"If there's much left...", Thaddeus sighed. "Sorry, but it really just is such a shame that we can't see what this place was like in its heyday; before the floods and all that. Even with Milo's help and all, there still probably was just so much lost... it's like the Roman Empire... no matter what that stool pigeon Mussolini tries; Italy will never truly replicate Rome.".
Abraham sighed, "The outer borders of Atlantis is definitely rough and in bad shape, but somehow still intact to give shape and such...", and Thaddeus shrugged, "Maybe some things can be returned back here from the outer borders...After all, we have Ketaks now and maybe other kinds of flyers as well. It's not quite a cleanup, but it's something...".
"Well, with the Heart of Atlantis now in the air, healthy and alive and strong again, we'll be fine.", Abraham smiled as they kept eating until a knock on the edge of the front door that is covered with heavy fur drapes is heard, with Milo's voice calling out, "Grandpa, Opa, it's Milo. Are you okay? Some night fishermen saw a blue glow apart between a long span of hours, lasting for a long time, and then some people heard loud noises between those times.", sounding concerned, "Did either of you fall in the shower or something?".
Many Atlantean houses are open-doored, but Atlanteans knew that heavy fur drapes or wooden doors closed down meant that the house is closed for visitors, private time for people to talk, sleep, and of course, make love.
Thaddeus raised an eyebrow, smirking at Abraham, "Well, looks like we were louder than intended, but hey, looks like the people wasn't too concerned, as we weren't bothered at all.", and Abraham blushed, "You have to admit that this isn't the surface, as we don't have glass windows or tight doors to close off noise, and besides, Atlantis is not too close in residence proximity in a way...He sounds really concerned...You go, and besides, those kids are still determined to have dessert...", with a fond smile as he stroked his baby bump.
Thaddeus nodded, getting up, and plucked a no-bake Atlantean berry pie from one of the pantry doors, placing it before Abraham, and with a reassuring kiss on the lips, he then headed to the front door as he heard another knuckle tap on the door frame.
Thaddeus took a deep breath as he stood by the door. "Milo, you hear me?", he asked as Milo stopped knocking. "Yeah, everything alright, Grandpa?", Milo responded as Thaddeus chuckled.
"Well, define alright because, well... um, we've had a big change with things thanks to the Heart in a way...", he said. Milo asked, "The Heart didn't hurt you or Opa?".
Thaddeus replied, "No... Rather that they wanted to thank us for saving Atlantis, and well, let's say that the Great Kings did something or rather three things for us in order...As you know, the whole party and celebrations had tired us out like everybody else, so we went to sleep, and the next thing we knew was that we were in a dream together, sort of like a visiting limbo of sorts...We got blessings from the rest of the family; my former wife, your father and mother, Abraham's former wife and children...".
"What?! You saw Father and Mother?!", Milo gasped in surprise, suddenly whipping the heavy fur drapes away as he came in, looking at Thaddeus before widening his eyes and exhaling, "Oh...The Heart gave you and Abraham youth...".
Thaddeus nodded, "It's me, Milo...I promise...And your parents said that they love you so much...Oh, gods, your grandmother wasn't mad at all like I worried about...She was rather happy, and she had found love again in the heavens, with Abraham's former wife, Greta, no less.", with a familiar smile that Milo recognized all too well, and he replied, "You look great...I guess I should call you Pops now...", with a small smile.
Laughing warmly, Thaddeus said, "You really are a chip off my shoulder, Milo...It was a needed reunion...They only wished they'd seen you too, but apparently, the power of the Heart is just getting its full strength back, and they had strength and determination enough to give us the choice to stay old or regain our youth again, and of course, as you're seeing now, we chose the latter.".
"Wow...So, that's two things they did for you...What's the third thing?", Milo asked, and Thaddeus blushed wryly, "Well, let's say that the loud sounds were us making up big time for the chances we long missed thanks to our former ages...".
Milo widened his eyes, and blushed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "Oh...right...That...Right, I guess that's only fair as you got your youth and virile energy back...How young are you now?".
"28, and Abraham is 25, which is great as he's glad for it...Well, I think it's better to show you than tell you, as you are going to be their... Huh, I actually have no idea what to call you considering the circumstances...Ah, you will see anyway...Just don't freak out...Abraham is already practicing being a mother hen in a way.", Thaddeus smiled and gestured for him to follow.
Milo looked at him for a moment before his eyes widened, "Ohhhh... you mean...", connecting the dots now from the rumors. "Yep.", Thaddeus nodded. "Similar to other Atlantean males when their mates are the same sex.". He took a deep breath, "This... this isn't too much of a shock for you, is it?".
Milo motioned to his own body. "Yeah; considering I'm walking around in a much better body than I was before, I think a shock isn't much of a worry.", Milo chuckled.
Thaddeus chuckled, "Touche.", as they stepped into the rustic kitchen with the dinner table, and Milo saw Abraham carefully getting up from his chair, carrying the half empty pie pan, smiling at Thaddeus, "Apparently, they were hungry for double servings each...", before looking at Milo, "Hello, Milo...", as Thaddeus kissed his cheek, taking the pan from him.
"Wow...You really are pregnant...You look great for your age...How far along are you?", Milo asked, and Abraham stroked his baby bump with an affectionately fond smile, "5 months along, though I don't know where exactly in the stage of four months to stay that way before growing a bit more later on...My children decided to be babies again, wanting to forget all the bad memories that they suffered through...".
Milo widened his eyes, "Wait, as in your children, Marlene and Klaus?", and Abraham chuckled warmly, "Indeed, through my daughter had decided to lose her original name due to the bad memories, and renamed herself Rachel...", with a smile.
Milo exhaled in surprise, remembering what he and Thaddeus once said about things if Grace was still alive and all, and that Grace wanted to name a daughter Rachel if Augustus wasn't a boy, and he smiled widely, "That's wonderful...And Klaus decided to keep his name, huh?".
Abraham nodded with a warm laugh, "Indeed, as he was five years old, he had less memories of the bad stuff, but still, it was scary, yet he was determined to be himself...", before blinking in surprise, "Oh, alright, son...Why don't you meet them? Don't be shy...You're as much as family as they are...".
Milo looked taken aback for a moment before smiling hesitantly and stepped forward to get down slightly, gently placing a hand before Abraham replied, "Rachel, say hi to Milo.", and a kick came as he felt it, gasping softly in awe, and Abraham then spoke, "You next, Klaus.", as another kick came too.
"Oh, my god...This is really happening...I'm...I'm a big brother, or is it uncle?", Milo asked, and Thaddeus hummed, "Well, it makes sense that you are part of my lineage, Milo...so, a big brother isn't too far off, through uncle fits too, as I technically remarried again with Abraham.", as he tenderly wrapped his arm around Abraham as Milo felt more kicks again before they settled back down, and Milo dropped back from the baby bump with a smile.
Abraham smiled, "Well, I think it's time for a stroll to get those legs going...After all, I'd need to be walking around to help those kids into helping them settle their stomachs, and of course, get used to the whole center of gravity with them...", and Milo replied, "Sounds good to me...You think you can get up the steps to the palace? I can't leave Kida too long, even if I'm still overprotective...I can't help it...The whole thing with Hydra is still a bit fresh...", with a sigh.
"It's understood. The fact that Rourke and Helga fooled us for all this time... honestly, how I'm not paranoid about everyone else is beyond me...", Thaddeus admitted as Milo nodded.
"Yeah, I know, I honestly keep expecting the next wave to hit or something, but so far, hopefully HYDRA kept themselves quiet in terms of sending word back where Atlantis is. Any of them that knew it died in the volcano there; keeping this place safe for sure.", Milo said.
Abraham replied, "Don't worry, Milo. I'm sure the Heart and the Great Kings know the signature of Hydra now, and they will make sure that the city couldn't be picked up by radar or anything else like they had been for the past few millennia.", as they started on their way.
Milo sighed, "You're right, you're right, Opa...Packard never picked up anything of Atlantis on the radar back in the Ulysses, and everybody would give a foot or an arm if they knew by any ship picking Atlantis up years ago and such.".
Thaddeus smiled, "Exactly.", nodding at Milo, approving of his theory. "We're too deep to be noticed.", as the city flittered and went on about their day, with nods of respect to Milo, and smiles at the couple as they recognized the tattoos and the wedding rings next to the wedding earrings, with a few surprised glances here and there, but no signs of freaking out or panicking.
"I guess they're used to rolling with the tide over the centuries as they aren't much deterred by us or my new changes.", Abraham smiled with a warm hum as he stroked his baby bump, sensing little hiccups or burps, feeling them gently moving around, probably finding comfortable spots to sleep.
Milo smiled, "I guess Kida was right...Surviving for centuries and fighting weird creatures on the hunt was normal for them, so this isn't too unusual in miracles per sec.", and the others nodded in agreement.
It wasn't too long before they reached the palace, and Thaddeus helped Abraham when he is stuck here and there, going up the stairs, and one of the guards went to talk to Milo in Atlantean, and he spoke with him in return, nodding, and smiling before looking at Abraham and Thaddeus, "The crew had been called up for lunch, and they're in the middle of eating at the communal palace table...You ready for this?".
"Not so sure now...", Abraham admitted. "To simply walk in...", frowning softly. "Don't worry, Opa.", Milo smiled. "I can explain everything to them before you two enter to keep the shock from really hurting them. Don't want Cookie or Packard to get a heart attack.".
Thaddeus nodded, "True...Is there a bench outside the room? You must be sore on your feet already, my heart.", glancing at Abraham who smiled, "Now that you mention it, yes, I need to sit down...".
Milo nodded, "There sure is a bench. Come along.", and they followed him deeper into the palace, and then with a bit of conversation with another guard, and a slit of a servant's door, a few minutes later, the guard returned with some bench pillows, placing them on the stone carved bench, smiling with respect at Abraham and Thaddeus who sat down.
Abraham sighed in relief, "That's better...", leaning into Thaddeus's shoulder, with Milo smiling, "Good. I'll be back shortly.", before heading to one of the communal doors, opening and closing it as it was down the hallway a bit, and Kida looked up, smiling, "Milo. Is everything alright with the rumors of your grandfathers' place?", as she is in the middle of eating some steamed Atlantean leaf dumplings.
"Depends on what the rumors are.", Milo chuckled as he smiled, "They're alright, actually, even better than alright...". Jacques replied, "Get to the point.", and Sia nodded as the others watched.
Milo smiled, "Turns out that the Great Kings wanted to thank them for saving Atlantis, so they got an upgrade different and better than me or Steve.".
Steve raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Really? How different?". Milo chuckled, "The kind of regaining youth.". A few eyes widened upon hearing that. "Define youth...", Peggy said as Milo smiled.
"Basically, they're back to their twenties again... and of course, that's not all.", Milo cleared his throat. "So, I know for the past few days, you've all pretty much learned about the special thing that can occur from Atlantean males when they're mated with one another...".
Sia widened her eyes, "Oh, that explains the rumor of the loud noises coming from there when the people had expected them to be elders...", as a few blushes on some of the others appeared.
Sweet chuckled, "Couldn't blame them for making up greatly for what they have missed with each other before.". Vinny replied, "So, they're waiting outside because we were used to seeing them being old and all, right?".
Milo nodded, "That's right, Vinny.", with a smile, "But the Heart also saw to gift Abraham a wonderful miracle...He's currently carrying his children who are once again babies.".
"Oh, that's what you meant by special...", Peggy nodded. "Exactly.", Milo said as he looked back to where he had come in. "Okay, you two, you can come in now, the shock is probably gone now...".
Back on the bench, Thaddeus smiled lovingly at his husband, "You ready?". Abraham took a deep breath and nodded, "Yes. Let's do this.", carefully getting up, and they strolled, opening the slightly parted door, and came in.
Cookie widened his eyes, "Blimey, you're big!", as Packard slapped the back of his head, "Cookie!". Cookie rubbed his head, "What? I ain't lying, just sayin'!".
"He does make a good point.", Steve chuckled. "Certainly carrying on fast for a single night... but I guess that's understandable, considering you two are as you are.".
"And thankfully, we have you and Milo as other cases of very rapid and radical changes regarding the human body.", Abraham smirked.
Sweet asked with a doctor's curious tone, "How far are you along?", as Abraham sat down on a large resting pillow near the table with Thaddeus's aid, and Abraham smiled, stroking his baby bump tenderly, "5 months along for the children. They used to be different ages, and now Klaus and Rachel are twins now. I never thought I'd be a carrier like this, but somehow, I feel comfortable, and I know I want to keep them safe and healthy so badly...".
Audrey replied, "I don't blame you...You guys look great for 20s-something.", smiling warmly as Mole replied, "They're really buns in the oven?".
"They sure are, though not quite that size, but they are really active when they want to...", Thaddeus smiled affectionately as he kissed Abrham on the cheek, stroking the baby bump warmly.
Sweet chuckled, "Good to know, through can I check their heartbeats?", with a smile as he had his doctor's bag, pulling out a stethoscope, and Abraham widened his eyes tearfully, "You can do that?".
"Yeah, if they are five months along, they will have pretty good development with their hearts.", Sweet nodded, and Abraham nodded happily, "Yes, please, I want to hear them! It's one thing feeling their kicks and all when they are asking for food or just answering to our voices, but hearing their heartbeats, oh, god...".
"Alright, take it easy, last thing they need is for you to get too excited and all.", Sweet told him as he got to work. "So, is it like gestation times on the surface, you know, nine months or the Atlantean time frame?", Milo had to ask.
Thaddeus blinked in surprise, "Well, we expect that it would last four months of the twins staying five months along, and then the same onwards since the carrier gestation is 24 months.", and Kida replied, "If you are not entirely sure, considering that you two aren't exactly pure Atlanteans, I will get the head royal healer.".
Abraham nodded, "Better to be safe and sure than assuming...", giving Kida permission to call a guard in Atlantean, asking for the head royal healer to come as Sweet searched over the baby bump before smiling, "Ah, here we are...They're sleeping soundly, and let's see here...Here's the heartbeat of the first one.", taking out the ear spokes, cleaning them softly before handing it to Abraham, and he kept quiet as he listened before hearing a strong, loud, fast heartbeat, and he sobbed quietly, "That is definitely Klaus...He's lively.", tears falling from his eyes in joy.
"So, you're certain that it's them?", Milo asked as Abraham nodded, "Completely. I know I can't truly explain it, I doubt we'll ever get a true answer with the Heart but...".
