"Oh, Rellie! That's so cute!" Pippi exclaimed as she cuddled the baby to her while a dozen students crowded around to coo at them.
The look that Lina shot at Gourry felt hot enough to burn a hole in his cheek as she raised her voice, "Rails! We're calling her Rails!"
Gourry shrugged as he favored her with a clueless smile that only aggravated Lina further as Maeve leaned over and tickled Aurelia's tummy, "But Rellie Belly is so cute!"
There was a murmur of agreement among the students crowding around Aurelia, and as Lina listened to the chorus of voices chiming in about how cute Rellie was something shattered within her as she yelled, "Well I'm her mother so my thoughts are worth more than yours!"
Everyone looked up at Lina, and for a moment it was so silent that the only sounds were the baby murmurs, and then Lina continued to fume, "Really, if you want to name a baby so badly go and give birth yourself! I mean I'm the one that carried them for ten months, wrecked my body, I can't even sneeze without wetting myself now and of course everyone prefers Rellie to Rails!"
Marcus smiled as he held Midas and said, "I rather like Rails, actually. I just wasn't paying attention because, you know, cute baby!"
Several students rushed to agree as Maeve smiled and clasped her hands diplomatically, "You know, Rails has an elegance to it that will age well."
"Rails sounds tough as Hell!" Dave added.
"Now I think it's always best to use people's proper names." Hyacinth said as she stuck her nose in the air, "Aurelia is beautiful and majestic."
"I'm not asking for anyone's opinion!" Lina continued to yell as she pushed away the arm Gourry tried to put around her shoulder and then stepped away from the hand that her mother tried to give, "We're calling her Rails, it's not a debate!"
"Dame Lina," Gomez said smoothly, "I was wondering when we would have the delight of seeing you return to teaching?"
"Yeah, you're not the nicest teacher, but you're nicer than Duke Zelgadis!" Peter added.
"Don't you blockheads know anything?" Nerys asked as she shook her head and, despite her size, gave the impression of looking down on them. "She just had twins! It's going to take her awhile to recover. Let her have some time first."
"But they have healing spells…" Peter said.
"You really are such a naïve child!" Kara said. "Those don't do anything to help calm the mind!"
Lina felt her head hurt as she fought against the swell of tears that threatened to erupt and prove Kara's point that she was a hormonal basket case. Oh, I am stronger! I am stronger than these emotional tidal waves! Lina told herself as Leia said, "For now my daughter wants to focus on her family. I don't think she'll be back until the naming ceremony."
Lina's skin burned, and she hoped her voice was steady as she snapped, "Actually I plan to return next week. Well, just to the folklore class, build up from there."
Leia opened her mouth to protest, and Lina shot her a look. The last thing she needed was her family stepping in to take control away from her now! Leia's eyes widened, but before she could respond Pippi cried out, "Oh, she spat up on me!"
"It's not like it will hurt you any." Danielle said as she grabbed Aurelia and smiled at how smoothly she had wrested the baby from Pippi.
With the kids distracted, Leia lowered her voice and when she spoke, it was calm, "I do wish you'd wait until the naming ceremony."
Lina's teeth gnashed as she said, "I will be fine. I love the folklore class."
"Oh, let her work. She has more help than any common woman ever." Luna said as she came down the stairs holding her suitcase.
Lina bristled once more as she started questioning her decision to go back to work so early. Because if she did, did that mean that she was doing what Luna wanted and was once more acting as her pawn? Or what if Luna was trying to manipulate her into taking more time off by suggesting she return to work early because she figured that she would do the opposite just to spite her? For a moment Lina's mind ran circles as she tried to determine her sister's true motivations until her head started to hurt as she fought against tears once more.
Luna, meanwhile, continued, "And if it's too much for her she can always take another break."
Jeeves came up and handed Gourry a letter, "Sir Gourry."
"Thanks." Gourry said as he opened it.
"What is it?" Lina asked as she looked over.
"Trudy. She sends her congratulations and wants to talk tonight and meet her niece and nephew."
"Oh, that's perfect!" Lina exclaimed as a ray of sunshine appeared to open up before her. While she didn't know if she could trust Trudy, at least entertaining her offer would be one surefire way to spite Luna, and show her that she, Lina Inverse, was in charge of her own damn life!
Gourry frowned as he tucked the letter into his pocket as Leia said to Luna, "Even you took off six months after your boys were born."
"I didn't have a nanny and two wet nurses!" Luna shot back as Jeeves took her bags outside. "Now I'll be planning the naming ceremony. I'll send you a letter with details to approve or not."
Sure you will, Lina thought as she tried to imagine the look on her sister's face when she told her that they were seriously thinking over Gertrude's offer. Quickly followed by the pain that would undoubtedly follow when Luna would channel her will into her. It had not occurred to her until now that not being pregnant would leave her vulnerable to Luna's methods of persuasion once more. Still, if the offer from Gertrude was good and if they moved to the Elmekian Empire, then she could forever escape her sister's control. And live the life of comfort she was currently enjoying.
Gertrude was offering a way out, and despite Gourry's reservations, Lina couldn't help but to find it enticing.
Gourry knocked gently before he walked into the nursery while holding Midas, "This little one needs a feeding."
"Right." Karina said as she grabbed Midas and then walked to her rocking chair.
"Where are the rest of the kids?" Gourry asked as he saw that with the exception of Karina, Moe and Justina, the nursery was empty. Usually the wet nurse's children were playing.
"Penelope took them to play outside. This is good timing." Karina explained.
"When is Dame Lina going to send both of them? I'm sure she could use the break." Moe asked as he bounced Justina on his shoulder.
Gourry thought about how tired Lina had looked as she took Aurelia to bed to nurse and nap as he smiled apologetically, "Being attacked so soon after they were born has left her nerves on edge. It helps her to have one with her."
"Understandable, I guess." Moe said as Gourry sensed a new presence in the room. And he wasn't the only one. "You don't need to hide in the shadows. Come on out and spend some time with your niece."
Naga stepped forward and folded her arms under her breasts petulantly as she said, "I meant for you to notice me."
"Sure you did." Gourry said as he nodded in an exaggerated manner. He still couldn't see the benefit of having Naga there. Granted, he'd never seen her in battle and just had to take Lina's word that she would be worth it if they were attacked. But nothing about her inspired such confidence. Then again, sometimes the best fighters masked their skills with an aura of ineptitude for the element of surprise.
"Well most people have no idea! How can you tell, anyway?" Naga said.
"I'm just that good." Moe said, "And I'm wondering why you're hiding watching your niece all the time and not coming up to hold her."
"Because she'd spit up on me and it would be gross." Naga said quickly. Gourry suspected it had more to do with whatever conflicts were going on in the Saillune royal family but decided not to mention it as Naga added, "Besides, Lina asked me to keep a low profile."
At that Gourry had to ask, "Since when do you do what Lina tells you?"
And just like that, Naga's hand started to rise to her mouth, and Gourry felt his stomach drop as time seemed to slow to a crawl as he cried, "No! Please! There are innocent babies in here!"
But it was too late, "Oh ho ho ho!"
Gourry turned to look at Midas, who gurgled in alarm, but Karina shushed him and quickly got him back latched on even as a shudder ran through her body. Assured that his son was fine, he turned back, fully prepared to hear Justina's wails. But instead she smiled as she reached her arms out for Naga and hiccupped!
Gourry wondered if his eyes were deceiving him as Moe broke into a grin as he handed Justina to Naga, whose eyes widened as she caught her and then looked confused about what she was supposed to do with her or how she was even supposed to hold her. But rather than protest at Naga's awkward grip, Justina continued to coo as she grabbed a fistful of Naga's hair.
"The laugh." Moe said, "It's in the blood. She'll be laughing like that herself in time!"
"How does that not hurt your ears?" Gourry asked.
"Oh, I can do better!" Moe said, and then he let out his own laugh. Until that moment, if someone had asked Gourry if there was a sound more annoying than Naga's laugh he would have been highly skeptical. And now, ignorance, Gourry reflected, truly was bliss.
Naga's eyes flashed, "Oh no! No, I can do better than that!"
"No!" Karina cried as she stood up, and then she and Gourry locked eyes. Run! They seemed to say to each other, and then Gourry turned around and raced to the door, halting just a moment to let Karina exit first with his son as the sounds of Naga's laughter chased after them.
"Wait, wait, I want you to judge who has the better laugh!" Naga called.
"Sorry." Gourry said as he shut the door behind him and then worked to get as much distance between him and he nursery as possible.
"Moe was asking about when you're going to send both of them to the nursery and get a proper rest." Gourry said as he cradled Aurelia while he sat on Lina's desk as they waited for Gertrude to appear.
Lina ran her hand over Midas's hair, relishing in how soft it was as she sighed. She did feel better after her nap, yet, napping while nursing still required her to maintain a degree of alertness that made deep, restorative sleep impossible. Still, it was enough for her to feel sharp and in control. "While Xellos is likely humiliated after getting his ass kicked by this little man, the Mazoku race isn't going to give up on getting their hands on them. They know it's too great of a risk. I just can't relax."
He put a hand on her knee as he said, "But you know how your skills go weak when you don't get good rest. It's like how it's easy to do overnight guard duty the first night, but gets harder and harder with each additional night. If we are attacked, wouldn't it be better if you've had a chance to rest?"
Lina's mouth contorted into conflicted shapes as she groaned, "That's a good point."
But before anymore could be said, Gertrude appeared in the room, and it was all Lina could do to keep her face composed as she saw that Gertrude's eyes were red. For one wild moment Lina wondered if her eyes had always been red, but then she realized she would have noticed something like that. No, Gertrude's eye color was new, and that wasn't the only thing. The fur coat that she wore that had been made from Garm's pelt blended so well into her skin that it appeared seamless. Lina looked at Gourry out of the corner of her eye to see if he'd given a reaction, but his face was carefully neutral. Lina wondered if she had looked this way the last time they'd talked, but she'd been stuck under a desk then. Had she appeared fully human then? Or had Gourry just been his empty headed self and forgotten to tell her about his sister's remarkable transformation?
"Congratulations, brother!" Gertrude exclaimed as she smiled and seemed to radiate genuine happiness.
"Thanks." Gourry said.
"Which is which?"
"My daughter, Aurelia." Gourry said, and Lina's heart still warmed at thought of having someone to call their daughter now, and a son as well! "Lina's holding Midas."
"Aurelia definitely favors her mother." Gertrude commented, and both of them nodded in agreement, "I'd say Midas has the best of both of you. How are you feeling, Lina?"
"Well," Lina replied. The pain was starting to fade and it was getting easier to walk or utilize her abdominal muscles. It seemed all that was left was to ride the remaining mood swings.
Gourry smiled at her as he ran a hand through her hair, "She's one strong, amazing woman!"
Lina returned the smile as Gertrude said, "You are lucky to have found each other."
"Call it luck, call it fate," Lina said as a different tidal wave of emotions rushed through her as she continued to wax poetically, "Something about it, about Gourry and I, just seemed inevitable at times. And now, after so much death, we have created two beautiful little lives together and…"
Something warm and wet started to run down her face, and Lina's breath caught as she quickly wiped her eyes as her face heated once more. Oh I will be so glad when these hormones settle down!
"Such as your knack for being in the right place at the right time?"
"Huh?" Lina said as she felt grateful that Gertrude wasn't saying anything about her display of emotion.
"Has my brother told you about my offer?"
"Yes." Lina said, and she was eager to seize on the topic, but determined not to let it show.
"I know Zeferia is your homeland. But the Elmekian Empire borders the Desert of Destruction and we see more action. We need you more."
"We've got not one but two newborns, Trudy." Gourry said as Lina's stomach sank a little. Danger wasn't something she wanted to hear about. For the first time safety was a priority in her life, "What can you offer us in terms of protection?"
"Our best guards and sorcerers." Gertrude said, but Lina had to admit, that it was pitiful compared to the Ceiphied Knights and other protections they had in Zeferia. Which would be better for her family? The freedom that could be gained in the Elmekian Empire? Or the safety that they had in Zeferia? "And whatever you're being paid, we can double it."
"It's tempting." Gourry said, "I do have one question, though. Why did you want to talk to me alone? And not with Lina?"
That is actually a good question I never wanted to look at, Lina thought as the hope seemed to flee from her body. Was it even possible to get out from under Luna's heel? Or was it the ultimate pipe dream? Never before had so much seemed to weigh on the answer from her in-laws.
Lina looked up expectantly, but then there was the booming sound of a door being thrown open that was muted enough that they could tell it was on Gertrude's side. Her red eyes focused on something out of their view, and then she opened her mouth and a high pitched groan emerged, causing both babies to cry. Lina exhaled a breath as the sounds of screams emitted from Gertrude's end, and the memory of Garm's invisible laser breath that turned people to ash rose. Please no!
Gertrude closed her mouth and shook her head, "I'm sorry about that. It appears we are being attacked. Please excuse me while I take care of this."
She vanished, and Lina quickly undid her shirt and got Midas latched on as she exchanged a look with Gourry, who had moved Aurelia to his shoulder and was patting her back comfortingly. "Did that remind you of…?"
"Garm." Gourry finished.
"It looks like she's still in control, but with something with that has been corrupted by so much miasma…" Lina said.
Gourry pursed his lips together, "Then it's only a matter of time before she loses her mind as well."