"Alright... be nice, you two.", Niko said as he left before Luna sighed. "Karo told me what had happened to three of your children you had been carrying. That's why we're actually talking.", Dokau explained.
Luna nodded softly, "I lost the first two when they were...three months old...We named them Zorai and Lionel...And then two months ago...I..I lost Freya...she was kicking the previous day...", with a sob.
Dokau exhaled, "My goodness.. I have lost three in the first term...month after month...Same thing for my mate...Only Tocci and Karo lived on, and we moved on for them...". Luna whispered, "Was it hard to think about doing it again if it was to be?".
"That's almost always the case with our species... it's hard to keep going sometimes when you think about just how many were lost before the day finally comes... that you go in thinking you'll have so many more with you and then get so few when they're finally born.", Dokau said.
Luna exhaled heavily, "Even with your high tech?".
Dokau nodded, "Even so. I had reservations about doing it again for a long time, as there was a method to turn off my womb from working, and I eventually got to mate again after many months of raising Tocci and Karo, but without going through it again...I turned it back on when we heard about our son finally finding a mate, and right now, my baby twin sons are playing with your nephew and niece, and I was only the pregnant one as my mate had no notion to get pregnant. But I do not know if this method would work on you as it's high tech...but it's up to you to tell Karo 'no' on mating if it makes you pregnant every time...He will understand, and he would always find other ways like human child adoption as I have heard about.".
"Yeah...", Luna rubbed her arm. "I don't really know about the whole idea of doing this all again after our children are born... right now, I just really want what's left of them to make it...".
Dokau rubbed her back, "And that's admirable of you, Zoey...And just you know, you're not alone. You will have us to help you and Niko...After all, all this family knows about childbirth and childcare, and this little grandchild here will see the world, with your love to guide.", smiling warmly at her baby bump, reaching over before she paused, looking at Luna...
Luna smiled, "You're his grandma, go on...", and Dokau cooed, "A grandson, huh? Nice to meet you, little one.", touching her baby bump, and gasping in delight as she felt a strong kick, "Oh, my! It feels different than doing it transparently...".
"Yeah... one of those human things that you might not truly ever understand...", Luna blushed. "I'm just hoping that I don't have to say goodbye to any more of them... that this one will finally see the light of day alive and well.".
Dokau smiled at her, "We all will have hope for this one and the other little ones within Karo, Zoey...And I'm very proud of having a daughter-in-law like you. You are truly his soulmate.".
Luna blinked in surprise and felt her heart healing up as she knew she couldn't see her mother anymore since she's technically dead now, but she got a mother again...and an alien at that, but she doesn't care, and she sobbed happily as she is having parental support again, hugging Dokau.
"Just let it out, young one.", Dokau said as Luna continued to sob. "It's alright to do that...". Luna really felt glad to hear that because she just needed a good cry again.
Luna let it out, with Dokau holding her like a daughter, rubbing her back and just being there for her, lasting several minutes, with Luna feeling lighter than she had ever felt in a long time...
"You okay now?", Dokau asked as Luna gave out a small whimper, "Just a little bit longer... but... I really needed that...".
Dokau smiled softly, "But of course...Shall we go in? I am highly intrigued to try some of your Earth food, and get to know your family.", and Luna looked at her with a warm smile, "You'll love Moonscar Island, Dokau...".
"I'm sure I will. And you can call me Mother if you want to, but in your own time, of course. I'd never replace your mother or anyone else.", Dokau nodded, and Luna beamed happily, an understanding nod, and so, with aid, Dokau helped Luna up, and headed inside.
Niko would ask, of course, but when he saw Luna smile and laugh more than ever since in a long time, he was happy, so relieved, and so was the rest of the family. The family just got bigger with the addition of Niko's parents as the 'grandparents', with Crystal aka Tocci as another aunt, with Amber, her golden retriever aka alien dog thanks to more peace sign disguise necklaces, as the protector of the island, often patrolling, even if Vlad has told her that it's already protected by magic and all, and of course, Niko's baby twin brothers filling the mansion with laughter and such while playing with their new friends, Dante and Heather.
Almost two months came and went well, with all baby bellies so round and heavy, especially Niko's, aches and such, and Luna was overjoyed as with Eric's help and such, her son is full-developed and healthy to survive the birth, and of course, Niko's triplets are the same as well.
Everybody kind of expected that Niko would give birth first since it's triplets after all, but as if Luna's son had sensed that his momma wanted to feel able to move on and be healed whole, he came first.
"Just a few more days...", Niko said as he and Luna were lying next to each other. "If they've made it this far now, then for sure they'll be alright...", he tried to assure her. "I know... but... there's still so much that can go wrong...", Luna bit her lip.
"Zoey... you know we can't let ourselves worry like that... it doesn't help us or our children in worrying about every little thing that could go wrong.", Niko said.
Luna exhaled deeply, "Yes...Yes, you're right...", glancing at her prominent baby bump, caressing it lovingly as a kick came, "You're going to be fine, darling...".
Niko nodded, "He's just like you, my beauty...", smiling before wincing with a groan at three kicks, and playfully glared at his huge baby bump, "Don't worry, I ain't forgetting you three either...".
Giggling, "Take it easy on your poppa, you three.", Luna smiled, stroking Niko's baby bump with her other hand, caressing over his hand, and Niko kissed her on the lips warmly, "I love you, Zoey...".
Luna murmured softly, "I love you too, Karo...", before gasping out in surprise and slight pain, looking at her baby bump, which is showing signs of her son moving, feeling hands and feet, and Niko asked in concern, "Is the baby okay?".
Luna was about to reply when she felt pressure on her hipbones and pelvis bones, and she exhaled, "He's turning...He's turning over to be headfirst...", with a relieved laugh, feeling his kicks now showing at top and side of her baby bump.
Niko smiled happily, "That means his water bag is going to break sooner or later...And then you will have him in your arms...", stroking Luna's baby bump.
"I hope so... I just...", Luna whispered hopefully with a bit of anxiety. "Zoey...", Niko whispered as he placed his finger on her lips.
"Sorry. You're right.", Luna blushed. "No use worry now, just doesn't do good for anyone.". Niko kissed her cheek, "There you go...Now, let's have some sleep...You will need the strength when it's time.".
Luna nodded, smiling, knowing that it's about time to have another nap. The couple went to sleep, and about an hour and half later, Luna felt something change, waking up, and felt/saw the puddle of water and amniotic fluids by her thighs.
She gasped, and started to shake Niko's shoulder, "Karo, Karo, it's starting.", before moaning in pain from the first contraction.
"Already?", Niko asked as she nodded. He quickly, carefully got up. "Okay, okay, alright... we've planned for this sort of thing...", he said, trying to quickly take control of the situation and keep things calm.
Luna nodded, took deep breaths, "See if you can get some people...", and Niko nodded, whistling an alien sound, and that brought Amber to the room, where Niko asked for additional help, and Amber nodded, grabbing Dokau, Crystal to join the couple.
With food and water in intervals for the next few hours, along with bathroom breaks, Luna went through the stages of labor, slowly dilating and such before it was finally time to push.
At instructions, Niko stayed by Luna's side, holding her hand, hydrating her, with Crystal at Luna's other side, wiping her forehead and holding her other hand, with Dokau as the deliverer and advisor.
Dokau advised, "You're all clear. Take a deep breath, relax and push at the end of the next contraction, Zoey. Slow, steady pushes.", and Luna panted, relaxing, taking a deep breath, and upon the passing contraction, she pushed, moaning in pain.
As the baby's a bit bigger compared to other babies, thanks to his lineage, it made sense for Luna to be careful and slow in her pushes, with occasional pain throughout the birth canal, which took a long hour.
"I don't know how long I can be able to keep going...", Luna admitted. "Will we have to do a c-section?", she asked, and partially hoped the others who weren't of this world knew exactly what that was if it came to that point.
Niko asked, "Could you do another hour, and if he's not out yet by the end of the hour, I'll get Eric to help with the c-section, okay?", and Luna exhaled, "Okay, one hour.".
Dokau replied, "Meanwhile, keep going, Zoey.", and Luna nodded, taking a deep breath upon another contraction, and pushed again, and this repeated for 10 minutes before she cried out in pain, feeling something.
Looking, Dokau announced, "He's peeking!", and Luna sobbed happily, and Niko caressed her cheek, "Breathe and push, we're almost there.".
Luna took a deep breath, pushing steadily, grunting, tears falling as pain filled her up, feeling her son's head crowning and emerging out of her, lasting for another 10 minutes before the head was finally out, with Dokau holding and cleaning, "He's breathing! Push, Zoey! Nice and steady!".
Crying happily when she heard that, she pushed, crying out in pain as the shoulders slowly squeezed through for the next 10 minutes, and the moment they were freed, Dokau helped pull him out, with Luna giving one last push.
The baby gave out its first wail upon realizing that he's out from the warm place, and Luna sobbed happily, reaching out, "Is he alright?!".
Dokau smiled gently, "He's perfectly healthy and quite loud at that.", warmly placing him into his mother's arms, crying and whimpering, and Luna cried happily as she looked at her son for the first time...
The little one has Luna's tan skin, with dark blue markings, 10 fingers, and 8 toes, having a small tail, with unique bi-colored eyes; a dark amber on his right, and a dark green on his left, having Luna's nose, and Niko's smile...He only has one penis, marking him as regular male.
"You made it...", Luna teared up as she gently touched her son's head. "Oh... you're alright...", she fought the urge to squeeze him tight like a pillow almost but knew better for sure.
Her son whimpered and cried quietly as he soon realized that he was in his momma's arms, looking at her, and Niko kissed Luna on the cheek, "You did it...Oh, look at him...He's beautiful...", taking their son's little hand in his finger, "Hi...I'm your poppa...".
Luna whispered, "He's perfect...He is a mix of us...Is he going to have hair or not?", noticing that there's barely no hair on his head, and Niko smiled softly, "As you know, we aliens have no hair, so it's possible for him to be bald all his life, or maybe he will have hair in a few days...".
"Makes sense...His eyes are incredible...", Luna nodded softly with a smile, leaning in to kiss him on the forehead as he cooed and whimpered, wiggling his little hands and legs, and Niko nodded, "Sure is...What shall we name him, Zoey?".
Luna thought for a second, looking at their son lovingly, before smiling, "Axel...", and Niko asked softly, "Axel?". Luna nodded, and Niko thought for a moment before smiling, "Hello, Axel...".
Axel cooed before his belly grumbled, and he whined hungrily, and Niko helped remove Luna's bra, and Luna helped Axel to one of her nipples, and he took it, suckling curiously for a moment before he squeaked happily, suckling hungrily as Luna smiled serenely, relieved to see him taking to it, falling in love more than ever, realizing that all her worries are gone...Her heart feels whole again, with Axel filling it up...
"He appears to be very healthy...", Dokau observed. "Very surprising to see that for sure... was partially worried he might have some health issues considering he's a cross breed between our two species.".
"Now you say that...", Luna sighed as she rolled her eyes before watching Axel continue feeding. Niko exhaled, "Maybe that was the reason for our lost ones...".
Luna widened her eyes, realizing that it wasn't their faults for mating and conceiving, and it wasn't her body or Niko's body, but rather the compatibility to fit all the right genes and all...which resulted into Axel, and the triplets, but losing the others along the way...
Luna whispered, "It wasn't their fault either...", and Niko looked at her, "What do you mean by that, Zoey?", and she exhaled, telling him, Dokau, and Crystal of the newfound theory...
"I think... I think that some of ours just didn't have the right genes to live... cross breading amongst two species... both of whom normally has never really encountered so what does that say on a cellular level?", Luna raised the question as Niko gave a small nod.
"Yeah... I suppose... that some just couldn't truly merge properly and survive...", Niko glanced away, feeling the heavy weight of the realization on his shoulders.
Dokau replied, "But that means your bodies now know each other, and perhaps...humanity may be the key...", and Luna looked at her, holding Axel as she breathed, tears prickling at her eyes, "You mean, we couldn't lose any more children in the future?".
"Possibly.", Dokau said. "Of course, right now, I don't think either one of you would want to rush to prove that theory... and it'll probably take some time for us to at least check and make sure that's right.".
Luna nodded, "I really want to raise Axel and our triplets first before anything...", looking at Niko who smiled in understanding, stroking his baby bump, agreeing with that, "Me too...", kissing her on the cheek, "After all, time is prominent, and it'd be too rude not to ask Axel and the triplets once they are of a age to understand things if they want more siblings...".
"Thank you, Karo...", Luna smiled happily, deciding once Axel is asleep, it's time to give him happiness by pleasuring her again, without the rush to mate as it's a compromise for some time.
Crystal smiled warmly, "Well, as it looks like Axel is enjoying his first meal, we better leave and tell the others the news...unless you are feeling anything, brother?".
Niko shook his head, "Not really. Any of them hasn't turned yet for headfirst position, and they're kicking in their sleep.", with a fond smile as he glanced at his baby bump, and Dokau nodded, "Good. We'll leave you then.", reaching over to rub Axel's head warmly, "Welcome to the world, grandson. Axel is a fine name for you, little one.", with a smile.
Axel merely cooed as he is still focused on feeding, and Luna giggled softly, "At least he has a bit of understanding about manners..I think he is trying to say that he loves you, Mother...".
Dokau widened her eyes upon hearing Luna's last word, and beamed happily as she nodded, "Of course. I love him as well. I'll see you soon at the table or such, my dear children. Come, Tocci.".
"Yes, Mother.", Crystal nodded, and they left the room, leaving the happy couple with their first child, just relaxing and enjoying the serene peace of being there together.
"I'm just so glad he's here... that he made it...", Luna sighed as she continued to brush his head. "Certainly a survivor for sure...", Niko closed his eyes. "I only wish his other siblings could be in your arms right now too...".
Luna smiled, kissing his cheek, "I think they heard me, and they could take it easy on you, but with their ears hearing us, they know that Axel deserves our attention for some time, and so, one of the triplets would be coming on the next day, or so. After all, we don't choose the day, the babies do.", with a chuckle.