Chapter Fourteen
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
Gods, I don't know what amazes me more—the fact that we're already on chapter 14 or the fact that we're 35 reviews away from 200! Ooh thank you guys so, so, so much!
Hope you guys are having a great May! I know it's only the second day but I still hope it's a good one! If any of my readers are in the States, don't forget Mother's Day is this weekend! And yes, fur babies count so if you've got one, treat yourself to something nice this Mother's Day (she says as someone who's mom gave her a Mother's Day gift last year because of my kitty) :D
Oh and internet cookies to whoever gets the Scrubs reference! :D
Angel Cauldwell: I'm so glad you liked Uma's dress! I actually found it on Etsy but there were some design changes (ties instead of buttons for example).
Tracie Adams: The announcement will happen when Mal and Ben find out the gender of the kiddo! :D
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Lol, in all honesty it didn't feel like it took that long to write even if it was over 8k words. Yes, have your fangirl fit! As this was possibly one of the best chapters Is had the pleasure of writing! Hey, anything could happen in terms of expanding the family!
OceanBlueSeaEyes: That's a good point about Mushu, that little dragon is very possessive though hopefully he grew out of it after realizing what he might have cost Mulan with his plots. And considering how Mulan and Shang's wedding held up, it's entirely possible that Mushu's ordained :D
danifan3000: I won't lie…I chuckled picturing that! Poor Harry :D
BAL 4EVER: Apparently in the books Mama Odie has a daughter named Opal. Seeing as I'm going off the deleted scenes where Facilier is Mama Odie's son, that would make Opal Uma's aunt.
Anonymous Reader: I'm so glad you liked it! And yeah Rea's adorable! I'm so glad LotusQuil lets me borrow her for scenes like the wedding :D
LotusQuil: Oh yay! Trust me, Hades wasn't originally going to punch Hook. It was just going to be a verbal confrontation but then inspiration struck! The Steph and Harry fluff moment was always planned, since she was going to act as mother of the groom. However the Uma and Facilier flashback appeared as I was writing it. Hey the fluff was so cute in that mini short that I had to include it! Thanks for letting me borrow Rea for that add in! And yeah, Hades would be a good sounding board for Harry!
jedblack1997: While I like the idea, honestly Ms. Finster wasn't that bad a person. Especially since she fought on the side of 'good' in the movie. Though I could see her volunteering to go to the Isle to be someone the kids could rely on—or to look after Randal. Either or really :D
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Time passed and soon all of the Godlings found themselves on Olympus for a much needed get together.
Well, rather the female Godlings were enjoying the get together. Herkie and Hadie had made themselves scarce upon finding out that a majority of the talk was going to be focused on kids or pregnancy, much to the amusement of Melody who'd joined the get together.
"Sooner or later they're going to be having talks like this but with their own partners," Melody snorted.
"Hey, don't be making my brother grow up before he has to," Mal said, rubbing her stomach as her baby kicked. "Though I'd be happy if Hadie would get his act together and realize he's got feelings for Alexandria sooner rather than later. I'd rather my brother not be the next Harry and Uma thank you."
"Oi!" Uma exclaimed.
"Was anything she said false?" Macaria asked as she passed around one of the plates that had been prepared. "Sorry Elle, I know you're not big on sushi but it was the first plate I grabbed. There's more in the kitchen."
"It's fine Macaria," Elle said. "You've got two kids under three yourself, I'm honestly surprised you were able to put together this spread for our get together anyway."
"Thank Gil," Macaria said. "He loves Gwen and Markos, and his sisters are always there if we ever need a night to ourselves. Though Mal, Uma, I've got to say your crew mate Derek is also rather good with kids."
"Considering he helped Henry with Ryan for as long as we can remember, he should be," Uma chuckled. "Let me guess, he comes whenever Piper babysits?"
"Like clockwork though we have to make sure to use the house off of Olympus since well…no mortals on Olympus," Macaria nodded and the two former pirates smiled. It had been an unexpected pairing, especially since Derek was another perpetually single pirate.
Not to the extent that Henry had been, Derek still had a few flings here and there, but for the most part, he was more monk than pirate. And then he met Gil's oldest sister.
Yeah, I won't lie, it was nice getting an invite to that wedding last year, Mal thought with an inward chuckle. No one doubted that Derek would pick both Ryan and Henry as his Best Men, after all Henry had picked Ryan and Derek for his.
"Oh, I'll pass," Uma said as Macaria passed her the plate, pulling Mal out of her thoughts.
"Oh! Sorry Uma," Macaria said, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I should have known, since you're Uncle Po-Po's granddaughter."
"Oh that has nothing to do with why I'm passing on the food," Uma said. "I grew up eating fish after all at my mama's restaurant. No I'm passing because sushi's supposedly bad for the baby. Which you'd think you'd know Macaria, seeing as you had two of them."
Everyone paused and looked at Uma.
"Um…Uma? What baby are you talking about?" Melody asked.
"Mine."
The silence that had fallen only grew after that and everyone stared at Uma in shock.
"What?" Mal exclaimed. Her getting pregnant was one thing, the kingdom needed an heir after all. But Uma?
Uma chuckled softly and gave Mal a small smile. "I think you heard me perfectly Mali. Looks like we won't be the only cousins in the family who have grown up together what with you having your little guppy."
Mal smiled and got up to give Uma a hug. "Congrats Uma. I'm so happy for you and Harry. Hang on, does Harry know yet? Did he faint?"
Uma chuckled again and shook her head. "Harry doesn't faint. Though he looked close I won't lie."
"I'm not surprised, after all you are the granddaughter of a God," Mal said with a smile.
"That does get people close to fainting," Macaria nodded. "Gil nearly passed out when I told him I was pregnant with Gwen, and then again with Markos."
"I think that's more because you apparently inherited your grandfather's fertility," Elle said, shaking her head. "Your kids are like ten months apart after all."
Uma rolled her eyes at the conversation and looked over at Mal. "You're the daughter of a God, did Benny faint when you told him?"
"Ben's not much of a fainter," Mal said with a small chuckle. "Nothing really rattles him. Thankfully dad only gave him a light glare when we told the family and it only lasted like thirty seconds which is pretty tame for dad."
"Yeah well Uncle Hades gets to be a grandfather now. He's caught up to Zeus and grandfather," Uma teased.
"Good point but enough about me and my pup! How're you feeling? Do you need some ginger ale? It helps with the nausea, I can tell you that. Wait…knowing that you're pregnant, I'm surprised Harry didn't insist on joining you here!"
"Mal, Mal calm down. I'm actually fine, no morning sickness or anything other than maybe a small bought of it on my last trading route but I just thought that was seasickness….which actually worried Harry a bit after we found out because of how bad your morning sickness has been but the doctor said every woman's different. And Harry tried to follow me here but I told him that if he did, he'd be sleeping with Estelle for a week."
Mal chuckled. "You know Estelle usually sleeps with me right? I'm sure your husband would rather sleep with his wife than me and my dog."
"Eh, I know. But I needed a good enough threat to get him to back off for a bit. The squidling's only the size of a grain of sand give or take right now and Harry's already in 'dad mode' as it's called around here," Uma said with a fond sigh.
"Yeah well…Harry might be a bit more protective than the guys around here," Mal said, her voice gentle. "What with everything we grew up with…you gotta give him a bit of leeway cuz…"
"I know Mali," Uma said with a small sigh. "That's why I haven't sent any tidal waves at him. Yet. But I make no guarantees that it won't happen if he doesn't stop the over protective act."
Mal couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips as she heard that. Ah Harry…
"Well anyway Uma, congrats!" Macaria said, grinning at her cousin.
"Thanks Macaria," Uma said.
"Does Uncle Po-Po know yet?"
"No, not yet," Uma said, shaking her head. "Obviously Harry needed to be the first and then you all. I'll tell him soon though."
"Any idea for due dates?" Melody asked.
"Nothing set in stone but the doctor said we'd be looking at beginning of December. It's possible that CJ'll have a birthday buddy."
"Oh right, her birthday's December fifth right?" Mal said and Uma nodded.
"CJ'll love having a niece or nephew who's a birthday buddy," Melody said, her smile never dimming. "Or you never know, they might want to wait and your kiddo will share a birthday with Percy and Maddie."
"Thanks but I'd rather not be pregnant for an extra month," Uma snorted in amusement.
Elle shook her head. "I don't know how Emma's going to do the full nine months. Thank Gods for the shorter gestational period for Godlings."
"When's your due date again?" Melody asked her sister.
"Middle of June."
"Ah. And Emma's due date is in August according to Ashaki."
Mal chuckled and rubbed her stomach. "Guess you're getting your own crew huh pup? And hey, you'll be the oldest of your crew this time, since your birthday's going to be in May! Not like your maman, what with your Uncle Jay being a year older and your Aunt Uma being born in March and your Uncle Harry being born in April."
"I'll say this, if only to cut into Mali's insanity, my guppy might not have been planned but…they're not unwelcomed," Uma said with a small smile. "My only concern is the trade routes that my ship takes, they're commissioned by Benny so I know they won't be dangerous but I don't know if I should be away from Harry that long. If I gave birth on the ship…"
"I'll talk to Ben for you," Mal promised. "Apparently in Auradon they have something called 'maternity' and 'paternity' leave?"
"Really? On the Isle, women just worked until they gave birth."
"Yeah well you're not doing that here," Macaria said firmly. "Be pampered like all us moms and mom's to be."
Uma chuckled. "I don't do pampering Macaria. You know that. Though I think Harry does. After he got over the shock of me being pregnant, he rushed online to start getting baby things."
"Aww," Macaria smiled. "Reminds me of Gil in a way."
"Yeah well I doubt Gil was trying to style your baby's room to be fit for a future Captain/First Mate," Mal said with a small grin.
"Well of course," Uma grinned. "Can't have your little guppy be without a partner in crime now can we?"
"I think the world just shivered in fear as they heard that, if our kids are anything like we were," Mal said.
"Oh there's nothing wrong with our guppies being like us," Uma told her. "But anyway, I didn't mean to make this whole thing about me."
"Uma, it's fine. You had some exciting news that you wanted to share."
"She's right Uma," Macaria nodded. "It's fine. But is there anything you would like to eat? Since I don't think you should eat the sushi…or the pâté now that I think about it."
"And you should eat cuz, especially now that you've got your guppy," Mal added with a small nod and a smile. "And hey, you've got a ready excuse with your pregnancy cravings. What would you like?"
"Well what do I have to choose from?" Uma asked.
"Well let's have a look…hmm…since we've already got two pregnant women here, we're well equipped with avocados on crackers, nuts—both on their own and in the Greek salad, ooh dad sent his chicken! Anything sounding good?"
"Uncle Hades' chicken! Gimmie!"
Macaria snorted. "We kinda figured you and Mal would lay claim to those. Even if I did sneak a piece and you're right, it is good."
"Dad's cooking always is," Mal said with a small smile as she pulled out her phone. She had a surrogate brother to text congratulations to.
Congrats papa! Next time I see you in person, I need to give you a hug.-MBLB
Uma told you I take it? No hug necessary Mali but thanks *smiling face*-HH
Yeah she told us, and you're getting that hug *smiling face* Uma said you were already looking for baby stuff huh? -MBLB
Well yeah, she's a Godling after all. It's not like we'll have the normal amount of time to have everything. -HH
Let me know if you need company. Ben keeps saying that he wants to go shopping for baby things but I keep holding him back until we know whether or not pup's a boy or a girl. -MBLB
Thanks….hmm, that's a good point. Then again, boy or girl, our little guppy will probably be wearing blue/teal or red anyway. -HH
No worries…and I know the feeling. Boy or girl, they'll be starting out in a lot of purple or blue until they're old enough to pick out their own colors - MBLB.
We're both lucky in a way. All of our colors can be considered gender-neutral. -HH
Very true…and so are Jay and Lonnie's colors if Jay ever decides to stop dragging his feet and propose and have a kid with Lonnie. -MBLB
True…Jay's got orange I think? And what's Lonnie's color?-HH
Yeah Jay's got orange…and Lonnie's got red I think. She was wearing a reddish pink sweatshirt when she found Carlos, Jay, and me in the kitchens before Ben's coronation. -MBLB
Ah right…red's very popular it seems.-HH
Yeah it is, but getting back on topic, I haven't heard anything from Jay about whether he or Lonnie want kids. He's still out on the pro Tourney field after all and she's on the professional R.O.A.R. circuit. Not a lot of together time there. -MBLB
Well they've got off seasons and bye weeks…and Jay could always injure himself to get a day off like he did for my wedding. -HH
You still upset about that? - MBLB
Of course I am! But I know it can't be easy for Jay, it's never easy for me when Uma's called away for a delivery on her ship. Though….now that she's pregnant, that might need to be discussed come to think about it. -HH
That would be a good idea Harry. Like you said, she's a Godling so it's not like you've got the nine months that a mortal would. Last thing you want is for the baby to be born on her ship. How long has she been doing the trade routes between the kingdoms? Three years? Four? -MBLB
That seems about right. Honestly, this is going to sound strange but it's hard to think of a time when she wasn't. -HH
What? Been on a ship? I know what you mean. Uma's not Uma unless she's standing on a deck. *smiling face*- MBLB
A'int that the truth Mali. The ocean's a part of her, so's sailing. *smiling face* -HH
"Who are you texting so intently?" Macaria asked.
"Harry. Just telling the new papa congrats," Mal said.
Uma chuckled. "Tell him I say hi—and that the baby doesn't need a dagger as soon as they're born."
"Why am I not surprised?" Mal said with a chuckle of her own.
Everyone here says congrats by the way. Also your wife has said to inform you to not buy your infant a dagger as soon as they're born XD. - MBLB
What kind of pirate doesn't have a dagger with them? Besides, you all didn't blink when Henry gave Clara and Hali swords. -HH
Take it up with your wife. Also she says hi. -MBLB
Tell her I say hi back…and that she needs to tell me if she needs anything! I was two when CJ was born, I don't know the first thing about raising a kid Mali! -HH
I know Harry, and I will. Look Harry, you don't have to worry about that. You helped raise Hadie after all, and if there's one thing I know you'll do it's love your kid no matter what. There's no such thing as a perfect parent but as long as you raise them to make the right choices, according to mom, then you can't mess up. -MBLB
…You lucked out Mali, you got your dad and your mom most of your life. I…when Harriet, Sammy, Claudine, and I got Smee off the Isle, I stopped to talk to the Captain about…well his stellar lack of parenting and I told him that I wouldn't be nervous about fatherhood because I had your dad as an example of how to be a father. But…I'm still nervous Mal. What if I turn out like the Captain. What if I drive my kid to hate me? -HH
I know I did but—wait a minute, you talked to Hook and you didn't tell —okay, okay, we can discuss that later. And you know Uma and Jay will be part of that conversation too…maybe when Uma's not pregnant. Harry, you're not going to turn out like Hook. I promise. For one, you'll have Uma right there with you. And two, you're a better person than Hook is for miles.-MBLB
First off, yeah I talked to him Mali! My therapist, you know the one Ben had all us VKs go to? -HH
Yeah, how'd you end up with one of the only good ones? -MBLB
I dunno. -HH
Fair enough. -MBLB
Anyway, he said the Captain forcing Harriet to become my and CJ's mom hurt her and I wasn't going to have anyone hurt my sisters! And…and I thought the Captain would never turn out like he did but remember how much you and Uma and Jay had to bandage me up when we were kids? How…I don't want that happening to my kid. -HH
And it won't Harry! Do you really think that for one minute, Uma would let that happen? That I would let that happen? That Jay would? Not to mention you! You know what it's like to be hurt by a parent, you'd get your hand cut off before you did it to your kid! I guarantee that! -MBLB
Of course I would Mali! I'd die before I let anything happen to that kid, I haven't even met them yet and I can tell you that! But I'm still worried you know? I…I don't know what made the Captain snap back when I was four and I don't know if I'll snap the same way. I know Uma, you, and Jay won't let anything happen to my kid but…how can I trust it won't when I don't know how to keep it from happening? -HH
Mal sighed softly and looked over at Uma. You need to talk to your husband, she thought.
Is everything okay? Uma thought back. Is something wrong? Did something happen?
Nothing's wrong physically. He's just…he's got some first time papa jitters. Ben had them too though Adam and dad helped him out according to Hadie.
…Did Chip record that?
You know he did.
Think he'd accept payment for that video?
I think you've gotten us off the subject.
Right, right…is he…Mal is he regretting the guppy?
No! No! Whatever else you think Uma, do not let that thought come into your head for a second!
Then what's going one Mal? You're texting with Harry, looking all concerned…
Mal sighed softly and quickly texted Harry. Talk to your wife. Now.-MBLB
She then handed the phone to Uma, who proceeded to start texting with Harry.
"That was a lot more entertaining than it looked," Elle said as Uma went over to a corner to continue the text.
"Yeah sorry," Mal sighed. "Apparently you can take the boy out of the Isle but you can't take the years of worry that come with living on the Isle out of the boy."
Macaria smiled slightly. "Hey, I get it. Remember I live with Gil so I think I get it as much as an Auradon girl can. When I was pregnant, he always tried to make sure I had the most food. I think for a moment he forgot that we were in Auradon and that there would always be enough food for all of us because I'd get texts from Evie when he was at work asking if he'd eaten that day."
"Oh Gil…" Mal sighed and shook her head. "Unfortunately, that might be guilt from not being able to do more to protect his sisters while they were on the Isle. He lived with them when he wasn't on the ship and it honestly did him a world of good. If he lived with Gaston, he probably would have just been a clone of his brothers."
"He has brothers? He never talks about them."
"Yeah, older twin brothers. Gaston and Gaston."
"Gaston named his twin sons—?"
"It's Gaston. What about this surprises you?"
"True."
Mal chuckled. "You know there are days where I wonder if the Gaston twins will make it off the Isle or if Locklyn, their sister, will. She was in Freddy's gang back in the day."
"One of Gil's sisters, I think it was Gia, mentioned that she thought about Locklyn possibly coming to Auradon," Macaria said. "Then again, when I asked what came to her mind when she did, she said 'never, not in a million years, absolutely not, no way Jose, no chance Lance, nyet, negatori, mm-mm, nah-ha, uh-uh, and of course my personal favorite: man falling off a cliff, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo…' I didn't ask again after that."
"If it was Gia, that makes sense. Locklyn was older than her by a year and there was pretty much a rivalry there," Mal shook her head. "Gil was in the middle unfortunately and I mean that literally even though Locklyn and Gil were the same age, Locklyn was still born before Gil."
"And I thought our family tree was complicated," Melody said, shaking her head.
"Please, there's no family tree as complicated as the family tree of the Gods," Macaria chuckled.
"And that's the truth," Uma nodded as she rejoined the group.
"Solve Harry's papa jitters?" Macaria asked.
Uma shook her head. "He agreed to up his therapy visits from once a month to twice a month though so that's something though I might ask Uncle Hades to talk to him anyway. He said he didn't want to stress me out while I'm pregnant but between Mal and Harry, I've got my fill of family who're well prone to keep things from me."
"When have I ever kept something from you?!"
"Natalie," Macaria, Elle, and Uma said at the same time.
"Oh."
Melody tilted her head. "Who's Natalie?"
"A self entitled pissant who thought she was the next coming of Leah," Mal said, a slight growl to her voice that faded as her baby kicked. "Oh, sorry pup. Guess you don't like talk about Natalie huh?"
"Your guppy has good taste," Uma said just as Hadie and Herkie came rushing in.
"Macaria, I'm invoking the no judgment clause of our siblinghood," Herkie said, panting heavily.
"My Gods, what have you done? Also, that's not a word!"
"See that sounds like judgment!"
Melody shook her head. "What did you two do, who did you do it to and why did you not include me?"
"Um…Zeus, smoke bombs, and because you said you really wanted a nice relaxing visit because Percy and Maddie had kept you up for the past three nights and it was Phil's turn to be sleep deprived?" Hadie told her, quickly plopping between Uma and Mal and trying to give a look of innocence, as if he'd been there the entire time.
Mal snorted and handed Hadie a plate with their dad's chicken on it. "I think you've corrupted Herkie."
"Corrupted is such a judgy word."
"Good because I'm judging you!"
"Mal!"
"Eat your chicken and I'll pretend you were always here," Mal said, shaking her head.
"Oh yeah, I'm pregnant by the way so be careful where you swing your elbows," Uma added.
The resulting spit take of chicken right into Zeus' face as he walked into the room, his beard already stained with blue and yellow and purple smoke, made the moment all the more priceless.
"I thought I buried the hatchet with Hades," Zeus sighed.
"You did," Hadie said.
"Then why…?"
"I got some shocking news?"
"Not the chicken. The smoke bombs."
"Oh. I was bored."
"And that is probably the most terrifying sentence you'll ever hear," Mal chuckled and reached over to ruffle Hadie's hair, her chuckles drowning out Hadie's squawk of annoyance.