I'm Almost There, Honey

*Eli*

'Eli, you fuc... idiot! Where are you?'

The voice comes screaming into my mind, and instantly, my heart beats fast, and my inner ET howls with pure joy. It takes me a minute to process it, though. Did Kamila just call me an idiot?

'Oh, my Goddess,' I reply. 'Where are you, darling? Are you OK?'

'No!' he yells at me. 'I'm definitely not fine! Because you are not here? What the hell could you possibly have to do that's more important than being here, selfish?!'

I don't know what to say to answer that, and I'm completely confused. This voice sounds like Kamila, and my ET feels her presence, but why is she talking to me like that? He's never done it before, ever.

'Oh, my Goddess,' he says next. 'I'm so sorry!'

'It's okay, honey,' I say, happy to have my Kamila back as I know her. 'Where are you? What's going on?'

'I'm... I'm in a van, and it's the worst, most miserable van in the world....'

I smile at that, considering the vehicle I'm currently driving.

'And Dr. Travesty isn't giving me an epi—ahhh!' It ends in one of the most chilling screams I've ever heard, and I've been through a lot of battles.

'Dear?' I say, and that knot returns to my stomach. What the hell are they doing to Kamila? It sounds like some kind of torture. I swear, when I get Kane in my hands, I will destroy him. And who the hell is Dr. Travesty? Is this some new name for Dr. Pendergan? I pray to the Moon Goddess that Kamila is in the hands of that kind and competent doctor, but right now, I have no idea.

'I'm fine,' he says then. 'Just another contraction.'

“Contraction?!” I accidentally shout it out loud, and everyone in the van hears me.

'Oh, my Goddess,' Kelly says. 'Are you talking to Kamila? Is she in labor?

The only thing I can do to respond is nod.

'Bring to me!' Kelly shouts, and I take her to the mental link.

'All I want is to get out of this...ahhhh!' Kamila says with another horrible scream. The sound makes me want to kill whoever is doing that to him and strangely, at the same time, I feel like I need to run away. But I will not. I'm going to get to her. She's having my baby! And it's happening right now by the sound of it!

'Breathe,' Kelly says in a calm, reas...uring voice. The voice works a little differently in the mental link than in person, but it allows us to convey emotion as well as words, so I think the calming sounds are helping.

But only for a minute.

'You miserable idiot!' Kamila shouts. 'Why the hell did you do this to me?!' He is quickly followed by, 'Oh no! I'm so sorry. Where are you?'

Kelly laughs behind me. 'Don't apologize,' she says. 'I've been with him forever, and sometimes I would agree with that name.'

I ignore his mockery because I have more important things to worry about right now. 'I'm on my way to you, darling,' I say. 'We're almost at Kane Castle, and I'll be there soon!'

'No!' He yells back.

'What do you mean, don't you?' asked. 'Don't you want me to be there?' I'm confused and a little hurt for a moment. Then I think about it, and remember how painful childbirth must be, so Kamila probably isn't herself right now. But still, she doesn't even want me there?

'I'm not there,' he says. It's true. He had said he was in a van.

'Where are you?' asked.

'I'm...ahhhh!'

'Breathe through it,' Kelly says softly. 'Breathe through it.'

'Eli?' Tristan says.

'Yes, I'm on my way,' I reply.

'We just realized he must be talking to you because he stopped cursing at us like a sailor!' she says.

'Is everyone there?'

'If he responds. 'We are taking her to Mark's pack as it is the closest. Her healer, Dr. Travesty, is with her. We'll be there in a couple of minutes.'

So that means I have to change course a little. I'm glad she's not going to have our babies at Kane Castle, but now I'll have to drive a little further to get to her. Fortunately, I know how to get to Mark's pack from this highway.

'Wait,' I say. 'Is it a name or a commitment to service?'

Tristan laughs a little. 'It's the doctor's real name,' he says. 'Kamila is in good hands, don't worry. But she needs you here.'

'I'm getting there as fast as I can,' I say. The next exit is a smaller highway heading toward Mark's pack, so I take it. I'm going faster than this damn van can probably handle, but I'll deal with that later.

'Kane?' asked.

'Dead,' he answers simply.

A combination of relief and anger washes over me. I wanted to kill the miserable idiot myself, but just knowing that Kamila is no longer in danger from him is enough for now.

'Well done,' I say. 'Is there any other threat lurking?'

"Not for now," he tells me. "We'll worry about that later." And I'll also ask you later what the hell took you so long. But for now, how far away are you? These babies are about to be born!

“Twenty minutes, if this shit I'm driving can hold,” I say. —I'm on Highway 12.

“I will send warriors to find you in something more reliable,” he says. —Just keep driving.

“You couldn't stop me if you tried,” I say.

"Ahhh!" Kamila shouts again. I'm not sure if she's screaming out loud besides in the mental link, but whatever she helps her with is great. It's also an incredible relief to hear her voice again, even if she's cursing me and screaming in pain. It is the pain of giving birth to my son, and that is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Tears begin to form in my eyes, and Kelly comes up behind me and puts her arm around me.

"We'll be there soon," he says. —It will be fine, and you will be a father very soon.

“That makes me incredibly happy and incredibly nervous at the same time,” I say. A million questions run through my mind, all asking me what kind of father I will be. Will my son like me? Will they try to rebel because I wasn't a good enough father? Will he be a good citizen? Will I be able to handle this responsibility for the rest of my life?

Kelly laughs next to me. “I can see the wheels turning in your head,” she says. —You are going to be an incredible father, and Kamila is going to be an incredibly wonderful mother. All four of these babies have a great future ahead of them. And I can't wait to see them!

“I'm sure you're right, but right now I can't even fathom the concept of fatherhood,” I say.

“It will be the most natural thing in the world for you once you set your eyes on the baby,” he says. —By the way, speaking of eyes, look at the road and concentrate. We have to get there in one piece first, new dad.

She laughs a little and returns to her seat next to Heather, who screams with excitement when Kelly explains the situation to her.

The birth of my son is the most important thing that has happened to me in my life, and I need to be there for it. I hope and pray to the Moon Goddess that it arrives on time.

“I'm almost there, honey,” I tell Kamila as I step on the accelerator.