Despite this, Andrea reaches up and hugs Megan, “Oh how, I’ve missed you. I’ve been all alone and scared out here. I didn’t think I’d make it another night. Let’s go home.”

This is totally not like Andrea, Megan muses before picking the bunny girl up. “Ummm, it’s not quite that simple,” she says as they walk back the way they came.

“What? Do you? Mean,” Andrea says as she slips and cowers behind her roommate as they approach the dog girl.

“You got yourself into something big that has turned much larger, thanks to you.” They pass Jack who follows along. Andrea shifts away from their new companion. “Calvin and I were supposed to wear those two collars you found and become pregnant bunny girls and give birth to some real life bunny girls, like you are now.”

Calvin joins the troupe and Andrea slides over by him to get away from the dog. “Wait. I’m pregnant?”

“That’s what Valerie said,” Jack adds with her new, sweet voice.

“Unless, I miss my guess, so are both of us. Why else would she turn you into a female?”

“That sounds like the Valerie I know. I was not expecting this, but it sounds like her. Anybody know how long a dog’s gestation is, because I’d really not like to be pregnant for nine months,” comments Jack.

Calvin nods, “I know, right? I think I dodged the bullet with this one.” And then he goes quiet.

Andrea figures it out, “Wait. Turned into a female? Gestation? Jerk, is that you?”

“I’m not a jerk. I am just helping my friend, Val.”

Andrea perks up at this and single-handedly talks all the way back until they arrive at their destination, “Hey! Why are we here? This isn’t our house.”

Calvin speaks, “No, this is your home for the next month. At least, until you give birth.”

Aghast, Andrea takes a step back, “What? I can’t give birth. It’ll ruin my figure.”

Jack speaks up, “Weren’t you listening when we said it earlier? Besides, knowing Val, she’ll have us back to ourselves after we give birth.”

“Tomorrow, we’ll get what you need from our rooms. In fact, we’ve already got Jill half moved in.” Megan can’t help but get a dig in at her roommate for all the trouble she’s put her through, “You know, from the collar that you put on her?”

“Actually, she’s only about a fourth moved in. She’s got lots of stuff.” Calvin shifts around, uneasy.

“Regardless, let’s get you inside to meet Valerie. Then I can go get ready for classes tomorrow.”

“What if I don’t want to live here? I have a life, you know,” Andrea protests her hands on her hips.

“Just come in,” Jack growls, “I’m tired from all the running, and I’ve got an early class tomorrow which means you probably do, too.”

“I’m sure Valerie will sort this all out.”

With much convincing, the reluctant bunny girl enters. Valerie pounces on Andrea and wraps her in a fierce hug. “You are perfect. You’ll make such beautiful babies.”

After explaining it all again, it is decided that Jill, Calvin, and Megan will all stay with her for the duration, and Andrea and Jack will join when their symptoms are too much to hide.

It also comes to light that cats and dogs take two months to give birth. So, before they go, Valerie casts a reality changing spell on Jack and Megan to disguise their appearances so they are able to attend classes, since they have the extra animal features. For Andrea, she casts a spell that anyone who is near her, not in Valerie’s house, will remember her as she is, a bunny girl. Because she is out of magic and needs to recharge after all the spell casting she’s been doing all day, Valerie wasn’t able to complete the spell. Andrea won’t be able to hide the growing belly, so people will think she is pregnant.

A couple of days after the incident, Calvin finds Valerie in the kitchen cutting and chopping. “Hey Cal, what’s up?”

He swings himself around and wiggles uncomfortable, “Ummmm?” Valerie waits for him to continue as she sets the knife down and takes the pot off the burner. He speaks again once he realizes that she’s waiting, “Sooooo, ummmm, the rabbit thing.”

“You mean when you put on a collar and become a pregnant bunny girl,” she clarifies.

He stiffens at the description but nods, “Yeah. That.”

Wiping down the counter, she tries to suppress a grin, “What about it?”

“Umm, is? there? a way to change me into a rabbit boy? or cat boy,” he asks.

Drats. I thought he was going to go for it. There still might be a chance. Valerie looks up, while trying to suppress her disappointment, “Why?”

He shifts uncomfortable and asks a different question, “Or maybe give her, her hands back?”

Ah. I got it now. Valerie had walked past them a couple of times yesterday. Megan was trying hard but struggling with the controller in her paws. “I’ll make you a deal. If you give me a rabbit child, then I will give you and Megan your hands to play.”

Crap. This is not what he wanted. And yet, it is. I wanted to become a rabbit boy so that Megan doesn’t feel odd... Then he realizes that he would have been the odd one out. Well, I would match. And I did sorta agree to this. He continues to convince himself despite this being something he doesn’t want, And I’m sorta used to being a female from all the times Meg switched the collars. “Fine.” Valerie cheers. He holds her back, “but can you speed up the birth, so I’m not like this for a month?”

She chuckles, “I wish. Sadly, nature has rules everyone must follow.” She leads him out of the kitchen and down the hall to a room he has been in a few times before. Calvin knows the drill he goes over to the table she has had him lay down on, in the past, and starts pulling his t-shirt over his head.

After grabbing a leather strap off the counter she turns to see what he is doing, “Oh, no, no. You don’t need to do that. I already have what I need.”

He starts to put his shirt back on. Then he thinks of something, “Since you are magic-ing up a collar anyway, could you make mine so that I’m fully…” he waves his hands up and down his body, “done by the time I get down the hall?”

“That, I can do.” She grabs two bottles in one hand as she closes her eyes and her fist around the strap in the other hand. Aside from the glowing hands and muttering of words in some other language, nothing seems to happen. She puts those back and grabs some more bottles these from the shelves. More muttering and then she opens her eyes and extends her fist to him. “Voila! It is done.”

The leather collar looks much like the ones he’s seen before. This one is brown like he’s seen all the others wear, but his has a little white fur on the edge and the bowtie that indicates that it is his. “Since you are a trooper, I only put one fertilized egg in there. Now, would you like me to put it on you?” He nods. “Walking down the hall will be tricky as you will be changing with each step, but by the time you get to Meg you will be in your final form with hands to play games. Send her back here to get hers back.”

It’s not long before the new bunny girl gets glomped and fierce battles are waged across various fantasy locales.

As time passes, Andrea visits more and more as she gets annoyed with people who point out her ever growing belly and sometimes call her fat. By the time winter break starts, Andrea has moved in. Both rabbit girls look about ready to pop, the runaway moreso than seamstress. And Calvin is getting up there in size as well. She has the waddle down.

She meets Megan in the dining room. They munch and crunch on their food with Jill and Andrea. The latter pair eat a few bites before Jill’s eyes go wide, “No! I’m not ready.”

Andrea chuckles with a warm smile on her face, “Oh? Is it time?”

“No,” she replies with a frown and a growl. She even crosses her legs as best she can to further slow the inevitable. Her face grimaces before relaxing. She mutters out a quiet, “yes.”

“I figured. I’m probably not far behind.” Andrea wobbles as she stands, “Let’s go find Val.” She extends a hand to her roommate, “If that’s okay with you.”

Realizing what’s happening Megan jumps up to help her friends. The three of them manage to get Jill upright. Megan sprints ahead down the hall while the others totter behind. “Val. It’s Jill. It’s time.”

“Already? I thought I had another couple of days." She looks at Jill and springs into action. "Get as comfortable as you can over there. I'll be here to help with the delivery, if you need me." Valerie scrambles around pulling this and that out and arranging it around the room.

Jill lounges on a bean bag mat. She shifts positions until she's on her side. Then she settles in and starts pushing.

"Its my turn now," Andrea says to no one in particular.

"Now? When did you put on the collar," Megan asks. Valerie stops dead in her tracks.

Andrea nods. "The babies are moving. I can feel them. They must want to meet their mommy."

“And they will,” Valerie says as she pulls out another soft, squishy mat for her to lay on. “As soon as I get my collar on.”

Andrea fondles her own bulging belly as she heads over to lay down. “I’ve never been a mother before, but I’ll love these little ones with all my heart.”

Megan, watching this exchange, pipes up, “You both realize that these are Valerie’s children, right?” Andrea’s startled face tells her otherwise. “I’ve sure we told you this. Somewhere in this last month, right,” she asks her question to the spell caster.

“I thought you told them. You were the one with the most time with them before they came.” Valerie turns on heel to look at her friend.

Cowed, Megan turns to her roommates, “I’m sorry. I thought we had said something. This whole thing was Val’s idea because she wanted to have kids, special kids. It was supposed to be me and Cal wearing those collars and, well, giving her the kids that came out of us.”

Jill grunts and a life form plops on the padding. “She can have mine. I’ll just be glad to have my body back.”

“But! These are my children,” Andrea protests, between pushes, not agreeing with Jill’s sentiments.

Megan looks from Andrea to Valerie for confirmation, “I’m sure that Val will let you visit them as often as you like, right?”

“No. I’ll take them with me. They can sleep on my bed in our house. We’ll be a happy family.” Andrea tries to explain how she’ll be a good mom.

Megan starts to try to convince her roommate, but stops. She turns on Val instead, “You did something to the collars, didn’t you?”

Her friend turns away, embarrassed, “Ummm, maybe.”

“What did you do?” Megan looks at her with her hands on her hips.

“I might have put some additional maternal instincts into Cal’s collar to help him along in the process.” Megan raises an eyebrow at her words. “I know, I know. I shouldn’t have.” She tries another thing, “It’ll go away when the collar comes off.”

She steps over to her workbench and plucks a leather collar off of it and hands it to Megan. This one has a dark brown heart on it. “Speaking of collars, if you’ll do the honors, it’s time for me to become Mommy Bunny.”

Megan slips the band around her neck but pauses before joining the ends, “You’ll take care of everything in here?”

“Of course.” With that, Megan finishes locking it around her throat.

“I think that’s all of them,” Jill mumbles out as she takes deep breaths with her eyes closed. Val kicks off her shoes and loosens her clothes as she walks over. She reaches down, but Megan doesn’t see what she’s reaching for as she exits the lab after that.

In the hall, Calvin meets her. “Girl stuff,” he asks.

“Yeah, it’s our stuff,” she answers giving him a gentle nudge. “Soon, you’ll know all about it.”

Calvin turns to her, concern covering his face, “Do you think my children are okay?”

“Where’s this coming from?” Megan looks to him in surprise wondering if Val has done something to his collar.

“Well, Andrea’s and Jill’s babies were kicking inside their bellies, but I haven’t felt that, at all.”

"That's not a big deal, I think. Once I heard about someone’s mom who knew that her baby didn't kick. I think that means that they like where they are at and aren't trying to get out." Then a stray thought enters her mind, or it could be still born. But Val wouldn't do that. Maybe Cal, really, isn’t a good woman. Maybe I should stop switching collars with him.

To get her mind off that train of thought, she reaches for anything else to think about. Jill. Andrea. Calvin. . . . Jack! She whips her head around to try to find the pregnant dog girl. She gets a little vertigo, so she sits until it passes and then looks again.

Noticing his girlfriend’s head, Calvin asks, “What are you looking for, Meg?”

“Jack.”

Calvin looks around too, to the point of getting up and moving around. But she tires out quickly and returns to her seat. “Now that you mention it. I haven’t seen Jack, at all. It’s probably all the gaming we’ve done.”

She lowers her head in shame, “Yeah, we’ve been bad friends.” Then Megan looks up with determination in her eyes, “I’m going to find her and invite her to join us. I’m so glad you are here with me. Having you near me makes it much more bearable.”

“I agree. Let’s go find Jack.”

Megan takes the longer distances while the bunny girl takes areas closer to the table for regular rests. She makes it almost to the far side of the house when she hears Cal call for her. When she reaches her boyfriend who is looking out the window into the back yard, she finds what she’s looking for.

There they see the williowy, wooden woman seated at the base of her tree with Jack the dog girl curled in her lap. Diane scratches the dog’s head and pets the back. Jack is content there.

That makes what they are about to do even more difficult. Still, due the shame of neglect, they exit the back door. Diane looks up at them but doesn’t stop stroking Jack. Her dog ears swiveling to point in their direction is their only indication that Jack knows they are there.

Megan looks to Cal for a little boost of confidence and encouragement to overcome her sudden nervousness. She smiles in return, gives a nod, and takes her hand. It’s enough.

Hand in hand, they head forward. When they get close, Diane says, “Greetings Calvin. Greetings, Megan."

Hearing their names again and realizing that the dryad still knows them unnerves Megan. A hand squeeze nudges her on, "Hi, uh, Diane and Jack. Weeee --- Seeeee. Ummm." Unable to form the next sentence, she pauses to look at Calvin.

He takes over, "We screwed up. We were in our own world and forgot you.”

Nodding and going with the flow, Megan continues, “If you want, you can play games with us. We can play three player.” Not getting a response, she adds, “It’d make it more fun.”

Calvin sees his girlfriend at the end of her train of thought and decides to help her out, “Oooooorrrr we could come out here and hang with you both.”

They pass a look between them trying to inspire each other to say something, but they are all out of words. So they wait.

After some silence, the dryad breathes out, “That’s a generous offer. What do you think, Jack?”

Finally Jack moves more than her ears. Still curled up, she turns so that she faces them and her back is still touching the tree lady. “I like it here with Diane. She doesn’t treat me bad.”

Her words are like a stab to their hearts. All Megan manages to stutter out is, “I’m so sorry.”

“We were really selfish. I apologize. Please let us make it up to you now.”

Silence is thick again. Jack breaks it after a few moments, “Is Andrea in there?”

Calvin answers, “She is giving birth at the moment along with Jill. And, No, that’s not why we came out here. We realized how quiet it was and then figured out that you weren’t in the house and that we had forgotten you.” Megan assists by nodding and pleading with her eyes.

“I think their hearts are repentant. You should consider their offer,” Diane wraps her arms around Jack.

Jack curls up a little tighter, “I dunno.”

“Well, then, since we are here, why don’t we hang out here,” Megan suggests.

Conversation is slow and awkward at first, but once Megan mentions about cooking which leads to her gardening, things pick up pace quick. Diane and Jack join the discussion about plants and best care for fruits and vegetables.

Just after the revelation, Diane comments, “I thought you smelled of dirt.”

Conversation rolls on and time gets forgotten. Calvin not as invested in the talk about growing and cooking and identifying plants is content to pet and scratch Jack. Like an animal, Jack likes the touch and presses into it. It’s not long until Jack is in Calvin’s lap up against her belly.

What breaks up the conversation, however, is Diane getting quieter and quieter. Megan slows as she doesn’t have many to talk to. Jack is rumbling content on Calvin and Diane is falling asleep as the sun sets. “Maybe we should go inside.”

“That would be best,” agrees the dryad.

It takes a while to get Jack off her boyfriend but eventually all three go inside as Diane enters the tree. Gaming happens until late in the night. Jack, not as good at the games, learns the controls and manages to hold her own. She is at a disadvantage, though, because of all her time studying medicine.

Dawn comes but breakfast does not. Megan checks in on Valerie who had been providing it to this point. What she finds is a human bunny girl curled in a large basket surrounding five little rabbit people. Since they are all huddled together and overlapping it’s hard to tell one from another. What is obvious is that they are all mixes of brown and red coloring from her and Cal. And since they are asleep, Megan realizes that cooking duty has fallen on her.

Making breakfast is no big deal, there’s just more people to cook for. As she softens some diced carrots and tosses some spices in the pan, she looks out the window into the back yard. She isn’t sure, but it almost looks like the garden back there is livening up since last night. Must be a trick of the light, she tells herself.

The smells coming from the kitchen draw the occupants of the house. Rubbing her eyes, Jill the bunny girl with a little baby fat ambles into the dining room. Megan wasn’t expecting this, so she puts on more food. As it warms up, she goes out to talk to her. “Jill? You are still here?”

“Yeah, you guys need to move my stuff back to our house.” She pauses here and looks to Megan, “As soon as one of you takes off my collar.” Megan moves to do just that, “Magical Rabbit Lady said you’d take care of that.”

“I see. We’ll do what we can.” Megan pats her ever growing stomach. “Do you want some breakfast?”

“Sure.” As the collar comes off, the rabbit features shrink and pull in until only Jill remains, not even the baby paunch remains. Andrea comes out not long after. After a similar conversation, Megan smells something burning. She rushes into the kitchen to find some lightly charred vegetables. She adds the eggs and serves her roommates. As the human girls finish up their plates and head back to their rooms, the animal girls stir off the couch and bedding in the living room and head to the table.

After serving them and herself, she starts to clean up before her mind drifts to the sight she saw earlier this morning. Valerie and the little ones. She must be wiped out. I should probably give her some breakfast, too, since she’s probably not going anywhere for a while.

Soon, a plate is full and taken back into the lab where Momma Bunny is now awake. “Thanks,” Valerie murmurs so she doesn’t wake the little ones. While Megan holds the plate, Valerie feeds herself with the one arm that is free. Due to the lack of warmth from the one arm, several shuffle closer together and to her to regain it. “Sorry about this,” she murmurs, “You’ll have to take over for a while.”

Megan remembers the half truth Val told her about the collar and combined with this leaves an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. What is Valerie up to? Why is she doing this?

She puts it out of her mind and heads to the living room to game some more. Just as she joins the others, Jill and Andrea return and command the threesome to move them back into their rooms at their house. So, the five of them grab what they can, which is not much since three of them are pregnant.

Not only that, but they don’t make it far because the front door to the house that they haven’t lived in for a month is locked with a note on it. “Since you aren’t answering your phones, contact me when you are ready to pay rent.” It’s signed by their landlord.

“S**t! I knew this whole thing was a bad idea.” Andrea curses.

Megan paces a little, “What are we going to do? I only did my job until school got out, because I thought Valerie would take care of the rest.”

Each considers what to do until Jill breaks the silence. “Okay, Ladies. Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to pay our rent because I’ve been working.”

Recognizing the position of Jill’s body and tone of her voice, Megan backs away and whispers to Calvin, “Uh oh. Here comes the dragon lady.”

As if she heard her roommate talking about her, she turns on her, “Megan. This is not your fault, so I’m going to go easy on you.” Knowing the wrath to come, she doesn’t get her hopes up. The seamstress continues, “First you’ll pay me as much of your part of the rent as you’ve got in your account.” Megan nods at this and waits for her to finish. “Then you are going to do everything in your power to finish paying your part of the rent and next month’s rent before next year. Then we’ll be good.”

Then Jill points at Andrea and scowls. Since her roommates eyes are not on her, she pleads with her eyes to Calvin and Jack while gesturing to her pregnant belly.

“You have no money and no excuse. This is all your fault.” She lets Andrea sweat for a moment. “You have only one thing going for you. You designed some pretty maternity outfits for me to make for us. So, here’s what we’re going to do. You are going to make designs for me to make. Good designs. For free. Not only that, but you are not going on any more shopping trips until you pay me back both for this month and next.”

Andrea groans, “But that means—”

“That’s right. You have to use the clothes you have already bought. And it would be in your best interest to keep them clean and in one piece.” Jill looks at both of them. “Does everyone understand?”

Megan nods while Andrea doubles over and moans, not in physical pain rather in frustration.

“So, it’s back to Val’s house?” Calvin asks.

And, so they return. Megan writes a check to Jill and the rent gets paid. Things settle for a moment and then Calvin makes a trip down the hall.

“Val?” No answer. Megan tries again, “Valerie?” Her cat ears pick up a quiet mumbling but no discernible words.

Calvin’s bunny ears do not hear that for she, in pain, calls out louder, “VAL! IT’S TIME!”

“Too tired. Megan do it.” The cat girl in question almost doesn’t hear the words, but she does.

The hair on her body stands on end, “Oh no. This was not part of the deal, Val. You said you’d take care of everything. That includes child birth.”

Val, the bunny mommy speaks up clearer now, “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you. These five are kicking my butt and leaving me exhausted.”

“So, you’re going to pay for my overdue rent? forrr,” Megan starts to say one month but realizes she’ll be out of her room for more than that. She adds a couple to be sure, “three months?”

“Sure, sure. Card in my purse. Take what you need. Buy what you need to keep things going here. Here’s the code.” She rattles off some numbers.

Megan can see things getting better for the moment. “Okay,” she says to both of them steeling her courage. Then she sees her boyfriend crouched and pushing. Megan rushes over with her arms out to catch. “Cal? What do you need?”

“I don’t know,” she calls over her shoulder in a plaintive but frustrated voice, “I’ve never done this before.”

“Neither have I,” she says back.

It takes some effort and hesitation and pain from going early and birth juices all over all of them, but, at last, the rabbit baby comes out. Megan cleans up the child and herself as best she can.

Stepping past her boyfriend, who is lying on her back, to take the baby to where it will sleep and nurse, she is stopped by a hand and a word, “please.” She stops torn between the two. Should I give it to Val or Cal?

“Just for a moment,” she asks her boyfriend. The rabbit girl nods. “I suppose I should remove the collar, too.” She nods again as she is handed the infant. She snuggles the swaddled child as her feminine curves disappear and his usual shape returns.

After a while, Calvin returns the child and Megan adds it to the bunch who readjust their bodies to make room for the new addition. Calvin naps for a little while before he returns to the others.

Megan notices that Calvin is more energetic and more attentive to her and the little one inside of her. They hang with Jack and they become a trio.

Megan gets the card and pays Jill three months of rent, just in case. She also sends Calvin out to buy groceries to refill the stash that they have gone through.

The next couple of days seem pretty normal. The threesome are either out talking with Diane, playing games in the living room, or eating meals enhanced by the produce Diane gives them from the backyard. Despite being the dead of winter, the plants and bushes are thriving and still producing fruits and vegetables.

It’s not long before Megan notices the date on her phone. “What is it,” Calvin asks.

“School’s about to start and I haven’t even enrolled for my classes,” she says as she scrolls through the online catalog.

Calvin nods, “Yeah, we have to do that today or tomorrow.”

Megan slumps a little, “Yeah. Well. That’s going to be a little tricky for me.” She waves her arms showing her very pregnant, cat-like body. “Probably for Jack, too.” She gestures to the dog girl next to them.

“It should be okay,” Jack says. “Val has dealt with situations worse than this. She’ll just magic up a solution, like she always does.”

Megan tries to calm down, but she doesn’t have the confidence that the doctor has because she hasn’t known her friend as long. Calvin tries to comfort her. It doesn’t work well, but it’s better than nothing.

A few days later, a tired, naked bunny mommy emerges, “mmmm, that smells good.”

Calvin pauses the game and rushes up to her, “How’s my little one?”

Between bites of Megan’s food, she manages to get out, “Francine’s eyes are open, and she is a part of the family.” She rubs one of her teets, “She is a little competitive, though.”

Since the gameplay is stopped, Jack turns and asks, “So, how are they?”

Valerie holds up her plate for seconds, so Megan takes it back into the kitchen for more. “They mostly came out as expected except for their coloring which I couldn’t control. They are all healthy, according to my magic.”

“Speaking of magic,” Megan says as she enters, “Jack says you have a magic way to get us into school next term.” She sets the food infront of her friend, then heads back in to get some for the ‘boys.’

When she returns, Valerie answers her, “Ummmm, I’m a little low on magic right now. I might be able to infuse some into a collar.”

“But what magic could help here? Could you make me look not pregnant or a catgirl? Like myself, I guess?”

Valerie nods as she chews. After she swallows, she says, “Yeah, I can make everyone see you like how you looked at Thanksgiving, but you would be wearing the same clothes everyday and have the same hair style. And you would still be pregnant so you’d have to be careful not to bump into anything. Would you like that?”

Megan’s eyes crinkle up as she considers this. Jack takes this time to speak up, “This birthing is going to take some time. How about I take the quarter off and start up the quarter after as if I had never left?”

“I can do that. Would you like grades for the classes you didn’t take?”

“Oh. No. I want to take the classes, but if a student isn’t there every quarter, they get lower priority on classes. So, I just want to be able to take the classes I need when I need them.”

“Oh yeah. That’s easy. I’ll just do a minor reality altering spell. It’ll make the computer say you were there this quarter and those that would have taught you will remember you in the class.” She pauses and then looks at him, “But let me finish nursing and get my magic back, okay?”

All is quiet for a few minutes, as they all eat, before Calvin speaks up, “Ummmm, how hard would it be to make me look like Meg?”

Val looks up surprised, “Permanently?”

“No!” Calvin waves his hands in a frantic negative motion. Then realizing what he says apologizes to his girlfriend, “I mean, you look good, Megan. I couldn’t imagine competing with you.”

“Flatterer,” she says with a sly smile.

Turning back to Valerie, he says, “I mean, I want to be able to be myself and her.” The magic user opens and closes her mouth in confusion, so he continues, “Meg will be about to give birth waddling all over campus. I think I can arrange our schedules so that I can be her in the morning and myself in the evening or something. That way she can stay here and relax and have a nice, calm pregnancy. And when she is done, she can take over for herself.”

Megan shuffles her seat over and wraps her arms around him in a big hug that presses her enlarged belly into him. “Awww, that’s sweet, Hunny Bunny.”

After a moment of contemplation, Valerie agrees, “Yeah, I think I have everything I need to make that happen. When would you like that?”

Together, the couple says, “As soon as possible.” then they turn and chuckle at each other.

“Signups start today, and if we pick classes quick, you might be able to get us both signed up before they close today.”

Calvin looks at the dog girl, “Jack, you’re a great guy and good roommate, but I don’t think I can do three sets of homework.”

She smiles back at him, “Thanks for the offer, but I’m good. I’ll just take the quarter off.”

“You’re going to be such a good mom,” Valerie gushes.

Three surprised heads turn to her. Megan finds her voice first, “What do you mean?”

“What do you mean, What do I mean? Isn’t it obvious? You and Jack are going to sire your own kids. I’m a rabbit. I’m bringing up the rabbits. You are a cat and a dog. I can’t be all three at the same time. The baby bunnies will get confused.”

All the frustration at all the selfishness Valerie is doing to get her family comes charging back again. Megan almost bursts as she says, “Valerie. Why are we cats and dogs when it was only supposed to be rabbits?”

Valerie looks sheepish, “Well. You see. When the whole Andrea thing happened, I saw the opportunity to expand my family to include more than bunny girls. I could have kitty girls and puppy girls and … and … I would have the perfect family.”

“At the expense of your friends,” accuses Megan.

Calvin puts a hand on her shoulder to calm his girlfriend, “Megan.”

Another hand lands on her other shoulder. “It’s alright, Megan. It’ll be alright.”

She shrugs their hands off and turns on them, “I’m not alright with this. Do you know what this means? Not only will I give birth, but I won’t be able to change back when I’m done, like I was promised. Also, I’m going to need to nurse them and mother them all by myself. And then she!” She throws her arm behind her in the general direction of the bunny girl. “she is going to take them away to be a part of HER family after all the hard work.”

Valerie lowers her head, but no one sees it.

“Plus she’s going to do the same to you, Jack. Use you then discard you just to get her own way. Are you really okay with this?”

He looks to Val and then out the window to the back yard. “Yes,” he says as he looks to Megan again, “Val is being a little more selfish than I have seen her before, but every time we have been together, something good comes out of it. While I may not have expected to be a mother, I’m going to try it out and see what I think.” He pauses. “Megan, I know you don’t like how things are, but give it a chance. Val usually looks out for other people.”

Megan’s fire cools a little at his words but is not gone. She looks over at her friend. Valerie looks up with tears in her eyes, “I’m sorry, Meg. I let my dream get the better of me and now you are paying the price. I’m really sorry,” she repeats. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” Then with an embarrassed look to the side, she whispers, “I’ll try to not do it again.”

Memories of meeting Valerie and spending time with her dog pile on the thought of betrayal and hurt. They quench the fire and start repairing the painful wound. They eat in silence until Valerie speaks again.

“Thank you, Meg. That was delicious. It really filled me up and gave me energy. I look forward to eating more of these now that I don’t have to be with them 24-7. Most of the time but not all.” She stands and takes her plate toward the kitchen and adds, “If that’s what you want, Cal, I can make it happen.”

Calvin looks to her girlfriend who responds with a thankful nod. “Yes, please, Val.”

Breakfast is cleaned up and classes are picked. Valerie joins them for meals, but other than that things go back to the way they were for Christmas break, playing games and hanging with Diane.

Not long after, college starts up again. Calvin leaves early looking like himself and returns home looking like Megan. They do their own homework while sometimes Cal has to explain the material from class.

After a couple weeks of this, Megan gets nervous, skittish. It makes no sense at all to her, but she finds that when she is in a dark place, she calms down. So, when Cal is at school, she scouts the house for places where she can rest. With each passing day, room after room get eliminated for one reason or another as being not suitable.

Jill’s old room is the best choice, Megan decides, It has only one entrance and exit. And it only gets a little brighter around Noon otherwise, with the lights off, it is very dim. She moves the end tables and a short shelf to block direct line of sight of the door. Then her whole body relaxes.

When Calvin gets home, it is hard for him to find Megan. When he calls out for her, she doesn’t respond. He tries encouraging her out by asking if she wants to play her favorite game, but nothing happens. Playing the music from game, louder, doesn’t work, either. Even a search of the house doesn’t reveal her.

It’s only after walking around in each room that he finds her in the dark. When he sits down next to her, she lifts her head whispers a quiet, “hi.”

“What’s going on,” he asks concerned.

She lays on his lap. “I don’t know. This is the only place I feel comfortable.”

He strokes her hair and asks, “Do you think you can leave for a little while to do homework?” She shakes her head, but only a little so his hand can go through her hair some more. “Then we should do it in here?”

Megan nods. “Yes, but bring some food and water, too. Oh! And a bed or something for me to sleep on.”

Calvin does. A plate of food, a glass of water, and a thin mattress accompany the textbooks and paper. Doing homework is challenging. Working by the light of the phones keeps one of their hands busy. The rest is juggled with their other hand.

They manage to finish it all, but the next night, things change. Megan only allows him in the room to replace her half eaten meal from the night before and refill her water. After that, he is not allowed in the room, and no one but him is allowed in.

“I don’t know what I did wrong,” Calvin moans to Jack and Valerie.

Valerie pats him on the shoulder. “Probably nothing.” Then she starts to get excited, “But maybe it is time for my family to grow.” Then she throws an arm around Jack, “And if that’s true, you aren’t far behind.”

“Right,” he agrees.

They hear Megan scream nearby. That ends the conversation. Calvin races around the corner to her room. “No,” she calls out to him. He stops with the door open wide enough for him to slide in sideways, but he doesn’t. “I’m. Fine,” she growls holding back the bursts of pain. “Wait. In. Hall.”

Valerie passes him with a, “Time to get back to the girls.”

Jack comes and sits beside him, “Val’s busy until dinner. Are you cooking or me?”

“What do you cook,” Calvin asks the dog mom.

Jack smirks, “Not much. I’m more of a vegetarian. I can make a mean salad and healthy cooked vegetables, like ratatouille.”

“That’s why there’s so many vegetables in our fridge. I’m more of a french toast, scrambled eggs, wedge salad kinda guy.”

“Fast, easy, simple. That makes sense for you.”

“But Megan’s getting me into the delicious vegatables she grows. How about you go first and I’ll take the next one?” They shake on it. “Besides, I might be feeding the three of you soon.”

Another scream. Calvin tries not to rush to her side. It’s hard. He does stand and look in through the open door. After something happens behind the overturned table, a dischevaled Megan looks at him over the table and waves him in.

As he heads toward her, he passes her plate of half eaten food. Her cup has a little water at the bottom. “Hi,” she whispers to him. Her voice is hoarse and drained. She looks exhausted.

“What can I do for you?” He kneels near her.

She pulls him down so that he twists and sits crossed legged next to her with his back to the wall. “Nothing,” she answers laying her head on his lap. She scoops up the two balls of fur to her chest. Then Cal notices her breathing slows. He pulls some of her bangs away from her face and notices her eyes are closed.

A little while later, Jack waddles in. Following Calvin’s soundless gestures, he sets two plates of food next to Cal and takes the half eaten meal back to the kitchen.

The sun sets and the room gets even darker. Megan yawns but does not move her arms. Then she looks up at him and smiles. “Hey you,” she whispers.

“How are you doing, Beautiful,” Calvin whispers back.

She rubs her cheek against his leg. “Better.” She looks into his eyes to make sure that he’s okay, “I’m sorry for kicking you out. That was the cat in me taking over.”

“Want some food?” He lifts one of the plates that Jack made. She looks and sniffs.

“Maybe a little. I’m starved, but my middle hurts.”

Calvin hovers the food near her. When she doesn’t take any, he notices her arms aren’t moving away from the kittens, he grabs a fork and starts feeding her. It takes a while, but eventually both of them fall asleep with full bellies.

In the morning, her stirring wakes him up. After cracking his cramped neck, he looks down to see her waiting for him. “Meet Kelly and Shelly.” The top of her breasts are covered by her pulled down shirt, and she points to the furball on her left then her right.

“It’s nice to meet you two.” Despite sleeping, the ears on the two little furballs pivot back and forth between the two of them.

Calvin’s time with the girls is cut short when his phone goes off. The massage is short. “Now! Backyard.”

He turns to mommy Megan, “It’s Jack’s turn. Can you come with?”

“Sorry, Honey. I shouldn’t move them or leave them for a couple of days. Maybe Valerie can help.”

“Okay.” He lays her on her side and then slides out of the room. He glances about on his way outside until he realizes that food was just served, so Valerie will probably be back in her room.”

His phone notifies him of another message. He doesn’t need to look at it to know it says, “NOW!”

He hurries outside to find Jack already crouched and pushing. Diane is nearby trying to help but with leaves on the ends of her fingers, she’s not going to be very helpful with the delivery.

When she sees him, she brightens. "Calvin. It's good to see you."

Walking closer, he sees the crown and two floppy ears emerging. "Uhhhh, what do I do?"

Mid push, Jack grunts out a, "catCH!"

Diane extends and weaves her fingers together making a basket. She sprouts leaves and flowers in the bowl for a cushion. “I’ll catch. You help.” He nods and turns to the back end of Jack. Then freezes.

Much like the comedy of errors that was Megan trying to help him give birth; mistakes are made, hands get messy, and birth juice gets everywhere. They do manage to get both dog girls born and in the basket. The first giggles as Diane cradles her.

Just to get a little cleaner, Calvin heads inside and washes his hands at the kitchen sink. Looking out the window while going through practiced motions, he watches Jack snuggle up to one. Where’s the other? He looks around but there is no indication of her. Odd. It must just be my imagination. But I’m sure I delivered two.

Calvin makes dinner and delivers it. Valerie comes out to eat hers, then she retreats. He isn’t sure what to say about Jack’s so he lets Jack introduce her to Papi, short for Papaya.

Over the next couple of days, Calvin pre-makes the breakfast and lunch, takes classes for both Megan and himself, and juggles homework and dinner. While Valerie comes out to eat, she doesn’t help much. This is hard. He wants to quit. It’s only comforting words and snuggles with Megan that gets him through. When Shelly or Kelly curl up into his lap to nap, it helps, too.

One day while delivering food, he asks the mommy dog, “Jack, what happened to the other one?”

“I gave her to Diane. She’s done so much for me that it’s the least I could do for her.”

Calvin tries to understand what Jack just said. The words are clear enough, but the meaning escapes him. “You gave her? I don’t understand.”

Jack scratches the tufts of fur coming in on Papi. She presses her head into his hand. “Diane is lonely for one of her own. For the decade or so that I’ve known her, she is the only of her kind in the region. Since I’m giving Papi to Valerie, it only seems fair to give Rose Mary to Diane. So, she is using all of her energy to make Rose into another dryad.”

“Not judging. I just don’t understand. You are okay with this? SHE’s okay with this?”

“I guess so. Diane assures me that Rose Mary won’t feel any pain and will be better off. And I think Valerie won’t mind at all.”

Remembering how many Valerie already has, Calvin agrees that one won’t be missed and making Diane happy and no longer alone is a good thing, too. Still, he wonders if that won’t make something go wrong later. He pushes the thought out of his mind.

As they doing homework that night, or at least trying to, Valerie walks in. Calvin looks up from his feeble attempts to get Kelly off his textbook to see the bunny mommy almost made up. Sure, she’s in a robe, but her hair looks brushed and a dreamy smile plays about her face. “How are you two doing?”

Megan answers while petting Shelly who is batting at the moving pencil in her other hand, “Good. How’s your crew?”

Valerie’s expression shifts to wistful, “They’re doing great. But. I think it’s almost time to wean them and take off the collar.”

“I think I’m getting there, too.” Megan then gestures to the two, young, cat girls, “This is Shelly and Kelly.”

Calvin uses the space of Val walking over as a time to get his question in, “So, does this mean you are taking back over the cooking?”

Val nods, “Probably tomorrow. Your food’s okay, Cal, but my little ones are going to need more vegetables.”

“And mine will need meat soon,” Val mentions.

“Speaking of which, do you think these two cuties will be ready soon?” Valerie reaches down to pet the cat girl on Megan’s lap.

Megan puts down the pencil to lift Shelly up. “Give me a couple of days. They just opened their eyes.” Seeing the disappointment in her friend’s eyes, she adds, “But you can come in whenever you want. They’ll need to get used to you.”

Valerie takes the little red haired cat girl into her arms and holds it to her chest. With a new smirk, she asks, “What if I want to now?” She doesn’t wait for an answer as she joins them sitting on the floor and rubs her charge behind her ears.

They talk and try to work on homework. Valerie takes over cooking until Jack and Megan are ready to pass them off. Then Megan takes over while Val loves on her new family. So as to not confuse the kids, Jack spends the remainder of the quarter visiting Diane when he’s not doing work or sleeping at home. Kelly and Shelly tend to drift toward Cal and Meg when they aren’t with Valerie.

Just before they leave for home, Valerie stops them. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

Calvin rolls his eyes. “Please tell me that it doesn’t have anything to do making more children like mermaids or harpies or something.”

Megan chuckles at this. Valerie smiles and shakes her head, “No, no. Nothing like that.” She puts her pointer finger under her chin and looks to the side, “But that does give me ideas.” Seeing Cal’s startled expression, she relents, “Just kidding.” She turns more serious as she faces them, “No, I didn’t know having so many kids would be such a handful.”

“That’s what you get when you have eight kids,” Cal mutters under his breath.

Megan, at his side, giggles and nudges him in the ribs.”So, what were you thinking?”

“Well, you lost your job when you became my surrogate mother. And I could use some extra hands around here, doing all the things that I can’t. Would you consider being a governess around here?”

Remembering the confusion from before, Calvin asks pointing at his girlfriend, “You’re asking her, only, right?”

“Yes, Cal, I mean Megan only, but you can stop by and help, too, if you like.” She looks to her friend who hasn’t answered yet, “So, what do you think?”

She looks to Calvin for input and then back to her friend, “I don’t know, Val. You know I’d do almost anything for you, but juggling homework and housework and child care, I’d never be at home.”

“Well, I’m going to need the four ‘bedrooms’ you all used, for my children, so I can’t house you here.” She pauses to think. “That’s not entirely true. I’m going to need to hire a contractor to build a room for Xander. I suppose I could build one for you, too.” She derails and shakes her fist with a smile. “If it weren’t for Andrea giving birth to fraternal twins, all of this would be fine.” Val stops her fake rant to look back at Megan with her eyes.

Megan considers this. “So, what exactly are we talking here? I do all the cooking and cleaning like a maid?”

Val’s eyes go wide and she shakes her head, “No, no, no. You won’t be a maid. Yes, you might do most of the cooking. I’ll do it when I can. Cleaning, I’ll be working on getting them to clean up after themselves. You’ll ... You’ll ...” She struggles for words for a moment. “I’m going to have my hands full, raising these kids. I’m going to need someone to help with the training. Someone for them to talk to, when I’m not available helping other kids. I’m going to need a Ying for my Yang, so to speak. Someone who fills in where I can’t.” She lets this sink in then adds, “Since I haven’t mentioned this. I’m planning to pay you as well.” She stumbles over herself when it gets quiet again, “That’s why I mentioned losing your job at the beginning. This is to replace your job. For now.”

Calvin jumps in here. “That’s a pretty sweet deal. Free room and food plus getting paid, as well. I might consider doing it, if you turn it down.”

His girlfriend turns on him, “Uggg. She’s talking 24-7 here. I’ll probably be busy every day, all day. I might not even have time to get my homework done, let alone go to classes. You remember when you had to do everything yourself while all of us were with our babies? It’ll be like that for me.” Calvin gets thoughtful at this.

Val’s mouth opens and closes and she starts stammering out some sort of correction, “I. We’ll. You’ll have time for that.” Then almost apologetic, she says, “We’ll make time for that. Somehow.”

Megan lets her friend stew in that for a moment before smiling at her friends, “I’ll be hard and tiring, but it’ll let me see my girls again.”

“My girls,” Valerie interjects.

She nods at the correction, “And even if I can’t be their mom, I’ll get to love on them and help them grow into smart, well behaved young ladies. I’ll do it, Val. But I’ll need both of your help.”

Valerie breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I will make it worth your while.”

Calvin looks awkwardly between them and shuffles his feet. “Well, since we are talking about life changes ...” He reaches into his pocket and drops on one knee. Pulling out a black box, he offers it to his girlfriend. “Megan. My time with you has been amazing. You have made me a better me. You’ve opened my eyes to other possibilities. Plus you’re a blast to compete against. On this Valentine’s Day, I ask. Will you marry me? Eventually?”

Both women gasp. Megan takes the box and opens it. There in the black velvet is a gray ring-ish thing. Calvin explains when she looks at him, “I don’t have the money to buy you a ring at the moment. This is a replacement ring. I made it from one of the cords to my computer.” He looks away, embarrassed. “I didn’t realize I was still using it, so I had to get another. Anyway, I made it just for you until I can get one to replace it.” When she doesn’t say anything while still looking at the ring, he adds, “Please say yes.”

Megan throws her arms around him as she flops down on him. “Yes!” The downward force is added to his low center of gravity, and they both fall backward onto the carpet. Then she kisses him and he returns it.

“Well, then,” Valerie comments, “It seems like I will be seeing you both a bunch soon. I suppose I should introduce you to the family. All nine of them.”