The Long Way Home.
 

Xander looked up from his wall construction as his cellphone rang, hunting it all the way to the kitchen.  It quit ringing just as he found it but someone was leaving him a voicemail, so he got a drink until his phone beeped at him. He opened it and listened, frowning.  "Fine.  Give me ten," he told himself, going to finish his wall, change clothes, then head to get Jigen.  The full group would need to be together to protect her and the new baby.  As soon as he had his traveling bag repacked and his briefcase filled with what he was working on at the moment, he headed out to his little lease car, getting in and driving off.  It was only about ten minutes to Jigen's and he was sitting on the front porch.  Xander stood up and took off his sunglasses, putting it on top of the temporary red hair.  "Fuji just called to swear at me.  She was demanding pain killers."  Jigen gave him a smirk and headed inside, coming out a minute later with a bag and his recently ever-present cigarette.  "Roll down the window if you're doing that in my car," he said patiently.  As soon as the window was rolled down, he took off.  He liked this lease car.  It was cute and fast.  It accelerated very well and was small enough to make it through traffic.  "Did you remember your passport?"

"I keep it in my wallet," he said, tossing out the rest of his smoke.  He rolled up the window and let the a/c work on him.  "When did you get this?"

"It's a lease," Xander admitted, shifting up as they broke free of the traffic.   The airport was outside the city by a little bit.  "I liked it and it does handle very well."  He had to slow down as they hit airport traffic but it wasn't too bad.  "Care to call ahead?"

"Did you bring your passport?"

"It's in my briefcase.  All of them."  He grinned as he wove through the slower traffic, heading into the airport lot.  "Long term?"  Jigen nodded so he parked and they got out, grabbing their bags.  He set the alarm, then the second alarm he had put on it, then they jogged inside.  Xander smiled smoothly at the check-in girl.  "We have to get to Tokyo as soon as possible," he said as suavely as he could manage.  "A friend is expecting his first daughter any hour now."

She looked in her computer, then shook her head.  "We don't have anything going out for another three hours," she told him, giving him a tired smile.  She didn't trust men like him.  "I'm sorry, sir, but can you wait that long?"

"Anything that would have connections?" Jigen asked.

She checked again, grimacing.  "If you're *really* lucky, maybe."  She looked at him.  "There's a flight out in about forty minutes that's heading to Calcutta.  There's a connecting one from there to Taiwan.  Then there's a connecting flight from there.  It'll still get you there about four hours sooner because our next direct flight from here to Tokyo is in another six hours."  They nodded.  "The problem is the connection times.  It's very small and you might get stuck."

"Yeah, but from Calcutta, if we had to, we could rent a charter, right?" Xander asked.  She nodded.  He looked at Jigen.  "Wanna try?"

She checked her computer again.  "We do have one standby," she said, biting on her lip.  "It's just come open.  It leaves in half an hour."

"I'll take that, he can take the later one," Xander decided.  "How possible is it?"

"The person hasn't checked in."  She took his card, noting the name on it.  She called a security officer over.  "This is Eugene Bethany, he'll need to get to gate twelve," she told him as she typed.  "He's expected to help a friend having a baby."  The guard nodded, and she tagged his check-in bag, handing him tickets.  "Good luck, sir, I hope you get there in time."

"Put his on my card too," Xander said, heading off as soon as she had put it through the system again.  They jogged off together, making it through the screening process quickly enough.  He barely made it but he was let on.  He smiled at the stewardess, who put him into a coach seat, but it would be fine.  This time.

***

Xander looked around as he walked into the hospital, heading up to the room Fujiko said she was in.  No one tried to stop him so either it was visiting hours or the floor was going to be crawling with cops soon.  He tapped on the door and walked in, looking around.  "No one else is here?"

"Lupin needed Goemon," she panted.  He came over, taking her hand.  "Everyone else?"

"I got your call and picked up Jigen but there was only one seat," he admitted.  "He'll be here soon."

She came down, looking at him.  "You look odd as a redhead."

"Well, yeah, but it fit with my new persona.  Did you hear?  They found some of the warrants."  She nodded, shifting uncomfortably.  He helped her, patting the blankets back around her.  "No nurses?"

"They had a patient crash a few minutes before you walked in, they're all with her."  She winced and gripped his hand again.  "Talk," she ordered.

"I found myself a nice place to belong," he said quietly.  "I'm fixing it up right now."  She gave him a look.  "Like yours.  For the downtimes."  She nodded, panting.  "Haven't they given you drugs yet?"  She nodded.  "It working over top of them?"

"It's not so much pain as pressure," she said, trying to shift again.  "Then she kicks during them, pushing back."

He put a hand on her stomach.  "Shh," he whispered.  "I'm here.  You come out when it's time and you'll be just fine."  The baby quit moving and she sighed in relief.  He stood where he could help both of them.  "Where's Marcus?  We haven't warded the room?"

"We did one on my stomach with her future teacher," Fujiko admitted.  "It should keep everyone from noticing her."

"Good.  Excellent in fact.  Wards aren't my thing."  He heard a familiar tune and put a hand over her mouth, nodding outside.  Her eyes went wide and he pulled his gun as the door popped open.  "Morning," he said dryly.  "Enter.  Slowly."   Zenigata walked in, hands in plain sight.  Another man was with him.  "Are you her doctor?"  He put the gun up, but he glared at the cop, letting him know it was still available.

"I am not, but I am the on-call for him," he said with a fond smile.  "Let's check you, Mrs. Dortmeyer."  He lifted the sheet and checked her gently, making her wince.  "Nearly there.  You're at eight and plus one I think."  He made a note.  "Are you feeling anything?"

"Some," she admitted.  He nodded, making a note of that as well.  "Do I have to?"

"A little bit," he admitted.  "Not at all natural like you said your first one was."  He looked at Xander.  "The father?"

"The person who delivered her first," he said.

"Oh.  Very well then.  You may stay if she desires it.  You as well, Inspector?"

"I don't want him witnessing this," she said bitterly, then she screamed and grabbed Xander's arm.  "Damn it, stop her!"  He stroked her stomach, stopping the baby.  "Oh, damn, that hurt."  The doctor pressed on her stomach, giving her a reassuring smile.  "My first one didn't do that."

"She'll be coming soon.  Your placenta is starting to disengage."   He gave her a pat on the arm and walked out.

"Leave," Xander told him.  "She doesn't have any warrants."

"You do," he smirked.  "Where have you been?  That was a nice trick, sending your card to Istanbul so we'd track it there."  Xander shrugged.  "I can arrest you now."

"I can kill you before you do," Xander reminded him, grinning.  "You're just too damn much fun for me to hurt you permanently.  Besides, then Dawn would have to bring you back."  He looked stunned.  "What? Think she can't?  Willow did and she's every bit Willow's equal."

"She's better than that woman ever was," he said harshly.

"I meant strength-wise.  But I do agree."  He helped Fujiko through her newest one.  "You're not getting me out of here.  There's shit you don't know that could happen."  He looked up.  "Until the others get here, you can sit by her head and wait."  A pair of handcuffs appeared and Xander pulled his canister of gas, knocking him out.  He put it away, fanning it away from her face.  "Sorry, sweetie, it beats shooting his rookie in the elbow."  She gave a faint laugh.  "It shouldn't last more than a few minutes," he promised, kissing her on the forehead.  He walked around, taking the cuffs and hitching the cop of the bed railing. If he was going to be there, he was going to fucking well help!  He went back to her other side, stroking her stomach.  Someone else pushed open the door, a nurse.  "She's taking a short nap," he whispered.  The nurse nodded.  "Give her ten minutes, she'll have another contraction before then."  The nurse nodded and left for a few minutes.  When the door opened again, it was the first rookie and Xander gassed him, putting him into the closet.  He took Fujiko's spare sheet from the bed and used it to bind and gag him.  "Stay there," he hissed, sensing he was waking up.  "Do not move or else."  He slammed the door, going back to his duty.  Zenigata was staring at him.  "What?"

"I have the keys."

"You have one hidden?"  He held up the one he had found on him.  Gramps nodded, producing another.  "Use it and join your buddy in the closet, I'm sure he'd like that."  He put it away and Xander tossed him the other one.  "Fuji, come on, wake up," he said soothingly.  She blinked at him.  "Hey.  Some of the gas got you too.  You can't sleep through this."

"Not," she told him.  "I'm trying to rest before she starts again.  Can I have some air?"  He pulled it down and turned it on, handing it over.  "Thanks," she mumbled, closing her eyes again.

"You do that very well."

"I did read the books on paramedical training.  It said nothing about giving birth."  He looked over as the nurse came back.  "She wanted some air."

"That's fine," she agreed, coming in to press on her stomach gently.  Fujiko nearly took off her head with her foot.  "I'm sorry, dear.  Are you ready to push?"  Fujiko shook her head.  "Are you sure?"  She nodded.  "Fine.  Whenever you are, you push the button and we'll come running back."  Fujiko nodded so she left them alone.

Zenigata undid himself, rubbing his wrist.  "She would have noticed.  I'll be less hostile if you will. I wouldn't make my worst enemy go through this alone," he said coldly when she looked at him.

"There's a thought to make you laugh during it, Fuji.  Lupin giving birth."  She laughed, shaking her head, gripping his arm.  "Shh, I'm right here.  Nothing's going to happen to her unless they go through me."  She nodded, closing her eyes again.

"What's going to happen?"

"The baby's gifted."

"Oh."  His eyes widened.  "Like Dawn, gifted?"  Xander looked up and nodded.  "Shit.  Should I call her?"

"She's not available or else she'd already be here," he pointed out.  "As would Marcus."

"Marcus can't see," he said calmly.  "Someone broke into Dawn's house to get her and the boys.  He defended them but got a bad hit on the head.  He's supposed to get it back sometime."  Xander winced.  "I'm surprised they didn't call you back to help him with it."

"Why would they?  I make Marcus incredibly self-conscious.  They're probably working on him together, giving him a few good, intense lessons on how to cope.  Goemon was trying to figure out how to help me but we ended up breaking up for a while."

"Hmm.  Where is Jigen?"

"Not here."

"I know that.  It's rather obvious."  He gave the boy a look and got a shrug in return.  "You two broke up?" he sneered.

"No."  He lifted the oxygen mask when Fujiko said something.  "What was that?"  She whispered it again.  "Sure, we'll quit fighting.  Are you still feeling light headed?  Dizzy, anything?"  She shook her head.  "I hope this isn't the gas."

"I've done this on and off all day," she said, patting him on the hand.  "Take off the protections."  He looked at her stomach, then at her.  "It was broken earlier by a nurse.  It's been since then."

He nodded and pulled something out of his pocket, tracing it on her stomach in a pattern he had made himself memorize. It broke any other magic already on her and put his own on.  She nodded and fell asleep again.  "I don't like this," he said, pushing the button for the nurse.  "She's incredibly weak," he told her.  She came over to check her.  "She said she's done this a few times today."  The nurse nodded as she worked.  "Should I call her husband?"  She looked at him.  "I'm her surrogate.  I delivered her first.  Her husband is on his way here and entrusted me to help her again.  Should I call and warn him that she's going to end up in surgery or something?"

"It should not be necessary," she said, making notes on the chart.  "I will get the doctor back in here."

Xander grimaced, touching the moving stomach.  "Calm down a little," he soothed.  "I'm right here."  He could feel something gathering around them.  "I hope like hell you left your windows up."

"I never put them down."  Zenigata looked out the window.  "It was sunny earlier."

"Someone wants this one."  He looked up.  "I am her guardian.  You get her through me," he hissed.  "If you try, I will have you."  A peal of thunder went off but no rain came yet.  He relaxed slightly and continued to stroke her stomach until the doctor came back in.  "She said she's been doing this all day."

"She has," he agreed.  "We would rather do a caesarian section but she won't let us."

Xander woke Fujiko up, looking down at her.  "Let them take the baby out," he told her.  She shook her head. "Yes, Fujiko.  You're in bad shape.  It'll help."

"No.  Dangerous," she whispered.  "Them."

He nodded, straightening up.  "She's concerned that someone will try for her child.  Her husband is a very important man, wanted by many for what he can do."  The doctor nodded.  "Is there much danger to wait?"  He nodded.  Xander considered it then pulled out his cellphone.  The closet door rattled.  "Ignore him.  He was being a prick."  He dialed the one for Lupin.  "I need orders," he said firmly.  "Fujiko's weak.  She's sleeping through contractions.  They want to take the baby out surgically and she won't let them."  He listened.  "I know that.  It broke earlier, she said the nurse broke one of he protection lines.  I put on my own just now.  I know I'm not as strong, but it let her wake up some.  I'm more than good enough for that, even with Gramps standing right here!" he said angrily.  He calmed down.  "Fine.  I can.  He's here too."  He looked at the doctor and held up a finger.  "Yes, there is.  There's risk right now though.  She's presently passed out."  He grimaced.  "Don't leave this up to me.  I can and will protect her but it's not my place to make medical decisions.  She doesn't want to let them."  He slumped.  "Fine."  He hung up.  "The father said to go with her instincts."

"And yours?"

"Are screaming to get the child out and away from here with the mother for some reason," he admitted.  The doctor nodded.  "Yours?"

"I agree with you," he said, looking at her.  "Mrs. Dortmeyer?" he called, waking her again.  "It is I."  He bent down to talk to her.  "You really should let us take her out.  You are very weak.  Your blood pressure is starting to get low.  Like it did earlier."  She nodded and he helped her sit up.  "I do feel it's best medically if we do take the baby out."

"Plus, we can move the baby," Xander told her.  "We can move you.  Even if he manages the unthinkable and I'm arrested, Jigen's on his way."  She nodded, biting her lip.  "Hey, what did I say about that?  You'll get a big, huge scar."  She gave him a small smile.  "I'm probably not going to be strong enough to do more than keep them at bay," he said honestly.  "You were right, one line was broken."  She nodded.  "They already know."  He pointed out the window.  She sighed and nodded.  "Doing it that way means you can have the baby within a few minutes and get stronger."

"I can escort you back to headquarters, both of them with us," Zenigata said bitterly.  "It's not unheard of to take the family of someone in custody in.  Not my favorite choice, but I know what you'll try if I don't."

The doctor looked at him.  "You are under arrest?"

"No.  But he'll try again."

"You are?"

"One of her husband's bodyguards."  He grinned.  "Known as Lavelle."

"Ah."  The doctor nodded.  "I have heard of you and thought I recognized him.  That would be fine.  Is the mother under authority as well?"

"I can't find any warrants for her, yet," Zenigata admitted.  The doctor smiled.  "But that doesn't mean I can't take her back with me."

"That is fine.  If she were under arrest, the arresting officer would have the authority to order medical treatment in an emergency situation."

"Is this?" Xander asked.  The doctor shook his head.  "Not yet? Or not at all?"

"Not yet.  For now, I will go with what the mother wants."  Everyone looked at Fujiko.

"I don't want a c-section," she told him.  "It's dangerous.  The person who's been helping us said so," she said, looking at Xander.  "I'll survive.  I've been shot before and I survived that."

"Then we'll do it your way," Xander told her.  "But the first time you go critical, I'm going to have them do it."  They locked gazes.  "He'll be destroyed if you die and I'll miss you," he pointed out.  "Who else would take me bra shopping?"  She smiled and gave him a gentle pat to the face.  "Got it?"  She nodded, agreeing.  "Good.  How soon before she can push?"

The doctor pulled out a sterile glove pack, opening it and putting them on.  "Not long now.  Her cervix is almost completely gone."  He straightened up.  "Maybe another hour at the most," he told her.  She nodded.  "Press the bell if you need me sooner."  He walked away, going to make more notes on her chart and to talk to the hospital security.  They would want to stay out of this one.  He did not know what was going on, but that one young man was obviously protecting her and the child.  The inspector was in for a rude shock.  He looked at the nurse.  "If they leave, check Mrs. Dortmeyer's room's closet," he told her.  She looked confused.  "Something shifted in there but it's not a priority for now."  She nodded, making a note for the desk.

***

Lupin hung up and looked at Goemon.  "You're right, the protections were broken.  Xander said one was broken earlier.  He took them off totally and put on his own."  The samurai groaned.  "He also said she's been passing out."  He looked up at him, slowly standing up.  "She doesn't want a c-section.  Pops is standing right there.  She'll be fine, but we've got to find a way to intercept them.  The smartest thing for him to do would be to take her with him."

"He would take the train," Goemon told him.  "No ships would come directly to here from there.  Tokyo isn't a large steamer ship destination."  Lupin nodded, lighting a cigarette.  "Were *all* of them broken?"  Lupin shrugged.  "Hand me the phone."  It was tossed over to him and he called the people helping them.  "Someone said they found the protections broken.  Were they all?"  He smiled.  "Are you sure?"  He looked at Lupin and smiled.  "Thank you.  Yes, he is.  Why?"  He chuckled.  "I'm sure he can bully her into it if he must."  He hung up.  "All but the main ones she put on the baby had been broken totally.  She felt it snap earlier in the day.  She can't pinpoint her or get to Tokyo fast enough to be there in time for the birth.  Xander gave her his phone number in case she needed him for anything, including errands for either child."  He handed the phone back.  "She's doing what she can from where she is."

"And so is Xander, which means Jigen is somewhere nearby.  He didn't say anything about him, only Pops."  He sucked in some more smoke.  "That I don't like."

"He may not have been able to get an immediate flight out and Xander would have spared him saying nice things for too long," Goemon said.  "How is Marcus?"

"Sleeping.  I knocked him out myself."  He took one last puff then put it out.  "He needed it.  He's come really far."

"His vision is back on.  He'll be fine."

"Hopefully," Lupin agreed.  "That tougher mindset is working well for him."

"He is as much a submissive as Xander is to you."

"He's not."

"He is.  He never does anything without checking with one of you.  Unless it is job related.  Then he hopes you can forgive him."

"Jigen said I overwhelm him."

"You probably do," he agreed.  "You are very dynamic.  Xander is not."  He shrugged.  "It would be natural.   You are a leader, Xander is a quieter leader.  I wish I could have seen him with his pack when he had one."

"Pack?"

"Hyenas."  He shrugged and walked away to get himself something strong to drink.  He needed it. There wasn't any way he could get to Japan at the moment.  Dawn couldn't find a place she didn't know.  Any flights would take too long.  His son was sleeping so he couldn't even wear out his frustration playing with him.  He found his stash of sake and poured himself a large cup, gulping it.  It helped, for now.

***

Xander paced, looking at his watch.  Where was the doctor?  She was in real, ready to push, labor.  She grunted and swatted at him so he came back to her side.  "Come on, you can do it," he soothed.  "Just a minute more?"

"No!  Either he's here or I'm going to do this without him!"

"Fine," Xander agreed, pushing the button again.  "The doctor?" he asked the nurse.

"He said he is on his way."

"I'm not fucking waiting!" Fujiko screamed.  The nurse nodded, hurrying to get someone more senior on the floor.  Fujiko glared at the older woman who came back.  "Who are you! I'm not a fucking circus attraction!"

"I am a midwife," she said calmly, coming over to touch her.  "I can deliver the child safely."  Fujiko gave her a look.  "If you wish.  I have your chart."  Fujiko nodded so she opened it and read through it quickly.  "How bad was your first one?"

"No tearing, no drugs, and I delivered her," Xander said.  She looked at him.  "Yes, me.  I am capable of holding off panic."  She gave him a reproachful look.  He looked down at Fujiko.  "This is why I didn't want to come to Japan before, I thought everyone was like her or Kane."  She snickered, shaking her head.  "Remember the thought, Lupin going through this," he told her as the midwife moved to look at her.  "We didn't do an episiotemy last time, she didn't need it."

The midwife nodded.  "So I can see.  How hard was it on her?"

"She got through it, but she had more helpers and she wasn't passing out at the time.  Like she has been today."  The midwife looked at him, then at the chart, rereading it.  She found the notations and grimaced, but nodded, fixing the bed.  "Are we doing it in here?"

"Unless you want to move her," she agreed.  "This bed will be fine and she is nearly there already."  She dropped the foot of the bed and pulled out the stirrups, putting Fujiko's feet into them.  "Whenever you are ready to push," she said calmly.  "Kane?" she asked Xander.

"TV show," he said.

"Oh, that one."  She frowned at him.  "None of us are like that, young man."  He gave her a look.  "That is the training, otherwise I would be babbling in excitement.  When you get to be my age, you will be calm as well."  She looked up. "You are doing excellently."

Xander took her hand, getting down next to her ear.  "Come on, Fuji, just a few good pushes like last time," he said quietly.  She nodded.  "That it, that's his good girl.  Come on, you can do it," he repeated when she paused to take a breath.  He looked at the stunned cop.  "You *could* help. You helped during the last one.  It set a bad precedent."  The closet door thumped again.  "Ignore him," he told the midwife.  "He was panicking."  She nodded and went back to what she had been doing.

"Which one is that?"

"The first guy," Xander said with a small shrug.  He gave her hand a squeeze.  "Do that stomach thing."

"Do not," the midwife countered.  "She is coming very well."

"Last time her son was out in five pushes."

"This one will take longer.  Girls always do."  She gave her a pat on the outside of the thigh.  "Push again," she ordered.

Fujiko grunted with the strain, then shook her head.  "I can't."  She panted so Xander gave her back the oxygen mask.  She rested and tried again but the baby wasn't moving.  She gave him a look and he nodded, moving to help her.  The midwife started to say something but the baby moved again, making her go back to her own job.  She pushed again and felt the baby move more.

"Try harder," Zenigata told her.  "Your son wasn't that hard."

"He was also nearly a month premature," Xander told him.   He came back to help her, getting next to her ear.  "If you do, I'll show you my new house," he promised.  "It's a wreck at the moment but you can see if as long as you don't try to decorate more than the kitchen."  She gave a weak laugh and he steeled himself.  "Come on, Fujiko.  We need to get her out."  He looked outside.  "Come on, princess."

"You're the princess," she reminded him.

He grinned.  "Then trust your ruling body, she's got to come out."  Fujiko nodded, giving another weak push.  "Can she sit up, would it help?"

"Does she want a birthing stool?"

"If it would help," Xander said with a shrug. He looked at her, seeing the doubt.  "It'd be like having her in the bathroom."  She grimaced and shook her head.  "Then you've got to push harder, Fujiko.  You've got to do it now.  Before her heartrate falls."  She nodded, trying again.

"Sit behind her, young man.  Let her rest against your chest."  He nodded, getting up to help her, cradling her closely.  "Now push," she ordered.  "It may help some or not."  Fujiko gave another push and the baby's head moved.  She looked up.  "He is correct.  It is dangerous if the baby gets stuck for both of you. If the baby comes out, you'll be in much better shape."  Fujiko gave her another push and Zenigata growled, coming over to help by pushing on her stomach.  The baby came out a little more, the head was nearly out now.  "The crown is out," she said.  She looked down, pulling something out of her jacket pocket.  She found a gun in her face when she glanced up and dropped the needle.  "I will not hurt her," she said.

"Good."  Xander put back his gun.  "Take whatever she dropped," he ordered. "Pat her down while you're at it."  Zenigata gave him a horrified look.  "Now!"

"Fine."  He did find a needle and did put it back beside Xander, then patted her down, finding a knife.  He held it up.  "For the cord?"

"Scissors for the cord," Xander told him.  "Speaking of, birthing tray?"

"In the corner, in the drawer," Zenigata said, going to get it for her.  He was really confused looking but he knew something was going on.  "She was going to hurt the child?"

"Yuppers. Got it in one, Gramps."  Xander helped Fujiko through another few pushes.  "Watch her."

"Fine."  He tried very hard not to watch the baby come out.  He didn't want to know that much about Fujiko.  Ever.  She delivered the baby and put it onto the mother's lap, letting Xander cut the cord for her.  Then she backed out.  "Do not come back," he warned.  She nodded, giving him a scared look.  "Out."  She ran out.  A nurse came in to check on them and he handed over the needle.  "She was going to stick the baby with this."  The nurse gave it a look, then a confused one to him.  "We knew it wasn't right.  She's born."

Xander shifted.  "Hold her so I can move," he ordered. The nurse came over, helping him slip out so the mother could lay back down.  He glanced at her. "She's got the afterbirth coming already.  The baby was partially stuck.  Please check her."  The nurse nodded, taking the baby with her for a few minutes.  Then she came back with it and a bassinet.  Fujiko had said that the baby was staying with her and they couldn't disagree for security risks. Xander picked up his little vial, marking the child under his protection.  "Whenever you need me, yell my name," he told her.  The baby calmed down and the storm outside started to dissipate.  "I am not your teacher, but I am your uncle.  I will always be there when and if you need me."  The baby blinked up at him.  "Hi.  I'm not the daddy either.  I'm the unclie."  He picked her up, bringing her back over since Fujiko was awake.  "She's fine, how are you?" he asked gently, brushing some of her hair out of her way once she had the baby.

"Tired.  Sore.  Ow."  She winced. "Afterbirth."  The nurse went to check her then went to find someone.  A very old nurse came in and said some soothing things in Japanese, making her nod.  "Good," she agreed.  She looked at Xander.  "Midwife?"  The nurse babbled something about a needle and she looked at Zenigata.  "Huh?"

"She had a needle.  She was going to stick the baby while it was coming out.  I found a knife too," he said coolly.  "I do not know what that was."

"That was something you'll have to guard against," Xander told him.  "Have Dawn deliver at home, okay?"

"Find her some drugs first," Fujiko told him.  "It hurts, a lot."  She looked at her daughter's chest, then at Xander.  "You marked her?"

"Under my protection, not as my student," he said, staring into her eyes.  "I am her protector, the same as I am Dawn's."  She nodded, relaxing again.   He looked at the senior nurse.  "How long before she can rest at home?" he asked in Japanese.

"Two days," she replied.  "More if she is still weak."  She looked at Fujiko.  "Unless it is necessary?"

"It is," Zenigata said.  "No one else is here to protect the baby and I'll be taking him with me."

Xander looked at Fujiko.  "Train?" he suggested.  She smirked and laughed behind the mask.  "You're sure?"  She nodded.  He looked at Zenigata.  "We'll be taking the train back.  If you want to come with us...."  He grinned.  "Otherwise, you might as well forget you ever saw me this trip."

He growled and pulled out his handcuffs.  "I can take you now, brat."

"You could, but I can also kick your ass," Xander reminded him.

He sneered.  "You're not that good."

"Actually, I'm okay," Xander said, kicking at him.  He barely got out of the way. "Sorry, I know I telegraph.  Goemon has assured me that I'm probably as good as I'll ever be."  He kicked him, getting him this time in the chest.  He followed it up with grabbing a bedpan and hitting him, knocking him out again.  Then he gassed him for good measure.  "There."  He looked at the nurse.  "How soon?"

"One hour," she said.  She looked at the inspector, then at him.  "You are not that good," she agreed, going back to her duties.

"I'm a gunman, I'm not supposed to be a martial arts master.  It's to compensate for not being able to hit."  He took the handcuffs, handcuffing the inspector around one of his own thighs.  "Let's see him get that bendy," he said, smirking at Fujiko.  "Let me make the reservations."  He pulled out his phone, calling the house.  "She's born."  He hung up, dialing information for the train.  "Hi, I need a train to Paris and I'm in Tokyo," he said in Japanese.  "I know that you have some that connect to a ferry.  Is that possible?  No, we have a newborn and were on vacation in Tokyo when my darling one went into labor.  Yes, just now born.  Today.  I do not want her here.  There has been some problems," he said, glaring at the man on the floor.  The closet door thumped and he kicked it.  "You quit as well," he called in English, then he listened to her laughing.  "Sorry. I had to knock someone out who was going to bother the new mother."  He listened.  "That would be fine.  Is it safe?  I have heard much about ferry accidents in this part of the world."  His face lit up and he looked at Fujiko.  "They've finally got the underwater train up and running.  Can we take it?"

"Not with the baby," she said firmly.  "I'm not risking it. We can drive if we have to."

"Fuji, Japan is an island," he pointed out.  She gave him a look.  "Fine."  He went back to making the reservations.  "Yes, that would be fine.  Thank you."  He hung up and walked over, giving her a pat. "It'll be a long trip.  It'll take *weeks*," he told her.  She shrugged.  "Okay.  We'll be leaving in two hours," he told the nurse.  "Where are her clothes?"

"In her dresser," she said, pointing.  "When does the train leave?"

"In three."

"Then you'll want to leave sooner.  The train station is on the other side of the city."  He winced and nodded, opening his phone. "Who are you calling now?"

"A friend."  He had to look up the number he had been given but did so.  "Please let me speak to your boss," he said respectfully.  The Don came on.  "This is Lavelle.  Fujiko did have a girl.  We're evacuating her back to the house.  Can you help us get to the train station?  Yes, he's here.  Handcuffed, on the floor, but here."  He smiled.  "Good deal.  Thanks."  He hung up. "He's got a helicopter."  He bundled his new niece up very well, including in his own jacket, then got Fujiko her things, turning his back while she was finished getting cleaned up and dressed.  His niece yawned and he smiled.  "Give us a few minutes," he promised. "Then you can eat and all that good stuff."  He glanced back at her, finding her in a traditional kimono. "Had a problem with maternity wear?" he teased.

"Hell, yes, it was ugly," she told him, coming over slowly to take the baby.  A nurse went to fill out her forms, and the birth certificate, bringing them back with a wheelchair "Won't we have to go through Pakistan?  That area is pretty unstable."

"We're going through India then north," he told her.  "We'll be trading trains in Calcutta, then in Russia, then in Austria.  We'll be taking the Orient Express back to Paris."  She smiled at him. "Good enough?"

"Great," she agreed.  "Thank you, Xander."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "I'm not having any more."

"Hey, by the time we get home, maybe you can go back on the pill," he said.  "Is there a gift shop downstairs?" he asked the nurse.  She nodded.  "Would it have formula and bottles, plus things that the mother will need?"  She shook her head.  "Does the train station?"  She nodded.  "Good.  Thank you."  Fujiko took her papers and he followed the nurse and her wheelchair up to the helicopter landing site.  Once it landed, he got them settled inside, safely out of harm's way while he took the outer edge.  He smiled at the Don as he handed over a shopping bag. "Thank you."

"My wife sent it," he admitted.  He looked at the baby.  "She is very cute."  The pilot closed and locked the doors for them, then got back in, taking off.  "How are you getting home?  There are no ships right now."

"Train," Fujiko said with a small smile.  "Jigen?" she asked Xander.  He pulled his phone and said something into it, she couldn't quite hear over the rotors. Then he put on his headphones.  She looked inside the bag, finding a big bag of pads and some diapers.  She smiled at the Don and put on her headphones so she could talk to him.  "Thank you."

"You are welcome.  Will you three be back soon?"

"Probably.  Goemon is insisting that I and the children stay out of harm's way."

He nodded.  "Fathers are always like that," he agreed.  "I nearly locked mine into her suite once or twice when she wanted to go shopping."  Xander chuckled.  "I take it you've felt the same?"

"Very," he agreed. "Ishi will adore this one."  They landed at the train station. "Thank you.  If I can be of help in a useful way against a bad guy, let me know."  The Don nodded, accepting that caveat as well.  He walked Fujiko and her bag inside, stopping to get them some minor clothes from the shopping area.  Along with some books and things.  He had his bags but she didn't have anything and couldn't fit into one of his t-shirts.  Fortunately, he knew her sizes very well.  He got them signed in and went to find her, watching her watch the board.  "Gate ten," he said, leading her that way.  He handed her the bag he had gotten for her with a smile.  "You still won't fit into mine.  There's some minor things.  We can get you more in Calcutta since we've got an overnight there."  She nodded, leaning against his side.  "Just a few more minutes and I'll have them set your bed up," he promised.  She nodded again, closing her eyes.  "She's safe and so are you.  I promise you are."  She gave him a pinch. "Fine.  I got her a stomach snuggler too.  I figured it'd be easier for now."

"Thank you, Xander.  Did you remember to go up for the maternity bra?"

"No.  But I did get you some nursing ones since I couldn't find any formula," he admitted.  She looked up at him.  Sorry, I did the best I could.  You can always take the shot later."  She sighed and nodded, accepting it for now.  "I'm sorry it went so wrong."

"It went as well as I expected," she admitted.  "I got everyone's voice mail."

"I was working in another room, the phone was in the kitchen."  She laughed.  "I left a message for Jigen.  The guys know she's born.  Zenigata will need to take serious yoga lessons if someone doesn't let him out soon."  She laughed again, shaking her head.  "Try getting out of handcuffs that are behind one of your thighs."  She moved into the position, then smirked at him.  "I even remembered to get you comfy underwear," he promised.  "Just not thongs."  She nodded.  "We'll be fine.  She's healthy."  He stroked her hair, grabbing everything but her and the baby when boarding was called for their train.  The ticket agent cooed at the baby.  "We're taking her home," he said in Russian.  The woman smiled and nodded, looking at their tickets.  He had only handed over the ones to there. The others were in his briefcase.  Their passports were checked as well before they were let into their sleeper car.  The conductor put down one of the beds immediately, the two seats pulled out to form one bigger bed.  Half of it was more than enough for her and the baby.  "Thank you."  He tipped him then let him out and locked the door, sitting down to watch the platform, just in case some of the cops showed up.  He saw Ray, but Ray didn't see him.  He heard someone outside their door but Myron didn't come in.  He saw she was asleep so he walked out, going to shove Myron into a cubby and talk with him.  "Dude, I'm taking her to her husband, then the game is on," he said from behind him.  "Get off the train, you can meet us in Paris."  He got him moving in that direction, telling the agent he had heard him asking if this was the train to Kyoto.  The agent nodded and said something, which he translated.  "The train to Kyoto is on the facing track," he explained, helping him off with a cheery wave.  "Thanks."  He walked back and locked them in again.

Ray nudged Myron. "You let him go?"

"I put a homing device on him," he said.  "They're heading to meet up with the others in Paris."

"This one goes to Russia."

"And there's one in Russia that either goes to Paris or to lower Europe, where they can easily catch one up to Paris," he said smugly.  "That's what the boss said they were gonna do.  We'll dog them the whole way.  He's not going to do anything out of the ordinary.  He will be very quiet on this trip to protect that young lady."

"Young lady?  Fujiko?"

"The baby," he sighed.

"Oh.  She had a girl?" Ray asked with a grin.  He nodded.  "That's fine.  Did we get orders?"

"To tag him if possible, to board the train and trail him if available.  Zenigata is very fierce on not hurting that baby for some reason.  He ordered me to make no move that would cause the baby even potential harm.  I had to remind him I'm not his first rookie."

Ray looked around. "Where is the grumpy bastard anyway?"

"Probably still locked in the closet," Myron said with a smile.  "You want to stay and get Jigen when he lands?"  Ray nodded, going to call the airport and use his authority to get told if the guy got off the plane he was on.

***

Back at the hospital, a cleaning woman walked over to the shaking closet door and opened it.  "Oh, dear," she said, helping him out and untying him.  She didn't laugh at the stain on his pants, that would have been mean.  "Come along, young man.  I will help you find a place to clean up."

"Inspector," he said firmly.  He tightened his jacket around himself, following behind her, silently vowing to stop that criminal.  How dare he embarrass him this way!

***

Jigen got off the plane and looked at his phone, listening to the fuzzy message. He heard something about a baby, a Don, and Calcutta?  He hung up and dialed Lupin.  "Xander either had the worst case of static or he called while in a 'copter.  Where are they headed?  Is she all right?"  Lupin soothed him while he checked.  "Eugene Bethany," he said.  "Yeah, that one."  He grimaced, looking up at the terminal board above the agent.  "You're sure?  How long do I have?"  He smirked.  "Fine.  I'll meet him there.  You meet him in lower Europe to get Marc more stable."  He hung up, taking his ticket to the agent.  "My friend, the one giving birth, is heading for her house in Calcutta on an ambulance," he told her.  "Is there anyway I can switch and get my bags?"  She nodded, typing quickly.  "She won't be there for a few days.  They're doing it in a train relay once they're on the mainland."  She smiled and printed off a ticket for him, taking Xander's card to run it.  "Thanks."  He signed his name and went to get a smoke.  He wondered what had gone wrong at the hospital this time.  The woman was like a disaster each time she gave birth.

***

Lupin hung up and looked at Goemon.  "I've found them," he announced.  He raised an eyebrow.  "They're on a train.  They're heading for Paris ultimately."  He smiled at that.  "They'll be met by Jigen in Calcutta.  We can meet them in Russia, in Austria, or just in Paris."

"I would not mind meeting them in Russia.  We did have that job anyway, it would kill time and my nerves."

Lupin nodded.  "True."  His phone rang, the special line.  "Hello?" he asked, listening to the voice on the other end.  Only other criminal syndicates had this number. "Yes, sir, he is here," he said, holding out the phone.  "It's for you.  It's Tokyo's Don."

"Hello?" Goemon asked.  He listened to the report on the other end, slowly starting to smile.  "I thank you.  If I may be of any help, tell me."  He hung up.  "Not only was the inspector there, he helped my wife deliver our daughter because Xander said the midwife was going to kill her."  Lupin opened his mouth and searched for a seat behind him. "Zenigata stopped her, Xander evacuated them through him.  He said they did not have any formula and she was less than happy with having to do it naturally but he thought it might make her a calmer woman to be so natural.  His own wife sent her some necessities and they dropped them off at the train station from picking them up at the hospital.  Where his people reported Xander did some shopping for my wife.  He is sending pictures that his people took of them in the station."  Lupin turned on his computer, logging into his email account as soon as possible.  He let him see the pictures, which made him smile.  "She is adorable in his jacket."

"She is," Lupin agreed.  "Xander has red hair?"

"I believe he dyed it to pass in Geneva."  He printed them off, taking them to tuck into his wallet for now.  "He also said that Xander had locked the first rookie, the one who wants him dead, in a closet.  His people reported he had messed himself greatly before he was let out.  The other officers tagged him with a homing device and one is on the train with them to follow them back while the other is searching for Jigen, and if he does not find him, will go to Calcutta to meet up with his partner."  Lupin smirked.  "They are very safe in their hands.  Xander has a few warrants out for him, as does Jigen, but not her."

"Good," Lupin agreed, considering it.  "You really want to do the Russian job with me?"  He nodded.  "Then let's do that.  We'll meet the train in five days."  He called Jigen's cell, leaving a concise message about their plans on his voicemail.  Then they went to pick up Marcus, who could see but wasn't able to read because of his headaches, to help him relearn his field exercises.  "This split was good for us."

"It was," Goemon agreed.  Marcus coughed.  "Yes, even for you."

"I know," he admitted. "I was going to inquire about the infant."

"She is fine.  Healthy and fine," Goemon said as the car took off out of the garage.  "Xander helped her when the other protections broke."  Marcus nodded, smiling at that.  "He is not as strong as you are, but his devious nature was more helpful this time.  The midwife was sent to hurt her."

"Oh, dear," he said.  "The poor thing.  And just being born too," he sighed, shaking his head.

"While she was being born.  She wasn't aware of it at all," Lupin told her.  "How did you get Fujiko into a kimono?  She swore she'd never wear one again."

"I bought her ugly maternity clothes," Goemon admitted with a small smile and blush.  "She decided it was better and started wearing mine so I bought her a set of her own.  She was quite pleased.  I made sure the themes were some she would like."

"We should find one for your daughter," Marcus told him.  "Xander bought Ishi one."  He looked beside him.  "Where is he?"

"With Dawn," Lupin told him.  "She knew something was going on and that we'd have to move."

"She's injured!  The Inspector isn't even there."

"Yes, but the boys dote on him," Lupin said smugly.  "They never tell Pops but they love the little guy and want her to have one."  They all shared a laugh.  Dawn was going to be one wicked parent some day.

***

Xander wiped his forehead as they came off the train in Calcutta.  He had put his briefcase  into his other bag so was only carrying the two of them.  Calcutta was supposed to be really dangerous so Fujiko was right beside him, on his good side. The baby was sleeping on her chest and they were dressed like average travelers, jeans and t-shirts.  Their hotel was attached to the station so they didn't have to go far.  He walked them in, glancing around them.  "You have a reservation for a Fujiko Ishikawa?" he asked the clerk.  He nodded and pulled it up, handing over the forms.  Xander paid for it, making him grimace.  "I am her bodyguard."  That was accepted and they were checked in.  They went up the stairs and found Jigen lounging on their couch.  "Morning, neighbor."

"You are not Mr. Rogers," Jigen told him.  He sat up, taking the baby from Fujiko.  "Hi."  She yawned and blinked at him.  "Yes, I'm an uncle."  She yawned again.  "Impressing, huh?" he asked, getting comfortable.

Fujiko sat down with a wince.  "She's not real impressed with anyone so far," she told him. "Not even Xander."  She looked at him.  "You couldn't find somewhere nicer?"

"You mean like the whirlpool in the bathroom nicer or the no going into the city to get mugged nicer?" he asked.  "Or maybe the four star restaurant downstairs nicer?"  She smiled at him and he helped her up.  "Go bathe.  You deserve it."  She nodded, heading that way.  He flopped down into her chair.  "We're being followed."

"I know."  He grinned, holding up the detector.  "It's on you somewhere."

"Probably on the shirt I was wearing when we left Tokyo," he said with a yawn. "No one's appeared so I'll get it later.  They're tracking us home."  He blinked a few times.  "I never thought trains would make me so sleepy."

"Nap, kid, I'll watch for a while and find the bug."  Xander nodded, coming over to curl up on the couch beside him.  He looked at the baby, carefully putting her into the chair.  "You stay there, unlike your brother.  We had to put a baby leash on him."  She cooed and waved her fingers around.  "Yeah, you be good," he praised, sitting down to look in their luggage.  He found the bug with the detector, but it was smaller than he was used to.  He finally got it free and looked at it.  "It's like a hair," he said, putting it into his lighter.  It was metal and would block it.  That's why the lighter had that special drawer in the bottom.  That and smaller diamonds.  He shoved everything back into the bags and turned to look at her, finding her with a red face. "Oh, no, please not that, kid," he whined.  Xander was snoring and probably couldn't be woken up.  He had found the diaper bag.  He winced as he sighed.  Fujiko was resting, it wasn't fair to pull her out and make her do this.  She had given birth and Lupin had said it had been a hard one from the records they had been sent.   So he waited until she was done then steeled himself for the most disgusting job he had ever done, changing a diaper.  "Eww, what is that?" he complained.  "Toxic sludge?"  Heard a camera go off and saw the mother in the doorway.  "Here, yours," he said, handing the baby and the clean diaper over.  She laughed, taking her back to the bathroom to bathe with her.  "And don't breastfeed in front of me either!" he called after her.

"I won't.  You might like it too much and want a taste."

He shuddered.  "That's sick."  He climbed back onto the couch, finding the crossword puzzles in Xander's briefcase.  At least the kid was looking out for him.

***

Lupin and Goemon rushed onto the train.  Marcus was heading to Austria to pick up Ishi and meet them at that point.  Zenigata was behind them somewhere.  They smiled at the conductor, getting shown to a car next to Xander and Fujiko's.  They stored their stuff then went to knock and wake them up.  Jigen answered, letting them in.  "Hi," Lupin said, handing Fujiko a pretty pink diamond.  He had stolen it just for her.  In return, he got the newest member of his team.  "Good morning, princess," he cooed.  "How are you?"  She went back to her nap, sucking on his neck.  "Do I taste good?" he chuckled.

"Apparently," Xander said cockily.  "So far she only does that to me so you must taste like me or like mom's milk."  Goemon gave Fujiko an adoring look.  "Why don't you stay in here with Jigen and I while Fujiko and the baby get to go sleep with Goemon?"

"Sure," he agreed, sitting down on the bed to let them shift everything.  His bag could be gotten later.  He gave Xander a kiss.  "I'm sorry if I've made you feel useless sometimes."  He saw the pointed look at Jigen.  "He didn't tell me, I figured it out. I am smart."

Xander gave him a deeper kiss. "That's fine.  Jigen and I have figured out what I'm really good at."  He stroked the baby's hair.  "She's already back on the pill.  She found a doctor to make a house call in Calcutta because this one was coughing a little so he gave her some medicine for her and a 'scrip for the pill.  She's fully back on them and has been for a while now."  Both men sighed in relief.  "She said next time, she's castrating her husband so we might need to protect him, but then again she might miss it in a few years too."  She shrugged.  "Who knows.  Come on, princess, let's get you laying down so I can get cuddled."  Jigen snorted, shaking his head.  "What?  I don't get cuddles?" he asked, looking at Lupin.

"If you still want them, they're yours," he agreed, opening his free arm.  Jigen took the baby, putting her down in her nest of pillows. Xander pounced him, kissing him hard.  He checked to make sure but the curtains were closed.  "Won't someone wonder?"

"Why?  On this leg, I was her bodyguard."  He shrugged and grinned.  "I never said we were married, just that we were taking the baby home."  Lupin smirked and got another kiss for it.  "See, good me sometimes."

"Very good you most of the time," Lupin assured him.

"No, sometimes I have some very bad ideas," he said with a wicked smile.  He pulled out his choker and put it on, hitching it to the first setting.  "Let me show you my new form," he purred, locking it in.  He saw his hands and frowned, undoing it and doing it again.  Sylvia was replaced by a woman who was slightly Asian looking, with waist-length dark hair and a good body, if a bit bigger chested than the average. She was also still Xander's height.  She stripped off the too-tight shirt and kissed him again, whispering dirty things to him in Japanese, making him groan.

"Tickets?" Jigen asked, undoing his tie.

"Asian custom, family name first," she said, closing her eyes and tipping her head back.  "In my bags.  Already planned this."  Lupin was sucking on just the right spot and she was liking it quite a lot.  "Jigen and I agreed, I was best as a diversion."

"You are," Lupin agreed.  "A very good diversion.  Or a distraction if you want to be that way."  She wiggled and he moved down to her breasts, making her breath hitch.  "Sensitive today?"

"Lotus has been sucking on them."  Lupin pulled back to look at her.  "The trainer said it was totally appropriate when they talked and Fujiko's already mailed in the birth certificate so he'll have to like it," she said with a grin.  "She said it was appropriate for such a nature witch."  She kissed him again, making him moan.  "You can play with Lotus later.  Play with me now."

Jigen chuckled.  "She's been very patient," he informed him.  "She hasn't even tried to jump me.  She was waiting for Goemon to come get Fujiko."  Lupin looked at him.  "She said so."

Xander moaned, stretching up as she stood.  She took off her jeans, showing that she wasn't wearing anything underneath them.  "I have to do laundry," she admitted.  Lupin pulled her back down onto the bed, tasting her body.  "I might need a shower too."

"You taste good sweaty," he assured her, moving down her body. Jigen came over to give her a kiss too, making him happier.  "You really didn't do this for him?"

"No, it would have caused too many problems," she told him, stroking his face.  "I even came on in a wig so no one could say anything."  He groaned, catching her fingers to suck on.  "Are you desperate?"  He shook his head.  "Good, because I want to play."  He laughed, pulling her up to hold her. "Or cuddle.  Cuddling is good." Lotus let out a sniffle. She looked over his shoulder at the baby.  "Morning, sweetness.  Your daddy is next door.  Would you like the mommy?  I know you've got to be hungry by now."  Lotus let out a small sound of protest.  "Come on, the auntie will take you next door to let your daddy watch you feed off the mommy.  He'll like that sight."  She put on a robe out of her bag and walked out into the hall, startling the conductor.  "Couldn't wait," she said with a smile.  She tapped on the one next to them.  "She's hungry," she said, presenting the baby like she would his sword.  The father smiled and picked her up, holding her up to look at her.  "She still needs head support," she warned.  She looked behind him.  "No Ishi?"

"Marcus will meet us in Austria," he said, smirking at her.  "You look very beautiful like that."

"Thank you."  She bowed and went back to her men, who were talking about her.  "Goemon just gave me a compliment."

"As well he should, you are adorable like that," Jigen agreed.  He pulled her between them.  "Can I tell him?"

"Sure."  She worked on loosening his collar to suck on his neck for a while, earning a pinch.  "I can't distract him."

"True," Jigen sighed, sharing a smile with Lupin.  "Not only did she do very well guarding Fujiko, she did many things very well.  She pulled her first totally solo hit last night."  He looked impressed, shifting closer to stroke Xander's back for her.  "She also has found a spot she loves within the group and is happy with it."

"Good," Lupin agreed.  He had thought Xander had one but apparently he was still searching for something more.  It was good he had found it, it would make him happier, less prone to those damn nightmares.  "What else?"

"I am a very good girl," she told him, looking back over her shoulder at him, batting her eyelashes.  "Sylvia did it, not Lavelle."  He smiled and nodded.  "And she is quite the badass.  She rode up like Dawn would have to do it."  He laughed, shaking his head.  "And the new-fangled syndicate in town is now in disarray.  Let someone else call Fujiko a complacent little mother again."  Lupin winced so she rolled onto her back, kissing him too.  "Sorry, but I needed to.  Oh, your thing, no one noticed in the power struggle last night.  Neither job."

"We only did one," he said, pinching her on the stomach.

"So I took the liberty of doing one in your name on someone worse," she told him, nodding at her bag.  "In there.  I brought you a pretty thing for you two to split.  Fujiko said it was fine with her."

Lupin snatched the bag, bringing it over to look inside.  Then he looked at Xander.  "Who did you get?  A DeBeer?"  She laughed and shook her head.  "I have to figure it out?"  She nodded.  "It's not my birthday."

"No, it's not," she agreed with a small smirk.  "I made you tapes for your birthday."

"I saw," he agreed with a smirk.  "They were quite...arousing.  Where were you?"

"Stockholm," Jigen said dryly.  "She rented a separate room that night."  Lupin smiled at him.  "What?  Did you want to watch me bang her for your birthday?"

"I've already got a good tape of that," Lupin assured him, looking at the stones again.  There had to be at least a pound or two of diamonds in there, all sorts of pretty colors.  "How?" he asked, looking at Xander again.  She leaned up, kissing him gently.  "Did you sleep your way into them?"

"Only into her room."  He whimpered.  "Then she was easily taken out.  Apparently, Sylvia's a top too."  His breath caught.  "But she liked the tough bitch and she was a very bad woman.  She was making juvie convicts mine them for her."  He moaned.  "So now they're free and the woman is no more.  She went bye-bye with a smile on her face."  She licked over his lips.  "And she didn't even get to see me like this."  He dropped the briefcase, kissing her again.  So what if they were using Jigen as a platform for sex, he wouldn't care.  As a matter of fact, he joined in to take his own cut of the affection.  Xander used her extra hair to gag herself while they played with her body.

"I'll have to remember this one.  It's going to be my second favorite," Lupin told her between licks to her clit.  She arched up, making him suck again.  Then she came, a muffled moan of desire that was making him so hot.  He stripped himself, pushing into her until she came again, and again.  "I missed you, Xan," he said quietly, removing the hair to kiss her.  "I really have."

"I missed you too," she panted, kissing him again.  "If you had called, I would have come to you for a while, but I needed it."

"I know you do, I'll let you go each and every time you need a short vacation."

"Does that mean I can go back and work on my house some more?" she teased, running her finger down his chest.  "I promise to be good and not put in a room with leather swings and stuff." Jigen groaned at that.  "What?  I can't put in a range so I'll need something to occupy my time."

"We were going to go to Britain to impregnate my chosen mothers," Lupin told her, giving her a smile. "I'd like you there for that."  Xander nodded, grinning at him.  "Good girl."  He kissed her.  "Does this one have a name?"

"Not yet.  I thought I'd let you name her."  She looked at Jigen, giving his cheek a stroke.  "He named Sylvia so I guess it's fair."

"I still like my wench," he told her, kissing her gently.  "That hair of yours is great though."

"It's growing back," she promised.  "Not this long, but still back."  Lupin tugged on her hair, making her growl at him.  "Behave or I'll have to flip you over and take you hard the next time I'm me."

Lupin gave her a small head shake.  "Nope, sorry, I only top, dear."  He kissed her until she was breathless.  "Maybe you can top Jigen some day."  Jigen pinched him.  "What?  You seem like you'd like it."

"I like my women underneath me," he told him.  "Not on top of me."

Xander purred, stretching up to capture his mouth. "I'd never even think about it unless you said you were wondering very hard."  He smiled and nodded.  "Thank you for brushing your teeth. I'm still not used to your cigarettes."  She kissed him again, making him shove Lupin out of the way to get some of his own playing in.  "Easy," she soothed.

"No you're not," Lupin promised. "You're very hard to catch, that's why it took two thieves."  She laughed, arching up into Jigen's exploration of her nipples.  "It did. I probably couldn't have gotten you on my own."

"Oh, I don't know, you could have picked me up in a bar," Xander offered, wiggling under the teeth working on her. "Jigen!" she squealed, batting at his back.  "Those hurt!"

"It's your own fault for falling asleep with the baby," he pointed out.  He licked over the one he had nipped to sooth it.  "Better?"

"Much.  Do that again," she encouraged.  He lapped, then sucked, making her moan.  "Yes, I like that. Do more of that."  Lupin's head came over to help, making her groan and hold them closer.  "I don't know what this is today."

"Maybe your body's adjusting again," Lupin offered, licking up to take a kiss.  "It's done that in the past."  She nodded, smiling at him.  He tapped her lips.  "You forgot to brush your teeth."

"Sorry.  I'll do it after I blow Jigen."  She pulled him off to kiss him.  "Keep it up and they'll leak."  He shivered and kissed her harder.  "Did you get hard watching her?" she teased quietly.  Jigen shook his head, staring down at her.  "It was me?"  He nodded.  "Wow.  I'm still not going through that for anybody."

"Good," Lupin agreed.  "You'd have worse mood swings because you couldn't have any caffeine at all."  He stroked her stomach and Jigen batted his hand out of the way.  "You could have had her anytime."

"I didn't," he told him, bending to lick at her.  Lupin hadn't used a condom though so he gave it up quickly.  She pouted and he shrugged.  "Blame him."  Lupin coughed, blushing a little. "So instead I'll do this," he said, teasing her with a finger.  She arched up, swearing at him with a little growl.  She pounced him, rolling her underneath him so she could have him right then. He let her do it for now, helping her a little bit. She was obviously not only desperate but nearly addicted to him.

Lupin gave him a nudge.  "Does she shake for you in the mornings until you kiss her?" he teased.

Xander tossed her hair back over her shoulder.  "It's still a recreational habit.  I don't get it every night so I can't be that bad."  Jigen gave her a look so she kissed him.  "It could easily turn into a daily habit," she offered.  "But I didn't think you wanted it like that."

"That will make it much cheaper to work during jobs," Lupin offered.  "Now we'll only need two rooms.  One for us and one for Goemon and his boy."

"We're bringing the kids?" Xander asked.

"Marcus," Lupin said, stroking her back.  She paused to look at him.  "He needed a firmer guiding hand.  We were going to talk to you about that.   I don't want you picking on him about it."

"I don't pick on Marcus anyway," Xander pointed out.  "Why would I suddenly start?"  Lupin gave him a look.  "Those few incidences he was playing along until you came in.  He was teasing me that once about being Jigen's whore if you remember right."

Jigen goosed her.  "When was this?"

"Back during my second week of training as a girl."  She leaned down, kissing him and getting off him.  "I'd never pick on Marcus about that unless he wanted me to.  I like the kid, really, but I don't hang with him.  We've got vastly different interests.  The only time we're really together is during practice, meals, and if I'm working with him on the range."

"I had wondered who taught him how to shoot," Lupin said.

"Jigen started and had me work with him.  He's not bad.  Good enough for any police academy.  He can hit a target.  Usually second and third circles on the targets back at the house."  Lupin nodded.  "We have had to practice taking weapons off each other, Goemon said so, but he expected us to use it in case of being disarmed instead of our switching that we've worked out."  Jigen looked impressed.  "Really. Besides, I'm falling back to a single practice a week with Goemon."

"No you're not," Jigen told him.  "I want you to see if he's learned anything to help you with your sight deficiency.  If he has, then you go to him and work on that."  Xander nodded.  "Good boy."

"Thanks.  Gonna pat me on the head too?" she asked with a grin.  He patted her on the crotch, making her moan.  "Close enough," she decided, going down to suck on him but he spanked her and pulled her back.  "We're not done?"

"We're done, I'll let you do that later," he said, rolling her underneath him again so he could take her.  "I prefer it that way.  If I wanted blown, I can pay five bucks."

"I would hope I do it better than that," Xander said, grinning up at him.

"Yeah, but still.  I prefer to be on top of you, not having you pleasure me like some sex slave."

"Though, there could be a job in that," Lupin offered.  Xander batted at him so he sucked on her fingers, making her moan.  "I'll let you go down on me later if he doesn't."  Someone knocked on the door and he covered them with a blanket, grabbing Xander's robe to put on.  "Yes?" he asked the conductor.  He frowned.  "His wife was escorting his friend and new daughter home.  They're in the next car with her husband.  I escorted him."

"Oh.  I wasn't aware that she was female."  He looked at the ticket stub.  Then up at him.  "It says her first name is Eugene?"

"Asian tradition.  Family's name comes first."

"Thank you.  I had forgotten about that.  The shadows must have thrown off my vision."  Xander lifted her head and waved, smiling at him.  Then she winced as Jigen bit her, going back to making him moan in pleasure.  Doing it under the blankets seemed really naughty, they'd never done it this way before. It was like groping in the dark.

The conductor looked away, smiling.  "Thank you for explaining this.  I will leave you alone.  Dinner is in three hours.  Should I bring you yours like I will be the others?"

"Please," Lupin agreed, waving as he walked away.  He closed and locked the door, looking at Xander.  "You couldn't put it on earlier?"

"We were running late and the cab took forever," Xander explained.  "It would have looked odd if I had done it in the cab, in the hotel since I had checked in as a male, or in the station where security would have caught me."  She picked up some of her hair, using it to tease Jigen's chest.  He shivered and kissed her, making her shut up again and pay more attention to him.  One of his fingers was helping that as well.  She moaned into his mouth, humping him fiercely now.  "If you give me more, I'll think about letting you talk me into it," she whispered in his ear.  He gave her a look.  "What?" she asked innocently.  "If you asked now, I would get up and walk away.  I promise I'll sit still."  He grinned and bit her on the throat, making her howl.  Lupin gave her her hair to suck on again, quieting her down.  Her lower half felt like the energizer bunny was moving through it and he was not going to stop anytime in the near future.  She started swearing in Dutch, her newest language to learn, and he laughed, licking the spot he had bitten.  "More, now!" she ordered, clutching his shoulders.  He winced and dug in further, making her scream and go off.  She felt him spurt into her and went limp, giving him a goofy grin.  "Thank you.   I needed that."  She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Jigen flopped onto his back, accepting the cigarette Lupin lit for him.  "Damn.  She'll be the death of me yet."  He inhaled and smiled contentedly.  "What a way to go though."  Lupin chuckled.  "Think up a good name for this one, 'kay?  I'd like to keep her around."

"Definitely."  He laid on Xander's other side, sharing the cigarette with him.  "Stripper name?"

"No," Jigen said firmly.  "I've had my fill of strippers. I'm too damn old to date a stripper."

"You two are dating now?" Lupin asked, starting to look concerned again.  "Jigen, did you need me to back off or something?"

He snorted.  "Yeah, because she's going to let you go soon," he said dryly, giving him a look.  Then he hit him.  "Quit.  I know I'm not man enough to hold all of her down."

"Yeah, but if you want me to...."

"Lupin, shut up now."

"Fine."  He grinned, then wiggled his eyebrows.  "Think I could spoil him rotten then?"

"Too late, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind adding to the levels of rotten he already is," Fujiko said from the doorway.  "Have you guys seen the pacifier?"  Lupin flipped over, hunting among the pillows.  Then he tossed it to her.  "Thanks."  She smirked at them.  "For your information, I know for a fact that Xander adores both of you.  She said if one of you was killed she would stay with the remaining one, but otherwise you're both hers. You get really bored looking at scenery on a train."  She walked back into her sleeper compartment, handing over the pacifier and closing the door.  Her husband pulled her closer to kiss her, making him moan.  "Soon," she promised. "Very soon."

"I can wait," he agreed.  "I am a patient man."

"And lucky you, I found a doctor who would put my butt back on the pill.  Now all I have to do is lose the extra baby weight."

He touched her stomach.  "I do not mind," he promised, looking up at her.  "You are not fat, but the extra bit of flesh does not mar you in my eyes."  She sniffled and he hugged her, used to the mood swings by now.  "You are welcome."

"Thanks."  She wiped her eyes off, giving him a long hug.  "I'm still fat."

"You are not fat.  You are no more than ten pounds overweight.  It was the stretching that the baby did, nothing more.  You had the same after our son and I delighted in playing with it as you well remember."

"Yes, I do," she said, looking at their innocently napping daughter. "It's been weeks, I need that shot."

"Let nature run it's course," he told her.  "It is a good thing for your body."

"It might be, but I miss having you touch me and I can't."

"Said who?" he asked.  "Just because I will not be able to do certain things does not mean I cannot touch you."  He stroked her cheek. "Like that?" he teased.

She leaned over, biting him on the lip.  "You know what I mean."  He chuckled, nodding.  "Since I won't get any until I stop bleeding, I want the shot sooner."

"I can do some of it," he promised.  "Just not all of what I did the last time.  When you have stopped, I will help you with your cleaning again this time as well."  She shivered.  "For now, there are ways around your bleeding.  I believe that a simple, standard device would work."  She gave him a look and he pulled out the condoms he had stolen off Lupin earlier.  "Do you not think so?"

She grinned, moving the baby out of their way.  "You had better hope so.  Now that you've offered, I'm not stopping, even if Pops walks in to arrest us."

He laughed, rolling to pin her underneath him.  "Should that happen, I am sure he'll be very surprised."  She nodded, eager to get back to a normal life.  He sucked on her lips, then looked at her top.  "Would you rather I not touch them?  They were sore earlier you said."

She blushed and shrugged.  "I don't care."  He helped her off with her top and bra, looking at the firm peaks he had created.  He touched one gently and she shivered, smiling at him.  "You're very gentle with me."

"You deserve to be gentle with, unlike the heathen in the other room who enjoys embarrassing me."  He smirked at her.  "Unless you ask, at which time I would have to find a resource."  She laughed and hugged him, pulling him closer.  "Thank you."

"Welcome."  She kissed him, letting him play to his heart's content.  It was enough.

***

Lupin looked up as the conductor brought him some flowers, frowning at them.  "Who are these from?"

"I'm not sure, sir, all I know is that they were from a beautiful woman who wanted to meet you for dinner."  He accepted his tip and left.

Lupin looked at the flowers, sniffing them, then at Xander.  "Melody, did you send me flowers?"  She shook her head, still tied to the bed.  "Hmm."  He stood up, heading to talk to Fujiko.  He tapped on the door, getting Goemon because she was breastfeeding.  "Someone sent me flowers."

"Why?"

"I do not know," he admitted.  He got out of Jigen's way as he came back.  "Jigen, did you send me flowers?"

"Boss, I like you, but I keep telling you you're not conformed the way I like.  Not near enough on top."  He walked into their car, letting Xander go.  "No more teasing, right?" he asked.  Xander, very repentant, nodded.  "Good girl."  He sat down, letting her sit on his lap.  "If you're really good, I'll let you drive us home."  Xander grinned at him.  "Either that or we'll let you sit between us and tease us while we shift gears."  That got a bigger grin as Lupin came back in.  "No note?"

"No, no note.  Pops did that once, right before Morocco."

"If it's him, can I toss him off the train?" Xander asked.  "I've always wanted to see how the Orient Express is decorated."

"It's nice, but it's been used hard," Lupin told him.  "Some of the best trains in the world are in Africa.  They're newer and the special cars are hardly ever used."  She beamed at him.  "Do you like the train?"  She nodded.  "I'll have to remember that."  He teased her lip and she sucked on his finger.  "You're how old again?" he teased.

"Thirty?" she asked with a grin.

"Close enough."  He gave her a real kiss.  "Should I go, pet?"

"You should go and don't call me that.  Spike used to call me that."

Jigen groaned.  "That's a sick thought.  You and Spike?"

"No, he used to call me it to annoy me. That and whelp."  She paused.  "I wonder if Druscilla's still alive."

"This is why I was against Melody," Jigen told Lupin.  "The only girls I know by that name have been scatter-brains."

Xander pinched him.  "Not nice. I'll pout and make you steal me something *really* nice."  She settled into his lap.  "Dru was Spike's vampire bitch o'love.  She liked me a lot, wanted to turn me all the time. She called me a kitten."

Lupin shook his head.  "You're not a kitten, or a cat.  You don't have that same slinky grace that cats do."

"I always called myself a puppy," Xander told him.

"Well, you do wiggle like one," Lupin admitted. "And you do seek attention, but you're not really like a dog."  He shrugged at the hurt look.  "You have a lot of dog qualities but you've also got that predatory nature that most dogs don't."  He gave her a kiss. "Maybe a Dingo. A wild dog."  Xander burst out in giggles.   "You don't like that?"

"The name of Oz's band," she gasped.  "Dingoes Ate My Baby."

"It's very distinctive," Jigen noted, grinning at Lupin.  "Should we tell her what we decided last night?"

"If you want."

Jigen tipped Xander's head up to look at her.  "You no longer have a room at the hideout."  She looked stunned.  "It will only be a place to store stuff.  From now on, you'll take your rightful place being our stress relief."  She groaned and pinched him, shaking her head.  He started to cough, getting dual pats on the back.  "Fine, I'll cut back to one pack a day again," he complained, waving them off. "Happier?"

"Very," Xander agreed, grinning at him.  "Are you guys going to flip a coin or should I guess?"

"He'll come steal you from me if he wants you that night," Lupin smirked.  Jigen gave him a look.  "You won't?"

"Other way around.  I like sleeping with the little space heater.  My old body is getting colder."

"Are you getting Grandma syndrome?" Lupin teased.  Xander looked clueless so he explained.  "Most grandmothers, at some time in their lives, utter the phrase 'put on a sweater, I'm cold'."  Xander cracked up so he kissed her.  "That's fine, you can have Grandpa Jigen and I'll steal you.  You are a precious treasure and you deserve it."  She blushed strongly.

"You're still doing that?"  She squeaked and nodded, burying her face against his chest.  "Fine, but you are a treasure.  There aren't many people who would put up with Lupin's bad jokes."

Xander giggled.  "That's fine."  She stole a kiss.  "Are we doing anything soon?"  Lupin shook his head.  "Should I go work on my house?  Or should I build you a shed out back?"

"The hideout in Germany needs work," Lupin offered.  "Like I said, we're going to Britain to impregnate my mothers.  You can come if you want.  I could use the inspiration to spurt into the cup."

"I've got one week left of heavy work, and then painting and wallpapering," he said excitedly.  "And it will not become a hideout."

"Fine," Lupin agreed.  "We don't break in on Jigen either when we're in Geneva."  Someone tapped on the door.  "Come in."  Goemon came in and whispered in his ear so he gave him something out of his pocket.  "We have an overnight in Austria tomorrow night."  He nodded, leaving them alone again.  Lupin smirked at them.  "He ran out."

"Of what?" Xander asked.

"Things to make her squeal like you do," he said, pinching her pert nose.  "If you start having a cycle we're all in deep shit," he pointed out jovially.

"We can use condoms," Jigen pointed out.  "We just don't at the moment."

"We probably should be but I never find one at hand whenever I have her," Lupin agreed.  "I always use one with someone else."

"You mean I'm not the only one?" she asked, starting to pout.  Her little lip quivered and everything, making them groan.

"If you want us to be that way, we'll try," Jigen told her.

She smirked at him. "Gotcha."  He tickled her, making her shriek and giggle.

"That's it, no more lessons from Fujiko," Lupin agreed, taking her to turn over his knee and spank lightly and playfully.  She groaned, rubbing against his legs, making him smirk.  "Are you going to behave or should I mention the word groupies to you?"  She blushed, giving him a pitiful look.

"Well, she's definitely a woman now," Jigen pointed out.  "That was classic."

"Fujiko said I should," he bragged.  "She wanted to see the look on your faces when I unleashed a full pout."

"I should punish you for that," Lupin told her, but he was smiling.

"Really pretty presents on my birthday next year?"

"More like ugly statue for your house that you'll have to keep around because you never know when I'm going to pop around," Jigen told her, giving her head a nudge.

"Don't do that to my poor house," she whined.  "It's barely becoming classical again.  It's still healing from the godawful mirrors on the hallway ceilings and the faux trim that was put around the ceilings.  It was *plastic*.  Not even resin, plastic."  Lupin shuddered.  "It was really bad, I've got a tape of it and it'll give you nightmares.  I couldn't stay there until I had it gutted it was so bad."  She settled in his lap, getting comfortable.  "Are you going to dinner tonight with whatever groupie you've picked up?"

"I don't know," Lupin admitted.  "The last time I got flowers it was from Pops."  Xander pulled back to look at him.  "It was a trap, Melody, really."  She nodded and settled back in yet.  "I know, we'll have a big party when Xander passes the three year mark of having his choker," he said suddenly.

"Why?" Jigen asked.

"Because all the books I found on becoming a girl to better familiarize myself with the body parts said that sexual maturity happened sometime within three years after getting primary and secondary sexual characteristics," Xander told him.  "Namely hair and boobs."  Jigen raised both eyebrows.  "So if I pass three years without a cycle then it probably won't happen."  The guys shared a look over her head so she stared out the window.  "Um, guys?" she asked timidly.  "Have I been hallucinating a lot?"

"No, why?" Jigen asked, giving her a gentle kiss.  "Unless you count this as a hallucination."

"If it is, I'm also psychosomatically giving myself pain in my hole," she said, pointing.  "Is that someone flying beside the train?"

They looked, getting up to open the windows.  "What the hell?" they said in unison.

Jigen looked, others were staring.  So he pulled back inside.  "We can't shoot him, others are watching."

Lupin shook his head, closing the window.  "Who was it?"

"Rookie number one."  She frowned.  "Can't we shoot him from in here with a silencer?"

"He'll crash soon," Jigen promised.  "There's got to be a tunnel soon."  He went next door, going to show Goemon.  Maybe he had an idea.  Fujiko opened the door so he walked over, opening their curtains.  He saw the man's shocked look at his own compartment then went back next door.  "What did you do?" he asked.

"We mooned him," Lupin said smugly, doing up his belt.  The guy went spinning off, hitting the ground hard enough to make them all wince.  "Ow."

"I am definitely having some sympathy pains," Xander agreed, shaking her head.

Goemon walked in to look since his window would only open a few inches.  "Good, I hit him."  He walked back to his own compartment and closed the door again.

Xander was the first to break.  "Okay, so he is bad sometimes," she said, shaking her head.  Lupin and Jigen both laughed, nodding.  "What did he do, throw a rock?"

"Possibly," Lupin admitted, wiping his face off.   "Damn, we should have taken pictures for Pops.  The asschewing would give us some more time to run around."

"He's in for it anyway.  He'll be in the hospital and have to listen to it now," Jigen pointed out.

Xander hugged them both.  "Let's go steal the baby."  They nodded, going to steal the baby for their pleasure.  When dinnertime came, Lupin walked Xander down to the dining car, letting her off his arm before they came in sight of the doorway.  "You be a good boy and if she's really pretty go back to her car and I'll hog Jigen.  If she's not, then you can come back and three-way with us."  He smirked and opened the door for her and the baby, letting her proceed him.  She sat down, asking the waiter for some water and the standard dinner, cool enough so it wouldn't hurt the baby if dropped.

An older man leaned over.  "She is adorable, just like her mother," he said, smiling and flirting with her.

She blushed.  "Thank you.  Everyone says she looks just like her father, but I think she's got her mother's eyes."  She batted her lashes.  "With your wife?"

"No.  You?"

"My wife?   No, I don't have one of those," she quipped.  He laughed and switched seats to sit across from her. "I'm meeting my husband soon."  She brushed down the strong cowlick developing in Lotus' hair.  "This is Lotus.  Say hello to the nice man, Lotus."  Lotus scowled at him, making him laugh.  "Yes, that is definitely your father's expression," she agreed fondly.  She glanced up at him, then at the waiter, who was bringing them some food.  She looked at him again.  "What do you do?"

"I'm in security systems," he said with a small smile.  "You?"

"I'm in gender research. Newly into it, but it is my field."  He looked stunned.  "Yes, this body does hold a very strong brain," she said in a light and teasing tone.  He chuckled again.  She smiled at the waiter. "Thank you."

"Would you like a bottle for the baby?"

"No, I and the nanny have got it back in the compartment," she said.  "Thank you.  She's being a very good little girl."

He nodded.  "She seems like it.  She's very quiet.  We've had some screamers on here at that age."  He walked off.

She sipped her water. "What sort of security do you do?  Like the new Bio-Tech building I read about at the campus in Munich or like banks and all those *interesting* things?"  She licked her lips and he swallowed.

"I'm, ah, in household security systems.  I sell them.  This is my vacation actually."  He was starting to sweat.  "Are you going to hand the baby back to the other caretaker later?"

"Probably.  She gets very jealous when I hog her."  She nibbled on a pickle spear.  "Besides, she's also very sleepy right now.  She'll have to lay down soon and I should probably nap too."  He made another grunting noise, then some woman with a shrill voice said something and his head lifted, making him go pale.  Xander smiled at this new woman, holding out a hand.  "Hello.  He said his wife might be joining him soon," she said, shaking his hand.  "He was seated with us.  I'm Melody and this is Lotus."

The sharp-voiced woman nodded, sitting down beside her man.  "It's nice to meet you.  What do you do?"

"I'm in gender research," she said.  "I'm pretty new to the field so I'm doing some comparative observation at the moment while we do a bit of traveling."

Lotus yawned and cooed.  "She's adorable.  How old is she?"

"Just a few weeks.  She was born in Tokyo."  The woman looked impressed.  "You can't fly with a baby so we're taking the train.  It gives me time to study some different places for a night at least to see if I want to come back for further research."

"Where did you get your doctorate?"

Xander blushed.  "I'm not quite that far into my studies yet.  I'm still a Masters candidate.  I'm working on comparative mothering roles for it."  The woman looked impressed.  "Japanese women are expected to be quite different than the British ones, and even they're expected to be different than the French and other mainland Euro ones.  I find it really fascinating the things people expect women to do.  I didn't know we were from Superman's race originally."

The loud woman laughed.  "True.  My own husband thinks I am."  She smiled as the waiter came back.  "Give me the vegetable dish only please," she ordered.  "And some water."  He nodded, going to get that for her.  "You've slimmed down impressively since the birth."

"Thanks.  She wasn't that hard to carry.  More active than anything.  I didn't even get to do much sleeping while we were in Japan."  Goemon came in, looking at her.  She smiled up at him.   "Sit, dear," she said.  He sat beside her and she leaned on his arm, making him blush.  "How is the nanny?"

"Sleeping soundly since this one isn't pulling her hair."  He took the baby from her.  "You are?" he asked politely.

"Oh, I'm Ron and this is Mabel.  We're from Iowa."

"He's in security systems," Xander told him with a bright smile.  "Don't you think that's interesting?"

"Very," he agreed.  Meaning he could forgive her for using his daughter to pick up marks, this time.

"What about you?" Mabel asked.

"He's my man and he's into Japanese studies," she told her, leaning further against his arm.  "He's the one who said I should study Japanese mothering expectations."  They looked impressed.  "He's on his way to his doctorate, I just couldn't wait," she sighed, giving him a bright smile.  He blushed and looked away so she looked at the couple again.  "What sort of systems do you sell?  We were thinking about going with the Brit version of ADT but they've got some funny clauses in their contracts."

"We sell ADT, but we also retail monitored and unmonitored systems," Ron told her.  "Our best seller is an unmonitored, but it'll call a neighbor if someone breaks in so they can check.  Our top of the line is this model," he said, pulling out a brochure to give her.  "See, it's monitored and on a random circuit so it's constantly checking entrances but the thieves don't know which one is being checked. It's got a fifteen second cycle."  She looked impressed.  "It's expensive but we've seen some being bought.  I used my vacation to come take a tour of the company and get some more information."

"Knowing all the little details would make your selling ability even better," Xander agreed. "May I keep this?"  He nodded and she folded it, putting it into her pocket.  She ate a few bites of dinner, then the baby started to fuss.  "Oh, come here, Lotus," she cooed, taking her back.  She pushed her plate over.  "Eat that for me while I take this precious one back to lay down," she cooed.  "Yes, we'll go cuddle and all that good stuff while everyone else does other stuff."  Lotus cooed at her.  "If you're really good, I'll even hold you like you like and give you a bottle, yes I will."

"You're not breastfeeding?" Mabel asked.

Xander looked over at her and sighed.  "I didn't produce enough, unfortunately.  If there's ever more I might but not yet."  She gave her an understanding look.  "So we're drinking Infamil right now but we're going to Carnation as soon as we get home because it's better for tiny tummies."  She tickled the baby, making her coo loudly.  "I'd better get back and feed her.  It was nice meeting you."  She smiled and left them there, glancing back at Lupin, who was chatting up some brunette with tits the size of watermelons. "Trap," she said happily as she walked down the hallway.  Lotus giggled at that.  "Are you going to be able to get out of those?  Yes you will," she cooed at her. "Your unclie Xander will teach you all about traps and how to get out of them, even the ones your big brother will create."  She carefully stepped back into the sleeper car, running into a familiar body.  "Excuse me," she said with a honeyed southern accent.  "Natalie and I have to go get changed."  She glanced up and Ray smiled, getting out of her way.  "Thank you."  She sashayed back past their doors, heading down the next hallway.  She opened the other door, then paused.  She looked back, he was following her.  "I thought so," she said, pouting at him.  "What's wrong?  I'm just a nice little wife."

"You look familiar," he said, smiling at her.  He chucked the baby under the chin.  "And you definitely look familiar.  Cute, Xander."  Xander beamed and skipped off back to their room, locking the door.  "We'll get you when you get off," he called.  He listened to her cackle and shook his head.  That one was not the sort of criminal he was used to.  If only because he became a girl.  He went to report to Myron, who groaned and shook his head.

Jigen woke up from his nap, looking over at the cooing people.  Lotus was sucking on her pacifier against Xander's chest, cooing up at her through it.  She was teasing the baby with her fingers, smiling down at her.  He took a stealthy picture of her.  "Do you want one of those?" he asked quietly.  She looked at him and shrugged.  "Some day?"

"Maybe.  I'm not the most maternal of people though."  She shrugged again.  "I don't know.  Babies are a lot of work. They're aggravating and frustrating, then they coo at you so you don't mind them being like that. I don't know if I want one some day or not.  I like being the uncle, I can hand them back when they get to be problematic."  She went back to teasing the baby, giving it a bright and warm smile, the sort he got sometimes.

He laid down to watch her.  "Who was it?"

"Some brunette with tits the size of watermelons that stood out straight."

"Bad boob job then," he said dryly. She looked at him and nodded.  "I think you'd do okay with one of those."

"Yes, but I am only female on the outside.  Speaking of, Ray's on the train, I just ran into him. He promised to arrest me when I got off."

"The train or just generally?" he teased.

"I think he meant the train.  He's never had the beauty of listening to me getting loud with you."  Someone knocked on the door.  "Who is it?" she called.  The door opened and Goemon walked in.  "She's doing very good," she promised. "I'm keeping her for another half hour, then she'll be hungry again."

He looked down at her, seeing the maternal attributes shining through.  "You may not keep her," he said firmly.  She nodded, going back to playing with the baby.  He sat beside Jigen.  "Did she tell you she was flirting with the baby?"  He closed the door after checking the hallway, looking at her again when she grinned.  "Do not do that to her.  I want her to have a partially normal childhood."

"She will.  It's just that she was so cuddly," she said, cooing at the baby, who cooed back and spit out her pacifier to try and breastfeed.  "Hey, not the set you want for that," she protested, breaking the tight suction.

Jigen laughed. "Go ahead, kid, it's making them very sensitive for my time sucking on them."  The baby kicked a little, cooing up at Xander.  "I bet you're hungry."  He picked her up to hold her, making her give him a look, but she eventually blew spit bubbles at him. He kissed her on the forehead, getting in a good cuddle.  "It's nice, you're a lot slower than your brother."

Goemon rolled his eyes.  "Do not remind me of my son, the race car."  He took his daughter.  "Come along. The mother wants to let you suck on her for a while. She will not be pleased that you tried to eat that one."  He walked her out, nodding at the others.  "Excuse me," he said. "It's time for her dinner."  He closed the compartment and locked it.

Ron and Mabel looked at each other.  "A wet nurse, how very old fashioned," Mabel said, but she sounded delighted.  Her husband nodded, following after her. "That poor girl, not ale to do it herself."  She shrugged it off and went to tease her husband by taking off her foundation garments.

Lupin, who had been behind them, shook his head as he went into his own compartment, finding Jigen sucking on Xander's chest.  "What did I miss?"

"Xander brought Lotus to dinner and found a home security system salesman," Jigen reported, handing over the pamphlet.  "That one's going to be tough to break."  He went back to his sucking.

"Why did they think Fujiko was the wet nurse?"

"Because I told them she was mine," Xander said, holding his head down.  Lupin gave her a kiss and silently asked for more information.  "He flirted," she offered.  "I was only holding the baby."

"She glows when she does it though.  Then Goemon joined them and she left with the cranky one, coming back here, where they cuddled and Lotus tried to nurse off her."

"So you're doing it instead?  Do we need to buy you Depends?"  Jigen kicked at him, making him laugh. "Sorry."  He sat down watching and reading the new information.  It was a very nice system.  Soon, Xander was panting and Jigen was very involved.  He got her out of her skirt and panties, licking her furiously.  Maybe she'd learn to come from that sort of stimulus if he did the Pavlov thing a few times.  Jigen swatted at him but she was getting there.

She came, moaning and arching up into their mouths.  "Damn it, no fair."  She lifted her head to look at him.  "I read about the dogs and the bell."  She put her head back down.

Lupin chuckled, licking off his lips.  "I was hoping you had," he teased, using two fingers to thrust into her. "What did you think of my dinner companion?"

"They were fake," she said, eyes squeezed shut as he worked. "Ray said he's going to arrest me when I get off."

"I'm sure he meant the train," Jigen promised.  She laughed and put his head onto the other side.  "Sure, I can play with that one too."  He continued to tease and play with them while Lupin got her lower half.  "Me first," he told him.  "That way I don't have to deal with your stuff."

"Fine by me," Lupin agreed.  "I have no problems going after you.  Or in addition to you," he said with a small smirk for her.  Jigen groaned and looked at her.  "Like your birthday or in my room?"

Jigen looked down at her, then at him.  "Like in your room," he decided, taking the lube Lupin dug out of his bag.  Xander was breathing harder, teasing herself now.  "That good with you?"  She nodded, eyes wild with desire.  "We need both beds together for this, otherwise we'll smash one of us."

"We did fine on the boat," Lupin promised.  Jigen gave him a look.  "I promise, I'll collapse over there if I have to."  He stripped and laid Xander on top of him, kissing and teasing her while Jigen got to do whatever he wanted to her lower half.  She wiggled until he sucked on her breasts, enjoying this new sensitivity she had.  He hoped she kept it in all her forms.  She was making happy noises as Jigen played and teased her, then suddenly she was pulled away from him so Jigen could lick her himself.  "Fine," he agreed, coming over to play with her breasts in that position instead.  She was moaning and holding them up for him, a big change from the woman who didn't want him to play with them.  He liked these.  They were soft, real, and reactive.  He liked women with reactive breasts.  He could see the flush of her arousal moving down her neck and it only excited him more.  She was getting closer and closer so he handed her her braid of hair to muffle them some, stealing her back.
Jigen glared at him.  "Then use a fucking condom this time."

"I probably should," he agreed, taking the one he tossed over.  He would have to break the other man's fear of excess sperm soon.  He had wanted to take Xander during lunch a great number of times.  She rolled it down him, bending to suck him some for lubrication, which gave Jigen back his favorite spot to lick and suck as well.  Lupin groaned, holding her head down, moving her hair out of the way so he could watch her.  "You're very pretty when you do that," he told her.  She blushed and looked up at him, eyes partially closed as Jigen worked, lips wet and swollen from kissing and pleasing him.  He pulled her away, entering her.  Jigen did what he needed to do while he was riding her, making her slowly build up to coming.  She was panting and pleading by the time Jigen was ready to enter her, and he slid in smoothly, setting off a small quake of orgasm.  She was clutching at his chest, wetly sobbing in neediness.  He looked back at Jigen, who looked smug as he started to move, making her gasp and moan, lifting her head up.  He bit her and she cried out but he was having the time of his life too.  Lupin started moving a little, making her tense and have another mini-orgasm.   She was getting close and they weren't done yet.  He sped up, needing her to not pass out between them this time.  He could feel the condom stretching as he moved and winced.  Jigen was not going to be happy.

Xander was pleading them to keep going, wanting and chanting about her need.  She was a fantastic specimen of lust.  Her body was sweaty and her skin was glowing.  He groped for the camera, winding it to the next picture then taking one of her.  He wanted that picture for himself.  She was heaving now, trying so hard to get what she needed.  He and Jigen sped up, otherwise he'd be finishing them both off.  Xander squeezed and Jigen swore, lifting her back onto him more.  She babbled at him in Dutch, German, French, and English, calling him all sorts of endearments, wanting them.  One made him laugh.  "He's not a pookie bear," Lupin told her.

"Hush," Jigen warned.  "She's too into it to know what's going on.  The train is like a big damn vibrator for her."  Xander nodded, tossing her head around.  He let her back down, letting Lupin play with her chest again.  "Slow down, princess, let us help you," he pleaded.  "We don't need you passing out tonight."  She whimpered and he took her hands, holding her by the wrists so she couldn't touch herself.  "Let us," he repeated.  She nodded, pressing back into him, then down onto Lupin.  She was still almost crying with it.

Lupin took pity on her and sped up, making her shout a loud 'yes' and bounce as she sat up.  He took the opportunity to suck on her nipples, making her swear at him and press forward into his face again.  He heard Jigen chuckle and pulled off to look at him. "What?"

"She just called you a tit whore," he laughed.

Lupin shrugged.  "I am some days."  He thrust up harder than he had been, making her squeal and plead for more.  He smirked and went back to what he had been playing with.  He was a tit whore.  He would do a lot for a nice set of them to be his.

Jigen was going faster now.  "Damn it.  Just a little longer, Xan, that's all I want.  Then you can pass out on him."  Lupin was speeding up too, making her gasp and babble something.  He couldn't understand it but he was sure it was something familiar.  Lupin latched onto her mouth before she could finish, making her stop, and he got back to what he had been doing.  He came with a loud bellow and Lupin soon followed, groaning into her mouth.  She squeaked one last time and collapsed, sated, weak, and unconscious.  Jigen helped pull her off Lupin so he could breath, letting Lupin pull out the other bed now. "Told you so," he panted.

Lupin shook his head. "I know. I forgot how well she took to that."  He laid down on Xander's other side, taking off the broken condom.  "Give her a few hours before you lick her again," he advised.

"Just as soon as she gets a full bath," he said tiredly.  Xander let out a pitiful whimper and reached for them, pulling them closer.

Outside the door, two cops were looking at each other.  "What are they doing in there?" Myron asked.

Ray shrugged.  "I don't know, but it sounded good."  They looked over as their boss joined them.  "Are they always that loud?"

He grimaced.  "Yes.  Lupin alone isn't the king of silence, but Xander is ten times worse."  He rolled his eyes.  "I've heard Dawn using a listening device on them to see if they were talking about her birthday present.  It's embarrassing."

"We could go in there and arrest him, her, Xander, now," Myron offered.  "They're all limp and sated.

Zenigata snorted.  "You think that'll help you any?  You ever try to bust someone when they've reconnected with their long-missed loves?  She probably hasn't had Lupin in a few months, since they split up."

"So it's makeup sex and welcome back sex?" Ray asked.  Zenigata nodded.  "Then there's no way she's conscious."

"The others are," Zenigata promised.  "How much longer?"

"We reach Austria tomorrow morning," Myron told him.  "The Orient Express gets in at three but doesn't leave until tomorrow morning."

"Do you want us to post a guard?" Ray asked.

Fujiko opened her compartment door, the baby nursing in her arms and topless.  "Would you three shut up!" she demanded.  "You're disturbing the baby."  She shut the door, leaving three stunned men in her wake.

"I didn't know she was doing that," Ray said, shaking his head free of the image.  "Damn it, I need a girl."  He looked at his boss.  "Permission to excuse myself for five minutes?"

"We'll get up early," Myron agreed.  Zenigata groaned and sent them back to their compartments, going to his to call Dawn and Mark. Maybe she would meet him at the door in something cute? He smiled as the phone was answered by his future son.  "Hello, Jerry.  Is Dawn there?"  The now three-year-old boy babbled at him until his brother took the phone to talk to him.  "Good evening, Morgan.  How are you?"  The four-year-old told him about babysitting Ishi.  He had wondered where that one was.  "Is Marcus there too?"  Morgan told him no and he grinned.  "That's fine.  Give him a pat for me.  Can I talk to Dawn?  Night guys," he said when they left.  He was chuckling at Dawn shooing them off.  "Good evening, Dawn."  He listened to her sweet voice and could see her doing the exact same thing.  Damn, he had it bad.  "Dawn, can we have dinner when I get back?  No matter what?"  He smiled and got comfortable.  Her voice was intoxicating, her perfume was intoxicating, and she was a beautiful woman.  The only problem was the fact that she was half his age.

Oh, well, he could put up with it he decided.  She was worth it.  "I'll be home tomorrow one way or another.  Probably late.  Sure, we can have dinner in the study," he agreed.  She loved her study as much as he loved his.  He would have to make himself one in her house so she kept her own.  "I don't care what we have," he promised.  "Just something light?"  She named something, one of his favorites that she didn't know about, then admitted she had been craving it.  "Sure.  I like that too," he agreed, smiling at her enthusiasm.  "Tomorrow.  Yeah, I promise.  Either I'll get Jigen and Lavelle tomorrow or I'll be chasing them back toward you to pick up their son."  He chucked at her pouting noises.  "I would never endanger the babies.  Children are precious to me, Dawn.  They always will be."  He sighed, lost in his own thoughts of her, until she said something that shocked him.  "You're...huh?"  He listened to her closer.  "Really?"  He licked his lips.  "With the kids awake?"  She said something smart and he groaned, shaking his head.  Impudent woman, but it made her all the more sexy.  "I could catch you tomorrow," he offered slyly.  She giggled and sounded like she was blushing.  "Yeah, the big, bad thief.  I'll catch you tomorrow," he promised, hanging up.  "Cooking in that outfit should be illegal," he decided.  It was tinier than anything Fujiko had ever worn.  But it suited Dawn's figure so well.  He loved spandex for that reason alone.

***

The next morning, Xander and Jigen snuck off the train, heading for the car rental place they had called ahead to.  They had to sign two forms then they took off long before the cops spotted them.   Xander drove them across the border to Geneva, letting Jigen have the car from there while he went to do the one week's of work he wanted to do on his house.  He walked up to the front door, noticing one of his neighbors, then he realized he was still female.  "Hi, I'm the girlfriend," she called, smiling and letting herself in with the key.  Then she picked up her hammer and went back to her wall.  Her bags were forgotten in the hallway, along with the diamonds she had forgotten to let Lupin take from her bag.   Within an hour, a neighboring wife was over.  He brought the hammer back, swinging it gently.  "Hi," she said, letting her inside.  "Mind the floor, there's probably been some stuff that's fallen, like nails."  She took the casserole. "Thank you, this'll keep me from cooking tonight."

"You're a carpenter too?" the nice wife asked.

Xander grinned.  "My poor baby taught me everything he knows.  Right now, he's on a long business trip so I agreed to come fill in for a few hours or so. Then later, maybe, I'll be getting some helpers from one of his ex boyfriends."  The wife's eyebrows rose.  "He's loyal to me, but we have an understanding," she pointed out, then she giggled.  "It's great to be young."

"I remember those days fondly," the wife agreed.  "I was a child of the sixties.  I traveled to the US and everything."  She gave her a gentle pat.  "Enjoy whatever you can get, dear.  When you get to be my age, it's much different."  She left her alone, going to gossip with the other wives.

Xander went to put his casserole in the refrigerator.  This meant he didn't have to call for takeout tonight.  Then he went back to his wall fixing.  It was really pitiful.  Four centuries standing and it took one person to ruin it and only about a month.  Now he was fixing it and it was going to take him longer to fix everything.  He was ignoring two of the bedrooms upstairs.  At least until he had guests and he had to take off the mirrored walls.  Little square mirrored tiles on all four walls, the ceiling and the floor.  "Someone was kinky," he noted, going back to his adding studs to the walls.  By dinner, he had the hallways and most of the downstairs finished.  He even had some of the wallboard up.  He was doing really good.  This lighter body wasn't getting in his way in the least.  He took his plate of casserole out into the backyard, laying down in the grass to watch the stars come out while he ate.  That's where he fell asleep too, not that he cared.  Geneva was a safe city, right?  It wasn't Sunnydale.

The End.
 
 
 

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