Bodies bustled through and around the infirmary as Tina was rushed into a consultation room prepared with every possible item and equipment for anything that could happen in the next few hours, and the curtain was drawn. Tina felt like she was going in for one of those hated procedures, and she felt scared for the first time, but Jenkins never left her side.

"Where is Craig?" she asked as another swelling pain made her pant, "I want to see him now."

"I don't know," Jenkins said, "but you need to focus on what is happening to you right now."

"I'll focus when I'm with Craig," Tina groaned, "where is he?"

"I'll find out," Jenkins said, leaving Tina as another swell of pain made her grit her teeth and try and breathe; he hesitated at the curtain, "those babies are not waiting."

"Find him," she bellowed as she twisted her hands into the sheets, "now."

Jenkins disappeared, and Tina closed her eye tightly, trying to breathe through the onslaught she felt unprepared for. It didn't matter how many books she had read or videos she had watched, or talks, documentaries or lectures she had listened to ... there was nothing like this she had experienced. There would probably not be ever again.

The curtain was pulled aside, and Alexis appeared, "Tina, there you are," she said, striding into the room and grasping Tina's hand, "Jenkins is finding out everything he can about Craig and looking into both of you being moved into the same room," she spoke as Tina's pain glazed eyes met hers, "you're both going to be okay."

"How did you do this?" Tina panted as the pain subsided.

"It's not something that has an instruction manual," Alexis said, "you just go with it, I only had to get through birthing one, and it was bad enough, but you have four trying to come out ..." Alexis waited out the next contraction before continuing, "have you thought of asking them to come out one at a time?"

"What?" Tina muttered, frowning at Alexis, "ask them ..."

"The pain levels are higher than they should be at the start," Alexis said, "it struck me they may be trying to come out all at the same time."

Tina closed her eyes, inhaled and shook her head, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"If I was in that much pain," Alexis said, "I wouldn't think of it either."

Tina rubbed her swollen stomach, panting, "You four," she gently knocked on the dome under a light sheet, "could you come out one at a time, please? It's not a contest, and I would like to be alive to raise you."

"Nicely done," Alexis said, "oh, here is Jenkins."

"Craig has just been brought in," Jenkins said, "they are seeing to his wounds at the moment; Phoenix will not leave him ..." Jenkins frowned, "something about not leaving a fallen brother while he rests."

"Totally understand that," Tina said, nodding, "are they going to put us in the same room?"

"Only if you don't mind Phoenix's presence while you give birth," Jenkins said.

"If it means having Craig present," Tina said, pausing before she began panting, "I ... don't... care."

"Right," Jenkins said, nodding before he disappeared.

"Are you sure Phoenix will want to be there while you're birthing?" Alexis asked.

"I don't care what he wants," Tina said, "I want the father of my children present while I'm going through this."

"He may be hibernating," Alexis said.

"He probably is," Tina said, "it doesn't mean he won't know what's going on ..." she panted as another wave of pain crashed through her, "I don't think they heard me."

"I think they did," Alexis smiled, then grimaced as Tina crushed her hand, "that was not as bad as before."

"Great," Tina gasped, "I think they stepping up the game ..." she groaned, "here comes another one."

Jenkins, Rose and Hanna appeared, quickly checking Tina over. Hana shook her head, and Rose moved to make the room bigger. Calla, Iris and Daisy arrived in time to help Rose.

"What are you all doing here?" Tina asked, not letting go of Alexis' hand as Hana tried to attach monitor pads to her chest.

"What do you think we're doing here?" Calla said, "Daisy, take this table over that side; they're bringing Craig and Phoenix through."

"Craig is here?" Tina asked, panting as the pain rose again.

"Yes, he is," Hana said, meeting Tina's pain-saturated expression, "you're both going to be fine."

"Is he really okay, Hana?" Tina whispered, tears clouding her eyes.

"He lost a lot of blood," she said, cupping Tina's cheek gently and meeting her gaze as she continued, "his nano's are tired by Phoenix gave him some blood and told him he was protected, which allowed him to go into hibernation. He will live, but Phoenix is adamant about ..." Hana shook her head, "being with a fallen brother. Do you know what that is all about?"

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Tina nodded, huffing out a breath, "They both have advanced level nano procedures done to them," Tina groaned, rubbing her tight, swollen belly, "Phoenix will be the ..." she panted, "older brother in the process as he is completed but a brother none the less. Craig will need him ..." Tina gasped before groaning in pain.

"Breathe through it," Alexis said, grimacing as Tina crushed her hand again, "don't you want a painkiller?" Everyone stilled, staring at Alexis as though she had betrayed them, "what?"

"Painkillers are like poison to people like us," Hana said, "we have to improvise."

Alexis frowned at Hana's words before her expression cleared in understanding, "That would explain Jaxon's reaction when I had a headache."

"Let me guess," Rose smiled, "he wouldn't let you take a painkiller."

Alexis nodded, "He didn't have any around, and he kept saying it would kill us all," she sighed, "but he never explained why; it would have helped."

Tina groaned, gritted her teeth and panted, "Someone is arriving."

Craig's gurney was pushed into the space but too far from Tina for her to take hold of his hand.

"Push the bed closer," Rose said as Tina reached for Craig's hand.

Phoenix frowned but pushed the bed closer, allowing Tina to grasp Craig's hand, "Do you think this is wise?"

"When you have a woman giving birth to your child or children one day," Hana said, "ask that question again."

Tina cried out in pain, grasping Craig's hand tightly as she tried to work through the gut-wrenching agony of one of their offspring pushing through her as it prepared for arrival. Hana positioned her legs and pulled the sheet over to give her as much privacy as possible.

"Yeah," she nodded, "you're close," meeting Tina's gaze, "they're in a hurry to arrive. This may be quicker than you are anticipating."

Panting, Tina laid her head back, resting, "I never anticipated anything," she sucked on an iceblock Alexis held for her, "this was a total surprise."

Alexis laid her hand on Tina's stomach, "I think another is on its way."

Tina nodded wearily and waited.

Frustration lanced through him; Craig could hear everything, sense everything. Yet, his hibernating body refused to allow him to interact with anyone around him. Jenkin's voice could be heard saying something about Tina wanting him, no ... demanding his presence.

Where was his presence required?

Was Tina okay?

Were the babies okay?

Suddenly they were wheeling him into a room; he could smell Tina's scent and... he felt cold to the bone ... the metallic smell of blood and something else he couldn't name. Rose's instruction to push him closer raised a panic he had never felt before. Push him closer for what?

Craig could feel the Nanos racing to accomplish tasks they should have already gotten to. There seemed to be many of them; he sensed a different kind mixing with his own and wondered if Phoenix had broken the ultimate rule by giving some of his own in his blood to save his life. Something not allowed in the facility but something that proved they were indeed family out here in the world.

Tina's gut-wrench cry of pain caused his adrenaline to surge and the Nanos to go into overdrive; his hand was grasped and clutched in a bone-crushing hold.

A whirlwind of voices crashed into his mind, swirling insensible before he heard the garbled argument of who would go first. He hushed them in his mind, and silence followed. Mentally, he instructed them to listen to their mother, or they wouldn't have one.

Phoenix's hand rested on his chest, and he heard the whispered encouragement. Tina's gasp and groan followed by the panting silence drew Craig's attention. Hana's words slammed into him ... their offspring were birthing.

Suddenly Tina gasped, crushed his hand and cried in agony as if something was ripping through her inside. Craig found his eyes snapping open, returning Tina's grasp and letting her know he was present. Sucking in the much-needed air as he tried to sit up but felt weak.

"Craig, you're not ready," Phoenix said, pushing him down, "wait a while."

"Cannot," he panted, "Tina ..." he gasped as she continued crushing her fingers in his, "needs me."

"Help him to sit up," Jenkins said quietly, "the babies need both parents."

"Craig," Tina gasped, "you're okay."

"As you will be," he whispered, resting his blood-stained hand on her stomach, "one at a time, please, but make it quick," he paused, "no arguments, just do it."

Those attending looked at each other, not truly understanding what they were seeing.

"Only in our world," Rose whispered, "something new every day."

"Very true," Hana whispered, shaking her head.

Tina looked at Alexis, "Good call ... you were right."

Alexis smiled, "You're doing great. Remember to breathe."

Tina nodded, clutching their hands and panting, "I have everything I need now."

"Here we go," Hana called, "oh my ... Rose, bring all four cribs."

"What is going on?" Tina gasped as pain rose again, and she was told to push.

"They're coming out," Craig said as he nuzzled her cheek, whispering encouragement and allowing his hand to be crushed in her grasp.

"Two down," Hana said, as two tiny wails could be heard, "two to go."

Tina stared at the two cribs where Rose worked quickly with the squalling babies, "Two at a time ..." she looked at Craig, "what did you tell them?"

"Ah, nothing you need to worry about right now," Craig whispered, as he swayed a little, "you just concentrate on yourself."

"Craig, you need to lie down," Phoenix said, "you're not ready for this."

"Have to be," Craig whispered, "Tina too tired and sore to direct these headstrong babes."

"They take after their father," Phoenix muttered, "here, if you're determined to do this, lean on me."

Craig shifted a little as Phoenix moved to sit beside him, taking his weight, "Thank you."

Phoenix sighed, "You'd do the same for me," he shook his head, "but I don't need to direct anyone's birth, so you probably wouldn't."

"Brother," Craig whispered, drawing Phoenix's attention, "today, you are witnessing the birthing of your nephews and nieces."

"What?" Phoenix said, frowning, "we're not related," he shook his head.

"I feel our connection ..." Craig smiled, "your Nanos work well with mine... brother ... thank you for saving my life."

"They have many aunts," Tina panted, meeting Phoenix's surprised gaze, "it's about time the male side was evened out."

"I'm honoured ... brother," Phoenix said, smiling at Tina before noting Craig's sharpened look and gentle smile as Tina began to pant.

"Here they come," he whispered, raising Tina's hand to his lips as the pain ripped through her again, expelling their last two children from her body, "well done, my love," he whispered, "well done."