Well...babies

[homeless_pard]

Who: Nat, Beryl, tiny twins
When: A few months after the twins are born.
What: Oh gods the parents need SLEEP.

Khemrys sighed, looking exhausted and grateful all at the same time, "true thanks, Beryl, that you are willing to aid here..." She passed a bag full of many things from cloth diapers to plastic ones that Jason found easier, and bottles, though adjusting to the breast pump had been, hard, it had freed her up a great deal to do more work in the greenhouse and stillroom, and let Jason feed them at night without having to wake her...

...it was still strange to use. But convenience was a large word in this world!


"Even I can tell you're ready to drop, Khem," Beryl snorted, slinging the bag over a shoulder easily. "We can handle them for a day." Easy, right?

"They are good children, but..."

"But babies, and you're both tired. Especially since Jason had to attend that banquet with Jean-Claude last week," she nodded. "Your job now is to let your employees run the store, let your husband take you to dinner, then you both sleep yourselves out okay?" She figured they didn't need any innuendo there. If they HAD the energy to get up to anything more power to them!

"Nat is getting the car seats installed properly.." She expected him any second really, eager to take an armful of infant!

Comments

[homeless_pard]

"...yeah, and it's a healthy idea," she admitted quietly. It was her turn to lay a hand on his thigh before the light turned, once it did though, well, BOTH HANDS. They might even be at ten and two. "Here in America it's a very 'you should be self sufficient' thing you know?"

Far, far better to reach out to other willing adults and not...expect your kids to deal with it. She was quiet herself at that thought honestly.

[jasonpschuyler]

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. "But it doesn't really work that well like that, does it?" He was lost in thought as images from his past whispered through his mind.

[homeless_pard]

"...that's a culture and America debate," she admitted with a sigh. "I think more importantly you need a safe circle of adults who are able and willing. Not everyone can handle kids. Though did you see Jean-Claude when he got to hold them?"

[jasonpschuyler]

That broke through his ghosts and he laughed. "I saw Jason realize he might not get them back. I thought maybe Asher would hold them, too, but I don't think I've ever seen him look so terrified."

[homeless_pard]

"Well, I think Asher will be an 'uncle' once they can walk and feed themselves," she chuckled softly. "But yeah, never seen the City Master so...sadly soft around the edges. He was a good choice for godparent." Given Khem, well, there were four in total. Her and Nat being among them.

[jasonpschuyler]

"Yeah." Nathaniel nodded slowly, letting out a slow breath. Jason had told him once, during one of his panic sessions towards the last trimester of Khem's pregnancy. But that knowledge wasn't going to help anything here. "I think out of both of them, Jean Claude would have been the only one who might have wanted to be around kids."

[homeless_pard]

"I bet he's already researching how to handle CPS if anyone calls them when the kids get to hang at the circus," she snorted, grimly amused. A big fan of being prepared, Jean-Claude.

Still...that wasn't here and now. "Home, babe." And not even a scream from the babies!

[jasonpschuyler]

"CPS?" Nathaniel snorted as he straightened in his seat and reached for the buckle. "I think if CPS came to the Circus he'd forget all about how the law feels about mind control from vamps." He started getting out of the car and poked his head back in to add, "And then the rats would be working overtime tracing that phone call so he could deal with the tattletale personally."

[homeless_pard]

"Absolutely, but you know someone would TRY." Because people were idiots. "Probably spurred on by that damn deputy..." she growled. She did NOT like that man. At all. Sadly he WAS a customer.

Okay, she could...get the baby back up out of the car seat right? Right. Slowly.

[jasonpschuyler]

A deep, menacing rumble escaped Nathaniel's throat without him even noticing it. "Is he still causing problems?" His eyes were glued on Irias as he fumbled with her buckle with slightly shaking hands.

[homeless_pard]

She paused, looking over at Nat. Rare her boy sounded dangerous after all, "as far as I can tell he doesn't believe Khem is married. But you know more?" she asked evenly. Should she be worried and talk Khem into banning the man through the wards?

[jasonpschuyler]

He froze, blinking down at the baby in her carrier. "I know I don't trust him," he managed. He carefully pulled Irias into his arms, cradling her gently as he pulled her from the car.

[homeless_pard]

"...mmmhmmmm, that all?" she drawled, then took a deep breath and picked up Kirion. "Let's get them in and I'll come back for the bags..." Seemed safest!

[jasonpschuyler]

There was some mild internal panic, but when she suggested they bring the kids inside he nodded. "Ok. I can hold them until we have their stuff all brought up."

He moved easily towards their apartment with Irias in his arms, with no sign of the worry that seemed to be thrumming through Beryl when she reached for the baby.

[homeless_pard]

He was a natural. It was kind of amazing honestly...and that was a whole new fresh stab of guilt wasn't it? She swallowed it down and got Kirion inside and settled before heading back out quickly. She was composed by the time she got back with the bags?

Yeeeaaaahhhh.

"Is he...chewing on your braid?" she blinked as she closed the door.

[jasonpschuyler]

Nathaniel glanced up and smiled; he'd noticed that sudden surge of emotion before she left, how could he not? But he wouldn't, couldn't press that issue, no. "Jason said he's always hungry," he laughed. "No wonder your mom and dad don't get any sleep," he cooed at Kirion.

[homeless_pard]

She chuckled, setting things down and kissing Nat's forehead, "well, I'll try to save your braid by heating up a bottle...Jason printed out instructions. In large font," she snickered. There were bags to go in the fridge for later but she kept one out and two bottles to...start on that ritual of heating a bottle properly!

"Think I should do up both or is Irias out cold?"

[jasonpschuyler]

"Might as well try to give her one; we can always reheat it, right?" He eyed the little girl quietly staring at him. "We won't let your brother eat all the food, will we?"

He lifted his head to watch Beryl in the kitchen and offered her an encouraging smile. "Thanks for bringing all the stuff up, babe."

[homeless_pard]

Irias gave a slow blink? And a hiccup. Yup. This was NOT mom and NOT dad but she was reserving judgement for now!

Beryl chuckled, "hey, you had kids, we did equal amounts here babe." Just saying? "I'll poke at what Khem sent us once the kids are fed." So they didn't forget to do the eating thing themselves!

[jasonpschuyler]

Nathaniel gave her a sly smile. "In my kitchen?" he asked, trying to sound offended and failing. Failing spectacularly as he couldn't help but giggle moments after he said it.

[homeless_pard]

"Hey, I figured you'd have less issue with Khem food than me trying to cook in your kitchen!" she laughed, pouring carefully. "I know my place!" she teased.

[jasonpschuyler]

"Well, I'll be watching you," he warned playfully once she approached with the bottles. "Which one? Kirion'll probably only be interested in draining the bottle if you to try with him. Or you can have The Watcher, here."

[homeless_pard]

"I shiver in my boots," she chuckled, passing him a bottle. "I think Kirion staked a claim there and might object leaving you before eating." So she'd try with Irias and hope for the best!

"Oh wait burp cloths!" They were suggested! And she could grab them!

[jasonpschuyler]

"Good thinking, I forgot about those," Nathaniel admitted. Once he handed Irias off, he tried his best to swap his braid with the bottle. "Kirion, I promise you'll like this better..."

There was a red-faced, angry wail as the braid was pulled free and Nathaniel's eyes widened in shock. "No no no no, here, take...Kirion, the bottle is right here!" He found himself chasing the screaming, thrashing mouth with the bottle. After what seemed like forever, Kirion's mouth closed over the bottle's nipple and the din immediately subsided into eager grunting sounds. Nathaniel gave a nervous giggle. "Jason wasn't kidding..."

[homeless_pard]

"Ack..." she winced, cradling Irias and bracing for the sister to start squalling as well but she stayed quiet. Dark eyes STAAAAARING in Kirion's direction though, utterly uncaring of an offered bottle until her brother shut up. Then, well, she...poked at it, not so much drinking as just playing with it in her mouth.

"I'm not sure she understands the concept of food..."