This is the next in the series of stories that started with Loose the Hounds. This was supposed to be a nice, fluffy little one-shot like I always try to write for Christmastime. Max and Alec and a baby, etc. Well, this sucker turned into a MONSTER that ran away with my little one-shot. It's a darn good thing I started earlier than normal, or it wasn't going to get done in time.

To date, the stories in this series are:

Loose the Hounds

Toys for Tots

Dogs of War

Dog Will Have His Day

Off the Leash

Leash Laws

New Dog Old Tricks

If you don't feel like wading through all that history, then as a little recap, there was a riot outside city hall that killed several Xs, and almost killed Max, which was a turning point in public sentiment. Since then the transgenics have legally taken over TC and formed a company that works for the government as well as private companies and individuals taking jobs that require their special skills. Max and Alec got together in the wake of the riot, and have persevered through far too many disasters. Because of the genetics involved, pregnancies are difficult for transgenics, but Max and Alec have managed it. Now… on we go!

January

Max awoke to the feeling of cool air settling across her skin, goosebumps forming as the chill reached her. She wasn't wearing any clothes and she didn't like the cold. She never had, not since she'd fallen through the ice all those years ago.

Alec was pulling the sheets away and Max was about to smack him when he placed a light kiss low on her belly to one side. "Hello, baby one." He shifted to the other side of her belly and placed another light kiss there. "Hello, baby two."

They'd spent the day before with the medical types, who were having a lot of fun at her expense while managing her high risk pregnancy. Transgenics were just problem children, and that had resulted in… well… problems having children. Transgenics were hybrids, and hybrids were almost always sterile. She and Alec had been either compatible enough or lucky enough to beat the odds, but it was still dangerous, both to her and the twins she carried. Before she'd known she was pregnant, the tiny fetuses had already sent her body chemistry so awry she'd gone into seizures. The doctors had fixed that, but she was constantly going back for tests to make sure everything was as it should be.

That she was having twins had only complicated things further. TC's veterinarian and go-to medical expert, Dr. Peterson, had initially told her she was pregnant when Alec had rushed her in because of the shakes. Dr. Peterson had been most concerned with that at the time and only confirmed the pregnancy. Once they'd done more testing, however, they'd learned it was twins she was carrying, and she and Alec had both had to take a seat at that little bit of news. Since then, they'd had some time to process, and they were making plans.

None of that mattered, however, when her husband was lying next to her, kissing her still flat belly, and whispering to their unborn children. The doctors kept referring to them as Baby One and Baby Two, so that's what they were doing too until they came up with something better.

"You wanna tell me why you're freezing me to death?" Max asked, one eyebrow raised.

Alec looked up at her and grinned. "Just saying good morning to the kiddies."

"You can't do that while I still have covers on?" she griped.

Alec got that glint in his eye, the same one that had resulted in the very reason that she had been sleeping naked.

"Cold, Maxie?" He was braced on his elbow to one side of her, clearly enjoying the view.

"What do you think?" she snapped, but there was no real heat behind it. They'd played this game before, and she knew it was going to end well for both of them.

"I think maybe I better make sure you're warm enough." He shifted closer again and placed another kiss on her abdomen. "Sorry, babies. I have to take care of your mom now." He kissed his way up her body, paying special attention to her breasts, and to that spot on her neck that did all kinds of lovely things for her, until he covered her body with his.

"You know we're supposed to have a meeting this morning with the people from the Rafferty job," she managed to gasp out. She could barely think straight when he was using his mouth for a much better use than nonstop talking. She had to say something, though. They were supposed to be responsible adults, not randy teenagers who couldn't control their urges.

"I don't want to talk about Rafferty or their stolen genetically altered potato right now," he answered.

"They're going to pay us a fortune to-"

Alec cut her off with a searing kiss, settling himself more comfortably against her and Max decided that the Great Potato Caper, as they had been calling it, could definitely wait.

More tomorrow… This is just to get us started. This puppy is 12 chapters, and to the best of my ability, I'm going to get a chapter posted every day leading up to Christmas. Fair warning. Some are absolute fluff, and some are very, very not fluff.