Elunara stretched as she made her way down the stairs.
"You slept awful late." Susan grinned as she stuffed a spoonful into Tilly's mouth.
"Yeah, Jordan and I got a little... creative. He's probably cursing the bruises. I'll have to go down and give him a healing shot. Right after I do my in house medical checks." Elunara shook her head. "I sound like a healer." She snorted. Placing a hand on Susan's shoulder, she kissed her temple. "Ah, damn."
"What?" Susan blinked up. "What's wrong?
"I hate to tell you this, but you're pregnant again."
Susan raised her arms and looked at her belly. "AW, DAMN IT! REALLY BODY? REALLY?"
"What's wrong?" Lydia leaned over the banister.
"I'm pregnant again." Susan tossed the spoon in the bowl.
"Well, we can be pregnant together." Lydia grinned.
"Yeah, but Tilly only barely hit seven months..." Susan sighed. "Now I have to be a boulder again."
"Speaking of which, get down here so I can check you."
"Yes, Momma." Lydia stuck out her tongue. "Soon to be grand momma."
"That'll be a kick in the pants." Elunara ran her hand over Lydia's belly. "Everything looks good. Speaking of which, have you told Mother?"
"I haven't." Lydia shook her head.
Susan pointed at her own belly. "You damned well better be a boy, and then I QUIT!"
They went down to the training yard and waited. As predicted, Jordan grumbled at Elunara for healing.
Darguni wrapped himself around Lydia.
"My angel, you're looking decidedly grumpy." Grogek kissed Susan's temple.
"I am! I'm pregnant AGAIN, so damned soon!" She stomped her foot.
Grogek blinked at her in shock. "Are you certain?"
"Wife number one told me so."
Elunara nodded. "It's true."
"That's... unfortunate." He frowned. With a sigh, he ran his hands down her arms. "I am deeply thrilled that you'll be giving me a second child, but I'm worried about it hurting you."
"Not like I got my body back in shape." Susan snorted. "Gods, I want to be happy, because I love children and I wanted to give you many... but so close? It's... awful."
"That's what I thought."
Everyone looked up.
"It was terrible alright, and it drove me to insanity." Zelinnia sat on the platform. "But, in the end? It worked out, and it was fine. The first few years were painful, but my children will always have each other."
"I guess that's true." Susan ran her hands over her belly. "At least Tilly will have another half orc to play with."
"It'll work, don't worry about it." She jerked her shoulder. "So, how close are the two going to be born?"
Elunara put her hands on both women and concentrated. "They'll be extremely close." She considered. "Same month if everything follows pattern, if not same week."
"Owch." Zelinnia winced
Jordan sighed. "No one's going to get any sleep."
"Why are you here, sugarbutt?"
"I can't visit my sister and pregnant niece without an ulterior motive?"
Elunara snorted. "You can't leave your paperwork at this time of the day without an armed guard prying you off."
Zelinnia snorted. "You have me there." She sighed. "Johnathan and I were having a rather heated argument on parenting... philosophies, when I got mad enough to summon a fireball. A little afraid of my temper, I came to the one person who can keep me straight."
"What in the WORLD could make you mad enough to pull a fireball on Renwa?" Elunara blinked.
"That assmonkey actually told me I needed to teach Abigail some more DOMESTIC skills."
"Wait, WHAT?"
"Yeah!" Zelinnia gestured at Elunara. "That, perhaps if I had gotten her more interested in CIVILISED pursuits, she wouldn't be such a handful to manage!"
"It was Renwa himself who said that women were some of our meanest and most cunning of soldiers and he wished more would get involved for the good of the alliance." Jordan gawked.
"Well, apparently, he has a double standard concerning his own daughter!" Zelinnia crossed her arms.
"Excuse me, I have to go beat the shit out of my oldest and closest friend." Elunara growled.
Renwa jolted when Elunara kicked open the door. He sighed and leaned back.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
"I take it she told you?"