Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The early morning sun filtered through the gingham curtains of the Caramel Bunny’s cottage, painting everything in a warm, honeyed glow. She stretched lazily, her silky ears flopping forward as she let out a soft sigh. Outside, birds chirped sweetly, and the scent of cocoa blossoms hung thick in the air.

She padded across the hardwood floor, one paw cradling her belly absentmindedly. Something had been off lately. Her usually boundless energy had since been replaced by a syrupy sort of tiredness, and she couldn’t quite explain the strange fluttering in her tummy. 

Still, she hummed her usual sultry tune as she prepared her breakfast— chocolate-dipped toast and a touch of honey from the bees down the lane. But the moment the aroma hit her, she froze. Her nose twitched. Then she bolted to the sink and threw up.

After rinsing her mouth and resting her paws on the counter, the realization instantly hit her like a bag of sugar.

“Oh, caramel cups…” she whispered, her wide brown eyes flicking downward toward her stomach. Her ears drooped as she whispered again, “No… can’t be…”

But deep down, she knew. Her instincts— usually tuned for lounging, flirting, and chocolate commercials —were now dialed into something deeper, something maternal. She placed a paw gently on her soft stomach and felt the barest flutter. Her heart skipped a beat.

Tony the Tiger was halfway through his morning run in the nearby field when he saw her sitting beneath their usual willow tree. She looked… different. Her usually flirtatious gaze was pensive, her body language subdued.

“Caramella?” he asked, slowing to a trot, his orange-and-black stripes gleaming in the sunlight. “You okay, sugar paws?”

She looked up at him and smiled, though it was a little more wobbly than usual. “Tony… I need to tell you something.”

He sat down beside her, concerned but calm, the warmth of his presence steadying her nerves.

She reached for his massive paw with her delicate one, looking up through her lashes. “I’m… I’m pregnant.”

There was a pause.

Then, Tony blinked. “Wait, really? Are you sure?”

She nodded, a slow smile breaking through. “As sure as I am that cocoa goes with cream.”

His eyes widened, and then—he let out a triumphant whoop, strong enough to send birds flying from nearby trees. “That’s GRRRRREAT!”

She giggled despite herself, her cheeks flushing. “You’re not… shocked?”

“I am, babe, but it's the good kind of shocked! We’re gonna be parents?” He cupped her cheek with one paw, his usual bombastic charm melting into something tender. “Little stripy bunnies or fuzzy tiger cubs running around? That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Her eyes welled with happy tears as she leaned into his touch. “I didn’t expect it, but somehow… it feels right. Doesn’t it?”

Tony grinned. “With you? Always.”

They sat there in the dappled sun, paws intertwined over her belly. For the first time, the caramel bunny wasn’t thinking about soft-focus commercials or slow-motion chocolate pours. She was thinking about bedtime stories, tiny paws, and a home filled with warmth and laughter— and perhaps a few cocoa-scented baby blankets.

Chapter Text

Caramel lay back on the softly cushioned exam table, paws nervously twisting a velvet ribbon between her fingers. The faint smell of chamomile and barley surrounded her in Dr. Badger’s quaint little woodland clinic, where the walls were lined with herbal remedies and crocheted diagrams of animal anatomy.

Tony sat beside her, enormous in the tiny room, knees practically up to his chest. His tail twitched as he tried to hide how nervous he was.

“First time dad?” Dr. Badger asked with a warm smile, adjusting his little spectacles.

Tony gave a slightly-too-loud chuckle. “Heh heh, yeah. I’m excited. Terrified. You know. Classic stripes-and-sugar combo.”

Caramel gave him a fond look, then turned back to the older badger. “We just wanted to check in and see how the little bun’s doing.”

Dr. Badger smeared a dab of cool gel on her belly and began the scan, humming to himself. Caramel’s ears twitched with curiosity. The screen showed fuzzy shapes— indistinct at first —but then Dr. Badger leaned in, peering through his glasses.

“Hm. Well now. This is… certainly a surprise.”

Tony leaned forward. “Everything okay?”

Dr. Badger turned to them, blinking slowly. “Everything is perfect. Just… a bit busier than expected, that's all."

Tony scrunched his face in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"You’re not expecting a baby, Miss Caramel. You’re expecting five.”

“Five?!” Caramel squeaked, her paw flying to her mouth.

Tony looked like he was buffering.

“That’s… one… two… three…” Caramel was counting the little shapes on the screen, eyes wide. “Five?!”

Tony blinked. “That’s— wait, that’s a litter, isn’t it?”

Dr. Badger chuckled. “With your species mix, it’s not uncommon. Large litters can happen when prey and predator genes blend. Think of it as nature’s way of making sure there's enough cuteness to go around.”

Tony turned to Caramel, his face a perfect mix of awe and panic. “Sugar paws, we’re gonna need a bigger crib.”

Caramel stared at the screen, her lower lip trembling… and then she burst out laughing, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Oh, Tony… five! Can you imagine five teeny-tiny stripey ears? Five little noses like mine?”

Tony gathered her into his arms, careful not to squish her. “They’re gonna be the grrreatest little beans the cereal world has ever seen.”

“I’m gonna be huge,” she muttered, leaning into his chest fluff, eyes wide with a grin. “I won’t even be able to waddle— I’ll be rolling!”

“You’ll be beautiful,” he said without hesitation. “Like a marshmallow cloud full of life.”

“Sticky and full of surprises?”

“Just how I like my bunny,” he teased, kissing the top of her head.

Back home, Caramel stood in front of their full-length mirror later that night, pulling her pink silk robe snug over her still-flat tummy. Tony stood behind her, his massive paws wrapping around her waist.

“Can’t believe we’re gonna have five,” she murmured, her ears twitching in wonder. “I can’t believe they’re all in there.”

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “It’s a party in your tummy. And I’m the lucky tiger who gets to decorate the nursery with you.”

She smiled, leaning her head back against him. “We’ll need five little beds. Five matching onesies.”

“And maybe a chocolate fountain they can crawl through.”

“Tony,” she giggled, swatting his arm. “We’re not raising cocoa gremlins.”

“Speak for yourself,” he purred, nuzzling her ear. “I fully intend to spoil the stripes off them.”

Chapter Text

Caramel stood barefoot on the plush rug in front of the full-length mirror in their bedroom, one paw resting on the growing curve of her belly. The rain tapped gently on the windows, a soft percussion to the crackling fire behind her. Her silk robe, tied loosely at the waist, had slipped open slightly, revealing the round swell underneath.

It was undeniable now— she was showing, and she was showing a lot.

She turned slightly to the side, ears dipping forward in surprise at just how far her belly already protruded. “Oh my stars…” she breathed, her voice laced with disbelief and wonder. “Would you look at me…”

The slight golden-brown bulge, firm and glossy, looked less like the beginnings of a bump and more like she’d tucked a chocolate egg under her skin. A very large egg. And she was only—what, ten days along? Twelve? It was hard to keep track with five tiny passengers doing their own thing in there.

She lightly trailed her fingers down the curve, feeling the tautness of her skin and the faintest flutter underneath— like a popcorn kernel just about to pop.

“Sweet little beans,” she murmured. “All five of you. You’re already making quite the entrance.”

From behind her came the creak of the floorboards and the familiar warm rumble of a voice: “Admiring the masterpiece?”

She smiled at Tony’s reflection as he approached, towel still around his neck from a recent workout, fur slightly damp and wild. He stood behind her, paws gently settling on her hips, large and steady.

“More like… astonished at it,” she said, laughing softly. “I swear I was flat two weeks ago. And now I look like I’ve smuggled a sugar sack under my fur.”

Tony leaned in to nuzzle her ear, breath warm. “You’re incredible, y’know that?”

“I look like a caramel croissant.”

“You look like my caramel croissant. But extra filled.”

She burst out giggling, then groaned and rested a paw under her bump. “Don’t make me laugh, I can feel them flipping around like I’m a chocolate fondue fountain.”

Tony knelt down behind her, his large paws sliding carefully around her belly, now warm and round like a gently risen loaf. “Still blows my mind that there’s five of ’em in there.”

“Tell me about it. My body already feels like it’s working double time for a whole bunny bakery.”

“You’re baking a five-tier cake, baby,” he said reverently, kissing the swell just below her belly button. “And it’s gonna be the sweetest thing we’ve ever made.”

She looked down at him, heart fluttering as fast as the kicks starting to ripple beneath her skin. “You’re really ready for this, huh?”

He met her gaze and smiled. “You and me? We’ve got this. We’re gonna have a house full of stripey-fuzzy, chocolate-dipped chaos. And I’m gonna love every second of it.”

She let out a soft laugh, then carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, cradling her belly in both arms. “I think I’m gonna need bigger robes. And maybe… wider doors.”

Tony raised a brow. “You want me to call that squirrel contractor again?”

“Not unless he can find a way to install a cocoa fountain in the nursery without us violating *six* safety codes.”

“Noted.”

She rested her cheek against his bicep, eyes fluttering shut. The quintuplets wriggled gently inside her, as if chiming in. Her body was changing fast— stretching, swelling, reshaping to hold five little lives —but somehow, with Tony by her side, it all felt beautifully right.

Chapter Text

The exam room was lit with warm golden light, and Caramel’s ears were twitching anxiously as she lay back on the cushioned table, her silk maternity dress snug around her now undeniably round belly. The fabric strained just a little more than it had the week before—and even more than the week before *that*.

“Remind me again why I let you talk me into this?” she murmured, glancing toward Tony, who was crunching cereal out of a travel cup. “I’m already growing an entire breakfast buffet. I don’t know if I can handle knowing what kind of chaos it’s gonna be.”

Tony grinned wide. “C’mon, babe. We need this info. You’ve already got five tiny gymnasts in there, and the suspense is killing me.”

Dr. Badger chuckled as he dimmed the lights and turned on the screen. “Ready to meet the team?”

Caramel sucked in a breath, her paws curling over her bump. “Ready as I’ll ever be…”

The soft hum of the sonogram machine filled the room, and slowly, the fuzzy shapes of their little ones came into view. Dr. Badger narrated as he clicked through the images, pointing out baby limbs, wiggling tails, and the occasional foot planted squarely against a sibling’s back.

“Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “You’ve got a full house, all right. Would you like the genders now?”

Tony leaned forward eagerly. “Lay it on us, Doc.”

Dr. Badger smiled.

“Baby A… a boy.”

Caramel let out a little gasp, paw instinctively sliding over the top of her belly.

“Baby B… also a boy.”

Tony’s eyes widened. “Two tiger cubs already!”

“Baby C… a girl.”

“Oh!” Caramel’s voice broke slightly. “A little lady!”

“Baby D… another boy.”

Tony practically bounced in his seat. “Three boys?! That’s gonna be a lot of cereal.”

“And finally… Baby E…” Dr. Badger paused for dramatic effect. “Another girl.”

Caramel’s mouth dropped open, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked at the screen.

“Three boys and two girls,” Dr. Badger said warmly. “A beautiful little mix. And from the looks of it, they’re already practicing for a full-contact cocoa commercial.”

Tony was grinning ear to ear, but his voice softened. “Five little stripes… sugar and spice, huh?”

Caramel reached for his paw and squeezed it tightly. “Five tiny miracles. And we’re so gonna need name tags.”

That night, back at the cottage, Caramel sat on the couch in a soft, oversized sweater that stretched lovingly over her bump. A little notepad rested on her lap, covered in hearts, doodles, and baby name debates. Tony sat behind her, arms wrapped around her middle, one paw absentmindedly rubbing slow circles over the taut skin where someone (probably Baby D) was kicking with serious attitude.

“Three boys…” Caramel whispered. “Two girls…”

“Sounds like a cereal squad and their caramel queens,” Tony murmured, kissing her cheek.

She let her head fall back against his chest. “Think they’ll all have stripes?”

“Some might. Some might have ears like yours. Or tails like mine. Or both. But they’ll all have your sweetness.” His voice softened as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. “And your stubborn streak.”

“I don’t know whether to be flattered or mildly insulted.”

“I mean it in the best way.”

A series of wiggles rippled across her belly and she gasped, laughing. “Oh, they’re listening. Great. Five tiny egos just activated.”

Tony leaned forward and whispered near her belly. “Don’t worry, kids. You’re gonna be GRRRREAT.”

Chapter Text

The soft clink of ceramic cups echoed through the cozy kitchen as Caramel poured warm cocoa into two mugs. The scent of cinnamon, cocoa, and milk swirled in the air, grounding her through the weight tugging at her center. Her belly bumped gently into the edge of the counter as she shifted her stance, and she groaned with dramatic flair.

“Okay,” she grumbled as she carefully waddled over to the table. “I officially feel like I swallowed a breadbasket and now the rolls are fighting.”

Tony, in pajama pants and a too-small tank top stretched tight across his chest, was already sitting at the table with a notepad and an adorably serious expression.

“Correction, you’ve got a full brunch menu in there,” he said as he reached to pull out her chair. “And someone’s clearly trying to start a food fight.”

Caramel huffed as she lowered herself into the chair, her belly brushing the table’s edge like it had its own gravitational pull. She slid a mug toward Tony, then gently rested her own against the top of her bump.

“Okay,” she said, blowing on the cocoa. “We’ve got three boys and two girls. We need names that go together but not too matchy, and I refuse to name them after cereal. I am not raising little Snap, Crackle, and Poptart.”

Tony chuckled. “Alright, alright, no cereal names. How about we start with the boys?”

She nodded and reached into her robe pocket, pulling out a folded-up list of names scribbled in gold pen. “So… I like names with a little flair. Something sweet but not syrupy.”

“Like…?”

“Leo, Milo, Basil, Theo, and— hear me out —Taffy.”

Tony gave her a look. “We’re not naming our son Taffy. He’ll never survive the playground.”

“Fine. Strike Taffy. I just liked how it sounded next to Basil.”

Tony picked up his pen. “Okay. Leo I like. Strong. Stripey energy. Milo’s soft, but solid. Basil… ehhh, makes me think of lasagna.”

“You love lasagna.”

“I don’t want to raise lasagna, though.”

Caramel giggled, then winced suddenly, both paws flying to her belly. “Ohh!”

Tony dropped the pen. “Kick? Cramp?!”

She breathed through it, laughing again. “No, just a hiccup. She’s got hiccups.”

Tony moved around the table in a heartbeat, kneeling beside her and resting his palm gently over the hard curve of her belly. A soft twitch answered back. Then another. Then another, like a gentle drumbeat under the skin.

“That one of the girls?” he murmured.

“Mm-hmm,” Caramel said, brushing a lock of her ear behind her shoulder. “Pretty sure it’s Baby E. She always sits low like a little chocolate truffle… and she gets the hiccups every night like clockwork.”

Tony pressed a kiss to the spot. “That’s my girl. Already has timing.”

“I was thinking maybe… Clara for one of the girls,” Caramel whispered. “It’s got that golden-era charm, like a jazz singer who also bakes lemon tarts.”

Tony grinned. “Clara’s perfect. And for the other?”

She hesitated, then murmured, “What about Luna?”

He looked up at her, surprised.

Caramel shrugged. “I’ve always loved the moon. Something dreamy. Peaceful. Balanced.”

Tony sat back on his heels, hand still on her belly, soaking in the weight of it— literal and emotional.

“So Clara and Luna,” he said, grinning softly. “And maybe Leo and Milo for two of the boys?”

Caramel smiled. “That just leaves our wild card.”

“Baby D,” Tony nodded. “The kicker. The one who’s probably doing flips in there.”

She laughed. “I was thinking… Felix. It means 'lucky.'”

Tony looked up at her, eyes soft. “Then it’s perfect.”

Later, as the cocoa cooled and her hiccupping daughter finally stilled, Caramel rested her head on Tony’s shoulder, her belly stretching out between them like a planet all its own.

“Leo, Milo, Felix… Clara, Luna,” she whispered.

Tony ran his fingers over her side slowly, reverently. “Sweetest names for the sweetest chaos.”

“They’re gonna change everything,” she said, eyes fluttering closed.

“Yeah,” he said, kissing her crown. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Chapter Text

The bedroom was dim and cozy, lit only by the glow of a low bedside lamp and the flicker of lightning outside, far off and lazy. The windows were cracked open, letting in a cool breeze scented with pine and distant rain.

Caramel sighed as she shuffled over to the bed, paws supporting her heavy belly. She was in one of Tony’s soft old T-shirts— an orange-striped monstrosity that barely stretched past her hips now —and her silky ears drooped with exhaustion.

“I swear, they’re doing synchronized swimming in there,” she mumbled as she eased herself down onto the mattress with a dramatic fwump. “With flippers. And tiny disco balls.”

Tony, already in bed and reading a baby care manual titled "Cubs and Kits: Taming the Tiny Tornadoes," lowered it with a smile. “You sure it’s not just a kickline? Baby Broadway’s latest number?”

Caramel shot him a look. “If one more baby elbow finds my rib, I’m canceling the whole show.”

As if on cue, a visible ripple rolled across her belly. She groaned, flopping back onto the pillows with arms splayed.

Tony shifted toward her and gently laid a paw across the movement. “Wow. That’s Baby B, right? That one’s got my moves.”

“Oh, I know. He’s been trying to do backflips off my bladder all night.”

Tony chuckled and leaned down to kiss her belly. “Okay, listen up in there, my little cereal bites. It’s bedtime. That means no boxing, no foot races, and definitely no drum solos.”

Another kick answered him— strong, decisive, and right under Caramel’s belly button.

Caramel yelped. “Baby D says ‘no.’ Loudly.”

Tony leaned closer and stage-whispered to her bump, “Don’t make me put you all in five separate time-out wombs.”

She laughed, breathless. “Tony, there's no room for time-outs in here. I’m already operating at maximum occupancy.”

She rolled carefully to her side— well, more like tilted, since actual “rolling” was a thing of the past —and Tony moved behind her, spooning her gently, one arm wrapped beneath her belly for support.

“Better?” he murmured against her ear.

“Somewhat,” she said, though her nose wrinkled as another set of little limbs jostled just under her ribs. “I love them. I adore them. But I am one sugar cube away from bribing them with early dessert if they let me sleep.”

Tony’s paw slid slowly, soothingly across the taut roundness of her belly. “Shhh. You’ve got five tiny tigers and bunnies in there trying to figure out which way is up. They just like your voice. And your snacks.”

“They’re not getting snacks. They’re lucky they’re cute.”

Tony kissed her temple, then started humming a lullaby— something slow and warm, with a rumbling bass that vibrated through his chest. It wasn’t long before the kicks started to soften, the twitching fading to gentle flutters.

Caramel exhaled, closing her eyes. “Mmm. Keep doing that. Whatever that is. I think you’re hypnotizing them.”

“I’m just talking to my little crew,” he whispered, rubbing lazy circles on her side. “They like it when I rumble. Makes ‘em think of a dryer.”

She snorted. “I am basically a laundry basket at this point.”

“Nope,” Tony whispered, nuzzling behind her ear. “You’re a miracle with ears. And a belly full of greatness.”

“Shut up before I cry.”

“Too late,” he teased, but softened the moment with another kiss.

The babies gave one last slow swirl beneath her skin, and then, mercifully, settled.

Caramel let her body melt into the mattress, tail twitching once in contentment. “I think they’re finally down…”

Tony nodded, voice sleepier now. “Told you. Tiger lullabies. Works every time.”

There was a beat of silence before Caramel mumbled, “…unless they’re just charging up for round two.”

Tony tightened his arms around her and kissed the crown of her head. “Let ‘em try. I’ve got all night.”

Chapter Text

The storm clouds outside were the color of burnt caramel, heavy and bloated with thunder. Inside the cottage, the atmosphere wasn’t much calmer.

Caramel lay on the couch with every pillow in the house stuffed behind her back, under her legs, and braced beneath her arms like she was about to launch into orbit. Her belly rose dramatically above her lap, shifting every few seconds like something was swimming inside it— and maybe trying to escape.

“Ow— ohhh! That was a foot. Or an elbow. Or a tail. Or five elbows.” She just groaned, her paws cupping the taut swell of her belly like it was the world’s most overfilled water balloon. “I swear, Tony, I think they’re trying to tunnel out.”

Tony peeked in from the kitchen, flour on his nose and a mixing bowl under one arm. “I’ve got brownies in the oven and chamomile tea steeping. You want the foot rub now or after the second round of chocolate?”

Caramel shot him a helpless look, her nose twitching. “Yes.”

He chuckled and disappeared briefly, only to return with a steaming mug and a warm, damp towel. He gently eased one of her legs into his lap and began rubbing slow, practiced circles into her aching feet while balancing the tea on the armrest.

“Okay,” he said, voice soft and sturdy. “Tell me what’s going on. Is it pain, pressure, or the mental breakdown of a caramel bunny with too many limbs inside her?”

“All of the above,” she said with a huff. “I love them. I love you. I love that my body is doing this, but— Tony, Tony —they will not stop moving.”

She gestured toward her belly with wide eyes, just as another ripple rolled across it like a rogue wave. One lump of baby curled visibly under her skin, followed immediately by a sharp kick to the right side.

“Look at that! Baby C just kicked Baby A into my stomach, and I’m pretty sure Baby E is breakdancing on my bladder!”

Tony nodded solemnly. “Full jungle gym status.”

“I haven’t peed normally in weeks, Tony. I don’t sleep. I live on antacids. I cry at commercials about kittens. I tried to put on socks earlier and nearly blacked out.”

Tony carefully lifted her other foot and started rubbing that one too. “So… you’re saying you’d like a personal assistant. Or maybe a construction crew to relocate your organs.”

“Tony.”

“Yes, babe?”

She blinked at him, cheeks pink and eyes watery. “I think I might start crying again and I don’t even know why.”

He put the towel aside, climbed up beside her, and tucked her into his arms without hesitation; careful not to jostle her overly enthusiastic belly.

“That’s okay,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Cry if you want. Or yell. Or tell me I’m useless. You’ve got five tiny roommates in there doing gymnastics. You are allowed to feel everything.”

Her voice cracked. “I just want ten minutes where my body feels like mine again.”

Tony’s arms tightened protectively around her, and he rested his chin atop her head. “You will, bun. And when you do, I’m taking you to the spa, the movies, and the chocolate shop, alone, and no one will touch your belly unless you threaten them with a carrot.”

That got a laugh out of her— a watery, tired one, but real. Her ears relaxed a little.

“I know it’s all worth it,” she whispered. “I do. But sometimes… it’s just too much.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “But you’re not alone. I’m here for all of it. Elbows and hormones and midnight cookie demands. You just keep growing our little crew, and I’ll keep doing the rest.”

Caramel wiped her eyes and laid her head on his chest, the thunder outside now softened into a purr of rain. The babies kept moving— but somehow, with Tony’s arms around her, it didn’t feel quite as overwhelming.

“Okay,” she murmured. “I’m gonna try to relax.”

“You do that,” he said, already reaching for her tea with one paw while the timer in the kitchen dinged.

“Brownies?”

“Double fudge. And I added marshmallows.”

She smiled against his shirt. “You’re too good to me.”

“Hey,” he grinned, brushing her ears back. “I knocked you up with five hyper babies. Least I can do is make sure the chocolate flows.”

Chapter Text

It started with a note from Dr. Badger: “Full bed rest until delivery. Minimal standing. No stress. Feet up. Hydrate. Snack often. Nesting is real— let her nest.”

Caramel had stared at the note in disbelief, then at her enormous belly, which was currently heaving with a set of full-body flips from Baby B and a rhythmically hiccupping Baby E.

“I’m already resting,” she’d said, her tail twitching. “What’s the difference between this and full bed rest?”

Tony had looked her dead in the eye and said, “Everything.”

The bedroom transformation began immediately. When Caramel shuffled back from her appointment and opened the door, she stopped cold.

It was like walking into a marshmallow fort inside a dream. Fairy lights twinkled from every corner, and there were at least six new pillows on the bed— two heart-shaped, one tiger-striped, and a ridiculously plush U-shaped maternity one that could double as a life raft. Cozy throws in caramel, honey, and warm cream tones were draped over every available surface.

But the pièce de résistance?

An entire family of tiger plushies surrounding the headboard.

“Tony…” she whispered.

He peeked out from the bathroom, holding a lavender diffuser and wearing a headband with little felt tiger ears. “Like it? I named them! That one’s Stripey Jr., that one’s Muffin— he’s got attitude —and that one’s just here for moral support.”

Caramel blinked. “Tony, did you build me a pillow fort?”

“No.” He stepped into the room proudly. “I built you a nest. You’re not doing anything for the next few weeks except growing our little pack and getting tucked in like royalty.”

She waddled slowly to the bed, taking in every ridiculous, wonderful touch— the tray with lemon water and chocolate squares, the stack of her favorite books and soft magazines, and even the baby name notebook propped up like it belonged in a museum.

“I don’t know whether to cry or kiss you,” she mumbled, easing down onto the mattress and sighing in relief as her weight settled into the cloud of cushions.

Tony dropped to his knees in front of her and kissed both of her feet, then her belly, then her lips.

“Why not both?” he said. “C’mere, queen bun. Let me tuck you in.”

Ten minutes later, Caramel was fully swaddled in her fluffy den of comfort, her belly resting comfortably in the nook of the maternity pillow, with Muffin the tiger plush wedged behind her for support.

One of the babies kicked hard, and she groaned.

Tony was instantly at her side, a warm heat pad in one paw and a chocolate-covered strawberry in the other.

“Belly flare-up or emotional emergency?” he asked.

“Both.”

“Chocolate it is.”

He gently placed the heat pad across the base of her belly and popped the strawberry between her lips.

She chewed slowly, eyes fluttering closed.

“You’re absurd,” she whispered.

“I’m absurdly in love with you,” he said, gently brushing her ears back and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Now relax. You’ve got five little fluffballs baking in there. And I’ve got a rotating snack schedule, four playlists, and a foot massage chart ready.”

Caramel smiled, eyes glassy, overwhelmed in the best way.

“Tony?” she murmured.

“Yeah, sweet thing?”

“If even one of these babies doesn’t like plushies, I’m sending them back.”

Tony laughed, curling up beside her, paw resting protectively on the rise of her belly. “They’re gonna love ‘em. How could they not? They’re half you.”

Chapter Text

Caramel sat on the edge of the bed, propped just enough to see herself in the full-length mirror across the room. The fairy lights were still glowing softly from the headboard, but sunlight streamed through the gauzy curtains now, glinting off the soft curve of her fur.

Well… the not-so-soft, definitely-not-a-curve more-like-a-sphere of her fur.

Her belly loomed in the mirror like its own planet, round and vast and twitching visibly every few seconds. The babies were at it again. She could see the surface of her belly ripple, shift, thud, and then lurch like someone had dropped a pebble into a pudding mold.

“Oh my stars,” she whispered.

The top of her belly sat larger than her chest now— honestly? Larger than her head when she leaned back. She placed both paws under it as if that would somehow redistribute the weight. It didn’t.

“You guys aren’t even born yet,” she muttered to the quintuplets. “And you’ve already turned me into a living beanbag with ears.”

She leaned back, trying to adjust the maternity shirt Tony had cut for comfort— his old “Grrrreatest Dad” tee that had been split down the sides like a tent. It barely covered her middle. Her belly poked out from under it with a defiant bounce.

Then something shifted inside. Hard. Baby C, maybe. Or Felix— the little kicker. Her whole belly jumped.

“Hey— HEY— what are you doing?!” she exclaimed, staring in horror as her stomach visibly tilted to the left like a waterbed on a slope. “That was my spleen, I think!”

Another lump pressed outward. She didn’t know if it was a heel or a head, but it made her belly look completely misshapen for a moment— like a loaf of bread someone sat on. Her eyes widened.

“I swear, this thing has a mind of its own! I’m not a bunny anymore— I’m a bouncy castle with teeth!”

The door creaked open behind her.

“I heard the yelling,” Tony said carefully, holding a tray with smoothies and a banana. “You okay in here, or has the belly declared independence?”

She slowly turned to him, eyes wide and wild, her paws cradling the still-shifting mountain of her abdomen.

“It’s bigger than my HEAD, Tony. Look at it! I’m starting to waddle while lying down. This isn’t a bump anymore— this is a takeover!”

Tony set the tray down and crossed to her, crouching in front of her so they were eye to eye… well, eye to navel.

He blinked. “...Okay. Yeah. That’s a lot of bunny.”

“I’ve become a habitat.”

“More like a luxury suite,” he said, running his paw gently over her belly. “Five-star womb service.”

“Stop it,” she giggled, half-whining. “Don’t make me laugh, I’ll pee.”

He chuckled and leaned in to rest his forehead softly against the curve of her belly. “You’re amazing. You feel like it’s taken on a life of its own, but that’s because it has. Five of them. All growing in there because you are doing something impossible and beautiful.”

Her ears drooped, touched. “I just don’t recognize myself. I used to be… soft. Sleek. A little flirty. Now I’m a beach ball with mood swings.”

Tony looked up at her. “You are still everything you were. Just… plus five. And when you’re ready? I’ll help you remember every bit of you. The you that winked at me over a caramel swirl and made me forget how to speak.”

She smiled, teary now. “That was a good swirl.”

“Best one of my life.”

Another hard thump from inside made them both pause. Tony placed a paw on the spot and whispered, “Alright, crew, Mama’s a goddess, not a trampoline. Settle down in there or no banana smoothies.”

Caramel burst out laughing again and leaned into his arms as he wrapped them around her and the whole shifting bundle of belly between them.

“Okay,” she said, muffled against his chest. “But if my belly gets any bigger, we’re going to need a forklift to get me to the hospital.”

Tony grinned. “Then I’ll rent one. With a bunny-shaped seat.”

Chapter Text

The world outside had gone quiet for once— no kicks, no hiccups, no thumping baby knees battering her ribs. Just the rustle of wind through the trees, the scent of distant honeysuckle, and the low hum of a song Tony was softly humming from the other room.

Caramel lay propped against her mountain of pillows, belly draped with a light blanket and hands gently tracing the firm, round slope that had grown into her entire center of gravity. It had a heaviness now—not just in weight, but in meaning. Finality.

They were almost there.

A month. That’s all it had taken. Just four weeks to turn her into this breathless, bloated, hormonally rattled rabbit-mama-to-be with five little lives inside her. Five. That number felt huge. Even now, she didn’t fully understand how her body had done it.

And tomorrow, she had another scan. The last one before delivery.

Her ears twitched as she stared at her belly, which sat like a full moon between her thighs, still and round and almost ready.

“What if I can’t do it?” she whispered.

It came out before she even meant it to— quiet and raw, cracking at the edges. She placed a hand gently under her belly, lifting it slightly, feeling the weight of her little ones shift.

“What if something goes wrong? What if they need me and I can’t… be what they need?”

There was a faint flutter under her palm. A nudge. Then another.

“I’m not scared of pain,” she said softly. “I’m scared of after. What if I’m not strong enough for this next part? For the feeding, the holding, the being theirs. Five babies. That’s five cries. Five diapers. Five tiny little hearts looking for comfort. What if I freeze up? What if I’m not… enough?”

A warm shadow entered the room— Tony, holding a folded blanket and a new set of tiny, tiger-striped onesies. He paused when he saw her.

“You’re having one of those nights,” he said gently, setting everything down and climbing onto the bed beside her. “I brought backup.”

She didn’t answer, just let out a sigh as he settled behind her, his arm coming around to rest on the crest of her belly. He stroked it in slow, grounding circles.

“I’m scared, Tony.”

“I know,” he murmured.

“I’m happy. I want them more than anything. But… what if I’m too tired? What if they come out and I just fall apart?”

He rested his cheek against her temple and whispered, “Then I’ll hold you together.”

Caramel turned her face toward him, eyes brimming.

“You’re not alone in this, bun,” he said. “I’m gonna be there at every hour. I’ll rock them when you can’t. I’ll feed you while you feed them. I’ll hold you through every fear and every breakdown. And when it’s 3 AM and one of them’s screaming and you don’t know why? I’ll be there holding the flashlight and the burp cloths.”

She let out a half-laugh, half-sob. “I don’t want to let them down.”

“You won’t. You’re the most incredible bunny I’ve ever met. Fierce. Gentle. Hilarious. And right now? You’re doing the hardest thing anyone can do. And you’re doing it with love.”

He kissed her forehead and reached for something on the nightstand.

It was a tiny framed photo of their latest scan. All five babies, still squished together in that perfect circle, like stars orbiting one another.

Caramel reached for it, brushing a thumb over the image.

“They’re almost here,” she said, awe settling in her chest.

“They are,” Tony said, smiling against her cheek. “And they’re gonna look up at you and think, 'That’s the whole world right there'.”

Caramel rested her head against his shoulder, one hand on her belly, the other still holding the picture. “Promise me we’re gonna be okay.”

Tony wrapped both arms around her, drawing her and the belly in close. “We’re gonna be better than okay,” he whispered. “We’re gonna be a family.”

Chapter Text

The clock blinked "12:08 AM" repeatedly.

Tony was asleep— well, sort of asleep. He was still wrapped protectively around Caramel like a bodyguard, one big striped paw resting across the top of her belly and rising with every slow breath she took. But his snore had a rhythm, and she didn’t dare move too much... not that she could move if she wanted to.

Her belly had officially reached max capacity. Every inch of it was taut and round, and the babies inside were... redecorating. That was the only way to describe it. Tiny elbows. Knees. Rolls and thumps. Someone had hiccups. Someone else had rhythm.

Caramel blinked up at the ceiling, her free hand stroking slow, grounding circles over the side of her stomach. The weight of it made her hips ache and her breath catch if she lay wrong. But she didn’t care. She wasn’t tired. She was awake, awake and thinking. Tomorrow, she’d meet them.

“Hi,” she whispered down to her belly, eyes a little misty. “You’re probably wondering why everything’s so quiet. Don’t worry—it won’t stay that way long. Your daddy snores like a tiger-sized lawnmower.”

A low rumble came from Tony’s chest.

“I heard that,” he mumbled, smiling with his eyes still shut.

Caramel grinned and rubbed her side as one of the babies kicked right into Tony’s paw. He opened his eyes fully now, shifting to sit up just enough to cup the firm curve of her belly with both hands.

“Busy night in there,” he said softly.

“They know something’s coming,” Caramel murmured.

He leaned down and kissed her belly gently, lingering. “So do we.”

They shifted until she was leaning against his chest, belly on full display under a soft blanket, warm and alive with gentle movement. The moonlight through the window cast a silvery glow on her fur and the rise of her stomach, highlighting every kick and stretch.

Caramel exhaled slowly. “We never finalized names,” she said. “I know we had a list, but…”

Tony reached for the notebook beside the bed. “Let’s make it real.”

She smiled, hand on her belly. “Okay. Baby A first— the big guy who’s always low and pushing on my bladder.”

“Bold,” Tony said. “Always makes an entrance.”

Caramel tapped her chin. “What about Leo? Short for Leonardo. Feels strong.”

Tony grinned. “Leonardo the Leader. I like it.”

“Then there’s Baby B— the one who always flutters right after Leo. Calmer, but sweet.”

Tony smiled. “How about Miles? Like the jazz guy. Smooth.”

“Love it,” Caramel said. “Miles it is.”

Tony ran a thumb over the top of her belly. “C?”

“Sweet girl but feisty,” Caramel said warmly. “I feel her stretches all the way across.”

“Honey?” Tony offered.

Caramel blinked, then smiled. “Honey. Beautiful and impossible to ignore.”

They both laughed, soft and breathless, as Baby D kicked hard.

“She heard that,” Tony said. “She wants her turn.”

Caramel rubbed the spot and sighed. “She’s the tiny gymnast in there.”

“What about Toffee? It's wild and gives off troublemaker vibes.”

“Perfect.”

“And lastly,” Caramel whispered. “Our surprise baby. The fifth. Quietest one of the bunch.”

They both paused. Tony rested his hand over the far-right side of her belly, where the tiniest bump had shifted, barely noticeable.

“How about Jasper?” Tony murmured. “Strong. Quiet. Solid.”

Caramel smiled with tears in her eyes. “Jasper,” she echoed.

They sat in silence for a while, just feeling the life between them. The shifting. The pulsing of possibility. The calm before the storm.

“I don’t know how tomorrow’s going to go,” Caramel said quietly. “But I want you to know I’ve never loved anything more than this.”

Tony pressed his forehead against hers, his voice steady but thick with feeling.

“And I’ve never been prouder. Of anyone. Ever.”

Caramel rested her hands over her belly one last time. “Leo, Miles, Honey, Toffee, Jasper… we’ll see you soon.”

And as if on cue, all five babies shifted at once—like a wave passing through her. Like a promise.

Tony smiled, tears in his eyes now too.

“Sweet thing,” he whispered while holding her close. “They already know they’re loved.”

Chapter Text

The world was glowing.

Not just from the rising sun peeking over the skyline— but from the soft, hazy warmth that seemed to wrap itself around everything. The hospital room was quiet, peaceful even, painted in lavender and morning gold. But Caramel’s heart thudded like a drum in her chest.

This was it.

She was lying on the adjustable bed, her huge belly rising like a hill under a crisp hospital sheet. Machines beeped quietly. A monitor ticked softly, tracking five little heartbeats in perfect rhythm. And Caramel... was trying to breathe.

Tony was beside her, squeezing her paw, already in his surgical scrubs— bright blue cap barely fitting over his ears, stripes peeking out of the neck.

“You good?” he asked softly.

She exhaled slowly, eyes locked on the ceiling. “Define good.”

Tony chuckled and kissed the back of her paw. “You’re doing amazing.”

She turned her head to look at him. “You realize in, like, an hour, five people are going to be outside of me.”

“Five tiny tiger-bunnies,” he said proudly. “With your eyes and hopefully my bedtime routine.”

Caramel let out a breathy laugh, her belly shifting under the sheet. “They’re squirming like they know what’s about to happen.”

A soft knock at the door interrupted them. A kind-eyed nurse stepped in with a clipboard.

“Hi, Caramel. It’s time to prep. We’ve got the surgical suite ready, and your team’s all set.”

Caramel swallowed. Hard. “Okay,” she said quietly, then looked at Tony. “You’ll be right there?”

“Every second,” he said, brushing her cheek with the backs of his claws. “You’re not doing this alone.”

The lights in the operating room were bright—brighter than anything Caramel expected. She lay back on the table, the drape in place across her chest, the anesthesiologist murmuring calm, practiced words at her side. Her belly— still vast, still alive with faint motion —was center stage now.

Tony sat by her head, his paw in hers, brushing tiny circles on her wrist. She kept her eyes locked on his.

“They’re almost ready,” he said softly. “All five of them.”

Caramel bit her lip. Her body was numb, but her heart raced.

Then: a gentle voice from behind the curtain. “We’re beginning. Take a breath. You’re doing perfectly.”

Caramel gripped Tony’s paw tighter.

Then— something shifted. A pressure. A tug. A strange, surreal feeling of emptiness and fullness at once. And then—

A sharp, piercing cry.

Then another.

Then another.

Each one high-pitched and impossibly real, layered over each other like a wild, beautiful symphony.

Tony gasped softly. “They’re here.”

Caramel blinked, tears spilling down her cheeks. “They’re—?”

“They’re perfect,” a nurse said from behind the curtain. “All five. Breathing, kicking, loud as can be.”

One by one, the nurses brought them around— wrapped in soft blankets, tiny ears twitching, some with caramel-colored fur, some with faint stripes, one yawning wide enough to show the smallest pink tongue.

Caramel reached for them with shaking hands.

Leo. Miles. Honey. Toffee. Jasper.

“I love you,” she whispered, voice shaking with joy and awe. “I love you all so, so much.”

Tony’s tears hit her knuckles as he kissed her paw again and again. “They’re amazing, sweetheart. You did it. You really did it.”

Caramel looked down at the tiny bundles nestled in the nurse’s arms and finally let out a laugh— soft and dazed and full of wonder.

“I’m a mom,” she whispered. “To five.”

“And you’re my hero,” Tony said, resting his forehead to hers.