"Takado Rovain, I swear I am going to send you back to your grave!" Kitty shouted, slamming open the door to their room.
"What did I do this time?" Takado chuckled, setting down the book he'd been reading.
"I said no! The moment Spikes got pregnant we were going to stop!" Kitty continued to shout. She paced around the room occasionally flipping items that crossed her path.
"You agreed to stop!"
"Stop what Kitty?"
"Trying for another baby!"
"But we did..." Takado cast a confused glance at his wife as she continued to pace around the room.
"As soon as we found out Carissa was having a baby, we stopped."
"Well either we stopped a few days too fucking late, or you have super sperm." Kitty sighed, falling onto the bed beside him.
"Either way, I hate you now."
"Wait... You're pregnant?" Takado barked with surprise.
Kitty groaned loudly, rolling away from him. Takado laughed, pulling her close and nuzzling his forehead against the back of her neck.
"I don't want to be pregnant when Spikes is." Kitty whined loudly, rolling over and burying her face in his chest.
"I don't want to be one of those people. And I already was pregnant at roughly the same time as Nadine."
"I'm going to laugh if Sabbith ends up pregnant too." Takado chuckled, his hands softly rubbing her abdomen.
"Don't even joke." Kitty rolled her eyes.
"Can you imagine that? All three of us pregnant? That sounds like hormone hell and like it's straight out of some stupid rom-com movie."
"We should have a girl this time." Takado nearly swooned, his eyes still on her stomach.
"I think a little girl would be nice."
Kitty giggled, kissing his nose.
"What would we even name a little girl?"
"Aurora." Takado squirmed lower so that his face was parallel to her stomach. A small smile on his lips as he pressed them against her.
...
“Wow...no matter how many times I see you, I still can’t believe it.” Takado chuckled letting his younger sister in the house.
“Shut up asshole.” Spikes grumbled as she made her way into the living room,
“six months pregnant or not I’ll still fight you.”
she joked, exhaustion clear in her voice.
“I doubt your husband would be okay with you trying to fight.” Takado laughed sitting across from her. He watched her furrow her brows and shake her head,
“Speaking of, how did you get away from him?”
“Geez you make it sound like he’s so bad.” Spikes chuckled, trying to figure out a comfortable position to sit with her newly large belly.
“Well, you looked kinda annoyed when I brought him up.”
“Yeah I know,” Spikes sighed, giving up and kicking her shoes off, putting her feet up on the table.
“He’s just so damn excited, and I get it, I’m excited too; but for fuck sake I need room to breath.”
she groaned throwing her head back.
“But to answer your question, I told Kitty I needed escape from him so she had him meet her at the Halloween store to pick up decorations.”
“Ah, okay.” Takado nodded,
“So, if you wanted time to yourself, why are you here?”
“Gee love you too.”
“Not trying to be a dick, just doesn’t make sense.” Takado said apologetically.
“Well, I guess I should probably get to the point.” Spikes sighed, sitting up straight and putting her feet back on the ground, bringing her gaze to lock with his,
“I, I want to know about Niklaus.”
Takado’s breathing stopped for a moment, his shoulders seemed to stiffen.
“Y-you weren’t kidding about getting to the point.” Takado said sternly, clearing his throat.
“Takado, over 8 years ago our mother told me to ask you when you were ready.” she paused, his discontent clear,
“You’re thirty years old, you’re married, have a child and another on the way; you can’t tell me you still aren’t ready to tell me about our parents.”
Ahe wanted to yell, berate him with questions, but she knew better. Knew she had to stay calm, knew she had to be patient; not just for him, but for the life growing inside her.
“I- I know.” Takado sighed, looking at her with defeated eyes,
“It’s not something you’re ever ready to talk about, but,”
He shook his head, sighing again;
“I guess I can’t keep avoiding this.”
Spikes smiled softly at her brother, nodding for him to continue.
“Just know Carissa, I’m going to tell you everything, you can’t change your mind halfway through this.” he locked his jade eyes with her golden and amethyst.
Spikes nodded hesitantly as she took in her brother’s words.
“Good. Well, lets start with our mother, Demonia. When I was little, she would tell me a story about how she and Niklaus met. First off, this was hundreds of years ago.”
“Wait what?” Spikes interrupted, tilting her head.
“Shut up and let me explain.” Takado growled slightly, quickly silencing his sister.
“As I was saying, yeah this was hundreds of years ago.Mother had an arranged marriage with Niklaus, she came from some family from Europe. Niklaus,”
he hesitated how honest he would be,
“He was the leader of his own army, he was known as a famous warlord back then. He and mother were the perfect match, at least genetically, the goal apparently was to breed extremely strong offspring.”
he sighed, trying to keep himself calm.
“Clearly, the outcome was what Niklaus had wanted. Mother said the first century or so, Niklaus was a good man, he was just feared for what he had done in times of war. As well, she said he was overjoyed when she got pregnant with me, and for the first few years of my life;”
he paused, his eyes filling with melancholy,
“I don’t remember that though. What I remember, is after he changed.
I don’t really know what happened for him to change, I don’t even think mother knew, but he slowly turned into a monster. From the time I was about seven years old, I think, I was put on an extremely strict training schedule.
That’s all I did, I learned how to fight, tapped into my abilities by the time I was ten, probably younger.
I honestly don’t remember anymore. But, during that time, I was almost always with Niklaus; he wanted the perfect warrior and I was just that.
I could never beat him though, he made damn sure of that. We would ‘spar’,”
he raised his hands making quotes with his fingers sarcastically,
“he would kick my ass until I could no longer stand, always saying it was ‘to make me strong’. During that time he also would not shut up about keeping the bloodline pure, ‘you’ll take my place one day Takado, weakness is no option. You must wed someone worthy of our bloodline’
he would tell me.
He made it clear, felines couldn’t even be a thought passing in my head.”
he sighed,
“Honestly, if it weren’t for mother, I don’t think I would have had any humanity at all growing up. Niklaus wanted a warrior, mother just wanted a child, every night she would tell me the same thing;"
he smiled softly,
“ ‘Be not the monster of tales of the night, but the sturdy consort of the Goddess’ she would say. That’s honestly the only happy memories I have from then,”
he paused,
“but even those didn’t last long, not after mother was pregnant with you.”
Spikes’ heart skipped a beat at his last words. Her arms started to tingle as her nerves at away at her.
“I remember it like it was yesterday, when mother told us, Niklaus... he smiled, but it was sick, almost malicious. He didn’t wait long to show his intentions...that sick bastard, he was fucking proud of it.”
Takado clenched his fist, his body starting to tremble.
“‘Keep the bloodline pure Takado.’ It all finally fucking made sense when mother’s vision said you were a girl. ‘This is it son, it’s going to be up to you and her to bare the perfect demon.’"
Spikes could smell the blood drawn on Takado’s palms from the strength of his grip.
“Takado...Y-you don’t-”
“I do Carissa.” Takado barked back,
“I-It’s not just for you, I need to talk about it, and it hasn’t been fair for me to keep this from you for so long.”
he lowly growled,
“I warned you, this isn’t an easy story to hear.”
Spikes nodded softly, her body shaking as he continued.
“I knew it was wrong when he told me that we were supposed to mate, it sickened me; despite all the condition training he pulled, I could still understand just how wrong it was. I should have killed him, but no matter how much I hate myself for not, I know and knew then there was no way I could have killed him; even if I died in the process.
So, I waited, watched mother the best I could; pretended to go along with his plan. Until shortly after your first birthday...” Takado’s eyes saddened before he clenched them shut, trying to fight the pain away.
“Niklaus told mother of his plans for us, the fucking idiot, he thought somehow she would agree with it. She didn’t, I wasn’t there to see how it started; but I got there as it ended...
I heard her screaming at him, she sounded like; well, a demon.
Cursing him, swearing him off, and that’s when I ran into the room...”
he paused, inhaling his sadness, avoiding his sister’s eyes.
“The last thing she said was to take you and run, and next thing I knew her body was on the ground and her head in his fist. And then I ran, I took you and ran.”
Takado kept his head down, trying to still his trembling body. His eyes were still shut, trying to remove the images that were permanently burned into his memory. He jumped, feeling a soft touch on his shoulder.
“Takado..” Spikes said softly, crouching down next to him. He looked up, surprised to see her cheeks were dry.
“I-I can’t even think of what I could even begin to say.”
she choked on her words. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, she couldn’t begin to address one without another getting in the way.
“There’s nothing you really can say Carissa.” Takado sighed quickly trying to wipe off any tears that had formed in his eyes.
“Hey, you shouldn’t crouch like that, here, sit.”
he barked scooting over so she could sit next to him. Spikes hesitantly sat next to him, still focused on trying to understand what all she was feeling.
“Takado...H-how could you keep that to yourself for so long?” she asked shakily,
“Not just for me, but for you? H-how can you live with those memories?”
“I couldn’t Carissa.” he stated softly, his eyes meeting hers,
“For a long time I couldn’t, I turned into a monster, out of fear of him finding us, fear of becoming him, fear of failing our mother. It’s been hard, but I’m finally okay.”
Spikes stared at him wide eyed.
“But,” he began cautiously,
“How are you handling this,”
he paused careful of his next words,
“honestly you’re kinda scaring me, you’re way too calm.”
a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. Spikes leaned back into the corner of the couch, loosely resting her arms on her stomach. She stayed quiet for a moment, figuring how to put her thoughts into words.
“I honestly don’t know, maybe it’s my instincts kicking in to protect the baby, or maybe I’m in shock.” she paused, bringing her gaze to him;
“I mean, it’ bad, worse than anything I’ve imagined before this. And I already want to blame myself for what happened,”
“Carissa it’s not-”
“I know.” she sighed again furrowing her brows,
“I-I’m not really good with words, you know that, but it’s undeniable that if a girl was never born, mom wouldn’t have died.
And from what I understand from everything...Niklaus would never get better regardless. I’ve already weighed a million ‘what if’s’ in my head, so I can’t understand how you let me live...”
her eyes began to water as she stared at her brother who seemed to be in disbelief.
“I’m just realizing how lucky I am to have you as my brother, I’m an adult and I want to blame me, you as a child still managed to love me.” she brought the back of her hand to her eyes, wiping away her tears,
“I’m sorry I’ve given you so much hell over the years...”
“Carissa...I-” he shook his head smiling softly,
“Come here you brat.”
he chuckled, pulling her into a hug.
“You’re my baby sister, and for a long time all I had, I love you idiot. I may have been upset, but I never would want you dead.”
he rested his chin on her head as she cried into his shoulder.
This was all they really needed, she didn’t need to know the hate he harbored for the first few years of her life, she didn’t need to know he had thought of just leaving her in the forest, or that at first all that kept him there was his promise to their mother.
She would never need to know any of it.
After all, some secrets are best to never resurface
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sabbith quietly stepped into the house, grateful Kitty had given her a spare key. She needed the few extra seconds of courage it would buy her.
She almost laughed at the sound of Kitty and Takado playfully arguing in the kitchen.
She stood in the hallway for a moment, watching the couple interact. A small frown on her face as she glanced down to her own stomach.
"Sabbith?" Kitty's voice made her jump. She looked up as Kitty trotted towards her.
"What're you doing here? I thought you were working today?"
"I was, but I took a sick day." Sabbith's eyes fell to her feet.
"I need to talk to you about something if that's okay."
"Of course it is." Kitty rolled her eyes, grinning at her before running back to her husband. She kissed him briefly before making her way back to Sabbith, calling to him over her shoulder.
"You're in charge of Damien for a while. We'll be upstairs."
Kitty linked her arm with Sabbiths, pulling her up the stairs.
"So what's going on?" Kitty asked, plopping down onto a seat.
Sabbith inhaled deeply. She sat down, her eyes on her hands in her lap.
"How are you doing? Is this baby easier that Damien was?"
Kitty sighed, resting her hands on her swollen belly. At five months it was still small, smaller than Damien had been, but it was noticeable.
"I haven't really noticed any big differences honestly." Kitty smiled gently.
"I'm sure the difference's will be a lot more noticeable after she's born."
"So it is a girl?" Sabbith moved closer.
"When did you find out?"
"Last week. I wish you could have seen Takado's face." Kitty's eyes watered. She inhaled deeply, lifting her eyes to meet Sabbith's.
"He's beyond thrilled. But quit distracting me, what did you need to talk about?"
"I.." Sabbith's eyes began to water as she covered her eyes with her hands.
"I'm pregnant."
Kitty's eyes widened, her jaw nearly dropping as Sabbith cried quietly. After a moment Kitty stood up and walked downstairs. Sabbith jumped at what sounded like loud crashing and muffled screaming.
Soon after Kitty returned, hair slightly messed up and a small smile on her face.
"Sorry about that." Kitty said as she sat down.
"I had to go beat up Takado for a joke he made a couple of months ago."
Sabbith forced a smile onto her lips, rolling her eyes at Kitty.
"No offense Sabbith but..." Kitty hesitated, fidgeting with her hands.
"Who's the father?"
"I'm not sure." Sabbith whimpered, face falling into her hands as she cried.
Kitty rushed over, wrapping her arms around her. She gently stroked Sabbith's hair for a few seconds as she cried.
"It's okay. You're still very much loved okay? I don't think of you any differently." Kitty reassured her quietly. Sabbith's arms wrapped around Kitty's waist as she continued to cry.
"We'll do whatever you want okay? I'll support you the whole time."
Sabbith cried harder, clutching onto Kitty and burying her face in the cat's hair.
"I know..." Sabbith paused, crying more before regaining her breath to continue.
"It's either Gabe, or Warren. I have my suspicions, but I'm not sure."
Kitty smiled gently, stroking Sabbith's cheek.
"Do you want to talk to them about it?"
Sabbith shook her head quickly.
"I'm terrified Gabe is going to leave. No matter the result if I tell him it might not be his. He's put up with so much from me for the last three years. This would be the final straw and I know it."
"What about Warren?"
"I have no idea what he would do." Sabbith whimpered, crying harder.
"He's been there for me when I didn't really have anyone else, no offense. I don't want to lose either of them, but I know I have to let one go. Especially after this."
Kitty grabbed Sabbith's hand and entwined their fingers together.
"Boys are stupid and whatever happens, you're going to be an amazing mom Sabbith." Kitty smiled brightly. Sabbith smiled weakly in return, her gaze traveling to her not yet swollen abdomen.
"Single, Married, with the father or not. This baby will be so loved. And if anyone wants to give you shit over it's conception, they can fight me."
Sabbith laughed through her tears, throwing her arms around Kitty once more.
"You're the best, Kitty."
"I know." Kitty joked, hugging her back.
"On the bright side, if you don't mind blue, you can have a lot of my old maternity stuff once I'm done with it."
"Thank you." Sabbith whispered, squeezing Kitty. Kitty squeezed back and brushed a hair out of Sabbith's face.
"Anything for you."
...
Spikes tossed and turned in the hospital bed, trying to force herself to attain the sleep she had lacked since getting there.
Between the excitement, anxiety, and fear she felt before during and even after giving birth to her daughter; it had kept her from any rest.
“You should be sleeping.” her husband whispered from a few feet away. She turned her head to see him rubbing his eyes mid stretch, in a chair next to the baby’s hospital crib.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” she whispered back.
“It’s okay, it’s already 8am, but you should be resting Spikes.” he scolded.
“I know,” she whined throwing her head back on the pillow,
“I just can’t sleep.”
she paused looking over at the crib.
“Can you bring her over to me honey?”
Vincent smiled and nodded, standing over the crib, carefully picking up the infant. He was a natural, cradling her softly, eyes filled with bliss.
“She’s awake.” Vince said softly setting his daughter in her mother’s arms. Spikes felt a sense of calmness as she stared into her daughter’s ice eyes.
“I’m sorry my little one, I didn’t mean to wake you too.” Spikes whispered, softly rubbing the baby’s hand with her finger. Despite her body being exhausted from over twenty four hours in labor, she still didn’t want to sleep, only wanted to hold her daughter.
“We have to officially decide on her name still.” Vincent stated happily as brought his chair to the bedside.
“I thought we agreed on Lenore?”
“We did, but what about her middle name?” he asked causing Spikes to tilt her head.
“Do you even have a middle name?”
he questioned.
“I’m your wife and you don’t know my middle name?” she laughed, pretending to be hurt, “Actually...um no I don’t think I do...I mean I’m sure my mom gave me a middle name but Takado never told me.”
“He probably just doesn’t remember it-"
“Oh, good you’re all awake.” A nurse walked in seeming unusually chipper.
“How are you doing today Carissa?”
she asked, wrapping the cuff around Spikes’ arm to check her blood pressure.
“Physically still pretty worn out, but I couldn’t be happier.”
“That’s great! Okay daddy, you need to take your little girl so I can check momma’s blood pressure.” Spikes frowned slightly, but nodded at Vince who eagerly picked up his daughter.
Spikes watched Vincent slowly pace around the room, humming to their daughter.
She smiled, the nurse’s words fading into a low drull; she nodded when she thought appropriate, but her eyes never left her small family.
She eventually brought her attention back to the nurse, went through the small yet tedious tests that were necessary for her to be able to discharge by the next morning.
Had to have Vincent hold her back from compelling the nurse to death when she caused Lenore to cry from the cold stethoscope.
“Okay, she’s gone now Spikes, you can let yourself calm down.” Vincent chuckled setting Lenore back in the crib.
“Hey! I wanted to hold her again...” Spikes whined.
“I know, but you need to eat and we’re gonna have vis-” he was cut off again but this time by Kitty nearly bursting through the door, Takado following behind with Damien on his hip.
“Okay, where is my niece?!” Kitty exclaimed with excitement.
“She’s right over here.” Vincent smiled picking Lenore back up. Kitty carefully took the infant into her arms.
“She’s so beautiful.” Kitty whispered, already starting to tear up. She looked up at Vince who pointed her to the seat next to the bedside.
“How you holding up Carissa?” Takado asked leaning over to give her a one armed hug, Damien desperately trying to hug her first.
“Pike! Pike!” Damien began to holler enthusiastically,
“aunie Pike!”
“I missed you too kiddo.” Spikes laughed leaning forward to take him from Takado.
“But ya gotta try to keep your voice down, okay bud? Your cousin has really sensitive ears.”
She scooted over so he could sit down next to her.
“See, she’s a tiny baby.” Kitty said softly, sitting next to the bed so he could see Lenore.
“You want to hold her?” Spikes asked Damien.
The toddler’s eyes lit up as he nodded vigorously.
“That's a great idea,” Kitty smiled,
“Okay Damien, get comfy so you can hold her.”
she smiled at Spikes who seemed nervous. She put Lenore on his lap so her head was next to Spikes who helped Damien hold her. Damien stared at the baby in amazement, smiling from ear to ear as he looked up at his mother.
“Mom, ook.” he whispered, “he o oft.” he was radiating excitement, but stayed still.
“She is really soft, you have to be very gentle with her.” Kitty spoke softly.
“And to answer your question Takado, I’m actually doing great.” Spikes smiled up at her brother who leaned over to look at the baby.
“Good, she’s beautiful Rissa.” he straightened back up walking to Vincent,
“You did good man, congratulations.”
he smiled patting the felines shoulder.
“Thanks Takado.” Vincent beamed watching the girls with the little ones.
“Okay, I am actually getting pretty hungry.” Spikes spoke up getting Vincent’s attention,
“Can you boys go get us some food?”
she asked sweetly,
“And I’m sure if you ask nicely uncle Vince will get you something too.”
she smiled lightly poking Damien's nose causing him to giggle. She pulled Lenore into her arms as Takado helped Damien off the bed.
“Wait, do we all have to go?” Takado questioned. Spikes looked over at Kitty who understood her look.
“Hey honeyyyy, I want some yogurt!” Kitty cooed smiling at her husband.
“Okay, girl time, I got it. Lets go!”
“Anything you’re craving Spikes?” Vincent asked, leaning over and kissing her forehead, then his daughter's.
“Eggs! Meat! Coffee!” she exclaimed. Vincent chuckled and nodded, leaving the three girls alone.
“So is he already driving you insane?” Kitty joked.
“No, I actually am pretty hungry,” Spikes laughed,
“but also I just really wanted to talk to you in private.”
she lightly stroked Lenore’s soft silver hair.
“Oh no.”
“It’s nothing bad, just...Kitty, I wanted to thank you.” she turned her head away from her daughter to look at her best friend.
“Huh? What for?” the feline questioned.
“For everything, everything you’ve done for me since we became friends. From bailing my stupid child ass out of jail at 16, bringing back my brother, to dealing with my psychotic ass. Just everything Kitty.”
Kitty stared at her, eyes already welling with tears,
“Honestly Kitty, if it weren’t for you, I don’t think I would have ended up choosing humanity; if you had never showed up in my life; I’m positive I’d either be dead...or I’d be a monster.”
She paused, trying to keep herself from getting emotional,
“And I know for a fact, Lenore would have never been born. I-”
“Nope, we are not going to cover that what if!” Kitty interrupted, trying to wipe away her tears that had been flooding down her cheeks.
“Sorry.” Spikes choked through a smile,
“I just, I can’t even imagine my life without her. I don’t get it at all, but, she is everything to me. She’s not even a full day old and I’ve already threatened to kill a nurse for making her cry.”
she laughed.
“You hear that Lenore, your momma’s a psycho!” Kitty teased leaning toward Lenore.
“Shut up!” Spikes chuckled.
“You know I’m just making fun,” Kitty smiled sticking her tongue out at the canine,
“but Spikes, I should thank you too, you were my first real friend here. And I would’ve never met Takado, or had Damien, or really anything that has happened since we met; wouldn’t be if we hadn’t.”
“It really wouldn’t...And I know our friendship; our lives; has been a never ending rollercoaster, but despite that I wouldn’t change it Kitty. I’m so grateful to have you as my best friend.” she choked, tears starting to stream down her face.
“And, with everything you mean to me...I-I was kinda thinking about having Katherine as Lenore’s middle name.”
Spikes stuttered shyly as Kitty smiled through tear filled eyes.
“Spikes, I- I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t really have to say anything,” she paused thinking over the name,
“though...it might be weird if I ever have to scold her around you.”
Spikes chuckled, getting a burst of laughter from the feline.
“Yeah that probably wouldn’t go over well.” she managed to speak through her laughter. Spikes smiled and looked back down at Lenore who was now fast asleep.
“What about Rose?” Spikes spoke softly,
“I was just thinking, Rosanne was the one who helped me decide to get married; even though I doubt she knows she had such an influence.”
“I was just thinking, Rosanne was the one who helped me decide to get married; even though I doubt she knows she had such an influence.”
“I’m sure Vince would be ecstatic if you named her after his mom.”
“Definitely. Lenore Rose Caine, I like it.” she grinned, looking back at Kitty. The temporary silence was broken by Spikes’ stomach growling, Lenore’s eyes quickly opening.
“I’m sorry baby!” Lenore shifted slightly in her arms, as she softly pawed at Spikes chest.
“Wow, she’s so quiet.”
“I know, it probably won’t last though.” Spikes chuckled adjusting her robe to feed Lenore.
“Knowing your luck,” Kitty laughed,
“but I’m with you guys, I really did actually want yogurt.”
Kitty pouted before laughing with Spikes.
“I’m sure they’ll be here soon.” she looked over at the door handle shook.
“See. What took you guys-”
The door the room slammed open, blood on the handle and on the floor dripping from the black haired woman leaning against the door frame.
"Blade?! What the hell?" Spikes barked, panic flashing through her eyes.
Blade collapsed to the floor, her voice hoarse and thick with despair.
"Nadi... Nadi's dead."
