Chapter 10
Woltar didn't know what to do when Albel came home rather suddenly, trailing the rest of the group behind him.
"Master Albel, there is a lady waiting for you. You're bride-to-be." said a maid.
"Tell her to leave." Albel said, grinning wickedly. "I have someone."
Woltar blinked. Had his grandson really just said there was a woman in his life? "Who is she, Albel?"
The Captain blinked at Woltar, confused. "What?"
"I asked who is she? Your bride?"
"When did I say I had a bride?" Albel was seriously confused. Especially since he was holding Fayt's hand.
"But . . ."
"I said I have someone." Albel said. "And, though it may pain you and the king, it's not a woman."
Woltar glared at Fayt. "It's this thing?" he demanded. "I will not allow it!" He went to strike Fayt, but Albel got in the way. The strike landed him against the wall, just lying there.
"Albel!" Fayt ran over and helped his beloved up. "That's going to leave a mark."
"And he shall change the Nox Family forever. Chaos and death shall follow in his wake, until an Angel takes him." Albel said, looking at Woltar. "I killed my parents, and lead the Black Brigade on it's bloody path for years. And now, I have my Angel." He turned and kissed Fayt, making sure it was obvious to Woltar that he loved the Earthling.
"The king will surely strip you of your rank and position." Woltar argued.
"Oh, about that." Albel pulled out a note that he'd obviously worked on for a while for it to be a legible as it was. "Please see to it that His Majesty gets this."
Woltar stared. "This is a letter of resignation." he scowled.
"Exactly." Albel replied. "How else am I to settle into a family life, even if it isn't what you wanted, if I'm always away? Even my father took a year away to spend time with my mother when they were wed."
"You are not marrying this . . . this . . ."
A pair of wings appeared behind Fayt, the only part of his power he'd managed to be able to control. "I am his Angel." said Fayt. "And we will be wed." He smiled softly.
Woltar frowned. There seemed no way to dissuade Albel from this destructive way of life. "Fine, but you will not receive my blessing on this."
Albel nodded. "That's fine. But until you accept this, you're no longer welcome in my estate."
Sophia watched as the elder Nox left the estate. "Well, now what?" she asked.
"Now, we have a wedding to plan." said Fayt. He leaned close to Albel and gave him a kiss.
`~`~`~`~O_O~`~`~`~`
The King of Ariglyph was disappointed that Albel wasn't going to marry a woman, but was rather marrying the Angel of Destruction known as Fayt Leingod. So he gave his blessing to the marriage, and said he would be present for the union.
Since both were male, they had a hard time figuring out how things were going to go. Neither had family left, really, so the traditional one given to the other wasn't going to work. Secondly, even if it was Albel's name Fayt was going to take, Albel was the girl in the relationship at the moment. There was the issue of how to dress as well.
Nel managed to solve that one, clothing both men in similar styled clothes of a half-shirt and dress-pant style with a sheer over-jacket that also served as a veil for both of them. Albel's was edged in red, Fayt's in blue.
The wedding party was another problem. Who was going to be part, and who would hold the sermon? No priest in Ariglyph would do the ceremony. That answer came from the king. He would solemnize the union for them.
As for the wedding party, they figured on Mirage and Cliff, Nel and Maria, and Sophia and Pepitta, in that pairing setup. The two Klausians would stand in as the Best Man and Matron of Honor for the signing. The colors for them were set up the same way as Albel and Fayt's clothes.
Decorations were simple enough. With his dexterity and speed as a Menodix, Roger was able to get the streamers and hanging lanterns up with Adray's help.
Everything was ready.
However, the morning of the wedding, Albel was found vomiting heavily. He looked up as Nel came in to help him prepare. "Is Fayt alright?" he asked as he fit the sheer over-jacket on.
"Yeah." Nel replied. "He's a bit nervous, but he wasn't outright puking like you were."
Albel paused, unknowingly placing his hand over his hardening abdomen. The others didn't know, yet, but soon it would start to be a question, and then blatantly obvious. Two of nine months had already passed him and Fayt by, and he sighed.
"Albel, is something wrong?" Nel asked. She touched his hand, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Sorry." He swallowed and straitened his clothes. "I'm ready."
Nel shook her head. "Not yet."
"Huh?" Albel looked at Nel as the red-head placed a red flower in his hair. "I'm not a girl." he said.
"No, but Fayt's wearing one in his hair as well, and I thought it'd be perfect if you had one, too."
Albel nodded and joined Fayt at the doors to the Main Hall of the Nox Estate. The music began, and the procession made it's way down the hall to the front. And so, before those that had gathered, including the Queen of Aquios, Albel and Fayt were wed.
`~`~`~`~O_O~`~`~`~`
It was about a month later that Nel and Sohpia pulled Fayt aside.
"Yeah?" Fayt asked.
"Albel's been sick a lot lately." said Nel.
"And you haven't let them send the Diplo very far away." Sophia continued. "In fact, Maria said you asked the Diplo to actually land here at the Nox Estate!"
"Sorry, but . . ." Fayt sighed. "It's just so I can make sure he's alright."
"What is wrong with Albel that it would require you grounding the Diplo?" Sophia asked.
Albel sighed loudly, standing behind the girls. He wasn't wearing his traditional clothes, but rather a more complete set of Ariglyph men's wear. "Fayt." he said.
"Yes, love?"
"They're asking, too?" he asked.
"Yeah."
Albel sighed again. "I guess there's no denying it, then." he said. "I'm just concerned about what to do with big-mouth Roger."
"I have a cage we can always put him in if the need arises." said Nel.
"Might want to put him in there first." said Albel. He covered his mouth again rather suddenly and swallowed. "Oh, that's unpleasant."
Roger looked at Fayt as he was put in the cage. "What's the big idea?" he asked. "Does this have to do with Albel being sick?"
"It has everything to do with it." Fayt replied. The rest of their group was gathered together, but Albel wasn't looking well.
"So, what's wrong?" asked Nel.
"I'm pregnant." Albel said flatly.
The responses were . . . varied, to say the least. The most immediate ones were from Nel, Adray, and Sophia, which was a collective "What?" Cliff fell out of his chair from the shock, and Roger sat down in his cage. Mirage and Maria just kinda sat there, mouths open, staring at the Glyphian. Pepitta's reaction was to stand up and walk over, then hug Albel.
"Congratulations." said Pepitta, looking at Albel's stunned face. "May this dream be the best one yet." It was her way of saying 'I wish you the best'.
"How'd this happen?" Nel asked. "He's a guy, right?"
"It's Cliff's fault." Fayt said. "He's the one that drugged Albel that day."
Things began to click into place. "So, you stayed behind." said Sophia. "Mostly because you already loved Albel, but also because he needed help."
Fayt nodded.
"And you fucked him." said Cliff.
Albel growled at him, but said nothing. There was another wash of gross feeling, and he swallowed.
"But why did Albel need sex?" Maria asked.
"It's the potion that was made. The initial creator was from an unknown species called Eldarian, but there were notes in the item creation book for alterations for Earthlings, Felpool, and Featherfolk." Fayt replied. "There are different side effects for each species, but humans have an intense need for sex."
"So, that's why you looked lost right before your wedding." said Nel. "You were thinking about your baby."
Albel nodded. "It's been about three months, and it's kinda starting to show."
"It's alright." said Roger from his cage. "I'm not understanding much, but basically, for now your a girl until the baby comes, right?"
Fayt and Albel looked at each other. "Kinda, yeah." Fayt said.
"So that means we have to protect you until the baby comes." Easy logic, really, coming from Roger, but it's how he understood things.
"I guess that's one way of putting it." Fayt said. "The thing is, the only place Albel will be able to safely have the baby is the Diplo, since the equipment there can help if there's a problem."
"So, that's why you asked me to ground the ship." Maria nodded. "Ok, we'll help out so Albel can have a safe pregnancy."
Albel swallowed. Why did he feel bad about this?
`~`~`~`~O_O~`~`~`~`
Albel sat by the window, looking outside listlessly. He was now into his fifth month, and normal clothes just didn't fit anymore. Absolute refusal to wear a dress had placed him in loose pants and rather large shirts. The light summer sun was coming in through the window, but it wasn't what was on Albel's mind.
Fayt stood in the doorway, his leg brace removed for the time being, since the doctor said to try walking without it for a while each day. He watched Albel sit there, and wondered if his love was alright. "Albel?"
"Hmm?" He looked back at Fayt, then down at his expanding stomach.
"You seem to be thinking hard, love. is something wrong?"
"Names." Albel replied. "I was trying to think of names." He placed a hand on his stomach, sighing softly.
"Active?" Fayt asked, sitting beside Albel. The other nodded.
"Fayt." Albel's voice seemed a little frightened. "What's going to happen?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's nothing I've found about a man birthing." Albel continued. "I'm . . . I don't want to be cut open."
Fayt put a hand on his lover's shoulder. "Albel, the baby has to come out, and according to the old texts I found, all of the people who've had to do this managed to birth."
Albel looked at Fayt, and the blunette could see there was still some concern.
"The baby's going to come out you ass." Fayt clarified. "It'll be alright. I'll be there for you, ok?"
Albel nodded. "About names?" he said. "I had one in mind, for a girl."
"Ok, what is it?"
Albel looked at his hands. "Garnet." he replied.
"It's beautiful." Fayt said. He placed his hand partially on Albel's, so his palm was resting on his husband's belly. "Any ideas for a boy's name?"
"Not yet."