It took the nurse a while to arrive to the same conclusion they had both arrived to the moment Becca started feeling contractions. Baby Iris was not going to make this easy on anyone. Maya would have laughed when the coin finally dropped for the nurse, except she was too excited at the moment to do so.

>>"Oh. OH. Alright, it's going to be okay, Miss Grey. I'm going to page your doctor, but I think he'll agree a cesarian is your best choice here."

>>"Ye think?"

Maya still had her arm around Becca, supporting her as the nurse worked out how to best handle the situation. The other nurse, however, seemed less than enthusiastic about helping.

>>"Nuh-uh. Nope. I ain't getting involved with the delivery of the antichrist."

Maya's look was murderous.

"Are you f*** kidding..."

>>"Karen, go f*cking home if you're not going to do your job. Kaitlyn, please."

Mutant friendly hospital indeed. Maya glared at the woman until she shuffled away. The younger nurse, a much kinder person, led them to a room where Becca could change, waiting for the doctor. Maya put the bag down, and did her best to assist the process.

>>"Ye know, Ah should hae known our daughter would be too impatiant tae wait fer a convenient mutation. Ah was mentally prepared fer labor, noo Ah need tae gie mentally prepared for surgery. That's too different kinds ay emotional journeys."

"I know" Maya sighed, helping her tie the gown "But it's gonna be okay. Doc's on the way, he'll fix you up after. You can totally do this." she pressed a kiss between Becca's horns "Hey. We're about to meet our daughter. How awesome is that?"

If Maya was ever going to beat the hell out of someone not actively committing a crime, it might have been the religiously zealous nurse. Thankfully, she was clearly in the minority, and Becca quietly hoped people like her would keep becoming more and more out of place.

Becca barely felt dressed in her new hospital robes, but she was most focused on the stress of a surgery where she had no control over what came next. ”We shoulds call Gemma, jist in case mah powers gae wonky in surgery. Ah dinnae want tae send a room of medical equipment flyin.” She was lacking control over her powers at the best of times right now, so being drugged up and cut open sounded like a situation to be overly cautious.

Despite her stress, Maya was doing everything she could as an amazing partner to ease Becca’s mind. Helping her focus on their little blessing, nine months in the making. ”Right. It feels surreal; Ah’m sae ready tae meet ye. And… Ah’m sae glad tae hae ye at mah side through this. Ah loove ye sae much, Maya.” She smirked. ”Mama tae be.”

>>”We shoulds call Gemma, jist in case mah powers gae wonky in surgery. Ah dinnae want tae send a room of medical equipment flyin.”

"I'll call her. Although I think she might already be on her way. I left Kalos with her, and I think the kid already figured out what's going on." Maya chuckled. The first daughter was very much prepared for having a little sibling soon, so it was only a matter of minutes before she'd realize her parents were suddenly gone. And they were about to meet the baby they had been waiting for...

>>”Right. It feels surreal; Ah’m sae ready tae meet ye. And… Ah’m sae glad tae hae ye at mah side through this. Ah loove ye sae much, Maya. Mama tae be.”

"I love you too" Maya smiled, kissing Becca before she helped her sit on the bed. The doctor showed up with a good-natured smile. While he examined Becca, Maya made a phone call, confirming that Kalos had already dragged Gemma into a car, following a few minutes behind Doc. When she returned from the call, the doctor was already done with the exam.

"Well, we are definitely delivering a baby today" he said in a light voice "But it's alright, we have prepared for this. Well, this, and half a dozen other scenarios. You're in good hands, Ms. Grey. We'll start prepping you for the OR and we'll get started when your... healer gets here." As much as he was open-minded, the doctor still had a bit of a problem wrapping his head around the elusive healing mutant.

Nurses came in, starting the prep work. Maya got wrapped in scrubs too, with gloves, mask, and hair cover all provided. She didn't stray too far from Becca's side, holding her hand when she needed support. "See? Everything is very organized here..."

It was reassuring knowing Gemma was on the way, but it was more heartwarming having Kalos coming to the hospital. Her family was joining together to welcome Iris to the world."Ah'm excited tae see Kalos lay doon ground rules fer her wee baby sister." Kalos was going to adjust to living with a little sister, and Becca was curious if she would be a nurturing big sister or see Iris as a minion to raise as her own protege.

Becca did her best to relax during the exam, though her contractions were becoming more frequent. Iris was growing impatient, but at least the doctor seemed optimistic. Uneasy about the notion of a healer mutant, but he held his tongue. She was sure some people brought their own "healers" into the hospital, to varying degrees of validity, but DocProf was the real deal.

Becca squeezed the supporting hand offered to her. "Aye, we made th' right choice. Ah'm jist gonna wait here, tryin' hard nae tae gie birth yet. Iris can whine aw she lochs; Ah'm nae interested in gettin' torn asunder today."

>>"Ah'm excited tae see Kalos lay doon ground rules fer her wee baby sister."

"I am sure she will be merciless" Maya grinned. Kalos was excited for a little sibling, but also just finding her own place in the world and her own boundaries. She was bound to take her big sibling role very seriously. Mirror never had a sibling (that she knew of), so this whole dynamic was going to be a new things to explore for all of them.

>>"Aye, we made th' right choice. Ah'm jist gonna wait here, tryin' hard nae tae gie birth yet. Iris can whine aw she lochs; Ah'm nae interested in gettin' torn asunder today."

The nurses busied themselves with prepping, and eventually Becca was transferred to a gurney so she could be taken to the OR. A nurse told them Doc had arrived and was heading to the same place, and by the time they made it, another nurse was leading Gemma in, having left Kalos in the care of another nurse outside. While Becca was taken into the OR and hooked up to all kinds of things, Maya took a detour to see Kalos, and tell her with all of the authority of an adult in scrubs that Becca was doing great and she and Iris were going to be okay. And also, separate, soon enough.

"Kalos sends hugs" she told Becca when she returned, taking a seat by the head of the bed so she could hold Becca's hand. Gemma and Doc were both all dressed up and scrubbed in to stand by. "What a great team, huh? We always knew how to pick people for missions... How are you feeling?"

Becca also had no siblings (that she knew of,) so she was excited to handle the challenge of raising two girls, particularly with such an age gap. She hoped Kalos would rise to the challenge as a big sister, but they would all figure that out together.

It was bizarre waiting for surgery, because everyone was taking hurried steps and prepping equipment and people, and Rebecca was trying not to move or freak out as she felt the pain and pressure of a little devil baby informing her that yes, it was indeed just about time to greet the world.

The best part of this experience was knowing she was not alone. Maya led their coworkers, supportive and ready for the main event to Becca's side. "Ah coods nae ask fer a better team." Or a better partner at her side to lead them into the fray. "Ah'm holdin' up, though Iris is bangin' doon th' metaphorical doors. It soonds loch they're ready tae gie me aw drugged up sae we can gie started... thes is really happening. Ah... weel." Rebecca squeezed Maya's hand one last time. "Let's meet our new daughter."

>>"Ah coods nae ask fer a better team."

That really was true. Not many new mothers, mutant or otherwise, got to give birth with both a healer and an adapted in the room, in addition to their medical team. Doc and Gemma took up positions in the two opposite ends of the room, Gemma trying to keep her aura away from everyone until she was needed.

>>"Ah'm holdin' up, though Iris is bangin' doon th' metaphorical doors. It soonds loch they're ready tae gie me aw drugged up sae we can gie started... thes is really happening. Ah... weel. Let's meet our new daughter."

Maya smiled, though most of it was covered up by the mask, and held Becca's hand as the anesthesiologist got to work, and the doctors put up the screen over Becca's chest that almost felt like a theater curtain, with all of the action on the other side. It was a little freaky, honesty. It had to be even more so for Becca, whose own lower body was on the other side of the curtain.

"Alright, let's get started" the doctor announced from behind the curtain. Doctors and nurses moved around, all doing their part with practiced ease "I understand we have little horns and a little tail to watch out for, so let's be extra careful, shall we? Ms. Grey, all you have to do is stay calm, stay awake, and let us know if anything feels wrong. Your... Ms. Morris can keep you entertained in the meantime."

"Here I am" Maya chuckled, looking at Becca "At our daughter's birth. Entertainment. I'm never gonna live this down, huh?"

There was something special about modern medicine. The ability to receive a localized anesthetic that basically numbed Becca's lower body was a godsend. She was going to stay awake, consciously focusing on keeping her powers under wraps, just in case anything pulled Gemma away. She could not see what was going on past the curtain, but that helped her focus on Maya.

And Maya was doing her best to not feel silly being alluded to as a distraction. "Fer whit its worth, you're aways entertainin' hun. Ye'll gie me through thi--" She felt the internal pressure of another contraction and squeezed her lover's hand like a vice. "An' Ah hope yer hand survives. Sorry..."



"Well, Miss Grey... Miss Morris..."

Becca held her breath, trying to peek around the curtain, hopeful but needing confirmation.

The doctor rewarded her by raising a tiny red mutant with his gloved hands. "Meet your little girl."

Things were happening now, with a whole lot of medical equipment and machines making noises and lights. Maya focused on Becca, holding her hand as she did her best to stay calm through the whole thing. Anesthetics and adapteds worked wonders together, but the process still needed a lot of willpower from Becca. Probably more than an actual fight.

>>"Fer whit its worth, you're aways entertainin' hun. Ye'll gie me through thi-- An' Ah hope yer hand survives. Sorry..."


"It's okay, we have a healer to fix me up" Maya grinned behind the mask. She really didn't mind. Doc was keeping an eye on the happenings on the other side of the curtain. There was some activity, and then a pause; Maya looked up, trying to see what was happening. Becca did the same.

>>"Well, Miss Grey... Miss Morris... Meet your little girl."

There was a tiny red thing in a tower, being handed over to a nurse that muttered "well, that's definitely a first...". Then a tiny, scratchy sound, and then a more recognizable wail right after. Also, the entire world shifted, but Maya barely noticed, fixated on the baby devil being dabbed and wrapped in a blanket after the doctor cut the umbilical cord. Iris, all of sixty seconds old, was gaining momentum in complaining now, as the nurse walked her around the bed.

"Oh my god..." Maya whispered, mesmerized by the sight of the tiny red face, barely aware that the nurse was nudging the whole bundle into her arms "Becks, she's perfect...".

After an unexpectedly hectic day, still feeling fuzzy from the medication given to her before her surgery, Becca was surprised by the clarity of the moment. There she was; Iris Grey-Morris, tiny and red and perfect. They had really brought this precious baby into the world; it barely felt real. "Our daughter... mah god, jist look at her..." Becca was unsure of what to expect before; now, she realized she had no words for how she felt now.

Gemma stepped away now that the procedure was complete, so when Maya accepted Iris, contact spread quickly. They were so absorbed in this new addition to their family, Becca only realized the change when she finally looked up. She smiled dreamily at her crimson-skinned fiancee, sporting her own small horns to go with her new look. "Aww, our precious gift had a gift for ye, tae." They were going to want to invest in gloves, along with a host of other precautionary measures when they returned to the Mansion.

For now? They could just rejoice in this moment and bring in Kalos once she was allowed to meet her sister.

>>"Our daughter... mah god, jist look at her..."

Iris was perfect. She was tiny and wrinkly and damp and perfect. She had tiny toes and tiny fingers and tiny horns and a tiny tail. She also looked very offended by her sudden change of environment. Maya stared at her in awe.

Holy sh*t, I'm gonna be responsible for this person for the rest of her life.

Maya held Iris in her little bundle, leaning over to kiss the top of her tiny head. The change was instantaneous, but she didn't really notice until Becca spoke up.

>>Aww, our precious gift had a gift for ye, tae."

"Right" Maya grinned, looking up. The tail was not exactly in a comfortable place, but at least they looked like a matching set now. "Well I guess that settles the power question..."

After DocProf healed Becca up (saving the doctors a whole lot of stitching, and Becca a whole lot of pain), Baby Iris was checked and measured and dressed, and the little family taken to a room where they could be together. There was only a minor hiccup when Iris accidentally devilized one of the nurses, but the hospital team made a valiant effort, even getting a tiny baby hat over her horns. Maya was still in some kind of a happy (non-medically induced) daze, sitting on the edge of Becca's bed and staring at the baby. She was a sight worth staring at.