Sweet then adjusted the stethoscope to the other side of the baby bump, as Abraham listened hard, "There...Oh, that's Rachel...she's perfect too...", as he sobbed happily, glancing at Thaddeus, giving one spoke to him, as he listened, his eyes widening, "Abram...oh, they're strong and loud.".
Sweet smiled warmly, "That's a very good sign that they're healthy and developing quite well.", and Abraham looked at him, "C-can we keep this stethoscope, Joshua?", referring to Sweet's first name.
"Sure.", Sweet said. "Might be a good idea to keep it around down here unless Kida's people have got something that blows that thing out of the water.".
A warm voice chuckled kindly, "We do not have that kind of technology yet through I know His Majesty Milo is planning future expeditions to explore the lake and such.", as heads turn over to see a late middle-aged Atlantean woman in clothes that suggest at healing and being a medicine woman like in Native American culture.
Kida smiled warmly, "Everyone, this is Nola aka Noivalissa, my head royal healer. She had checked up on me those past couple of days, and she has been correct to prove me right that I am in the third month stage of being two months along for this little one, clearly going for the female Atlantean gestation of 18 months. She has never been wrong for the past six centuries for anything involving citizens visiting the palace and such.".
Nola smiled, "You give too much credit, Your Highness. You say the heartbeats are healthy, yes?", glancing at Sweet who smiled warmly, "They are, Miss Nola.".
"Good...Now, let's see how the gestation shall be for the little ones, Mr. Thatch, if I have your permission.", Nola glanced at Abraham, and Abraham smiled, taking off the stethoscope, giving it to Thaddeus, "You may, Miss Nola.".
Nola then took Sweet's place as he departed from the pillow, and took up her crystal, murmuring in Atlantean, and touched it to Abraham's baby bump, leaning in as she seems to be listening, "They are definitely five months old, their limbs and lungs are developing well, and...oh...oh, my...I see...".
Abraham asked in concern, "What is it?", and Nola replied, "You have nine months to go, making it 14 months of full gestation time, even with the impromptu advance last night...So, they will remain five months old for two more months, six months old for two more months, seven months old for two months, eight months old for a month and a half, and nine months old for the final month and half. So, make that a time mix between the surface gestation of 9 months, and the Atlantean carrier gestation of 24 months, thanks to your biology of being from the surface, and the adoption of your new Atlantean life, which means that you'd be first to give birth before Her Majesty, by a few months.".
"Well, I suppose that makes a bit of sense, after all, the twins are already slightly older than Kida's child.", Abraham said. "Still will take their time though... pity it couldn't already be now when they come.", Thaddeus teased.
Nola smiled warmly as she pulled back, "I know how impatient people are when it comes to those things, but with the surprise advance last night, it's better to keep being normal more or less for those kids to develop and grow within steady pace, and besides, it's safer that Abraham cannot go through overwhelmed shock...If you excuse my concern, Mr. Thatch, that is.".
"No, it's alright. I understand, and besides, I'm just happy that I can just be there for them, to love them more than I had in years since I lost them the first time...", Abraham exhaled, still crying as hormones is hitting him, and Thaddeus wrapped his arms around him, "Shh, it's okay, they're right here...I'm here, Abram...", kissing his forehead, gently wiping his tears, hoping that within short time of seeing that the kids are safe within him, instead of remembering the last time he saw them when he was forced away by Schimdt's orders, he will realize that everything is going to be alright.
Abraham took a few deep breaths, "I'm okay, Tad...I'm okay...Having time with the kids like this is more than enough beyond my dreams...", stroking his baby bump, feeling them moving around in their sleep with little kicks and fluttering here and there.
Everybody watched them, and felt for the couple, and went to cheer Abraham up by asking about funny stories of the kids' first lives when they used to be happy before the whole Nazi and Jewish racism, and seeing how everybody was so nice to change the subject, Abraham went on to enjoy the conversations with the crew, while nibbling on food here and there, even if he had brunch some time ago already.
Vinny was happy conversating with Audrey, knowing that he will miss her a lot, but he has new friends that he can be with here in Atlantis, and seeing the faces as they conversated, he knew it would be a long time before the whole crew can return, due to the war and all, including his papa...
He observed Sia, and saw a glint of sadness and envy when she glances at Kida and Abraham when Jacques isn't looking, and Vinny knew that he never heard loud noises from his papa's room when Sia visited, probably because of him, and the only time they were gone was that night, leaving that note for him...
Vinny knew that Papa and everybody else in the rest of the crew is leaving in the late morning, as it was said that some citizens were steadily uncovering some sort of new aircraft, and that the amounts of gold will have to be accounted for to be put in this new aircraft to thank them for saving Atlantis.
He then decided to push his papa into helping Sia by having private lovemaking and such, and that Jacques can't afford to be selfish for one more night.
Several hours later, Vinny looked at Jacques while he was reading out a story, translating it from French, as it was on a scroll, "Papa? Isn't Sia visiting again?", and Jacques sighed, "Not tonight...I think she didn't want to know all night that I'm...I'm leaving tomorrow...".
"Bullshit.", Vinny retorted, and Jacques gasped, "Vincenzo!", and Vinny glared at him, "You deserve to make her happy, and I know you have been only cuddling and not making love for the past two nights after your big night of becoming mates because of me possibly being traumatized and all, but I think Sia is really needing you, and she needs to be selfish, so go to her...Please, Papa, make Mom forget that you're leaving in the morning, give her a chance to make a baby even if you've possibly did on your big night already.", finally gaining the courage to call Sia his mom at last, for he will live with her under her supervision and all, and it feels weird to call her mama as it's similar to mami.
Jacques obviously blushed at hearing what Vinny had to say; of course, the young boy wasn't stupid. He was old enough to know the whole concept of conceiving a child and all, but it still felt so red facing to hear him say all that. He sighed as he nodded, "Alright, I'll certainly try...". He rubbed the kid's hair, "I really hope that now, with the Americans now joining the war for a bit now, that the tide will quickly swing back into our favor and the war in France will finally be one. I will come back so fast upon that day.".
Vinny smiled, "I don't doubt that. Now, shoo! Go smooch Mom up and all. I can go to sleep just fine without a story for once.", and Jacques laughed warmly, "You're a stubborn kid, Vinny. Good night, son. Can I tell her that you decided to call her Mom now?", putting away the rolled-up scroll.
"Yep! She deserves to hear it.", Vinny nodded, and Jacques smiled fondly, "I believe you.", ruffling his hair warmly with a kiss on his forehead, and Vinny snuggled back into his blankets, yawning, "Good night, Papa...", as Jacques left his room, and took a deep breath, and started to leave the guest wing, nodding at the occasional guard on the way, glad that his few memories of Sia's personal bedroom and the royal wing is serving him fine enough.
As he reached Sia's bedroom, he took a deep breath once more, seeing that the door is not locked, knowing that mates can visit each other's bedroom if not married, as long as it's permitted, and even if Sia had said that it's fine for him to visit already a couple of days ago, he hopes that Sia isn't upset for him to come here, even if it looked like she wanted to be alone, yet Vinny said that Sia really needs him.
Jacques then came in, barely noticing the details or personal belongings of the room as he looked to the bed, and seeing that it's empty, he then glanced at the luxurious window seat, and his breath caught, seeing her nude, holding a pillow to her belly, sounds of quiet sobs and moans of pleasure as she was hand-pumping into her vagina, her head turned in the direction out of the open-air window, and he realized that she was looking at Jacques's open-air window across the gardens and such, and he spoke in complete worry, "Sia?", hearing a gasp, seeing her turn around, revealing that she had been crying for a bit as her eyes looked a bit red.
"You've been crying, huh?", Jacques sighed as she closed her eyes and reluctantly nodded. "I'm sorry, I just... I knew this was coming but I just wish you could stay.", she told him as he nodded.
It really pained him that he was making this decision despite most of his brain telling him that it was a mistake. But deep down, he couldn't live with the guilt of abandoning his homeland while it was still under brutal occupation by one of the evilest societies to ever walk upon the face of the earth.
Jacques exhaled as he came closer, "I know, it's...it's not fair to us both, but I...I need to do this...I want to keep you safe from Hydra and those Nazi bastards, in case if they are still searching for the city, even if the volcano and our flyers took care of the squadron...I love you so much, Sia...".
Sia gave a little sob, "I love you too...And I can't force you to stay here when you have people to protect up there...Hell, I can't even know when you can return in time if I turn out pregnant, yet I don't know if I'm pregnant from our big night, and I...I want you so badly to stay here and be proud and happy...Sure, worrying about you and watching over Vinny, I can do, but I don't want to disappoint you if I didn't get pregnant, and if...if something happens to you...I don't know how to be happy without your legacy for me to remember in you...Vinny may be our son by adoptive means, and he would make sure that he'd help me have fun and be happy and be distracted from worrying about you...but still...".
Jacques listened as his eyes widen, listening as his heart ached to hear her like this...He knew that letters are impossible and even radio interceptions are near difficult, even with Packard's insane skills.
He whispered, "Is that why you were trying to pleasure yourself and such, because you're afraid that I could be mad if you didn't get pregnant?", and Sia looked down in shame, "I hate this...I hate being envious of Kida and Abraham, I'm not blaming the Heart, but why didn't they be...be normal on a usual pace of pregnancy? I want to see you hugging me out of excitement and all, not shutting up about being a father, but I...I hate being left behind! There, I said it! I was fooling myself, pretending this pillow was a baby bump and that you'd be here forever ravishing and making love to me when you are leaving the damn day tomorrow!", sobbing as she waved her hands up, realizing that she was in denial, yet with Jacques listening to her, she felt like she can spill out her deepest feelings.
"Sia...", Jacques whispered as he held her tight in a hug. "I hate this so much too... Every part of me is screaming to stay with you and Vinny, to not risk my life...".
"I know. But we both know that your heart would always feel so burdened leaving your people to their fate. I... I would feel the same if the roles were reversed...", Sia said.
Jacques took a deep breath, closing his eyes and soaking into Sia's natural scent as he rubbed her back, soon realizing that he was unphased by the fact that Sia is nude, probably because she is comfortable with falling asleep in her own bedroom like this, yet she was really so considerate of Jacques's privacy, wearing her Atlantean nightgown robes and such when she visited him.
He recalled Vinny's clearly mature speech, even if it was tinted with teenage stubbornness, and Jacques then nodded to himself, knowing that it couldn't change much, but if it can make Sia happy just one more night, it's enough...
"Sia, I realize that you hate this, and that you had rough feelings about being in second place and all, but know this, you will always be first place in my heart, being my mate, and that's better than nothing...Let's be selfish tonight...And before you ask, Vinny literally told me off.", Jacques replied with a sheepish smile.
Sia blushed as she had to stifle a chuckle, "I guess I forget sometimes that he's not truly a small boy but getting close to being a grown man at times.", smiling. "I make that mistake too...", Jacques said with a chuckle.
Sia giggled before looking at Jacques lovingly, realizing that he was right...She has found her first love in Jacques, and that couldn't change at all for he's her mate...And even if she is not first in getting pregnant, she is technically first at adopting a child in Vinny into her family.
"I want to be selfish with you...I want you to love me so much to oblivion, to forget...I need you, Jacques...", Sia whispered before kissing him passionately, her hands searching to take off his clothes in a frenzy, and Jacques picked her up, kissing her back as he helped her along, shaking off his clothes, whispering huskily, "As you wish, my love.", walking straight to the bed, and with a little pounce into the sheets, Jacques penetrated into her vagina which was already somewhat wet, thanks to Sia's earlier self-pleasure, and so loud sounds soon echoed through the room.
It was two rounds of lovemaking with the first one passionate and fast and the second one slow and tender, and now, they are near completion and at their end of limits in the third round, with Sia shouting in pleasure, "Yes, Jacques, please! Fuck me!", as Jacques is pounding from behind, mounted into her.
"Sia... I'm about to...", Jacques groaned as he once more was at his limit before finally, he couldn't hold up and released once more, causing them to both cry out with pleasure before they collapsed into each other's arms for the third time that night.
Sia panted heavily, glistening with sweat and the scent of sex, looking at Jacques with an exhausted smile, "I'm so sore...Yet you did really good...I guess your crystal really helped you out with stamina...This was one more round than before...We had two rounds back there on the islet...Yet I hope this third round is a lucky chance to get me pregnant, considering that three is a lucky number from what I recall of your memories...Sorry...I'm not mad at Kida or Abraham for getting help by the Heart in different circumstances of sorts, and they really deserve those miracles...Yet I want a miracle...I want you to stay here all this time to be with me, to witness my hormones, feeling baby kicks, food cravings, and foot massages, but I cannot be any more selfish than I am...Oh, by the Great Kings, I'm stupid, am I?", with a heavy sigh, feeling Jacques spoon her as he is still deflating into her womb.
"No, not at all, Sia...", Jacques told her. "Not in the slightest, I want this as much as you do... I want to be here for our child, to see them being born... to at least hold them once...", he sighed.
Sia leaned back on his chest, nuzzling under his jaw, sighing softly, "You'd make a wonderful father, Jacques...", as she intertwined her fingers with his as he held her, resting upon her belly, and Jacques smiled, "I hope so, because I didn't have much practice with Vinny apart from teaching him and listening to his conversations...Still, you'd look so stunning with a baby bump, I know it...", before he felt that he was done, and popped free of her, and then grabbed a blanket, wrapping his legs around hers, kissing her on the lips, "No matter what, I'd always love you, Sia...".