I'm sorry for not posting last week, my lovelies. Due to a death in my family I took off a day, out of respect for my Mimi. I'm very sorry for depriving you, so I dug into my archive and pulled out a few dust-covered ones.
Sadie/Walt can be considered adults/late teens in this.
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"Walt, are you sure-?" Sadie started
"Sadie! For the last time, no we cannot break into a hospital to see Cleo!" I exclaimed. Sadie pouted and flopped back down on the bed.
"She's been forever!"
Has Sadie always been this impatient? Anubis asked quizzically.
I think she's just worried.
I had to admit though, she was more impatient than usual. Cleo was in the hospital-the mortal one. Jaz didn't feel comfortable delivering baby Toby here, so we'd had to rush her to the nearest regular emergency room. Of course, no one had expected Cleo to whelp so soon. She was a few weeks early-and had nearly scared Julian to death. I smirked, remembering him wringing his hands nervously at the idea of being a dad, but he was going to be great.
"Walt-"
"No!"
She groaned and rolled on her stomach. "I don't like me recruits not being under my eyesight!"
I smiled, "maternal much?"
"Shut up."
She is getting a bit motherly about the recruits, Anubis said.
Yeah, I-
Ring, ring.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as Sadie bolted to my phone. She snatched it out of my pocket and answered.
"Hullo!"
I waited patiently, watching Sadie bounce up and down on the heels of her feet while talking. Finally, she squealed and hung up and grabbing my hand, yanking me out of my chair.
"She's back! c'mon!"
Cleo was sitting in the living room, looking tired but cheerful. Behind her, Julian stood, beaming proudly at the bundle of blanket in Cleo's arms. Around them were all the recruits, chattering excitedly at the new arrival.
Sadie released my hand and bounded over, leaving me in the dust.
We really need to cut her off on her caffeine, Anubis muttered.
"Can I hold him?" Sadie asked, sitting down next to Cleo. Cleo smiled weakly.
"Did you nag Walt the entire time I was gone?"
"Yes, yes she did," I grumbled. "Next time you have a kid, please take Sadie with you. Do you know what a nightmare it is to convince her not to break into a hospital to see you?"
"Oh, hush," Sadie said, rolling her eyes. "I wasn't that bad."
Cleo smiled weakly and handed Sadie the bundle of blankets. I walked over so I could see too.
Baby Toby was pretty cute. He was a little chunky, but then again, Cleo had eaten almost nothing but sweets, so it was justified. Big cheek rippled as he yawned, grabbing ahold of Sadie's slim fingers. A little tuft of brown hair was poking out his hat. Sadie beamed as he yawned again and cuddled up into her.
Sadie looked over at me hopefully. "Can I have one?"
Every single trainee looked at the same time, in perfect unison. "NO!"
She pouted. "But why not?"
I forced a smile, "sorry, but you're outnumbered."
She sighed and looked down at Toby, who seemed to have taken a liking to his new Auntie Sadie. "I suppose I don't need one."
We lay in my bed, Sadie on top of me. She yawned, holding one of my hands with hers, playing and nuzzling my bare chest. I lifted my free hand, running it through her damp hair. It was dip-dyed red today.
"Walt?"
"Hm?"
"Are you really against having a baby?"
Walt, you have to tell her, Anubis said gravely.
I sighed, I know, I just didn't want to tell her this soon.
"Sadie, do you remember my curse? What I told you about it?"
A shudder passed through her body and her grip on my hands became like steel. I waited for her to relax again and kept on petting her hair, silently assuring her that I wasn't going anywhere.
After all these years, she's still scarred from that, Anubis murmured, shaking his head sadly.
"It's a bit hard to forget your curse, love," Sadie said, her voice soft.
"…Do you remember me telling you its hereditary?" I said gently.
I almost wanted to shove those words back in my mouth. The look in her eyes was painful to see. Her hope and joy seemed to dissolved, being replaced with hurt and devastated realization. Guilt flooded my mind and I felt awful, looking at her. She nodded, unable to meet my eyes and I knew she'd understood perfectly what I had been trying to tell her. I didn't speak and she rolled on her side, a sign that she didn't want to talk anymore, she just wanted to be alone with her thoughts. I sighed and turned the light off. As I turned my head I thought I saw a tear trail down her cheek, Sadie grieving the children she couldn't have.
Both Anubis and I had very few weaknesses, but one of them was Sadie crying. My throat got tight and I wanted to fix whatever was hurting her.
Walt, Anubis said.
What?
I know you aren't going to like this, but it's going to console her-
What is it?
Tell her she can have my children. When she becomes my immortal wife she can have kids. I know it's a little unfair to you, but it might comfort her.
It's fine. I paid to be alive and this was the price, I said tiredly. I knew that when I was fifteen and we became one.
It wasn't a consequence when you were fifteen, Anubis said gently.
I know.
"Hey baby?" I said softly, putting my hand on Sadie's shoulder. She didn't roll back over-she didn't want me to see her tears-but she nodded to show she was listening.
I told her what Anubis had said. She didn't light back up with her usual cheer, but she did roll over and curl into me. I wrapped around her, feeling a little empty now that I had finally had to come clean with her. In all the talks we'd had, I had purposely avoided telling her the bargain I'd made for my life. Anubis had made me promise that my bloodline would end with me.
I sighed. Back then, that hadn't seemed so bad. Now though…
