Hal Jordan sat curled up with a blanket and a book on his and Sinestro's half-circle couch in the entertaining room of their house on Oa, smiling and enjoying his oasis of peace as he reread his much-loved paperback copy of Claimings by Lyn Gala. The book was securely propped up on his large and rounded belly and resting against his legs as he turned the pages, eagerly reading about how Liam the human and Ondry the rowent first became a couple through their daily trading with each other.

He had just reached the part where Ondry took Liam to his home and chained him to his nest after petitioning the Grandmothers at Ondry's town's temple for custody of Liam when he and Sinestro's five-year-old daughter came running into the room and jumped onto the couch near his blanketed feet. Hal smiled again, bookmarking and carefully placing his book on the nearby small and round redwood table.

"Good morning, sweetheart. How are you feeling today?"

"Fine!" the little girl replied cheerily, her large golden eyes shining. Her cream-toned skin shone, as she was clearly fresh from her bath. Her long curly blonde hair was damp, the strands tied back away from her small face with a silky blue ribbon that matched her simple knee-length dress. "Can you come outside today and play with me, daddy?"

Hal blinked at her question, his dark eyes turning sad and somewhat wistful. "Oh, Gaia. I wish I could, baby. I really do. But I'm not feeling so well today. I'm very tired because I didn't get enough sleep last night."

He sighed when his daughter's face fell, saying quickly to distract her, "Would you like to play with Orion today? I can have your father see what he, Tomar Re and Kilowog are up to for you."

"Yes, daddy!" she said, instantly happy again. "Thank you! I'll go get ready!" Then she bounced off the couch and lightly kissed his cheek. "I love you!"

"I love you, too, baby," Hal replied. He watched her bounce out of the room just as Sinestro entered it.

"I heard what you said, Hal," he stated. There was concern clear in the beautiful golden eyes their daughter had inherited as he sat down where Gaia had previously been. "Are you well, sweetheart?"

"Yes, my love. I promise," Hal replied with yet another smile. "Just tired, really. Between the lower back pain and the babies kicking, well, sleeping is hard. But on the bright side of things, when this started happening when I was expecting Gaia, it wasn't long before I gave birth to her."

"I remember."

"You were so nervous," Hal said with clear amusement in his deep brown eyes. "So was I. We were a young couple, after all. But everything went well. She was an adorable baby."

"And now she is a beautiful little girl," Sinestro stated with a return smile before asking him seriously, "If something was wrong, Hal, you would tell me, right?"

"Of course, Sinestro. I just had a check-up. I am tired and sore, that's all. Will you please take Gaia to see if she can play with Orion? I'd love to go with you both, but I really need to stay here and get some rest."

"Of course, Hal," Sinestro replied. He leaned in closer to kiss Hal's still smiling lips, followed by his mate's gold t-shirt covered large belly. "I love you."

"I love you, too, 'Nes."

"Do you wish me to help you back to bed, my darling?"

"Yes, thank you. That would be lovely. Just let me grab my book and blanket."

Sinestro nodded, assisting Hal carefully up off the golden couch once he held his things before slipping an arm around his husband's shoulders. He walked with Hal out of the large front living room combination dining room and down the hallway past Gaia's room on the right to the left to get him settled in bed in their chambers. (The right section of the hallway led to a bathroom and the kitchen.)

"Thank you, Sinestro."

"It was no trouble, my Hal. Would you like anything before Gaia and I go out so you may rest?"

"Just a glass of water, please."

"Yes, of course. I will be right back with that, Hal."

"Thank you."

Sinestro, Kilowog and Tomar Re were at the park closest to their homes, watching Gaia and Orion playing together.

"How has Hal been doing?" Tomar Re asked Sinestro where he stood beside him and Kilowog. His larger husband's arm was around his slender waist, the affection between them obvious.

"You mean since you saw him last week?" Sinestro inquired, his tone clearly teasing their friend. "He is well. He is resting because of not sleeping well. Back pain, the babies kicking. Based on his first pregnancy with Gaia he could go into labor any day now. I think we'll all be relieved when the children arrive."

"Understandably, yes. Do you think you'll have another child?"

"No. Hal and I have spoken about it, and three children is enough for us. Do you think you will have another?"

"No. I would love another baby," Tomar admitted with a sad smile. "But the strain Orion put on my body was.. difficult. I am not certain I could endure it again."

"Oh. I did not realize. I am sorry."

"It is alright, but thank you. I have Kilowog and Orion. I am very blessed."

Sinestro was about to speak in reply when a bright light lit the sky over Oa in brilliant, beautiful hues of green and pink above his home.

"It is Hal," he said quickly to the other lanterns. "He must need me. Perhaps the children are coming. May Gaia stay with you for now?"

"Of course, Sinestro," Kilowog agreed in his low voice.

"Yes," Tomar urged him, his eyes wide with his surprise and concern. "Go to your mate. Go to Hal."

Sinestro inclined his head, clearly grateful, before lifting up from the ground and flying home quickly. He landed and moved through the front of the home in order to reach their private chambers.

Hal was sweat-soaked and trembling, clearly in pain where he lay in their bed, biting his lower lip to stifle his groan of pain. He lifted his head when Sinestro entered, his deep brown eyes lighting up from within by love as he smiled at him. "Sinestro, thank goodness! The children are coming fast. Is Gaia with 'Wog and 'Re?"

"Yes, Hal," he replied, approaching his husband and lover to take his now outstretched left hand. "She'll be well with our friends and Orion. Is there anything you need me to do or get for you, my darling?"

"Water, please," Hal requested quietly. "I'm very thirsty, 'Nes. And I'll need help getting out of my clothes."

"Of course. Anything else?"

"Just you, my love," he said with a soft-eyed smile. "Just you, my only one."

"As you say, sweet Hal."

Sinestro drew the covers down to assist Hal, removing his clothes and setting them aside before drawing the sheets and blanket back up to keep his husband warm. "I will be right back with your water, Hal."

"Thank you, Sinestro."

A little over an hour later, to their joy, Hal was holding twin boys, one cradled in the crook of each of his arms. Sinestro sat beside him on their bed, tenderly stroking Hal's damp brown hair while gazing at his mate and their two younger children with obvious fondness.

"Mmm, Sinestro.." Hal sighed softly, his dark eyes happy and content. "Aren't they beautiful? I can't wait to introduce Gaia to them. And 'Wog, 'Re and Orion."

"I as well, my love. But you should take some time to rest first, and that will give Gaia more time with Orion. I will make you some chicken noodle soup to eat in a while. Would you like a cold glass of orange juice, Hal?"

"That sounds lovely, 'Nes, thank you," Hal replied with tired eyes and a grateful smile. "Then I'll get some sleep before eating the soup. Would you please move the babies to the bassinet? I'll feed them later when they get hungry."

"Of course, Hal. Have you chosen names for them?"

"Yes. Castor and Pullox. What do you think?"

"After the stars?"

"Yes."

"They are good names, Hal. Strong and beautiful, like you, and like the twins."

"Thank you, Sinestro," Hal replied, blushing pink at the compliment. "So you are fine with the names?"

"Yes, Hal. I am," he promised him while gently and carefully transferring the sleeping twins into Gaia's old baby basinet. "Now get some sleep. I will be here when you wake up."

"Thank you, Sinestro."

"Of course, my Hal. Always."

A couple of hours later Hal woke to the sound of the babies crying, smiling as he turned his head to look at Sinestro where he was tending to them.

"I apologize, my love," he spoke when he noticed Hal was awake. "I kept them quiet as long as possible so you could sleep."

"It's alright, Sinestro," Hal replied softly. "I'm sure they are hungry. If you'll bring them here, I will feed them. Then you can send for Gaia and the others, please."

"I will bring you the boys to feed, but then you will eat your soup, drink your orange juice and I will read you a few chapters of Claimings," Sinestro said firmly. "I know you love it. The book, and when I read to you. After that, I will contact 'Re and 'Wog to bring Gaia home so all of them can see the twins."

"Alright," Hal agreed with a smile up at him and soft brown eyes. "I love your voice..."

Sinestro smiled back at him while bringing the babies to Hal one at a time, assisting him out of the top half of his warm nightclothes so he could begin to nurse the twins for the first time. "I know, my darling."

Twenty minutes later the babies were full and content, giggling and cooing back in the bassinet. Sinestro helped Hal sit up, propping him up with pillows behind his back so he could eat his chicken noodle soup and drink his orange juice. He then picked up his husband's book and sat down in a comfortable armchair beside the bed before beginning to read in his low, deep voice when Hal pointed to where he'd left off earlier,' "What does a palteia do that is different from other adults?" Liam finally asked. He needed to stay calm and figure out what the fuck was going on. Ondry moved so that he sat right next to Liam, their shoulders brushing. "He does not seek status..."

Hal had fallen asleep again to the soothing sound of Sinestro reading to him, so it was only after he woke from his nap and fed the babies again that his husband contacted their friends with the good news so all of them could meet the twins when they brought their daughter home.

"Daddy!" Gaia squealed as she ran into the room and over to his bedside. "I missed you! Are you alright?"

"I missed you, too, sweetheart," Hal said, lifting a hand to run it over her long blonde curls tenderly. "I am well, Gaia. Still tired, but much better. Go and see your brothers with the others, then you can snuggle with me for a while if you want to."

"Okay, daddy!"

Gaia bounced over to where Sinestro, Kilowog, Tomar Re, and Orion stood around the basinet admiring the twins. The adults moved aside so she could stand near Orion and look at her new siblings. The babies giggled and smiled up at their sister, reaching their tiny hands up toward her face, fingers wiggling adorably.

She reached out to take hold of one of their tiny hands with each of hers gently with a wide smile while Sinestro put his right arm around her shoulders affectionately. "Gaia, meet your brothers, Castor and Pullox."

"Like the stars?"

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Cool! When will they be able to play with Orion and me?"

All of the adults, including Hal, laughed at her question, their amusement clear.

"Let's give them a year or so, honey," Hal said with a smile. "New babies mostly eat, sleep, cry, and go to the bathroom for quite a while after they're born. Now I'm going to rest for a bit before the twins need me again if you want to snuggle with me."

"Okay, daddy! I'm coming!"

Gaia came back to his side and climbed up onto the large bed to carefully snuggle against his side as the others left the room to give them some time alone together.

"I love you, daddy."

"I love you, too, Gaia."