"Oh...", Damien's eyes widened a bit. "I mean, it's possible that maybe...?". Everyone was looking at them. "Maybe.", Diana nodded as she smiled. "Perhaps it's better to just assume that perhaps I'm already...".
Damien kissed her on the cheek, "Better not to harm the cub/s if checking with Hera's help when better to assume...I admit I feel a bit overwhelmed, but we got all this family, Diana. I ain't leaving you, I promise.".
Diana teared up a bit, "Thank you, Damien.", as Jason glanced at Artemis, who replied, "I've been sterilized since the battle with Heracles. We can wait a bit longer, Jason.", and he exhaled in relief, "Good. Don't get me wrong, Artemis, I'd be overjoyed to have a child with you, but it feels fast for me, and besides, my mothers would be probably lecturing me.".
Tim was relieved that he hadn't rushed in with Alexa who replied, "Me too, through it was for the reason I thought I was to be married to my books.", upon his glance, and he nodded.
Komi replied, "I didn't...Are you upset?", biting her lip as she glanced at Dick, realizing that Hera predicted so right about the Tamaran sisters having children, and they could bring back their traditions and their race, even if they are half human, it's still something.
"Not in the slightest.", Dick smiled as Komi chuckled. "Okay, that's a weight then off...", she rolled her eyes. "Still, will be very curious with whatever may happen... Tamarian, Amazonian, and man..."
Poppy nodded, "That's for sure. This is going to be incredibly interesting and exciting...", stunned that she is going to be a grandmother, smiling at Hippolyta, as Sean, Daphne and Waylon congratulated here and there, feeling surprised and amazed, and yet seeing their happy faces, and seeing all the pregnant Amazons or being with their children in training and all, it made her even more emotional, and being in paradise made her even more into the honeymoon mood.
Some days passed, with the family happily chatting and getting to know each other more at meals while in between, touring around the island, spending time, training in duels and hunting.
"You alright, Poppy?", Waylon inquired of his wife as they relaxed besides a fishing stream, "I know that look when you think of something that's unable to leave your head.".
Poppy sighed softly, "Our children, they are so happy, and it makes me feel so emotional when I see them all...Hearing of grandchildren and seeing all those pregnant Amazons and those adorable warrior girls...You probably have seen that I've been treating this as a honeymoon, and I'm...I think I'm actually wanting to try again, Wally...I got this baby itch...", seeing her husband's eyes widen in surprise, knowing that it was out of nowhere, considering that she was terrified of childbirth and losing her babies again, but she feels like she's able to try again, as she hadn't truly lost her babies as they are grown up and making lives of their own.
"You... you sure?", Waylon asked. "It's been so long...", he admitted as she smiled. "Hey, if you're worried about me and menopause; not even close, Wally...", Poppy teased. "And besides, yes, it has been a long time but... I'm ready again, just for one more; hopefully normal this time.", she privately wished.
Waylon nodded; he knew that she and even himself couldn't go through losing so many children again, remembering just how many eggs didn't take even before the quintuplets.
And of course, it was a miracle with the twins in their egg as that was the hardest part there. Waylon smiled, "Of course we can try again...Perhaps Epione has a solution for you to help quit the pill there in the healing halls.".
Poppy kissed him on the lips happily, "I love you, Wally.", and Waylon responded back, "I love you too, Poppy. Oh, I got a bite!", reaching for his fishing pole, and she grinned, "Get the whooper, Wally!".
After successfully getting a hearty fish, and doing a campfire to roast and eat, the couple headed back into one of the trails to the city, and greeted the Amazons with nods and smiles, and soon made it to the healing halls, seeing Epione, and to their surprise, Hippolyta.
"Poppy, Waylon, I was starting to ask for one of the Amazons to go find you two if you had been out fishing longer.", Hippolyta replied with a nod.
Waylon replied, "Have our boys done something wrong?", worried, and Hippolyta replied, "No, fear not. It was actually more about you two...I have received a call from Menalippe, and she wanted to talk with you two about something important she had been requested by Hera to say. I was told that you two were on the way here for a reason, and I was to be here to take you two to Menalippe after you do whatever you were intended to be here for.".
Both Poppy and Waylon looked at each other as they somewhat blushed with that news, with Waylon replying, "Well... um, it was somewhat related to...". Hippolyta nodded, "I understand, I can tell from the looks it's closely related to what's been happening as of late." as she smiled.
Epione smiled, "I can help you there, Poppy. It won't take long, Waylon. Shall we?", gesturing to further inside the healing halls. "Of course, be right back.", Poppy chuckled as Waylon nodded.
Waylon glanced at Hippolyta, "Is Menalippe specific about the request of her call for us to come?", and Hippolyta shook her head, "No, she's secretive until you two come into her chambers. Her sacred place is not to be exploited to the outside.".
"Ah, I see.", Waylon replied in understanding while Poppy was instructed to strip down on a healing chair/table by Epione, "Okay, Poppy. Now, you say that you've been on this anti-conceptive pill for a long time, and you aren't to have menopause for ages yet, correct?".
Poppy nodded, "Yeah, that's correct.", and Epione replied, "Alright. Lay back while I check on the quality of your eggs before I give you the antidote to the man's world pill.".
Poppy laid back, taking a deep breath as Epione called on the magic of the healing halls, massaging and checking over Poppy's belly, humming, "Looks like you have retained your health well as your eggs are in very good condition, prime quality to be fertilized. Your womb is all healed from all the strain of the previous birth, having good strength to be able to hold a child or two if you remain human, and the birth canal looks very good, no infection or anything.".
Poppy exhaled, giving out a sob of relief, "Thank goodness...I thought I was going to be unable to hold a baby if the womb and everything wasn't healed over time...I love Dad, but he wasn't able to see the actual picture like you're doing...", as Epione had learned that the family had two priority doctors in situations, one woman and one man.
"Indeed. Okay, sit up, but don't leave that spot. Give me a moment to grab the antidote, Poppy.", Epione instructed, and Poppy nodded, sitting up, as Epione walked out for a moment to another room, and returned with a vial, a cup of water, and a bucket.
Poppy blinked, "What's the bucket for?", and Epione replied, "After you drink the antidote, it will wash out all the remnants of the pill and all your processing period if you are in the middle of it, and it will kick up your whole new ovulation for your lovemaking to conceive a baby, starting by this afternoon. The water will hydrate you up after the blood loss...Do you want to go along with it or back out? It's your choice.", giving Poppy the choice as she knew this is a whole new experience of healing for Poppy.
Poppy bit her lip at the thought of it. Waiting for the pills to kinda burn out of her system and all would take a bit of time but it's not like she and Waylon were truly on the clock or anything like that; they had plenty of time. And the whole experience didn't exactly sound too pleasant.
"How painful is it?", Poppy asked, and Epione replied, "It's like a flush on the toilet, except your body is the flush, and the bucket is the toilet. 30 seconds, maybe a minute, and then it's done for you since you're technically born with gamma genes instead of Amazon genes, through that's my guess.".
Poppy exhaled, "I see...", as it's a major difference of waiting for the pills to ebb out of her if it was normal, taking perhaps a week, and she wanted to try again at having a child, and if this kickstarts her new ovulation while taking out the old, she doesn't have to wait.
She looks at Epione, "I want to go along with it, Epione.", and Epione nodded, "Alright. Go pretend the bucket is the seat, and relax.", and Poppy nodded, moving to the edge and turned around, to grasp the edges of the bed-chair with her hands as she squatted slightly above the bucket, relaxing with a deep breath.
Epione took off the top of the vial, "Drink it whole to the last drop, okay?", tipping the vial to her lips, and Poppy nodded, "Got it.", and Epione fed her the antidote as she drank it to the last drop, and a few seconds later, she felt about the biggest painful cramp of her life as she cried out in pain, using her instincts to release, barely hearing Hippolyta's shout, "Waylon, don't! Epione got her! It will be over in a minute, maybe less!", after he called for her in worry.
Epione replied, "That's it, Poppy, very good!", as Poppy felt like she was during that time of the flood, dizzy and motionless as she felt flushed out, smelling the familiar scent of a period, along with the faint smell of the pill into nothing, and then panted as she felt better all of a sudden, seeing Epione tip the cup of water into her lips, and she gulped, closing her eyes, feeling the water rejuvenate her, with the hints of herbs, feeling the cleansing of it healing her, "How are you feeling now?".
"Like normal again, yet I think my ovulation is working now...", Poppy opened her eyes as Epione cleaned her up gently, taking the bucket away, and she nodded, "Sounds like it worked, but let me have a look again to see if you're right. Turn around and lay back.".
Poppy nodded, taking deep breaths as she turned around, scuffling back to rest on her back, blinking, "Is that normal for Amazons?", and Epione nodded, "Yes, as some Amazons prefer sterilizing herbs over Hera's magic, through it's a rarity, perhaps two or three times a decade.", humming as she checked over Poppy's belly again, and smiled warmly, "Yep, you're clearly flushed out of the pill and the progressing period, and now you're back in ovulation, with an egg starting their journey steadily. With some good tries, you're sure to end with a successful fetus.".
The memory of the pain went away as she heard the good news, and she cried happily, "Oh, thank you, Epione!", as she finished up, and Poppy sat, and Epione smiled, "You're very much welcome. You can go get dressed and return to your husband.", with a nod as she took up the bucket, heading for the bathrooms, taking away the vial and cup.
Poppy excitedly got dressed, and all but sprinted back to Waylon, "Wally, Wally! I'm fertile! I can have a baby!", hugging him with sobs of joy and happiness.
"That's great!", Waylon smiled as she chuckled, "Sorry, I'm practically acting as giddy as a little girl there, aren't I? Acting like I got a pony or something... huh, now that I think about it, why did I never ask for one?". Her mind went off track for a moment.
"Uh, Poppy, fertility, remember?", Waylon gave a small smirk while shaking his head. Poppy sheepishly smiled, "Oh, yeah. Right.", before glancing at Hippolyta, "You're going to take us to Menalippe, yes?", and Hippolyta smiled with a chuckle, "Indeed. Makes my heart glad to see you so joyful. Come along.".
The happy couple held hands as they followed Hippolyta out of the healing halls, strolling down through the city, and to Menalippe's temple/home, and Hippolyta replied, "I cannot go with you from this point. I will wait here.", as they stopped at a landing before the stairs.
Waylon smiled, "Okay...Thank you, Hippolyta.", squeezing Poppy's hand with a kiss on each other's cheek, and went up the stairs, and with a deep breath each, they stepped in reverently and respectfully, as Poppy called out politely, "Hello? It's Penelope and Waylon Jones-Wayne.".
Menalippe's soft voice echoed, "Ah, good. Come follow my voice further in, down this way.", and the couple quietly and respectfully made their way down the hall, admiring the architecture for a moment before they entered a chamber, with a peaceful-looking woman sitting on a chair, and opened her eyes with a smile, "Welcome, Penelope and Waylon, to my chamber. Come sit.".
Trading a look, they went to sit on the cushions, with Poppy asking politely, "Hippolyta said you wanted to tell us something important, Menalippe?", and Menalippe nodded, "I indeed did. I have been recently contacted by the gods, especially Hera and Hades...There is a quite unique situation involving the dearly departed sibling of Princesses Komand'r and Koriand'r, Ryand'r, calling for a way of reincarnation, hoping, asking for permission to be your new child, as he wanted to be as close to still be a brother to the princesses through Carrie and Dick in relation.".
"Really?", Poppy's eyes widened. "He wants us?", she asked as Menalippe nodded. "What will he be like?", Waylon had to ask. "Will he still be a Tamarian like he was in his previous life, or will he be perhaps more like, say, what Daphne and Sean are?".
Menalippe replied, "He will still be a Tamaran, but he won't ever accept having his old features from his past...ah, donors. He will be like his sisters with his skin color and unique eyes, but otherwise, he wants to have features from you two, and he is happily wanting to be born safely and healthy when you are human, not wanting to hurt you, Poppy. However, the method of reincarnation, if aided by Hera's magic, and with Hades' permission, it will be not like a 9-month pregnancy, for he really hopes that he can be there for Kori and Carrie when they get married.".
Poppy blinked, "How so?", and Menalippe replied, "It won't be like Nora's situation, either, as you'd be pregnant for 12 weeks, as with the changes of skin color, powers, and such, Tamarians carry their children for a year, but 3 months would be enough to safely advance your preparation for birth and all, thanks to your gamma genes and Hera's magic.".
"Wait, are you saying that a month of pregnancy equals a week?", Waylon replied and Menalippe nodded, "Yes, indeed.", as Poppy winced, "Now, I see why Komi and Kori said that they would need lots of patience for the end of the pregnancy, and why they are a couple years apart in age. So, he really wants this?", as she was stunned but it means that she could have a child again, and Komi and Kori would be over the moon to see their brother, happy and healthy in a new life.
"Yes.", the seer nodded. "I hope you don't mind a child that has a bit more of a... personality, already a part of it.". Poppy chuckled, "If you know the past and the future; you know that's not an issue... it wasn't a problem with my brother and sister-in-law with Damien.".
Menalippe smiled, "Indeed, I have seen the past. And the middle name is all yours to choose when he's born, he's happy to be Ryand'r, aka Ryan for short, of course.".
Waylon exhaled, "Wow...And Hades agreed to this?", and Menalippe replied, "Yes. And how Ryan'll find you two in your lovemaking, at the post-consummation, I have two distinct yet special marks for you two that Hera is giving through me, if that's okay with you?", holding out her hands.
Poppy and Waylon traded another look, and they smiled, "Of course, we're more than okay with it.", and Menalippe replied, "Very well. Waylon, you take my right hand in your hands, and Poppy, you take my left hand in your hands. It will feel like a warm whoosh of energy, I have to warn you, and the marks will clearly be bright tonight.".
Waylon and Poppy did what she asked, and Menalippe closed her eyes, and suddenly, there was a glow about her, causing Waylon and Poppy's eyes to close from the sudden glow, and they gasped softly as they felt a warm, serene, and strong whoosh of energy through their arms, momentarily revealing Poppy as golden, and Waylon as neon green, and then it finished, with them opening their eyes in awe and surprise, letting go of Menalippe, "Whoa...That was like a feeling of being warm near the fireplace on a cold night.".
"That is accurately well as that proved it has worked, and now you are marked for Ryan to find you. Now, I suggest you go tell the family of the news, have a splendid supper, and ask for help with a private, magical place deep on the island. I believe Komi or Kori could have an idea for that.", Menalippe smiled warmly.