417 [79.7] Lovi's Announcement

…A few years later…

I was in the dreamland with Astra, enjoying tea with Cyrus at the Gazebo by the lake from my memories. Recently, I spent my days staring at him. It was an exact copy of him, but I only felt lonelier the more I looked at him.

I wonder how long it's been?

The next time he sees me, I'm going to be covered in wrinkles.

My youth will be long gone and there's no way he would want to be with me then.

Astra spoke up, startling me from my thoughts, "Brother Bale and Sister Lovi are here."

I nodded and sat up, "Let's go meet them then."

She took my hand and led me out of the dreamscape. As we woke up and sat up, I picked her up and carried her to the gate of the courtyard. 

"Knock knock!" 

Lovi's voice sang as she walked through the courtyard gate. Her hair was clipped to the side, revealing her entire face. Bale followed after her, anxiously reaching out to her as if to catch her if she were to fall. Lovi ignored him, rubbing her stomach as if to soothe it.

I eyed them suspiciously, "How is the ocean?"

Lovi let out a soft sigh as she sat down at the outside table, "It's beautiful. The waves are always so relaxing to listen to and there are even more birds now. They are all nesting right now, so we should have more babies in a few weeks."

Lene ran over to her and threw her arms around her, "Sissy!"

Lovi hugged her back, "How is my sister doing?"

"Good! My hair's getting longer."

"I know. I almost tripped over it walking in."

"Hehe!"

Zephyr heard her and also came running over. He had already managed to take off his shirt and trousers while I wasn't looking, "Sissy Hephie! Sissy Hephie!"

Lovi made a face, "It's Lovi. L-O-V-I."

"Hephie! Hephie!" He ignored her and tugged on her arm, "I'm also growing! See!"

He put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. He wore a smug smile as he showed off his new height.

"Mama said I grew an inch!"

"Wooow. So tall." Lovi clapped and then looked over at Astra who was clinging to me, "And what about little Astra? Have you grown?"

She lowered her eyes and muttered with a teary gaze, "...No. Not growing."

Lovi flinched, "O-Oh…"

I looked down in concern at her.

It's true.

She hasn't grown at all these past few years.

Zephyr snickered, "Astra won't grow cuz she won't eat her vegetables. Mama said."

I gave him a look, "I never said that to her. I told YOU that."

Astra shouted at him, "Yeah dummy! I eat them! You don't!"

"I'm not a dummy! You're a dummy!"

"No, you are! You are dumb and weak! Little baby!"

He paused then added with a smirk, "And you're a short baby who can't grow."

"AAAAAAAH!"

Astra suddenly lunged at Zephyr and started fighting him.

He screamed as he tried to protect himself, "MAMA! MAMA! SAVE ME!!!"

I groaned and pulled the two of them apart, "Stop fighting, will you?

"She started it!"

"No, you did! Dummy!"

As I attempted to separate the twins, Asmonious walked out of his room, yawning. There were dark bags under his eyes as he sat beside Lovi. However, he smiled at them, "The house is still standing? It doesn't need any repairs?"

Bale scratched his cheek, "We are thinking about making it a few rooms bigger. Do you think we could add it on?"

He nodded, "I can take a look and sketch up a blueprint."

Koale and Atta strolled inside the courtyard after hearing them. Koale asked curiously, "Are you going to build a room for me?"

Lovi grinned, "Sure. A room for you and Rose… If she ever wants to visit."

Rose poked her head out from behind the pillar, "I'm never going to visit. What if there are humans?!"

Lovi teased her, "Auntie Rose needs to learn to be more brave."

"Auniet?" Rose gave her a confused glance, "Why are you calling me Auntie?"

She rubbed her stomach, "Guess~"

"Please don't tell me you're-"

Bale shouted with joy, "PREGNANT! She's pregnant!!!"

Rose let out a squeal and clapped her hands from behind her pillar, "You really are!?"

She nodded smugly, "I am."

I muttered to myself, "I'm surprised you didn't get pregnant sooner."

Her cheeks flushed as she whined, "Master…"

Bale grinned unabashedly, "It's not like we weren't trying-"

*smack*

"Ah!" His head fell forward as Lovi's face burned red. He rubbed the back of his head, "What?"

The temperature dropped drastically as I cracked my knuckles, "And how long have you been trying?"

Lene asked, "What does pregnant mean?"

I explained, "It means there's a baby inside of Lovi."

Lene and Astra's eyes sparkled, "Whoaaaa."

Atta tilted her head and went over to Lovi, placing her hand on her stomach. She wrote down: 'Happy'

"Awww." Lovi rubbed her stomach, "We are happy too."

Zephyr stared up at us, his red jeweled eyes reflecting his innocence and curiosity, "How do you get pregnant?"

Silence dropped in the courtyard.

Koale asked curious, "I want to know too."

Rose coughed into her hand, averting her gaze with pink cheeks. 

Lovi leaned over and whispered into his ear.

I raised a glass to my lips and averted my eyes.

He furrowed his brow, "You put what where?"

I coughed out my mouthful of water.

Zephyr jumped up and down, "I wanna know! I wanna know! Big brother! Big brother! Do you know how?"

Asmonious gave me a helpless look, "Master…"

I cleared my throat, "Right… It's uh…"

Lene, Astra, Koale, and Zephyr were all looking at me with innocent gazes as if waiting for my response.

I felt my cheeks redden and cowardly replied, "It's when two adults hug all night."

I'm sorry children!

It's too early for that talk!!!

Koale made a face, "Hug all night? But I don't sleep in Rose's room…"

I patted his head feeling a bit guilty, "Just go at your own pace, Koale."

Lovi added with a serious expression, "Just remember, it's only something you can do with your mates. Okay?"

Koale looked at Asmonious, "Does Big brother have a mate?"

Asmonious flushed red.

Lovi snickered and elbowed Koale playfully, "Your big brother has never even talked to a girl that wasn't his sister, let alone shown interest in a woman."

Koale nodded, "Ohhh."

Rose added innocently, "Unless he's interested in men."

We all froze and turned to look at Asmonoius who turned a darker shade of red.

I let out a surprised gasp, "Wait… You are?"

"No!" He let out an embarrassed whine.

Lovi raised an eyebrow, "So… Women?"

He cried out, "No! I'm not interested in men or women!!!"

Bale thought about it, "Then…"

"Ughhh." He buried his face in his hands, shielding himself from the embarrassment, "Please stop asking me about it…"

I laughed, "Okay, okay. Stop teasing your older brother."

I grabbed the fruit from the table, unpeeling the skin and handing it to Lovi who ate it with a large smile.

Koale sat down and leaned toward Lovi, "How is the ocean? It looked so pretty. I've never seen such a thing before."

She smiled at him, "Want to come visit tonight?"

He looked at me in expectation, "Can I?!"

I felt an unsettling feeling settle into my chest, but I ignored it. I gave a weak nod, "I guess."

"YAAAAAAAAAY!"

Lovi laughed at him, "We can look for seashells together."

"YAAY!! Seashells!!!" He paused, "What's that?"

"You'll see."

He looked at Rose, "Are you coming?"

She shook her head violently, "Not a chance! I'm never leaving this mountain!"

Lovi stuck out her tongue, "Oh come on, Aunt Rose."

She crossed her arms, "Nope."

Lene popped up, "I want to go!"

Zephyr and Astra chimed in, "I want to go too!"

I rubbed their heads, "Not all at once."

-Because you children and impossible to control.

"You can take turns. Lene will go next time, then Zephyr and Astra can go as long as Lovi and Bale are okay with it.."

"Fiiiiine."

As they were leaving, I handed Koale and Lovi a bracelet, "Just make sure you wear this."

Lovi gave me a kiss on the cheek, "Thanks, Master. I will bring him back tomorrow night."

I waved them off, playing with my earring anxiously. I stayed in that doorway, pacing back and forth. I was ready for the earring to burn, but luckily…

It never did.

And they returned the next night without injury.

I guess I'm just being too overprotective.