"Ever thought of growing out your hair Rhys?", Ming Lee says one afternoon.

5 months. Five whole months he's been with this girl. For some reason he can't seem to give her up. Maybe it was because all the other girls in his year and below seemed so dull or that she had the most amazing hands.  

She did say her mother owned a day spa - must have picked up on some techniques.

Ming Lee threads her fingers through his short cut hair. Her veil of coal covers Rhys' face. His eyes only focused on her alluring   kiss that draws him close. He was only stopped by a bop of his nose 

"The question, Rhys.".

"Maybe. I think I can grow a mane. ", Rhys laughed, "My dad would freak the fuck out though.".

Her eyebrows furrowed. Rhys has come to call this her thinking face. She would bite the inside of her cheek and those searching eyes of hers would just dig.

"Rhys, would you run away with me?".

"Runaway? With you? Why ever would we do that?".

She lays back onto the pillow and snuggles closely to his side. 

"Why not? You would be away from your dick of a father while I get to be alone with my little fox.".

"Don't call me little. You should know I'm far from that.".

"Just shut up and take the compliment.".

When Rhys woke up, he first noticed he could not move his lower half. Everything past his navel felt numb. Another thing he noticed was the sound of person's talking. From what he could make out, it looked like Trent and Henderson talking to the doctor. He couldn't hear what they were saying but the way Henderson stood firm while Trent held onto his arm tighter didn't make him feel well.

It was the doctor who noticed Rhys was awake. She came over with a pitch perfect smile and checked his vitals. 

"Rhys. Glad you could rejoin us in the land of the living.".

Rhys tried to speak but his throat felt like there was a cat sharpening his claws in it. The doctor noticed this and opened a bottle of water for him. Rhys chugged that water like it was yogurt pouch.

"I expect you are still numb from the anesthetics we gave you. You had some tearing but nothing too severe.".

Rhys rests down the bottle and wipes the stray glaze off his lips. He feels like he should ask this question. It should be expected of new mother right?

"Where's my...uh..my…".

"Baby? She's in the nursery. A healthy 9 pounds and 8 ounces. I will have a nurse bring her right in.".

"That's almost ten pounds!", Rhys mind screamed. It may sound big in his head but it felt much bigger coming out of him.  

The doctor finished checking him over and left to alert the nurse. That's when Trent and Henderson came to his bedside.

"Hey hun, how you feeling.", Trent asked.

"I feel like I got squished by an elephant.".

Trent chuckles and looks up at Henderson. 
"Rhys, Henderson had his pals draw up some forms for you and Eli. But since you are not of age yet we would like to be your guardians if you would allow us. "

Rhys brain paused for a moment. Did they really want him? Even if they have three other already? Truely?

Rhys blames the hormones for him tearing up. "Yeah, I would love that.".

"I'll have the paper work finalized by the end of the week.", Rhys thinks he saw Henderson crack a smile, "But you will have to re enroll into school in order to finish up your last year ".

School? Rhys doesn't think he could remember how multiply right. But, if that's what he has to do he will do it. What's one year of highschool?

"Got it.".

Trent wrapped his arms around Rhys in a gentle way. "We usually welcome new members with a cookout but that will have to come later. And then I'll start putting some meat on those bones.".

"Commenting on my skin and bones situation aside, I believe a cookout involves food right? ".

Trent barely holds back a laugh, "We have a lot to educate you on young man.".

The sound of the door reopening and the push of a cart breaks through the cheerful atmosphere. The nurse wheels in a small glass crib holding a baby wrapped like a bean. A wave of nervousness wraps around him as the nurse picks up the child.

"Time to meet daddy little one.", the nurse said handing the child to Rhys.

"Support her head Rhys.", Henderson says positioning the red heads awkward arms.

Rhys finally gets a better look at his cub. Her crunched up face was now more relaxed without all the blood on her. Her skin now flushed a light pink with think black hair peeks out from the cap. Eyes were black and would squint everytime her wayward hand move against her cheek. 

Rhys was rendered speechless. All he could do was watch as her fingers move and grip the blanket. He swears she laughed when she finally focused on him. That's when he noticed it. The small faint of a mark right above her pink mouth. 

That's when tears started falling. They were falling and he couldn't make them stop. He would kiss her if he wasn't afraid of the starting of a beard would scratch her. 

"Hi Cub.", is all he managed to say.

"Do you have a name for her yet?".

Rhys stared at her long and hard. His cub let's out a small squeak or gurgle. Rhys knew right then what to call her.

"Ming Lee.".