Chapter Thirteen
Kyson
“Ugh, Ky, when are they gonna come out? I want to hold them,” Juni pouted, sitting beside the eggs in the nest.
“Don’t tap on the shells, sweetheart. They must come in their own time and in their own way.
As much as we’d like to do everything for them, that isn’t fair.
You heard mom, once that egg cracks, sit back.
Do not even think about picking loose pieces off.
” I had a good mind to make sure she was here as soon as the first crack hit.
Either that or I’d have to tie Juni up and sit him across the room.
He might like that.
Good call, dragon. I’ll take the mom route instead and save the ropes for bed.
Dragon chuckled.
Papa, Dada.
“Did you hear that?” Juni asked.
“I did, along with the giggles that followed.”
“They can speak already?” Juni’s eyes were comically wide.
“Only through our bond. Dragons are light years above humans, my love. They’ll be walking and talking, somewhat, by the holidays.”
“Whoa.”
“Let’s go finish washing that massive pile of tiny clothes you just bought.” Another dramatic sigh from my mate, but he followed me into the shared pantry and laundry room, and we spent the next couple of hours washing and folding. Something I saw a lot of in our near future.
Juni put the extremely pink princess bedding, including a matching pillow shaped like a crown, in Kalliope’s crib while I set up Kael’s.
We are not giant lizards.
Juni giggled at our dragon.
Agreed, but this dinosaur bedding is fitting for our boy.
Our pissy dragon groaned.
Not pissy and not a lizard.
Look what you started, mate.
I love you both anyway.
And just like that, the argument was over.
“I love that the tops of their dressers are removeable changing tables. Very clever, Ky.”
“Very clever indeed. How about the diaper shelf that will be fitting for toys later.”
“Dual purpose furniture that grows with them. Absolutely genius.”
He’s surprised by our level of genius.
Evidently.
Knock it off, you two. Take the compliment for what it is. Juni rolled his eyes.
“Look at the cute tiny hangers I found,” Juni held one of them up. “Pink for our princess and blue for our prince.”
“Poor Kalliope’s room is gonna look like someone threw up Pepto Bismol all over it.” I cringed as I imagined it.
“Nope ‘cause there will be lots of shiny, sparkly pinks in there too. At least we’ll have time to paint both rooms while they’re sleeping in ours.”
“You don’t want to keep them together when they graduate to the cribs?”
Juni paused and thought about it then resumed folding. “No. I think it’s best as soon as they’re out of the bassinet to be in their own rooms. Then if one wakes up the other can still sleep.”
“Hopefully your theory pans out.” I had a feeling with them not only being twins, but dragon twins, they had a connection of their own, and what one felt, so did the other. Screams and fussing included.
Socks, clothes, and such were placed in the dressers, while the fancy outfits Juni insisted upon buying for them hung in the closet—on their respective color hangers, of course.
“I’ve looked at toys online and found a few for babies and toddlers, but could you make them rocking horses?” Juni asked.
“Great idea. Speaking of which, I finally finished all the rocking chairs. Want to help me set them up?”
“Yes!” Juni squealed. “I can’t wait to rock the babies while they’re nursing. Basically, I can’t wait to hold them period.”
“Me too, sweetheart. Let’s go set up the old people chairs so we can sit outside with them and enjoy this gorgeous weather and scenery.
” Raising a child here beats the city life, at least to this dragon.
My fondest memories were here and now my kids would be too.
Though summer was nearing the end and the rainy season was upon us, the roof over the porch would protect us from the wet for the most part.
We set the first two rockers on the porch and Juni started poking around. “What’re you thinking, darlin’?”
“I’d like to add some plants, maybe a garden when the kids get older, but definitely some hanging pots of flowers for a pop of color. What do you think?”
“I think you should get your butts over to my greenhouse and pick what you want.” Mom said as she came around the corner.
“Yay!” Juni cheered. “I’m so excited. Can we go now?”
“Why don’t you come with me, Juni bug and we’ll make a few baskets while Kyson whittles away.”
And I did just that, until my brother called out to me.
Keegan’s egg just cracked.
I nearly ran over there when it hit me to check on ours.
Up the stairs with the speed of my dragon I went and there they were, nestled together, the tiniest crack on the top of Kael’s egg.
Mate, get home. Kael’s egg has a crack.
So does Keegan’s from what your mom just said. We’re already on our way.
I swear he squealed through our link.
“Kael, it’s your Papa, don’t be afraid. We’re right here waiting to hold you.” I felt like Juni did this morning and caught myself mid-reach to run a finger over the crack.
“Don’t you dare touch that egg,” Juni called out as he ran into the room. “I saw you, cheater.”
I’d never seen Juni sit as fast as he just had. “Where’s mom?”
“Checking on Keegan. Said she’ll pop by shortly.”
“Did you get any baskets made?”
“Yup, two plus a couple of those long planters that hang over the rails. We put herbs in them. We set them on the front porch. I’m so excited,” Juni danced in his seat.
I could see him already, a baby on his hip while he played gardener.
I’d have to make him a greenhouse of his own, then he and mom could share plants and garden year-round.
“Babies, Daddy’s so excited. Please hurry up so we can meet you.” My poor mate was beside himself dealing with this lengthy process. I understood, as humans you gave birth and there they were, but as dragons it was a hurry up and wait deal after you gave birth.
“Sweetheart, settle in for a long wait. This could take hours, even days before we get to meet them.” Which I had to admit sucked.
“Let’s turn on the baby monitors and camera so we can watch from wherever we are.
” His dramatics just leveled up with that reluctant sigh. “Working on your acting skills, I see.”
“I want to hold them and dress them in their cute clothes and fuzzy socks. I want to hear you read to them in your sexy Papa voice.”
“I’m not using a sexy voice to read to our kids.” What the hell was wrong with this man. “That sexy voice is reserved for private time with my mate.”
“Ugh, okay. But you’re gonna do silly voices and stuff, right?”
Was I? Hadn’t thought that far ahead. “I suppose, if the story calls for it.”
“Good enough for me.” Juni pulled his phone up and the red light on the camera and monitors came on. He made a couple physical adjustments to it. “Perfect. We can even see the crack. Okay, babies, Daddy and Papa won’t be far.”
I installed a couple of hooks for the hanging plants and helped Juni secure the banister ones in place, then got to work designing a greenhouse for him.
There would need to be a covered pathway to it for Juni so he wouldn’t get wet.
He was still a human, and even though my blood flowed through his veins, I didn’t want to chance it and find out the hard way he could still get pneumonia.
Huh, guess we both had a lot to learn about the whole mating deal.
Kyson, a chip just fell off Kael’s egg. I can see scales.
On my way.
Juni held up the chip that had come off. “Do we save these, like in a baby book or something?”
“Good question.” I peeked inside the hole and a tiny blue eye came into view. “There you are, sweet boy,” Kael cooed. “Come out and meet your Daddy and Papa.”
“His eyes are the same shade as yours. I’m so excited. Kael, sweetie, come out so we can hug you.”
The tiniest talon poked through the hole and ripped a bigger piece off.
“There you are. Peek-a-boo, we see you.” Kalliope giggled through the connection while Kael’s was audible.
“Do it again, son. That was such a big hole you made. I bet you’re super strong.
” His tiny growl was amusing, but he did it, and ripped the top off, and his head poked out. Juni squealed and Kael hid back inside.
“Kael, Daddy is so sorry he scared you. I’m just excited to see you. You’re such a brave boy. Please come out.” I felt bad for Juni, he was so upset he scared the baby. “I love you.”
Love came through Kalliope’s link. Our princess wasn’t quite ready to come out, likely letting her big brother make sure it was safe for her first. Smart girl.
“Sweet girl, we love you too,” Juni soothingly rubbed her egg. “Come out when you’re ready.” That took a lot for him to say. I knew he was ready to play dress up with our tiny princess.
“Good boy, Kael,” another piece fell and a tiny wing opened spread out through it. Then all at once, he burst out of the egg. “Kael the fierce, welcome to the light, son.”
Juni scooped him up and I grabbed my phone, taking far too many, yet not enough pictures of them.
“He’s breathtaking, Kyson. Look at him.”
“I am,” though it was through my tears. “Can Papa hold you too, Kael?” His tiny wings flapped but weren’t big enough to carry his body yet.
I handed my phone to Juni as soon as Kael was in my arms. “We waited so long for you and your sister to find us. Can you tell your sister it’s not so scary and that Daddy and Papa love you both very much. ”
“Oh, that’s a picture we are framing for sure.”
Keegan is here, brother. He’s magnificent.
As is Kael. I can’t wait for them to meet. Our tiny princess is taking her sweet time.
A mirror image of Juni’s personality, I’m sure.
Too right you are, brother.
“Kobalt said Keegan has arrived.”
“It’s so funny how everything pregnancy wise was timed perfectly for Azure and me. Now we just need our princess to come out so we can spoil her too. Come on, sweet girl,” Juni whispered. “We’re ready for you.”
I placed Kael beside his sister’s egg and thought for a second I heard them communicating.
He didn’t jar it or tap on it, Kael sat there peacefully waiting in his tiny dragon form.
This was interesting to witness. I’d always seen baby dragons be born and shortly after transition into their human form until their teen years.
But now it was as if he waited for his sister before he did it.
Juni steadily took pictures, which I was thankful for.
Had I thought ahead I could’ve set up a video camera, but this would have to do.
I gathered the pieces of Kael’s egg while we waited and set them aside until we could ask my siblings what they did with them.
Honestly, I was of the same mindset as Juni to save them, but not so much in book format.
Possibly a shadow box of sorts with a few of today’s pictures attached.
Yes. I think I’ll surprise Juni with that. “Be right back.” I picked up the pile so it wouldn’t get lost or trampled on and ran it down to the shop then came right back. I wasn’t about to miss a moment of our princess’ grand entrance.
“Anything yet?” I parked myself back in place and gave her egg a once over.
“Nope, she’s a stubborn one.”
“Just like her Daddy,” her giggle came through the bond just as the first crack emerged. “There you go, sweet girl. Come out, come out so we can play with you.”
Kael and his wide eyes that were half the size of his head, I swear, waited as patiently as he could. It was the cutest damn thing I’d ever seen. We could hear her scratching at the inside of the shell. Were her claws not strong enough to break through?
“Kyson, we have to help her,” Juni cried.
“We can’t, my love. That’s not how this works.
” It broke my heart not to lend a helping talon.
Hell, even Kael was sad and I hated that.
I wanted laughter and love, no sads, even though I knew better.
There would be good times and bad, kids would be kids after all, but this was a task Kalliope and Kalliope alone had to conquer.
The longer we sat there, the more Juni cried, and the sadder Kael got.
My love, you’re making Kael sad, and I’m sure it’s radiating through Kalliope’s bond. Think about happy thoughts, joyous ones, and share those with her.
What if she’s not strong enough?
We must believe in her and let her know that or she’ll never believe in herself.
“Kael, my boy, send your sister love and tell her you’re waiting to play and you love her.” He got a thinky face, one that appeared to be a cross between a thought and filling a diaper up. But whatever works and all the blankets were machine washable if it happened.
As a family we sat there feeding happy thoughts and love through our connections. Kalliope’s responses were few and far between. I was terrified. Juni was terrified and Kael wasn’t doing well either.
“Please, sweet girl,” Juni sobbed. “Please come to Daddy and Papa. Kael is waiting right here beside you. We’re all here and we promise you’ll be happy. We love you so, so much.”
Her egg shook, then it stopped again and I feared that was the end.
Mom, I think Kalliope has given up. I can’t bear the loss of her, and it’ll do Juni in.
Have faith, son. She’s a tiny princess with a strong will. She will persevere.
Not long after that the nursery was filled with family, all sharing their love and happiness with Kalliope. Finally, a piece fell and Kael peeked inside. Kalliope’s giggle at her brother’s silly antics shot through the room, as did our collective sighs.
“Sweet girl, pretty girl, come to Daddy and Papa, please,” Juni begged.
Kael hopped back and the egg split in two. Kalliope popped out, wings spread as is if to say, “Ta-Da!”
“Oh, my goddess, she’s the most beautiful girl ever,” Juni scooped her right up, his tears darkening her iridescent Bordeaux scales.
I wasn’t sure Juni would let the rest of us have a turn to hold her.
Kael hopped on my lap, and I held my son tight, thankful both our dragonets had arrived and were healthy and safe.
“Our sweet girl Kalliope, welcome to the light, tiny Princess.” Giving both our children a blessing as they entered the world was important and I’m glad I was the one to give it.
With another shared giggle they shifted, and Juni and I were left to gaze upon our adorable human babies.
“You scared us, little girl. You’re going to be quite mischievous, aren’t you,” Pops kissed her forehead as he got his two seconds to hold her. I believed without a doubt, he was right. Beauty and brains were a dangerous combination, and our princess was that and so much more.