Sia smiled, "I love you too, Jacques..", as they snuggled each other, the blanket keeping them shielded from the slight chill, unknowing of the Great Kings' decision to gift the couple, and so, while going into dreamland, they dreamed together in a communal dream, with Vinny joining them, while on the outside, about the same time, Sia's belly starts growing, as their crystals glow, an aura over them, like Vinny.
For nine hours, they slept while in the dream, they witnessed being a family with Vinny, sharing adventures in an endless valley, and lived together, with nine months seemingly passing by them, discovering that Sia is pregnant, with Jacques giving tea for her morning sickness, foot massages, feeling kicks, satisfying her due to her sexual, hormonal drive, finding food for her cravings, and all that wonderful chaos here and there, with Vinny touching the baby bump, talking of stories, testing out samples of breast milk, and talking names with his papa and mom.
They unknowingly didn't realize that the growth of a surface pregnancy in the dream was the same in real time, with a baby conceived from the big night on the islet, healthy and strong and ready to be born any hour, thanks to the Heart's aid upon awakening, with a tiny 9-day-old fetus as the second child, conceived successfully from the third round tonight, becoming able to be part of a natural Atlantean gestation at normal pace now for 18 months, giving life to a mostly surfacer baby with Atlantean genes for the first one, and a mostly Atlantean baby with surfacer genes for the second one.
It was a pleasant sleep for the both of them; despite what was coming, in Jacques's case at least, Morning arrived which brought on Sia having to wake up first when she felt that she needed to pee really bad. Of course, the moment she was finally conscious, she could tell that something was very much off.
Sia felt strangely heavy like something has been pressing her down in gravity and weight, and she decided to stretch, getting the kinks out before she realized that in the hug stretch, her belly felt so big, and then a hard kick came, earning her to gasp in pain and surprise, opening her eyes to see that the blanket has fallen off, revealing a maternal glow of a large, very due baby bump, and her breath caught, tears falling on her cheeks in joy and shock, hurriedly looking over her shoulder as she can feel his hands on her hips, "Jacques.. Jacques, wake up. We were given a miracle!", caressing the miraculous home of her and Jacques' baby, feeling it moving constantly, seeming like it's really excited.
Jacques groaned as he slowly started to wake. "What happened? Did the Germans surrender?", he asked as she chuckled, "Well, as much as I think we'd both love that, it's something just as good...".
Jacques looked over before his eyes blinked not twice, but thrice as he exhaled, seeing his mate, his stunningly beautiful mate clearly very pregnant, and he whispered, "It's our dream come true...", remembering the communal dream they had, with Vinny joining with them there, as he slowly shuffled over, reaching to touch the large belly, and a breathless laugh came as he felt a hard kick, seeing Sia wince in both pain yet joy, kissing her cheek, "You're right...It's a miracle...Oh, god...", tears joining along on his cheeks as he realized that he's a father-to-be.
Sia sobbed softly, "Yes, it is...I thought I couldn't be heard by the Great Kings as I was the spare...but...I was wrong...Oh, Jacques...We actually had 9 months in our dream, and you...you had so many chances to make me happy, with foot massages, food cravings, and all...They must have done this while we were sleeping...", tearfully smiling.
Jacques nodded, "Looks like it...You sure are really far along...", smiling in awe, and Sia nodded, "Indeed. I'm going to be a mother...", with an amazed sob, wiping her tears before she winced again with a moan, "They kicked the bladder...I really need to pee.".
"Here, let me help you there, Sia...Nice and easy.", Jacques were quick to get out of bed past Sia, and gave her support as she slowly stood up, rubbing her baby bump, exhaling, "They're really pressing on my hips..", adjusting her legs to take up the new center of gravity.
Jacques helped her along, "That means they're healthy too...You're so beautiful like this, my love...", and Sia blushed so red, "You're jesting, my beloved...".
"Nope...Seeing you like this, it's becoming one of my most treasured memories...I would never forget this...", Jacques smiled so tenderly, and Sia kissed him on the cheek, and as soon as they got to the bathroom, Sia replied, "I think I got it now, Jacques...I'm sure the palace must have heard our passion...", with a bashful smile.
Jacques blushed red, "Probably...Do you want me to get some food? You must be hungry...", and Sia smiled, "We both are...", sobbing happily as she felt another kick, "Somehow I couldn't get enough of this...I really hope it's a boy like you...".
Jacques smiled warmly, kissing her on the lips as he caressed her baby bump, "I don't know how, but I'm already in love with this baby even before we meet them, and I hope it's a girl like you...If you're sure that you got this, I will get some breakfast...We must have slept in...I hope the gang wasn't upset if we incidentally delayed...the departure...".
"If we had, I'm glad we had this time to cherish this miracle...if only our wish would be even more true...", Sia smiled sadly. Jacques replied, "I'll see if I can convince the gang to just give us a few more hours...I mean, from what Kida said, the narwhal flyer is fast, but enough to last the entire journey back in just a few short hours..".
Sia chuckled, "I'm sure you will...You are nothing less than persuasive at times. Now, I really get to pee. Go get some food, and don't worry, I'll be careful...Being in this condition is surprising heavy on my feet, I'll take a rest on the bed or the window seat after I take a leak and all.".
Jacques smiled, "Good. I'll be back.", squeezing her hand and giving a loving kiss to her baby bump before grabbing a Atlantean robe, putting it on along with his boxers, and headed out to the communal dining table, knowing that the crew would be there for a final breakfast.
The news spread fast as Jacques could hardly keep his excitement as he was practically shouting that he was going to be a father any day now with how far along Sia could clearly tell. Her pregnancy was so far along it looked like her water was going to break any minute.
As he reached the communal dining room, the crew wore amused, curious, surprised, and happy looks on their faces, with Vinny asking excitedly, "Is Mom actually having a baby?!".
Jacques smiled warmly, "She's really along, son, might look like it any day now...I guess you all heard the news from passing guards and such, huh?", sheepishly smiling.
Kida looked proud and smug, "I'm just glad that my little sister gets to be first...And of course, you two were occasionally loud last night.", and Jacques blushed, rubbing the back of his neck, smiling.
Sweet replied, "How is she looking?", and Jacques replied as he started to pile up some food from the table, "Glowing, healthy, strong, and really overjoyed...I suppose Vinny told you the communal dream, then?".
The others nod at his question, answering him, and Milo smiled, "I don't blame you for sleeping in, and the Heart of Atlantis really wanted to help you guys...I guess you slept enough hours for the surprise advance of the pregnancy, much like Opa.", glancing over at Abraham and Thaddeus.
"I'm very happy for you, Jacques, and I don't mind about being in second place in terms of pregnancy length.", Abraham smiled warmly, and Jacques was relieved to hear that, "Thanks, Abraham.", finally stocked up on food for Sia, "I better get back as she and the little one is hungry.".
The others smiled at him before a shout of pain is heard in the distance, and Jacques gasped, "Sia!", running like heck, barely hearing Sweet's voice call out, "Sounds like she's on contractions!", hearing him follow behind.
A few minutes up, a guard called out, "She's on the bed, and the water hasn't broken yet, but she's really in pain!", and Jacques replied, "Get Nola! She can ease the pain with her crystal as Sia would trust her, and I'll have Sweet look her over!".
The guard nodded, "Yes, sir!", passing him and Sweet, hearing cries of pain amongst his name, "Jacques!", as he and Sweet ran to Sia's bedroom.
"Sia!", Jacques called out as they came in, seeing her convulsing as she laid back with a sheet over her, with Jacques putting down the platter of food on the edge of the bed, coming up to her as he crawled to her, "I'm here, I'm here, my love!".
Sia looked at him, tears falling, "It hurts!", and Jacques replied, "Looks like you're experiencing the rarely extreme pains of a surface woman, Sia...Breathe and copy me...In and out...", and Sia copied him, breathing in and out, relaxing a bit better as Sweet checked her over, "You're not fully dilated yet, Sia, looks like just a quarter of the way. Must be the Hick-Braxen contractions to prepare the birth canal as the water hasn't broken yet. Jacques, see if you can use your crystal to somehow calm the baby down as they are really eager, I guess they didn't expect their mother to be on the same wavelength...We need to make sure that she eats without too much pain in those contractions as she needs the energy for the real contractions and pushing, of course.".
"I'll do whatever it takes for this to go smoothly...", Jacques said as Sia gave a small smile. "At least you'll be here to see our child...", she started to sniffle as she was taking a few deep breaths.
Jacques smiled, "Yeah, looks like our wish just came truer than we thought...", as he kissed his crystal, murmuring in Atlantean, touching the crystal as the baby seemed to listen, settling down as Sia sighed in slight relief, taking more deep breaths amongst quieter cries of pain at the occasional Hick-Braxten contraction if Sweet is correct to indicate by it.
Sweet smiled, "Good, you're doing so good, Sia...", grabbing the tray to shuffle over, as Jacques then grabbed a couple of Atlantean fruits, giving them to Sia as she slowly ate, as Nola came in, "Hello, Dr. Sweet, we have to stop meeting like this.", with a smile.
Sweet smiled kindly, "Sorry, can't help it.", while inwardly surprised at the subtle flirtation by this lovely woman, as Nola then turned her attention to Sia and Jacques, "Many congratulations, you two. I'm very surprised that this is a surface length pregnancy of a miracle, but then I couldn't blame the Heart and the Great Kings for needing to save their strength as it has been a crazy week. Let's see how the baby is doing...", taking a seat on the right side of Sia, leaning in as she murmured in Atlantean, touching her crystal to the baby bump, listening.
"Good, you're doing a great job. You are somehow relaxing the baby with a lullaby, Jacques...Now, I can say that the baby is headfirst, on its side, though they will adjust slightly when it's time to come through the birth canal. Healthy lungs, strong heartbeat, and all limbs intact. Couldn't be much longer until the birth canal is ready. Do you want to know the gender?", Nola listed out before asking with a warm smile at Sia and Jacques.
Sia glanced at Jacques, "Can we be surprised?", as she took a deep breath, smiling tearfully, relieved to hear that the baby is all developed, strong and healthy, and Jacques smiled, kissing her on the lips, "Of course we can, Sia...After all, this was a gift from the Great Kings, so it makes sense for us to be surprised all the way.".
Nola smiled, "I understand. May I have your permission to ease your pain on the back? It wouldn't be much of a relief all the way, considering that I have critically no idea of how the surface pains are.", and Sia smiled, "I'll take anything over nothing, Nola. You've been our head royal healer as long as we have remembered you since we were little.", before crying out in pain.
Sweet replied, "Easy, don't move too much, Sia. I see signs that the water bag is almost to the breaking point. Nola's right, it couldn't be much longer.".
"Hopefully things will feel better...", Jacques said. "It then goes all Atlantean sort of birth and not be really painful... uncomfortable sure, from what I've heard, but the pain will be in the past.".
Sia replied, "Things are feeling better thanks to all your help, but it still hurts like heck...", taking another deep breath at another Hick-Braxen contraction, and Jacques nodded, kissing her on the forehead.
It was two hours of eating, checking the progress of the dilation and the birth canal, drinking some water here and there, while Sia labored, crying out in pain occasionally, trying to relax yet she's getting frustrated.
"How much longer, damn it?!", Sia shouted, cursing in pain and frustration as the contractions became more frequent and sharper, and Sweet replied, "You're barely 3/4 dilated, Sia!", and Sia grunted in frustration, "Fuck it, take off the crystals, Jacques and Nola! I need them to be eager again!".
Nola glanced at Sia, "But...but are you sure?", as Jacques took his crystal off his side of the baby bump, and Sia glared at her, "I'm sorry, Nola, to curse like this, but yes, damn it! I don't want to make them wait so long if the pain is not there! Please, right now, I'm ordering you!".
"Yes, your majesty.", Nola nodded, seeing that Sia is really frustrated, taking off her crystal from Sia's back, and soon, Sia shouted in pain, her body putting into overdrive as there was the sound of water sloshing out, "Water bag broke!", counting the faster contractions as Sia tried to take deep breaths, fighting the urge to push.
Five minutes later, "Oh, oh, you're fully dilated!", Sweet shouted, "Push!", and Sia grabbed into Jacques's hand, and Jacques replied, "You got this, Sia. Breathe and push. In and out.".
Sia breathed in and out, and pushed, crying out in pain, and Sweet replied, "Good, Sia, repeat it and rest when you need a minute!", and Sia barely nodded, obeying Sweet's orders, and it lasted for 30 minutes before Sia shouted in pain, feeling her nether regions stretching beyond limits of Jacques's manhood, with Sweet laughing, "I see hair! They're crowning! Jacques, help her up so she can use leverage to push!".
Jacques helped Sia sit up somewhat as she took deep breaths, crying in pain at the incoming contractions, and Sia reached with her other hand, and Nola took it with a gentle smile, "You got this, Sia.".
Sia gave a small smile as she pressed her legs to her thighs, still apart, and took a deep breath, grunting as she screamed in pain, pushing and heaving, her hands almost crushing both hands of her mate and one of her dear staff friends.
Sweet gently reached in, smoothly helping the baby along as it came into the world, and as the little adorable legs exited, Sweet shouted, "They're out!", as Sia collapsed back on the pillows, panting and tears prickling to threaten to fall on her cheeks, watching Sweet with anticipation and concern, and then a whole new sound pierced the air; a hearty and palace-echoing wail of a newborn, as Sweet announced with a laugh, "It's a healthy boy!", cleaning the baby as Nola assisted with the damp towels from a bowl by courtesy of the bathroom, and a swaddling Atlantean blanket to loosely keep the baby warm.
Sia cried in joy and immediate motherly need, "Let me see him!", as she saw Jacques watch in shock and awe and absolute love, and Sweet immediately gave the newborn boy into Sia's arms, as she sobbed quietly, "Oh...Look at you...You're my little star...You look like your father and grandfather altogether...", ever so softly kissing the gurgling and quietly crying boy on the forehead.
"Is he beautiful, is he not, Jacques?", Sia whispered lovingly as the boy has Jacques' dark brown hair in straight, soft locks, having a copper tan skin tone, with Kashekim and Sia's trademark blue eyes, with Nildanu, his grandmother's nose in masculine style, with Jacques' dimples.
"I... I never really thought this day would come for me...", Jacques admitted as Sia smiled. "It's here, Jacques, it really is here...", she told him as he gently brushed their son's forehead.
"He's so handsome...", Jacques took a deep breath. "And so lucky to be born in such a peaceful place...". Sia murmured, "Korbyn...", and Jacques widened his eyes, "That's French...It means dark-haired...", and Sia smiled fondly, "It suits him...And since it starts with K, I am honoring Father in this too...", with a sniffle.
Jacques kissed her on the forehead, "I'm sure he's very proud, and he's in love already with his first grandson, like I am...Korbyn, and we can call him Kory for short...It's perfect...", barely noticing that Sweet and Nola left the room, and Korbyn gurgled, cooing at his parents.