"I swear, if it wasn't for all their different forms and colors and all, you'd be hard to tell them apart at times with how they all act.", John gave a light chuckle as Emma leaned back and sighed. "Something wrong?".
"Oh, nothing, just a little tired and all from all the drinking they've been doing... I'm honestly not gonna have much left for the last one when he or she comes.", Emma replied.
John smiles, "You have been feeding Kyle for the past two months, Emma. It'll be a bit harder to figure out the drinking schedule for some time, but you'll be fine, luv.", kissing her softly on the lips, and Emma kissed him back with a small smile.
Emma nodded, "That's true, John. My milk always replenishes every day. From the looks of it, it might be a few months more before they're fully committed to solid foods.", and John grins, "There you go. And with them already big enough to go out when you feel they're ready to do so, they will have all the time to explore, learn, and grow emotionally, mentally, and physically, though I have a feeling that it's slower for them physically from now on, as they grew fast in their shells before hatching.".
"Only one way to find out about all of that though...", Emma admitted as she leaned against her lover. "I love you so much, John.".
"I love you too, Emma.", John smiled as he kissed her forehead.
Miranda tilted her head, watching her parents dote on each other, ignoring her brothers wrestle and play, and she then glanced at the last egg, and shifting a bit more with her hands/feet into paws, she walked to it, sniffing and prodding it, giving out a yip when the egg shook under her paws.
She gave out her first bark as she saw cracks starting to form on the shell, and Emma looked over, "Miranda! What are you doing to your sibling?", getting up, intending to pick her up when she gasped, seeing the cracks.
"Oh, already?!", Emma blinked in surprise, and leaned down, "Baby, you can do it.", seeing the egg shake, taps sounding out as the cracks broke open, hearing squeaks and chirps.
Miranda gave another bark, and the egg seemed to bounce, hearing taps and scratches before more cracks broke open, freeing a snout and claws, hearing a loud bark from inside, before the egg fell forward, half breaking open, revealing a white fox cub with dark gray markings, bright green eyes.
The fox cub shook its head, blinking before looking at its sister and mama before walking out, shaking out its fur before shifting into a toddler girl of human form, having pale tan skin, dirty blonde hair, and teal eyes, looking like Emma quite a bit yet having John's nose and smile.
"Well, at least Miranda for sure has a sister now.", John smiled as he looked down at the tiny baby that hatched. "Oh, how cute this one is...".
"She's perfect... not saying that the rest of you aren't, either...", Emma chuckled in embarrassment.
Miranda smiled brightly, "Sister!", and her sister blinks at Miranda before crawling straight for Emma, and Emma smiled, picking her up, immediately feeding her as she removed the chest covering.
John chuckles, "I think we got an observant rascal. She knows what she wants, focused on one thing at a time.", and Emma giggles, "I know the type. Now...let's see about your name, dear one.", looking down at her second daughter who's completely absorbed with drinking her mama's milk.
"I like the sound of Zoey for her first name. I am undecided between Esther or Electra for her middle name.", Emma spoke thoughtfully, glancing at John.
Emma chuckled warmly, "It's official then. Zoey Esther Silver.", caressing Zoey's head gently, and Liam propped his hands up on Emma's arm, "Sister hungry!".
Emma laughed softly, "Well, Zoey waited the longest before hatching, Liam, so she's bound to be very hungry.", and Liam blinked, "Zoey! Mama milk good?".
Zoey glanced at her brother as she paused, batted her hand at Liam who chirped out of surprise, and Zoey snorted, turning back to suckle.
John laughed heartily, "I think you have to wait a bit longer, Liam. She's really focused on her mama's milk.", and Emma smiled softly. Sure enough, it was a few minutes later when Zoey finished, giving out a belch as Emma rubbed her back, and put her down as Zoey is now focused on playing with her brothers and sister.
"All five... thick as thieves, the lot of them.", John chuckled as the happy parents watched their children play with each other. "We're gonna have to eventually get them all to sleep at around the same time... and give us a bit of a break.", John leaned over to kiss Emma on the cheek.
Emma chuckled softly, "Indeed. They'll be tuckered out sooner or later, and hence, they'll be asleep at the same time. You know, for some reason, I feel complete. I'm not worried or anxious. Heck, the team are adults, they can take care of themselves just fine. And we are going to be married one day soon!", with a grin before sighing lightly, "I only wish my father would be here to walk me down the aisle or meet his grandchildren properly, but my portals ain't that strong to go that far to Earth...plus there's the fact that he thinks that I'm dead...".
"I'm sorry...", John sighed as he embraced her. "I'm sorry I can't help make that wish reality, but we just have to make do with what we have and all... at least you still have a family here, you know? Me, Jim, Eilonwy, the rest of the team...", he reminded her.
Emma smiled as she leaned in, kissing John on the lips, "I know. You always know how to make me feel better, John.", before leaning back on John's shoulder, smiling at their children who's now playing freeze tag, something that Kyle learned from Emma last month, and now he's teaching his siblings to do it.
For the next week, the family happily stayed in the crystal chamber nest, with almost all the children learning to walk on two legs clumsily in their human forms, discovering that four legs in their animal forms is easier and faster than two legs, but it's still fun either way.
Emma finally decided to show them the outside world, starting with the throne room to introduce them to Kida and Milo first of all.
"Surprised you didn't come sooner to see them.", John said as he sat next to Milo while Kida and Emma were closer with the children. "Well, we thought it was best to give you two as much time and room as you need.", Milo explained with a smile.
John nodded, "Appreciate that. They're balls of energy, that's for sure, but they are adorable when they sleep. Kyle is a playful, adventurous, smart boy while Liam is a determined, optimistic, brave boy. Miranda is a curious, aloof, friendly girl while Jared is a shy, surprisingly bold, pessimistic boy. And Zoey, she's a quiet, observant, and sharp-witted girl. Yet they're all close to each other like honey.".
"So, I can see.", Milo chuckled. "They certainly are adjusting to things quite well.".
"Well, they're practically all a year-old despite being newborns with the exception to Kyle there... and he's been growing alright himself.", John replied with relief and pride.
Milo nodded, "That's for sure. I must admit, John, that Kida was most anxious about Kyle since he came prematurely, but seeing him now, he's literally carefree and happy despite the fact that he is permanently a hybrid. He might have trouble seeking for love in the far future...but the fact that he's part dragon, it might make it easier on him...In general, shapeshifters stick to their own kind mostly because of easier pregnancies than a shapeshifter with a non-shapeshifter, or two different shapeshifters like a wolf shapeshifter with a bird shapeshifter.".
"Well, I think we're thinking too far ahead about all that.", John laughed. "I'm sure Kyle will find the right girl someday, but right now... just let Emma and I enjoy him for a decade or so before starting to think of those things.".
"Fair enough.", Milo smirked as Kida laughed from the toddlers' antics.
The toddlers were enraptured in enjoying the sunlight, the fresh air, the extra elbow room, and the environment of hearing the water, smelling the flowers, and feeling the different materials of the throne room.
After an hour of knowing and playing with Kida and Milo, Emma and John took them down to the guest quarters to meet Jim and Eilonwy.
"How much you want to bet that Eilonwy will be overloaded by seeing them?" John chuckled as he hung onto the boys while Emma held her two daughters.
"Oh, I think she'll be fine... just need to make sure to keep her voice down a bit... don't want to hurt their ears by her screaming with joy.", Emma laughed.
John grinned, "We'll find out.", and they opened the door a couple of minutes later, seeing Jim and Eilonwy making out, and John whistled sharply, "Oi, Jimbo, there's children here!".
The teenagers froze, blushing, letting go of each other almost instantly before realizing that John's inside, and they looked over to see the toddlers in John and Emma's arms.
Eilonwy gasped, putting her hands over her mouth, giving out a squeal of joy before smiling brightly, "Oh, they're so cute!", getting up swiftly as Jim stared open-eyed at his five cousins. He may have met Kyle earlier, but now, it's the full brood...He spoke, "I owe you five galleons, Uncle Silver. It's official that Mom will go crazy once she meets them one day. They sure look like you somewhat.".
"Well, I am their father after all... just minus the whole parts...", John rubbed the back of his head with his mechanical arm.
"Easy with them, Eilonwy, they're still young and a bit fragile... though not too much, they're tougher than they look sometimes.", Emma advised.
Eilonwy nodded with a smile, "Hi, kids. Call me Auntie El!", before chuckling, "I think Eilonwy would be technically hard for them to say, so why not El?", with a glance at Emma.
Emma chuckled, "Fair enough.", before closing the door with her foot, and putting her daughters down, "Miranda, Zoey, go ahead.", and the girls clapped with their hands before shifting into a wolf pup and fox cub respectively, wagging their tails as Eilonwy laughed, "Oh, my! They're even cuter this way! Here, come on, chase me!", running away with a playful stance.
John laughed heartily, "You know Kyle, Jim, but those other two rascals are Liam and Jared.", and Jim smiled as he walked up to meet them, "Hello, Liam and Jared. I'm Jim, your big cousin.".
Liam and Jared looked at him with curiosity as Kyle chirped happily, "Cousin Jimbo!", and John chuckled, "Alright, alright, boys. You're raring to go.", putting them down, and Jared & Liam shifted into a lion cub and dragon hatchling respectively as Kyle already went to pounce at Jim.
"Certainly, have quite the handful, don't you, Uncle Silver?", Jim chuckled. "They're not too bad now that I think about it, we've still been getting plenty of rest and they're honestly quite well behaved at times.", John explained.
Jim smiled, "Good to know. Let me know one day when you want some serious alone time with Aunt Emma.", and John looked at him in surprise.
"She's practically family, Uncle Silver. Even if you hadn't married her yet, she's officially an aunt.", Jim grinned with a wink, "And my cousins could have fun with a sleepover or something.".
John laughed heartily, ruffled Jim's hair, "Even when you're almost an adult, you're still a smart-aleck.", and Jim smirked before turning his attention when Kyle tugged at his leg, "Play!".
Jim laughed, "Alright, I'm coming.", going to play with his little cousins with a big smile. After some time, the children are all tuckered out, wanting to sleep on the soft, comfortable bed in a pile, knowing that lunch will be next.
Eilonwy smiled, "They're even more adorable when they sleep like that.", and Emma chuckled, "We tried cribs and such, but it turns out that they prefer sleeping in a pile like that. We figure we'll give them a few years of that as they'll be older then to want beds to themselves for their alone time, you know.".
"Makes sense, Emma. Now I know we have offered before, but well, since they are clearly healthy and strong to endure outings, do you want us to get the team now? They must have been done by now with advising the kingdoms in rotating fresh soldiers for Narnia.", asked Eilonwy.
"I'm still not fully sure. I know we can't keep simply just waiting around; there are many places that can't afford to keep waiting for us for so long... but I'm just worried we might get them too close to danger. Plus, I don't want to simply leave them behind somewhere like here...", Emma admitted.
"Don't feel comfortable leaving their sight for a moment, huh? I can understand. I'd probably do the same with my own children... someday.", Eilonwy said.
Jim then suggested, "Then we don't have to make you to move with us. I and Eilonwy can get the team here from the mainland to meet the kids and of course, do your wedding if you want to. After all, Kida told us about her offer.".
"Well, getting the others to come here is fine, more than welcoming especially since we're more than likely safe as can be here. It's just Emma clearly has the worries about what comes after; we'll be needed again to fight the war and it'll be much more difficult with these five tagging along.", John sighed.
Emma nodded, "That about sums it up. But for now, yes, you have my permission to grab the others and bring them here. If they're already done with their priority of advising the kingdoms in the west about rotations of fresh soldiers to replace tired soldiers in Narnia, they could be as well on the way back to Aquarine, or already in town as we speak.".
Coincidentally, the groups of the team have finished in their respective kingdoms, and now is reunited on the path to Aquarine. With Adam's magic mirror, right this moment, they heard Emma, and was excited to see Atlantis, reunite with their leader, and of course, meet her children properly, but it will take them a week to make it to Aquarine, wait for Jim and Eilonwy's ship or garrison of Martags, and of course, arrive in Atlantis.
Jim smiled, "Sounds good to me, Aunt Emma. We'll make sure the others know... or they could already for all we know.". He chuckled, "Still, we'll get right back in touch with them and make sure to see them get here. Don't want anything to be ruined and all for sure... like either of us missing each other and have to delay things even further.".
Emma smiled, "Too true...See if you can get a bird messenger to them first, and they can respond back, that way, you couldn't have to wait too long for them. Hmm, better talk to Jason about conjuring up magical walkie-talkies that can range country-wide...", muttering the last part to herself.
Jim nodded, "Yes, you got it, ma'am.", grabbing Eilonwy's hand, "Let's head to the bird mail tower.", leaving the couple and the slumbering children in the guest quarters. "What was that you whispered?", John asked as the two left.
"Walkie-talkies... sort of instant communication back where I came from. One of several forms, but certainly much quicker and somewhat more reliable than simply using avian messaging. Less chance of your message being intercepted but you still might not get in touch with the other end at times.", Emma explained.
John smiled, "That sounds like a brilliant idea, Emma. Perhaps we can keep that as a trade secret in the team for the time being, and then after the war, we could have better communication with the kingdoms via the kings and queens.".
Emma smiled, glad that John likes the sound of it as walkie-talkies are more practical and less distracting than phones...She doesn't want modern phones in her new world because of selfish reasons, one being that family is more important than fiddling on modern phones and all.
Still, it would help quite a bit with the war; especially if the group gets separated again or need to be even better coordinated when launching an attack.
John and Emma then went to sleep near the pile of their children, planning to tell Kida later that the wedding is on.
A week passed, and the team is finally arriving in Atlantis with Jim and Eilonwy's help, excited to meet the children of their leader, and beyond overjoyed that they're going to be part of the wedding as attendees in two weeks, through when Logan and Jasmine heard about it, Jasmine boldly asked Logan if they can make it a double wedding for them too...
"You honestly sure about this? I mean, don't get me wrong, but I always kinda imagined that when I would do it, it was just gonna be our day, you know?", Logan asked Jasmine as they were on their way to the palace.
"It's no better time; besides, we still have more work to do and who knows when we'll get another chance to do this.", Jasmine answered.
Logan was silent, thoughtful for a moment before smiling, "Princess or not, you're my true love, and if this makes you happy, this makes me happy.", squeezing her hand and kissing it lovingly with eyes on Jasmine.