by Lisa Oliver
“NO!” The one thing that kept Owen going was knowing Baby had a huge family and he wouldn’t have to raise the children alone.
“What did you expect?” Nanook didn’t seem shaken by Owen’s anger and despair. “Didn’t he once tell you that if one parent deserts an offspring, isn’t it only right that the remaining parent shower those children with love enough for two, or something to that effect? Baby knows only too well what neglect from both parents can do to a child’s soul and he has no wish to see it happen to your three.”
“Have you been spying on me?” Owen couldn’t work out how Nanook knew so much.
“There’s no need to spy, the Oracle isn’t only for your guidance, but ours as well. Besides, I can see in your heart, and read your bear, and you are both pained beyond repair at the separation you caused.”
Owen buried his face in his hands, his tears freezing tracks down his cheeks. “I can’t help him,” he whispered. “One child, or two maybe, I could hold one while he tended the others. But three? How can I be a help with three? I didn’t even know how many we were having the auras from his belly were so muddled. I felt sure, if I left, he would get the help he needed from his family.”
Nanook chuckled. “You would leave the raising of your offspring to the family of Poseidon, a god who still avoids his twins’ bath times if that can be avoided? Silvanus and Artemas have no wish for children of their own. Nereus has two mates that demand all his attention, and Lasse and Jason have a daughter of their own. Who in the family has the time to help Baby with your offspring? Himeros? Would you ask that his powers be restored so he can visit his grandchildren?”
“Gods, no.” Owen shuddered at the thought.
Nanook stood. “It has been said that the love of a mate far transcends anything the gods can do. I believe with all my heart, that you have not been sent more than you can handle, and indeed, as the sun rises in the sky every day, and the tides ebb and flow, your need for your mate remains constant. Don’t throw the greatest gift the Fates offer away, when a simple spot of communication with your mate would solve your concerns. That young man cares for you deeply and the longer you stay away, the less worthy he will feel.”
“How can I face him when I ruined our triplets’ day of birth?”
“It takes great courage to admit a wrong and face the consequences like a man. You insisted no less from Poseidon, do you demand any less from yourself?”
“Your wisdom, while unsought for, is apparently what I needed at this troubling time. I will return.” Owen stood, holding out his hand to the man who was like a brother to him. “Happy hunting, Nanook, and may the Fates guide your spear and show you a mate of your own real soon.”
“I will visit when the time is right,” Owen could feel Nanook’s smile as solid as the hand that clasped his own. “Fully dressed this time so as not to tempt the mate you have claimed as your own.”
“My mate is not one to be tempted.” Owen felt the energies shift as Nanook laughed and disappeared. Courage, he told himself. Courage and love will overcome. Or at least that’s what he hoped as he disappeared from his glade.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Okay, you’ve finished little poppet, so we’ll just take that bottle…” Baby carefully eased the bottle out away from his dozing daughter. “Come on guys,” he muttered, supporting one bottle with magic, while he held the other one. “If you two just stay there…” He used his magic to hold the second bottle. “And I just pick you up for a burp…” Carefully making sure he cradled his daughter’s head, he lifted her to his shoulder, rubbing gently over her back, wrinkling his nose at the smell wafting from her diapers.
Gods, I should’ve changed you all first. Who knew these babies were going to be so tiny. Silvanus had said they were perfectly formed, and there was nothing wrong with their weight or size, but to Baby who hadn’t handled anything smaller than Ollie who was five, in decades, his offspring were teeny tiny.
And smelly. How can something so little smell so bad. Baby winced as his daughter’s burp was seconded by a wet fart from son number two. The little one’s face screwed up, his cheeks bright red. Don’t cry. Don’t cry, Baby put his daughter down, hoping she’d stay quiet long enough for him to burp his sons. At least they were eating well. And three feeds in, Baby was getting the hang of using magic to hold things when he didn’t have enough hands.
But even so, Baby’s heart broke every time he cuddled one of his children. Owen should be here. But no, Baby wasn’t going to think like that. Himeros and Poseidon might have been shit parents, but he wasn’t going to be. If he had to raise his children with a combination of hugs and magic, then so be it. He just worried as he burped one son and then reached for the last child, that he wouldn’t have enough arms, or time to make sure they were all loved equally.
It will be easier when they’re bigger. At least Baby hoped so. Another burp sounded in his ear, followed by a sticky wetness on the back of his shirt – the same one Silvanus had given him. Son number two had eyes bigger than his wee belly. Baby had lost track of time, but it had to have been at least twelve hours since he’d given birth. Twelve hours since Owen disappeared without so much as a “see you later.” Baby and the infants hadn’t left the bedroom yet. He didn’t think he could handle walking around the home they’d been crafting together empty of his mate’s presence.
No more thinking about Owen. “Okay, my babies. Now for the magic trick. Dirty diapers be gone.” Baby waved his hands over the little ones. “Perfect, now you can sleep comfortably again till next time.” They would need a bath – hell, Baby could do with a shower himself, but he didn’t dare leave his offspring. His guts were aching, and that had nothing to do with the impromptu surgery Owen did, or the fixing up Silvanus did afterward.
I need food. But Baby didn’t have the energy to chew. He knew his babies should be in their cribs. Beds were not good for tiny ones to sleep on – they could get muffled by their pillows or fall off the side and damage themselves – but the thought of going into the nursery Owen had lovingly crafted was too much for him to handle.
Staring down at the three innocent faces he was now responsible for, Baby flicked up a barrier for around his bed, and then curled in beside his sleeping offspring. They wouldn’t stay quiet for long, but if he was going to be a solo parent, then he needed all the cat naps he could get. I love you babies, he thought as he cuddled around them as best he could and drifted off to sleep thinking about possible names.
/~/~/~/~/
Owen’s hand flew to his mouth as he took in the scene of Baby curled around his young ones, his animal demanding that he “see”. They were all sleeping and the mess on the floor – a litter of empty formula bottles and discarded tiny clothing – suggested the little ones hadn’t been asleep for long. The smells in the room let Owen know that while diapers were fresh, no baths had been had, and as he moved closer, he saw Baby was still wearing the shirt Silvanus covered him with immediately after birth.
Far from the pristine linen it once was, the shirt was now wrinkled and hiked up over Baby’s smooth legs. But it wasn’t Baby’s sexy form that attracted Owen’s attention, it was the dark smudges under his eyes and the lack of light in his aura. In contrast, the triplets’ auras glowed, as if calling out for him as he stood by the side of the bed.
He reached out his hand, both his bear and his own self wanting so badly to connect with the small ones. As he stroked over hair so like his own, the boy whimpered, and stirred. Baby’s eyes flew open. He sat up quickly, running his hand through his hair that hadn’t seen a brush in hours. “Bottles. I’ll need bottles. But this time, change them first. Oh fuck, and more clothes just in case these ones are dirty. How often do you change their clothes? A wash cloth – no, better make that three. No point in them sharing germs if they don’t need to. I can conjure them. Owen, where the hell have you been? I could have done with a bit of help you know.”
Straight to the point, but at least Baby had given him the opening Ow
en needed. “I didn’t think I would be much help.” Owen pushed the barrier against the bed aside and sat on the mattress. “That’s why I left. I don’t see things like you do, and when I tried to birth the young ones, their auras were muddled together and I was terrified because I’ve never been around young this small, and that with my lack of sight, I’d hurt them or worse. Even as I was cutting into your skin, I didn’t know if I was cutting far enough down your belly so as not to hurt the infants but free them safely, and I had no idea if I’d hurt you or not.”
“You left because you can’t see?” Baby stopped his fussing with the sudden mound of stuff that he clicked onto the bed.
“Well, yes, because without my animal side, I can’t see a mouth opening unless I feel for it, and while I can make out distinct limbs, I can’t if the babies are snuggled up like they are here. What if I stick a bottle into their eye, or try and lodge it between their toes because I’m holding them the wrong way around?”
“That’s bullshit.” Baby shook out a cute little onesie and refolded it. “You can ride a motorcycle. You can drive a car. I’ve seen you pick a piece of lettuce out of a salad, and a mushroom slice out of a stew.”
“Practice, my sweet one. Centuries of practice, flipping between my animal form and my human form, learning which energy signals apply to different things.”
“Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you don’t have centuries to practice here, mate.” Baby looked down at the sleeping infants, stroking over three sets of relaxed feet. His animal form still using his eyes, Owen could see the set of Baby’s jawline and the tension in his shoulders. “You know what? You’re going to have to suck it up, just like I did. I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing either, but I’m a fast learner and so are you.”
Swinging his legs over the other side of the bed, Baby headed for the bathroom. “Now you’re here,” he called out over his shoulder. “I’m going to have a long hot shower, find some clean clothes and then I’m going to the kitchen to make myself some food. I haven’t been out of this room since the birth and I feel like shit. Everything you need is on the bed. Bottles. Fresh clothes. Washcloths. Don’t forget to burp them after they’ve eaten, or they’ll get an upset tummy, and I find magic is the easiest way to deal with dirty diapers. If you send them directly to the washing machine, I’ll put them on when I’m down there.
“Our baby girl has the hardest suck – she’ll finish her bottle first. Oh, and you need magic to hold two of the bottles in the little ones’ mouths as I found I can’t hold all three and feed them at once. You might be able to, who knows, but I only have two hands. But alternate them, so none of them feel left out. It’s son number two’s turn to be held while he’s feeding this time.”
“Baby!” Owen was horrified. “Didn’t you hear me? I can’t see well enough to do any of those things. I’m terrified of hurting them.”
“You won’t hurt them, your animal half won’t let you,” Baby snapped. “And you’ll learn faster by doing things yourself. You’ve never let your lack of traditional eyesight stop you from getting out and doing things sighted people enjoy. So, you have to learn something new? Get over it. And yes, before you ask, if you’d talked to me about this bullshit before the babies were born, I would help you now, but I’m so fucked off with you, I can barely see – and yes, the irony isn’t lost on me either. I don’t want my negative attitude around the little ones. They don’t deserve it.”
“Baby,” Owen was a hair’s breadth away from begging. “I’m so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Yeah, well, your apology isn’t doing a lot for me right now. I didn’t even get to climax before the need to give birth hit me with a wallop, and I’m the one carrying the scar from that, not you. I’ve spent six months not being able to see my feet or dick, but I truly believed those were small prices to pay, seeing our babies for the first time. Were you there to share that joy with me? No. You’d run off to your domain so you could roar in the woods and sit by the fire looking all lost and tragic, mourning to anyone who’d listen you were doing the right thing. Your place is here – it has been since those little ones were conceived. Those wee innocents are as much your responsibility as mine. So, get over yourself and start being a parent. I’ve got three babies already; I don’t need a whining fourth.” The bathroom door closing had a sense of finality about it.
Owen’s mouth dropped open in shock, even as his bear moved restlessly under his skin, anxious to comfort their mate. Baby was hurting badly, and Owen knew he only had himself to blame. He’d been the one overjoyed at Baby’s pregnancy – keen to experience the joys of parenthood. His fears didn’t hit until his claws dug into Baby’s belly and the stench of blood hit his nose. Baby’s pain, the fear they both went through – I should’ve stayed. I should’ve been here. Owen wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to make up to Baby for what he’d done.
First things first though. The young. Owen looked down, his bear still lending him his eyesight. Son number one, stretched and yawned, hitting his sister on the cheek, which made her wail. Probably due to the noise, son number two woke up, also stretching and his wail was louder than his sister’s. Reaching out, Owen tested the bottles – he knew they had to be warm but not hot. He dripped some on the back of his hand, figuring if he couldn’t feel any definite heat, it must be all right.
Okay, now magic. He popped a bottle into one baby’s mouth, and then a second for his daughter. He needed to get the angle just right; the bottle not completely upright, but not too low the babies would be gulping air. Son number two by this time had really worked himself up, and for the first time in his life, Owen picked up a newborn – his son. Number two was fussy, still crying with his eyes scrunched shut, moving his head side to side when Owen tried to put the bottle in his mouth. Owen felt a moment of panic – what if he wouldn’t feed – but eventually number two got the right idea, and the sound of slurping filled the room.
But not for long. Just as Owen started to relax, he heard the sound of sucking air. His daughter. But son number two wasn’t finished, and in fact seemed to be dozing around his bottle. Oh no. Owen had heard enough videos going on about a baby sucking in too much air. Okay, magic this one, remove this one, pick this one up, and hurry, because son number one was still sucking strongly and his bottle was almost empty.
Burping – up on the shoulder – Owen knew that much. But that put his sweet daughter’s butt right at nose level, and Owen’s animal recoiled. Burp quickly little one, please.
By the time Owen was burping son number one, Baby came out of the shower. Naked in a cloud of steam. “Don’t let that one doze around his bottle,” Baby said, heading over to the dresser and pulling on a pair of sweat pants. “He needs to finish that bottle, or you’ll be feeding him again in half an hour. Later.” He stalked out of the room.
The sun was just coming up as Owen finished. All three babies were fed and clean… and wide awake. Owen, on the other hand, was exhausted. What am I meant to do with them now? It wasn’t as though he could leave them on the bed and go after Baby. I’ll just hold them, he thought, using his powers so he had an infant resting against each arm, and one cradled against his bent thighs.
“Okay, then young ones,” he said as he took in their warm glows. “So, this is life in the big wide world. How are you finding it so far?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Baby didn’t realize it would bother him so much, being away from his triplets and his mate. All the time he was in the shower, he kept straining to hear over the sound of running water – were any of them crying too loudly? Were they being fussy, or…? Baby didn’t know what else could happen. His sole knowledge about baby rearing came from a book Lasse had lent him months before and watching a half a dozen online videos.
And he didn’t have it in him, to “aww” over the cute picture Owen made burping one baby and watching over the others like a near-sighted hawk. Baby was still pissed off with his mate, and he believed he had ever
y right to be. Who in their right mind goes running off straight after a baby has been born? Oh yeah, Himeros did. And now Owen made number two on his list.
The difference being Owen did come back. Baby peered in the refrigerator, and then decided he was in the mood for Chinese, so clicked himself up a bowl of sweet and sour pork and egg fried rice. Setting it on the counter, he hunted around for chopsticks, and then went over to the coffee machine. I can have coffee again. Yay, me.
Baby’s mind would not leave him alone. Owen said he was sorry. He explained why he left. He thought he was doing the right thing at the time. Baby got the coffee machine running, doing his best to hear if there were any loud noises coming from upstairs. He couldn’t hear anything. Maybe I should go up there.
Baby sat down at the counter instead and picked up his chopsticks, stabbing at the rice. I need a freaking fork. It felt weird sitting at the counter. Now his belly wasn’t in the way, Baby could actually lean on it. The pork was delicious and the rice perfect, but Baby’s mind just wouldn’t let him enjoy his meal.
Hoping a cup of coffee would help clear his mind, Baby abandoned his meal, and made a cup. It didn’t help. Growling at the ceiling, because fuck it all, why did his life always have to be so freaking difficult, Baby laid his head on the counter – he was crying, and he didn’t have a clue why. He just knew the tears came and he couldn’t stop them.
“Baby, are you all right?” Baby shot up at the sound of Owen’s voice, immediately worried about the little ones. But Owen had brought them with him, carried in some kind of sling, bound around his chest. Baby was cross with himself for noticing all three fit comfortably.
“I don’t know if I’m all right.” Wiping his face and sliding off his stool, Baby went over, checking that six little feet were cradled but not bent, and three little heads were supported. Owen had put wee hats on them, which was cute, sort of, if Baby was in the mood to notice, which he wasn’t. Not much.
