Red woke up with a distinct lack of blankets.

That by itself wasn't a concern. What was a concern was when he sleepily moved his arm out and was met with nothing but the mattress.

Red Son snapped awake in an instant, bolting upright into a sitting position. "Mei–" he began to shout, but the woman's name died on his tongue when he saw the corner of the room, near where they intended to put the baby's first cradle.

Well, that also explained where the blankets had gone.

At some point in the night, Mei had dragged away every blanket in their house - the ones from the bed, and the throw blankets from the sitting room - and multiple pillows and cushions, and had made them into some sort of cave.

Ahhh.

He couldn't help the wry smile that appeared as he slid off the bed and made his way to the blanket cave. Crouching down, he lifted one of the overhanging blankets to find Mei curled up inside, still fast asleep, having surrounded herself with pillows and couch cushions.

There was just enough room for Red Son to crawl inside and settle against and behind her.

Mei grunted in her sleep, shifting slightly as the change in lighting started to disturb her. Before Red could drop the blanket, he saw a glimmer of green as her eyes opened a crack.

"Sorry, I woke up and you weren't - nevermind," Red said. "Go back to sleep, Dragon Girl."

"Hmmmmnot without you," Mei mumbled, lifting the arm that was nearest him. "C'mere."

Who was he to refuse?

Mei had made her next perfectly, he noted. In his more human-like form, he fit with her perfectly, settling behind her and wrapping his arms around her. Mei hummed and put her hands over his, snuggling in a bit. "What time is it?" she mumbled drowsily.

"Five am."

"Hmmm… Seven more hours."

Mei wasn't asking to sleep for seven more hours, though honestly if she wanted Red Son gladly would've allowed her. She was commenting on something else.

"You're certain you're alright with this?"

"Uhm-hm," Mei nodded. "'m certain… Are you?"

"It's traditional; they'd never forgive me if I didn't." Red's mouth quirked into another smile. "It'll be fine, Dragon Girl." His thumb gently ran across her pajama top, and he felt the baby kicking softly against his palm. "Go to sleep," he added, not entirely sure who he was talking to, Mei, the baby, or both.

Mei hummed, but he felt her relax against him and, rapidly, drift off.


Mei almost didn't recognize the woman who stood at the door.

If it weren't for the familiar set of her face and the bull demon behind her, she would have assumed the woman in the red sweater and black leggings was a door-to-door saleswoman.

Iron Fan looked Mei up and down, then looked past her. "Did my son really send you to open the door?" she asked.

"We weren't expecting you for another half hour," Mei said, taking a step back to let them in. "And I'm not made of glass. I can stand up and walk around."

"Oh, I know. I just thought he might've taken after his father." Iron Fan's smile looked a touch more affectionate. "Remember, Love, you wouldn't even let me walk across the room on my own?"

"Really?" Mei cut in before DBK could respond, mirth lighting in her eyes as she looked up (and up) at her father-in-law.

"I believe I spent the entire month sitting in his hands," Iron Fan continued. "I wasn't on my own two feet once."

"In my defense," DBK said. There was a long pause, as if he was trying to think of a better way to phrase what he was about to say. But then, finally, after a huff: "...I was a young, new father-to-be and I was worried."

"Awwww…" Mei cooed. "Red Boy's not that bad, but he does carry me to bed."

"Well, I should hope he does," DBK huffed. "It's the least a man can do."

"He also went out at three am to get the ice-cream flavor I wanted - honey jalapeño. Would you believe only one store had it in stock?"

"I believe I craved dried fish rolled in syrup," Iron Fan said, almost fondly. "My Love gave me more than enough of it."

"Where is the boy, anyhow?" DBK rumbled.

"Getting some chips. We thought he'd have enough time to come back before you two came but…"

The conversation paused as they finally reached the guest bedroom Red Son had set up. Mei had tried to help out, but Red insisted that she not push herself - even if some of his suggestions were a bit ridiculous. Don't lift your arms over your head. I'm about to hammer something, leave the room. Honestly, where did some of those beliefs come from? Mei couldn't help but wonder, especially since the email her parents had sent just the week before had mentioned those rules as well.

But Mei could understand his concern.

She was in her ninth month, and as Sandy helpfully commented as he put together another box of tea for her, the baby could decide to come early. She and the baby were at their most vulnerable and delicate.

Which was why neither of them were leaving their home this month.

Which was why her in-laws were staying with them.

Traditionally, it would only be Iron Fan, Mei knew. But considering all that the other couple had gone through, how long they had been separated from each other, Mei didn't blame them for saying "damn tradition" on this and both come to stay.

Actually, it was a bit amazing how often they were willing to actually buck traditions, Mei realized. First there'd been Iron Fan urging her to take pain medication instead of going completely natural. Another time, Mei had casually mentioned how some of the books told her not to eat chocolate - Iron Fan had scoffed and muttered "Who are they to tell a pregnant mother what she can and can't eat? I would have killed someone for telling me to not eat chocolate."

And now this.

They were certainly surprising her as of late, Mei thought to herself.


Red Son heard voices as he entered the house, slipping out of his shoes. He paused, his ears catching the familiar, booming laugh of his father - the way he laughed when something was genuinely funny.

"Father?" he called out, walking past the kitchen (setting the grocery bag on the counter as he went) and down the hall. The voices were further down, in the delivery room.

He peered around the doorway. Mei was sitting in the chair by the bed, hands on her belly, his parents standing in front of her. It looked as if she'd been showing them around, and had paused to take a rest - something she needed to do more and more frequently.

And she was finishing up a story.

"-so my leg cramped up, and I kicked out. But I hit Red Son, and he's in Bull Form at the time, so he…" Mei paused to laugh, wiping at her eye. "So he moos. I didn't know he could do that!"

Red Son couldn't even feel embarrassed, not when he knew how this story ended. He moved to actually lean against the doorframe, arms folded.

Mei didn't notice. "But right after he does that, suddenly I feel the kid just- just karate kicks me right in the ribs."

Oh, yes, Red Son remembered this…

("Mei? Mei, are you alright?" he asked, hovering over her on his knees, ignoring the stinging in his shin.

Mei sat up, one hand on her belly as she stared down in disbelief. "Do that again," she said.

"Do wha–"

"The moo thing - but quieter, please."

He hesitated, but leaned down to bring his face closer to their child. His face was still hot with embarrassment at his own noise, but curiosity was starting to override it. Mei took one of his hands to press it to her skin. He took a deep breath, then, as quietly as he could, mooed.

Under his palm, there was a fierce fluttering movement.

"One more time."

Red repeated the noise, and once again, the baby reacted. Over his head, Mei typed something into her phone, pulling up a video of real bulls and cows. She turned the volume up a bit, allowing the sound to fill the bedroom.

The baby didn't react.

Without being prompted, Red Son nuzzled his snout against Mei's stomach, quietly mooing again.

This time, the baby kicked.

"Oh gods," Mei laughed, disbelieving. "They recognize you, they seriously- they seriously told you apart!" she laughed, lowering her phone to the bed and putting her hand on top of Red Son's head. "Oh, that's fucking amazing…")

"-so for the next week, this boy keeps mooing at my stomach and getting the baby to react. And it's only when he does it; I've played videos online, I've watched nature shows, nothing else makes the kid do that."

"They recognize me," Red finally said, allowing his chest to puff out pridefully. "I'm already the favorite."

"Oh, in your dreams, Red Boy," Mei chuckled affectionately. She braced her hands on the arms of the chair, beginning to try and get up. "Did you… get… the chips?" she managed to say.

Red Son prepared to step inside and help her, but Iron Fan beat him to it. The older woman stepped forward, taking Mei by the hands and helping her up. "Come with me," she said. "We'll go find out. I have a few stories of my own I want to tell you."

And then, to Red's surprise, she and Mei left him and DBK alone. He had a sneaking suspicion it'd been done on purpose.

Moreso when he saw his father reach out for the familiar baby blanket that lay folded on the foot of the delivery bed, gently touching the border of purple. "So," he began, actually sounding a little awkward. "You seem to be taking this well."

Red nodded. "I'm doing my best… She's started nesting."

"Has she?" DBK's brows lifted.

"I woke up this morning and she'd made a cave in the corner of our room." He paused. "Did Mother–"

"Not exactly. But she grew more anxious. If I didn't carry her everywhere, she would have spent her days pacing our room," the bull demon hummed. "When it was nearly time, she refused to let anyone but myself and the midwives near her. It wasn't nesting, but she wanted to protect the both of you…"

"So it might be soon," Red Son said, picking up on what wasn't being said.

DBK nodded. "It might be." He lifted his hand away from the blanket at last. "And you're handling it well?"

"I am–"

"There's no shame in being anxious about this, Son." The king's tone was so serious, Red Son couldn't help straighten his spine in response. The two locked eyes, volumes being spoken through a look alone. "I never told you, but… I wasn't very calm when we expected you."

Red Son had known that his father knew his day and time of birth down to the second. He had vague memories of his father never shutting up about it to others, in fact. But this was new.

DBK could see the surprise in his face, and nodded. "I carried your Mother everywhere, worried the slightest thing could harm her or you. I tripped over myself to bring her whatever she desired, obeyed her every whim. I couldn't do any of it fast enough. I asked how she was feeling, what I could do for her, if she needed anything, until she threatened to knock me out with her fan." He allowed himself a chuckle at the memory. "I can already tell you're taking it better than I did."

"...I'm anxious," Red Son admitted, "but my Mei is strong. I'll do whatever she needs me to, and I'm anxious, yes, but. She's strong," he repeated. "She's gone through worse. I have full confidence in her." He paused. "That and last month she said if I turned into a 'scared, pacing father' she'd throw me."

That booming, mirthful laughter returned. "Ah, there it is! She and your mother are more alike than they know." The bed creaked as DBK moved away from it, motioning for Red Son to go through the door. "We should rejoin them."

"Yes, we should - Mei sent me to get some chips she was craving, I should make sure I have everything she–"

"Right, right, she mentioned that." DBK's snout wrinkled a bit and he scowled, looking back down at Red Son as they walked. "Honey jalapeño ice cream?"

"Oh. She's been wanting spicy, but she also wants a lot of ice-cream."

"You know, they say if a woman craves spice or savory foods, she's having a boy."

"So I've heard…"

Mei and Iron Fan were looking through the grocery bag when the men entered the kitchen. Mei looked up, a familiar, hungry, look in her eyes. "Reeeed Boooooy…?" she sighed pleadingly.

"What did I forget?"

"You didn't forget, I just didn't ask. So you got the sour cream and onion and cheddar, but I'm wanting something to dip it in. Could your dad pop to the store and get some of that new chocolate dip?"

Red Son barely heard his father inhale sharply. "Me? Why would you ask me and not–"

"You know, Bull Daddy, your wife was telling me this really interesting story about where some of the baby blanket and stuffed cow's fluff came from–"

DBK wordlessly took the wallet she held out and headed for the door.