“Mm, yeah, I'm pretty dang sure that’s not true.”
“Shut it, Toddles!” He took a calming breath and looked towards Ruby. “How’s the gestation going?”
The Dryad smiled, looking amused for some reason. “Both seem to be progressing at the same speed, thankfully. But you look as if you will be going longer than what is normal for your kind. Based on shell development, I estimate you have another five months to go.”
“Five!?” he groaned. “Are you sure it’s not three?!”
She laughed. “Unfortunately, not. While the protection barrier has been engaged in your uterine lining around your eggs, as you can see from the size and organic shape,” she pointed at the screen, tracing the outline of the eggs. “The shell membrane is still forming. If you were following a normal Gorgon gestation period, it would already be fully in place, and possibly we’d even be noticing spots where the shell had begun to form.”
Five more months—ugh. “Fine, fine,” he sighed. “Just more time to plan.”
“We will, of course, keep monitoring each week, as there is always a chance things could speed up. Though, in general, considering the complications that can happen with Gorgon pregnancies, on top of us dealing with multiple gestation periodsmixing, it’s good to be cautious. Which brings me to the few questions I need you to answer.”
He grimaced. “Ask away…”
“What species are the fathers?”
Ender wrinkled his nose. “What? The scan doesn’t tell you that too?”
She giggled. “I’m afraid, for that, I’d need to do much more invasive tests, and with that stone barrier currently lining your womb, I figured it would be easier to ask. Regardless, I need to know what other possible issues we may need to watch out for.”
“One is a Fate, so likely no issue there, but the other is…a Siren, so…”
Ruby’s eyes widened at that, before she winced and seemed to hesitate.
He sighed. “Let me guess…you now need to do more tests?”
“To be perfectly honest, Boss, while I find both of those revelations shocking, it’s a damn miracle that you managed to conceive with a Siren. Considering the extensive, and often devastating, complications both of your species deal with fertility-wise, medically speaking, up until this moment, I would have said it wasn’t possible.
“All that being said, I need to know which egg is which, and I can’t gain that knowledge through a scan,” she explained, before adding, “Oh, also, you will now be seeing my beautiful face for check-ups three times a week.”
“WHAT?!” Ender sputtered. “Three?!”
“Is that…necessary?” Soren asked, sounding worried.
“I’ll drop it down to two after this next month. But, for now, it will be three, as you are right within the range of when Sirens deal with their early complications.”
Ender bit his lip as he ran his hands over his bump. He had just learned there were two, and now he had to worry about losing one. No…no, he wasn’t going to lose them.
It’s okay, little eggies, I’ll do all I can to protect you, he promised.
“Fine, three times a week. And I’ll do whatever tests you need me to. Though this is definitely going to cut into my planning time,” he said, before realizing something and gasping. “I need to shop!”
Soren scoffed.
He glared at the man. “What?! I do!? We have a small supply of things, but not really too much baby stuff. Usually, if we have children here, they leave quickly! We… We need to redo a room! There’s so much to do! MEETING! I need to call a meeting! Everyone must know!”
“Like you’ll even let the babies sleep in another room. Also, what happened to not wanting people to know, hmm?”
“I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that!” Ender snapped.
Killian couldn’t helpbut smile as he looked around the familiar grounds of Cyrus’ childhood home. The couple lived on what most would call an estate in Canting, Illinois, and the land surrounding their mansion was basically a forest.
It had been a while since he’d been there. Mainly, as they lived at least eight hours away now, and well…aside from get-togethers, he didn’t see Vivian and Orion Grimm in-person very often.
Killian did try to keep in touch by video call. They were his partner’s parents, but honestly, given how long he’d known them, they were almost like his own now. But with how strained Cyrus’ relationship with them had become, and really alwayshad been, once they’d moved out and away, they just didn’t make it out here that often. Though, he knew the couple weren’t there right now.
Killian let out a delighted laugh as he broke through the trees and caught sight of the large lake. Hundreds of lanterns currently floated above the water, the soft candle glow lighting up the night. In front, a bit away from the lake, there was a blanket laid out, with a picnic basket on top, and standing there, right beside the water’s edge, was Cyrus, dressed in black slacks, a red button down, and black boots. As their gaze met, while Killian would admit it to no one, his heart skipped a beat, and a smile that was more lovestruck than anything slipped onto his face.
