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Post by Blue on Jan 26, 2010 23:45:31 GMT -5
The Yarrow canine went and packed her bag, then met the Queen of Hearts in the garden. After they exchanged a few parting words, they walked towards the waiting carriage. Cal placed a kiss on Xiven's cheek before she climbed aboard. It was sad to see her second home shrink in the distance, finally disappearing from view. Once she was home, she immediately went to visit her parent's cottage to break the news to them. They were both pleasantly surprised, which was all Cal could gave hoped for. As the months went by and her belly kept expanding, they were there for her, helping her get her business in order and giving her advice for her final months of the pregnancy. The eighth month came and went. Once Cal's belly had gotten large enough that she could hardly walk, she knew it was time to lock up her business and head back to the Court of Hearts. She sent a message to Xiven asking for a carriage to be sent to her, and within a few days she was on her way. She had asked her parents if they wanted to join her, but they did not want to crowd the room while she gave birth. Calanthe returned, and upon seeing Xiven became infinitely happier. Then the day arrived. One minute she was walking slowly along the halls, and the next she felt a huge contraction as her water broke. Thankfully, a servant was nearby and he got her to the hospital wing safely. She asked him to quickly inform the Queen of the situation as the contractions became more frequent. The doctor was a kind one, but kindness didn't help with the pain. Only when she saw Xiven enter the room did she feel a bit more relaxed. Until another contraction hit her like a raging bull. Catching her breath, she mustered out a response. "Darling, I'm just glad you're here." Turning to the doctor, she said "You had better let her stay, or I may just rip your head off. Please and thank you."Just then she got a contraction so incredibly painful she couldn't help but let out a short, but very high pitched scream. The doctor ducked under to have a look, and came up enough to announce that the first child was well on it's way. He told her to breathe, which seemed like such a task considering she was pushing what felt like a giant watermelon out of her...well, you know. But she followed the doctor's orders, and in the next 10 minutes, the first child had arrived, all purple and black like her father.  The nurse immediately cared for and wrapped up the small Xiven look-alike in a blanket. Calanthe wanted to hold her first born, but then more painful contractions came and distracted her. That would just have to wait until later. ((OOC: This is the first post I've ever done on my iPhone. And it's a damn good one, if I do say so myself XD)) ((OOC: And then I added more so poor Kari could actually reply. Sorry dear!)) |
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 30, 2010 23:33:14 GMT -5
Xiven was able to stay by Calanthe's side without any argument from the doctor. She stayed close to the woman for comfort, completely unsure of what to do being the one watching the whole ordeal. Would holding her paw be enough? It wasn't much of a comfort as far as she remembered. When the first child came out, Xiven's eyes widened in surprise at the coloration. And just about everything about the child. Was that a bipedal form? And a Torquehelm cat? Of course there was no time to dwell on the idea. The next baby was coming right then and there. And it came thankfully fast for the poor woman. With very little protest the baby was freed, and had one hell of a set of lungs on her as she escaped her prison. The doctor looked more than a little shocked, as well as Xiven. A human! That was just utterly amazing! The tiny child was handed off to the nurse as yet another contraction began.  |
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Post by Blue on Jan 31, 2010 22:37:51 GMT -5
As the next child came out, Calanthe seemed to scream in unison with her second daughter. It surprised her that it was human! She couldn't believe it, and she didn't have long to dwell on it before the next set of painful contraction came fast and furious. The first two had been relatively easy, so why was this one being significantly more difficult? Whatever the reason, the doctor reminded her to keep breathing as she was instructed to give one last large push. Gritting her teeth, she felt the third and final child come out at long last. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths so as to regain a normal heart rate again. Cal even squeezed Xiven's hand, as if to thank her wordlessly for staying by her side.  When she opened her eyes again, the nurse had already cleaned up the child. The doctor cleared his throat before he spoke. What he told the pair next was quite shocking. A nearly pure Yarrow that was completely male? How...how could that be? Cal looked at Xiven with worry in her eyes. This was their son, her son, and she could not love him because of how he was naturally. However, she knew right then and there that she could never take him home to the Gardens. He would be scorned, or worse, killed, for what he was. It brought tears to her eyes to think of that happening to her son. Her beautiful son. Cal turned again to Xiven, and spoke for the first time after completing the birthing process, her voice wavering from the stress of what had happened and what they'd been told. "What...what are we going to do?" She chose then to burst into tears, placing her face against Xiven's arm, looking for comfort. |
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Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 6, 2010 23:32:04 GMT -5
Everything was going smoothly. At least that's just what the Queen thought from what she was observing. When the last child was out, everything seemed like it had gone well. But then the doctor... the doctor just had to go and destroy the happiness.
And boy did he go and destroy it.
They had a son. Not just a son, but a true male who was mostly Yarrow. Xiven couldn't help but droop when she saw the little boy. There was no way that he could have a normal happy life, and there was no way that their mother could live in the Garden's without worrying about him being murdered.
Xiven kissed Calanthe lightly on the cheek. "Don't worry, everything is going to be fine. We can worry about that later. Right now... we should name the children and you should rest. I'll take care of everything else."
Nothing was ever going to be easy. She would just have to accept that.
The nurse offered the two other children to the parents. Xiven carefully took the human baby in her arms, while the nurse offered Calanthe the feline child. They were quite fortunate, the nurse commented before bowing out of the room and leaving the two alone.
"Ah... where should we start?"
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Post by Blue on Feb 11, 2010 22:38:35 GMT -5
Cal dried her tears with the back of her paw, and stifled back the rest that so desperately wanted to break free. "Ok. O-ok. Yes. Let's name the children."
Once the nurse left the room, she looked down at the two children in her arms. "The first one, your look-alike...she's very pretty. Like a lily, you know? All the petals open up to reveal the true nature within. Hmmm..."
She pondered that for a moment before speaking again. "How about Lilith? It's a bit more...elegant and diverse than just plain old 'Lily'. Look, she seems to like it already." Once the name was mentioned, the little black and purple bundle in her arms wriggled. Calanthe took that as a sign that the child was now indeed Lilith, and it made her smile.
The canine looked next at the human in the Queen's arms. Who knew she would produce such an interesting set of children? Her colors were simply beautiful, but she seemed like a strong individual, like her father. She deserved a name that would fit her. But she wasn't quite sure what that name would be.
"The human looks like a spirited child, but I can't think of a name for her. Do you have any ideas?"
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Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 14, 2010 2:16:31 GMT -5
"That's a perfect name for her," Xiven said as she reached out to scratch the baby kitten under the chin. The human child wiggled in protest in her arms as the woman shifted her weight. The little child grabbed at whatever it could hold with tiny hands.
This was going to be difficult. Humans were hard to take care of and... how was this all going to balance out in the palace? Xiven gave the little baby a rather serious look when Calanthe asked about a name. What sort of name would suit the little girl? Should it be a short one, a grand one from literature, or something else entirely?
"How about Castiel?" she said after a moment. "I think she needs a special sort of name that isn't eccentric. And hopefully with a name like that all of this energy will go to good use." She laughed.
That left the little boy to name. Another little boy...
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Post by Blue on Feb 23, 2010 23:46:18 GMT -5
"Castiel...I like it! It definitely suits her." she said, smiling at the newly dubbed human child. Her vibrant pink hair was so beautiful against her dark skin. The canine couldn't help but think that she and Xiven had made some pretty children together.
Now it was the boy's turn to be named. He was beautiful as well, with the black against his predominately Yarrow coat. But, looks alone wouldn't get him through what she already knew would be a tough life. He needed a name that fit him though, one that he could live up to. Suits be damned, her boy was going to go far in life!
Racking her brain for a name, it finally hit her. She looked at her son in her arms, as he lay there, asleep. "How does Azazel sound to you? It's a good, strong name. In my opinion, anyway. And I want him to be strong, no matter what happens." Cal touched her nose to his, and smiled.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 2, 2010 20:37:48 GMT -5
Xiven blinked at the suggestion for the boy. She tilted her head with a curious expression, as she looked down at him. Azazel... that wasn't a particular happy name. Though it was fitting for him, wasn't it? Especially when he had two sisters.
"Azazel," she repeated as she tapped the little boy on the nose lightly. "I think that will work pretty well for him."
She shifted the weight of the human baby in her arms. More children. Was this something to be truly happy about? Was this something that she should be celebrating when so many things had gone so horribly wrong. The smile on her face remained as she looked to Calanthe. They would just have to get through this, wouldn't they?
"We'll talk about some sort of living arrangement after you've gotten some rest. And I suppose these adorable babies should get some food and rest too."
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Post by Blue on Mar 18, 2010 22:12:59 GMT -5
Calanthe smiled again at the father of her children. Then she looked down at the sleepy children in her arms. In her eyes and in that moment, they were perfect. She knew that would change over time, but for now, all was right with the world.
Rest sounded perfect as well. She could certainly use it after all she'd been through that day. "Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea. I think we could all use a nap. Let's get the children settled first."
Once the babies were fed and placed in their crib, Cal laid back down on the bed and immediately felt a wave of fatigue wash over her. Before she drifted off, she clasped Xiven's hand one last time, and leaned up to give her a small but heartfelt kiss. Whispering "I love you" one last time, she finally fell asleep.
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A few days later, and Cal felt infinitely better. She was able to care for the children while Xiven carried out her duties as Queen. One day, while they were taking a mid-afternoon nap, she asked a nurse to look after them so she could sneak off to finally speak with Xiven. They still hadn't talked further about their future as a family, and the sooner they talked, the better. Coming to her door, she knocked lightly and waited for an answer.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 18, 2010 23:21:56 GMT -5
Xiven couldn't help but feel something choke inside when the woman said "I love you" in a faint whisper. She honestly didn't deserve to be loved by someone so sweet. Pushing the guilt and self doubt aside the Queen made a quite departure after pulling the canine into a hug. "I love you too, sleep well."
Her return to duties went smoothly. Though she was constantly debating on what to do. Calanthe couldn't stay at the palace. For one thing there was Apocalypse, for another she was a Diamond, and for a third she wanted her lover to have a real life. If anything happened to Xiven she was sure the woman would be thrown out of the palace because of Heart Pride, and honestly Xiven never knew when the clock was going to run out. Being the most powerful woman in the world meant there was a price on your head.
So what options did that leave? The Highlands really. She would be close and she would have a chance to have her own business and house independent of the Courts. It would also give the children a chance to be... somewhat free of Court politics? If some of her children had a chance of being normal citizens she would take it. And then there was the matter of her very male mostly Yarrow son. Damn, never in her life did she think she would know how her mother felt. Guh, that was sickening.
The woman was chewing her quill when there was a knock on the door. "Come in?" she said with the feather still in her mouth.
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