World of Paws: Balance of Heroes

Fruits of Labor

                         (This is Taciana.)

Jackson returns home after patrolling as the Shadow Dhole and redresses into a t-shirt and blue jeans.
Jackson: "Hey Tacci, I am back."
He finds his wife on the couch unable to move.
Taciana: "Oh Jacky, you are home! I thought you wouldn't make it back here on time."
Jackson: "Of course I made it back. Especially for something this important."
He pecks her forehead.
Taciana: "I am so afraid Jacky."
She sheds a few tears.
Jackson: "Hey, I will be with you all the way."
Taciana breathes hesitantly while holding on to Jackson.
Jackson: "The spirit of light has blessed us before and we are gonna have six more to add to this family."
He pecks her lips gently.
Taciana: "Okay." (smiles)
Jackson: "Don't worry bae, I will round up the kids and carry you to the passenger side."
Taciana: "Thank you honey."
Jackson heads upstairs and finds them all in the second playroom upstairs watching television.
Jackson: "Kids, we have to go to the hospital now."
Sherman: "What happened, Dad?"
Aziza: "Why?"
Zaino: "Yeah... Why?"
Mallory: "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh! Our baby brothers and sisters are coming?"
Jackson: "You bet."
Jackson Junior: "Dad, do I have to go?" (yawn)
Jackson: "Nice try Junior, but you are still coming."
Jackson Junior: "But the hospitals aren't even open at this time."
Jackson checks his smartphone for nearby hospitals.
Jackson: "The Grand Garden Hospital is still open. Now follow me and get in the car."
He sternly says.
Jackson Junior obeys and heads downstairs to his father's car.
Jackson: "I got you Tacci, I got you."
She places her in the front passenger seat.
Taciana breathes slowly.
Jackson: "Hold on now!"
......Ten minutes later......
Jackson parks his car near the hospital door and lets the kids out first before parking at a spot near the entrance. Jackson then helps Taciana out of the vehicle.
Jackson closes and locks the car doors.
Taciana: "Ahhh! Jackson my water just broke!"
Jackson: "Hang on honey, we are nearly there."
He carries her to the check-in desk.
Jackson: "Good afternoon, ma'am. My wife is in labor. Can you please help her?"
Ox Furry Nurse: "Of course sir, fill out this form and I will have a crew come real quick!"
Jackson: "Thank you."
Taciana: "I can feel the them coming! Ahhh! Ahhhh! Oh my gosh!"
The doctor and two nurses come out with a holding bed to help her relax on.
Taciana: "Jackson, I am so scared. Can you come and stay with me please? Please?"
Jackson: "Shh, Shh, you are going be okay and so are the kids."
Taciana: "But I need you!"
Jackson: "I'll be right there with you the whole time, Taciana."
Taciana: "Promise?"
Jackson: "Promise."
Taciana: "Thank you."
Jackson plants a smooch on her forehead.
The nurses and the doctor help her get started with breathing steadily before she begins birthing the new arrivals.
......Forty-five minutes later......
Mallory: "Is Mommy okay?"
Sherman: "Yeah sis, she will be fine. Right Dad?"
Jackson: "She'll be okay. Your mother will be alright."

He comforts them.
Jackson Junior: "I'll race ya to the room when they are ready to see us all."
Zaino: "You are on bro."
They fist bump each other.
Sherman: "Mom is in pain and all you two can think about is a petty race to the room she is in?"
Jackson Junior: "Relax big bro. We are just trying to cheer ourselves up."
Zaino: "Yeah, we know Mom's going to be okay."
Aziza: "I hope Mommy makes it." (whimpers)
Jackson: "Shh, Shh. Hey, Mommy is going to be just fine."
He holds his daughter with care.
Aziza: "Okay, Daddy."
Jackson: "All we can do is wait until it is done okay."
The five kids hear their mother's screams echo from inside the delivery room. Jackson Junior knocked on the door and a nurse opened it up.
Jackson: "JJ, no running!"
Suddenly, the cries of newborns got his attention and sees his wife cradling one of them in her arms.
Taciana: "Hey, honey dhole."
She smiles at him in an exhausted voice.
Jackson: "They look beautiful, sweetheart."
Jackson pecks her cheek.
Taciana smiles at him.
Jackson: "Kids, come in and meet your new brothers and sisters."
Sherman: "So now there's going to be eleven of us going around the mansion."
Taciana: "That's right Shermie." (smiles)
Jackson Junior: "Why do their faces look squishy?"
Mallory: "JJ, all babies look like that when they are born."
Aziza: "So adorable! I'm a big sister!"
Zaino: "They are cute but look all squishy and stuff."
Taciana: "Zaino, you were just like that when you were born. Besides, it is up to all of us; to protect them when they grow."
She smooches all six of her crying babies on the forehead and they surprisingly quiet down.
Jackson: "That's right kids."
Jackson: "These six are now apart the Tontione family."
Taciana: "Honey?"
Jackson: "Yeah bae?"
Taciana: "Will you stay with me for the next three days?"
Jackson: "Sure darling."
He holds her left paw and plants a soft smooch on it.
Taciana: "Jacky, I need you to promise me now and forever that you will not go off taking hero calls from the task force."
Jackson: "Aww, come on Tacci. You remember what the four Vitaea spirits told to me when I saved you from Vakatarus. They gave me this responsibility to help protect the earth physically and spiritually."
Taciana: "Honey, we have a future to look after and we need to set a good example for our children."
All of their older kids were looking at the newborns as they sleep.
Jackson: "Taciana I need to uphold the oath to the light spirits and maintain prosperity."
Taciana: "Jacky..."
Jackson: "Babe, I promise that I won't let it get in the way of our work and life balance."
He plants another tender smooch on her left paw.
Taciana: "Okay." (sighs)
Taciana: "As long you promise to always come back home before 10:30pm."
Jackson: "Can we make it 11:30pm instead?"
Taciana: "Okay fine, but nothing later than that, otherwise I'll be worried sick about what might be happening to you."
Jackson: "Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise you that."
He holds her right paw with a truthful grasp.
Taciana: "Okay... I believe you."
Jackson: "Thank you my sweetheart."
They share one more kiss as the scene fades.
......Three days later......
They leave the hospital after Jackson paid the discharging fee and returned to the Tontione Estate with his family.

Author's Note: "Next chapter is now underway. Be ready!"