Chapter 4 #2
I can tell by the way the three of them are looking at me that they think I’m delusional, but I am determined to keep pretending until I have to face reality. By my count, I have at least a month to continue being a stubborn bitch and burying my head in the sand.
“So how did you pick your babies’ names?
” I ask Mira, changing the subject. I’m ready to finish this meal and get the show on the road.
I pick up my knife and fork and continue to eat the delicious meal in front of me like all of these truth bombs haven’t been dropped on me. Denial is not just a river in Egypt.
“Well, all of my babies have ocean or nautical themed names,” Mira tells me, taking my change of subject and running with it, which I’m incredibly grateful for. “Caspian is from a sea on Earth, actually, and his clutch brothers are Fisher and Neptune, also both Earth names that I liked.”
“That’s kind of cool. I like the idea of giving our water babies ocean or nautical themed names.” I smile at Cas, and he takes the bait.
“I do too, and I think they should be Earth names as well since that was your home planet for so long and you will be familiar with them.” He gets up, goes over to a side cabinet, and grabs a tablet before returning to the table.
Everyone but me has finished eating, so I concentrate on that while he searches for names.
“Why don’t you ask your kraken what sex the babies are?
That will help narrow down the search,” Mira suggests, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of her Fluxxian wine.
Unlike Earth wine, which is red, white, or rosé, theirs is a pale blue.
It’s pretty and delicious, since I was allowed to have one last glass before I’m not allowed to while the babies are growing.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I actually haven’t tried having a conversation with her before. She’s always been quite free with her input without me having to ask—overly free really. Hey there, would you like to share what our babies are so we can go shopping and pick names?
I feel her enthusiasm and smugness that she knows more about all of this than me. It’s so fucking weird having another consciousness inside my head. I don’t even want to think about or acknowledge the other one that briefly made itself known back on Iceen.
She projects the knowledge into my brain, and I inhale sharply as it all becomes just a little bit more real. Holy shit. I’m having babies, and I know what they are.
“Well?” It’s Murphy who can’t stand the suspense any longer, and when I open my eyes, they are all looking at me expectantly.
“According to her, we’re having two girls and a boy.” I put down my fork, losing interest in my food, and my hand slides down to cup my tiny belly bump with awe.
“How wonderful for you. My first clutch was all girls. Murphy had to wait for the second lot before he got a son.”
“Wow.” Cas is teary-eyed at the announcement, and the big smile on his face is joyous.
“Yeah, this just became a lot more real, didn’t it?” My stomach rolls with emotions, both good and bad—nerves and excitement mostly—and I pray my dinner doesn’t make another appearance.
“It sure did, but what about Cordelia for one of the girls? It means heart, daughter of the sea,” he suggests, pointing at the screen in front of him.
“Oh! I love it. It’s beautiful and perfect, which is what I’m sure our babies will be.” I shuffle my chair over so I can lean over the tablet with him. I’m reading through the names, but he places a hand in front of the screen, blocking my view, and I look up at him in question.
“Should we be waiting and involving the others in this decision? It feels like they should be.”
Just when I didn’t think I could love him any more, he goes and does something so kind and thoughtful. “Aww, you are such a freaking sweetie I could just eat you all up,” I coo, grabbing his face and kissing him hard.
“Just wait, because in a moment, you’re going to be doing exactly that,” he whispers in my ear before I can pull away. My kraken floods my body with fuck me vibes. She had been reserved since we got off the shuttle and met his parents, but she’s done waiting, and so am I.
“Okay then. I think we will wait and involve my other mates with our decision on the rest of the names,” I announce, standing up. “Thank you for dinner, Mira, it was delicious. If you don’t mind, we’re very tired from our trip, so I think we’ll be heading to bed early.” I tug Caspian to his feet.
I can tell by the amused look Caspian’s parents exchange that they don’t believe me at all, but they are polite enough not to say anything. “Of course, sleep well, and Cas, you know how to call us if you need anything, but the pod is fully stocked,” Mira says, and her son quickly agrees.
“Have fun.” Murphy winks, and I’m mortified, but before I can respond, Cas is dragging me toward the stairs and down them. Instead of heading in the direction of the bedrooms on the ground floor, however, he tugs me past them to what looks like a set of elevator doors.
“Where are we going?” I ask, somewhat confused. I was ready to jump his bones, and he wants to take me sightseeing.
His response quickly clears the confusion, and I practically vibrate with anticipation. “The breeding dome.”