Milo smiled with a chuckle as Kida passed Toki into his arms, and she glanced at Abraham and Thaddeus, waving them over, speaking quietly as she inquired after the twins, and after a surprised, pleased look between the men, they asked the twins, and they gave happy squeals, agreeing with Kida's inquiry.
Kida then smiled, and then cleared her throat, "People of Atlantis, I know you've all awaited another day like this, and as you know, my dear husband's fathers has given life to two wonderful children almost a week ago, and now it's time for them to be part of the royal family. Now, you will all know their names, and their place in the city!".
"Born in happiness and joy, I announce you the firstborn, Rachel Serenity Thatch, and she will be a royal ward in the palace, yet she will be also a citizen of this grand city, with her life free to choose a passion to be part of, from hunting to being a royal advisor!", Kida announced as Thaddeus walked forward a bit, placing a brand-new, mined crystal necklace around his daughter, lifting her up in the air, wearing a Atlantean baby girl's dress.
There was an applause, but it was a bit quieter as the crowd didn't want to wake the babies or scare them. Milo chuckled at that as it felt like someone hit a good drive on a golf course with how calm it was.
Kida then announced, "Born in determination and merriment, I announce you the second born, Klaus Oliver Thatch, and he will be a royal ward in the palace, yet he will be also a citizen of this prosperous city, with his life free to choose a passion to be part of, from fishing to being a royal healer!", as Abraham walked forward a bit, placing a brand-new, mined crystal necklace around his son, lifting him in the air, wearing a Atlantean baby boy's clothes.
There was more applause, and the twins squealed in joy as they settled back in their fathers' arms and talked a bit in baby language at Toki who gurgled and cooed, and then the men joined the others, smiling and nodding.
Now alone in the center of the landing, Kida then turned around to receive Toki as Milo caressed their son's hair warmly, and Kida then cradled their son, smiling at Milo, whispering, "Just go with your gut, Milo. You are the King. Be most formal with some casualness in there, mention your surprised emotions from last night if you want to, if you're nervous.", with a smile.
"It really doesn't feel right at times...", Milo mentioned. "I mean, I know what I've been doing to help your people... but I still don't feel like a king.", he admitted to her as she nodded.
"I know, I really still don't feel like a queen myself, but this is the roles that we've been given... and we must do what we can that is best for our people, and it's 'ours', you're now as much of an Atlantean as me.", Kida proclaimed strongly as she squeezed his free hand.
Milo's heart swelled at hearing the clear proclamation in her voice, and he immediately knew he isn't truly alone. After all, the former King Kashekim, bless his soul, has seen something quite unique in the young man despite his blindness, and now with his queen, he is forever part of Atlantis, and he loves the city as much as he loves his family.
He nodded, and took a deep breath, and squeezed her free hand with a grateful smile at his wife, and walked past her, looking tall and proud which Kida took note of, with a proud smile for her husband, waiting for his speech/announcement.
"People of Atlantis, the birth of these children I feel is a sign of things to come; that it shows that the future has finally stopped dimming and is now glowing brighter by the day, that there is a future for all of us now and a sign that if we put everything we have in together, that we can achieve a true reversal of the centuries and perhaps restore Atlantis to even a fraction of its former greatness... a sure sign, that we will continue to survive despite all that has happened.", Milo said.
The crowd nodded, murmuring in agreement, smiling as Milo kept going as he took a deep breath, "I'm sure you've been waiting for this one, as many of you have seen the sight of a peculiar firework, and heard our son's breath of life faintly from the distance, knowing what it meant for you all and this city. As of yesterday, I was kept from a surprising secret of my wife, your Queen, while I was planning for our special night to watch the fireworks and celebrate our own style of New Year's Eve, to listen to our beautiful city's sounds during the festival parties and hear the distant sound of joyous laughter from all of you, unknowing of what awaited me.", wistfully smiling as he complimented the city and the people, taking Kida's advice.
Milo chuckled wryly, "My wife was truly your Queen for she had remained calm and appeared a normal pregnant woman as I've expected, with quips about seeing the fireworks and how the baby was doing, but I didn't know that I was much closer to the truth than I thought for your Queen was in labor almost all day yesterday until it became obvious early before midnight.".
"Wanted to make sure that our son was born just in time after midnight and make him one of the first to be born of this new year...", Milo then chuckled as he glanced to Kida before squeezing her hand.
Milo then smiled, "And so, today, we present to you, Prince Tokivath Andrew Thatch, the son of I, King Milo James Thatch, and my wife, Queen Kidagaskash Thatch, the crown heir of Atlantis, with the choice in passing the throne to another of the royal family if he desires to seek another path in life, from this day forward, and let it mote be!", as Kida smiled at Toki, taking off his blanket, only in his toga diaper, before lifting him into the air, showing him off to the audience.
The people cheered, applauding and smiling as the Heart of Atlantis shone through the sunlight, beaming upon Toki as he looked around in surprised curiosity before gummily smiling with a coo, and then a gifted crystal necklace appeared before Toki, from the Great Kings.
Recognizing that his mother and father has the same thing, Toki squealed happily as the crystal necklace was placed around him, and the crowd bowed, kneeling in respect and joy to hear their prince's approval and admiration before Milo then announced, "Thank you all for welcoming our son home, people of our beautiful city! You may now be dismissed to keep enjoying the remaining festival days!", with a smile.
The people chanted and sang the trio babies' names as they left, resuming their off days with nuances of having chores or some of their jobs here and there, leaving the city center, as Kida settled Toki in her arms, "See, Toki? They already are getting to know you, and they are happy.".
Toki gurgled, clasping her finger in his hand before his belly grumbled, and Milo laughed, "Couldn't agree more, Toki. Let's have all of our family join in for lunch, and I'm already excited to meet your cousins officially!".
With steady care and excitement, all the family made it up into the palace, and settled into the familiar family dining room, with Milo getting to know Rachel and Klaus, as Sia was cooing over Toki, as she is breastfeeding Kory herself.
"He's simply beautiful, Kida! Talk about a potluck of features he has from you two...", Sia complimented as Toki suckled on Kida's breast, while Kida was eating her food with a free hand and spoon.
"Yep...", Kida sighed. "He almost reminds me of Father in a way too...", she told her as Sia nodded, "I can see it; though that's mostly because of your side of things you've given him.". Sia then paused for a moment. "I take it there wasn't too much difficulty in birthing him?", she asked as Kida shook her head.
Kida replied, "I followed my instincts. I was on my knees with Milo supporting me for the first half, and I got tired and sore, and so I then went on my side...I honestly felt like I was a laboring horse in one of my given memories from Milo, but it worked as it wasn't too much painful, and then there he was, declaring himself soon after midnight...", with a tender smile.
Sia sighed softly, "You were lucky...I never blamed Kory as it was a surface childbirth for him, along with a 9-month surprise advancement in a single night, but it was much painful for me...And you just followed your instincts?...Did they feel like they were telling you things somewhat?".
Kida nodded, "Yeah. I somehow knew when I was all dilated, and then when I was all ready to push...Don't worry, Sia, you will have your instincts with Jendayi. I mean, you are clearly going through a Atlantean pregnancy this time.".
"I hope so...", Sia said. "I mean, after everything we went through with Jendayi there, I really do worry that the scary stuff isn't fully finished there.".
"You worry that there still might be complications?", Kida asked as Sia nodded, "Yeah... just a sick feeling in my stomach; and fears still lingering after how close of a call some things were.".
Kida gave her a reassuring smile, "Sia, it's going to be okay. I mean, Jendayi is part of you two, and she's a determined, strong, and positive baby girl...She has been kicking good, right?".
Sia nodded, "She has...", stroking her baby bump, and Kida replied, "So, don't be too worried, sister. But if you need to be double sure for your fears to go away, perhaps have some prematernal care from Nola for a while, to make you feel better.".
"Your logic is sound, sister...I'd do everything to be double sure...", Sia said with a determined look, and Kida smiled, "That's my sister...Perhaps you need something to distract you, to help you be busy...".
Sia exhaled, and glanced at Jacques talking with Vinny as he was thanking his papa for the pigskin ball that was a present last night before the couple left for their private time, along with the rattle present for Korbyn, and Jacques felt her eyes watching him, and he looked at Sia who smiled bashfully, gesturing with her ring.
Jacques understood the gesture, and nodded with a smile, tapping his cup with a spoon to grab the others' attention, as Sia was busy with Kory suckling and such.
"Um, sorry about that...", Jacques first apologized. "I just wanted to get everyone's attention as there's something that Sia and I wanted to say to you all.".
"You're planning on doing your ceremony vows?", Milo asked with a small smile on his face as Jacques chuckled. Well, it's not like it was a huge secret or anything, that was for sure.
Jacques replied, "I officially proposed to Sia the day she woke up, and we had planned to get married sometime after you would have given birth two months later from now, but clearly, Toki came early than expected, fully developed, thankfully, but he was impatient...", with a chuckle.
Kida giggled, "Indeed...So, are you going to do the ceremony soon?", and Sia replied with a smile, "You said that I have to distract myself somehow, and with me being pregnant, I think I'd work with the dressmakers to make my wedding ceremony dress fit me, so, perhaps within a month...".
"Sounds logical to me.", Milo nodded, and Jacques then smiled, "And well, we were hoping to do it on your birthday, son.", glancing at Vinny as his eyes widened in surprise and shock.
"Really?", Vinny asked as Jacques nodded. "Thought it was the best thing that we could possibly give you... though if you have anything else in mind for what you'd like for your birthday, we can do that too.", he said.
Vinny bit his lip, and glanced at Jacques and Sia, "I know the royal gardens is too small to fit the whole city watching because you're a princess getting married, Mom, and Papa is becoming an official prince consort, but...can we do a garden in one of the clearings, with the seeds of the flowers from the few things that survived the expedition, growing all the flowers that...my past family liked, and you could get married there, with officially making me your son?", his fingers twitching nervously as he awaited their answer and the others felt for him.
"That's actually a wonderful idea.", Sia said as she looked to Jacques. "Better yet, it's practically perfect.", she smiled as she squeezed his hand. "That's brilliant thinking there, son...", Jacques nodded. "Truly fitting for all involved, really.".
Kory gave a happy squeal in agreement as he paused in his meal, smiling at Vinny who teared up happily as he moved to hug his papa, and then hugged his mom gently, minding Kory who gurgled with a pout as Vinny ruffled his curls, as Jendayi kicked happily.
Sia smiled, "Jendayi couldn't agree more...You are part of this family, and on your birthday, it will be even more perfect for you, sweetheart.", kissing Vinny on the forehead.
Vinny blushed upon that. The past few months he really had been settling into his new life and family, which was good news for all around. Vinny really had been quick to embrace the Atlantean lifestyle and was getting along with the other children around his age range, physically, that is, not exactly the age of years they had been around.
Abraham smiled warmly, "We can help out in planning the garden, but you'll be in charge, Vinny.". Vinny felt proud and grownup when he realized that he could do a mature job to coach his family and friends in planting the garden, and he smiled, "Thank you...I promise to do my best.".
Jacques replied, "We know you will, Vinny. And we will always love you and be proud of you no matter how the big day goes, alright?". Vinny nodded with a wide smile, and so, the whole luncheon went conversationally well.
The remaining days of the festival went fabulous, and Jacques enjoyed his one day with Sia in the courtyard when the festival passed through.
Taking upon Kida's advice, Sia felt better when Nola gave prenatal tea every few days as to not get addicted but enough to ease her anxiety and worries about Jendayi, and of course, upon checking on her progress which is very good.
Weeks came and passed with Sia distracted by her wedding dress fitting, with Jacques helping out either in the garden of the biggest yet most beautiful clearing in the city for the wedding ceremony itself or in the palace feeding Korbyn with bottles and teaching him to walk better, and of course, distracting his fiance with gentle, slowly growing-passionate lovemaking often.
Finally, the day came, with Nola checking on Sia as she is being fitted for the final time. "Everything alright, your majesty?", Nola asked Sia as Sia chuckled.
"You know you don't have to refer to me as 'your highness', Nola.", Sia said. "I'm not the queen.", with a snort. "You're still a royal.", Nola pointed out. "And, Gods and the great kings forbid, should something happen... you could find yourself having to take that role...".
Sia replied with a sigh, "I pray that doesn't happen...Kida and Milo have been doing a wonderful job of sharing the duties and responsibilities of the throne while taking care of Toki...".
Nola nodded, "I can agree with that. You are looking quite beautiful, Sia. It is not too tight over the baby bump?", as Sia is being fitted with an incredibly beautiful maternity cream blue wedding gown with purple starburst designs of Atlantean style on the bottom, with a silk crown fitted with flowers from the garden.
"No...It's surprisingly loose and comfortable yet snug enough to show off...", Sia smiled warmly as she stroked her baby bump lovingly, feeling a kick, "And she loved the attention from the dressmakers...", with a giggle.
Nola laughed warmly, "Sounds like you, Sia. You just want me to check double sure that she's healthy for you to be up and walking around more than usual today?", and Sia nodded, "Yes...After all, I'm being escorted by Vinny, while Jacques is handling Kory in his place, and then of course, there's the reception party and our first dance as husband and wife, and eventually, to my secret place where I was hoping to get your permission that I'm able to finally be all passionate without holding back...I...", blushing hard with a sigh, "I want you to tell me that Jendayi's womb is all intact and stronger to handle it...I've been...Don't get me wrong, I loved it when Jacques were gentle with me all month and some change, but...my horny hormones are frustrating me, damn it...".
"I understand, but you mustn't be too upset if I tell you that it's probably for the best to avoid that... there are, of course, other ways of getting pleasure even while you're currently heavily pregnant and unable for him to... well, you know what I mean.", Nola said as she had to be honest about things with her... even if Sia wouldn't like the answer if it came to that.