The baby, it turned out, was an active little thing.

In the days that followed the first obvious kicks, Mei felt it moving more frequently, and more throughout the day.

Of course, the child responded to their voices, Mei feeling a series of taps and flutters if they spoke at length. They'd be quiet in the mornings, but an hour or two after lunch or a snack, the movement would start up again. Mei noticed that spicy food made it even more active - "I think they like Saliva Chicken," she laughed one afternoon, one am wrapped around herself.

Red had snorted as he stood over the stove. "Of course they do," he said arrogantly, though Mei definitely heard the affection and barely-hidden softness underneath. "Look whose child this is!"

"...whose child is it, Red Boy?"

"Mi–" He stopped, looking at Mei's mask-like smile. "Ours."

Mei pointed her chopsticks at him. "Smart answer."

The other time she felt them moving most often was at night. More than once Mei was already finding herself roused from a sound sleep to a rolling feeling in her belly, or a jab against a rib. It wasn't painful, not yet at least, but the movements were sporadic enough that it was distracting. And that was on top of the aches in her lower back and her legs, and the heat in her belly.

"It's because I'm not moving," Mei acknowledged one night, leaning against Red Son again for some heat-therapy (and maybe some snuggles. Yeah, no, definitely some snuggles). "I read online, they'll get more active at night because I'm not moving around and lulling them to sleep."

Behind her, she felt Red's chest move as he took a deeper breath, sleep tugging at him. "I don't think there's a lot we can do about that," he admitted. "We can try to put them back to sleep, but-"

"That'll only work so often. It's fine so far, though," Mei cut in. "I don't mind it yet."


If the two could have had their way, they would have kept this development a secret for much longer. Red Son especially had been a bit surprised to feel a flare of… well, selfishness come up when he felt the flutters against his palm. And he knew Mei felt the same way. This was theirs, this was theirs to feel, nobody could have it until they said so.

But that lasted all of a week before one fateful day, when they'd all convened in the shop after hours. MK had been sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Mei, and the baby happened to kick against him as if in protest.

The half-second in which his eyes widened and he drew in a sharp breath was the only warning before he'd cried out "IT'S MOVIIIING!"

To the others' credit, they did not immediately start swarming or asking to feel. And honestly, Mei couldn't even begrudge MK for being the one person who did start feeling; he was her bestie, after all, and technically he had already been feeling it.

But everyone was clearly emotional about the development. Pigsy didn't even attempt to hide the tears.

And, because the gods had a sense of humor, Red Son received a text from Iron Fan that very night.


"Please don't tell me you wanna feel," Mei began awkwardly, looking up (and up) at the Demon Bull King.

He actually looked slightly awkward himself. "...no. I don't think I should," he admitted. "You're very…"

"Yeah, and you're… It's like… Like it'd just be like you 'booped' my stomach or something."

"...yes."

Red Son kept his attention on his mother, who sat calmly drinking tea as if she were immune to the Awkwardness. Beside her sat a cream-furred rabbit demon, dressed in chocolate-brown slacks and a soft pink bijia, who seemed equally as oblivious to the atmosphere. At least she had a calm, pleasant smile on her face.

Jingyi, as Iron Fan had introduced her, had been a midwife for centuries. If anyone could deliver their child, it would be her.

"It's… not that I doubt Mother's judgment," Red Son began slowly, "but-"

"You have questions of your own?" Jingyi smiled sweetly as she lifted her cup. The two younger adults nodded. "Of course. Honestly, I would be more concerned if you didn't have concerns of your own. Ask anything you like."

"Anything?" Red Son pressed.

"Anything. Pain treatments, my procedures, qualifications, whatever will put your mind at ease."

"On the subject of pain," Iron Fan cut in. "This may be a bit personal, but it's very important."

"Uh-hm?" Mei mumbled, taking a long sip of tea.

"What form was he in when the two of you conceived? Bull or human?"

Three blasts of tea shot across the table.

"Moth- ther!" Red gasped at last, wiping his chin. Two seats away, DBK was covering his nose and trying to catch his breath. "That's really-"

"What- what does that gotta do with-?" Mei gasped out, her brief coughing fit finally passing.

"What form he took at the time could affect what form the baby has taken," Iron Fan explained, "inside." She motioned to her own abdomen, as if to illustrate her meaning. "And that could affect how long or how difficult the birth will be."

Jingyi nodded once. "That is true. I would have asked more delicately, but it is true."

"So… I could give birth to a bull?" Mei asked slowly. An uneasy feeling settled over her shoulders, and she found herself putting a hand to her belly.

Iron Fan slowly raised her brows.

"I - I'm not - We aren't confirming or denying anything!" Red Son spluttered, hair igniting.

"I see." Iron Fan nodded, seemingly content to let the matter drop. "Then in any case, be aware of the possibilities. You must be prepared for anything." She nodded her head towards Red Son, who looked as if he'd rather be anywhere but at the table. "You were born with more bull-like features, of course."

"I-Iron Fan!"

"Mother!"

Mei felt herself paling at the implications, and she pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. "Can we please stop talking about it before I start getting mental pictures?"

Jingyi smiled gently at Iron Fan. "My friend," she said (much to Red and Mei's shock), "could I have a few minutes alone with the new parents? I may be able to learn more if it's just the three of us."

Iron Fan sighed, but rose from her seat. "Fine, fine, suit yourself. Be thorough, both of you." And with that, she and DBK left the room. Mei noticed that the Bull King cast a brief, almost apologetic, look back at them before they were out of sight.

Jingyi waited a few moments before turning back to the couple with a smile. "My apologies," she said. "Shall we continue?"

"I- Yes. Please," Red Son muttered, his hair finally calming again. "Mei?"

"Well…" Mei began, scratching the back of her neck. "I dunno how much Iron Fan told you, but… there's a possibility our baby could…" Burst into universe-destroying flame. Turn into a fireball. "...have really powerful fire powers," she finished. Just in case this poor woman didn't know. Mei didn't want to be responsible for shocking her into fainting or something. "Are you sure you could–"

"The Samadhi Fire? I might be able to handle it, if it's anything like when Red Son here was born."

"...excuse me?"

"Did your mother not tell you?" Jingyi's smile didn't waver. "I was one of the midwives delivering you. Oh, and you were so cute, if I may say so!"

Red Son made a tiny noise like a deflating balloon.

"I do remember it well. You did throw fire around from the first minute, but it was nothing like what I'm told it became. That came later, I think." She turned to the older couple, who nodded calmly. "But the signs were there from the beginning, I had felt it.

So I'm sure that if this baby was born with it, it will not appear immediately. I was able to handle that squirmy little boy–" The deflated balloon noise came back, and Mei felt his temperature increase a few degrees. "-than I can handle this one."

"Well…" Mei said after a few awkward moments, "that's a weight off my mind."

"You said you were one of the midwives. Do you work alone now?" Red asked, having apparently recovered.

"I do. I've been delivering children on my own for close to three hundred years now; demon, human, and everything in between. If you have second thoughts at any point before the time comes and you want to go to a hospital, I will not stop you. But I can say that you and the child would be perfectly safe in my hands." She took a drink, then turned to Mei. "I keep up with the changing times, and also remember the old ways. If you want to rely on herbs to help you, we will use them. If you wish for modern pain relief, we will use it."

Pain relief. Mei felt a cold chill run down her spine. She'd considered the pain more and more in the past few days, the bigger she got. She'd initially tried to stomp down her anxieties, telling herself that people had been giving birth for thousands of years, without pain medicine, and if they could do it, so could she. That she'd been literally burning alive once. That it'd surely be nothing compared to that.

But even still…

She felt Red Son's palm wordlessly settle over her clenched, trembling fist. After a moment, she relaxed her hand enough to let him thread his fingers between hers.

Jingyi read the apprehension on her face. "We'll have plenty of time to discuss that," she assured her. "But so you're aware, I do offer epidural to those who want it."

"...my mother didn't use an epidural with me," Mei muttered faintly. "I read that a lot of people don't… I just sort of assumed…"

"If I may." Iron Fan's voice suddenly cut through the air again. The three of them looked up to see her standing in the doorway again, her expression unreadable as she leveled her gaze at Mei. "But I would strongly suggest you take it." Mei blinked, and Iron Fan continued. "I would have murdered someone to be able to have such a thing when I gave birth, tradition be damned. If you want my honest opinion, having the option of doing this painlessly and not taking it out of misplaced pride or what thousands of old men think is right would be stupid." Something in her gaze softened, just slightly. "Do what you think is best, but do not be stupid."

Mei felt as if her mouth were full of cotton. But she nodded.


The conversation with Jingyi lasted another hour before all parties were satisfied.

She left with Iron Fan and DBK, exchanging bows with Red Son and Mei (who had some difficulty, but managed). "We appreciate you coming," Red Son had said, solemn and quiet. "Really, thank you so much."

"It's no trouble at all," said Jingyi gently. "I will see you in two weeks' time to check on the two of you." She directed this at Mei. Mei didn't need to ask what she meant by the two of you.

"We'll call you when it's time, too," Mei added. "Thanks again." Those words she also directed at Iron Fan, who looked as unfazed as ever.

"I was merely giving my own opinion," she said.

The last to speak before they parted ways was DBK. "Tell us if you need anything else," he rumbled over their heads. "We… we will do all we can."

When the door closed behind Mei and Red Son a few minutes later, Mei sank onto the couch with a slow exhale of breath. Beside her, Red Son also half-collapsed into his seat, shifting to Bull Form halfway down. "Well," Mei began, "that was less painful than I expected."

"I'm sorry, do you remember a completely different conversation?"

"Red, if you're talking about what your mom asked–"

"Of course that's what I'm talking about."

"...she has a point, though. I didn't consider it, but–"

"She could have phrased it more delicately! And stopped talking a lot sooner." Red Son groaned, tilting his head back and shutting his eyes. "I don't need to know about my parents' love life more than necessary."

Mei chose not to answer, instead leaning against Red's side and enjoying the full-body warmth he gave off. The aches were getting worse, and she would take any chance to soothe them. Slowly, she felt him relax against her, and one of his hands settled across her shoulder–

–as her stomach rumbled.

"Red Booooy…?"

"I'll get it." Gently, he moved Mei back to lean against the back of the couch, then got up. "Are you craving spicy again? The pig told me that if you crave more spicy or savory foods, it's probably a boy–"

"Ac-tu-ally… what sounds really good to me is chocolate."

"Alright–"

"-mixed with a little spicy mustard for a tangy kick, and…" Mei thought for a moment, then inspiration struck and she felt her mouth begin to water. "I want potato chips to dip into it."

"...I don't know what that indicates."