Chapter 10 #2
“Shit, Lila, it’s hard work watching the three of them, especially when they are hyper,” Cas whines, and Link nods his head in agreement.
“I have to agree. I thought I had this parenting thing down after Marcus, but three at a time is nothing like one. I now have complete sympathy for my poor parents.” Eric grimaces, and I realize I know nothing about their parents.
One day I will sit down with them and ask all about my family tree, but not today.
Today, I need to worry about my own immediate tree that keeps sprouting extra branches.
“Well, suck it up, guys, because we’re going to add a few more to the mix.
We need to work out how long it will be until they arrive.
So this is what’s going to happen. We are going to have a nice, peaceful” —Xavier snorts— “family lunch, and then you are all going to take a nap.” I point to my children, whose eyelids are starting to look heavy.
“And you are going to call your families and give them the good news, and then let Link look you over,” I tell the two cats and my cyborg.
“While this is happening, I am going to make sure that Xavier and Saxon have all that they need to recover.”
“And me?” Cas asks, raising his eyebrows, and I wave my hands around the room.
“You are going to tidy up. This place looks like a hurricane went through it.”
“It did, hurricane Jack, Cally, and Cordy.” William chuckles, standing up. “That sounds like a grand idea, and after that, we need to sit down and make plans. The spring equinox on Rilu is quickly approaching, and we need a game plan in place to get that flower.”
“Okay, well, that’s what we will do after dinner then,” I agree, a wash of panic flowing over me. So much has happened in a short period of time, but he’s right. Grandpa John’s recovery needs to be our focus now that the kids have shifted.
But first things first—lunch.
“After the fourth time they shifted and busted out of their clothes, X lost his shit.” Cas is regaling us with stories about their twelve hours without me. “He spelled their new clothes to be able to shift with them.”
The babies are spaced out around the table.
They are in little chairs that slide onto the side of the table, allowing them to join us for the meal.
I’ve got Cordy next to me, and Jack is with Cas, but Cally threw a tantrum until she got to sit between Maxsim and Echo.
The cats are lavishing her with attention and food.
Our kittens? Babies? Whatever, they are going to be so well loved, but I can see the kids’ eyelids are really starting to sag now.
The food is very similar to what’s found on Earth, just different names and colors.
I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised, really, if the Skarrians were the original Earthlings.
Everything tastes delicious, and Cordy is kind of partial to a vegetable that tastes like a sweet potato but is pink.
We’re having it mashed with some meat and other vegetables tonight, and all three of the babies are loving it, which is a huge relief.
I thought they may want to stick to their raw fish diet in this form as well, and I’m not sure how long I could have coped with that.
“That’s awesome. Mira was saying that there was nothing like that. I’m pretty sure she would like to join forces with you and create a line of children’s clothing for Fluxx.”
A shrewd look crosses Xavier’s face, and it’s the first time I’ve seen the arrogant warlock since we emerged from our nest. I can’t say I’m not relieved, because I’m really worried about him, and as soon as we are done on Rilu and Grandpa John is up and about again, I’m going to insist on returning to Westalin.
“You know, that is a great idea, and not just for Fluxx. There are many species throughout the galaxy that can shift, and I’m almost certain none of their young have control when they are younger.
Imagine the amount of money we could save parents.
Other children’s clothing companies would be gunning for us.
They will lose so much money if everyone shifts to our product.
” He chuckles wickedly and nods his head.
“I wonder if I can put a patent on it so no one else can do the same. It’s a very complicated spell, and it took me a little while to get it right.
There probably aren’t many warlocks who could pull it off.
Mom and Dad would, and maybe Zane, but he wouldn’t compete with us. I’ll give Mira a call and discuss it.”
He goes to stand up, lost in his world domination plans, but I stand up too. “Wait. Both you and Saxon need to take care of yourselves first,” I tell him, careful of my words around the children.
They are going to see and hear a lot of things in this family, but I’m hoping to keep them as innocent as I can as long as possible.
Although sex seems to be more openly talked about across the galaxy, unlike Earth, so maybe I need to make sure their education is where it needs to be to protect them from making mistakes, especially if their inner beast is as pushy and irresponsible as mine is.
She gives me a little nudge at the thought, and I can practically hear her grumbling, but there is a small sense of impatience suggesting she is looking forward to taking care of Sax and Xav.
Xavier’s eyes narrow, and his scheming expression is replaced with one of hunger, hunger for me, and he changes direction and strides toward me as Saxon pushes his chair back.
“Right, you guys know what you need to do. Call your parents.” I point at the cats and then turn to Link and Cas.
“And you two get these munchkins to bed. Daddies are going to put you to bed now, and you will sleep. When you’re good and rested, we might go for a drive later and see if we can find a park for you to play at.
” The weather is overcast, but there’s no rain for the first time in days.
The children have been cooped up inside since they were born, apart from swimming in the pool, and now that they’ve shifted, it will be good to get some fresh air and let them run around in a playground.
The children’s eyes widen with excitement.
“Oh yes, Mama,” Jack says, speaking for all of them.
“We sleep now.” He closes his eyes and puts his head down on his tray, narrowly missing the pile of mashed sweet potato still on his plate.
And just like that, he’s asleep, his chubby little baby cheeks relaxed in slumber and so freaking adorable.
The girls try to copy him, but we stop them before they can get themselves covered in food.
I lift Cordy out of her chair as Echo carefully lifts Cally before depositing them both in Link’s arms. Cas grabs the now sleeping Jack.
“Once I’ve done this and you finish your call to your parents, we’ll teleport to the ship, and I can do a scan, so meet me back here,” Link tells the cats, who quickly agree.
I wave goodbye to my grandpas and grab my warlock and Vilaxian by the hand, towing them to my bedroom. A rush of excitement flows through me at having both of them at the same time. It’s something I’ve been wanting since I learned that they helped each other out from time to time.