I wanted to write a longer part 4, but, with midterms at school and winter guard, this was the only time I had. E-mail me with what you think, your ideas, and drawings to Streak@forntiernet.net Unexpected Surprise: Part 4 Now, it's been about eight months since Callie and Chance found out that they were expecting. They've enjoyed all the ups and the downs of her pregnancy. Callie was glad when the morning sickness stopped. While Chance tried but failed sometimes not to laugh out loud at her strange food cravings. Now, on with the show. Callie sighed as she put down her pen. Putting her paws on the desk, she lifted herself into a standing position. Her large, round belly made it hard for her to get around. Callie smiled as she ran her paw over what used to be flat stomach. The kitten was due in less than a week and a half, and, to be honest, she couldn't wait. Chance had been late every day for the past week, so it was no surprise that, when she looked at the clock, she saw that it was 9:30 P.M. Hearing footsteps, Callie smiled as she felt her kitten give a kick, signalling that Chance was coming. A moment or so later, Chance walked through the door. He smiled as he watched Callie rub her belly. "I see that our Little One has alerted you to my coming once again." Callie loved the name he had given to their kitten. "I just think he/she is happy to have his/her daddy here," Callie said. "Sorry I'm late," Chance said, walking over to her. He gently placed a kiss on Callie's cheek and put his paw on her expanded belly. "How is my sweet baby kitten tonight?" Chance purred in his voice that he saved only for his kitten, and his wife. Chance felt a kick under his paw and heard Callie groan. "Sorry Callie. But, Jake and I had a little unfinished business that had to be taken care of." Callie rubbed her belly as the kitten gave her a flurry of hard kicks. "I think someone else is demanding your attention right now." "Oh, all right." Taking Callie by the arm, he led her over to the couch that was right next to her office. There, he gently stroked her belly while talking softly to the kitten within her. It was 10:15 when they left. Callie had felt uneasy this night and she just wanted to be home as soon as possible. Chance led her out of the elevator and into the main lobby. It was early November and Callie could just see the snow falling through the main doors. It was quite a surprise when Callie realized that liquid was running down her legs. "Chance, my water just broke." Chance stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Callie. Her eyes suddenly widened with pain. "That was no false alarm," she said. "That was the real thing!" "Can you make it to the car?" Chance asked, his voice frantic. "I think so." Walking her to the car (which was just outside the door), he sat Callie inside. Running over to the other side, he quickly got in and started the car. They made the trip to MegaKat General in record time. Chance's heart was going a mile a minute with love as he helped Callie out of the car. Callie wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed tight as another wave of pain shook her body. "We better get you inside," he said. Chance had called ahead, so a nurse was waiting with a wheelchair for Callie. Setting her down into the chair, Chance told her he would be right back. After he had parked the car, he ran back to the hospital, stopping only at the desk to find out what room Callie was in. They were just geting her into bed when he came in. For the next twelve or more hours that Chance was with Callie, he was wiping her forehead with a cool damp cloth, giving her ice water, and basically giving her all the mental and physical support she needed. It was a little after eleven when the doctor told Callie she chould start to push. The doctor told Chance that he would have to change into sterile scrubs and that he should hold her paw for support. Feeling the support of his touch and his love, Callie took a deep breath and began to push. It only took four or five (Callie wasn't really counting) good pushes before the sound of a healthy newborn kitten crying filled the room. Relieved, Callie collapsed in against Chance. "Congratulations!" the doctor called out. "It's a girl." Callie's eyes started to fill with tears. "We have a daughter, Chance," Callie said, a little bit out of breath. Chance hugged her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Yes, Callie, we have a daughter. Thank you so much. Callie, have I ever told you just how much I love you?" "Here you go, Daddy," the doctor said, putting a pink blanket-wrapped bundle into his arms. "Your daughter would like to meet you." Chance looked down at the little kitten in his arms. An awe of wonder swept over him. In his arms he held a life, a life that he helped to create. Ever so gently, he placed a kiss on the kitten's forehead. Then, did the same to Callie. "Here, Callie," he said, placing their kitten into her arms. "Our daughter would like to say hi. Callie traced the kitten's face lightly with her finger. "She looks a lot like you, Chance," Callie said, looking up at her husband. "She also looks like you, Callie. What do you want her name to be?" he asked, looking down at his wife and kitten. "How about Tiger?" "Why that?" "Well, she has your strips and your fur color, so she kinda looks like a tiger." "I was hoping for Lily." "Why?" "She has your hair and eyes and she even has some freckles, just like you, so she reminds me of the lilies that we had at our wedding." "Why don't we comprmise then?" Callie said smiling. "We'll name her Tiger Lily." "Tiger Lily," Chance repeated. "I like it. Tiger Lily it is then, and we'll call her Tiger for short." Callie's face suddenly turned serious. "Chance, I don't want our kitten to grow up without a father." Callie, trust me, I won't leave you - I love you to much to do that. I know how much you love me Chance. But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about your other job. "Oh." "I want you to be a little more careful when you go out and protect the city. It was hard for me to grow up without a father and I just don't want Tiger to go through the same thing." "Don't worry, Callie," Chance said, taking her face in his paws. "I'll be careful, but you do know that there is always a chance (no pun intended) that I may not come home one night, and, if that ever should happen, I want you to go on with your life. Is that understood? Callie nodded slowly. "All right then. No more talking about this. When will we tell her about who you are?" "I don't know, Callie. I guess we'll tell her when we think she's ready. When she's ready to be passed the torch." "All right," Callie said. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I have to go and make a few calls." On the main floor, Chance called Callie's mom, her borther Sam and his wife Mary, her sister Susan, his mom and dad, his brother Rod and his wife Brandy, and his sister Erin, and Jake. The rest of the day was spent with family and friends. Susan, Jake, and Max were the first to stop by. "Here, Callie," Susan said, handing her sister a small white box. Inside was a pendant that had their family crest on it. "This has always brought me luck." "Thank you so much," Callie said, hugging her sister. "You can give it to her when she's old enough." Jake told Chance that he could have the next three weeks off unless it was an emergency. Hint hint wink wink. While Max just looked at his new baby cousin. It was about 2 P.M. when Chance's mom and dad dropped by. "She has her father's grip," his mom said as Tiger grabbed her finger. "She's a chip off the old block, isn't she?" Chance's father said, looking at his new granddaughter. "I hope she is," Callie said. "If you need any help, don't be afraid to call and ask us, okay?" "Sure, dad," Chance said. Later that night, Callie found Chance sleeping in the chair that was in the corner of the room with Tiger fast asleep on his chest. Walking over, she gently picked her up and placed her in the crib that was right next to her bed. Looking out the window, she could see the skyline of MegaKat City. Chance, who had been woken when Callie took Tiger off his chest, came up and hugged her from behind. Callie relaxed into his embrace. "It's so beautiful," she said. "What is?" The city. "Yeah, you're right - it is. But it's not a beautiful as you." They just stood there, watching the setting sun. Though the sun might be setting on the city, it was just rising in a new chapter in the lives of Chance and Callie Furlong, and the newest addition to their little family - Tiger Lily Alanis Furlong. The End... well sort of