Chopsticks with chopsticks:
Arriving on the doorstep of a small rural cottage with decorative glass windows and a gated garden. Solar panel array in the shape of a budding flower was found beside the chimney. Had Lucifer doing the knocking for Elanye when they walked up the pathway.
"Painting of this place was one of the surviving heirlooms from house fire my brother died in," She shared, "Now hangs in Heather's bed room."
"Seems a little big for one person." Lucifer took in the dimensions.
"I had this place built for a family taken before their time," A gruff voice answered her, "Kitchen and garden for my late wife while plenty of space for my late daughter to grow. Even the windows are angled to where the sun sets and rises for them."
An old face, Lucifer hadn't seen since sin of wrath gave him a single ember from depths of wrath's ring. Whose eyes long lost their trouble making spark for a good drink and wore a wedding band. Replaced with a grief of loved ones that never faded. Despite the modern touches to his attire, still wore his old style of clothing.
"Got my letter?" He asked them, "Where is the wee one? I thought I would give him my late wife's spell book."
"Under the care of a friend while we sort this out." Lucifer stepped forward.
"Looks like the charm of Bloodmarch," He watched how Lucifer placed Elanye behind him, "Made its way to House of Morningstar."
"Uncle," Elanye held his letter, "Not why we're here."
Inside they were invited by him for a more comfortable setting to chat about his letter to his niece. Gloved hands were taken when one led the other inside with the door closing behind them. Onto his hat rack outer attire was hung and walking sticks were placed. Along with a single hat box and wicker clutch Elanye rarely carried. Gave Lucifer a chance to look around in the cozy lounge that came with an old radio. Dated furniture surrounding a fireplace with a decorative spark guard. On the mantle hung a pinged portrait draped in black fabric on the upper corners.
"Painted that myself a few centuries back on the anniversary of my late wife and daughter's deaths," Lucifer answered, "Could never bring myself to remove the black material."
"Impressive." Lucifer was shocked.
"When you can't join your wife and daughter in the afterlife," He sighed, "What else am a man to do? I followed my late wife's advice and reflected on my past while I tried to live."
"And wrote?" Elanye asked about the letter.
"Reaching out to what was left of my late wife's family," He sighed sadly, "She always said how important one was."
Being reminded of their own family ties back home had Elanye choosing to call and check in. Lucifer was left in the living room with her uncle to further carry on their chat. Already figuring out a plan on how he was going to solve this problem as he listened. By taking a seat and finding himself reconnecting with his old friend over family.
8*8
Charlie's happy scream at the news about becoming a big sister was heard all the way to the radio tower. Where Corbin was showing Alastor his newest spell books from Cannibal Town. One was called Mourning Rites and the other titled Book of Lost Souls. Which interested Alastor more than what was happening in the hotel's parlor.
"This is for you," Elanye also handed Charlie a folded blanket, "When Vaggie and you have that little one of your own."
That embroidery project was working on was revealed to be baby blankets she was magically enchanting. Each one came with the same design and same magical touch Elanye repeated. Since she sent out three others just like she gave Charlie to the sins. Also came with one of Lucifer's rubber duckies from his private collection. Handwritten notes congratulating them on their future little hell spawns.
"Call it my way of giving my blessing," Elanye hoped she wasn't overstepping, "Also a Bloodmarch tradition."
"I love it." Charlie ended up showing Vaggie.
Seeing the two smile and gush over the blanket had Elanye ready to excuse herself from their presence. Just she didn't get as far as the reception area when Charlie stopped her. Not knowing this to put to words how overwhelming this gesture was for her. Seeing as how she pictured this moment with her absent mother. Left the dear in tears and unable to truly thank Elanye using words with trembling lips.
"Why don't we sit down and talk about this over tea?" Elanye offered.
"Yea," Charlie walked out, "I don't mean to throw off your schedule."
"Now," Elanye wasn't bothered, "Now."
She got Vaggie to direct Charlie to handle Charlie while sending her owl off to message Lucifer. Pulling out her Hellphone to text her brother and Corbin that her plans have changed. Whatever they had planned for the rest of the day was going to have to wait. Aside went her hooded cloak, gloves and wicker purse behind the reception desk. As
"Want to share where all this is coming from?" Elanye asked her.
She took a seat nearest Charlie sitting on an armrest and listening to every word she had told her about. From when she had no one to talk about baby ANYTHING with of late. Questions about convincing to plan a setting up a nursery or a baby shower. Discuss baby names or try to guess the gender before doctor's appointment. Figure out her parental style and what she was going to teach. Were moments she wanted to come just talk to her mom about since Vaggie and her decided.
"She isn't here," Charlie wailed, "I am feeling lost."
"Sounds a lot like what my brother and I went through with Corbin," Elayne shared, "My brother took to the role despite his lack of experience."
"What was it like?" Charlie sniffled, "I forgot you guys raised him."
Two ended up laughing as Vaggie pointed out Elanye may have not gone through the birthing process. Led to bad jokes about how she was lucky to have missed out on naming Corbin. Fact they went through everything else may come in handy for the two of them.
"Wait," Vaggie reminded her, "Your dad."
That is when Lucifer decided to pop in just as Elanye excused herself to make tea for them. She filled him in on what they were talking about by placing her bare hand upon his face. Using their unspoken connection to show her emotions and memories. Made him go wide eyed as he reached toward that hand and grasped it. His and her eyes looked into each other as Hoo Hoo landed on her shoulder.
"Rain check on staying in tonight?" She asked.
"Glad I didn't give Zon night off. Yet." He laughed a little.
Lucifer just smiled at her giggling with her slightly squeezing his hand on her own before the two split apart. Lucifer removed his tophat and placed his walking stick near reception with Elanye's personal items. Towards his daughter he found in tears he went to sooth as best he could. Not needing to be filled in since Elanye already informed him about everything. Taking the same seat near his daughter with whatever answers she needed. Which was welcomed as they were also quickly joined by Corbin. He took the couch on the other side of the coffee table and laid his bag down.
"Um… already know what's going on," He explained, "So carry on."
"Is that?" Lucifer saw Corbin's Ducky Momo backpack.
"A gift from my Mother from the living world," He looked at it, "Kinda an endless bag of holding filled with my personal stuff."
He went on to explain it was a Bloodmarch tradition to gift your child with a magical item for their future. His brother was gifted a black corded bracelet with his birthstone and an individual star enclosed in a circle.
"Seems you already gave you an enchanted baby blanket," Corbin pointed out, "Grandpa still has mine in his cedar chest. "
"I still have Charlie's tucked away in a mansion somewhere," Lucifer reached out to the baby blanket, "I'll have to ask Zon where most of your baby stuff is being stored, but I couldn't part with it."
"Same," Corbin stated, "Grandpa insisted on keeping everything from when I was a baby. Figuring sooner or later Elanye or Wywave was going to need it for their future."
"Seems we're already got baby items for a nursery down," Charlie wondered what was stored away, "This day is starting out odd for me."
"Who knew?" Vaggie agreed.
The rest of their conversation until Elanye returned with a mismatched tea set and left over confectioneries. Apologizing that most of her baked goods have been snacked on by the hotel's residents. Since all she had left was chocolate and orange macarons with dried apple tea.
8*8
"Luci," Elanye had been blind folded, "You do know how hard it is to walk in stiletto heels with one's eyes covered. Haven't you forgotten the plans on that double date we made with Asmodeus and Fizzarolli."
"Yea I know and have perfected the talent of walking blindfolded," He kept his hand held with her own, "I just have something to show you."
"Please let it not be that awful massive, vibrating dildo." She never liked the one.
"What? No." He dismissed the thought.
He was careful in guiding her through the personal quarters of his mansion until they came to a stop. He tapped the blindfold he tied around her eyes to keep her from seeing. Since he hired Wywave work on outdated nursery that Charlie once played in. When work was finished, he ended up taking Elanye to show her before they left.
"This is me showing you I care," He would remove her blindfold, "Wasn't all talk."
View he gave her was a space he hoped would before their future children from rocking chair to the cribs. Made Elanye's lips tremble with mixture of overwhelming joy and sheer shock. This she didn't see coming when she was herself with a small manner. Had Lucifer rush to her side when he turned on a single duck lamp.
"El?" He didn't know what was wrong, "It's not what you're like or fact I hired your brother without telling you? I know you said you think about the duck lamps .. "
"No, I adore everything down to the mobile," She assured him, "I just wanted to wait till tonight."
"Wait until what?" He didn't understand.
She blushed and pulled out a hell brand pregnancy test she took when she did feel well. Worried her throwing up was just a bout of stomach flu or food poisoning of late. Had her going weak in her knees when she looked upon the results after taking them.
"Congrats," She allowed him to look at the results, "Double lines means baby and one line means no baby."
"Double lines" He couldn't believe, "How?"
"I think that night we spent as guests of my uncle," She shrugged, " … or when we got back and Christian the training grounds."
Smirk that spread across his face at the rather vocal ways they have been the past few days. First when they spent the first few nights in Ireland in a countryside cottage in a guest room. Lucifer, despite his human disguise, was rather handsy with an equally rousing Elanye. Second was when they returned to hell and were told about Corbon and Zon. Lucifer personally Elayne the old training grounds. They reserved their positions twice and peaked together at the same time.
"We're having a baby." He blinked.
"Actually." She leaned over to whisper in his ear.
He carefully scooped her up into the air when told they were twins and spun her around out of joy. Losing his tophat along the way before they went crashing on to the ground. He kept her in his lap as old fear of what she was going to through surfaced. Taking hold of her hand within his own to share his fears taking him. That vanished when she slightly tightened her hold on his hand when adjusting her fingers. Their foreheads came together as he ended up coddling her face.
"Who tell first…" one asked the other.