Kenzo wasn't as soundly asleep as she believed him to be. He was very much awake. Adeline's constant tossing and turning since her return home often kept a restless sleep at bay. Tonight was particularly bad. He could hear the change in her breathing, the way her body tightened and relaxed as if she were in pain, she hadn't settled in what felt like hours. And finally that restlessness would drive her from their bed.
At first, he didn't move. Kenzo's eyes opened to track her shadowy figure across the room, his entire being screaming at him to follow her. But he offered her space. For now at least. Stumbling out of her bedroom, Adeline disappeared into the hall and his ears careened forward as he listened to her fading paw steps. A muted thud had his head and body rising in the same motion, the Colonel swiftly stepping off their bed without a moment of hesitation.
He was at the door when Adeline's deafening screech filled the walls of their home. It was a sound of utter agony. His ears fell back against his skull, like it would be enough to keep such a shriek from branding itself into his memory. That didn't stop his paws from scraping against the stone floor as he lunged into the hallway, his eyes immediately landing on Adeline's crumpled form.
Far too much trauma had been inflicted on them both. Seeing her, laying there on the floor, brought memories that were still too fresh in his mind. Reminding himself that she was home, she was safe, only did so much.
Motion at the opposite end of the hall caught his attention. The midwife. The woman Adeline had insisted on hiring in preparation for the birth. Swallowing his discontent for having a stranger within his home at a time like this had left a bitter taste in his mouth. But the midwife had been relatively unfazed by his surly behavior.
Distracted, for a rather obvious reason, Adeline paid him no mind as he approached - sharp eyes watching as her body instinctively pushed. The scent of blood and birth filled the hall and his nose. Coming to her side, he didn't disturb her, not right away at least. Kenzo watched with a quiet awe as Adeline gave birth to the first pup. With the midwife stepping in to assist, he watched her with lethal attention as she scooped up the pup. His lip twitched, itching to curl in warning. But she would only set the pup in front of his wife, encouraging her to clean it.
K-Kenzo!
"I'm here." His voice was low as he stepped closer, a slow smile stretching across his lips. Dropping his head, he brushed his nose against her cheek before looking at the wet ball of fur. Reds and creams. He'd swallow the sliver of relief it offered him. Lowering himself to the hard floor, he laid beside her as Adeline's face scrunched with pain once more, which could only mean one thing. With not a single clue what else to do, Kenzo murmured soft words of encouragement - assuring her that she cold do this, that he was here with her, that it would all be worth it in the end.
"If the accident will."
"Kenzo Speech."
"Adeline Speech"