Grell grinned happily as she sat down on the front room sofa, her baby in her arms. Nancy followed her, having finished feeding Tzipporah. The younger red-head informed the older that there was more to breastfeeding than she thought, and so the younger secured the front room to give Grell the lecture she needed.
"Can't we hurry this up?" Grell pouted, "I wanna feed my wittle baby!"
"Of course," Nancy giggled, sitting beside her. Sebell whined, tugging at her mother's dress.
"Oh, of course honey," Grell cooed, cupping her baby's cheek before she made to undo her dress.
"Not like that," Nancy pointed out, "Don't lay Sebell down when you breastfeed, hold her up a bit. This way, the milk doesn't pool at the back of throat. She'll get an ear infection if that happens."
"Really?" Grell asked, furrowing her brow curiously, "That happens?"
Nancy nodded.
"My goodness...I had no idea," Grell pouted.
"That's okay," Nancy smiled, "It normally takes a few tries to figure out how to hold the baby."
Grell shifted a bit, holding Sebell up a bit more rather than laying her down, "Like this, then?"
"Mm hm!" Nancy nodded, watching as Grell undid her bodice to feed the baby, "Mind her head now."
Grell nodded obediently as she held Sebell's head more securely.
"And just prop her little booty up more," she adjusted Grell's hand from Sebell's back to the infant's small bottom as she began to suckle, "And there! Perfect!"
Grell smiled brightly.
"Ah! I'm feeding my baby!" she cried tearfully. Sebell cooed, smiling softly into her mother's breast as she suckled, content to be finally be fed by her mother. Grell smiled happily as she gazed down at her.
"I'm finally a real mommy," she patted her baby's head as she wept happily.
The next morning, Grell whimpered as she began to enter the waking world. She grimaced in pain and curled up on her side, holding her abdomen in pain. Seba stirred, the smell of blood tingling his nostrils, as Grell whimpered.
"Grell, what is wrong?" he rubbed her arm, "You look as if you're in pain."
"I...I am..." she wept back, "Aaah!"
Grell began shaking terribly as she fought to find a comfortable position. She sobbed and groaned as the pain built up more and more.
"Wh-What's the matter, Grell?" Seba asked worriedly.
"I don't know!" Grell cried back, "It feels like someone's stabbing me over and over!"
"S-Should I go get Nancy?" he asked urgently.
"Y-Yes~!" Grell wept, "Please!"
"H-Hai!" he rushed from the room to rouse Nancy and help him find a way to ease the shinigami's pain. Upon reaching her door, Seba began pounding his fist against the wood.
"Nancy!" he cried anxiously, "Nancy! We need your help!"
The young red-head stumbled out of bed, quarreling for a moment with her husband, before opening the door with both her hair and robe disheveled.
"What's wrong?" she asked urgently.
"Grell's in pain and I smell blood on her..." he told her shakily, "I don't know what's wrong!"
"Oh..." Nancy nodded, a look of understanding in her tired eyes, "I think I know what's wrong...Is Grell still in bed? I should go see to make sure it's what I think it is..."
"Yeah, she's still in bed," Seba nodded.
"Ah," she sighed, making way to the room Seba shared with his lover.
The vampire followed closely, biting his lip nervously. He felt so worried for the shinigami.
"Good morning Grell," Nancy smiled softly as she sat down on the bed, "I need you to get up."
"It hurts!" Grell whined, holding her tummy.
"It'll be for a moment," Nancy told her, "Seba, please help me get her to the washroom."
"Hai," he nodded, walking around to the other side of the bed to help Grell up.
"Oh...Sebby..." Grell whined, "It hurts so bad! Oh! Don't make me get up!"
"Grell, it's okay," Nancy touched her shoulder soothingly, "You're just undergoing your first menstrual cycle. It hurts but you're not dying, and it is your first one so it'll hurt a bit more than the next one and so on. But you have to get up and put a pad on, and clean yourself up so the dried blood doesn't attract infections."
Grell whimpered, but nodded and let them help her stand. Her breathing was labored as she bit her lip in agony.
"D-Don't worry, Grell!" Seba forced a sweet smile, "Once we get you all cleaned up and give you what you need, I'll wait on you hand and foot until you're all better. In fact, I can go make you something to eat if you'd like while Nancy is helping you?"
Grell smiled softly against her pain, "T-That's so sweet Sebby..Yes...I'd love something to eat."
"Then I'll prepare you whatever you want," Seba cooed, laying his head against her shoulder comfortingly, "Would you like some eggs? Hot cakes? Tell me what you're craving."
"Something sweet, surprise me Sebby," Grell smiled softly, groaning in pain a moment later as she leaned against the lavatory counter. Nancy turned to Seba.
"Women need to have very strict diets regarding their menstruation," Nancy told him, "If you make eggs, take out the yokes and use vegetables in the mix. If hotcakes, there's whole grain flour and berries in the cabinet. I'll make up a list of the proper foods to make the cycle less unbearable."
She made to shut the lavatory door, "We'll be down in a few."
Seba nodded affirmatively and darted off to the kitchen to prepare Grell's breakfast.
"Ah..." Grell sniffled, "Are they normally this painful?"
"Oh, it varies," Nancy replied, "Sometimes it's less painful, sometimes more."
"Is there anything you can do to lessen this pain?" Grell asked, furrowing her brow.
"A strict diet," Nancy told her, searching the cabinets for the pads, "I've experimented with my diet to find foods that help lessen the pain. We'll try that while you're in your cycle."
"How long will this last?" Grell asked.
"That varies, but, for me anyhow, about three to six days. It's different for everyone," Nancy smiled somewhat, "But it's a great blessing because it means you can have a baby and be a mommy."
Grell smiled happily.
"I...I suppose that does compensate for the pain a bit..." she breathed, "So how long will I have to wait after I've started this diet for the pain to subside?"
"I'm not quite sure. I know for one you don't eat meat often and have a mainly vegetarian diet. We just need to add certain foods in...So, it probably won't show until the next cycle," Nancy handed her the pads, "But, I'll find some herbal pain killers to help."
She opened the door, "I'm gonna go find them, you stay here and clean yourself up."
"A...Alright..." Grell replied shakily.
"Just call me if you need anything while I'm away," Nancy nodded, shutting the door.
"I will..." Grell replied, staring down at the pad she'd been given in slight confusion.
"Uhh...Nancy!" she called a moment later, the younger red-head walked back in.
"Yes?" she asked.
"How do I...? What is this?" Grell asked in confusion.
"Should I show you?" Nancy asked, furrowing her brow.
"Um...You can just tell me," Grell told her awkwardly.
"Okay," Nancy nodded, "Let me get you a clean pair of panties first."
"Thank you..." Grell bowed her head in embarrassment. All the while, Seba was in the kitchen making Grell her breakfast. He took Nancy's advice about the diet, and so was now cooking some slices of salmon she had bought from the store yesterday. He used spices as well to make the taste of it richer. He'd make Grell some hot cakes once he was done with the fish, and he did not want to burn them.
"Why did you wake my wife so early?" Ivan sat down at the table, his daughter in his arms, "She needs her rest."
Seba frowned and glanced in his direction, though without making eye contact.
"I'm sorry..." he murmured sincerely, "If I had known what to do, I wouldn't have woken her up...I wanted to help Grell...What would you have had me do? Let a being you so idolize suffer?"
"I wouldn't have been so helpless. Could you not have examined Grell yourself?" Ivan inquired, glaring at him somewhat.
Seba frowned.
"How would I have known about any of this?" he asked, "I never talked to Nancy about it. I don't know if she ever had this problem back at the monastery. Then Ashbel took us away. And even after we escaped, and were safe, after that awful accident that I already feel so guilty for, you wouldn't even let me near her after she had her child until Grell and I came to her for help. I've never been told about...that...Even if I'd been the one to examine Grell I wouldn't have known how to help her. I've never seen Grell in so much pain since she had Sebell..."
Ivan rolled his eyes, "That is truly pathetic. You are almost eighteen and you know naught of the gender roles. Did that fox demon teach you nothing?"
Seba frowned sadly, flipping the salmon in the pan, "Please don't talk about Syfie so derisively. I know you don't like me, but...Syfie was the one who gave you the opportunity to kill Ashbel...You could at least honor his name even if you hate me."
"He was still a demon," Ivan spat back, "He may have helped, but that does not make him any better than the scum who started all of this nonsense."
"Even though, if it weren't for him, you'd never have met Nancy?" Seba inquired.
"That holds no relevance," Ivan retorted, "If not for his kind, that poor girl wouldn't have been subjected to such torture."
Seba sighed sadly, staring down at the pan. Why was this man so stubborn? Nothing could get through his skull at all! He couldn't even see his wife wasn't even happy with him! However, he couldn't speak out against him. If he did, it would only make Ivan angrier. It always pestered him how he got Nancy to marry him, or how he even got her to conceive Tzipporah with him. This man was over protective, a skeptic of the sorts, and demanding of Nancy's life. He shook his head, flipping the salmon again. He felt Ivan was right though, he was pathetic. He was weak. He relied heavily on everyone around him. Due to Syfirus, he was always the one being protected. Syfirus was strong and could defend Seba easily, but Seba couldn't claim the same. He had been completely useless to Grell when she'd awoken with that pain. He only ever cooked and cleaned for Grell, but that wouldn't save her life. Perhaps he'd ask Nancy to teach him self-defense as Ivan had taught her? At least then he could feel useful.
A few days later, Nancy sat, humming softly, as her eyes skimmed over the pages of her Bible. It wasn't something she could do quite often since she had so much housework and training on her daily agenda. As of the moment though the house was quiet and the infants were taking their naps, so it was a good afternoon for her to be reading.
"Nancy," Grell called as she walked in from the kitchen.
"Enjoying your new body, Grell?" Nancy smiled softly from over the Bible.
"Of course!" Grell began giggling, which diminished a bit, "But...I...I have something...difficult to ask you..."
"Ohh...Is it about your menstrual cycle? Didn't it stop by now?" Nancy asked.
"Ehhh..." Grell shrugged, "It's lightened up...But, when it's over and done with for this month, I guess you know what that means."
Nancy blushed, "Of course...But, why is that bothering you? Don't you want to be become a complete woman that way?"
Grell smiled wide, "Of course I do...But I've never done it this way before. What's it like?"
"Wh-What it's like?" Nancy stuttered bashfully, "You actually want me to explain it...?"
Grell nodded excitedly, waiting for Nancy to answer.
"Grell," Nancy sighed, staring at the floor, "I don't enjoy sex, it feels like nothing to me...But I take it that it must be wonderful when brought about in love...At least, that's what my female friends back at the village say..."
"What do you mean...?" Grell pouted sitting beside her.
Nancy sighed, "Grell...Isn't it obvious? I've never truly had consensual intercourse; I don't feel anything during sex, not even with my own husband. But, from what I've heard, it's quite...beautiful and wonderful...It is different for women, so...It must be better than when you were male, that's what I've perceived."
"Oh...I...I suppose that makes...a little sense..." Grell frowned, still thoroughly confused by her answer.
Nancy shrugged, "I'm certain when you're with Seba you'll find out."
"Yeah..." Grell scoffed, "I figured that out after I asked you..."
Nancy sighed, "Hey, how about we go take a bath in the river? Nothing better than fresh water."
"I guess..." Grell sighed sadly.
"Oh, c'mon, certainly bathing out in front of all nature will cheer you up. And I got new soaps—imported," Nancy smiled, "I'm certain Seba'd love the scent."
"Well...I guess..." Grell sighed back.
"I'll go get a basket," Nancy smiled, leaving the room.
Grell rolled her eyes, sitting back and bowing her head. Oh, what could she do now! If only she hadn't killed Madame Red, then at least she'd have an idea of what she would be expecting. She wanted to know if it would hurt like when she was male...Or would it be wonderful? She assumed it would be wonderful since she would be with Seba, but how could she know for sure? Oh! The suspense was killing her, when was this damned cycle going to end!
Sebastian sighed somewhat as he held the reins to the carriage. His master wanted to take a ride in the carriage after supper before the sun set. Gentle, gold and thick rays set upon the landscape and gave a soft contrast between twilight and shadow, light and refraction, from the setting sun. The trees ruffled softly in the breeze in an almost cadent manner as the smell of pine filled the air. It was relatively peaceful, but his mind was elsewhere. His task did not feel essential at this moment in time as he gazed lazily before him. He sighed in almost irritation as he spotted an uproot tree root and made to curve out of its path. Unfortunately, this turned to be an even poorer move on his part. In his attempt to keep the carriage in tact he had forgotten this path was on angle with a sloped part of the forest. The carriage shook and slumped on one side as a wheel broke off and rolled down the slope beyond the trees and bushes.
"Sebastian!" Ciel opened the carriage door, "What have you done?"
"My apologies, bocchan," he sighed back as he brought the carriage to a halt, "It was a simple miscalculation."
He stepped down and approached his master.
"Please, remain in the coach," he requested, "I shall return momentarily and we can be on our way."
Ciel groaned in annoyance and sat back in the carriage as his servant walked down the slope to retrieve the wheel. From what Sebastian saw of the broken rod keeping the wheel in place, a screw had been lose, so it wouldn't be hard to fix. However, his current agitation was making the task of finding the wheel most difficult. As he looked about the scrubs and bushes he found a thin trail left from the wheel's rolling. He followed it to the clearing where the trees became more spread apart and the sound of flowing water was prominent. He supposed there was a river or stream close by. Since he had still yet to find the wheel, he continued to follow the trail, drawing closer to the sound. He finally came across the wheel, it had hit a rock and fallen into the silt beneath the shallow bank's water. With a sigh, he picked it up and started rinsing the silt off when another figure caught his eye from down the stream. A second figure was beside the first and, upon noting their presence, Sebastian's sensitive ears picked up the sultry echo of a beautiful voice in the air. He grimaced, it was that hunter, Nancy, singing away in the air. A second voice joined in though, quite beautiful as well with somewhat mezzo tone. Their back was turned to him, but he felt that he could recognize that long, crimson hair anywhere. However, the voice and the shape of the body the figure possessed made him question the identity. For a moment, to escape the nagging of his master, he approached them after hiding behind the trees. As he came closer he awed.
"Grell," Nancy smiled shyly, "You should put some clothes on."
Sebastian furrowed his brow. Had he heard correctly?
"Iie!" Nancy's companion whined back, holding her arms, "I want to admire my new body! I've finally got the beautiful, slender form I've always wanted and I'm going to enjoy it every moment I can!"
"But what if someone sees?" Nancy blushed, "I mean..."
"Oh, are you shy?" Grell teased, tugging on Nancy's bathing dress to see her, "Is that why you want me to cover myself?"
"Stop that!" Nancy chided lightly, pulling away.
"Oh come on," Grell giggled, "It's not like there's anyone around to see!"
"As far as you know," Nancy sighed sadly.
"Are you scared that big bad Ashbel's gonna come back and get you?" Grell pouted with a soft whine, "He's dead, c'mon, you shouldn't hide yourself."
"My husband wouldn't approve of that," Nancy sighed.
Sebastian smirked somewhat, Grell had somehow become a woman! How fortuitous for him. That nagging desire could now be sated. As a male, the idea of doing anything intimate with Grell was very unappealing, even if it meant ruining Grell's new lovelife and family. However now that Grell's body had changed to match that feminine personality of his, the demon might take some pleasure in taking the shinigami, and ruining her. This could also be beneficial for him as well, if Grell was remaining a virgin until that time. The high of it would be quite blissful and quite lengthy.
"Okay Grell," Nancy smiled, reaching into the basket of herbal soaps, "Do you want coconut or lavender?"
"Hmm..." Grell paused for a moment, "I would prefer lavender but...which would Sebby like better?"
"Hmmm...I think coconut," Nancy smiled, "It's a gentle, mild scent, and somewhat sweet."
"Coconut it is then!" Grell cheered. Sebastian grimaced, of course, how could he seduce the shinigami with that vampire always around? He would have to keep an eye on this situation; keep watch for a night when that brat would be gone. Before he could think on the subject any longer, however, he was struck with the realization that his young master was still waiting. He couldn't let Nancy or Grell hear the earl calling for him. With a guttural groan of annoyance he made way back to the carriage. His mind was plagued, however, as he walked. He found himself nearly walking into trees, unable to focus long enough to watch where he was going. Never before had he felt this level of distraction. It was quite obvious his own needs were fogging his mind. It had been so long since he had partaken of his more...carnal...desires. Like humans, demons did need to take care of these urges even though they came about so rarely for a lone demon such as himself. It wasn't a want, or a mission, it was a need to receive a decent release by his own desire. As he neared the carriage, he saw Ciel standing there, hands on his hips in what the boy hoped would be an intimidating stance.
"What took you so long?" Ciel demanded.
"My apologies, bocchan..." he replied almost tiredly, "I'm afraid it took longer than I anticipated to find the wheel."
"Well, get to fixing the carriage then," Ciel glared somewhat at his butler.
"Hai, bocchan," the demon nodded. Sebastian turned, wheel in hand and set to repairing the broken part of the carriage.