The next night, after the clan was assigned their duties, Brooklyn started to head to his room to read and that was when Fox stopped him.

"Hi, Fox."

"Brooklyn, I came here to talk to you regarding your condition." She said.

Brooklyn put a hand on his belly. "What about it?" He was concerned.

"Since I know all too well what you're going through, you need to start preparing for them now." Fox stated. "How soon do you think they'll be born?"

"Dr. Sato thinks a few more months. If I was carrying eggs, next month, but I'm not." Brook replied.

"Well, however long it is, it helps to get ready before they're due." Fox stated.

"I know. I've been reading about it."

"That's good, but there's only so much reading you can do."

"What else can I do?" He asked.

"Learning to take care of a kid for one. Then there's learning some breathing techniques because as they get bigger, they will be putting more pressure on your organs, and you might have to find a way to breathe better. Putting diapers on." Fox explained. "Getting a nursery set up."

"True, though we always had the rookery for our hatchlings. But baby gargoyles don't need diapers like human babies do. Stone sleep takes care of the messes. They just wear their loincloths that we give them. But yeah, I'll be happy to learn the breathing techniques and get some experience taking care of a kid." Brooklyn proclaimed.

"You should also find gentle ways to exercise, like doing yoga, or swimming." Fox coaxed. "Walking is fine too."

"Thanks."

"Yeah. As for childcare, you should help Lexington when he's not patrolling or doing his inventions." Fox stated.

"I can do that when he gets home." Brook replied. "But I also can't stress myself out because I also have a baby that has a heart defect."

"Oh, Brooklyn, I'm so sorry." Fox replied in concern. "Is there anything that can be done?"

"Sato said that once he's delivered that he can take my son straight to surgery and repair it if the hole doesn't close on its own." Brook replied.

"That's good."

"Well, he did a lot of extensive surgery on Elisa when she was shot a few years ago." Brook stated.

"Yeah, I heard about that. But Elisa is a grown woman. A baby's body is a lot smaller, but I'll trust he can do it." Fox said.

"We've got no choice." Brook stated.

"We could start those breathing techniques tomorrow. You should do it soon before the twins get too heavy for you, so you know how to cope before the third trimester." Fox encouraged him. "I can do them with you or can get you some videos to watch."

"Hudson takes up the tv so much. It might be better to do this with someone who has had experience with it." Brook said.

"Oh, I'll be glad to give you the techniques needed for the breathing." She smiled. "It's really called Lamaze."

"Okay."

"I'll see you tomorrow after the clan's assignments." Fox stated.

"Alright." Brook replied.

He went to his room to do some reading. He read about exercises. Yoga, walking, and swimming were indeed good ones. Brooklyn hoped he wouldn't need bed rest while his son had this heart defect. But he still needed to avoid stress. He also ended up taking a nap.

Later, Brooklyn also thought about some names. He knew there were lots to pick from.

"I know I want to pick awesome names for you both. I especially want a strong name for you, son." He rubbed on his belly. "I just want you to make it for me." He felt the baby move under his hand. He couldn't help it that tears came to his eyes. He hoped his son would live. His daughter also moved, and he was glad to have her too. He was glad she was healthy.

…

Later, when Lex got home, he sought his red brother out to help him with taking care of Alex. Fox had talked to him. He found him reading.

"Hey, Brook. Wanna help me take care of Alex?" Lex offered.

"Hey. Yeah. I told Fox I would help out." Brook replied. He put his book down before sluggishly pushing himself up and off his bed. Lex saw how slow his brother had to get up. Brook couldn't be forced to get up in a hurry. He grunted with trying to get up.

"You need a hand up?" Lex asked. He came over to help him get up.

"Yeah, just a small one."

Lex pulled him up. "Must be a challenge to get up."

"Sometimes. Lying flat like this is more challenging to get up." Brook stated. "And they are putting more strain on my back." He held it, grimacing before he stood up. They then proceeded to the nursery to see Alex. He would need to go to bed soon.

Owen was in there waiting for them. "He's all yours, you two. I have business to take care of right now." He stated as they came in.

"Thanks. So, what do we do first?" Brook asked.

"First we see if he wants to play." Lex replied.

"Unce Lexy!" Alex said happily. The boy was in his crib, and he was reaching out for Lex to pick him up. The green gargoyle gladly picked up the toddler and cuddled him.

"Hey, Alex. It's good to see you too. I also brought a friend with me tonight to help us play. You know my brother, Brooklyn." Lex said. He held the boy to see Brooklyn watching.

"Hi, Alex." Brooklyn smiled at him, waving.

"Brookie!" Alex exclaimed.

"Yeah, that's me." Brook chuckled. "So, what do you want to do? Play games?"

"Pway!" Alex said.

Lex put Alex down and he toddled over to some toys in the toy box. He pulled out a square box that had some shapes in it. "That looks cool. The shapes." Lex said and both brothers went over to try to play the shape game with the boy once they dumped the shapes on the floor.

"Try to fit the shapes into their holes, Alex." Lex encouraged him. Brook just watched as the boy would bang the shapes on the square before finding a shape that it was meant for. But the banging on the hard plastic was a little nerve wracking.

Brooklyn's ears were a little more sensitive right now. "Is there anything we can play that doesn't involve banging?" He also felt some jumps inside him.

"Well, there's rolling the ball around, reading to him." Lex suggested. "What's wrong?"

"The banging is upsetting the twins." Brook rubbed his belly, trying to soothe them. "They're kicking me pretty good."

"Can I feel it?" Lex asked, "Real quick?"

"Okay." Brook replied. Alex was still banging on the toy to fit a star in the box. Lex came over to his brother and he put his hand on his stomach. The banging made the fetus react and it bumped Brook's belly good.

"I felt it!" Lex exclaimed with a wide grin.

"Yeah, my daughter. She's feisty." Brooklyn stated. Then there was another jump when Alex banged it again.

"How about we help ya with that, Alex? The banging is upsetting Uncle Brooklyn's babies." Lex suggested. He began to help put the shapes through the holes.

Then they got out a toy ball after putting the shape box away. It was rolled around on the floor. Alex tried to follow it. Brook and Lex both took turns rolling the ball to him and letting him get it for them.

Eventually, Alex started to get tired. But then, he had to get his diaper changed. Lex did that part, but Brook watched. His sense of smell was heightened too, and the smell was bad. The red male was glad he wouldn't be having to do that with his kids. But while on babysitting duty, he would have to, if he did it alone.

It was time to read to Alex after the diaper change. "How about you read him his book tonight?" Lex offered. He held Alex in his arms and sat on the floor while Brooklyn sat in the rocking chair.

"Sure." Brooklyn declared. He took the book from Lex. It was called Bedtime Moon.

Brooklyn knew this was good practice to read to Alex before his bedtime. He would also adapt a naptime for his own kids. He would likely do this for them when he wasn't busy with second in command duties. He would have the others do this with them too when he was busy.

The red male knew he wanted to be a great father and be there for his kids as much as possible, but from the way he had been raised, communally, his brothers, Angela, Goliath, and Hudson would also take care of them as their parents too. Together, they would keep the twins safe from bad guys and the humans that had kidnapped Brooklyn in the first place.

That thought made him shudder. What if they were looking for him in New York now?

Alex had fallen asleep by the end of the book. Lex smiled. "Good night, big guy." He said softly. He then looked up at his brother. He saw the wide-eyed look on him. "What's wrong, Brooklyn?" Lex asked in concern.

Brooklyn turned to him. "I couldn't help but have the thought of what if the ones who kidnapped me are looking for me right now here in the city?" He explained. "I really hope they don't show up here."

"We'll make sure they don't." Lex replied. "Let me put him to bed and we'll talk." He got up and took the boy to the crib and tucked him in before coming back to Brooklyn.

"I don't want to ever go back with them, Lex." Brook said.

"Did they treat you badly?" Lex asked.

"Aside from taking me from home and you guys, and Irene being obsessed with me. Forced ultrasounds. Vick drugging me and taking me forcefully and keeping me cuffed in his basement, and not letting me out for air until the hurricane was going to come before I escaped. At least Irene let me go outside." Brooklyn explained.

"Irene's place didn't sound too bad if she let you go outside, watch tv, and did things more voluntarily. The Vick guy was more forceful."

"Yeah. Even if I wasn't hungry, he would force me to eat all my meals. He had me fed three times a night." Brook stated. "I guess I needed the energy now that I think back on it."

"How are you feeling right now? Was taking care of Alex draining for you?"

"Not too bad. But I do need to go get some food. I think the twins are getting hungry." He smiled as he felt a little squirm inside him. He rubbed it.

"Can you feel every little movement they make?" Lex asked curiously.

"Just about. It feels weird being six months pregnant and they aren't ready to be born yet." Brook replied.

Brooklyn and Lex went to the kitchen to go get a snack. The red one's stomach growled loudly. Lex laughed making Brook blush. "I can't help it."

"It's fine. It's understandable." Lex grinned.

Brooklyn made himself a few peanut butter honey, and turkey and ham sandwiches, getting some cheese sticks, like string cheese, some peanut butter crackers, and some pudding for his meal. Lexington got a ham sandwich along with crackers, cheese, smokies, and some pudding. They ate their meals at the table.

"Hmm. This peanut butter and honey tastes so good." Brooklyn said.

"The twins sure do give you strange eating habits." Lex stated.

"I can't help it. They have driven up my appetite too." Brooklyn declared.

"You are eating for three after all." Lex said.

Brook nodded. He kept chowing down on his food until it was all gone. "I hope that keeps them happy for a while."

"What are you going to do now?" Lex asked.

"Probably walk around for a little bit and burn off some calories. Then I might take a nap. They do give me energy for a little bit but also make me tired too." Brook explained.

"Usually, you never take naps without it being enforced." Lex said.

"Like from bad guys. Yeah. But I need extra sleep too in my condition." Brook declared.

"I understand." Lex replied. "Well, I'm going to go work in my lab for a bit and check on Alex."

"Okay." Brook said and they parted. It had been fun to hang with his brother. He walked around the castle for a bit until he got tired and headed to his room to take a needed nap.

…..

Later on, the young clan members did a movie marathon in the tv room. They watched a few Disney movies.

Broadway had a few bowls of popcorn made and some more meat sandwiches. Angela carried in some soda drinks as well as water. Brooklyn would only be allowed one soda per night. He didn't want to drink caffeinated drinks anyway for the sake of his son.

Hudson and Goliath went on patrol later. Bronx was also in the tv room too.