Happy Birthday (Invite Only)

Aidan's text had come shortly after 3 in the morning. Lily and Iov had ridden with them in the car to the hospital, offering to help Nikhila, but of course Aidan would have none of it. So they simply followed, Lily's little hand tucked into Iov's, and dutifully took their places in the waiting room.

And waiting was exactly what they did. For over three hours. Lily thought she might have to pry Iov's fingernails out of his leg. Outwardly he seemed calm enough but she knew him well enough to understand just what was going on inside. They weren't the only Kadzait there, but Iov was the one she was focused on. It was every day they became grandparents together. Funny, she didn't feel old enough to be a grandmother.

Just after the sun peeked over the horizon and began spilling in through the windows of the room, a tired but ecstatic-looking Aidan peered around the corner. Every ear in the waiting room seemed to perk up.

Their son just walked up to them, his face not entirely having lost that smug, excited pride. It seemed to fall off, though, when he cleared his throat and made a squeaking pathetic noise. Aidan tried again.

"So. You're grandparents now," he said. "Nikhila and I would love it if you'd come say hello to your grandson Noah. Noah Iov Stafford-Hammerthynn. Kind of a mouthful, yeah? But he'll grow into it."

The response in the room was staggering. Not only were there family there but several of the Pack who were Aidan and Nikhila's friends. A few of Nikhila's co-workers and no small number of the Illamar Aidan had befriended as well. He was nearly buried in a chorus of congratulations and well-wishes.

Lily squeezed Iov's hand and released it, bouncing up from her seat to throw her arms around her son's neck and kiss him joyfully on the cheek. "We'd love to say hello to him," she said, smiling, unashamed of the happy tears that coursed down her cheeks.

Xeph couldn't be prouder of his mate, and it was hard to leave her side after what she'd just been through. But she had generously stated that she wanted Lily and Hammer there, for which Xeph was grateful. Even as tired as she was, Nikhila spared her thoughts for their family in the waiting room. He kissed her forehead gently and then briefly touched a large finger to the cheek of the little infant nestled in her arms.

Out in the waiting room he was hardly embarrassed to have squeaked his first word; he figured as a first-time father he was allowed a little bit of sentimentality. His mother, of course, bounced up to hug him happily. Behind her Hammer stood, looking kind of shell-shocked if Xeph had to guess. He kept his arm around his mother, shaking hands with his friends and family as he turned to face his father.

"So, grandpa. Want to come meet Noah?"

He didn't know what his own father was thinking. Good? Bad? Xeph found himself unconsciously seeking approval. He may have kept his own name the same to avoid confusion among the Pack but little Noah need not suffer the same trouble. He was a Stafford and a Hammerthynn and Xeph and Nikhila had given him a name to reflect that.

Hammer's mouth opened to say something, but his mouth was dry. He was proud of Xeph, almost as much as Hammer was to be his biological father, but they had named their son Hammerthynn and it curiously made him scared as well as proud. Would Hammer's own father insist on tradition, he certainly would not. That frantic feeling rose up into his chest again as Brig gently pushed Hammer toward his son. Hammer found himself chuckling softly as he reached a hand out and shook his son's, finally pulling him into an embrace.

"Noah, is it?" Hammer whispered as he pulled away. "Of course - let's go meet my grandson, then."

Brig grinned as he gave Hammer a soft push toward the doors. The present Pipers all cheered and shook hands with the Alpha, welcoming yet another Hammerthynn into the fold. Whether Brig's newest cousin was a Piper, Beta, or Alpha, he was part of a very exclusive club of rowdy and loyal men.

There were mazol tovs and hoots and cheers, but Brig stood silently as he watched his cousin and best friend escort his only son and future wife beyond the doors to see the new grandson. Brig felt the tears in his eyes and it surprised him.

"Vigo will be sorry he missed this, but he'll be looking forward to seeing the last son."

Brig looked down to his right as Viv moved to stand quietly beside him, keeping her distance but whispering softly.

"I've never known my uncle to react to a birth...any birth. Jameson or Hammerthynn."

Viv shrugged, "He might with this one."

Brig wanted to put his arm around Viv and hug her, but the Pipers were still nearby, screaming their heads off, making the nurses rush in to silence them. Instead, he looked down at her and winked.

"I want like eight kids, you know."

"You tell that to your sixth wife, thank you," Viv replied with a snort.

First stage labor, second, third; the names didn't quite do justice to the actual experience. Whatever you called them she was going to remember the experience for a while, forever was a while. Everything from the car ride where everyone was just anxious to be at the hospital to being wheeled into the actual delivery room.

Labor wasn't a picnic, but then again neither was shifting, labor just took longer. And it didn't matter much now. That she wouldn't remember, it had been a means to an end. Perhaps she had lost her temper a little at one point. One could only be told to push so many times after all. She'd finally growled at the doctor "I -am- pushing."Â?

Aidan, of course, hadn't left her side the whole time, doing whatever he could do to help, keeping her focused and in general being calm, cool, collective and supportive. She'd held his hand most of the time, gripping it so hard that in retrospect she wondered that she hadn't broken, pinched, bruised or otherwise injured him.

Finally though, finally, she felt their son make his way into the world and heard him cry for the first time. She managed not to tear up. Everything else was forgotten for now, nothing mattered but their son she held out her arms and the tiny (relatively) little boy was placed in her arms and she did tear up. He was beautiful, she looked from him to his father and back, almost afraid to touch him finally feathering a touch through the mop of dark hair, along the soft round little cheek, holding the tiny hand. Joy absolute joy.

Finally she let Aidan hold him and her happiness only increased. This was so right, watching him hold their tiny new born son. Tender words of love, pride, the beauty of their son were exchanged as well as soft and loving kisses. Finally she was cleaned up a bit and moved to an actual room. While she made sure that Aidan went to tell his parents.

She was settled into the room holding Noah, still exhausted but not caring, watching the early morning sun creep across his perfect little features and, thanks to werewolf hearing, listening to the shouting of what could only be the Pipers and just smiling softly. When Aidan came back into the room with Lilly and Hammer the perfection of that moment only increased.

"You have a grandson and I think he might be perfect."Â?

Nikhila transferred her smile from Noah to the grandparents. Wanting, needing to share the happiness with someone and still wondering in what they had done; a whole new life, a new pack member, a son, a grandson, a baby. They had done it.

Lily peered into the room behind Aidan and walked in when she saw Nikhila lying there looking disheveled and exhausted but awake, pretty in the manner of new mothers everywhere, with that glow of serenity and happiness in spite of how desperately tired she must be. She walked in with her son and her soon-to-be husband and beamed at Nikhila. Bending down she kissed Nikhila on the cheek.

"Congratulations," she said softly, turning her attention to the little bundle in Nikhila's arms. Noah stirred and turned a wrinkly, sleepy face to them, blinking blue-grey eyes once or twice before settling back down.

"Of course he's perfect," she agreed. "You both did a wonderful job, I'm told."

Lily smiled up at Aidan who was leaning against the bed near Nikhila's head, his arm draped gently over her shoulders. Then she glanced at Iov. "There's definitely a family resemblance."

It was said with a little twinkle in her eyes; she found it highly amusing to compare Noah, who didn't resemble anything but an infant, to his grandfather, who was not wrinkly at all and certainly not nearly so tiny.

Hammer slipped into the room quietly and stayed near the foot of the bed. Lily peeked at the tiny thing in Nikhila's arms and cooed at their grandson. Their grandson. Hammer felt nauseous again, reaching out to the bed to steady himself as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.

Within a year he was a father and a grandfather - a family of his own with a future ahead of him. Procreating was expected of Hammerthynns, but the role of father was completely foreign to Hammer. Xeph, as a boy, had been his charge. Very much his Robin to his Batman, as he seemed to recall Xeph labeling it later in life. He had been a father to Xeph without having to deal with the emotional pressure of it. Now looking at Xeph look at his own son, Hammer realized that maybe the confusion that came along with caring for the scraps, in addition to help cause them, was fatherhood without realizing it.

He felt himself chuckle softly at Lily's comment as he took a step forward toward his grandson. Reaching up, he touched his lips and asked quietly, "May I...hold him?"

Xeph immediately reached down tenderly to his mate and took their son from her arms. Hammer's eyes went wide as he brought the baby directly to Hammer and moved to transfer him gently.

"Oh...wait," Hammer stammered. Holding babies had never been his forte, in fact, he was fairly certain he hadn't held any babies this small or...ever. Xeph had not needed Hammer until he was a toddler, even though Hammer had been his shadow. Nervously, Hammer held his arms out awkwardly as Xeph placed the baby in his arms.

"He's so tiny," was the first thing Hammer said in shock as he held what felt like nothing in his arms. Hammer remembered to support the baby's head as he cradled the tiny bundle in his huge arms. He looked at Lily who watched with a myriad of emotion and finally he pulled the bit of blanket back and looked at the baby's face.

Hammer swallowed as his grandson peered up at him, suddenly sad that maybe his eye might upset the boy, but instead he let out a rather large yawn for such a little boy and nestled into the warmth of Hammer's arms.

"Noah," Hammer said softly. Hammer went over in his mind all the things he'd teach him as the Alpha heir: hand to hand combat, how to shoot an assault rifle, how to tap into whatever abilities he'll have as a wolf.... Hammer paled at the thought of Noah's gifting and decided, right then, that his grandson would not suffer the pain that he had at 10. None of his grandsons would feel the pain of loss, coupled with the silent burden of what they were, all alone. Hammer would die first before that happened.

Hammer smiled at his grandson; a huge, toothy grin his face was unaccustomed to having, but felt as easy as breathing as he looked at Noah. First born, the last son.

Hammer held his large hand over his grandson's chest and made an oath that his own father had failed to keep for Hammer.

"You will want for nothing. You will need for nothing. You are loved, my little Hammer." Hammer felt the tears in his eyes run down his cheek, and as foreign as it was, he felt just fine.

Xeph didn't hesitate to place their son into Hammer's arms. He knew Nikhila wanted Noah to know his grandparents right away; she'd said as much already. So he took the little bundle from his mate, cuddled him for a moment, and then settled Noah into his grandfather's arms. Xeph chuckled at Hammer's awkwardness but it was short-lived. Hammer seemed to take to it pretty well actually.

"Don't let Nikhila hear you say that," Xeph said with a grin when Hammer commented on Noah's size, knowing full well she could hear them. Noah had been slightly larger than the average baby at nine pounds and change. Thank goodness for werewolf strength and stamina.

Hammer's next words made Xeph's heart swell. It was difficult sometimes to believe that his father was alive after all, standing here in this room with them. Hearing Hammer speak those words to little Noah, however, made his throat tighten. Not hard to believe at all, suddenly. He tried to lean casually against Nikhila's bed again, slipping his hand into hers. He wasn't going to say anything else at the moment. He'd just sound weepy.

Lily watched Iov with a mix of emotions flowing through her heart. She was overjoyed to see him hold their grandson. She couldn't hide the distant sadness that still lingered over the fact that Iov had never held his own son this way. Lily had known from the start whose child she carried but she'd also chosen to keep that knowledge a secret for decades. She'd hurt Iov as a result; Aidan too. She still believed she'd done what was best but she couldn't take away the grief.

It all seemed to fade away a bit now, though, seeing little Noah in Iov's enormous arms. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around Iov's waist, touched by his words, glad he was the first person to hold Noah aside from his own parents. It was fitting that the man who never got to hold his son should take up his grandson in his arms from the day he was born.

"He's so calm," she said softly. Of course he was worn out from his own birth but Lily had seen newborn infants fuss from the start. Noah showed no signs of stress whatsoever, apparently content in any set of arms for the time being.

Hammer cleared his throat and wrapped his free arm around Lily as they smiled down at their grandson. His fingers touched her soft curls and he pulled at them playfully.

"Here," he said turning toward Lily as he did his best to transfer Noah from his arms to hers. "Thank god you're beautiful and he looks more like your side instead of mine." Hammer smiled at Lily as she took him, letting his fingers trail down her arm as Noah yawned softly again.

Turning to Nikhila, he nodded politely at her. "Thank you," he said, feeling the lump in his throat.

Xeph watched as Lily took over holding Noah with practiced arms, bouncing him very gently and bending her head to kiss his thatch of dark hair. He cocked an eyebrow at his father's words and gave a wry smile.

"So, you're saying my mother's family all look like garden gnomes, is what I'm getting out of that."

He kind of thought it was too early to say who, if anyone, Noah took after. He'd seen enough infants to know you could never tell on the first day what they'd look like in a year, or five years, or even how big they'd get. Noah's size was above average sure, but Xeph had been a normal baby himself and look at him now.

In just a few minutes Lily handed Noah back to Xeph and he took his son carefully into his arms, smiling down at him. "So, whelp," he said softly, "You've met gran and gramps. How about the rest of your Pack? Feeling up to that?"

Noah just regarded him with a very solemn infant expression. Xeh didn't want to take their son away from Nikhila for a moment, really, but their friends and family had all come out here to be supportive and to meet their Alpha's son. No harm would come to him in the waiting room of the hospital and Xeph was pretty much obligated to show off the new wolf-to-be.

He glanced at Nikhila and she nodded her understanding. "Want to come with?" he asked his parents. "We won't be long."

He made sure Noah was comfortably swaddled up and properly supported on his arm. And then he walked out to the waiting room, holding his finger to his lips as he let the Kadzait take their first look at their wrinkly new potential Alpha.

Viv sat on the arm of the couch, lazily dangling her foot as she patiently sat in the waiting room. The Pipers, however, were chomping on the bit like you would not believe.

"Red, settle down, boy," she said without looking as she caught Red walking back and forth impatiently. LT stood against the wall, arms crossed with a somber look on his face. Viv might have believed he was waiting patiently if he hadn't been picking at the cuticles of his fingers nervously.

"They're hogging the baby," Red said in a decidedly put out voice.

"Shhh," Viv said almost unconsciously. Brig had settled next to her on the couch and was clasping and unclasping his hands. He'd turn to say something to her and then change his mind - and when he finally did it for the fourth time, Viv looked directly at him.

"What, Brig? What? Just say it."

"They are hogging the baby," he said, agreeing with Red to which Viv rolled her eyes and chuckled. Just then the Alpha came back out, holding his brand new son with Hammer and Lily behind him. All the Pipers, including Brig, all jumped up from their perches and ran toward the Alpha and were about to burst at the seams when the new father silenced them with a silent shoosh.

Viv remained in her seat and watched as the Pipers cheered silently, all trying to see the heir-apparent. Lily looked very much the happy grandmother, radiant in her beauty, not near old enough to even look like she had a child old enough to procreate. Brig put his arm around Hammer's shoulders and squeezed him happily, smiling down at his new cousin. Hammer...his expression was curious.

Viv narrowed her eyes and watched her pseudo adoptive brother beam with pride. Hammer never looked more like Vigo at that moment - seeing the human side of a Hammerthynn a definitely unique occurrence. She was fairly certain a star was going super nova into a black hole a trillion miles away, right at that moment. Viv held back though, letting the family absorb the happiness that only a new baby could induce. Smiling, she looked at Brig who was now looking at her, a soft expression on his face.

Brig was so proud and happy for his cousin, he did not have the words. What was it about a baby that brought out the warm fuzzies in a grown man, he wondered? Putting his arm around his cousin, he gave Hammer a squeeze as he looked at the new addition to the family.

"What did you name him?" Brig asked.

"They named him Noah Iov Stafford-Hammerthynn," Hammer replied softly.

"That is a serious mouthful." Brig was surprised that the Alpha had chosen to give him Hammerthynn as his last name. It made sense, of course, but it showed how much class the Alpha had, recognizing his parentage and forcing everyone to acknowledge it, probably much to Hammer's dismay. He knew his cousin - Hammer would be fretting inside about the name, but he'd never say anything about it. The guilt crept back into his stomach as he realized that he almost missed this moment with Hammer.

They had settled their differences and had moved on amicably, much as if the incident had never happened. It wasn't even a topic of discussion, beyond that dinner at VIvienne's. There wasn't much else to be said. He had not spoken to Lily since his unbelievably rude outburst and it was not something he should let go any longer. Lily did what she had to do, Brig realized that, and he saw what holding back on that type of love did to them both. He had not been in her place, enduring the old Alpha's abuse. Releasing Hammer, Brig turned to Lily and spoke softly to her.

"Ma'am...may I speak with you a moment?"

Lily turned at the voice beside her and almost gave a little start at the face. "Brig," she said, her voice politely neutral, while inside her guard immediately went up. "Of course."

She stepped away from the group with the huge man, feeling nothing like the comfort she felt in Iov's presence. While Lily didn't think Brig had anything terribly bad to say, she still didn't necessarily want to hear it. The last thing he'd said to her had been spiteful and cruel; she'd rather forget that. Not dredge it back up again, no matter what the reason.

Gone was the friendly, wistful Lily, Brig noticed with her monotone reply. She was still angry at him, and she had every right to be, but if he didn't apologize now, he knew he'd regret it. Even if she didn't accept it.

"I just wanted to apologize for," Brig swallowed, trying to articulate sincerity in what must've sounded like a forced apology for the sake of his cousin. A formal apologetic speech just didn't seem enough.

"I was wrong. I think those of us close to Liam...knew...how he was with you. We knew and did nothing. You had Hammer and he loved you, still loves you. You were lucky to have him and you were everything to him. So...I was wrong and hopefully, some day, you'll forgive me."

Lily regarded Brig with a polite expression until it became apparent what he was trying to convey. Then her features softened. She reached up as if to put a hand on his arm and then hesitated and dropped it. "We did what we had to do, Brig," she said, her voice just above a whisper. "We all did. It's all right."

Her eyes fell on Aidan and Hammer, standing there with Noah and surrounded by their friends and family. "It doesn't matter now," she said, her lips curving into a slight smile as she glanced up at Iov's cousin. "It's in the past like everything else."

Lily really didn't want to bring it back up. Brig's apology was welcome; forgetting the entire matter and carrying on like they had before his unfortunate outburst was more important to her. She suspected there was some element of truth in what he'd said, at least from his point of view. But just because he'd said the wrong thing in the wrong way at he wrong time was no reason to hold a grudge against him forever.

Brig towered over Lily, so he let his shoulders droop and lowered his head, listening to her speak softly; anything to not look like a target or seem insincere. He was apologizing to Lily because Hammer would want him to, even though his cousin would never ask, but more because Brig knew he should. Lily had been a fluttering butterfly in and out of Brig's presence at the Alpha's home and her gentleness was a stark difference to what her husband had become. But he was the Alpha and there was some things you did, and did not, do.

Lily appeared to want to just forget what happened and Brig was more than happy to oblige her.

"Well, if you two need anything...Hammer knows he can ask me anything at all, but I want you to know that I'd be happy to be useful." Brig reached out and gently touched Lily's shoulder, forgoing a hug. "Congratulations again on your grandson. The Pipers and I look forward to assisting him with anything he might need."

Brig put his hands behind his back and gave her a soft smile.

"Thank you Brig," Lily said, as much for the sentiment he voiced as for the apology he'd made.

"I'm glad he'll grow up with his family. His real family." She looked at the little bundle in Aidan's arms and then to the faces around him. Who would he resemble? Would he take after one side of the family or the other? Or would he be a mix of both?

Shooting another, more genuine smile, at Brig, Lily glided slowly back over to Iov and slid her arm through his once more. She didn't look back; with physical distance from Brig came emotional distance once more and it was easier to accept his apology. In a day or two the remembered hurt would vanish and she would be fine, but until then she didn't want to risk letting it show at all. It served no useful purpose.

Hammer quickly glanced up at his cousin as he called Vivienne over. He still felt his hackles rise just looking at her, but she did take the time to show up for the birth. Besides, he knew Lily would probably want her to see Noah, much to his dislike.

"Oh, uh," Viv started, folding her arms across her chest and tucking her hands into her armpits. Her body language was screaming no, but Brig had put her on the spot. "I just wanted to congratulate...."

Hammer rolled his eye and then grumbled, "Come see Vigo's great-grandson, Vivienne. I'm sure he'll ask you about it."

Was that a polite invitation? Hammer couldn't tell, but that was the best she was going to get. As for his cousin, Hammer looked over at Brig who, stupidly enough, did not see the social faux pas he was causing, but was secretly pleased Brig took the time to apologize to Lily. Hopefully Lily would let go of what Brig had said to her, Hammer knew his cousin didn't mean it, and he needed them to get along despite acting like he didn't care one way or another. They both knew how he felt, even if he could not articulate it for himself.

Xeph beamed as the Pipers gathered quietly (for once) around their new cousin. Noah handled them with good humor for an infant, with a minimum of fussing. His mother was right; he was one calm kid. Xeph supposed that was a good thing; they'd see if that trait continued in the future.

Finally everyone had had a chance to pay their respects except for Brig and Viv. Brig immediately put Viv on the spot and Xeph spoke up after his father. "It's okay Viv, he doesn't bite yet."

He grinned at Viv and moved closer to her. "Say hello to your Aunt Viv," he told Noah, who looked pretty unimpressed about everything anyway; Viv apparently was no exception. He did manage to unbundle a tiny fist though, and he waved it around a little bit, looking far more fascinated by that than anything else that had happened since his arrival.

Viv immediately blushed, feeling stupid for making a semi-scene with her awkwardness. Immediately she stepped forward to get it over with when the Alpha turned his new son out for Viv to see.

What was it about babies that make you want to talk like an idiot and have like ten, right on the spot? Viv let her hands come out from being tucked away and damned if she didn't coo at the little guy. Technically she was not Noah's aunt, but it warmed her heart to have the Alpha refer to her as that, even if he was just being silly.

"Well it's settled then. I want one." Viv grinned as she looked down at the handsome little bean.

Xeph grinned at Viv, who apparently wasn't immune to Noah's tiny newborn charms. "Well try this one on for size," he said. "I want him back though."

Carefully he handed Noah to Viv, his big hands hovering beneath for support even after she had him, until he knew his son was settled. It took a lot of trust; it wasn't easy for him to relinquish his child to anyone at all. But most of the Pipers had gone and the room was very quiet; there was very little that could go wrong and Viv looked so... well, wistful, all of a sudden.

Once again Noah didn't seem to express a preference for or against the new snuggler. Not even a day old and he was apparently the world's most open-minded infant. Xeph liked the trait and kind of hoped he clung to it as he grew, but who could say with children?

A slow grin crossed Brig's face as Viv immediately took to the baby. Her face lit up, producing that inevitable mothering glow that all women seemed to get when in the presence of little babies and Brig was genuinely surprised when the Alpha offered him up to her to hold.

Hammer immediately stiffened, more than he already was, the moment the baby moved into her arms. Brig reached out and laid his hand on Hammer's shoulder.

"Relax," he whispered softly. Hammer gave him a side look and grumbled softly.

Viv held the baby in her arms and began cooing at him, smelling his skin and touching his face with her fingers. "Is it possible to smell adorable?" Viv laughed, grabbing onto little Noah's opened hand.

Xeph was definitely not his father, Brig thought. There was no way Liam would have let Vivienne near the baby, much less in the building; not the Alpha's first born. It said volumes of Xeph and Brig's respect for the young man grew exponentially.

Viv thanked the Alpha and handed him his young son back, her expression almost sad for having to give him back.

"You're not getting any younger, Viv," Brig said across the room to his mate, "you better squirt a couple out while you still can."

Brig pursed his lip and chuckled to himself.

Xeph smiled at Viv as she held Noah, ignoring the undercurrent he knew raced through the room behind him. It wasn't by chance that he'd offered Noah to Viv to hold; not even on his son's birthday could he stop being the Alpha of his pack. He'd made the decision to give Viv the honor of holding his son... he didn't mistake it for anything else. He knew how to play the political game or he'd never have survived as long as he had. But aside from that he liked Vivienne and enjoyed her company. Through her, there was every chance that Noah would grow up learning tolerance and acceptance of those who were different than he. Xeph endorsed that view. Being open minded made one neither weak nor a pushover and his son should know that lesson well.

As he carefully took Noah back with a smile at Viv, Xeph rolled his eyes at Brig. "Now that I have my whelp back, you can go kick his ass," he told Viv.

"Now I'm off to bring him back to his mother before she thinks I've abandoned her. See you back at the Den."

He shot a questioning gaze at his parents, not sure if they'd want to stay here or go home for some rest. They were welcome either way, but he was headed back to Nikhila.

He entered her room to find her resting patiently. He delivered Noah back to her with a kiss. "Your son is a natural," he said.

Viv heard Hammer grumble as she held his grandson. She wasn't sure if it hurt or not; the baby seemed to be able to neutralize that kind of pain when holding him. Little Noah was adorable, Viv thought and inhaled deeply, remembering the boy's scent as the Alpha took him back.

Viv snorted and grumbled, "Meh," at her mate all the while wondering if that was an offer. She risked a look at Hammer who had a perpetual sneer on his snout, per the norm, and gave him a polite nod.

"Congratulations, Hammer...Lily. He is beautiful." She turned to her mate. "Brig," she said in a monotone voice and took her leave.

((OOC - Viv out!))

Hammer knew what his son was doing, letting Vigo's pet hold Hammer's one and only grandson, and it took everything to hide the disgust and irritation over the decision. Hammer did not trust Vivienne, not after Siberia, despite the results of her idiotic adventure. But Xeph letting her hold his only son was a message to Hammer. Sometimes he wished his son wasn't so diplomatic. Any word against Vivienne being near his grandson was immediately and positively rebuked with that one action.

Hammer hated it, almost as much as Vivienne.

Running his tongue over his canine, the turned toward Brig and asked, "Staying or going?"

"Want me to hang around? I can."

Hammer watched as Vivienne took her leave, but wiped the sneer off his face as his son turned back to return his grandson to his mother. "We're fine. Leave someone..."

"Really, you're telling me that? Because I didn't consider the safety of the Alpha and his family, not once. I mean, it's just my job." Brig's sarcasm was dripping with snide humor.

"Alright, alright. She just...."

Brig shrugged. "I thought it was nice she came here. She didn't have to, you know."

"Not sure why she thought she needed to."

"Maybe she's not what you think she is, Hams."

Hammer turned fully to look at Brig, his eye narrowing with distrust. "And you do?"

Brig shrugged again, ignoring the comment.

Hammer shook his head. "I know, I know. She's part of the pack."

"Well, she is. Listen, forget about her. Enjoy your grandson. I'll see you later."

"Alright," Hammer replied begrudgingly and said goodbye to Brig as he left.

Turning to Lily, Hammer smiled and touched her back gently. "Did you want to stay, Lils?"

((OOC Brig out))

Lily sighed up at Iov. "I want to stay of course," she said, "but it really would be better if we go home and get some rest. They're both going to be tired later. We can help out then."

Lily was already prepared for this; she and Iov would get some sleep and then she, at least, planned to make sure everything at Aidan and Nikhila's home was in order. When they returned she would be happy to cook and clean and babysit.

That thought perked her up some. She squeezed Iov's arm, aware that her hand didn't even come close to spanning the circumference of it, and said with a smile, "We're going to get to babysit for our grandson! I can't wait!"

They went back into Nikhila's room and said their goodbyes and then headed back out through the waiting room, out of the hospital. It was good to know that their family were still around; as Brig had so subtly pointed out Aidan and Nikhila wouldn't be entirely alone.

Her mind was already whirling with plans for outings and games and toys. At the rate she was devising distractions, Aidan and Nikhila might only get to wave at their son in passing for the first few years of his life!

((ooc: Lily and Hammer out))

It wasn't like they were gone long, but it seemed like forever to Nikhila. Of course she did need the rest. It would have been easier to take down a buck on her own, but not nearly so rewarding. She let her thoughts wander, but as she heard what could only be Aidan's steps outside her door er attention immediately went to the door. She beamed and carefully snuggled Noah to her and returned the kiss.

“Our son... he's a natural what?â€?

She gave Noah her fingers to play with. He had a good grip for being less than a day old, at least Nikhila thought so.

Lily and Hammer came in and took their leave. Nikhila was sorry to see them go, but it wasn't as if Noah was going to grow up over night. There would be lots of time with his grandparents.

Undoubtedly he'd want to eat soon and the nurse had said she'd be in to help with that, but for now it was just the three of them.

“He handled all the excitement well didn't he?â€?

The Pipers and in general being shown off she meant. Although, he had handled the whole being born thing very well too.

Xeph waited until they'd said goodbye to his parents before answering Nikhila's question.

"He's a natural with people. Maybe I'm just using my 'new dad' eyes but he was perfect out there. And now his Pack knows him." He smiled at Nikhila and sat himself down on the edge of the bed.

"I think he handled it like a pro."

He reached out and touched Noah's soft, plump little cheek with a gentle finger. "Takes after his mom I guess. Good thing too, she's got all the looks in the family."

Nikhila might be exhausted and disheveled but Xeph thought she'd never looked prettier. Or happier, really. Turning slightly on the mattress he leaned back against the wall and raised his arm for Nikhila to lay against, gathering her and their son close.

"Love you," he said simply, smiling into Nikhila's hair.

“I'm glad they came.â€?

Honestly Nikhila hadn't assumed any one but Hammer and Lily would come to the hospital. It was stupidly early after all, or at least it had been when they started, still it was amazing how how fast word had spread. Still, she could only imagine that Aidan was happy the they'd come.

She loved the feeling of him moving on to the bed with them. Nikhila picked up his hand and kissed it.

“It sounds like he has his father's people skills. He'll be a bridge builder.â€?

Happily she lay against him, still tired, but still not really caring.

“And I love you.â€?

She returned as Noah made a small sound, not quite a cry and reached a hand out as he squirmed a bit in her arms. Casually she readjusted him and stroked his hair breathing in his soft new smell.

“Tired? Hungry?â€?

Xeph grinned down at Nikhila. "Yeah he'd probably make a great architect."

He tugged her hair free of its entrapment between the two of them and began to run his fingers through it, gently working out the tangles in the silky strands. "Whatever he is, he's ours."

Nikhila's question made him laugh. Apparently she was going to 'mommy' them both. "Yes, and no. How about you? Want me to get you something? There's a little deli downstairs. I'm sure they have something edible for you."

Not for him, but he could run out later. Well. Maybe. He'd rather not leave Nikhila and Noah for any length of time. Xeph preferred going without food to that. They'd be home again soon enough.

He yawned and leaned his head back against the wall while his fingers idly detangled. "I wonder if he'll have an accent?"

The thought was a humorous one. While Nikhila's voice was, in his opinion, flawless, Xeph himself had lived in Australia far too long to ever have lost that accent. Lily's was an odd but not unpleasant mix of Scottish and Australian. Would growing up around them have an effect on Noah? Their son was going to either be incredibly used to different cultures and such, or he was going to be very very confused.

“Architect or Alpha I just want him to be happy and healthy.â€?

Of course if he was going to be an Alpha, and it was far too soon to tell, she'd wind up worrying about him as much as she worried about Aidan. The odds were good though, that he'd inherited the tenancy to be dominant. Nikhila decided she'd best get used to the idea of worrying about their son without stiffling him here and now.

“He is though, isn't he? You're happy?â€?

How could Aidan not be happy? She was thrilled. Nikhila didn't doubt that her fiance felt much the same way. They had a child. A beautiful boy. And depending on which way you looked at him he looked either like his father or his mother or even his grandparents (including her long deceased parents). Babies were funny that way.

Nikhila shook off the question about food. She was much more worried about the two men in her life than herself. They'd be home soon enough.

She laughed at the idea of the accent. Nikhila knew and loved Aidan's voice. It was familiar and expressive. She could hear and understood its nuances. Her own speech was, at best, muddled. Everything from India to six of the seven continents flowed through it. It had no roots, unlike her mate's.

“He might. Of course, he will travel with us. I'm sure he'll pick up some things here and there.â€?

There would come a time Aidan would need to go and visit other packs of Kadzait and when it was appropriate she and Noah would go with. They would not be raising a sheltered child. His own accent would probably be a bit blended. Even if they didn't travel there were enough of the Pack coming and going and even staying in Nachton from all over the world that this child would be exposed to a lot of different accents and cultures.

"He'll be both. And that's a silly question, you know how I feel about it."

Ecstatic was a good start. Euphoric was a good continuation. He smiled at Nikhila and nodded his head against hers.

"Yeah, he'll travel with us. It'll be fun. Now you're sure I can't get you anything? Can I close the shades so you can sleep a little?"

He wasn't worried necessarily; Nikhila would be fine... but it was the protector and provider in him that very much needed to care for her. And Noah, although Noah seemed happy enough to settle into Nikhila's arms and close his little blue-grey eyes.

Nikhila gave a little sigh of pleasure and relief. It was a non-answer that said everything.

Truly she didn't want him to leave her side right now but Nikhila understood that he needed something to do. She didn't think she was going to be sleeping anytime soon, but the windows were full east and it was very bright so she nodded.

The staff gave them some more time to themselves before coming back both to help her feed Noah for the first time and eventually to take him back to the nursery. She fretted a bit about that. It had been one thing to show him to the Pack, to his family, but it was probably for the best, she was worn out and did need some sleep.

If Aidan hadn't been there, she probably wouldn't have been able to sleep, but he was and was until they left for home and got their new son settled at home.

((OOC... all THREE out with permission))