Chapter 17 - The happy ending

"Faster, Horace! Faster!"

"I try!" answered Horace, trying to outbellow Mickey's screams. The mouse laid on the backseat, with head on Minnie's lap, yelling each time a contraction striked his body. His face covered in sweat and trembled endless. Minnie tried to ease his pain with more or less success.

"Dear, remember what we learnt on the course? Try to relax and breath, okay? Relax and breath." with the repeats she tried to calm herself as well.

"Just hold on for a few minutes and we reach the hospital." told them Oswald, turning behind on the passanger's seat.

"We can't bring him into the maternity ward!" said back Minnie in despair "The doctors will notice he's not a woman."

"Trust me, Minnie. I know a very nice doctoress who helped my wife many times when she was in labour." Minnie stared at him scared, but slowly nodded.

"Just please hurry..." Can you hold on a bit more, dear?

"A-arghh I try... but it hurt so damn mu-aaaaach!" Mickey shouted and arched his back by another contraction. His wife holds him tight, showed him how to breath.

"Was it really a good idea leaving Daisy with that crazy asshole?" wondered Horace, trying to distract them.

"The police will arrive there in any minutes. And don't worry, Daisy can take care of herself." told him Minnie. Soon they arrived to the hospital, but instead of parking at the main gate Oswald carried them to the backside.

"I'll be back soon. Just hold on, bro." said the hare and jumped out the car, vanishing behind the door. The male rushed through some corridors until he arrived to the main waiting room of the wing. Fortunately it was empty at this hour. Oswald went to the right office and knocked in loud. First nothing happened, then the door opened and a brown, elder hen appeared in the entrance.

"Mr. Rabbit? Do you know what time is it? I just managed to go home. What can I do for you?" she asked tired, visibly annoyed her the male's appear.

"Doctoress Cluck, thanks goodnes ya'r still here. I need yar help."

"Maybe something has happened with Mrs. Ortensia?"

"No, its not about my wife this time. Please come with me quickly." not waiting for the answer Oswald grabbed the hen's wing and dragged her back the way he came.

"But Mr. Rabbit! What are you doing?" moaned Dr. Cluck.

"It's an emergency!" they ran outside where the car parked. The hen managed to pull her wing away.

"I won't take any more step if you don't explain me why you took me here!" she stated angry, but then she heard the screams from the car. Oswald jumped there and opened the door.

"Finally you back. I don't know how long he can take." Minnie looked at the hare scared, in her arms Mickey shivered in suffer. By the sight Dr. Cluck was totally shocked.

"W-what's this? I-it's a..."

"Yes, its a male who's going to give birth. That's why we need your help, Doctoress. You're the only one we can trust." told her Oswald while he carried there a wheelchair.

"Oh sweet goodness! This is real?" stammered the avian, then hearing Mickey's scream she snapped out of shock and shook her head.

"Fine. Let's bring him inside." Cluck said and reached in to help the poor mouse into the chair. The group rushed into the building, Dr. Cluck called one of her assistent as they approached the surgery.

"I must have to do an operation on him."

"Let me come with you." Minnie almost begged in despair.

"Forgive me, but you can't." told her the hen.

"But..." Minie tried to protest when a hand clapsed around her wrist. She turned that way and her eyes met with Mickey's. His fingers clenched tight on her hand in pain, his eyes shined in fever.

"I-it's o-o-okay nghhh..." rattled the mouse, forcing a little smile onto his torn face "I-I-I'll be f-fine..."

"Mickey... I don't want to leave you again." Minnie embraced his head, caressing his wet cheeks.

"I-I n-n-never aghhh leave you, m-my love." reassured her Mickey, then the girl was gently taken away by Oswald.

"We will be here, brother." said the hare then Dr. Cluck carried the mouse into the surgery, leaving the worried others behind.

They weren't sure how many hours have passed. Minnie stood in the middle of the corridor and watched the surgery's door. Meanwhile Horace keft to pick up Daisy at the police station, so it was only the mouse and Oswald there waiting. The hare got enough of the sitting, he slowly walked to Minnie and rested his hand on her shoulder. The girl shivered.

"You should have to rest a little." told her Oswald.

"I can't. No until I see my Mickey again." said back Minnie on weak voice.

"My bro is strong, ya just know it too. But that doesn't help if you worry yourself sick." he gently carried Minnie to a chair, The girl sat down exhauster, through her fur on the head nervously. Oswal sat by her side to support his sister-in-law. Soon the door of the surgery opened and the tired Dr. Cluck walked out, holding a small bundle in one wing. Minnie immediately jumped up and rushed to the hen.

"How is Mickey? Is he alright?"

"Your mate is fine, the operation went well." nodded the doctor. Minnie and Oswald let out a reassured sigh "My assistent brought him into a comfortable room. Soon you can visit him."

"Thank you. Thank you so much." muttered Minnie, then Dr. Cluck walked closer to her, placing the bundle into her arms. She stared down astonished.

"Congratulation for your newborn." smiled the hen warmly.

Minnie's heart skipped a beat. With a trembling hand moved away the fabric, revealing a tiny face with black fur and peachy cheeks wrapped in the bundle. The baby let out a soft whimper. Minnie put a hand in front of her mouth to muffle her moan, yet her eyes filled up with tears. Oswald needed to quickly place a chair under her, avoiding her collapse.

"This... this is my child?" stammered, touching a little hand peeking out the fabric "My sweet baby?"

"Yes, she's your daughter." told her Dr Cluck smiling.

"A-a girl? Oh how beautiful she is." Minnie couldn't help back her tears anymore. She raised up the bundle and kissed her newborn's forehead "Hello, my angel. My sweetest girl. I... I'm your..."

"You're a mother now, Minnie." Oswald leaned over her shoulder, taking a look at the baby. Minnie blinked, but smiled upon the hare.

"Mother... Indeed, I'm your mommy. And Mickey is your daddy." whispered for her infant. The little one squeaked in her arms and half opened her eyes, glancing at her mother with hazel irises.

"She has Mickey's eyes." noted Minnie, smiling in joy. An unknown euphory filled up her body with happiness she didn't feel in a while now. Her dream, her greatest wish came true. Slowly she stood up and looked upon Dr. Cluck.

"Can I see my mate now?" the hen nodded and guided the two into a small ward. Outside the sun just rose, illuminating in the room. On the bed Mickey rested soundly. When the door opened he weakly opened his eyes and glanced at the newcomers.

"Mickey!" Minnie rushed to her mate, knelt next to the bed and hugged the male with one arm.

"M-Minnie..." whispered Mickey exhausted, he was still dazed by the medicines.

"How do you feel, my love? I was so worried." the girl caressed his cheeks.

"Tired... but now I have a cool scar." touched his belly Mickey, chuckling weakly.

"Silly." smiled Minnie reassured. Mickey looked at his beautiful wife and his expressions turned serious.

"Minnie... There's something I must have to tell you." reached out for her hand "Te Doc duped us. There was nothing wrong with you. You are able to have a child,"

"I know." the answer astonished the mouse.

"Y-you knew it? B-but when..."

"I read the files on his laptop and everything became clear for me. I was angry at his damn trick, but I don't care about it anymore. Look." she gently placed the bundle into her mate's arms "Why not say hello to our daughter instead?"

"I-it's a girl?" moaned Mickey, touched by the infant's cuteness as he hold her securely "Our little baby girl?"

"Yes, and she's healty. Thanks to you, Mickey." Minnie sat next to him and hugged her beloved ones. The male sniffed in joy, couldn't take his eyes off their child.

"Congratulation, bro." smiled at them Oswald from the doorway "And how will you call her?" the mice changed a look with each other.

"Would you like to name her?" asked Mickey, but Minnie shook her head.

"It's your right, dear." told him the female, watching the tiny face as the first sunshine enlightened it. The male hummed a little before he said.

"How about Mina?"

"Mina? It's perfect for her." Minnie kissed his cheek and glanced down at the baby "Our sweet Mina."

Finally, after all tohse trouble they went through, all the happiness and sadness, they have arrived to the end of the adventure. They learnt a lot from each other, gained new kind of experiences they never believed to get. And now, with their greatest wish, with their child in their embrace they were ready to start a brand new chapter of their life. But... thats another story.

The End.