Chapter Ten #2
He snorted. “No. Mother and baby are doing well and have access to medical treatment if necessary.”
Xiroth nodded. “I have watched the movies, the diapers are laid in, and the crib has been divested of the herd of stuffed animals that Xletl bought.”
Vine watched as he ticked things off on his fingers. Tummy time was accounted for, baby monitors were in place, friends were lined up to take care of them, and everyone had their shots and knew to wash their hands.
This baby was being brought into a community, and it had been loved long before there were signs it was there.
Jennika smiled. “You helped me get him started, so I am so glad you were here for his arrival.”
Vine blushed as Xiroth stared at her. “You didn’t tell him.”
“No. I didn’t, but when I came through, Vine offered me a complete cleansing if I was afraid or support if I had hope.
She said she would support me to the end and far beyond, so I smiled and said yes.
She gave me a charm, and I felt good. Really good.
We waited six weeks and then made the appointment with Dr. Theo. ”
Dr. Theo smiled. “And that is where I entered the life of the healthiest patient I have ever seen. She should have had some form of mate withdrawal, but there was nothing but robust health.”
“The tricky part was spoofing Xiroth’s energy, but I managed.” Vine smiled.
Understanding crossed his features. “You provided her with a simulation of my energy signature.”
“It’s amazing what I can cram into those little charms. It did mean I had to be careful with contact, or I could have thrown the whole thing off.”
Jennika blinked. “Which is why you were so hesitant to touch me. You had to make sure which energy you were putting out.”
“Yeah, speaking of putting out. Wait a year before the next one.”
Jennika blushed and glanced at Xiroth. “Uh, I will try.”
“Oh, jeesus, I don’t mean don’t have sex.
Have tons; it’s good for you, just don’t get pregnant right away.
These fellas live for quite a while. You can space out the kids.
And he can use a condom. I have seen the evidence of that for myself.
Mind you, it doesn’t work on tentacles, so I have to come up with something else. ”
Jenn covered her smile and said, “Another charm?”
“It only works on one entity at a time. I could make a bracelet or even an earring for you. A set of anklets for when you are feeling frisky. I can control an egg.”
Jenn nodded. “You get on that. I don’t want to have another one until this one is talking. I want to enjoy every part of it.”
Vine smiled. “Good. I am back in two days and so very glad I made it for this.”
Xiroth chuckled. “We have been thinking about taking a trip to the islands.”
“Nice. They are building a hotel resort thing on the Breakridge Islands. A lot less spontaneous sex than on Wonder.”
Xiroth smiled, looked at the baby, and frowned. “Where can I get information on that?”
“From Kazuya or Mia or Meeda. Maybe me if I decide to pay attention. I would say contact Mia, but with our little grouping alone, they would be swamped in no time.”
Xiroth nodded. “Fair. I suppose we could build our own resort... spearheaded by two of our serpents.”
She snorted. “Oh, hells, your guys are building on Breakridge.”
Xiroth beamed. “We are. Our people are also good at building quickly and getting materials remarkably fast. I am going to be going on a sourcing trip in a few weeks if Jennika is ready to travel with the baby.”
Jennika looked at him. “I am on mat leave, and how will we be travelling?”
He laughed and cuddled them both. “A gateway between places if Vine will guide us.”
“No problem. I will be there when you call. I always am.” She winked. “Just no more cliffs. They are tricky.”
Jennika smiled, and a tear went down her cheek. She held her arms out, and Vine hugged her, being careful not to smoosh the little man between them.
When she wiped her own eyes, she grabbed her coconut with the straw sticking out of it and grinned. “Did you know they import these for the tourists? I like ‘em.”
Jennika grinned. “Talk to you soon.”
“Back in two days. Xiroth, I am going to do an audit of your behaviour when I am back. Keep them both clean, relaxed, and happy. Extra points if you help her pump and take the night shift.”
“Done. Vine, have fun. You look better now.”
Dr. Theo was charting stats and nodded. “I would have to agree.”
“Okay. Thanks for that observation. I am going outside. Rule one: Never open a portal in the house. It messes with the feng shui.”
Xiroth grinned and nodded. Vine inclined her head, walking out with her coconut beverage. Tuvel was arriving and hugged her as she walked to the wide patio of Xiroth’s house.
“You are going?”
“Yup. They are happy and well, and he is super cute. No name yet. Apparently, the naming comes later. I have two days left to do some stuff in the islands, and then I will be home.”
Tuvel nodded. “If they have any local fabrics, can you bring me some?”
“Of course. Mia and Meeda are looking to expand their product line.” Vine smiled. “If you are interested in designing some easy-on, easy-off wraps and things, let me know.”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Okay. Keep your worktable clear. When I get the fabrics, I will send them there.” She paused. “How are you doing with that other pixie?”
“He’s nice. We meet for dinner and coffee. I am not ready for anything quite yet.”
“I wasn’t ready until I was, and even then, it was his rut that tossed me into the pool, so to speak. Meeda got her initial needs seen to, and now she can choose with a clear head.”
“Tentacle merman?”
“If she ever sees him, she won’t try to bite his throat out.
” Vine smiled. “This time. There are plenty of guys willing to let her have some blood in exchange for a dinner out with her. She is lovely when she relaxes enough to trust someone. With me and Mia nearby, scowling, and Kazuya acting like a big brother, she is learning to trust.”
Tuvel grinned. “You go with her and glare at her dates?”
“Absolutely. She’s also wearing a heavy-duty protection charm. She can’t even be poked with a spoon with that thing on.”
Tuvel smiled and touched her shoulder. “You always protect what’s yours.”
“I have been out with nothing, and if anything, I belong to Meeda. She saved me. You know that. You went through the same portal.”
Tuvel shrugged. “I didn’t know if you remembered that. You were young. For me, it was two years ago.”
“Time travel sucks.”
Tuvel laughed. “That I can agree with. Well, I need to bring in my offerings to the little mister. Who is going to go next?”
“Sable, then Eudora, Ivy, and I see a child in my arms late next year. I am holding to my heat but have crafted a very strong birth control charm if you are interested. The pearls that Meeda can coax out of the oysters hold a charm very well.”
“She coaxes them?”
“Yeah, she asks, and they spit them out for her. No cracking of shells. She thanks them, and they actually wiggle.”
Tuvel laughed. “It sounds like she’s happy.”
“She’s at peace, and that is pretty close.”
Her phone rang, and she looked. “Kaz. I will see you in a few days. I hope to find some fabric for you tomorrow.”
“Thanks. I am an unabashed textile addict, and I know it.”
She laughed. “We all know it. Right, well, I am back to sand and sun. Start those designs. Remember easy-on, easy-off. Nothing complicated for the drunk or sunbaked.”
Smiling, she opened a portal with the wave of her hand and stepped away from Xiroth and Jenn’s home and onto the sunbaked deck of Mia’s home on Wonder Island.
She watched her phone blink and catch up with the local time.
Meeda’s voice came from the beach. “Everything good?”
“Everything great. She’s strong and healthy and so is little dude. Xiroth looks like he’s going to explode with joy. I am not sure they do that, but he’s a candidate for it.”
Meeda laughed. “There is juice on the table, and Kazuya and Mia went into town to bring back some of that fried stuff you like.”
“I am going to send Mia a request to find out if she can source some local fabric.”
Meeda put on a wrap and walked up to the deck. “Tuvel.”
“Correct. I have asked her to work on designs for wraps and coverups that are easy on and easy off.”
“Oh, she can really do a good job with those. Everything she does has a serious element of cosplay. That goes very well out here.”
“And she will do it with local fibres.”
“Which will be amazing for the tourist traps... uh, trade.”
They laughed.
Meeda smelled like the open ocean and looked free. Vine could see her male on the horizon, but for the first time, Meeda was choosing who she was in contact with.
Vine got some juice and poured it into the coconut. Meeda laughed at her and said, “I am going for a swim. See you in a few hours.”
“Have fun. Thanks for staying out until I got home.”
“No problem. Glad everything went well.”
“It went very well. Now I am a lot more comfortable with the idea of having a baby with Kaz. All the elves around there, and the pixies, were focused on Jenn’s health and the baby and not just high-fiving Xiroth.”
Meeda smiled slowly. “That is very, very good to know.”
“Go get wet, Meeda. I will be here when you get back.”
Meeda grinned, hugged her, and flicked out her wings. She dropped her wrap and flew out over the sea before she summoned her tail as she plunged deep. Meeda was happy here.
Vine changed into swimwear and a wrap and settled onto a lounge with her sippy coconut.
It was one of her most omega-ish things to do.
That and dressing in super-soft clothing and anything designed by Mia.
Nothing suited an omega more than a suit designed by an omega.
Every seam lay flat, and the embroidery didn’t touch her skin. She felt pretty when she wore it.