Chapter 23: Different Development

Xavier gazed at his slumbering soulmate, his thoughts naturally drifting to Luka's pregnant belly.

Our child, he mused to himself. That's our child.

The notion both thrilled and frightened him. What would happen if their child became entangled in the chaos between Heaven and Hell?

Luka stirred slightly and snuggled closer to Xavier's body. A smile graced Xavier's face as he sensed Luka waking up.

"You're awake?" Luka mumbled, his voice drowsy. "I just want to sleep, eat some candy, and sleep, sleep, sleep..." His words trailed off as he closed his half-closed eyes again.

Xavier fought back a laugh, not wanting to disturb Luka's rest. "As you wish, my love," Xavier whispered, but Luka had already slipped back into slumber.

Xavier cherished the name River, but truth be told, he would have adored any name Luka chose. Another smile played on his lips as he, too, succumbed to sleep alongside his soulmate.

* * *

"You two did... that in my favorite spot?" Luka cringed. "Where? Did you at least clean up afterwards?"

"What?" William replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as Jonathan looked away, embarrassed. "Oh, yeah, we did." 

Luka wrinkled his nose. "I can smell it!"

"But I can't," Xavier chimed in. "And I'm quite glad about that."

"I'm going to love this new version of Luka," William chuckled.

Luka glared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Well..." William giggled. "When you carry your soulmate's child, everything happens faster. You'll experience pregnancy for five months, complete with sickness, mood swings, cravings, and all the rest."

Luka sighed. "That's just great news. Someone get me out of here; this place smells like something Will and Jonathan did, and I don't even want to THINK about it!"

William burst into laughter, and even Xavier cracked a smile, while Jonathan attempted to persuade a demon to clean up the mess.

"Alright, I'm sorry," William managed to say through his laughter, noticing Luka's umpteenth glare.

"I want candy," Luka declared as soon as William led him away from the garden. "Lots and lots of mint and strawberry candy, with chocolate milk and something sugary."

"I can already see this baby's future," William smiled, turning to guide Luka toward the kitchen. "A sweet tooth, just like their papa."

Luka hummed, no longer feeling angry or upset. It was a strange sensation for him, as he usually maintained a calm demeanor.

"I'm sorry for getting mad at you," Luka apologized as they turned right.

"It's alright," William replied, maintaining his smile, aware of another presence nearby for Luka's sake. "You can't control it."

Luka hummed in response.

"Well, look who we have here," a familiar voice sounded from behind them.

William turned around first, prepared to protect Luka if necessary, but Luka surprised them both.

"What do you want?" Luka frowned.

Leviathan stared at Luka, his mouth agape, mirroring William's astonishment.

"So, can I assume you want nothing?" Luka huffed. "Listen, I'm craving something to eat right now, and if you want to get in my way, I'll tear you into tiny pieces and cook you."

Leviathan suddenly smiled. "I see you have that fire within you."

William wanted to say something, but Luka beat him to it once again. "Fire as in anger? Yes, I do. And also, a baby that's making me extremely hungry? Guess what? I have that too!"

"I'm genuinely happy for you," Leviathan said, looking down. "And I'm sorry."

"Eh?" William looked confused at the exchange between Leviathan and Luka.

"I found my soulmate," Leviathan revealed. "I should never have pursued Lucifer; he never reciprocated my feelings. But now I'm content with my soulmate, and I'm glad Lucifer rejected me because it ended up making me save myself for her."

"Well..." Luka appeared sheepish. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

He turned to resume their walk toward the kitchen. William watched them exchange those few sentences, astounded that the typically sweet Luka hadn't said anything more.

"Perhaps you'd like to join us for..." Luka glanced around, searching for the right word. "Dinner? If we can even call it that."

Leviathan smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude toward Lucifer's soulmate that she never thought she would experience.

"Is it alright if I go and find my soulmate and have her join us too?" she asked politely, a rare occurrence coming from her.

"Do as you please," Luka nodded, walking alongside William, who had an uncontrollable grin on his face.

"What's gotten into you?" Luka inquired, laughing despite his confusion at William's constant smile.

"You were acting like a king!" William exclaimed. "The baby was the final step in solidifying the strong bond between you and Lucifer, and now you're their king too!"

"Oh..." Luka paused for a moment, then continued walking. "I suppose it would have happened regardless."

"What's going on with you?" William tried to discern something from Luka's eyes. "You're acting strange today."

"I have a baby inside me," Luka replied. "The baby is hungry. I'm hungry too, and I swear, as soon as I eat something, I'll go back to being the same shy, blushing, and maybe even quiet Luka. I need some sugar candy." He directed the last sentence towards the demons working in the kitchen.

"Alright, your majesty," one of the demons responded, promptly bringing a bowl filled with various candies in under five seconds.

Luka began unwrapping an orange-colored candy, followed by a pink one, then yellow, green, and so on.

"Can I have some too?" William asked, but the demons seemed hesitant to serve someone from Heaven. However, under Luka's puzzled gaze, they eventually obliged and brought candies for William as well.

"I'm full," Luka stated, though tears welled up in his eyes.

"Luka! Are you alright?" William jumped up in alarm at the sight of Luka's tears.

"I'm full," Luka repeated. "But River isn't. I can't eat any more of these sweets!"

It was clear that Luka's sadness and tears were not solely caused by the candy situation, but William decided not to press him further.

"River?" William interjected, for two reasons. First, to divert Luka's attention away from whatever was troubling him, and second, because Luka had never mentioned choosing a name!?

"River!" Luka beamed suddenly. "I've chosen my baby's first name!"

And then he proceeded to explain the significance of the name "River" and why he had chosen it.

"That says so much about a name!" William beamed in response. "It's a brilliant idea!"

He then bent down, placing his hands on Luka's belly. "Hello, River. I'm your Uncle William, and we're going to have so much fun together."

William wanted to add, "As long as I'm alive," but he refrained. He couldn't let Luka's mind wander to dark places again.

Luka smiled, and so did William.

"Hello, King.," someone behind them said.

Luka turned around and faced a familiar person, although he couldn't quite pinpoint where he had seen her before.

Leviathan emerged from behind the other woman and smiled at Luka. "Hello again," she greeted, taking a seat while the other woman did the same.

"I don't believe we've met before," the woman introduced herself. "I'm Kaydence."