Family time

Bella and Diamond where on the couch in the woman's living room. Bella's ability to put up with anything and continue anyway was impressive to me. Bella was talking to Diamond and playing with her, but Diamond was just quietly watching her mom.

I just realized I had never used my gift on kids so I didn't know if they should look different. My wives were easy to read giant balls of emotion and thought. Diamond wasn't, she was a muted light. Her thoughts didn't have from yet and her emotions were as basic as they came. She was reacting to the now and didn't seem to know anything else existed yet.

It was refreshing and calming to see such a simple mind. Until I worried that it wasn't normal. Maybe that was why Isa had told me Diamond was quiet. I walked next to Bella and into Diamond's view.

My heart almost stopped when little Diamond smiled at me with a small giggle. She also reached up for me. She knew me. Bella looked over at me and lifted the now wiggling little Diamond into her arms. "Would you like to hold her, dad?"

Oh, so carefully I lifted the solid little baby girl from her mother's arms. She had opened her mouth to tell me what to do but I saw it in her mind, so she closed her mouth again finding nothing to correct. I spoke nothings to Diamond who seemed to be happy in my arms. After I looked up at Bella, "Mind if we take her down for lunch?"

"As long as I come too, dear."

I hadn't realized my word choice might have seemed to exclude Bella. "Of course, I love your company whenever possible."

Bella smiled at me. I could feel how tired she was. The toll that babies create on the body is no joke. Tucking Diamond safely into a one arm hold I placed my hand on Bella's shoulder. I let my magic flow into her but only the smallest of streams. Bella tilted her head and rolled her shoulders. "Thank you, but maybe warn me first."

"Yes, dear. Just promise me you aren't trying to do everything yourself."

I controlled my eyes to stay focused on Bella and not flick to Vera as I tried to figure out what I had just felt. "No dear, I have Isa and Vera. I am fine. Diamond will get more on my time as she gets older. At least so far I always know what is wrong."

Bella stood up and walked next to me as we headed to the dining hall. For a change I had not put on my boots as I left my room. The girls didn't wear shoes unless going outside so we were quieter than normal as we walked down the hall.

"You might not know?"

I felt Diamond react to my tone and deeper voice. The question had scared her as she had felt me tense under her. I hadn't realized that had happened until she reacted. I looked down at her with a smile. I brought my other hand up to tap her nose gently as we walked.

"Yes, the teething phase is bad for most kids. The little teeth are sharp and painful as they break through. That might still be a while though. She is so calm I am almost worried she will turn into a right terror any moment. It is the quiet ones you have to watch out for after all."

We had made it to the stairs and down to the first landing. I raised an eyebrow at Bella, and she gave me a genuine laugh in response.

"No dear, you don't fall into that category. We know we only have to watch out for you when you become silent."

"Good to know." We made it past my brothers without anyone noticing us. Well, their living quarters. A few of my brothers were there which was odd for this time of day but not unheard of. I tried to keep myself out of their rooms. This power I had wasn't fair for my brother's or their wives.

Bella held my free arm careful not to stop me from playing with Diamond as we walked. "I wish I had more time to stay and help you. My ability to know how others are feeling would probably help you know how to help Diamond when she gets to that point."

"Yes, but even you are only one man, you cannot be everywhere and to protect us there are more important places you must be. This task you will just have to entrust to us."

We made it to the main hall. "Yes dear, and more capable and brilliant hands could not be found for this task the world over."

All the women laughed before Bella responded, "Aren't you the charmer still? I am glad you didn't have to look the world over to find me."

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs; something wasn't right. Instead of continuing to charm my wives I asked, "Where is everyone?" The floor was almost empty, which was uncommon on a day like today.

Isa had been letting me and Bella lead, she stepped up next to me to look at Diamond as she responded, "They are with Emily, she went into labor an hour or so ago." Isa grabbed my other arm and she and Bella guided me to the dining hall. I could have planted my feet and done what I wanted but I was sure I would pay for it later, so I let them guide me. Isa smiled at me as we walked, "If you can tell me who Emily is, I will let you go check on them. Though I think you have been pushing too hard again. If you cannot, you will eat with us first, dear."

I raised an eyebrow at Isa. "Let's see, Emily, Emily." I kept walking as we talked, it would be faster just to eat. My wives knew I was awful with names. They just didn't seem that important. "She is one of my brother's wives."

Isa frowned at me, "No, really? You don't say."

I sat down in my normal spot balancing Diamond on my lap with my arm still supporting her head. Vera headed into the room we used to prepare food. Bella laughed at her sister as she curled up next to me on the bench. "Am I wrong?"

"You know what I had meant, Mir." Isa was getting bolder, though if my brothers had been around Bella would have been the one doing the talking