaned back in the bedside chair, eyes lost in the ceiling tiles.

“There’s citrine, jade, pearl, and amber, but those wouldn’t work. Then there’s sapphire and spinel and-”

“What was that last one?”

“Spinel? It’s a multicolored gemstone that people sometimes mistake for the ruby.” Cohen purred, tail swinging back and forth beneath the covers.

“I like that. Ruby and Spinel.” Reen chuckled, spinning the boy’s hair in between his fingers.

“Yeah…me too.” Contently, they watched Ruby and Spinel’s chests rise and fall in the sweetest sleepy rhythm. They were so cute, their little jewels. Startled, Cohen lifted himself up on one elbow, careful not to disturb the twins.

“How do you know so much about jewels?” Reen smirked, a cocky smile on his lips.

“I was thinking about those names a few hours after they were born.” Cohen grinned, burrowing deeper into the light covers.

“Sneak.” He whispered lovingly.

“Yeah, but I’m your sneak.” The boy couldn’t help but giggle into the pillows, wrapping a hand around his little babies middles. His. Something was his. His life. His kids. His lover. His. Completely and utterly his. “I love you.”

And for once Cohen didn’t hesitate to answer.

“I love you too.”