Nearly a year later
"Dave," Diana said as the two of them were in the kitchen fixing dinner. Ariel had been given the night off and she had been pleased to take it, as she didn't get many of those.
"Yes, honey," Dave said, as he looked over from where he was starting to cook some meat he was grilling.
"I've been thinking that I'm not getting any younger," Diana began and Dave immediately knew where this was going.
"I've been thinking along the same lines," Dave admitted. "I'm wanted to wait another few months, but your heat will be upon us soon."
"Yes, it will, which is why I want to get pregnant again as soon as it is," Diana said firmly.
"I would suggest waiting, if not for the fact, that your 41 now," Dave said. "Our children are still so young..."
"Yes, I know, believe me, I've thought about this quite a bit," Diana said. "I would like to get pregnant at least one more time after these are born, so we need to go ahead and bite the bullet."
Dave nodded at this. Dave had finally hired a nanny who was working out quite well and had relieved a lot of the pressure on Ariel.
"I would love to have more children with you, but I wasn't entirely sure what you wanted. Yes, we talked about having children when we were courting, but we never talked about how many times you would get pregnant."
"It wasn't important at the time," Diana admitted. "While we have children, only three of those are both of ours. I'm sure that your twins and my triplets will be thrilled with some more siblings."
"I would say that's a certainty," Dave said smiling. "They adore their three new siblings that came out of your womb last time. To tell you the truth I wouldn't mind some more daughters, though I know you can't control what comes out of the gene pool. If we got all little girls this time I would certainly be very happy."
"Yes, they do," Diana chuckled. "Even my son has come around, but then I know you spent the time letting him get to know you, which only helped. He's finally happy going to school and has even gotten involved in some of the afterschool clubs, chess club, math club... I've never seen him so excited than the first day he came home from school and chatted at me about all he was learning. Going to the public school in Las Vegas definitely did not garner that reaction."
"Well, in public school he was bullied, in the private day school we found for him and his sisters bullying is stamped down on very severely. Spencer knows he can go to a teacher and they'll stop whatever bullying is going on, though considering that all the children are there, because they're more intelligent than average there's probably not too much bullying at all. The courses were also probably way too easy for him, Meriel and Mercia. They truly are the most intelligent children I've run across in a very long time," Dave said.
"Spencer certainly hasn't complained about bullying and he would to me at least," Diana agreed. "I've never seen my son so enthusiastic about learning and you know he's normally the studious sort."
"Boy do I," Dave chuckled, even as he cooked. "There's nothing wrong with liking to learn and in fact, I think it's very admirable, especially in someone his age. So many children aren't as studious as your son is. Spencer is also responsible and knows that homework must be done before fun."
Diana was nodding at that because she agreed completely. Dave was such an unusual man because he valued scholarship. So many men or the women for that matter didn't, so it was no wonder that the world was in such a sorry state where education was concerned.
"If you want me to get you pregnant again since the doctor says you've fully recovered from bearing our previous triplets then I'll be happy to accommodate you."
Dave grinned in anticipation.
"Good," Diana said pleased. She hadn't really expected an argument and she hadn't gotten one. Dave had been with her when the doctor had given her a clean bill of health and said she should be able to get pregnant again without difficulty.
This would be her second heat since that doctor's appointment.
"I know you would prefer to wait at least another year and I can't blame you for that. I would to for that matter. Our triplets are still so young, that if I wasn't as old as I was I would advise against having anymore so soon. If I was even five years younger I wouldn't suggest getting pregnant for at least another couple of years," Diana added.
Dave was nodding at this, because he agreed completely, which wasn't unusual actually. Diana was a sensible lady and would never put her life in danger by getting pregnant again too soon after the last time. She also knew that the three they had just had a little bit over a year ago were still incredibly young, barely out of diapers and eating solid food. One of the cons however, was that age had a lot to do with childbirth and Diana was already in her early 40s. If his mate truly wanted to get pregnant again in another year or so after she gave birth this second time, they didn't really have time to wait much longer. Dave thought that Diana getting pregnant three times altogether, plus with the five that were older was more than enough. For one thing, it was likely that Diana would have triplets again considering her track record.
"Alright then, it seems like a sensible plan," Dave agreed. "If you truly want to get pregnant a third time you can have ovaries removed afterwards."
"Sounds like a really good idea," Diana agreed, not even having to think about it very hard. "That would stop my heats, and there would be no way that I could get pregnant again once I have it done. We'll likely have triplets both times I get pregnant considering..."
"I was just thinking the same thing," Dave admitted, as he kissed his mate's cheek affectionately. "If you have triplets every time that'll give us 14 children and that's more than enough to keep us busy for the next few decades."
Spencer who had wanted to talk to his mother slipped out of the kitchen doorway his parents never even noticing he was there. He was going to get some more siblings, Spencer wanted to cheer, but knew to keep the news quiet until he was officially told.
Both Dave and his mother would likely be upset at him for spying, but he had been riveted at what his parents were talking about.
He would talk to his mother later about his news as he wasn't sure he wouldn't burst with the good news he had learned if he saw either one of them right now. He adored his triplets siblings and he knew that his two sisters did to. James and Marshall loved their new siblings as well and they did help out when they could, they just didn't spend as much time with them as he and his sisters did.
Everybody was different Spencer knew that now, not all Alphas were demanding cruel or callous of others feelings. When he had told his mother that his blood father was an aberration he had not been speaking from experience. Dave and his father William were as different as night and day. Dave was as nice as could be, if a little stern sometimes, but then, that was just being an Alpha. A proper Alpha not the pale approximation of one that his father had been. Dave would punish you if you'd done something wrong, but he always forgave you afterwards. There was no point of holding a grudge, as that would just breed resentment, even hatred. He was also never harsh or critical and just encouraged you to do your best at whatever it was. He didn't make nasty comments when you tried something and failed, as children were just learning skills that would stay with them all their lives.
Dave had explained that they were children and they were bound to make errors in judgment sometimes. Most children were not like Spencer and his sisters as they made mistakes all the time, most of which were pretty minor. It took time and experience to learn how to be a good adult. You just didn't pop out of the womb and know all there was to know about how to behave in society, that was the kind thing that was taught by your parents. Any adult that expected children to be perfect were barking up the wrong tree. No sentient being was perfect, though the mistakes did tend to be more complicated when one was an adult. Still, children lived and learned, as they grew from their own experiences and also from the adults around them. They learned who and what they wanted to be and when they were out on their own the lessons would be remembered.
Parents that were calm, nonjudgmental and kind tended to produce children that were the same, though there were exceptions. Parents that listened to their children, not just ignoring or brushing them off, were way closer to their own kids then a vast majority of them, particularly humans.
"So how are Aaron and Alex doing?" Diana asked Dave, unaware that her son had been anywhere close by.
Dave's friend Aaron Hotchner and her friend Alex Blake had clicked immediately. It wasn't that Aaron and JJ didn't get along and they were still friends, they were just better off that way and not in a romantic relationship. More like brother and sister actually and Diana had to admit that she hadn't seen that one coming. She had been so sure that her friend JJ would be a good match for Dave's friend Aaron, but it hadn't upset her at all when Aaron had ended up with Alex. The two had gotten to talking at the dinner party that she had arranged with Dave's help. Neither she or Dave had really had to do anything at all. This had pleased Dave a lot as he hadn't wanted to interfere in the affairs of his friend. On the other hand, he had also seen it from Diana's point of view. Diana had just wanted to help someone who was becoming a close friend find happiness, which was something he could more than understand and support.
All Diana and Dave had really done was throw a dinner party, so they could be introduce Aaron to both JJ and Alex. In fact, all had ended well and it hadn't been long before Aaron and Alex had mated. They were now expecting their first children any day now, which had both people involved ecstatic and neither Dave or Diana could blame them.
"Just fine," Dave chuckled. "I haven't seen Aaron so cheerful in a very long time and really we didn't have to do anything at all other than introduce them."
"Yeah, I know," Diana said ruefully. "Still, it worked out and that should be all that matters."
"So are you sorry that Aaron didn't end up with JJ?" Dave asked.
"Not really," Diana shrugged. "I had Alex in mind as a backup, as I'm sure you recall. Just because Aaron chose Alex and not JJ, just means that they were better suited. You can never really tell who someone will fall for and whether you think that one person is suited to another, it doesn't always work out the way you expect. JJ and Aaron stayed friends and Alex doesn't mind, since they are friends as well and that's about as good as you can expect such a situation to end. That both Aaron and Alex are happy should be all that matters to anyone, especially the two main people involved."
Dave was nodding because he agreed completely. Nobody had a right to comment on somebody else's relationship, except their own. It didn't matter if other people disapproved or not it was nobodies business, except the two people it involved.
"I'm sure your friend will find somebody in time," Dave said.
"I hope so, because I would hate for her to be as conversant with loneliness as I was, though at least I had my triplets, which helped," said Diana. "JJ doesn't have any children at all, because she's never been mated like I was or you were."
"Still, she's young enough so there's every chance she'll meet someone," Dave suggested.
"I certainly hope so," Diana agreed soberly. "I want her to meet someone that will treat her well, just like you do me. Someone that thinks the sun rises and sets on her. I know she wants children, but she's like me, far too sensible to have them without being in a mated relationship, even if it doesn't last. Luckily, she has some time yet to find someone to have those children, as she's about 7 or 8 years younger then I am."
Dave was nodding at this, because while their species could have babies without being mated, most of their kind wanted to be in a genuine permanent relationship. Most of the time it was money that was a factor in that type of decision and also a desire to have a mate that would help with the childrearing.
The two finished fixing dinner quickly and put it all on the table, which was already set thanks to Dave's twin sons whose job it was at the moment. The job would change from month to month, as Marshall did it one month, then one of the triplets did it the next, and so the person who did it changed every month. It was the sensible system Diana had approved, as it meant everybody had the responsibility of setting the table sometimes. It taught responsibility and her triplets at least weren't unfamiliar with the task. Of course, as the family grew it would take two of them to set the table in any reasonable amount of time, but for now one was more than enough.
"I'll go get everybody for dinner," Diana said.
Dave nodded and Diana headed for the stairs to go get the children including the newest additions for dinner. The three newborns would be fed in the room that had been turned into a nursery.
~~~Dave and Diana~~~
Part 3
"Danny what are you doing here?" Diana exclaimed when she opened the front door to see her twin brother standing there.
"Can't I come see my favorite sister?" asked Danny.
"Of course, you can," Diana said rolling her eyes at Danny's careless manner. "You could've called though and warned us you were coming. That would've been the polite thing to do."
"Sorry, I didn't," Danny said contritely. He knew his sister had a real attitude about politeness, but on the other hand, a lot of Alphas were very touchy about an Omega's attitude towards them. Some considered them stupid, even though that was so far from the truth it was ridiculous. Almost all families had at least one Omega and usually more than one, although some did not he knew. Those that didn't should consider themselves lucky, though it usually meant they only had twins or possibility triplets because it was rare for their species to not have at least one Omega and usually it was more.
"Of course you are," Diana said, as she ushered Danny into the den.
"So how are you doing, sis?" Danny asked once he was settled in a comfortable chair that was done in some kind of blue material.
"I'm fine, brother," Diana promised smiling. "So did you finally come to meet your newest nephews and niece?"
"That was part of the reason I decided it was time for a visit," Danny said. "I also wanted to check on you to make sure you were doing well after that debacle with your ex-mate."
"I'm doing just fine," Diana promised her brother smiling. The two of them had always looked after each other, but then, they were twins, so that was kind of expected. Most children from a multiple birth were close, though not always of course.
A good example of that was Will, her former mate, and his brother. The two had been more than estranged, they had been almost bitter enemies. The brother Rob would never have thought about doing what Will had done. He was too honorable to leave his mate like Will had left her, without at least paying child support. Rob had been rather outraged at his brother's actions all those years ago. Rob of course, had tried to talk some sense into Will and it had no affect, and only made him harden his attitude. He had also offered to help with expenses since he knew that three children cost a lot to raise and she had appreciated the offer, especially since she knew it was genuine, out of affection for her and her children. They were Rob's nieces and nephew after all.
Diana had thought at the time that was more than decent of him considering that Will was his brother. It was after that incident that Rob had nearly disowned his baby brother for his dishonorable actions, but hadn't in the end, though it had been a close run thing. He had made it clear to his brother however, that he was disgusted with Will's actions and his refusal to pay child support. Rob's help with finances had helped a great deal, as he had a good steady job that paid well.
She was grateful to Will's brother for always supporting her and her children, even though they were related to him. Dave had thanked Rob personally for his support and then told him exactly what happened to his brother. Rob had been sad, Diana remembered, but since it wasn't exactly unexpected, he hadn't been upset. It was like Rob had been expecting to hear about his brother's death for at least half his life and probably ever since he hit 21 and was considered a grown up. Rob hadn't been an Alpha unfortunately, or her son might've been convinced that not all Alphas were bad, by the time Dave had come along. It had turned out alright in the end, so it didn't really matter, she supposed.
Diana knew that Rob was grieving for his brother's death, but she also knew he realized that it was Will's general attitude that had caused it. It was actually a surprise that Will's attitude towards Omegas specifically hadn't caused his death long before or at least that he had married one at all.
"Dave is a totally different kind of man to William Reid," Diana promised smiling. "He's always thoughtful and kind. Believe me, you'd be able to tell if I was unhappy but I'm not. I'm so glad I met him. I made sure we had at least some of the same goals, morals and ethics when we were courting."
"Good," Danny said relaxing back into his chair. "I'm so glad you have finally found happiness you deserve."
"And what about you?" Diana asked with an elegantly arched eyebrow.
"It's not like I'm not trying to find someone, sis," Danny said rolling his eyes in annoyance, like his sister had done earlier.
"Alright, so you're trying, but you have yet to succeed," Diana said and Danny nodded looking rather melancholy. "I can certainly understand that actually," Diana said sighing. "I thought I had found the perfect Alpha in William Reid and look how that turned out."
"Believe me, I know I heard all about this from mom and dad," Danny said. "At least he's out of your life permanently."
"Yes he is, and I won't say I'm sorry he's not around to plague me or my children. He threatened to kill my triplets you know and for that reason alone, I would never have forgiven him for his actions," Diana admitted.
"I don't blame you," Danny agreed soberly, thinking how close his nieces and nephew had come to dying because their father hadn't appreciated them. It was bad enough that Diana's ex-mate had left without even paying child support, but to try to kill your own offspring, was a capital crime within their community and to actually succeed was even worse.
"If you knew the ideas he had given Spencer about how all Alphas were like him you'd probably want to beat him to with an inch of his life. It took Dave a lot of work to convince my son that he was a good guy."
"So is Spencer doing okay?" Danny asked.
"He's doing much better now that he's at a private school along with Meriel and Mercia. This school has harder courses, then a public high school and bullying is also stamped down on severely. You know he's always been enthusiastic about learning, and that hasn't changed, but now he can talk about it freely, as Dave is nothing like William Reid. My son now knows he's free to express himself in his father's presence and he won't be shouted at."
"That's good," Danny said, pleased at the report. "I'm glad to hear your triplets are doing so well."
"Yes, they are, and your free to spend time with them while you're here, as I'm sure they'll be happy to see you," Diana said and Danny nodded. "I'm pregnant again just so you know." Diana took her brother's hand and placed it on her stomach above her clothes. Danny could indeed feel a bump once he was touching his sister, even if it was above her clothes. Her stomach was slightly rounded now preparing to get to give birth.
"So soon, sis?" Danny asked in surprise.
"You have to remember how old I am," Diana reminded her brother gently. "While I'm still young, when it comes to childbirth I'm quite old really. While Dave and I would've preferred to wait at least another couple years we knew that we needed to get me pregnant again as soon as possible. I have no intention of getting pregnant at 50 and would prefer not to get pregnant past 45 or so."
"So how many times are you going to get pregnant after this?" Danny asked. "This is a very large house."
"Only one more time after this brother," Diana promised with laughter in her blue eyes. "Dave and I have agreed that I'll go through an operation after the third time, so I can't get pregnant again. We think 14 is plenty if I have triplets this time and next."
"How'd you get 14?" Danny asked confused.
"You forget Dave's twin sons from a previous relationship," Diana reminded her brother.
"Oh, right," Danny said. "I had forgotten."
"You'll love them, I'm sure," Diana said. "They're pretty well-behaved actually, as they know they'll be punished if they get into mischief. I won't say they don't get into mischief occasionally, but mostly, it's only very minor. They adore their father and Dave clearly adores them to."
"That's the way it should be," Danny said approvingly and Diana agreed
"They also adore their new mother," came Dave's voice from the doorway.
"Why don't you come and meet my brother, Danny," Diana offered calmly, not showing a single sign of fear or apprehension, which Danny definitely noticed, as Dave came into the room.
Dave and Danny shook hands cordially. Dave had never met Diana's twin brother Daniel before now, though he had heard quite a bit about him.
Danny studied Dave and saw he was a handsome man, not that that mattered so much, so long as he treated his sister with respect at least. It was clear that Diana adored him, so that told Danny that Dave was a good man. His sister was a better judge of character then she had been when she had originally met William Reid, but then she had been young when she had and judging someone often improved with age and experience.
"It's nice to meet you," Danny said cordially.
"It's nice to meet you too," Dave said smiling a little. Danny Whitestone was a handsome man. He had gotten his mother's red hair, instead of his father's blonde like Diana had and also her green eyes. He was tall with broad shoulders and very long legs, and could very well be a professional basketball player. Still, brother and sister shared the same general features, even if they didn't really look like twins. "You going to be staying for a few days? Meet your niece and nephews?"
"I was just going to stay in a hotel," Danny said.
"If that's what you want, but we have plenty of room and you're welcome to stay for awhile," Dave offered. "We can save you the expense of a hotel at least, especially if you're going to stay for more than a day or two."
"Well, okay," Danny decided sensing the offer was genuine. "That sounds really good actually."
"I'll make sure the guestroom is ready, as Ariel has enough to do," Diana offered immediately.
"So why don't you introduce me to the newest members of the family?" Danny suggested smiling.
"I'll be happy to," Diana said taking her brother's hand and dragging him towards the stairs. "They should be just about ready to wake from their naps about now, so you came at a good time. Come, let me introduce you to your nephews and niece."
"Alright, alright, sis," Danny said laughing. "There is no need to drag me. So what are you hoping for this time?"
"If you mean the sexes of the babies, we're both actually hoping for all daughters," Diana answered, as she had her brother upstairs towards the nursery. "We realize that there's no guarantee that's what we'll get, but really, they are the most common type of multiple, so it is more than possible and the likeliest possibility at 50%. We have five boys after all and only three girls."
"Well, here's to hoping you get your wish," Danny said cheerfully.
Dave watched smiling, as his mate and her brother went off together, so Danny could be introduced to the newest members of the Rossi family. While Danny's arrival was unexpected, he wasn't exactly unwelcome, as he was family after all.
~~~Dave and Diana~~~