Boyue's Note: I have no note!

MATERNAL HEART

"The Second Trimester…

Home Sweet Home"

Hell hasn't changed much since Damien's last visit. He walks through the back alley that he somehow showed up in. He steps into the main street and looks at the apartments and stores around him. Even though everything looks almost the same in Hell, he figures out exactly where he is. He does notice that there are festive lights hooked up between lamp posts, which means his father is planning one of his extravagant parties again. Who would ever think that people would actually like Satan? But everyone loves a good party. He walks across the street and hurries down along the sidewalk. He turns the corner and runs through the gate to an apartment complex. Dr. Ralph has been forced into retirement ever since the people on Earth realize what his job entails. Mortals don't take it too kindly to obstetricians who specialize in unholy pregnancies. And since he can't stay on Earth, where is he supposed to go? Detroit? So while the doctor is enjoying his retirement with Mai-Tai, Damien and Pip are left stranded. There is --- was --- no way Damien would ever step foot in Hell ever again until he dies. But here he is, banging heavily on Dr. Ralph's apartment door and screaming at the top of his lung. He has forgotten that his demonic power gets amplified in Hell. The walls and the water in the pool are vibrating from the sound of his voice alone.

"Master Damien," Dr. Ralph greets with a surprised smile. "What a pleasant surprise."

"You are coming with me now," Damien hisses, grabbing the doctor by the collar. "Pip is in deep shit. The baby is trying to come out, I think. I don't know. You need to go."

"Okay, okay, let me get my pants." Dr. Ralph shakes off Damien's hold and turns around back inside the apartment. "Now, where are my pants…. Where… where…"

"Hurry the fuck up!" Damien shouts. "Pip is dying up there!"

The building shakes like there is an earthquake. Damien tries his best to calm his nerves. He shuts his mouth and closes his eyes, listening to the doctor calling for his pants to show up. He grits his teeth and blinks his eyes open. He sees Dr. Ralph walking around without any luck. This bastard is really testing his patience. He is about to say something but he shudders suddenly. A strange presence looms behind him and Damien feels goose bumps forming on his skin. And there is only person who can do that to him. Damien turns around and slowly lets out a sigh.

"Damien, you're home," Satan says with a happy smile. "I missed you so much, son."

Damien eyes his father. Satan hasn't changed much either. Still big and red and a giant pussy. In fact, the almighty Lord of the Underworld is tearing up right now. Damien groans and turns his head sideway; he doesn't need to see his dad crying. He already doesn't respect the man enough as it is. Satan walks forward and opens his arms to receive his son with a hug. Damien raises an eyebrow and almost laughs at the pathetic attempt. He crosses his arms over his chest and huffs. He lifts his head up and casts his eyes down on his father. Yeah, he is an ungrateful brat, but so what? He can't hold love for a man who repeatedly tried to break him up with his boyfriend. Pip is the love of his life – yet Satan can't understand that. It's not fair, really. He has to put up with Satan's crazy lovers. Saddam was a menace to his sanity. That Chris guy was alright but a bore. A short while before he left home for good, Satan found that his lover – what was his name? Mr. Cap? No, Mr. Hat. Yes, Satan finds out that Mr. Hat was cheating on him with a stick. Long story short, Satan cried for three days straight and the thirteen-year-old Damien was expected to comfort his father and run Hell at the same time. What bullshit is that! He has to do all everything for his father but he can't even have Pip?

"Oh, no, I understand," Satan says and takes a step back. "You're still upset about the whole thing. I-I understand. But I'm so happy you're here…"

"Look," Damien says with a roll of his eyes, "I'm here on a business run. In fact, I'm just about to leave. So if you'll get out of the way, I gotta go."

"B-but you just got here… Oh, please, Damien, I want us to be a family again."

"I don't," Damien says. He turns his head and watches Dr. Ralph come out of the apartment still without pants on. He shrugs it off. "Let's go already."

"Hello there, Master!" Dr. Ralph greets with a wave of his hand.

"Where are you two going?" Satan asks with a frown.

"Nowhere," Damien says. He grabs Dr. Ralph by the arm and leads him away.

"I'm just running up to Earth to check up on Master Damien's baby," Dr. Ralph shouts.

"You fucking retard!" Damien shouts. He lets go of the doctor's arm and fights the urge to smack his head off. Besides, he doesn't have time to do it as Satan has popped up in front of them. The mood has shifted entirely. Satan's happy expression is replaced with a deep-set frown. His lips snarl upward with anger and his eyes flame red.

"You have a child?" Satan asks in a low voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm not obligated to tell you everything," Damien responds with a snare. He turns to Dr. Ralph and barks, "Get up there! If something happens to Pip, I'm going to have your head."

"Pip!?" Satan shouts. "You have a baby with him!? How is that…. Oh no, Damien, no…"

Damien sends the doctor a sharp glance and finally the doctor gets a move on. He makes sure Dr. Ralph is out of sight and hopefully up on Earth before he turns his eyes on his glooming father. His father is generally a mellow man but when he gets pissed off, he gets pissed off. And there have only been a few rare occasions when Damien has seen his dad in anger. Heck, Satan wasn't even this angry when he caught Damien packing up to leave Hell. So, Damien can't help but feels like a kid again. He lowers his shoulders and shrinks his chest in. He avoids eye contact with his dad and keeps his eyes on the ground. Granted, it was probably a really bad idea not to tell his dad that he is going to be a grandfather. But hey, circumstances weren't so good for them.

"You…! I can't' believe you, Damien! This is… This is terrible! This is just terrible!"

"Pip and I are going to be great parents," Damien says and for the first time, he actually believes it. "So you don't have to worry about a thing. We aren't going to leech off you."

"That's not it…" Satan pinches his nose ridge and shakes his head with frustration. He turns around and waves for Damien to follow him. "We'll talk in a quieter place… this is just…"

Though Damien would much rather go home to Pip, he follows his dad out of the apartment complex and around Hell until they stop next to the fire pond in the park. Satan takes a seat on the bench by the pond and Damien does the same. He scoots to the edge so there is some distance between his body and his dad's large one. He can't help but notices that his dad smells like jasmine. Shit, what the hell is the Prince of Darkness doing smelling like flowers? Just like all parents in the world, Satan is kind of embarrassing. Damien shifts his feet and waits for his dad to speak.

"I always come here when I'm feeling down," Satan says.

"Yeah, I know. You used to take me here with you," Damien responds. He has to admit he kind of misses wasting time with his dad. But he has Pip now and life is better with Pip. "So… what is it? What's so horrible about me being a dad?"

"For one, you're only 21," Satan says. "And… is the baby born yet?"

"No, Pip's five month along."

"Damien, I'm sorry," Satan whispers. "I should've told you earlier but I didn't think you would have a kid so soon and all the other things happened… I wish I had told you…"

"What is it? Just spill it." Patience isn't one of the virtues Damien has.

"You cannot have a child."

"Well… obviously I'm having one," Damien says with a confused frown. He laughs and says, "It's kind of too late to not have one now."

"You don't understand. You can't have an offspring. Your child will inherit your power and your role. He will become the new anti-Christ."

"Oh…" Damien gulps. He frowns again, not quite understanding what it means exactly.

"There can only be one true anti-Christ at a time," Satan explains. "Do you understand me, Damien?"

"Only one… true one? So… wait… no… what does that mean?"

"You and your son will both have the power as the anti-Christ but only one of you can exist," Satan says slowly. With each word, Damien's eyes widen. "The law of the universe dictates that the new will always be stronger than the old. You will battle for the throne and…" Satan takes a breath before he says, "Damien, your son will kill you."

A breathless "No" is all Damien manages to say.

"There is always a chance, though very unlikely, that you will defeat him and continue your role. But of course that would mean---"

"I will kill my own son." Damien snaps his head up to face his dad. That's just impossible. There is no way he will ever hurt his child, however annoying the child may be. Plus, Pip will have his head if he does any harm to the baby. And yet, he can't shake the feelings that his son won't feel the same. He meets his dad's eyes and tries to think. He shakes his head and laughs, "You are a fucking asshole. That's not funny. Ha, you know, Dad, you were never good at telling jokes but you always had me there for a second…"

"I would never lie about something like this, son. It's the truth."

"Fuck! I-I… No, that can't be true."

"I know it's hard to accept."

"No, fuck! Hard to accept? No, I won't fucking accept it! That's bullshit! Bullshit!" Damien stomps his feet and unwittingly unleashes two waves of flame into the unsuspecting fire pond in front of him. He turns to his father and grits his teeth. "Why didn't you tell me before? Fuck you! You planned this, didn't you? You hate Pip so you want to take away the one thing he ever wants! You fucking prick! I fucking hate you!"

But all his dad does is sit there and looks at him with the most sincere eyes. And Damien knows his dad isn't lying at all. He slumps against the bench and throws his arm over his eyes. What is he supposed to do now?

"It's best to… get rid of the baby while you can," Satan suggests. "Once he's birthed, he'll grow with strength and it'll be harder for you to deal with him."

"He's going to be that powerful?" Damien asks.

"He'll have the ultimate weapon against you."

"What?"

"He'll have your love. I know you, Damien, you won't have the heart to hurt your child. So you'll push it back and push it back until the final day comes…" Satan puts a hand on Damien's shoulder and says, "Do it now while the emotional attachment is still weak. If you can't, I w---"

"No, it's my son. I'll deal with him myself. Don't you dare interfere. I can handle this…"

"I'm so sorry," Satan says. "It would've been nice to be a grandfather."

"Yeah," Damien nods. "I-I have to go… now. I have to go. Pip is waiting. Yeah, I'm going to go now."

"Come back to see me soon, please," Satan says with a squeeze to Damien's shoulder.

Damien stands up and wobbles his way away from the bench. He runs his fingers through his hair because it seems like the right thing to do. He isn't sure if there is even a right thing to do anymore. He walks along the street until he arrives at the entrance of Hell. His mind is completely blank. He can't even think about where he is walking to or why he is walking there or why does his chest hurt so much and what is that watery thing crawling down his cheeks? He blinks up at the roof of Hell and gets in line to the portal that will beam him back to Earth. Nothing goes through his mind. Not even the angry guy yelling at him for line-jumping. Damien pulls his chest in and waits until it is his turn. Why is he waiting in line when he can make a portal himself is beyond him now. He just stands in line and waits until it's his turn to hop into the silvery portal and returns to South Park.

Damien treads through the snow with his shoes, stomping extra hard to leave his footprints. The portal has sent him to the other side of town and he has to make his way back to his apartment. He should be more eager to see Pip but he can't get his body to move faster. In fact, he thinks he is actually trying to avoid seeing Pip. What a crazy day it's been. To think he would actually avoid Pip? Wow. He tucks his hands into his jeans pocket and walks as average as he can. It's cold outside, as usual, but he can't really feel the cold. Sometimes he wonders why he stays in South Park. He and Pip can easily move out to Denver or something nicer. But South Park is a simple town and maybe the simplicity is good for someone like Damien. God knows his life is messed up as it is. It's nice to walk through the streets without someone bothering him.

He walks through the gate of his complex and eyes the police car parked on the street with suspicion. The South Park police are mediocre at best and he wonders who would actually call the cops. He walks up the stairs and stands outside his apartment. Today just can't get any better, can it! He walks in and blinks his eyes at the one cop standing in his living room and the legs of another cop in the hallway. He turns his eyes to Pocket in the kitchen and really has to fight hard to repress the fire building up in his veins.

"Sir, I'm telling you one last time: Step away from the door," the hidden officer says.

"No." It's Kenny. "I'm sorry, Officer, but you can't go in."

And Pip sounds a loud scream that snaps Damien out of his trance. He can't give a shit about all the other things. Pip needs him. That's what matters. He steps into his home and shoves past the alert officer that tried to stop him. He walks into the hallway and stares at the cop pointing a gun at Kenny's head.

"What the fuck is going on here?" he shouts.

"That's him, gentlemen!" Pocket says from the kitchen. "He is the culprit."

"Step back, Sir," the officer barks at him. "Put your hands where I can see them."

"Get out of my house," Damien responds, raising his hand. A burst of flame ignites at the tip and rapidly grows into a fireball. "Don't make me repeat myself."

"Damien, don't," Kenny whispers. It is then Damien really notices that Kenny is sitting on the floor and that there is a trail of blood dripping down his forehead.

"Motherfuckers," Damien mumbles before the officer in front of him bursts into flame. He walks into the living room and hurls a ball at the other officer. Pocket screams and along with the anguish officers, they all run out of the apartment. He watches Pocket running into the streets and the officers rolling on the ground. He slams his door and makes sure to lock it before he hurries back to Kenny.

"What the hell, man?" Kenny scolds. "You weren't supposed to."

"Shut up," Damien hisses. He pushes up Kenny's moist hair and winces at the open cut below the hair line. "Did they do that?"

"I tried to stop them from going in… there were some struggles but I'm fine," Kenny says with a shrug and a grin.

Damien sighs. He pulls Kenny into a rough hug and squeezes the life out of the blonde. He buries his nose and mouth in Kenny's thick hair, noticing the greasy scent and making a mental note to get Kenny a nice bath basket. Kenny has done so much for him. He can't believe Kenny actually fought against the cops to keep Pip safe. He has to tell Pip about that. Kenny deserves Pip's friendship. He wants the two most important blondes of his life to get along. He also makes a mental note to shred Pocket into pieces and feeds them to Cerbby next time he goes back to Hell.

"I love you, man," he mumbles into Kenny's hair. "Thank you."

"Yeah… I…" Kenny pulls away. "Go see Pip already."

Damien nods and stands up. He steps through Kenny and opens the door. He walks into the bedroom and a chill runs down his spine. He has hung out with some evil people in his life but he has never sensed something so… bad. He shudders and knows that it's coming from the baby. What a creature he is dealing with… He is actually kind of scared. He looks at Pip and never thought he would have to see his lover tied down to the bed again. Pip's whimpers and moans fill his ears and his heart with pain. He looks at Dr. Ralph examining Pip's stomach and walks to his side.

"What's going on with the baby?" he asks. He looks at the grey bump and the gush that has gotten wider.

"Well, it seems the baby is ready to be born."

"No, that's not right! He is only five months."

"A demonic pregnancy usually matures faster than a normal one," Dr. Ralph explains.

"You didn't tell us that," Damien chides. "We can't have the baby yet! We aren't ready."

"But the baby sure is, Master Damien."

"Stop it. Make it go back inside Pip or something. Delay it. Hurry!"

"Oh, that's not good for the baby," Dr. Ralph wiggles his finger at Damien. Damien grabs it and twists it backward. "Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, okay, I understand. Let go now, please. I need my finger to work."

Dr. Ralph takes a balm out from his breast pocket. He smears it over Pip's eroding flesh and the wound heals up almost instantly. Damien frowns at the baby poking at Pip's stomach, stretching the skin. The doctor reaches for his pants pocket but realizes he isn't wearing them. He digs into the pockets of his coat and searches around. Damien takes the time to walk over to Pip and wipes the heavy sweat off Pip's face. He can't stand to see Pip in so much pain. It's killing him. He brushes the sticky hair away from Pip's forehead and plants a soft kiss.

"You're going to be okay, Pip," he whispers. He plants another kiss and repeats, "You're going to be okay…"

"Ah-ha! Found it," Dr. Ralph exclaims, holding up a medicine bag with some kind of grounded grass inside. He opens the bag and shakes out a small portion onto his palm. "This will do the trick. I need you to open Master Pip's mouth."

Damien eyes the herb. He grips Pip's jaw and pulls his mouth open. The doctor sprinkles the herb in and Damien closes Pip's mouth. Pip swallows the herb and whines, tossing his head and spitting chalky saliva out.

"What is that?"

"This is an herb that will seal the baby's power and keep it dominant," the doctor explains. He shakes the bag and measures it. "This got… oh, about two to three months supply. Feed it to him once a day. But let me warn you, Master Damien. The longer the baby stays in, the more dangerous it will be for both of them."

"In what kind of way?" Damien asks, taking the bag in hand.

"The herb won't be effective immediately or all the time. The baby will most likely try to find another way out. In that case, it's very likely that it will take over Master Pip."

"Possession?"

"Yes, exactly. And as you surely know, the more times a person is possessed by a demonic entity, the less likely the person will return to his formal self. In other words, it's possible that your child will take over Master Pip completely. My professional advice, and personal as I trust we have become quite friendly with each other, is to take the baby as soon as possible… to avoid any unwanted troubles."

"Great," Damien says with a nod. Just fucking great. He smacks himself in the forehead. He shouldn't have given in to Pip. He knows the baby is going to be troubles. He rubs his temple and asks, "Is it too late to abort the baby?"

"Of course. It has fully matured. It's much too late to terminate the pregnancy now." Dr. Ralph frowns and scratches his scrotums. "Best get started on preparing for the baby's arrival, Master Damien. Oh, what a joy this little one will be for you."

"Get out of my face," Damien orders. Dr. Ralph presses his lips shut and walks out of the room.

Damien walks to the bedposts and unties Pip. Pip is quiet now. It even looks like he is sleeping. He loves watching Pip sleep. Pip has such an angelic face even if it's slobbered with sweat, tears, and snots. Kenny walks in and helps with the ropes. He has stuck a Bandaid to his forehead. He looks up at Damien and reaches over the bed.

"You okay, Damien?"

"… No… I don't think I'm ever going to be okay."

"What happened? Did something happen to Pip…?"

"It's a long story."

Damien grabs a tissue from the nightstand and cleans Pip's face as much as he can. He kisses Pip on the lips and buries his face between his neck and his shoulder. He stands up straight and pulls the sheet over Pip so his darling Brit can get some good rest. He walks out with Kenny and takes a seat on the couch. Kenny sits next to him with a concerned look. Damien takes a deep breath and tells Kenny everything.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Boyue's Note: Please PM me your review if it doesn't show up on the page. I really want to know what you think of the chapter and it lowers my morale when I don't get any reviews. T.T

Thank you. =D

04.03.09

4:06 PM