Kathryn was sleeping in the afterglow of another night of passion with her now fiance, dreaming the night away. Her dream was of a perfect domestic life with Pitch, being his wife in some form of family sitcom show like situation. The idyllic life from a TV show. The dream took a sudden turn as she suddenly started to expand, her body changing to look nine months pregnant. The dream jumpcut to her being rushed into the hospital and onto a bed to give birth as a doctor instructed her to push.

  Instead what happened is her belly burst open from the inside as a small Umbran floated out of her now dying body. The doctor “held” the thing in his hands and smiled wickedly at Kathryn who was quickly fading. “Congratulations, Missus Black. It's a Cryptid.” He spoke with a sinister tone as his creepy smile grew, his face changing to that of Thomas Marrow’s. He then spoke his company's cheesy slogan. “Building Tomorrow, one day at a time.”

  Kathryn's eyes slowly fluttered open as her heart raced. She was cuddled up to Pitch in his human form and he seemed to be asleep. Though he was likely just shutting his eyes and pretending to sleep. She slowly moved her hand to look at the handmade ring on her finger with a smile. Her hand has returned to normal after last night, not that she was thinking about that at the moment. She then slowly moved her hand down to her exposed belly and lightly rubbed on it. “(A wife and mother. Always thought I'd be married to the job but now that's the future I'm looking forward to. With how often we keep going at it with no protection I wouldn't be surprised to find out I was already with child.)”

  Her face suddenly went pale as her eyes widened. “(What would that even look like? I know my tests said it's possible but they don't exactly show me what the end result will be. Are there dangers to me if and when the time comes?)” It was a genuine concern, and definitely something she's thought about and probably why she had her nightmare. After all, there wasn't exactly a precedent she could go off. Yeah, natural hybrids existed, but those weren't two beings that were as physically different as her and Pitch were.

  Kathryn ran her hand softly on her belly for a bit more and sighed. “(I'll cross that bridge when we come to it. All I know is when I find out for sure I'm with child I plan to at least try to carry it to term.)” She let out a sigh. “Think we should start thinking about baby names?” She whispered mostly to herself. Pitch smiled slightly with his eyes closed. “Before I became this I had thought that if it ever happened to me, I'd name my first kid after my dad if it was a boy.” His smile faded. “Though all things considered I highly doubt anything about us having a kid would be normal.”

  Kathryn felt a mix of comfort and concern at the fact Pitch had the same thoughts she did. He had the same worries about their future as a couple. It wouldn't be as simple as becoming monster and wife then living happily ever after. Things were much more complicated than that. Kathryn reached out and put her hand on Pitch's face. “We'll figure it out babe, because Lord knows I'm not doing anything to prevent a child.” Pitch chuckled. “I imagine that it would look quite silly for me to try and use condoms.” Kathryn let out a small laugh. “Yeah, but that wouldn't be the only preventative measure we'd use if we used them.”

  Pitch nodded, his thoughts moved from the future to the present. “So… you run those tests on your own samples?” Kathryn shook her head. “I was waiting on a second batch of tests for Kasa because she started talking. Gotta figure out what changed and whatnot. Then I'll run my own samples to see what that transformation was all about.” Pitch chuckled. “You looked like a nekomata version of a Cait Sith.” Kathryn's eyes widened, then returned to normal as she cleared her throat. “Yeah, well, we'll see what the tests turn up.”

  Pitch nodded as he got up, his nude human form on display. Kathryn playfully bites her lips with a mewling noise before opening the covers to show her own nude body to him and wiggling her eyebrows. Pitch shook his head and chuckled. “Didn't you get enough last night? I mean if I was human my back would be covered in scars from you clawing the shit out of it.” Kathryn blushed heavily. “S-sorry. I couldn't help it. However, it wasn't entirely my fault. I may have been the one transformed, but you were like an animal last night.”

  Pitch chuckled nervously before getting dressed. “Right, I guess I got a little more worked up then usual. I guess seeing the animal brought out in you brought out the animal in me as well.” Pitch smiled coyly at Kathryn who got up and started getting dressed. Pitch walked over and gave her a deep and passionate kiss before exiting the room and making breakfast for everyone. Kasa came out from her room and glared at the two. “Reminder. You have yet to soundproof.” Kathryn blushes hard at this statement. “R-right, s-sorry.” Kasa brought up her paw and waved dismissively. “I don't mind so much anymore. Closest I can get to getting action myself right now. Even found a work around so I don't have to worry about claws.”

  Kathryn tilted her head. “Are you suggesting-” Kasa interrupted her. “I'm not exactly proud of it, so please don't bring it up. Though I'm surprised the neighbors haven't filed a noise report.” Pitch didn't even look over from his food prep. “I might make some changes to your room to accommodate you further considering I finally heard back from Ishwada about the Underwater Panther of Canada. She is capable of speech and has zero interest in leaving her island. There's evidence there at least used to be more and a chance she lied but the numbers have always been estimated at five to ten individuals.”

  Kathryn nodded. “Apparently incest is less of a problem for Cryptids and Cryptid hybrids. I've run a number of tests on it. So even just two individuals can be enough for a non-hybrid Cryptid and a dozen can be enough for a hybrid Cryptid. Maintaining a population isn't as difficult as it would be for humans for the rare few Cryptid species that reproduce sexually. And those that do can still propagate numbers in the normal Cryptid way.” Pitch hummed. “That's… interesting. However, I don't see how it's helpful in the current situation.” Kathryn sighed. “Right, sorry. Went on a tangent there.”

  Pitch handed out the finished meal. “Anyway, Kathryn and I are going to do everything we can to make you comfortable and have all your needs met for as long as you need us. Maybe one day we can help you become even more human.” Kasa grumbled. “Right now the thing I need most is a good hard pounding. But that isn't happening any time soon.” Pitch chuckled. “If we get you looking more human it should be easier. But yeah, as is it would be difficult finding you a partner that wasn't a creep. Or at least as much of a creep.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Kasa rolled to her side and grumbled while batting at her plate with her paw. “Yeah well, the sooner the better. Lady gets lonely and listening to you guys is a mixed experience.” Pitch nodded. “As I said we'll do our best to accommodate you here.” Kasa nodded and started eating her food. Kathryn works on hers as well as Pitch simply drinks holy water. The two quickly finished their meals and Pitch finished his water. “Slow day today. Though considering yesterday I suppose that's not bad.”

  Kathryn nodded. “Any plans for today assuming nothing comes up?” Pitch shrugged. “I might make a store run to get stuff for Kasa’s room. Large dog door so the door can be closed for privacy and other accommodations. If she's going to live with us, might as well make her as comfortable as possible here.” Kathryn finished up her food and put the dish in the sink. “Why don't you own a dishwasher?” Pitch shrugged. “It gives me something to do while you sleep.”

  Kathryn had not considered that Pitch would actively avoid some time saving devices simply because he has nothing but time when he's not working. Not needing to sleep much was somewhat of a double edged sword. “Well I'm going to check my test results before I have to get ready for work.” She got up and went to the garage leaving Pitch with Kasa. Pitch put Kasa’s plate in the sink for later. Kasa nuzzled Pitch's hand. “I'm glad I found you two. It's a lot better than being alone in the wild. Even if you guys can't do anything more than what you've done.”

  Pitch pet Kasa's head. “It's hard not to emphasize. I too was once human. Though I don't have to worry about things like heat cycles.” Kasa chuckled nervously. “R-right. That must be why I've been so worked up lately.” Pitch did a stretch. “Like I said, I'll get things for your room to make things easier. I'll also get the soundproofing stuff so you don't have to hear Kat and I. Or at least so the neighbors don't have to hear.” Kasa nodded. “Yeah, definitely the second thing. I'll be fine if the rooms themselves aren't. Just know that I have no plans on holding my own voice in. If I have to hear you, it's only fair.”

  Pitch chuckled and headed for the door. “I'll be back in a bit.” Then he left for the hardware store.

  Kathryn came back into the house with several papers. “Okay, so it seems like you simply reactivated dormant human DNA where I activated dormant Cryptid DNA. … Did Pitch go for his run already?” Kasa nodded. Kathryn looked over the results. “So you have more dormant DNA that could be accused perhaps temporarily if not permanently. I might be able to do so with gene therapy.” Kasa stretched on the floor. “I'm willing to give it a try as long as the side effects are at least tame if there are any.”

  Kathryn nodded. “I'll get what I need and we can start after I get back from work. You behave. No trying to make moves on my man just because you're horny and I'm not here.” Kasa let out a short laugh. “Okay, I'll wait to make moves till you are also here.” She said as a joke. Kathryn laughed a bit too and went to the door. She paused as she reached for the door. “What… activated the dormant DNA to start with? For me it was a heightened mood state.” After a moment of thinking it over she shrugged. “I'll figure it out eventually.” Then she left for work.

  Kasa was once again alone in the house. She spent some time thinking about what Kathryn said about the heightened mood state. “Am I only able to talk better right now because I've been in heat? Will I lose the ability when the cycle ends?” She spoke out loud to herself. She started pacing back and forth until Pitch returned with several things for her room. “Alright, I'll start with the door modifications so your door can be closed in case you want privacy. Then I'll add the new things I got for the inside of the room. I got you a new bed while I was at it because sleeping on the floor sucks. Hope you don't mind but I got an extra large pet bed and a human bed. I wasn't sure what you'd prefer.”

  Kasa watched as Pitch started working on the changes to her room. “Honestly, anything is better than the floor.” Pitch nodded. It's a good thing I've got this spare room. … How do you uhh… bathroom?” Kasa blinked a few times before looking away. “For one thing I use the tub then run water, for the second I go out the back door to the yard. It's fenced in so as long as I'm not out for long it's usually safe. Especially at night.” Pitch got back to installing the dog door. “I'll see if there is something I can do about that too. If you get spotted in the yard it'll raise eyebrows. However, I doubt you want to use a litter box like a cat.”

  Kasa shook her head. “More because I'd rather not deal with the smell and clean up than out of pride.” Pitch nodded as he worked on the installation. Once finished he added the new items to the inside of the room, starting with the two beds and a computer with a keyboard with comically large keys normally bought as a gag gift. “With this you'll be able to access the internet. I won't be checking your search history so go ham. I even got you a… toy that hooks up to the wall so you can more easily… reduce your own stress. I know it's not the same as a real man but it's probably better than whatever you've been doing.”

  Kasa nuzzled Pitch's arm. “Thank you Pitch, for trying your best.” Pitch nodded. “Now if you excuse me, I've got some stuff to add to the house for soundproofing to avoid noise complaints. If anything is left over I'll do the inner rooms.” Kasa nodded. “Shut the door on your way out.” Pitch did so and got to work soundproofing the house. It definitely gave him a lot to do and by the time he was done with home improvement it was well into the night. Once done with the outer walls he didn't have en6fir the inner wall. He went into the house and started cooking, likely having missed lunch he made the meal extra big.

  Pitch walked to Kasa's room and knocked on the door. Her voice came out from inside the room. “D-don’t enter.” Pitch chuckled. “Sorry I forgot to make lunch. I made a double serving for dinner. I'll just slide it through the dog door and come by later.” There was a long pause before Kasa responded. “Okay, thanks for the meal.” Pitch slid the food into the door and walked into the living room to sit and chill, allowing Kasa to gather privacy. He looked at the clock. “Kathryn should be done with work soon unless something comes up or she loses track of time.” Every so often Pitch would hear a noise from Kasa's room and ignore it. He simply turned up the TV and pretended not to notice.

  Pitch lost track of time for a bit before looking at the clock to see two hours had passed and Kathryn had not returned. He picked up his phone to check on her only to just then come through the door. “Ah, I was just about to text you. Did something come up at work?” Kathryn looked all excited. “I think I've made my greatest breakthrough yet!” Pitch perked up. “Yeah?” Kathryn pulled out and unfolded several papers with data sheets and graphs and handed them to Pitch. “Check it out.”

  Pitch flipped through the pages. “I uhh… don't understand half of this. I understand this graph has energy levels listed but that's about it.” Kathryn pointed to the graph. “That's the amount of energy in the “hope” wavelength. I was running a series of tests on how it interacts with other Cryptid emotional sources again. Turns out when combined with other high emotional levels it can shift the amount of active anomalous DNA. Shifting dormant to active and back again depending on a number of factors. Don't you see? Your hope energy is the key to helping hybrids like Kasa regain humanity. Inversely it's why I, with my high level of anomalous DNA, shifted to be more monster-like when my emotions went out of control. Just like how emotional energies create Cryptids it also interacts with Cryptid genetics.”

  Pitch thought about the new information. “How come this hasn't been noticed before?” Kathryn shrugged. “I'm guessing most people don't have high enough amounts and wouldn't see noticeable physical changes. Things like temporary strength enhancement have always been thought to be part of adrenaline but anonymous DNA may play a hand as well.” Pitch nodded. “I'll knock on Kasa's door and let her know that we have ideas on how to help her and can start trying things.”

  Pitch knocked on the door, but got no response. “Right, it's the middle of the night. She's probably sleeping.” Kathryn shrugged. “You could always tell her in the morning.” Pitch looked at the door, then back at Kathryn. “Are we doing enough for her?” Kathryn shrugged. “We're doing our best. Is that not enough? Now come to bed. I have a hard time sleeping without you by my side.” Pitch nodded and followed her into the room, the two changing into pajamas before crawling under the blanket together. It didn't take long for Kathryn to doze off. Pitch simply laid there awake, not needing to sleep.