Chapter 7
A storm came one late evening in October. Elias had just got back from teaching. When he opened the door, he heard screaming coming from upstairs. He bolted upstairs and found Chise under the cover's crying her eyes out. He rushed towards her and picked her up. She nuzzled in his neck a few of his dark blonde locks caught her nose.
Elias: "I'm here. Be calm."
Chise: "I'm sorry. I should be done with this fear. I'm an adult now…" (hears more thunder) "EEEEEEEKKK!"
Elias: "Shh. I got you." (puts her down, takes off jacket, does a spell) "Here we go."
Chise: Staaaaaaaaaarrrrrreee….. "You're going to scare me again aren't you….."
Elias: "Of course not."
Chise: (sits on his lap) "How was work?"
Elias: "Draining. I need to start taking a leave of absence soon."
Chise: "Yeah. They'll be hear sooner than you think." (winces in pain)
Elias: "You okay?"
Chise: "My breasts. They're hurting just a bit."
Elias: "May I?"
Chise: (blushes) "Mhm.."
Elias lifted up her gown. He saw that some white liquid was coming out of her breasts. It surprised him for a bit. She told him it was milk. He bent down and tasted it finding it quite curious. Chise hit with a pillow while blushing extremely.
Elias: "OW!"
Chise: (blushing) "That is for the babies!"
Elias: "You said it was milk!"
Chise: "FOR. THE. BABIES!" (pouts)
Elias: (chuckles, hugs her) "But you taste really delicious."
Chise: "Silver thinks I should pump."
Elias: "What gave her that thought?"
Chise: "I read that you can pump breast milk. Silver offered to put it in the fridge."
Elias: "I also have been reading some things about labor. I read that some mothers do not make it. And it has me bothered and frightened."
Chise: "If that were to be happened, I want you to look after them."
Elias: "Chise….I…."
Chise: "Just listen. Hopefully that won't happen. I know you're scared. But I want you to be strong for them. I want you to teach them what you taught me. I'm counting on you Elias."
Elias: "I promise. Will you promise me something?"
Chise: "Anything."
Elias: "You have been through much worse. Your shoulder, Joel, your arm, and stomach. I know….no….I believe you will get through this. I have faith in you. Keep fighting. I want you to live."
Chise: "Elias…."
Elias: (hugs her tightly) "Please…"
Chise: "…..Okay…."
A few weeks came, it was time for the baby shower. Silver helped Stella who came by early to decorate the place. They did not know the sex of the babies, so they just tied two sets of colors for the balloons. Like two blue balloons for twin boys, two pink balloons for twin girls, and a blue and a pink balloon for twin boy and girl. Elias and Chise thought that was too much. Stella push that thought aside and went on to setting up the sweets table with Silver and Ruth who was trying to sneak some bites but Silver swatted his hand away. Stella went over the guest list then saw that Elias was confused about the paper bag.
Stella: "That is a baby game."
Elias: "Baby game?"
Stella: "Mhm! It's called Baby Items in the Bag."
Elias: "I do not follow."
Stella: "I'll explain when everyone gets here. Shouldn't you change?"
Elias: "I am dressed."
Stella: "No. I mean your head."
Elias: "Oh! Right." (changes into Simon)
Chise: "I don't think he needed to changed himself Stella."
Stella: "But most of the people coming, are human."
Elias: "It's fine."
The guest have finally arrived. Simon, Adolf, Angelica and her family, Tory, Renfred, Alice, Ethan, Stella's parents, and Lindel and his familiar. They gave Elias and Chise their gifts for the baby. Stella's parents thought that some of them looked a little odd. Everyone chatted until the doorbell ranged again. Chise and Silver went to open it to find out it was Oberon and Titania. Chise explained that some of the guests were human. So they transformed to blend in. After them was Sanford. Chise hugged him. When Elias saw him, he went to greet him.
Sanford: "Good to see you!"
Elias: "Sanford. Welcome." (shakes his hand)
Sanford: "I'm glad she didn't get sick. Congratulations."
Elias: "Thank you."
Lindel: "Well hello there."
Sanford: "Nice to meet you. Name's Sanford."
Lindel: "I am Lindel. I was wondering how you knew my son."
Sanford: "He's your father?! He looks young."
Elias: "In a way unfortunately…"
Sanford: "Well I'll be damned."
Lindel: "I may not look it but I'm much older than this brat. I take good care of him. He whines so much but he seems he has grown into a man recently. Poor Chise. She's getting her hand full with 3 children."
Elias: "DIE….."
Lindel: "See what I mean?"
Sanford: "I do! HAHAHAHA! Your father is hilarious Elias."
Elias: "Yes….Hilarious."
Chise saw that Elias was looking embarrassed. She giggled when she saw Sanford and Lindel were laughing at him. She heard the door, she went to get it. When she opened it, she wished she didn't.
Yuuki: "Hey kiddo."
Chise: "…..."
Elias: "Yuuki. Welcome. You didn't get lost did you?"
Yuuki: "Nope. I just follow the directions in the letter."
Chise: "…wish you did get lost…"
Elias: (covers her mouth, chuckles) "Come in. We got treats."
When Yuuki got in, he saw that some of the guest were odd. How they dressed and everything. He just pushed it aside. He put his gift on the table. When he looked outside the window, he saw Lindel's familiar playing with the dragon he rode here. Yuuki tried to shake that off but he can still see them. Elias walked towards him to see what was wrong.
Elias: "Yuuki?"
Yuuki: "I'm not imagining this but is that a dragon?!"
Elias: "Uh…..well….." (sighs) "Do not worry. They're friendly. They won't eat you."
Yuuki: "You're not scared?!"
Elias: "Yuuki. It's fine."
Yuuki: "Oh….okay…"
While Elias was still talking to him, Chise kept her distance and talked to other people. She saw Oberon and Titania looking at some of the food that was spread out. They find it curious.
Oberon: "Look at this. So square. So sweet."
Chise: "Those are called cookies."
Titania: "They are delightful!"
Oberon: "Oh young Robin. You are getting ready to burst any moment!" (yells in pain)
Titania: "You do not tell a lady that Oberon dear! It's insulting!"
Chise: "It's okay."
Oberon: "Why must you be like that Titania?"
Titania: "Because it feels like I am talking to a child myself not my husband."
Oberon: "Cruel as always. Ouch!"
Titania: "Hear me my love. Those dogs are right outside ready for something to chew if you chose to misbehave."
Oberon: "Tempting. But I will behave myself."
Chise: "It's fine. Really."
Titania: "Dear sweetling why you and yours don't want to know the babies' gender. I can tell you. I know what they are."
Chise: "Elias and I are find with not knowing. But thank you."
Chise looked over and saw that Yuuki was still talking to Elias. She watched as Elias led him out the door. She wondered what were they about to talk about that they couldn't express inside? Outside, Yuuki saw that the dragon Lindel rode on was fast asleep. There were a few questions that were confusing and unexplained to him. They didn't hear Chise coming out so she could listen.
Elias: "Yuuki. You seem puzzled. If you have questions, I would be happy to answer them for you."
Yuuki: "Well, I was wondering about some of the people here. I just got a weird feeling about them. And one of them barely spoke to me. Did I do something to offend her?"
Elias: "No. That was Silver Lady."
Yuuki: "Good to know. The one called Lindel. He's your father?"
Elias: "You seem surprised."
Yuuki: "Very. Because he looks like he could be your son or brother."
Elias: "Looks can be misleading."
Yuuki: "No kidding. I don't even know how old YOU are."
Chise: He did not just say that!
Elias: "Age has nothing to do with it."
Yuuki: "Huh. I'm just thinking about her that's all."
Elias: "Yuuki. Please know I've taken good care of Chise since I bought her when she was 16."
Yuuki: "You bought my daughter?!"
Elias: "Yes. She sold herself to slavery. She didn't want to live after what happened to you and her mother. She was torn. She wanted to kill herself as well, but she didn't."
Chise: Why did you tell him that?!
Yuuki: "God... I'm a terrible father….."
Elias: "I know it was awful, but I bought her. I took care of her. We…. We started to get closer to each other. We've been through a lot. I started to love her, but I did it the wrong way. Eventually I made it up to her and we were married."
Yuuki: "You really love her."
Elias: "So much. And I love our children."
Yuuki: "I see. For someone who's a mage, you are really something else Elias."
Elias and Chise: (shocked)
Elias: "What gave it away that I was a mage?!"
Yuuki: "Forgive me but I was looking at some of the books. They were old spell books. And I tripped over this magic cane. I accidentally set your flowers on fire. I'm sorry."
Elias: "My staff."
Yuuki: "Do you have any brothers?"
Elias: "No I do not."
Yuuki: "I saw a man who looks exactly like you, so I assumed. I don't think that's your real face."
Chise: Oh no….. Elias…..
Yuuki: "I'm correct?"
Elias: "Yuuki…"
Yuuki: "No listen. I'm alright with it. I may not know what you really look like but I know how much you love my daughter. That's enough in my book. I'm glad she has someone like you."
Elias: "Thank you Yuuki."
Yuuki: (pats him on the back)
Elias: "I don't have to start calling you Father, do I?"
Yuuki: "No."
Elias: "Oh thank God!"
Elias and Yuuki: (laughing)
Elias: "It's good that you came."
Yuuki: "Yeah. I got some truth out of you."
Elias: "Yes… SOME."
They both headed back inside not noticing Chise in the kitchen. She smile just a bit. She went back to join them then stopped midway when she experienced a bit of pain. Ruth walked up to her cause he felt it too.
Ruth: "You alright?"
Chise: "I'm fine."
Ruth: "You sure?"
Chise: "Mhm. Let's get back to the party."
Ruth: "Okay. If you feel anymore pain, let me know. Let Elias know too."
Chise: "Okay."
After they got gifts and played games which confused Elias a lot, but Chise explained them when they were taking a bath together.
Elias: "How can a wooden spoon be for this teething?! It makes no sense!"
Chise: (washes his back) "Well to every baby on their first few months, anything is a toy. Even our staffs. So we should be careful. With all our stuff. If our babies have teeth like yours, they WILL be teething SHARPLY!" (laughs)
Elias: "Very funny!"
Chise: "My turn."
Elias: (washes her back) "Does it feel good?"
Chise: "Yes. Elias."
Elias: "Hmm?"
Chise: "What if they're like me?"
Elias: "Sleigh Beggies?"
Chise: "Mhm…"
Elias: (hugs her from behind) "I will do whatever it takes to take care of them."
Chise: "Really?"
Elias: "You have my word."
Chise turned around and hugged him. They caressed each with love. He carried her to the bed, pressing his skull to her lips. They hugged each other bare as they slept as their babies get closer and closer to coming.
Chise arrived in her 37th week of pregnancy. Winter came fast. She heavily breathes in the air. She could see her breaths rise high in the sky. Ruth walks with her watching her.
Ruth: "You shouldn't be out. You're due any day now."
Chise: "Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm helpless."
Ruth: "But Chise…"
Chise: "I want to help for Yule."
Ruth: "I wonder what Elias will say to that."
Chise: "You let me worry about him."
A couple of shadows flew in circles around them. They come every year singing their songs of Yule.
Yule Twin #1:
The sun is the light for the early sleepers
The moon and stars are light for the night owls
Yule Twin #2:
Complete all the rituals by the night
Yule Twins: The night of Yule has arrived!
Yule Twin #1: "Greetings to you Child of the Night. And your little ones you bare as well."
Yule Twin #2: "Happy Yuletide Bride of Thorn and Children of Thorn. Have you prepared for Yule?"
Chise: "Not quite. But we are getting there."
Yule Twins: "Greetings Thorn's Child!"
Elias: "Greetings Yule Twins. Don't worry. We are preparing soon."
Yule Twin #1: "Make haste for the deer man and woman who also bare child."
Elias: "Our thanks as always! Farewell."
Chise: "You followed me!"
Elias: "I have just returned from work early. They have let the students out for Winter holidays. I am free to be with you and our children who are due any day now."
Chise: "That's good Elias."
Elias: "I have a gift for you when we get back. It's for our twins when they are born."
Chise: "You made them bears too didn't you?"
Elias: "In a way. I must not spoil the surprise."
Chise: "Okay. I want to help with Yule again."
Elias: "Chise. I can't allow it."
Ruth: "Told you."
Chise: "Hush you. Elias please."
Elias: "Chise. You're condition. The twins."
Chise: "I don't want you to think I'm a delicate flower."
Elias: (sighs) "Alright. But you are to tell me when you feel pain. We will leave right away."
Chise: "I will."
Elias: "...Ruth."
Ruth: "I will."
Chise: "Jeez you guys….."
As always, they gather the plants they needed for Yule. The berries, the herbs, and the mistletoe for the door. Chise saw the deer man and the pregnant woman on his back. Elias and Ruth hid her away so they wouldn't be seen by them. Before they came, Chise dropped a red berry. The pregnant woman picked it up and held on to it tightly as they disappeared into the forest. Ruth helped Chise up since it was hard for her to do so. When they got home, Chise saw that the door of her old room was off limits. She tried to sneak a peek but Silver shook her head no. She went back outside and found Elias hanging the mistletoe on the door.
Chise: "It looks so pretty."
Elias: (takes her by the waist) "Shall I kiss you?"
Chise: "Why do you ask?"
Elias bends down on his knees like always and kisses her. She puts her tongue in his wrapping her arms around him. After the kiss, she kissed him on the snout. She watched him bend down lower giving a kiss to the babies.
Elias: "And for you my little ones." (nuzzles her belly)
Suddenly, the babies kicked Elias shocking them both.
Elias: "The babies!"
Chise: "They kicked you!" (laughs)
Elias: "Oh no. That was a punch." (chuckles, rubs her belly) "Just like your mother."
Chise: "Did it hurt?"
Elias: "It was a small pinch. Yours was quite stronger."
Chise: "I'm sorry."
Elias: "No. I deserved it back then."
Chise: "Yeah you did."
Elias and Chise: (both laughing)
Christmas had came. Finally, Chise could get the surprise gift that Elias, Ruth, and Silver have been hiding in her old room. Elias covered her eyes and lead her there. When she looked inside, she was surprised for what she saw was a nursery. Elias turned her old room into a nursery and gave Ruth a new room. The color was pure white. Two cribs with mobiles. She looked closer at them and saw that one of the mobiles had different types of cute Fae on them and on the other mobile there were the fox, the bear, and the wolf of Chise's were beast skin and Elias' chimera form all cute like for the babies. She sat in rocking chair. It was soft and barely creaks. She then saw two bears. One for each child. Chise ran to hug him. She loved it completely. Silver and Ruth were happy that she loved the Christmas gift. She knows for a fact that the babies will love it too.
The 2nd week of January had arrived. Ruth had just came back from visiting Isabelle's grave. He turned human and walked inside. When he did, he saw Silver rushing around the house panicking in her quiet way. Something must have happened. Ruth looked in the living room and found Chise standing there breathing heavily.
Ruth: "Chise. What's going on? What's wrong with Silver?"
Chise: (labor breathing) "Watch where you're stepping!"
Ruth: (sees water on the floor) "What is that? Did you spill something?"
Chise: "No. My water broke." (inhale, exhale)
Ruth: "OH! YOU'RE IN LABOR!"
Chise: "DUH!"
Ruth: "Where the hell is Elias?!"
Chise: "He's on his way back. I can't do this without him!"
Ruth: "Just breathe. Breathe Chise."
Chise: "I KNOW THAT!"
Ruth: "Sorry!"
Elias: (walks in) "I'm home. Silver why is the bag by the door?"
Ruth: "Elias! In here quick!"
Elias: "Ruth. What's wrong?"
Chise: "Elias! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Elias: "OH GOD! YOU ARE IN LABOR!"
Chise: "YA THINK?!"
Elias: (gets his staff out, grabs the bag) "No time to waste. We'll be back soon."
Ruth: "Good luck."
Silver: (waves goodbye)
Elias teleported in front of the hospital with Chise in his arms yelling in his human ear. He rushed inside and it was lucky too because Shannon was waiting for them before the receptionist could give them papers to sign. Now was not the time.
Shannon: "Hurry! Get her in a chair! The doctor will join us in the private wing. We'll take the elevator there."
Elias: "We have to hurry!" (sets Chise down)
Chise: "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH THEY'RE COMING!"
Elias: "Be calm Chise. Breathe in breathe out."
Chise: "I AM BREATHING!"
Shannon: "And there's the anger. All new mothers go through this Thorn."
Elias: "I see."
Chise: "ELIAS! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
Elias: "Why?!"
Chise: "YOU DID THIS TO ME!"
Elias: "Rather aggressive too."
Shannon: "Yep. Okay here we go! Move move move!"
This was it. Chise is finally going into labor.
