Chapter 8

Connor tossed DeClan over his shoulder and pushed his way through the nasty looking customers on the way out of the seedy tavern, two of his best sea men watching his back, each carrying a vicious looking cutlass. Shoving open the door Connor blinked at the man he'd almost knocked down "Dougal" Connor grinned "what brings you to the better part of London's slums?" Dougal laughed nodding at DeClan "you have something that belongs to me" Connor laughed "you sure you want to admit that now? he's pretty rank" Dougal chuckled "I'd suggest chucking him in the nearest horse trough but looking around one would be worried about what he might catch." One of the sea men coughed "Captain, ain't one to be tellin ya where to socialize or nothin but there's an angry bar maid screeching that he didn't pay for services and you be standin in the doorway" Connor handed the man a bag of coins "open it and toss it in the middle of the crowd, if we're lucky they'll slit each other's throats trying to get to it" as all hell broke loose in the tavern Connor and Dougal walked down the street. "I was going to take him back to our families house and get him sobered and cleaned up" Dougal nodded "I'll be tagging along lad, glad you came across him" Connor laughed "I've been trying to track him down for over four months, he doesn't stay in one place long that's for sure" Dougal nodded "I had been searching too, took a few weeks off then some cat came and told me I had better get my butt to London and collect my son." Connor told his men to head back to the ship, set a good watch then it was shore leave until he sent for them, with a grin Connor thanked them for lending a hand, "it was a dandy fight Captain, just give a holler if you need to go lookin again" Connor laughed as the two men sauntered down the cobbled street. Connor opened the door and strode in, Dougal right behind him "don't mind us Uncle Joe, just need to tend to a friend" Joe who had gotten very used to everything and anything odd coming through the door grinned "better make a run for it before your Aunt sees you and wants to mother the man" Connor laughed taking the stairs two at a time, opening a bedroom door he motioned Dougal in "this should work its towards the back of the house and we shouldn't be disturbed." Connor tossed DeClan onto the bed and started undressing him, Dougal wrinkled his nose "I would suggest burning those before something comes crawling out" Connor nodded chuckling and sent the clothes, boots and all up in a puff of smoke, Dougal grinned "I do love to watch you dragons and your magic" Connor grinned a large tub appearing in the middle of the room "I'm tempted to fill it with ice cold water but a unconscious DeClan is a quiet DeClan" Dougal grinned as he took off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Nedra purred "Nedra is pleased to see you have collected the ohhh sooo dark sotted papa" Dougal blinked "that's the cat that told me DeClan was here in London" Connor pulling off his own jacket nodded "hello Nedra" reaching down he pulled the blanket over a nude DeClan. Nedra purrred with a chuckle "do you protect Nedra's eyes from the ohhh sooo more then adequate one?" Connor laughed "no Nedra I'm protecting him from your salacious roving eyes." Dougal's mouth dropped open to see a tall, lithe woman standing where the cat had been, her long straight jet black hair gleaming as the light of the candles reflected off of it, her dark black exotic eyes slanted and framed with thick black lashes, her autocratic features covered with skin the color of alabaster with a hint of warm honey, with lush red cupid bow lips she pouted at Connor, her perfectly proportioned body was wrapped in some sort of sarong that only came to her long thighs and barely covered her breasts, the outline of her nipples clearly visible through the material. Nedra walked slowly towards Connor, her hips swaying with each step of her dainty bare feet "salacious? my tasty bonbon, if Nedra were being salacious the boy would now even unconscious have an erection" she purred running a long red fingernail down Connor's bearded jaw, Connor laughed "if you say so, now out you go so we can get DeClan cleaned up" turning Nedra towards the door he gave her bottom a pat and a push in the direction of the door, Nedra hissed loudly as she found herself standing staring at a closed door, she hissed even louder as she heard Connor chuckle. Dougal and Connor got DeClan scrubbed and back into bed just as he came too "you bastard, you hit me" snarled DeClan at Connor, Connor grinned "you bet, I didn't think that particular group of tavern patrons were up to a battle of magic in their midst, which is what you were close to turning it into" DeClan sat up with a groan holding his head "where are my clothes?" Dougal chuckled "you won't be needing them for a while son, you need to eat some dinner and put some meat back on your bones" DeClan's head snapped around "Dougal? what are you doing here?" Connor said he would go get dinner for all of them and left giving Dougal a chance to talk to DeClan. Connor found his Uncle Joe in the kitchen nibbling "some day your going to get fat with all the nibbling you do Uncle Joe, it's a nervous habit you know" Joe nodded "I know, Nedra told me to give you a message, Zara had her babies and all three of them are in rough shape, she is on her way to Salvation, ohh and I'm supposed to tell you the next pat is on her." Connor frowned and sighed "I guess I better go back upstairs and tell Dougal and DeClan, damn I had hoped to give them more time" Connor entered the room a few minutes later a large tray in his hands, setting it down he poured three cups of hot black coffee and handed one to Dougal and DeClan. Dougal saw the worried look on Connor's face "what is it lad?" Dougal watched Connor clasp his hands behind his back, looking like the sea captain he was, about to issue painful orders as he walked across the room. "It's Zara" DeClan's head snapped up "what about Zara?" Dougal put his hand on DeClan's shoulder "let him finish" "you know she was pregnant? Dougal" Dougal nodded with a grin "in a few more months I have every intention of dandling a grandbaby on my knee" DeClan stared first at his father then at Connor, first Dougal informs him that he knows about being his father, now here stands Connor saying Zara was pregnant, DeClan rubbed his aching temples as they pounded with every breath he took. Connor frowned "Nedra is on her way to Salvation, she left a message with my Uncle Joe, Zara had her babies and none of them are doing well" Dougal stood up "babies? how bad are they?" Connor sighed "two hatchlings, I just talked to my father, the little male is hanging in there, the little girl is in bad shape and they still don't know if she will make it even though Falk finally got her to swallow some more milk and suck at the bottle just a little, Zara is feverish, Bitsy and Natalie can't seem to keep the fever away, that's why they sent for Nedra. Father sounded very worried, there were tears in his voice." DeClan put his face in his hands, they could hear him sob as he said he would go to Zara but he doubted she would ever want to see him or take him back, that he hadn't even known about his own babies, a racking sob escaping his throat. Connor smiled that was what he had wanted to hear, that not for one second had DeClan doubted they were his children and that he was more afraid of not being wanted then just not being interested in going back. It was Dougal who sat down on the bed next to DeClan and put a small gold box in his hand "Zara asked me to give this to you when I found you, she's been waiting all this time son for you to come home, she never doubted for a minute that you wouldn't be back, she was more worried that you didn't or wouldn't want her anymore then anything else, considering what had happened with Alex and Virlane." DeClan sat staring at the small gold box knowing what was inside, with trembling hands he opened the box and took out the note and read: the loving never stopped even when the hurting started, I love you, Zara. he looked down at the heart that was as perfect as the day he had given it to a tiny little dragoness, with a trembling hand he brushed the hair out of his face "I need to go to Zara." Connor smiled "then how about shaving, putting some food in your stomach and giving yourself a chance to shake off that hang over that's been dogging you all these months."

Nedra purred softly in the silent room, Fuzz got up from where he was curled asleep next to Mar and padded over to Nedra, rubbing and purring against her legs, Bitsy sitting in the windows seat watching the storm clouds moving in again turned hearing the soft purr and watched Nedra put her hand on Zara's forehead then softly caress her cheeks "rest my little sweet one, all is well as your body heals, yes Nedra shall take care of your ooohhh sooo feverish body, and add nourishment to your milk that your body tries to make to soon, your breasts will be filled with all the milk your tiny ones need shortly." Nedra picked up the tiny sleeping hatchlings "awww my tiny early ones, Nedra feels your shivers of fear at leaving your mama's body to soon, Nedra she shall softly ease your way, there is a large ohhh soooo roaring gryphon who needs you in his life my sweet one, as our ohhh soo grouchy Mar needs your tiny biting brother, your Grandmama and Grandmama need the laughter and joy you shall bring back into their lives, but most of all your mama and papa need you and your ohh soo protective brother." Bitsy rubbed her eyes and blinked as a golden aura seemed to ripple over the little bundle in Nedra's hands, the aura seemed to pulse brightly for a moment then fade away. Nedra tucked the little bundle back next to their mama, then frowned with a hiss "my oohhh soo snappy one remove your fangs from Nedra's hand immediately, yes that is much better, one must never bite Nedra unless she allows it." Bitsy quickly covered her mouth to stifle her giggles of mirth that he had gotten Nedra too, Nedra glanced over at Bitsy and smiled with a wink turning she left the room. Falk saw Nedra and went bounding across the entry hall "did you see Zara and the babies? did you fix them all up Nedra? he roared, Nedra purred "but of course my ohhh sooo fluffy boisterous one, they all sleep peacefully" with a loud roar Falk wrapped his hug paws around Nedra and crushed her to him "thank you Nedra" Nedra smiled as she loosened herself from Falk's grasp "you are most welcome my ohhh soo loud one, Nedra did not want to see you weeping in your tail any longer, it has much better uses" Falk giggled at Nedra then purred with a deep rumbling purr. Nedra purred softly at Alex and Laurel standing in the doorway of the study "your tiny one is better as are her children" walking over Nedra kissed them each lovingly "you forgot to have faith in your own teachings as parents my ohhh sooo silly ones, now you must prepare yourselves for DeClan's arrival, for your ohhh sooo tempting son has retrieved him and shall be bringing him home to his beloved Zara and his children soon."

Zara lay looking at her two sleeping babies, with a sigh of relief she looked around the room, for a few minutes at least it was empty, gently she purred as she unwrapped the blanket and carefully picked up her son, sleepy little eyes opened and looked at her, she purred and nuzzled him as she looked him over, smiling as she counted talons and rubbed her hands over his tiny body, Mal gave a tiny purr as he nuzzled his mama his little paws reaching for her, Zara snuggled him against her breast, then winced as he suddenly latched onto a nipple and started sucking as hard as his little mouth would work, she gently crooned and rubbed his back and tiny wings as he tried to purr and suck at the same time. When he'd had his fill and fallen asleep Zara snuggled him in the blankets and picked up Tabby, purring softly Zara looked over her tiny daughter just as she had Mal, counting tiny talons, running her hands over tiny wings, Tabby mewed softly at her mama, rubbing her tiny head against Zara's neck and chest, her tiny paw curled around the edge of Zara's nightgown, her tail wrapped around Zara's braid "want to try and eat? Tabby" Zara whispered softly as she kissed the top of her tiny head, Zara put Tabby to her breast "mama will help you Tabby, don't worry" Zara smiled as Tabby opened her tiny mouth and put it on her nipple "now you need to suck Tabby" she squeezed her breast a little letting the milk dribble into Tabby's mouth, then smiled as Tabby started to suck slowly, her tiny paw kneading against her mama's breast. Hearing a noise Zara looked at the door, her heart started to thud wildly in her chest "DeClan" his name coming out in a breathless whisper "can I come in? little one" DeClan asked wanting to hear her say stay but so afraid she would tell him to leave. Still unable to make her words come Zara nodded her hand patting the bed, Tabby feeling her mama's agitation whimpered softly her mouth slipping off Zara's nipple, Zara made soothing noises "you need to eat more Tabby" Tabby closed her eyes her tiny paw still clutching Zara's nightgown, Zara's eyes met DeClan's "she's doing much better then she was" Zara said softly blinking back the tears, DeClan stood next to the bed looking down at the two of them, he reached out a hand and softly stroked Zara's hair, there were so many things he wanted to say and he couldn't seem to say a word, trying to keep his hand from trembling DeClan reached down to touch Tabby, he stopped and lifted up his hand, Mal his little jaws firmly locked on his papa's jacket sleeve dangled for a moment, both Zara and DeClan blinked as Mal suddenly appeared on his papa's arm slowly using his tiny talons as he clawed his way up DeClan's arm, small dark black eyes stared up at wide surprised dark black eyes, DeClan grinned and bent his arm against his chest "where are you going? son" DeClan asked Mal with a smile, Mal stopped and looked intently at DeClan, deep in his heart he knew this was his papa and let out a squeaky little shriek purr, DeClan almost jerked his head back as Mal leapt onto his upper chest, his tiny muzzle nuzzling and purring against his papa's neck his talons holding onto his jacket and shirt. Zara smiled through her tears "he recognizes his papa" she held out a blanket "don't let him get cold" with a worried look DeClan took the blanket and laid it over Mal who was still clutching his papa's jacket. Falk came bounding into the room, he grinned at DeClan, then seeing Mal, Falk started to roar with laughter "I saw a monkey do that once" Falk suddenly beamed "would they like a monkey? Zara, I can get them each a monkey" Zara her eyes wide with horror shook her head, Falk frowned "no? ohhh I know a puppy they need a puppy" Zara shook her head "their to tiny for a puppy Falk" Falk scooped up Tabby and snuggled her in his big paws then his eyes widened and he got a big smile on his face "ooooohhhh I know, I'll be right back" Zara shrieked Falk's name, Falk appeared with a sheepish grin on his face "I forgot" handing Tabby back to Zara then he vanished again. DeClan couldn't help laughing "what do you think he will come back with" Zara grinned "you haven't met Fuzz yet" DeClan shook his head, he frowned seeing her lick her lips several times, looking around the room he frowned "let me get you something to drink, little one" Zara nodded "I could do it but I think I'm going to be asleep before I can finish the thought" DeClan produced a glass of cool water with just a hint of lemon and helped Zara take a drink, Zara whispered softly her eyes half closed "we're glad your home where you belong" Mal still clung to his papa's shirt as DeClan reached in his pocket and took out the small gold box and opened it "can I put this back where it belongs? Zara" Zara nodded tears in her eyes, DeClan put the necklace around Zara's neck, it now held two stunning tear shaped sapphire's along with the ruby and diamonds "for the blue of their mama's eyes" he whispered his lips brushing over hers as she fell asleep.