The little stroll back home from Bakura’s place didn’t take Dante very long to travel down while contemplating what he had walked into. His cousin, though he liked him, was hermit that avoided other people whenever he could. But it was ironic since he worked at the academy, where there would be tons of people to invade his space. But it looked like he picked a keeper in that redhead that looked so much like her mother. Pity that he couldn’t savor her first, but that was how life played out, no?

Still, he got what he came for and before long reached the Black Rose Manor. Colden had been left in charge of watching his sister and making sure she was comfortable while he was away. When Dante showed up in the foyer, Colden was reading to her while munching on an apple every few pages before sighing in relief and got up from the comfy seat. “Did you get it?”

“Relax”, he returned, and showed the salve’s container. “A good thing our dear old cousin’s around. How are you faring, love” He moved to Lotus and kissed her forehead. He gestured to Colden to leave, which he gladly did and headed out of there, likely to go see Crystaline. “Well, you won’t believe who I saw with Bakura today. Pretty sure it was a cousin of yours. A Taimi, I believe. She looks like Angela, like really does only a bit younger.” He opened the container and started to rub the salve into his hands. He helped turn her so that he could face her back and thankfully her dress was open back, otherwise he would’ve pull the dress down or hike it up. While he would of had fun with either option, the chances of family walking in on them would had made it awkward.

“Prepare yourself.” His warning came quick before the coolness of the gel would come to those tender spots on her back. His hands went to work almost immediately as they massaged the medicine into her. “Apparently she’s been made aware of my presence by that gnome of a sister of yours.”

Lotus was rolled on her side holding her very large belly. The boys were as angry as ever though they had quieted down a lot since they were getting ready for their arrival. She groaned up at Colden as she rubbed where the two were moving and flickered her red and gold eyes around the room. It had been Dante’s idea to get his cousin involved and make her salve so she wasn’t as miserable. As it were, even if she was a succubus and the boys were part incubus they were still draining her at the moment and would continue until they were born. It made her very sluggish and sort of lazy. Her overall appearance for what it was worth was still beautiful… If only for the help of her sister.

Once she heard Dante’s voice she perked up and picked her head up off the pillow. “Like I’m being murdered from the inside out.” She took another breather as she attempted to get up but couldn’t. Once her brother was out of the room she managed to look up at her lover and give him the best smile she could in the present situation. “Taimi? She’s a hermit… I’m rather shocked that she is with anyone outside of her alchemy lab. Looks may come from Angela but she is very job orientated. Maybe that’s why she and Bakura get along?” She batted her eyelashes at Dante with thought left over from their conversation.

The smell of the salve reached her nose and already she felt relaxed from just knowing it was there. She let out a sigh of relief as he began to rub it on her door back and hips. She didn’t even mind anymore that the salve was cold just that it was helping. “That doesn’t shock me. Eldora goes through Taimi for all of her potions and spell ingredients when she can’t get them by herself. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. For all, we know she warned her along time ago and Eldora isn’t one to tell us when she does anything of that nature…” She rubbed her belly and closed her eyes as Dante worked.

“They are active even now… We’re so close and the closer we get the more they suck from me so they are ready to enter the world. I feel really bad for anyone who I’ve ever done it too but I know I’ll get over it as soon as they are done eating my energy on me.” She chuckled and smiled up at Dante. “I wonder what they will look like…” She had probably asked that a thousand times but she was never really satisfied with the answer no matter how many times she had heard the same ones.

She winced a bit when he went over the tender spots with his hands. Her black hair was braided up so it could stay out of the way of her endless tossing and turning. “I am just so hungry… and tired… and I know no matter how much I eat or sleep that it’s not going to stop… I’m exhausted because of them. They are eating me alive.” She groaned a bit as she pushed herself up again with all of what strength she had. She managed to get into a sitting position and huffed a bit at how much energy it had taken.

“Are they baked yet? Can they come out? Please…?” She got really cute sounding as she turned her head to Dante to practically beg him for his sons to come yet. She drew out the please until she took another huff and groaned. “I don’t want to lay down anymore.” Angela had her on bed rest until the twins were born and to be honest it was driving her nuts. Thankfully Colden and the others were keeping her company and for the most part, Dante was good at helping her relax.

“Probably, but in any case, we can see who scares who off first then” Oh, he couldn’t wait to tell his uncle about this news, though Jarmyr likely won’t bother to care too much about it. He, like his father, had his own schemes and affairs to contend with. If anything, he would be slightly amused at best. As for Lotus, he could see that she had been dealing especially hard with this pregnancy since the children were draining her from within. He winced a bit but didn’t believe Eldora would punish him for seeing Taimi- hell it hadn’t been his idea to. All he wanted to do was to go to Bakura’s and get the salve for her sister. Plus he really didn’t start anything with her other than annoying them a bit.

His hands were firm but not overly as they worked on Lotus’ back. Dante looked up at her when she spoke about their babies. It was still very surreal that he would father children of his own, though considering how many women he had been with through the ages, the twins may not be his own ones, but they would be the first that he would recognize as his own. “Oh, I don’t know…you were never that bad on me, dearest Lotus. But fret not, it will all be over soon. Angela did say that it won’t be too long now.” He petted the back of her head to soothe her thoughts. Considering that they themselves were beautiful, he was sure that the children would be quite the heartbreakers like them. “With the two of us, the world might not be ready for the pretty little things that came from us”, he humored as he finished up massaging her. It would bring some relief for the next several hours before it would have to be applied again.

“I know, I know. And apparently they aren’t ready just yet”, he chuckled lightly. But at the same time knew that she was getting bored and bothered by not being able to do a lot of things that she normally could. He did have a devilish smirk when she exaggerated that please of hers- it was a long time since she teased him like that. “If it was up to me, then I’d let it happen already, for your sake, love.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, until they reached her belly and caressed it with one hand. They were as lively as ever, which was very good for them. “We still haven’t came up with names for them yet”, he sighed. Lotus was far better at that department than he was- the names he came up with utterly terrible- especially when he was trying to use his own as the template.

Lotus blinked up at him. “I guess not but I have always controlled myself against you. This is uncontrollable hunger. My father says this is normal though and a large part why human mothers never make it. Most incubi have to be cut out from them because they die.” However, he was fantastic as long as people weren’t in the room to distract him. He was taking good care of her and she could see that perhaps he could be a good father. Though she had kept her fears quiet about that she felt like everyone else was waiting on baited breath for that very thing.

“Which is disappointing… They need to be ready.” She rubbed her belly with him and smiled up at him. “I know you would have. You would have had them come the moment I hit bed rest. You know me too well to know that I don’t like being confined to a space. ESPECIALLY when I can’t move.”

Once he brought up the names for them she thought about it more. “Not for the lack of not trying… but… You are right it is time… and your names suck, no offense Love. Dante Two, Dantello, and Danteus…. Are rather all fine,” she started to chuckle, “names but they don’t fit our children.” Her face looked thoughtful again as it always did when she was trying think of names. “Casimir… After my brother. He saved all of us and put his heart into his family. Even for being part demon he reminded us all that it’s alright to love and protect your family. Something our mother never did… So Casimir.”

Then the expression on her face changed as she looked down below. Water was running off the bed and there was a puddle of water by her legs. “Dante,” her voice was so calm but her eyes spoke emergency, “go get Angela. Now. Also, Eldora and Steele should be nearby get them too." She hoped he knew what this meant but she was trying not to panic.

Dante was excited to see what the happy little bundles of joy would be like. Lotus definitely wanted them out regardless, but he had some sort of fascination with children. Estelle was a cute little thing that captivate much of his time until her mother grown sick of him, but now he would have some critters of his own to play with and love. “Aye. It’s been far too long since you saw the outside world or done anything you’d like. But your hard work will be worth it.”

His smile died a little when she brought up the names he had suggested. “Now, those were mostly jokes. And it was Dante II, not Dante Two.” He flashed her grin as he continued to rub her belly. In truth, he was pretty awful at names and the both of them knew it. It took a long time to even remote have an idea of what to go by. Lotus though had made a great suggestion to his ear. “Casimir…sounds like a proper name for a lovely boy. I think you’d do your brother some justice then. We can go with that.” He let his mind repeat that name, liking it more and more for one of his boys.

Just as he was about to ask for the second name, something felt off. He looked down to where her eyes went and noticed that water came from out of nowhere. This was weird, but then again he had never dealt with a pregnancy before. But she seemed to know what it meant and soon he kicked himself off the bed. “Be right back, he said with some concern on his face before he was off to seek out Angela, but not before calling out to Eldora and Steele and made sure that they were there with her.

“Angela! Something’s going on with Lotus. There was water everywhere!”, he said, nearly tripping over himself as soon as he reached her home. “Is something happening to the twins? What about her?”

“Thank you for correcting me, My Love. I will be sure to remember that when we explain to our sons what their names could have been.” She chuckled at him as she kissed his cheek softly. “Aye, Casimir was a good man and it makes a good name for our son. I only hope that he walks the same path Casimir did when it comes to loyalty to the family.”

Once they had noticed the water Dante had run out to get everyone that Lotus had asked for. Eldora looked up at Steele and nodded as she handed Estelle off to Kirika. “I don’t think he realizes what is going on,” Eldora smirked a bit after Dante had left and proceeded to go help her sister get ready.

Over in the Red Court Manor Angela was attempting to get the twins to each yummy mushy pears. When Dante came in she was making strange faces and voices to get them to laugh and take spoonfuls of the sauce. “…Water?” She looked up at Dante. “She’s in labor Dante.” Her voice went serious as she asked Lucian to take over for her. “Make sure they eat it all.” She kissed the top of her elder son’s head as she went and got her kit. “We got babies to deliver.”

Angela was one of the best midwives besides her god powers. She got grabbed her kit and quickly went to the Black Court Manor. “Hows Lotus doing?”

“In a lot of labor pain… Her contractions are getting worse… which is good considering how many false alarms we’ve had.” Eldora spoke up as she dabbed Lotus’s forehead to help her keep cool. Angela moved the bed out with a twist of her hand and motioned to Dante. “Stand behind the bed and hold her hands. It will probably help her. If I had any thought at all I would have had Eldora do it for Estelle.”

“Why so I could break Steele’s hands twice?” Eldora teased.

“Steele get me a tub of hot water and towels. They should be relatively close since we’ve been preparing.”

Dante ran as fast as he could through the crowded streets until he reached the Red Court Manor. His yells rang through the house as he searched the the matriarch. When he found her, she was tending to her own twins but as soon as he told her what had happened, she left Lucian in change and gathered whatever she needed before they went back to see Lotus. “Labor…they are coming now?” He didn’t think they would be on their way this soon. Was he ready for this? The half demon wasn’t entirely sure but one thing that he did know was that Lotus was likely ready to get them out finally.

They were met with Lotus and Steele trying to comfort her. He looked to her with a frown as he saw that she was in a great deal of pain. He was ushered over to where Angela stood behind the now turned bed and went to do as she said. He lowered his hands just before the midget spoke up and immediately he grew hesitant. “Breaking hands? Uh, is there another option in this?”

Steele silently tried to shake his head to warn his brother of the impending doom he was about to see for himself, but it was better to show him than to tell him and left it at that while he went to fetch the water and towels.

After some…negotiation given to him by Lotus, he decided to give her both his hands and hope for the best. “It will be okay, soon they will be out, safe and sound.” With Angela here, what could go wrong? Steele returned with the items and placed them wherever they were needed. “Anything else I should be doing along with this”, Dante asked, clearly showing that he wasn’t used to being in a dire situation, let alone one like this…

Angela nodded to him. “Yes,” they were quick to hurry back to Lotus to get things set up.

Once Dante showed reluctance to holding Lotus’s hand she turned her head up to him. “You get over here and HOLD MY HANDS NOW.” Her voice boomed from the pain before she finally took hold of his hands. “I hope so… Please make sure they are alright Aunt Ang.” Lotus was in so much pain but still, she was thinking of them.

“No, just make sure to get Lotus to breathe and push on my command and everything will go smoothly.” She got help from Steele who was well accustomed to this thanks to his time with Estelle and Eldora.

–

Time passed by and soon Casimir was born. Dante’s hands were hurting but once Dante got his first son in his arms he was in utter awe of the white-haired boy. Angela had already bathed him and handed him off to his father. He seemed so out of it. “Dante,” Lotus let out his name softly as Angela cleared her brow of sweat. “DANTE YOUR OTHER SON.”

Angela chuckled a bit as she calmed the mother down. “Dante prepare for round two.”

Once he was in position and they began the whole process again Lotus looked up at Dante. In between her breaths, she screamed at him. “CORBIN.” She took a heaved breath hoping he would know what that meant. The second one needed a name before he arrived. She wouldn’t feel alright until he had a name.

He had never seen Lotus like she had been just now- while it was true that she liked to dominate him, in this instance she did so in a way that wasn’t sexy but instead frightening. Perhaps because he had never angered her like that before, or better yet, he had never seen her angry. His Lotus was usually calm and collected but the birthing changed her. But to fair she was in intense pain as well.
He nodded over to Angela and coached her on the best he could. His brother and sister-in-law were quick to aid the goddess with anything she needed why he tended to the mother of his soon to be born boys.

When the first one came out, Dante was ecstatic as can be. He kept his grip on Lotus’ hands until Angela handed him off to him. He looked at the miniature verison of him, though what he didn’t expect was for him to have golden eyes. Figured that it came from her side of the family. Regardless he held him with care. I think she wanted the first one to be born named Casimir…”

Dante spoke some baby language to him and planted a kiss on top of his head. “Daddy’s here, little Casimir. Who’s daddy’s little man?’ God he would be a heart slayer like him and it made him proud. The look across his face was evident of that. “Yes, darling?”, he replied while tending to their son. It wouldn’t be until she reminded that she was having twins that he freaked out a little and handed Casimir off to Eldora before taking Lotus’ hands again. The pain definitely hurt but he just needed to endure this for them a bit longer.

“Corbin?”, he asked after she literally screamed in his ear. But in a few moments, he realized what that meant. “Yes, yes, good names for our boys. Casimir and Corbin… “ He smiled at her and continued to coach as the second one was coming into the world to join them and his brother.

—–

It had been a hell of a day but soon Dante was holding not one but two curious babies in his arms. Gods knew that if someone would have told his past self that he would not only be in a relationship but also had children, then he would have thought of them as being crazy. But as he sat at the edge of the bed and looked to his lover, he smiled as he enjoyed the little bundles that were made by the two of them.

Eldora smiled a bit at the name. “That’s a good name for him. Strong and noble as Casimir was.”

The room seemed sort of mesmerized by how Dante became so fatherly when the first son was born. Eldora certainly didn’t think Dante would just cling to it and roll with the situation. Still, Lotus pulled him back in for the second child as soon as she was ready to continue or rather when the baby was ready. Eldora took Casimir into her arms and went over with Steele to admire him.

It was clear that Angela and Dante had it well under control as Lotus told them the name of the second child. Lotus while in all of her pain gave him the smile back. She was excited about their boys.

–

Once Corbin had made his appearance in the world Angela set to making sure Lotus would be alright. Eldora and Steele greeted the second little one before taking their leave. It was sort of exciting to see the little boys with their white hair and their gold eyes.

“You already love them, Dante,” Lotus chuckled as Angela finished mending whatever the boys had broken on their way out. “I can tell.”

Angela got up and made room for him so he could be next to her. “Time to let her see her hard work. I would have let her hold Casimir before his brother’s arrival but Corbin was quicker to come than most twins.”

Lotus managed to take both boys in her arms and kissed them both. “Look at them Dante they are so handsome. They are going to be little heartbreakers when they get older. It’s just like you said… A perfect blend of you and me.” She felt their eyes stir up to her and her heart almost came out of her chest.

“I’m a mother… and I’m going to be a better mother than mine ever was.”