AN: This is glurgy and has no redeeming value. Just turn around and pretend like you didn't see this update.
It was silent. No babies gurgled or made gremlin sounds beside her, much less cried. There was no warm bundle nestled against her. Lina opened her eyes wide as she felt the bed beside her. But the only other person in the bed was Gourry. She relaxed as she remembered that he'd taken both twins to the nursery the previous night, and that after her bath she had crawled under the heavy quilts and fallen asleep. She took a deep breath as she mused that this was what deep, restorative sleep felt like. She'd forgotten! And, as she had no sense that someone was about to attack, she was going to turn around and get more of it! Not even the fact that her breasts were swollen and leaky was going to stop her! If anyone had earned a break, it was her.
"Morning, sunshine." Gourry said as he roused, and Lina glanced at him to see that he was looking at her cautiously. She remembered yelling at him the previous night and pushing him away and felt defensive. Of course she wouldn't want to be touched after so much skin to skin contact with the twins! But after a night without them things were different.
To show she was feeling better she reached towards him, but as she did she started to fear the return of the strange bone itch. Fortunately as he put his hand over hers it felt warm and reassuring as always, "Morning."
He moved towards her, and it struck her that it was the first time they had shared a bed alone since the twins had been born. But while she may not have been feeling the strange itch anymore, she wasn't feeling the good itch either! Becoming a mother was so overwhelming that physical intimacy just didn't seem possible and, unaccustomedly, she froze as she screamed internally, No! Not ready! Not ready! Oh hell, no, I am not ready!
But after he gave her a chaste kiss he settled back down on the pillows and asked, "Do you need me to pick up one of the twins for you?"
"Later. I just really need some time to myself right now." Lina said as she thought back to the past few weeks and decided she wasn't ready to share her body with anyone again. While she generally liked being around people, for the moment she craved some time and space to herself before she threw herself back into parenting again. She started to wonder how people went on to have more kids. Was it easier if there was just one baby to not feel so overwhelmed with keeping them alive that staying intimate with one's partner didn't feel impossible?
It has to get better as they get older! Lina thought to herself as she closed her eyes and Gourry got out of bed. But wait a minute Gourry! Why don't you want me?
She thought about her flabby, leaky body that had undergone so many changes that she currently felt a stranger to it. She didn't feel the same anywhere! And what if it was turning him off? She sat up and stared at him, and he blinked at her. "What?" he asked.
"You're getting up?" she asked.
"Well, didn't you say you needed time to yourself?" He said, and Lina's jaw dropped slightly.
"I guess I did. It just surprises me when you pay attention!" Lina said as she scratched the back of her head.
"Get some rest, honey. You still look so tired, and there are streaks of white in your hair still. After taking care of the twins for such a long stretch you deserve a morning to yourself."
Lina relaxed a bit again. Of course Gourry would be thinking about her health. He'd always worried about her safety and wellbeing, putting them above his needs numerous times. She shouldn't be so insecure. "Yes, actually, that's what I'm needing."
"I'll be in the nursery with the twins when you need me."
"Wonderful. Love you!"
"Love you."
It was nearly noon by the time Lina decided she was ready to get out of bed. It was getting harder to ignore the pressure to nurse for one thing. And while there was a large part of her that wanted to ask Amelia for the tea that would help her dry up so she could delegate the task to the wet nurses, she also couldn't ignore the fact that if she'd not been able to nurse them they could have starved in the time it took them to find some new ones. Between regular turnover and the dangers inherent in the job, Lina would have to keep nursing. Just in case.
The door to the nursery was open as she approached, and she quietly stood by the door to peer in. A wet nurse was sitting in a rocking chair with Aurelia while Gourry laid on a blanket on the floor and held a rattle over Midas, who opened and closed his pudgy fists as he stared at it intently.
Lina felt the love rush over her as she marveled at how quickly her feelings would swing from highs of love to lows of exhaustion and back again as she watched them play. Becoming a mother certainly was a rambunctious ride! But the quiet moments like this were something she was starting to treasure. She wondered how long she could watch them before she was noticed.
"Don't let her know we see her, but Mommy is watching us from the doorway." Gourry whispered conspiratorially to Midas.
Lina chuckled. Of course she couldn't mask her presence from someone like Gourry. She still must be out of her mind with exhaustion to have thought she could! "Game's up!" Lina said as she walked in and knelt down on the blanket with them as she scooped Midas up and got him to latch on and sighed in relief as the pressure abated. She gently ran her fingers through her son's soft head of hair and said, "Morning, little one."
"It's nearly lunch time." Gourry said.
"Details." Lina replied as she glanced at one of the new wet nurses who was nursing Aurelia. "How's she doing?"
"Hungry." She replied with a wry smile.
"They get the appetite from him." Lina said as she pointed at Gourry.
"You eat plenty!" Gourry shot back, "Anyway, Lina, this is Marlena, one of the new wet nurses. Marlena, this is Lina, my wife."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Marlena said as she inclined her head respectfully.
Lina looked at Marlena for a moment and asked, "You look familiar. Have we met? You're not from Zefiel City by any chance?"
"No, milady." Marlena said. "I'm from north of here."
"Hm, perhaps we ran into each other during my wandering years." Lina threw out as a sense of nostalgia warmed her as she thought of the freedom she used to enjoy. Maybe she and Gourry could take a walk across the grounds? Or the nearby woods? But the wind howled against the windows and Lina was reminded of just how terrible the weather was at the moment. Well, that was one thing to be said for having her own place. The older she got the less she enjoyed being out in the elements!
"Perhaps." Marlena echoed as she lowered her head, and Lina felt her curiosity pique.
Still, Marlena didn't seem to want to talk anymore, so Lina looked around and decided to change the topic. "Where's everyone else?"
"Amelia and Zel decided to take Justina for awhile, and the other wet nurses are at lunch, and I gave Moe a break."
"Sir Gourry," Jeeves said as he walked in, a letter in hand. "For you."
"Thanks." Gourry said as he got to his feet and took it.
"Let me guess. It's Trudy." Lina said as Jeeves walked away as Gourry opened it and read.
"Correct." Gourry replied as his eyes twitched a bit. "Damn."
"Damn?" Lina replied.
"She's writing to let us know that she's coming to the naming ceremony."
"Damn." Lina said.
An awkward silence filled the air as they each thought about all of the reasons that a visit from Trudy could be disastrous. Eventually Gourry said, "I guess we should tell Nerys and Owen to come home?"
"Yeah. And I guess we should talk to my dear old Sis." Lina said.
Luna barely glanced up from her writing as Lina walked into her office with Gourry. She finished her sentence and set her pen down and commented, "Well, it's a relief that you're utilizing the nursery."
"No one is going to attack for a while, if that's what you mean." Lina said as she sat on a chair and ignored the awkward tension that filled the room. "Well, not here at least. For now."
Luna nodded solemnly, "The Duchy of Kalmaart has been begging us to send reinforcements. There have been numerous incursions into their borders and demon uprisings. Fortunately the Kingdom of Ralteague had been able to hold their own. For now at least. Needless to say, we won't be resettling your family north. But I've not found a suitable place yet, if that's why you're here."
"It isn't." Lina said as Gourry stood behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
Luna looked weary as she asked, "What is it then?"
"A letter from Trudy." Lina stated, "Saying she's coming here for the naming ceremony."
Luna exhaled slowly, "Well, that will make things interesting. On a day we don't want to be interesting."
"I'm glad we're in agreement there." Lina said.
"But why would she want to come here? Do you think she's in league with the Mazoku and this is a way to get into our court and attack?" Luna asked.
"Hard to say." Gourry replied quietly.
Lina was silent for a moment before she said, "I was thinking, actually, what if she's like Luke? She knows something bad is happening to her and she's reaching out to us for help."
Gourry's grip on her shoulder tightened as he asked, "To kill her?"
"Perhaps there's another way? We can get Sylphiel to gather some of the kids who are still here and talented in this field to figure out a way to get her out of that coat." Lina said, and then she sat up straighter, "Wait a minute, we need to get Zel involved with this! Why didn't I think of it before? And Ace. I mean, separating her from Garm, it would be like separating a chimera, wouldn't it?"
"It makes sense, but I don't know much about these things. But if you think it could work…" Gourry said, and she could feel the hope in his voice and knew that she was on the right track.
Luna folded her arms under her breasts, "Well, I'm inclined to say that for the safety of the world we should kill first and ask questions later. But I have to admit, that would be a diplomatic nightmare. And it's not as if my decisions have been the greatest lately."
Lina's jaw about dropped to the floor as Luna continued, "So if that is what you think is best, get the Duke in on it."
"We will." Lina said.
"You have a week till the ceremony to prepare." Luna pointed out. "I'll leave this in your hands. Do what you think is best."
"Right." Lina said. And then she looked at Gourry and stood up.
Once they were outside the office, they exchanged a glance. "Lunch?" Lina asked.
Gourry nodded, and towards the stairs they walked. Lina grabbed his hand and stared at him out of the corner of her eye and tried to read his mood, but he seemed as calm and unconcerned as always. She tried to think of something encouraging to say, and soon spilled out with, "I'm going to make sure we do what we can to make sure she gets through this alive."
Gourry looked at her and squeezed her hand. "I'm more concerned about you and our babies being okay."
"Gourry…"
"It just seems as though every few months my kin start more trouble."
They were quiet as they walked down the stairs, but once they got to the bottom Lina smiled and stopped walking so they could look at each other. "Hey, if that's the price I have to pay to have you in my life, I'll gladly pay it. With interest!"
He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her, and Lina was pleased to feel some of her former ardor build up again as she returned it. Even if she wasn't ready to find a private place yet. It gave her hope for the future at least.
"Damn you guys! Turn around! Red alert! Teachers kissing!" Indy yelled as he came into the foyer with several other students.
"I thought married people stopped doing that once the kids came along." Betty said. "With each other at least."
"No! If you find the woman of your dreams, you never stop doing that!" Gomez countered. "Carry on!"
"Go find something to do!" Lina yelled as she blushed as Gourry wrapped an arm around her. The kids grinned and ran from the foyer and Lina shook her head, and then she looked beside her to find Gourry smiling smugly. "What?"
"Oh, just thinking about how we're going to be one of those older couples who grosses our kids out when they find us kissing."
Lina pulled away and gave him a look, "Is that on your bucket list?"
"Yes, actually. It is." Gourry said as he started walking towards the dining room once more, and she started walking beside him.
"Well, that's kind of sweet actually, and, um, and…" Lina's voice trailed off as she saw her parents tucked away into a corner making out. She stared at them for a moment as her jaw dropped and she shook her head, and then she yelled. "Oh you guys! You just made a lactating woman lose her appetite! Get a room!"