The sudden sensation of being jolted awake startled the duo as Liam playfully jumped on the bed.
"Wake up, you lazy bums! It's Christmas morning, and everyone's already in the ballroom, gathered at the breakfast table," Liam announced, a mix of annoyance and excitement in his voice.
Rubbing their eyes, Scott and Inuyasha sat up, smiling at the energetic young man. "Alright, alright, we're up, you little rascal," Scott replied, teasingly scratching behind Liam's ears, eliciting a pleased keen from him.
Liam, spirited as ever, dashed into the bathroom and returned with two robes. Handing them to Scott with a grin, Scott affectionately patted Liam's head in return. "Why don't you go ahead? We'll join everyone shortly," Inuyasha said, his voice soft with affection.
With a nod, Liam exited the room, leaving the couple by themselves.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at Scott's amused expression. "What?" he asked, a hint of suspicion in his tone.
Chuckling, Scott draped the robe around Inuyasha before heading to the dresser to fetch two pairs of boxers. Slipping into his, he tossed the other pair to Inuyasha, who caught them effortlessly. Moving to Inuyasha's side, Scott helped his mate put them on, first one leg and then the other, until Inuyasha was decently dressed.
Once Inuyasha was settled, Scott handed him the Tetsaiga. With a swift motion, he bent down and scooped Inuyasha into his arms, carrying him bridal style. The two shared a gentle embrace as Inuyasha nuzzled Scott's cheek.
Approaching the door, Scott skillfully used his tail to swing it open. They ventured down the corridor, making their way towards the ballroom, the doors of which were invitingly open.
As they stepped in, the lights suddenly burst to life. "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" came the jubilant shout from the gathered crowd.
"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Scott and Inuyasha responded, their voices filled with warmth and joy.
Scott approached the table, gently setting Inuyasha down before heading to the display to fetch their meal. He soon returned with a large platter filled with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and meats, accompanied by two generously-filled mugs of eggnog.
Handing one of the mugs to Inuyasha, Scott settled down, placing the platter between them. After exchanging mugs with a kiss, the couple started their meal. Within minutes, the rest of the gathering followed suit, selecting their food and drinks before joining the communal feast.
"How much longer until you give birth, Inuyasha?" Victoria inquired, her curiosity evident.
Before Inuyasha could reply, Scott chimed in, "6.1 months more to go, Vic!"
Inuyasha almost choked on his eggnog, surprise evident in his eyes. "What do you mean 6.1 more months, babe? Typically, human and demon pregnancies last 8-9 months, and wolves' are around 3-6 months. I assumed ours would be somewhere in between."
Scott explained, "Most werewolf pregnancies typically span 10-18 months, sometimes even longer depending on the number of pups. Even if our pups were to be born earlier due to their tribrid nature, it's unlikely since their primary lineage would be werewolf."
Inuyasha sighed, "I guess that makes sense. But if what you're saying is true, I'll probably end up feeling like a beached whale, hardly able to move."
Reacting with a mixture of surprise and mild irritation, Inuyasha smacked Scott lightly. "Why didn't you tell me this before we decided to start a family?"
Scott responded apologetically, "I thought it wouldn't matter to you, believing you'd want to start our family regardless of the duration. Still, I should've told you. It wasn't right keeping that from you. I'm sorry."
"I forgive you," Inuyasha sighed, "Just promise me, next time there's something like this, be upfront about it."
Scott nodded in agreement. Sesshomaru, aiming to offer solace, chimed in, "Don't stress, brother. You have Shippou, Koga, Scott, and me to assist and support you."
Inuyasha, grateful for his brother's words, pulled Sesshomaru into a warm embrace, which was reciprocated.
Victoria, ever the caring figure, added, "I'm here too, Inuyasha. I've gone through werewolf pregnancies with both my children. Allison's was a standard human term, but with Liam, it was the full werewolf duration of 10-18 months.
I believe it varied because Liam was born a wolf cub. Given your unique situation with the mix of three species, many outcomes are possible. However, don't stress. Everything will work out."
Inuyasha's spirits lifted slightly, comforted by Victoria's reassuring words.
"Thank you for that, Vic. I truly appreciate it," Inuyasha said.
"Anytime, my king," Victoria replied with a warm smile. "Speaking of preparations, have you two settled on any names? Also, have you shopped for clothes or started decorating the nursery?"
"We haven't, unfortunately," Inuyasha sighed. "We only returned from our honeymoon ten months ago. With Scott getting back to his royal duties and our various outings and preparations for Christmas, we just haven't had the time."
Victoria thought for a moment. "How about I take you, Scott, and Liam shopping for clothes and nursery decorations tomorrow morning?"
Scott nodded in agreement, "That sounds fantastic, Vic. How about 11 am? This way, Inuyasha and I can fit in a morning run and grab a quick breakfast. After shopping, we could have a late lunch at Lydia's diner. Their buffet is simply irresistible."
"Sounds perfect, mate king," Victoria agreed with a smile.
Everyone returned to their meal. However, about half an hour later, the silence was interrupted by a soft yawn from Inuyasha. Seeing this, Sesshomaru rose and extended his arms, inviting Inuyasha to him. Gratefully, Inuyasha nestled into his brother's embrace.
Sesshomaru then carefully made his way to the living room, placing the weary Inuyasha on the couch, tucking him in with a blanket, and planting a gentle kiss on his forehead. As he returned to the ballroom, he caught Scott's appreciative grin and nodded in acknowledgment.
Rejoining the group at the table, he noticed Allison's concerned expression. "Pregnancy seems to be taking quite a toll on him," she remarked.
"For half-demons, pregnancy is draining, whether they're male or female," Sesshomaru explained. "Given that the babies are tribrids, the energy demand is even higher. Had Inuyasha been a full demon, his body would have coped better."
Victoria chimed in, "That makes sense. Human endurance isn't that great to begin with. Typically, humans give birth to one to three children at a time. On the rare occasions when they have more, the toll on their bodies is quite significant, somewhat akin to the strain on half-demons."
Sesshomaru added, "You're right, Victoria. When his human mother was pregnant with Inuyasha, it drained her significantly. She was bedridden for months after giving birth but eventually regained her strength."
From what I've observed lately, I suspect Inuyasha might need significant rest after the birth, much like his human mother did," Sesshomaru mused. "However, with your expertise in werewolf births, Victoria, and my experience with demon and human births, we should be well-prepared when the time comes."
The group nodded in agreement with this sentiment.
As everyone finished their meal an hour later, Scott made a move to help clear the dishes. However, Sesshomaru and Shippou quickly intervened, insisting he go rest instead.
Heeding their advice, Scott descended the staircase to the foyer and turned right into the living room. As he entered, he noticed Inuyasha still deeply asleep on the couch. Moving quietly, Scott settled down next to him, pulling the covers over them. He wrapped his arms around Inuyasha, and soon, they were both lost in slumber.
They were jolted awake about four hours later by the sound of footsteps and the rustle of packages. Turning, Scott saw the others bringing in the Christmas tree and gifts. As they got settled, he gently pulled Inuyasha to his chest.
Inuyasha responded by nestling closer, his face buried in Scott's furry abdomen. When all the presents were in place, the group gathered around the couch and tree, eagerly anticipating the gift exchange.
"SO, WHO'S GOING FIRST!?" Liam's voice burst with excitement.
"Calm down, son," Victoria gently chided. "Let's give the king and king mate some time to fully awaken."
Liam sighed, "Fine."
Shippou laughed, "We get it, Liam. The excitement is hard to contain."
Scott, rubbing his eyes, said, "Could Inuyasha and I get some hot chocolate, please?"
"Of course, brother," Sesshomaru replied promptly, moving to fulfill the request.