Coming morning though and Arthur woke with a feeling something was wrong...
Francis held him as close as he could manage. Arthur groaned, squirming. Francis woke groggily.
Even through their hazy minds though, it was clear something was missing. Where was the snuffling of little noses and the padding of little paws practicing walking?
Francis sits up looking around. Arthur rolled over, took one look at the little pen they'd made for them - there were far too many for the bed - but it was empty!
Francis frowns jumping up. Arthur hefted himself up too, cussing the fact they left the door open last night. They take off down the hall frantically searching.
They found a couple ambling along in the hall. Francis scoops them up with a sigh.
"Two down, eight to go..."
Three had wandered into the library, crawling over a sleepy Alfred. (Bunny magnetism!) A fourth had opted to fall asleep on Ro's face. That's six..
Arthur nestled them close as he took them back to the pen, making sure it was secure. Francis went downstairs. There was another one of one of the steps. All they had to find now were the silver duo and the black girl...
He picked it up continuing on.
Kuma met him at the bottom of the stairs, glaring up the blond. He had a little squirming puffball held gently in his teeth.
Francis shrugs taking it. "How's the search going?"
"Horribly," he grumbled. "Do you know how hard it is to find moody spirit women..."
He chuckles and pets the bear. "Women in general tend to be a handful."
"You owe me for this one," he grumbled, leaning into the affectionate hand.
Francis smiles.
The bear sat up suddenly, little ears pricking. "I know where she is!" he ran off, vanishing with the wind.
He blinks at the sudden departure before chuckling and looking for the last two kits. This duo were proving quite good at hiding, it seemed...
He frowns taking the ones he had back upstairs before continuing.
It took the best part of an hour to find them. The black kit had curled up in the coal bucket next to the fireplace and the silver one had ended up stuck under the fridge!
Francis couldn't help but laugh amusedly. Arthur smiled, just glad to have his babies back. Francis settles them in and goes to start breakfast.
Matt had shuffled down to the kitchen by this time, slumping on the table. He felt horribly lethargic today... Francis turns seeing him, going to rub his back gently.
Matt turned his head enough to look at him, a bit worse for wear. "Papa..."
"What's the matter?" Francis sits next to him.
"I feel horrid..."
Francis kissed his head hugging him. He leaned in, whining softly.
"Can you tell me why?"
"Cramps and I feel sick and I'm so fat..." Matt's hormones were swinging...
Francis rubs his back. "Why don't you go lay with your brother and watch something. I'll see if I can find something for you."
"He's with Ro," he grumbled. "No room for me..."
"Don't say that.. There's always room for you."
"She still won't talk... Even Al can't make her..."
Francis frowns rubbing his shoulder.
"Wish I'd never had bloody babies, pregnancy can kiss my ass..."
Francis smirks softly. He may say that now but once they get here.. Having only had an egg so far, he wasn't really getting the joys of it yet. Matt just knew he ached and felt horrible.
Francis ruffled his hair moving to get him some toast. "I'm sure it won't be much longer."
"I want it over now," Matt just huffed, burying his face in his arms.
He chuckles giving Matt his toast and making porridge for everyone else. Matt chewed it idly, sighing every few mouthfuls.
Francis filled up some bowls coaxing him to help carry them. He grumbled about wanting to go up anyway and took a couple bowls.
They stop in the library Al glancing up at his twin before silently hugging. That was all it took for the Canadian to all but melt, clinging back tightly.
Francis smiles knowingly leaving with his and Arthur's bowls. Arthur was still sat in the pen, coddling his litter.
"Are they behaving now?" Francis chuckles.
"They were getting bored in here," Arthur grinned. "But now they're all tired."
"Maybe it's time to start letting them outside?"
"When they can walk a little better maybe..."
Francis smiles handing him his bowl. Arthur always was rather clingy. He took it and tucked in eagerly. Francis sits beside him with his own bowl. He leaned on his shoulder, smiling warmly. They sit eating.
Once he'd finished, Arthur went back to playing with the kits. They were getting more active, one nipping at Francis' fingers.
"We should ween them soon..."
"Alright."
Arthur chuckled. "It'll be fun."
Francis smiles. They sure had a lot of mouths to feed...
"It'll be fine." Francis kisses him.
"I hope so," he chuckled into his lips. They sit entertaining the kits.
Time passed by.
Al sat with Matt and Ro. The silence getting on his nerves. Matt had been drifting in and out of sleep and Ro just didn't make a sound. The cubs were napping as well.
A tension settled over the room.
He sighs softly attempting to stand. He needed to pee at least. Ro watched him as he moved, getting up with him in case he needed help. He was incredibly shaky. Yesterday was worse than the first time and he couldn't move without pain.
Gentle little hands came to slip around him and offer support. He grips tight. She got a firm grip on him and started the long and painful waddle to the loo.
It seemed to last ages before they got there. Ro kindly diverted her eyes as Al relieved himself. He could have managed from the door..
She didn't seem think think so...
They leave afterwards.
She took him back to his room. He was confused at that. Why here? Everyone was in the library.
She stopped, stunned, realizing her mistake. She flushed, tired eyes flicking to the floor. He sighs hugging her. She leaned in for a moment, rubbing her eyes with an air of defeat.
"Ro, talk to me please.."
She shook her head softly. He sighs. She hugged tighter, pressing in. She hated making him sad, but she just couldn't find her voice.
"You can't focus on the sad all the time.. Yes I lost some but the rest are fine. They're alive and healthy."
She looked up, eyes sad, voice sore. "What if they go too...?"
"They won't. There's no reason for them too."
"Matt... And Arthur, w-what if..."
"Hey, nothing's gonna happen. The reason they didn't make it is those eggs took too much room. Their space was pushed aside."
She whined softly, curling into him. He hugs her close.
Fairies didn't leave corpses... This was first time she'd seen something dead and it scared her.
"Come on.. Let's get back to Matt ok..?"
She nodded softly, clinging to him. They hobble their way back. Matt still lay asleep, hugging his swollen tummy. Al slumped next to him pulling Ro down too. He pulls over his laptop and searches Netflix for something to watch. She snuggled into him, not really watching, but feeling better for the company.
The cubs stirred, grunting softly. She looked over, reaching for them without really knowing why. Al watched curiously.
She touched a furry little head gently. He wiggled toward it. Something sparked in her eyes, slender fingers stroking softly.
Kenai snuffed getting himself trapped on his back. She sat up instantly, smiling softly as she set him back on his front. "There you go..."
Al smiles. She was shockingly delicate, something no one had taught her.
Koda whined trying to find his brother. She smiled almost sadly as she shifted the cubs together. Al hugs her gently.
She blushed brightly and muttered an apology. She kept forgetting that Al might not want her touching his cubs...
"It's fine."
"They're really soft..." she smiled meekly.
He chuckles.
"...Can I hold one...?"
He smiles handing her Koda. She took him, watching little paws wave with wonder. Al sits with Kenai. They play with the cubs a while, Ro giggling softly. Al smiles.
Matt stirred after a while, groggy and grumpy. Al rubs his back gently.
He rolled into him, nuzzling. *Al...*
*I'm right here. Still feel like crap?*
*Empty,* he sighed. *But really heavy...*
*Empty?*
He just shrugged softly. Al frowns at that hugging him.
Ro looked over, hugging Koda to her chest. "Is he hungry...?"
"Might be."
"I can go get him something?" she was eager to help however she could.
"Please?"
She nodded, handing Koda over before getting up. "What should I get?"
"Sandwiches would work."
She had to think for a moment then nodded softly. "Okay."
He smiles at her petting Matt. *Talk to me bro.*
*I hate pregnancy...*
Al hugs him. He burrowed in, but quickly pulled back and sat up when a tiny kick came from his stomach. Al chuckles.
Another kick came and his face lit up.
*Not all bad is it?*
*Shut up,* he smirked softly, hands shifting around to feel the kicks.
Al grins hugging his own cubs.
*I kinda wish they'd come out...*
*Soon Mattie..*
*I know...* he smiled softly.
Al grins handing him Kenai. *Tide ya over?*
Matt grinned, nuzzling the tiny bear. *It'd look better in white...*
*Nu uh!* Al grins.
*Definitely would,* Matt smirked, bumping him lightly.
Al stuck out his tongue. Matt laughed happily. Al hugs him. Ro slipped back in, a plate of sandwiches in her hands. They looked a little messy, but appetizing nonetheless.
Al smiles hugging her, he was awful cuddly today. Not that Ro was going to complain. She loved cuddles. He settled between them picking up a sandwich. Matt picked one up too, chewing happily. Ro was happy just to be hugged. Al pulled over his laptop again.
"Can we watch the on with the unicorns again?" she looked up at him hopefully.
"If you want."
Her smile bloomed, but she glanced to Matt for approval. Matt thought for a moment then shrugged. "I don't mind."
Al pulls it up and snuggles in. It was just nice to snuggle under a duvet and watch cartoons. He held Koda close as he did. Matt snuggled Kenai for a while before passing him to Ro. She kept glancing at the cubs.
Al had fallen into a light doze. Matt was close to joining him. Koda started whining, wanting to feed.
Ro had them both now, alarmed by the whining. "U-uh..."
"They're hungry.."
"What do they eat?"
Al frowns softly. He couldn't get the bottles himself, Ro didn't know how and Matt was sick.. She shifted uncertainly at the frown.
*Al... Tell her to get Papa...*
"Could you get Francis please?"
She nodded, handing the cubs back before running off. Francis returns with her later, bottles in hand. She hung back and let the men feed them.
Al held Koda while Matt had Kenai. Little paws waving in the air and against the bottle in an attempt to push more out.
Matt chuckled warmly. *Hungry little things, aren't they.*
*Yeah.* "Hey Ro com'ere."
She blinked in slight surprise before shuffling over. "Yeah...?"
He smiles carefully handing her the cub. She panicked slightly; trying to juggle cub and bottle. "Ah...! I-I dunno what I'm doing...!"
He adjusts her hands.
She shifted to where he set her, settling some. "Like this?"
"Right."
She slowly relaxed into it, settling once she got used to it. He smiles sitting back.
*She'd make a good mother, I think,* Matt smiled softly.
*Yeah.*
Soon, both bottles were empty and the cubs subdued. Al smiles petting them. Matt and Ro snuggled the cubs softly.
Al used his free arms to coddle his eggs instead. He had been more clingy to Ivan's clutch since the incident.. Almost afraid to touch the others..
No one really knew what to do with the other eggs. They wanted to get rid of them, but that would be cruel to anything inside of them...
Al sat with his brood trying not to dwell on it.
The day slipped by them, time starting to blur into itself as they wasted so long just sat inside. Al grew restless needing to get out, he still couldn't walk so he had to settle sitting under the open window. Matt chatted with him a while before needing to sleep again. His cubs were really sapping his strength...
Al sighs softly.
"Alfie..." Ro looked over slightly concerned. "Are you okay...?"
"Just bored.."
She shrugged and looked down at the cubs sleeping in her lap. He turns to look out the window. Heavy clouds hung on the horizon. He sat there sky watching for a bit.
"Alfie..." Ro broke the silence after a while. "...what's gonna happen to all the animals when they get big...?"
He frowns at that. "I'm not sure.."
"I don't want them to go..."
He looks over. She looked genuinely sad at the thought of losing them, hugging them protectively. Would they even come back at all? Suddenly Al had more sympathy for that time Arthur broke down and cried..
No one had really considered what would happen when they grew...
He frowns worriedly.
The eggs still had to hatch too... Birds grew up fast...
He hugs himself curling up slightly. Ro shuffled over, offering him the cubs. He smiles sadly, hugging them. She leaned against his shoulder, apologizing softly.
"It's fine.. Bound to happen sooner or later."
She just snuggled in. He hugs her gently. They sat together for a while like that, just letting the silence surround them. His thoughts wandered, concerned on the future.
A while passed and Matt woke again, looking a little more alive than he had previously. Al and Ro still sat by the window.
He rolled over to them, smiling softly. "Morning..."
"Hey.."
"Alright?"
"Yeah."
He smiled warmly, sitting up. Al smiles back.
"Who fancies going downstairs for a snack?"
"Sounds good."
They hefted themselves up and headed down. Al clung tight between them. Matt carried the cubs, Ro helped Al. They made it downstairs Al sinking into a chair at the table. Matt settled with the cubs as Ro made snacks.
Al watched them in Matt's arms. They snuggled close, nuzzling into the warmth.
Al sighs. *Matt..?*
*You alright?* Matt looked over.
*..What do you think will happen to them..?*
He saddened at that, taking his hand. *We don't need to think about that just yet...*
Al nods softly. Matt squeezed his hand before passing him a cub. Al smiles hugging him. Ro brought over pasta salad that Francis had made last night. Al grins digging in.
"It's nice out today..." Ro gazed out the window. It was mild and cloudy but dry enough.
"I wanna go out.." Al whines.
"Me tooo..."
Matt chuckled softly at them both. "If you want a walk, I'm sure no one would mind."
Al grins brightly.
"I'll go fetch Papa for you," Matt hefted himself up. "I want to see dad anyway."
Al sat waiting. Matt waddled off, Francis returning soon after. He helps Al up and takes him outside. Ro strolled after them, humming lightly. Koda wiggled around, feeling the warm air. Kenai, who had ended up with Ro, was fidgeting as if he already wanted to explore.
They hadn't even learned to walk yet. Al chuckles softly. They hadn't even opened their eyes. But they were still full of life. They sat on the lawn letting the cubs wriggle around in the grass. They seemed to love it! Al smiles softly.
"They're all wiggly," Ro giggled.
"...Al, whats it like having a baby...?" she looked up, curiosity burning in her eyes.
He blinks surprised. She looked genuinely interested here, gaze intent.
"Well.. It's nice when they're here I suppose.. But painful too.."
"Is it only boys who have babies?"
He blinks again. "Uh.. No.. Normally boys aren't able to have babies..."
"Really?" she blinked, stunned. "But... Then, how did you?"
"Cursed.."
"Curses can do that...?"
"Apparently it was a strong one.."
"I couldn't do very strong curses when I had wings..."
He smiles gripping her hand.
She smiled sadly, gripping back. "I miss flying..."
"I know the feeling.."
"Least you still have your wings..."
He hugs her gently. She leaned in, reach to her back to feel her wing scars. He rocks gently. She just closed her eyes and leaned in.
It was a drawback of being human he supposed..
She'd lost her wings and magic when she changed, but gained a family. She was sad for what she lost, but wouldn't trade what she gained for anything.
Maybe he could think of something.. It might be a long shot though... Al knew himself how winged flight was hard to replace...
Perhaps they could see if she was spirit compatible? She did seem like a fiery little sparrow or something.
It was worth a shot...
They could try later, right now neither of the twins were in any shape to try..
At the very least, they had to let Al recover. Matt still had his own cubs waiting to be born... They snuggle a while watching Kenai and Koda.