Note: Some breastfeeding topics discussed.
A few days later, the first milk the babies had nursed on had changed to the real milk they would nurse on for their youngest months of life.
Galihad brought a breast pump into the bedroom. Violet had to go to work so Sil was home alone with the babies.
The babies had just finished nursing when Sil noticed his doctor standing there with a strange device in his hands. "Galihad, what you want, and what is that?" he demanded.
"This is a breast pump, Chamberlain. It's something new mothers use sometimes. It expresses milk for the babies, say if the mom will be away and babysitters would be to feed the baby for her." he explained.
"What that got to do with me?"
"Sil, to know what your babies are ingesting exactly, I need to extract some milk from you, if you don't mind?" Galihad asked of him.
"Will it hurt?" Sil asked.
"It might feel weird. It will squeeze the breast to get the milk out, but it shouldn't hurt. Your breasts don't hurt when the babies nurse, right?" Gal asked.
"Did at first started, but grown used to it. Still kind of strange to do." Sil said.
"It's your new normal for the next several months. If and when you go back to work, breast pumping might have to be done so there will be milk at all times for the kids here at home. Of course, there's always formula too, but your own natural milk is better for them. But with this first attempt, I need just enough milk to study the nutrients in the case of maybe also creating a special formula just for Skeksis babies in case breast milk isn't available. So, will you cooperate with me?" Gal asked.
Sil eyed the contraption. It was a bottle hooked up to a pump.
"How you do it?" he asked.
"I'll show you how, and then, you can do it yourself. I'm sure you feel personal about it."
"Yes, I do. Chamberlain rather do it." Sil said.
"Which one do you want to use? It can be used on any one of them, but the ones that seem to give the best milk supply should suffice best." Gal stated.
"Two on top in middle probably best." Sil replied.
"Alright."
Galihad showed him how to put the pump on over the nipple of the breast he had chosen to use and by just squeezing the pump would make the milk come out. "See, that easy." he pointed out.
"I see." Sil said as he began to pump himself. It was latched on to the skin and squeezing good. It definitely squeezed more than how the babies nursed on him.
Soon, there was a reasonable amount of milk in the bottle. It wasn't even halfway full. Just a little bit below that.
"That's enough milk, thanks, Chamberlain." Galihad stated.
Sil handed the device back to him. It had been so weird to use that device, but it could come in handy when needed.
"What kind of stuff you think milk has in it?" Sil asked.
"You know, it'll have minerals, vitamins, sugars, fat and protein in it. All the right amount that the babies need for their healthy growth. We just need a little bit, and this is it. We'll make good use of it." Galihad explained.
"And none of it makes impact on babies not getting enough?"
"When you had to eat a lot when you were pregnant, and now that the babies aren't squishing your internal organs anymore, you can eat way more now to make the proper amount of milk they'll need. No, your body will make more than enough to compensate for what little you helped take away for this one time."
"Okay."
"When I find out what it has in it, I'll see about explaining it to you, what they're getting. Your milk supplies all they need. Well, I need to get this to the lab while it's still fresh." Gal said and left.
Sil was a little curious about what was in his milk supply that the babies were enjoying so much. He had tried milk of Nebrie and the Desert Swouth. He liked it. He was tempted to want to try his own milk too. Maybe at some point, he would get a chance. But, at least Galihad had explained and shown him what he wanted to do and let him do it by choice rather than force. That was a relief.
…..
Galihad got the sample to the lab.
"Did he cooperate?" Nigel asked.
"Yes, he did. Seems he's curious about it himself." Gal replied.
"I bet it's high in protein and fat." Paquin said.
"I bet it's got good sugar in it." Nigel said.
"We'll wait and see what it has in it." Gal stated. "It's still warm too."
"Well, get it under the microscope." Nigel ordered.
"Yes, sir." Gal replied sarcastically.
A small sample was smeared on a slide and put under a microscope to see what nutrients it had in it.
It was studied most of the day.
In the end, the milk was found to be high in sugars, proteins, and fat. It was a good source of vitamins and minerals too, everything the baby Skeksis would need. But it wasn't a super rich milk.
From what was left of it, the guys all agreed that maybe Sil would want it back. To try it himself.
Sil was surprised when Paquin brought a sample back in. "Here, here's the sample you gave us this morning. If you want to see what the milk tastes like, you can have this back." he explained.
"Sure..." Sil stated in curiosity. He took the glass of milk that it was in.
Paquin waited for him to consume it.
Sil drank the milk. It was definitely different from the kinds of milk he had consumed before. And this was what his babies were taking in every few hours.
"Hmm. Tastes good." he declared.
"That's good, but keep most of it for the little ones." Paq chuckled.
"Of course." Sil replied.
At least the scientists had their answers to that answer now.
…..
Sil began to walk around more and more on his own in the following days. He was so glad to have his body to himself again, but his heavily filled breasts made him feel heavier still, but not nearly as heavy as when the babies were inside his belly. Right now, he was a milking machine, so to speak.
He had five children, and they were all developing their own schedules of when they were awake or asleep. Sil didn't know much how to identify personality of them just yet, but he was learning their sounds. He tried to tell one's voice from another. He could tell them apart, yes. They looked a lot like their fathers. And of course, the one that looked like himself, he favored him the most.
He did wonder when he was going to go back to work. Even though Violet had a job, he wasn't going to let her be the only one to do so, not all the time. He was going to be off for only as long as it took to recover. He would find a way to keep his babies fed while he was away. Unless he and Violet kept them with them all the time, and that just couldn't happen in the senate. Babies had to be babysat while their parents were at a job like that. But there were other jobs that allowed parents to take their kids with them.
Sil was more adept at politic jobs though. He would rather stay there. The king understood his need for leave right now for a complete recovery. But, the more Varon watched Sil and his babies, the more he wanted him impregnated once again to begin the next batch of babies.
….
One day, Varon went to Galihad, "Galihad, as your king, I am making another order for you and your friends to do for me."
"Yes, Your Highness, what is it?" Gal asked.
"As soon as Chamberlain is well enough, I want him brought back into heat and impregnated again." Varon ordered.
"But sir, it's too soon for him to get pregnant again. He needs rest for a long while after having had five babies. They really did a number on his body, especially during labor and delivery." Galihad explained in concern.
"I meant like after a time period. Not next week or anything, but more like in a few months. When these babies are three months old, do as I say." Varon decreed with a glare.
"Oh, now I see. Yes. It can be done. Sil should be well recovered enough by then." Galihad stated.
"Good. And don't tell him until it's been done. I don't want him to have a chance to say no." Varon ordered, then left.
Galihad knew that the Chamberlain didn't want to get pregnant again so soon. He wanted to raise these babies out of babyhood first before having anymore. But, it seemed his king was more greedy than that, that he wanted more babies sooner than Sil could be ready for. He knew better than to cross his king though. At least there was still time to figure out how it would be done.
He went to Nigel and Paquin and told them about the order. They too thought it a bit absurd to re-impregnate Sil again so soon after having had five babies. Parents needed a little more healing time after giving birth before having more. But they knew it was an order that they had to do in a few months.
…
Sil and Violet took very good care of the quints. Each baby was definitely showing some signs that they had in common with their fathers for sure.
Zeck was a dominant one, pushing his way to the best milk supply at feeding time.
Vin already seemed to be attracted to shiny objects, though he mouthed them.
Eek was fussy about his clothing and hated the diaper wearing the most, but didn't have a choice in wearing it.
Tav was probably the most hungriest one. He could be nasty to his brothers, but not dominant over Zeck.
Selac was the most curious one. He liked to play with his mother's jewelry and check out pens in people's hands.
Right now, it was hard to tell what they really liked, but as they learned more as they got older, their parents would find out what they liked and what they were more suited for best.
Sil's strength was returning and he was out of bed more and more.
After the new year came and gone, Violet went into heat herself, but she wasn't ready for babies of her own yet. She had to keep herself away from Sil, as she would be rather testy, moody, and could even hurt him if she wasn't away from him during this time. She had time off work for two weeks.
Sil got lonely without her, but he managed. He still had the docs helping take care of his quints. It would have been so hard to take care of them on his own. He would have needed the other Skeksis to help if he wasn't here. But would they have helped him if he had stayed on Thra? The babies would have come whether he wanted them to or not, and he wouldn't have had much pain relief. Not unless Tek would have done surgery.
…
After Violet's heat was over, she returned and it was time to present Sil's offspring to the press. This was an occasion that was done here in the king's honor to honor new life onto Evepolone at six weeks of age. This way, even the mother could be well enough to attend the ritual.
Sil was unfamiliar with the ritual, but Violet explained it to him.
"Each baby is going to be wearing spectacular clothes. They get special circle ornaments on their heads. They get necklaces to wear, and they get special gifts from the public. Their names are announced. Who their parents are. Just some things. They are also allowed to be seen up close in a special parade and there's just one big party all day long just for them, celebrating their birth to welcome them here fully, as full citizens. Of course, while they're young, they will have limits on what their activities will be." Violet explained.
"What ritual called?" Sil asked.
"Our Baby Welcoming Ritual. It's usually only a few times a year. There's not all that many babies born here that are born under our king's rules. When others are born out of love to the lower ranked communities, they are not noticed quite as much, but your babies are counted as royalty. Something the king is ordering." Violet explained.
"Hmm. Yes. Skeksis are royal." Sil agreed. At least that was how they saw themselves. "When it take place?"
"Two days, my love." she replied.
The babies were all being babysat by the docs right now. They had been fed before Sil and Violet had gone out for a change, taking a break from baby care. They still needed time for each other. They had just had dinner at a restaurant and were headed to a special place of their own.
They went to a rental place where they could have some privacy. Sil and Violet had not mated in over six weeks because he was still recovering, but he was more than ready now, and Violet was ready too. She could no longer get pregnant with her heat come and gone.
The two lovers quickly took advantage of this plan. Getting naked rather fast, and getting it on as they pleased.
…..
The docs had been making up a formula that mimicked Sil's milk supply for the babies, should something happen.
Violet and Sil were taking their sweet time coming back from their date. The babies were all getting fussy that they weren't getting fed.
The new formula wasn't quite yet finished. There wasn't much the guys could do, except try to call the couple, and Violet had her phone turned off.
"They need to come back and get them fed." Paquin declared.
"I know. It's not like Sil to desert his babies." Galihad said.
"I think that Violet encouraged him to do something stupid." Nigel exclaimed angrily.
"I think so too. She has her quirks about her that the king doesn't approve of her being with him at times." Paquin said.
"They better return soon. I can't take much more of this." Nigel cringed. The crying was getting on his nerves.
…
At the place where they were, Sil and Violet lost all track of time. They had enjoyed each other's company so much that when she looked up at the clock, she suddenly panicked.
"Oh shoot!" she stood up in a panic.
"What?" Sil asked.
"We need to get home again! We promised we would be back an hour ago." she exclaimed.
Sil looked and knew she was right. "Yes, must hurry." He got up too and hurriedly dressed.
"Have fun with Chamberlain, yes?" he asked.
"Yes. We should do it again, soon. But we need to keep our promises. Your babies are probably hungry again by now." she stated.
Hungry was an understatement. They were famished and angry.
The two of them took a cab back to the building and quickly went to their home area.
When they came in, they were greeted by not so happy men.
"Sorry, we lost track of time." Violet said.
"So fun, it was. Just not be out in long time." Sil added.
"Keep your phone on, young lady, or keep an alarm on it that it's time to come back." Nigel ordered.
They could hear the babies crying their lungs out.
"We don't have a formula for them just yet. When we do, then you can stay out longer. Or you can breast pump, Chamberlain." Galihad declared.
"I know. Didn't plan on losing track of time." Sil said.
He had to get into the bedroom and undress himself enough that the babies could feed from him. He laid down on the bed on his back and his mate and docs brought him his babies one at a time.
All the babies recognized where they were now and quickly began searching for their meal ticket. They tucked in to nursing.
Sil moaned some sounds to them to comfort them the best he could. Violet laid down beside him on their giant bed and snuggled with him. He laid his head on hers.
"They sure were hungry." she said.
"Yes. Getting fed now. I see they happy now." Sil stated. He winced when little nails and hands were pressing into his skin.
The babies kneaded his breasts so to speak to make sure they got good milk coming into their mouths.
It would be a little while before they would be allowed to go out on a public date again. Until the formula was finished.