Alien Proliferation

I’m forced to say that it’s all your fault. You did this to me.” It didn’t hurt as bad as it had before, but, you know, I didn’t want him to miss out on the full Daddy Experience.
    Jeff started to laugh hysterically.
    “Calm down, Jeff,” Christopher said soothingly. “Kitty, push.”
    Pushed harder. “Why is Christopher still in here? I thought only Jeff, Tito, and James were going to see me like this.”
    “Let him stay,” Reader said. “Trust me.”
    I moved my head to take a look. Christopher was holding Jeff. It looked like he was keeping Jeff upright. They both looked like they were just this side of breaking down. “It’s just childbirth, guys.”
    Jeff started back toward breaking down. “Push, Kitty,” Christopher said, snark suddenly on full. “Where’s the fight in you when we need it?”
    “Geez, do you ever stop saying that to me?”
    “It’s the first time I’ve ever actually said it to you,” Christopher snapped.
    “Now isn’t the time,” Reader said. “Kitty, push.”
    I did, hard. “I thought only Jeff or Tito were going to say push.”
    The room rang out. “PUSH!” Apparently, everyone was going to tell me what to do right now. Fine. Pushed, harder than hard.
    “More Kitty, she’s almost here.” Tito was doing something to help, I couldn’t tell what. At least I assumed he was down there doing something helpful.
    “Come on, baby,” Jeff said quietly. “One more big push and we get a prize.”
    I pushed and felt the baby move out. “Got her.” Tito looked up. “Does Daddy want to cut the cord?”
    Jeff clutched me. “Uh, no. Daddy doesn’t want to risk doing anything wrong that could hurt Mommy or Baby.”
    Tito shrugged. “Not a problem here.” He did whatever. “Jeff, really, these days, we let the father help with this. It’s fine.”
    “Go on. That way you can tell me about it.”
    He let me go, slowly, but then hypersped over to Tito. They went off with Melanie to the sink. Reader still had my hand, and Christopher was stroking my forehead while Camilla and Emily did something down in my personal regions I didn’t want to know about. “Good job. Knew you could do it if you tried.” Christopher sounded relaxed, finally.
    “My girl can do anything,” Reader said, flashing the cover-boy smile. He kissed my hand. “I’m really glad you’re back, babe.”
    Wanted to say I hadn’t gone anywhere, but I was tired all of a sudden. “Yeah.”
    Jeff was back, carrying a bundle. A-C hospital beds were nice and large. He sat down next to me. “She’s beautiful. She looks just like her mommy.” He was looking at her and smiling and making all sorts of goo-goo faces.
    “Uh, Jeff? Can I see her?”
    “Oh! Yeah.” He turned her so I could look at her. Big blue eyes stared back at me out of a little red face. I couldn’t see me in her. I couldn’t see Jeff in her, either. It didn’t matter. I reached for her and Jeff put her in my arms.
    “Do I feed her now?”
    “Not quite yet,” Emily said, mask off. She looked as though she’d been crying. “What are you naming her?”
    “Jamie Katherine.” I thought about it. “She should have A-C and human godparents, wouldn’t you think?” A-C traditions were different from human, but the result was the same in terms of godparents.
    Jeff nodded. “Fine with me. You okay with me asking?”
    “Unless I’ve missed something, the male side’s still in the room with us.”
    “Yeah.” He grinned and looked at Christopher. “You good with covering godfather duties for the A-C side?”
    “Yeah.” Christopher sounded like he was going to lose it.
    “James?” Jeff looked over. “You up for it?”
    “Happy to. More than happy to.”
    “We’ll pick the girls later.” I was really tired. “When do we nap?”
    “Now.” Tito shook his head. “I know telling Jeff to leave the room will be a complete waste of breath. James, Christopher, you two, however, need to go for now. I don’t want anyone coming in and upsetting Kitty, either. I want her to sleep.”
    “You’re all acting like I died or something.”
    Jeff’s eyes closed. “You did.”
    “You just worry too much.” I yawned. “Can we go to sleep? Unless I’m supposed to feed her now.”
    Melanie was over, mask off, also looking as though she’d been crying. “Let’s get James and Christopher out, then I’ll show you how to feed her. She probably won’t want much.”
    “Works for me. By the way, Tito? How soon can we have