[ P ] You'll Be In My Heart

Come spring Merrin began to work on cultivating a garden that she had merely only dreamed of in honor of her late daughter Etherea. Luciel helped her bring her dream to life, building the foundations of the garden on the Eastern side of the house where her plants would receive enough sunlight throughout the day. Merrin spent much of her time there during her pregnancy, especially when her emotions waged war on her heart and she needed to busy herself with some sort of work. Her little garden became her sanctuary, a place where she could always find peace, a place where she imagined the spirit of her lost pup could find home as she was always welcome here.

This early morning, Merrin tended to her saplings in a part of the garden that she'd worked on specifically for the other half of her heart. She lovingly referred to this plot as 'The Captain's Corner' where she had planted a variety of berries, knowing that they were one of Luciel's favorite treats. Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and elderberries were growing there. The thought of the pups and their father becoming sticky messes together as they ate them made her chuckle aloud to herself.

Her unborn children must have sensed her thoughts, for they began to writhe quite restlessly. It caused her to gasp and waver upon her feet and instantly afterwards a cramping sensation radiated in her abdomen. Merrin grimaced, trying to catch her breath and when it was over she stood, shaking her head to try to clear it as she glanced back over at the cabin. She lifted a paw to start to head back in that direction, but there came a wave of excruciating pain followed by another in quick succession so strong that it forced her to the ground with a yelp.

Tears filled her eyes and she looked back up and around frantically, whimpering trying to remember where Luciel was. With what strength she could muster she threw her head back to call for him in a howl that was choked off as she cried out from the agony of the next contraction. This was it. The pups were on their way, and she did not want to be alone for their birth, not this time.

@Argent

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ver the winter they had busied themselves with building a garden in memory of Merrin’s late daughter and Argent had done his best to do most of the digging so that Merrin could have fun with planting. It had become somewhat of a passion project to his beloved and he was happy that it gave her some peace. His time had been filled with ensuring the security of his mate and children.

The soon to be father had not relaxed since Merrin had announced she was expecting their pups. Around the perimeter of their property had once been a lush wilderness with the barest hint of a path, now it was a well worn trail trodden in by the anxious circling of a protective dad. Merrin had stayed close to the cabin, relieving any worries he had about her coming to harm while he was not by her side. It had been nice having her all to himself and he could only hope that she was not weary of his company. They didn’t get many visitors at the cabin and less so as the days closed in to their pups imminent arrival. He was still not ‘ready’ for them. As much as he was excited to meet them there was a certainty of their protection while they stayed in Merrin’s belly.

A howl drew his ears to attention and within half a second he was bolting through the underbrush, caring not for the painful click of his ribs, as he raced to her side. When he found her he was relieved to see that she was not in danger, but that it was the pups that were troubling her. W-What should I do? he asked, trying to stay calm for her despite his rising panic and touching his nose to her forehead. Whatever she needed he was there for her.

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The sight of a fearsome white cloud bursting through the undergrowth towards her, was a most welcome one. "Luciel!" She called his name as he came to her side and touched his nose to her forehead. Merrin tilted her head upwards to touch her own nose to his, closing her eyes as an odd sensation of calm washed over her. He's here. He's not leaving. She knew without a doubt that her mind spoke the truth and the relief it brought her to simply have her mate close, meant everything to her in this moment.

"Stay. Stay here…with me…that's all I ask." She panted lightly, opening her eyes to gaze upon the man's features that she so adored, tears filling her eyes, though they were the product of pure happiness. "I love you." Merrin murmured, feeling that it was the time to say it in an attempt to comfort him when she knew he was likely more fearful than she was. Childbirth was nothing new to her, she'd done it twice before, the only difference was that this was the first time she had ever felt safe and truly loved.

Merrin steeled her resolve then as the contractions worsened, grimacing whenever they passed and moving through the motions as best she could until she knew it was time to push. Taking deeper breaths she leaned up against Luciel and then grit her teeth together as she tensed with all her might before relaxing in between her efforts. The labor seemed to last for centuries, leaving her weaker after each attempt until finally she let out a feeble cry as the first pup entered the world, tinier cries rising from a surprisingly large bundle of silver and white.

Merrin instantly gathered herself to tend to the newborn, grooming and nestling it at her breast to nurse. She turned her gaze upon Luciel then, smiling amid her fatigue "Meet your daughter, Luciel." Her lavender orbs filled with tears of joy as she introduced them and just in time for the next jolt of pain to signal the incoming of the next pup.


@Argent

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tay with me, That was all she asked of him. He shifted his weight nervously and nodded firmly in a silent promise. Nothing, not even a herd of wild horses could drag Luciel Argent from Merrin’s side that day. One shared glance with those wonderful lilac eyes that he loved so much was all he needed to know that they would be okay. Argent knew next to nothing about birth or puppies, but Merrin was familiar with the process and all seemed to be progressing naturally. He held himself solid, letting Merrin rest against him as much as she needed too. Hell, he was willing to let her chew on his tail if it would help.

"Love you too," he murmured softly, giving her ear gentle and reassuring licks until his tongue was dry and tingling and her ear was a soggy mess. A cry came and his stomach knotted with fear. At first he didn’t realise that the tiny cries were their first born as he was too busy worrying about Merrin. The new mother was quick to press the silver and white newborn against her chest and Argent simply stared, utterly dumbfounded. "Meet your daughter, Luciel." Daughter.. They had a daughter. Merrin’s words brought him out of his trance and he peered down at the pup, jaws agape in disbelief. "I… She’s like you, but she’s like me," he blurted out, utterly amazed by the perfect little pup.

In his excitement he forgot that litters normally consisted of more than one pup. He’d been an only child after all.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

She was able to witness these first moments of her mate experiencing fatherhood as Luciel fawned over their little girl. This glimpse of her mate as he was in pure awe over even just the first pup was priceless. It filled her with an immense joy and she chuckled at his observation. "The perfect mix…of us both." She commented tiredly before she had to return to the delivery of their second born.

There was no struggle with this one, the first pup having paved the way for her siblings to follow. It still required the work for her to push the next one out, this time laying eyes upon a much smaller infant that bore her own russet colorings, but in the pattern of its father's coat. Merrin let out a breath, eyes softening as she cleaned the pup while examining it. Looking up at the hovering form of her mate, she would not let the anticipation go on, presenting the newest addition to him. "Your son, darling."


@Argent

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rgent’s gaze was reluctantly torn from their bouncing baby girl when it became obvious that Merrin’s labour was far from over. He pressed his cheek close to hers and whispered to her about how brilliant she was doing, that she was the most amazing mother and how much he loved her. He was still wrapping his head around them having a single pup, that when another came he was once again stunned by how beautiful he was. He had the sandy hues and darker browns of Merrin, but they were in the same place as Argent’s point markings. "He looks like me," he excitedly commented, practically bouncing on his toes.

The thought that there might be a third or even a fourth child worried him slightly since he was hardly prepared for two, but he also welcomed them with the same excitement as his first two. "How’re you doing?" he checked in with her, slight concern wrinkling his brow. Merrin was a tough lady, but he recognised signs of exhaustion taking its toll. If it was up to him he’d take over for her, unfortunately biologically he couldn’t do that. All he could do was be there to support her.

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Another pup arrived swiftly, hardly needing assistance and with this one's grand entrance came whatever was left of her labor. Merrin gathered up her youngest, quickly cleaning a creamy arctic bundle, the same size as its brother before. This pup had a light apricot coloring about the paws, tail, and nose that was a surprising soft pink that matched the wee beans of its paw pads. She had to apply a bit more pressure as she vigorously licked the tiny, rounded form until it finally let out a squeak. She breathed a sigh of relief and spared a glance over at Luciel and the rest of the newborns as she announced, "Another boy."

Merrin's attention was immediately back on the last arrival, the adrenaline, fueled by an overwhelming fear that he might at any minute stop breathing like Etherea had, rivaling her exhaustion after just giving birth. The intensity of her focus did not falter, not until she shuffled the babe closer to the rest of the litter to nurse and he latched on hungrily. She nosed all of them, checking over each one as the scent of mother's milk and the sound of eager little grunts began to soothe her uneasiness. Curling her body around them protectively she was in a haze of pure awe, emotion stirring in her chest with every beat of her heart.

Droplets rained upon the soil around the precious additions to her life and that's when she realized they were from her. Tears streamed down her face as she beheld the three most beautiful gifts she would ever have the pleasure of caring for and knowing as they grew older. Merrin sniffled, lips quivering in the form of a smile as she looked up at her mate. "They're…they're just so perfect, Luciel…I…I don't even…I don't have the words…" She did her best to articulate before she let it all go and began to cry again, this time a bit harder, turning her face into Luciel's fur as she experienced that strange cathartic release that came along with her hormones and her body readjusting after such an extraordinary event.

@Argent

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ith each new life that was brought into the world he felt his heart grow bigger with love for his new family. The youngest was already a little troublemaker, causing both of his parents to hold their breath as they waited nervously for that first little squeak. Argent knew that these first precious moments were the most precarious and he was relieved that they had gotten through them with three healthy puppies. He didn’t want to lose any of their children and he knew that Merrin had already lost enough. Whatever it took he would protect them all, he silently promised them.

"You don’t need words. I feel it too," he admitted, voice thick with emotion. The proud new father held his beloved close and admired all three of their beautiful pups, imagining how chaotic and wonderful the next few months of their life would be. He felt his fur grow wet with Merrin’s tears and he remained a comforting warmth surrounding her. She had been through so much and now she finally had the happiness she deserved.

"They’re all ours, ours to raise, ours to love… I.. still don’t know what to do. What they need, but I’ll figure it out. I’ll go to classes if I have to," he quietly rumbled in Merrin’s ear, working out some of the nervous energy that was buzzing inside of him. He would figure it out. He would be the father they needed him to be.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

As Luciel held her close to him, the tears slowly subsided while she allowed her body to finally let go of the tension and begin to relax in preparation for a long period of rest. She reclined against the gentle fluff of her mate's fur, leaning her head back so that she could tilt her muzzle upward and pepper the underside of his chin with sleepy kisses. Closing her eyes, Merrin let out a long sigh against his fur, breathing in his berry scent mixed with the smells of mother's milk and newborn pups. It lulled her into a state of the lightest sleep, trying to remain as aware as she could while they were still out in the open, even though Etherea's Garden was one of the safest place their pups could have been delivered.

She hummed drowsily with the hint of a chuckle, her ear flicking where Luciel's grumbling tickled her there. "You're already...the best father...just by being here..." Merrin murmured against his cheek with a slow, languid smile spreading across her maw as she still fought sleep to stay with her family. Try as she might, the new mother would drift off in a deep slumber full of bright sunrise clouds where she, Luciel, and their three darling pups frolicked, laughed, danced, and dreamed of all of the beautiful things that this life could bring them.

@Argent

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