Cas ran through the camp panicked.  Her mind was a fuzzy blur and she couldn't focus.  She knew she needed to find Mars, but trying to figure out where he would be at that time of the day seemed to baffle her, "Think,  Cas, think!  Where would he be at this time?" She thought to herself as she scanned the tents.

She took off again heading for the other end of the camp hoping and praying that he was in his tent.  

She burst through his tent entrance to find Mars's arm wrapped around Bridget.  They pulled back from a kiss in surprise that Cas boldly interrupted them.   Both Mars and Bridget shot her a glare for her rude intrusion on their privacy. 

"What the hell, Cas?" Mars growled.

"It's time Mars, come on, she needs you," Cas simply said before running back out of the tent.

Bridget crossed her arms over her chest in a huff.  Mars gave her a conscience-stricken smile, causing her eyes to roll. 

"You might as well go," she huffed out.

"I'll make it up to you," he promised before kissing the top of her head and quickly following Cas out of the tent.

Cas was impatiently waiting for him and as soon as he was out of the tent she took off running.  Mars quickly followed her.  The closer they got to Cas and Venus's tent the more his stomach jumped.  He wasn't sure if he was ready yet, but it didn't matter anymore.  It was time.

Cas hesitated when she got to her tent.

"What's the matter?" Mars asked.

Cas turned to him with worried filled eyes, "I can't go in there," she told him.

"Why?"

"I just can't, I can't do it, Mars," she said with tear filled eyes.  Seeing Venus in labor brought back to many horrible memories of the Cube, and she thought she could emotionally handle it,  but she couldn't.

"You promised!" He scolded her.

"I know!  I just can't.  You're going to have to do it." she said backing away from the tent.  Cas hated herself that she could be there for Venus, but she knew she wouldn't be any help to her either.

"Cas!"

"I'm so sorry," she cried before she turned to run off.

Mars stood there in shock that until he heard someone whimper inside then tent.  He quickly went inside to find Venus lying on her side with her feet curled up to her belly and her hand gripping tight to a blanket.  She looked helpless and Mars's heart wrenched for her.

"V," Mars said as he squatted next to her.

Venus didn't respond but her hand tightened on the blanket as a groan escaped her lips.

It was obvious she was in a lot of pain, and Mars felt helpless.  He wanted to help her but he didn't know what to do.

Finally, her hand relaxed and she took a deep breath.

"Do you need anything?" He asked her.

"Where's Cas?" she weakly replied.

"She's...she's not here yet," he told her.

"Where did she go?" Venus asked in a complete panic.

"I'm here for you, V, it'll be fine," he assured her.

Venus started to get up and Mars quickly jumped up to help her, "Where are you going?"

"I have to move," she told him, "it hurts to lay down."

As she stood up her water broke causing both of them to look down in surprise.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Mars asked, not sure if she wet herself or if it was all part of the process.

"I...I don't know," she stuttered out.

"You don't know?  How can you knot know?  You've done this before," he said.

"I couldn't feel anything down there and was barely awake," she snapped.

Suddenly Venus gripped Mars's arm so tightly that it caused both of them to yell in pain, Venus from the labor pain and Mars from her death grip.

Venus crumpled under the pain and was soon on her hands and knees, when Peter ducked into the tent.

Mars scowled at him, "What are you doing here?"

"Cas sent me.  She said you'd need help," Peter told him.

"We're fine, we don't need your help," Mars bitterly shot at him.

"No," Venus whimpered, "please don't go."

"You don't have any idea what's going on, you're just going to be in the way," Mars told him.

"No, you have no idea what's going on.  I had a sister that went into a little to much detail about her job while I was growing up so I at least know a few things," Peter shot back.

"Would you two just, SHUT THE HELL UP!" Venus screamed.

Peter and Mars shot each other one last glare before Peter told Venus to lay on her back and Mars to get behind her to help her sit up some.

Peter got down toward her legs and said, "Your pants are going to have to come off, V."

She nodded but Mars started to jump up, "What the hell do think you're doing?"

"The babies are going to have a hard time coming out with them on," Peter sarcastically replied.

"You have no business being down...there," he said pointing to her bottom half.

"Do you want to trade?" Peter asked, "Because I'll gladly comfort her while you catch what's coming out down here."

Mars turned white at the sheet thought and shook his head, "I'm fine up here."

Venus's forehead was damp with sweat and some of her hair had fallen into her face.  Mars wiped it away as Peter got her ready.

"What if something goes wrong?" Mars asked Peter, "Did your sister happen to tell you what to do if something goes wrong?"

"Nothing's going to go wrong," Peter replied.  

Another contraction hit causing Venus to groan.  She was lost within her own concentration of trying to getting through each contraction.  They seemed to be coming one on top of the other.  She begged and pleaded, within herself, to some unknown force that it would stop, when the sudden urge hit her that she had to push.

"I've gotta push," she announced.

"Alright, V," Peter said, "then push."

With a deep breath Venus bore down and pushed through the pain.

"Anything there yet?" Mars asked.

Peter ignored him and Venus stopped to get a breath.

"You're doing great, V," Peter said giving her a reassuring smile.

She pushed again when another contraction hit and Peter's eyes grew wide.

"What?  What is it?" Mars asked.

"I think it's a head.  Come on, V, you're almost there."

It wasn't long before Peter was holding a  crying baby in his arms.

"What is it?" A tired Venus asked.

Peter smiled at her,  "A boy."

"Can I hold him?"  Mars asked as he stared in awe of his own little boy.

Peter handed him over just before another contraction hit Venus.

"Last one," Peter told her as she pushed,  "you're almost there."

A/N:
One baby down! Yay. As promised, the third installment of the The Breeders  started off with the birth...sort of, lol.
Is it cruel to leave you in suspense of the other?
Thank you so much for reading and giving me feedback back.  You are such an encouragement ❤  I  know this is the second post today but I didn't want to leave you in suspense any longer.  Just partial suspense, (laughs maniacally.)
Lots of love,
Reading Mermaid 08