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"You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to the feeling of that goop on my belly…" Vox muttered with a chuckled to his partners at his side. He was a couple weeks into his third trimester, and relaxed back on a bed in what had started to become a proper nursery. Starting as a "guest" room attached to their primary bedroom in the Hotel, in the event one of the three needed some space and independence, it had gradually been filled with more and more supplies for the twins.
Belphegor had insisted on visiting this week to check on Vox and the twins. Multiple pregnancies were higher risk both up top and for Hellborn, let alone a magically-enabled one for a sinner. "Thankfully, your blood tests up until now have been on track, no red flags or deficiencies so far. You must be eating well? Balanced meals?" She prompted as she set up the ultrasound machine.
"Hah, yeah, I think the twins are doing a good job of telling me what they want or need," Vox snickered, remembering the sushi platter they'd shared for dinner the previous night. "Wide variety, and things that I wouldn't have thought of or been disgusted by before all this…" He gave a pointed glance at his cannibalistic beau, who simply grinned. "I feel like I've gained a ton of weight…" he sighed, rubbing his large belly.
"Well, your twins are approximately four pounds each right now," Belphegor began, taking measurements on her screen. "Two babies at four pounds each, that's basically a full term singleton right there."
Vox's eyes widened, glancing at where the wand was smoothly tracking across his bump. "Wow… okay, yeah, that makes sense then," he laughed lightly. "Can… can you tell if they're… like me?" He glanced back up at the Sin jotting down a few notes on a clipboard, knocking his knuckles against his TV head.
"While they're still developing, I can confidently confirm that neither twin appears to have any sharp corners present," Belphegor smiled tiredly. "I'm seeing two fairly round heads, though they probably still look a little alien right now. Would you like to learn the sexes or find out day of delivery? They're both in a decent position for me to take a look," she offered.
Vox turned to his partners. Alastor had a thoughtful expression on his face, while Lucifer glanced between both of them. "I kind of want to wait, I think?" he hummed.
"As curious as I am, I'd like to respect your wishes, darling," Alastor nodded in agreement. "A little doe or buck, it makes no difference to me." The sinner smiled and raised Vox's hand to his lips for a light kiss.
Lucifer nodded and chuckled softly. "We kept it a surprise for Charlie, so that the tabloids wouldn't go nuts with all that inheritance nonsense, but it didn't seem to matter what we did, they ran whatever stories they wanted to anyway. I'm okay with waiting until they're ready to come out." He snickered, drawing a little star with his claw tip on Vox's shoulder. "And who knows, maybe they'll come out later and it won't matter what we say they are now!"
Vox rolled his eyes with a fond sigh. "Fair point, I suppose. Then let's wait until they arrive, Bel. Thanks for asking. What else are you looking for?" he asked curiously, watching the screen as much as he could.
"I've already taken some measurements of the twins, and your amniotic fluid levels look good. I'm also watching their limbs as they move," she pointed at the screen, one little leg kicking out for a moment, "as well as their chests. They're able to practice breathing at this stage. I'll monitor their heart rates for a little while as well, so get comfortable, Vox." Belphegor hummed and covered a yawn as she jotted down another note.
"Do we have a runt in our litter or are the twins about the same size?" Alastor asked with curiosity lacing his tone. He let out a little "oof" when Vox elbowed him with a scowl. "What?"
"Don't use 'runt' when referring to our babies," Vox huffed.
"Well good news, they're nearly the same size at this stage," Belphegor chuckled softly. "No need to worry."
"I wasn't worried," Alastor muttered, rubbing where Vox had elbowed him. "Good to know, though." He took Vox's hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles in apology.
Vox gently rubbed a thumb over Alastor's cheek in forgiveness and sighed softly. He shifted a bit, getting more comfortable propped up on the bed. "Anything worrying so far? It seems like this pregnancy has been pretty smooth sailing… I'm getting suspicious." He smirked at Lucifer's snort of amusement.
Belphegor pondered for a moment, covering another yawn before answering. "I will tell you, the twins are currently vertex/breech," she began. At the fathers' bewildered expressions, she continued, "which means they're facing different directions in your uterus. One twin is facing downwards, head near your cervix, which is perfect. The other is facing the other way, head up."
"Is that bad?" Vox quickly asked, a hand resting on the top of his belly, looking down at it.
"Not necessarily. They may well flip as you get closer to delivery," Belphegor reassured the three. "If you start going into labor with them in a breech presentation, we may need to try rotating the second twin after the first is delivered."
Vox's screen flushed with a slightly green tint. "Like… while they're still inside?" The hand not on top of his belly squeezed Alastor's tightly, making him hiss slightly.
Belphegor nodded and patted Vox's leg in an attempt to comfort. "It's too risky to try turning them from the outside with both twins still inside, but much better when one has already been born. If needed, I can also enter the uterus to rotate the unborn twin internally, after the first has- Vox?"
The sinner had dropped his TV head back on a pillow. His face was frozen on a combination of shock and distress, a loading wheel spinning in the center of the display. Lucifer and Alastor both fawned over their partner, trying to rouse him from his near-crash, and finally his screen flickered into a green-tinted expression of discomfort. "Ugh… okay, let's hope these two decide to play nice then…"
"I assure you, it's far from unheard of with multiples, and even singletons," Belphegor resumed. "If you'd rather, we can deliver them via Cesarean section. That way, the position won't be as anxiety-inducing," the Sin offered.
Vox shook his head after a deep breath in, out, and in again. "I want to try and deliver… vaginally," he looked up at Belphegor. "That's the right wording, right?" At the nodding confirmation, he continued. "I want to prove to myself I can do this. I've carried them this long, I can cross the finish line."
"There's nothing wrong with a C-section, love," Lucifer kissed his shoulder. "It doesn't make you less than other mothers, and it's not the 'easy way out,' it's a major abdominal surgery." He glanced at the ultrasound screen, watching the numbers and their babies moving around. "I want the safest option for you, and for them…"
Alastor nodded, kissing Vox's knuckles. "You know we'll support you in whatever you decide. But I agree with Lucifer. If it comes down to it, I would rather celebrate the twins arriving safely than risk all three of you due to your stubbornness. And don't give me that look, we're all damned to the Pride ring for a reason!" He smirked, Vox's teeth clicking as he snapped his mouth shut.
Vox huffed but chuckled, nodding. "Alright… let's plan for a vaginal birth, with a C-section in case of emergency. I'd definitely like an epidural if it works with Hellish pregnancies, though, no way am I going to be delirious with pain and not be able to enjoy the process of bringing our kids into the world," he snickered. "I'm not above utilizing modern medicine! While Al may be a masochist, I'd rather not have to deal with more pain than I have to."
Alastor smirked and chuckled, nuzzling Vox's hand that was still held in his own. "I'll keep that in mind, love…" he muttered. Lucifer snorted at that, a hand over his mouth to muffle it.
Belphegor rolled her eyes at their antics and refocused on Vox, nodding. "I'll make sure to note that down. In the next week or so, I'd like you to have at least an outline of a birth plan. You don't need to plan every minute, of course, there's no way to tell how the process will go once it starts, but I want you to have an idea of things. Knowing you want a vaginal birth if possible, epidural, those are a great starting point. Do you want to go to a hospital?"
Vox shook his head. "I'd rather do it here, if possible. I'm safe here, the Hotel is fortified against any paparazzi or worse, and I can't exactly go to the Sloth ring. If you're able to set up in case of emergencies, like needing a C-section, I'd be most comfortable here." He glanced at his partners, who nodded along and listened, and smiled warmly. "I was doing some reading and I came across something called 'delayed cord clamping.' That's with the umbilical cord right?"
Belphegor nodded. "As long as both mother and infant aren't in immediate danger, there's no necessity to cut the cord right away. So if you'd like to take that approach, that's a good note to put in your plan."
A proud smile spread across Vox's face as his confidence built. "I have one more thing. Something not for myself, or the babies…" He glanced at Alastor with a warm grin. "I've read that some people choose to keep their placenta for various reasons. And, well… one of my partners is a cannibal…"
Alastor's eyes went wide. His jaw dropped for a moment. Gathering himself, he held Vox's hand to his chest. "Mon amour… you would…?"
Vox nodded. "You and Lu have given me this experience, the ability to bring our kids into this world. I want to give you the opportunity to have something you never would otherwise. Even if I think it's a little gross," he chuckled.
Resting his forehead on Vox's thigh, Alastor's tail wagged a million miles an hour. Muttered thanks and static-filled whines rose through the air while the other three in the room chuckled in amusement. Thwip thwip thwip, the fluffy appendage betrayed the man's excitement. Lucifer stroked his hair and ears, smiling down at him.
Belphegor took a glance at the ultrasound screen and smiled, turning it towards the bed a little further. "You should take a look, all three of you… the twins look like they're holding hands…"
All three men looked up at the screen, leaning closer and sure enough, though there was the membranes of their separate amniotic sacks between their little hands, both twins were reaching for the other, one little fist pressed into the cupped fingers of the other.
Lucifer slapped a hand over his mouth with a choked-off sob, tears quickly building in his eyes. Alastor's ears drooped to the sides as he fawned over their twins and held Vox's hand tightly with one hand and Lucifer's with the other.
Vox teared up, grinning widely as he watched the babies growing in his belly. Yeah, this whole thing was going to be worth it. Every second.
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Flapping wings combined with the sound of humming and the record player against the wall as the three men worked together to put finishing touches on the nursery for their approaching bundles of chaos. Sure, they'd bring joy too, but they were being realistic: twins, created of two powerful Overlords and the King of Hell no less? There was plenty of chaos in their future for sure. So they were taking advantage of the time they had before the delivery to make sure everything was prepared for their arrival.
Lucifer was painting the mural on the ceiling, a beautiful cloudy sky, blue unlike their hellish red outside. He planned on enchanting the mural to change according with the time of day, to help the twins maintain a day-night schedule. Vox was thrilled with the idea, and Alastor insisted on bringing in some plants from the bayou to add to the ambiance. He'd revealed a meticulously pruned and maintained potted willow tree, having been working on it since Vox's pregnancy was confirmed. It now sat in a place of honor, nestled in the corner near the rocking chair, its large pot painted with earthy tones and resting in a platter to catch excess water. Its vine-like branches draped down to form a cozy canopy, and some comfortable cushions sat beneath as well.
Two cribs sat against one wall, with two changing tables nearby. In between the changing tables, a large dresser was already stocked with plenty of onesies, footie pajamas, and diaper covers in various sizes. Little outfits hung in the closet, blankets sat in a basket near a playpen that wouldn't see use right away but was set up anyway, and to the side of that was the record player that Alastor insisted on. It was actually a large combination unit: lifting the lid revealed record storage and player, cassette storage and player, and a radio with both FM and AM options. Vintage wooden filigree decorated the screens on the front that covered the speakers currently playing Paul Anka's "Put Your Head On My Shoulder." The aesthetic matched the cathedral radio in their bedroom here in the Hotel, and Alastor's hips swayed to the rhythm as he organized the record collection.
"These kids are going to have one of the largest music collections in Hell before they're even born, aren't they?" Vox chuckled as he folded another basket of laundry. They'd received plenty of gifts the previous day during their baby shower, which had double the number of attendees as their announcement party. Most of the gifts had been clothing or toys, but several friends had given blankets or bottles or even books. Angel Dust had taken up crochet and knitting to keep his hands and mind busy, so had presented the three with a surprising gift. Vox smiled as he thought back on it.
"Oh, Angel, did you make this? What…?" Vox lifted the large crocheted… garment? out of its bag, looking to the sinner for confirmation. "It's a little… holey… for a blanket, don't you think?"
Angel Dust nodded and smiled widely, helping Vox spread it out with an extra pair of hands. "It's called a pet net! It gets hung in the little brats' room to keep their stuffies off the floor!" With a free hand, he fished out a handful of anchors from the bottom of the bag and looped one onto a corner. "See?"
Vox smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest, and pulled the sinner into a hug. "Thank you, Angel, this really is something special…"
Vox chuckled to himself at the memory and glanced up at the net full of plush animals the twins had already been gifted. Front and center were a large shark, a deer, and of course, a duck. One for each of the twins' parents. Opening a drawer and setting a stack of onesies into it, he huffed and rubbed his belly. It was firm and tense, an uncomfortable tightening sensation starting at the front and squeezing down into his pelvis. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Another practice contraction?" Lucifer questioned as he floated down with gentle flaps of his wings. His hands rubbed at Vox's shoulders as he nodded, leaning back on his hands.
"Mmf… mhmm…" Vox nodded, closing his eyes. "They're not exactly painful… but sometimes they catch me off guard… Ow!" he winced, a hand quickly coming up to hold his bump.
"What? Are you okay? Can I get you anything?" Lucifer fussed before Vox shooed him away with a wave of his hand.
"I'm fine, Lu, the twins are just kickboxing my lungs…" he groaned. He slid his supporting hand back and laid flat on the floor. The change in position seemed to help the Braxton-Hicks contractions, but the twins were still having an absolute time pummeling Vox's organs.
Lucifer's wings poofed out of physical existence and he kneeled down to gently rub Vox's belly. "Calm down there, babies, your mama needs to breathe…" he whispered against the bump, planting a kiss there.
"You've got a few more weeks left to bake, little buns," Alastor hummed as he came to sit beside them. His hand also began rubbing to soothe the tension in Vox's muscles. When his lover sighed in relief and the tension under hand eased, he smiled softly. "There you go… nos bébés…"
Vox smiled and closed his eyes, relaxing on the floor for a while. The laundry could wait.