Two and half months or so have passed, and Ayaka's belly started to show signs of growing. People over Inazuma would come to greet her and ask her how into her pregnancy she is. Sara was tasked to be her guard if Ayaka she goes outside by the Shogun.
"Come, take a seat, Miss Kamisato." Kiminami Anna said, already preparing the pizza that Ayaka suddenly wanted to eat.
"Come. Sit with me, Sara. Let us eat together this snack."
"I'd rather not, Miss Kamisato. I was ordered to guard you while outside." Sara answered.
Ayaka chuckled. "Sara, please, you can also be my guard as we eat." Ayaka caress her belly, a warm smile on her face. Word of her pregnancy also reached the ears of many criminals groups, like the Treasure Hoarders or some of the Fatui renegades, loyal to the former ideal of the Tsaritsa before she was defeated by the Traveler and helped him on his journey. Many criminal and renege groups already made attempts at entering the Shogunate Estate. Almost succeeding once by applying a distraction for the Shogun and her army. They reached Ayaka and Aether's room, but did not expect him to use all of his elemental knowledge and power to kick them out, almost destroying the Estate in the process. Ei didn't mind that, though. After all, a God's child is precious to anyone.
"Ok, ok. I will sit with you." Sara said, hesitant on doing that, but also not wanting for the pregnant woman to start complaining about it. Ayaka smiled, and she took immediately a piece of pizza when it was presented to her. She groaned in delight as the flavor filled her mouth. Sara took a piece as well, and liked it immediately too.
"Told you that you'd like it!" Ayaka teased. Sara's eyes widen, but then she looked away, silently eating her pizza.
"I hope that you don't change this time what you want, like on breakfast." Sara spoke, making Ayaka to blush.
"I can't help it!" Ayaka defended herself, her hands going immediately to her belly, caressing. "Nurses said that it's normal." Sara only rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face.
Ayaka started having different food cravings for the last few days. They mostly remain simple and unchanging every time, but sometimes she'd want to eat some kind of food, and when presented, she'd say that she no longer wants it and wants other thing.
"I don't think that Miss Ayaka would change this time. She really likes pizza." Anna interfered. "But, should she want something else, I can prepare it." She smiled.
"Thank you, Anna."
"By the way, when's your husband in due to return from Sumeru?" Sara asked.
Ayaka stopped eating to think. "I believe that tomorrow he'll arrive."
Aether received a formal invitation from the Dendro Archon. She wanted to speak with him in private. Ayaka wanted to go, but Ei and Miko ordered her to stay. Ayaka hugged tightly Aether before he teleported away to Sumeru, leaving a crying Ayaka behind. Miko and Sara calmed her, and stayed with her that night. Aether would take about a week on Sumeru, the letter saying that Kusanali wanted to speak with him and ask him to do something for her on Sumeru.
After their meal, Sara accompanied Ayaka to Narukami Shrine, helping her to walk and to move whenever Ayaka felt tired.
When they arrived, Miko was walking to the entrance, as if knowing that Ayaka was going there.
"What brings you here, Miss Kamisato?" She asked smiling.
"I just wanted to see the Tree." Ayaka answered, sitting over a rock, a hand on her belly. "And… well… here I am."
"Indeed you are. Well, you are welcome here. As your baby." Miko walked to Ayaka, placing her hand over Ayaka's belly. "I'm pretty sure that it is comfortable there, with a loving mother and a responsible father too."
"Indeed. I cannot believe that it's been almost three months now." Ayaka remembered the first month, vomiting at sudden occasions, having quick mod changes, being too clingy to Aether, being rude to others who only wanted to help her, how tired she was, and all those sleepless nights Aether had to stay to both protect her and to please her whims.
After Ayaka rested, they walked to the Tree. There, Ayaka prayed for Aether's well being, as well as thanking for all that happened till now. Later, they had a tea over the Shrine. It wasn't long before twilight came, and Sara and Ayaka had to leave to return to the Shogunate. Ayaka was excited, Aether returns the next day, and she can't sleep for a few hours into the night. But she fell asleep at the end, and Ei ordered that Ayaka must not be disturbed when dawn came.
Near midday, Ayaka woke hungry. She walked out from her room and went to the kitchen where she had both breakfast and lunch. As she was finishing, the door opened and Sara walked in.
"Miss Kamisato, Aether arrived, and-" Those two words were enough to for her to stand and to walk fast to the entrance, not allowing Sara to end her sentence.
Upon arriving to the entrance, she spotted Aether and run to him, hugging him from behind. Aether laughed and turned around to hug and kiss his wife.
"Looks like you missed me." He said.
Ayaka didn't answer, only hugging him tighter. "So glad you are here with me."
"Ehem." They heard someone cough. Pulling away, Ayaka saw the Dendro Archon standing by them, a smile on her face. "As much as I'd like to leave you love-birds alone, we need to check on the baby." She said.
Ayaka looked at Aether confused. "It is a surprise. Sumeru's medics created a method to see the baby inside the womb. It can also be seen the sex of it." He explained. Ayaka's mouth was opened in an 'o' shape and nodded in understanding.
"So, we can know the sex before birth? That's great!" She answered excited.
"Yes, yes. We need a room for the machine to work. Don't worry, the process is not painful or anything like that." Kusanali made her presence known again.
"Did you speak with the Shogun already?" Ayaka asked. Aether looks nervous and Kusanali paled, her face indicating the answer.
"She did not." Ei's voice came from the building. "Just now I received and read the letter sent to me by you, Kusanali. While is annoying that you came here without saying, I must say that I'm curious about that method your nation just created." She walked to them. "So, what is needed for you to do the proper procedure?"
"I need a spacious room so we can fit that machine inside," she pinte to the machine behind them. "…and tranquillity to do it. That means no sudden interruptions." Kusanali explained.
"Alright. The Tea Room is spacious enough. Let's go then." They walked inside the Estate, the technicians of Sumeru that came with Kusanali and Aether also entered with the machine that is going to be used.
Once inside, they got ready the machine and Ayaka was currently sitting at the special chair. Aether was sitting beside her, Ei was standing at the door while Kusanali was over the machine, preparing everything. Ei ordered that they must be disturbed firing the process.
"Ok, so, with this is a monitor, and will show us your baby. I'll be using this little tool over your belly with this gel, ok? Lift your shirt so I can apply he gel." She explained. Ayaka blushed at the procedure, but did as she was told. She lifted her shirt, showing her growing belly.
Kusanali applied the gel over her skin, making Ayaka to giggle.
"What's that?" Ei asked.
"A harmless gel that will allow us to see the baby. Don't worry, we've tested it on other pregnant women." She then pressed the little tool over her belly as she observed the screen.
"Ok… now, what you see here is the baby's feet." Kusanali spoke, using her hand and fighers to show over the screen what she is seeing. "Mover more… here are the arms… here is the head of the-" she suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Ayaka asked, grabbing Aether's hand.
"Oh! Nothing. I was going to show you the baby's head, but…" she stopped.
"But?" Ei spoke.
Kusanali smiled. "There are two heads." She said.
"What?"
"What does that mean?" Aether asked after his wife.
"It means that you are carrying twins, Miss Kamisato." Kusanali explained as Ayaka gasped. "Here are the heads." She gestured. "Now we have the pair of arms. And to know the sex… let's see… aha! A girl and a boy." She ended the procedure.
"I'm carrying twins… boy and girl…" Ayaka whispered to herself. Aether kissed her cheek.
"Like me and Lumine." He added.
"Yes…" Ayaka smiled, happy tears coming from her eyes. "I'm carrying our children." She looked to Aether and kissed him briefly.
"Well, your babies are growing healthy. You just need to continue applying what you are doing. And remember." Kusanali started putting away the tools, as well as passing a towel to Aether to dry Ayaka's belly.
"I shall return in three months, to see the growth of the babes." Kusanali said as her technicians took away the equipment.
"Admit it, you want to see the growing process of two god hatchings from a god and a human." Ei stated.
That made Kusilani to stop in her tracks. "While I'm curious to know about it, I don't think that the father would allow me to do it." She said looking to Aether, who was in front of Ayaka hugging her, attentive about their conversation.
"She found a great husband." Ei stated. "And as you said, he wouldn't let anything to harm his wife or children."
"I know." After that, Kusilani walked outside the room, leaving the Shogun and the couple inside.
"Twins, Aether! Twins!" Ayaka said loudly. "I am so happy!"
"Indeed, dear. I am also happy. They will run around saying 'Mama' and 'Papa'."
Ei smiled at the two soon-to-be parents. She walked away, leaving them in private. Her mind wondered about children.
'I can't help but to feel a bit jealous, Kamisato Ayaka. Take good care of those godlings. They will have two loving parents.'