[sub]in collaboration with [@SunsetRoses] and [@Ellion][/sub] [h1][center][i][u]"Mommy's Home"[/u][/i][/center][/h1] Elizabeth drummed on Lorelai's desk, using her hands to spark a tune that accompanied Bob's beautiful music. Butch and Beebop fought over who was leading the other in a complex -and hideously violent- waltz, and Bo sat by Elizabeth's side, clapping along to the beat. It was a slow period, nothing new was happening. This was what had sparked out of the blue, as things usually did when Liz was around the boys. She was giddy, and even the frequent tossing and turning of her stomach wasn't enough to bring her down fully. Serrus made her way through the castle at the behest of her new mistress. Fortunately the witches she'd met had been kind, and directed her towards Elizabeth's office. She stood before the woman's door, trying to calm herself before opening it. This was her first task as a servant, and she felt the pressure of making a good impression. She smoothed her golden locks and the feathers of her wings. With one last breath she pushed open the door. [color=gold]"M-ma'am? Are you E-Elizabeth?"[/color] Her voice was hesitant as she addressed the room's occupant. The music froze as a hesitant voice filled the air. Elizabeth's eyes landed first on the woman's blond hair, before settling justly on her wings. She recoiled, before letting a sort of awe take her over. It faded away as she could feel the tension rolling off each demon in the room. They had all bristled, waiting for a sudden movement that yelled ‘attack’. They could all sense something infernal from the angel, but her pure essence hadn't yet withered away under the pressure of Lorelai's might. Elizabeth cleared her throat, drawing their attention off of the angel reluctantly. [color=magenta]“I'm Elizabeth, yes. It’s a pleasure. Is there anything you've sought me out for?”[/color] The introduction flowed easily, a practiced phrase. Success so far! Serrus was giddy, a bright smile bloomed across her face. She continued in her stumbling speech, but her voice held a trace of cheer, seemly unaware of the demons in the room. [color=gold]"Y-yes, Mistress L-L-Lorelai wanted to see you. S-she's in her room, her leg forbids her from using the stairs."[/color] Elizabeth was out of her chair the moment the angel brought up Lorelai. The sudden movement sent bile up the back of her throat, but she grinned through the sting in her mouth. She couldn't wait to see Lorelai, it had been too long since they had been together. She hated herself when she found a streak of doubt running through her, wondering if Lorelai could have possibly missed her. [color=magenta]“Thank you so much. Will you escort me to her?”[/color] Elizabeth asked hurriedly, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Before the Angel could answer, Elizabeth was pushing past her and running down the halls towards Lorelai's chambers, demons in tow. Serrus barely managed to utter her assent before Liz dissappeared about the corner. She jogged to keep up with her demonic entourage, that shot her dirty looks periodically. [hr][color=92278f]"Seriously!?"[/color] Sousiel examined Lorelai's leg. It was broken, and Sousiel was furious about that. [color=92278f]"I brought his back in perfect condition... more or less, and he brings me you damaged!?"[/color] Lorelai chuckled. [color=00aeef]"My foolishness is a far sight more difficult to contain Sousiel, just wrap it and give me and Liz some space, okay."[/color] Sousiel sighed. [color=92278f]"Fine, but I have no more regrets about any possible stretching Triss may have suffered."[/color] She quickly did as her mistress asked. As she turned to leave, Elizabeth burst through the door, entourage in tow. She nodded at Elizabeth before ducking into her room, out of sight of the angel. Lorelai beamed at her lover, [color=00aeef]"My word, you're even more radiant than when I left. Tell me, why would I ever agree to something that would pry me from your side for so long?"[/color] She laughed. [color=00aeef]"It must have been foolish in the extreme."[/color] Elizabeth had prepared herself to leap into the arms of her lover. Instead, she halted a few steps away. Lorelai's leg was set and wrapped, but it was clear it had been broken. Elizabeth’s eyes softened, and she basically took a place beside Lorelai. [color=magenta]“I've missed you so much, Lorelai.”[/color] She breathed hopelessly, reaching out a hand to grasp her dragon's. [color=magenta]“How did it go, love?”[/color] Elizabeth inquired. She didn't really want to know much about the nitty gritty, but she did want to ensure that Lorelai had suceeded. [color=magenta]“I shouldn't have let you leave, life was dull without you.”[/color] Lorelai looked at their hands, [color=00aeef]"Nope,"[/color] She scooted herself laborously to sit across Elizabeth's lap. Her leg hurt, but fuck it, she hadn't waited this long to just hold hands. Once she was situated and happy, she turned her head to meet her lover's gaze. [color=00aeef]"Much better."[/color] [color=00aeef]"It was successful, the rewards of my labor are in my vault, where they will remain until the end of time with any luck."[/color] Lorelai kissed Elizabeth softly. [color=00aeef]"'Twas a poor reward for having to leave you alone for so long. I dreamt of you constantly. Which was frustrating in the extreme, as having felt your touch, my own is no longer satisfying."[/color] She winked. [color=00aeef]"How have you spent your days, love?"[/color] Lorelai whispered, kissing along Liz's jaw. Elizabeth draped an arm over Lorelai's midsection, the other resting its hand in Lorelai's hair. She returned Lorelai's kisses, pulling away before her passion could build too much. They still had things to talk about, after all. It was a shame Lorelai was injured, even more so that there were so many others about. [color=magenta]“I'm glad the mission was fruitful, even happier that you're home. Relatively safe.”[/color] Elizabeth chuckled, trying to find a way to approach the next topic. [color=magenta]“My days have been spent over a bucket, emptying my stomach.”[/color] She left the topic generally broad, wondering what Lorelai would think of it. [color=00aeef]"Oh?"[/color] Lorelai frowned, and pressed the back of her hand to Liz's forhead. [color=00aeef]"You don't feel feverish to me, perhaps you ate something bad? I'm sorry, love. I'll see if I can get you something for nausea."[/color] Elizabeth giggled, removing Lorelai's hand from her forehead and guiding it down to her stomach. [color=magenta]“I'm afraid that's not the reason.”[/color] She stated huskily, eyelids drooping in a contented state of relaxation. She worried not about Lorelai's reaction. Things would work. [color=magenta]“When I'm not sick to my stomach, I'm usually working on baby names.”[/color] [color=00aeef]"Baby...names...?"[/color] But she was sterile!? How did this happen!? Wait... she had a new body now... why would she have forged herself sterile. Lorelai's face danced between apprehension and unadulterated joy. Now was a bad time for a baby, but they could have one. A baby of their own, the first addition to the family she wanted, and its veins would run with their blood. Her trembling hand stroked Elizabeth's stomach. A miracle was happening there, and the gravity of it was awe inspiring. She turn to Liz with moist eyes. [color=00aeef]"I... I don't think I've ever been this happy. I might die."[/color] Elizabeth found herself overworked with joy, but as she stared into the eye's of Lorelai, a small frown appeared on her face. It disappeared as quickly as it came, but it was definitely there. She tried to pass it off as a moment of weakness, looking at Lorelai's tears. In truth, she was worried. She didn't know what Lorelai would think when she found out about her other child. Elizabeth opened her mouth to tell Lorelai, but clamped it shut seconds later. That was Elina's secret to tell, and if Lorelai wished to love that baby just as much, who was she to stop her? [color=magenta]“You can't die, love. Ash needs his mother, just as much as the rest of us need you. Lover, friend, something in between.”[/color] Lorelai looked panicked for a moment, [color=00aeef]"I won't die, I promise, I'll live forever. I'm going to build you a house, on a lake, a beautiful sapphire lake, and my servitors will attend to the fields, and hunt, so you can eat."[/color] Lorelai continued, her words a heartfelt promise she would never surrender. [color=00aeef]"I'll swim with the children, and warm myself in their laughter. If Triss and Sousiel are still together, I'll build them a house on the other side of the lake, and they can visit whenever they like, so long as they behave."[/color] [color=00aeef]"You're magnificent, radiant, brilliant, and the power you hold over my heart is terrifying. Yours is the name on my lips in my darkest hours, the only goddess I pray to."[/color] Lorelai clung tightly to Elizabeth. The warmth in her chest had become unbearable, joy and love overwhelmed her. All the beautiful things she'd always wanted, and Elizabeth was bringing them to her, one by one. [color=00aeef]"I want to give you something, anything you want. Whisper your fancy, and I'll make it so."[/color] Elizabeth smiled, bit by bit the uncertainty was picked away. In large waves it would make an appearance, but she masked it with kisses and their everlasting promises. Her heart rate increased as her love for Lorelai grew even still. If Elizabeth ever did find the thing she feared, she knew it would stem from the woman in front of her and the tight grip she had on her heart. [color=magenta]“I promise to keep our children safe, and love you eternally.”[/color] Liz said simply, an easy promise to keep. She had no grand words or gestures for Lorelai, but each word she spoke was filled with passion. She sealed the deal by giving Lorelai a smattering of pecks. It gave her enough time to think of her fancy. Liz wanted Lorelai all to herself, that was true...but something else interested her as well. [color=magenta]“I think we should go on a family vacation sometime soon. Us, the kids, Sousiel.”[/color] She smiled, hoping Lorelai would agree. [color=magenta]“There are so many different planes to show the girls, it would be good for us...just getting away momentarily.”[/color] [color=00aeef]"Of course! I'll take us to Sigil, in the outlands."[/color] Lorelai tucked herself into Elizabeth, her hand lazily stroking her lover's stomach. [color=00aeef]"It's a city the likes of which you wouldn't believe. It stretches on for as far as the eye can see, and then some."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Well visit the opera house, and the museums. Their library boast the greatest combined knowledge of the other planes, we could plan our next trip from there."[/color] Lorelai kissed Elizabeth's collarbone, nipping at it playfully. [color=00aeef]"Or did you have something else in mind?"[/color] [color=magenta]“I'd love to go to Sigil, Lorelai.”[/color] Elizabeth confirmed, giving Lorelai a gentle squeeze and burying her further against her chest. She would make sure Lotte and Abby each got to do something they each wanted, because the Library and museums did not sound like the best time for young children. Of course, they acted much older than they were, but when she was a child all she wanted to do was eat bricks of chocolate and beat up other children with her nonlethal whip. [color=magenta]“There's another thing I wanted to ask you about, more of a grown-up idea.”[/color] It could have been taken as an innuendo, but Elizabeth's brow was furrowed and her lips were pressed into a thin line. [color=magenta]“The boys were telling me about bloodsport...I found it interesting.”[/color] [color=00aeef]"The boys were telling you about bloodsport?"[/color] Maybe the 'boys' needed beaten, baddly, until they didn't have skin anymore. Lorelai sighed, Elizabeth wouldn't appreciate that. [color=00aeef]"It's a visceral sport, to be sure. Are you interested in competing? Maybe you're more like a traditional Dragon Knight than I thought."[/color] There was a bang on the door and a soft scream before it came flying open. Lotte let out a mixture of crying and laughing sounds and she nearly crashed head first into Lorelai.[color=FFF0F5] "Mom! Mom! I've missed you so much!" [/color] There were tears running down her face as she tried to pull the older witch into an even tighter and bigger hug, almost as though she was scared that the woman would vanish is she didn't hold on for dear life. [color=7bcdc8]"Lotte, give her some space. Can't you tell she is hurt?"[/color] came the voice of Abby as she walked into the room. The girls had been listening outside the door, or rather, Abby had been, Lotte had been trying to keep herself from breaking in until she knew that her mother was behind the door. Abby gave Liz a strange and pointed look before going over to stand near her sister. [color=00aeef]"Energetic as always, aren't you sweetie?"[/color] Lorelai surpressed a groan as the girl jostled her wounded leg. She lifted her into her lap, and planted a flurry of pecks on her cheeks. [color=00aeef]"I've missed you too, have you been minding Elizabeth while I've been gone?"[/color] She turned to Abby, and reached out a hand to stroke her cheek affectionately. Abby wasn't a hugger, or a kisser, and that was a shame, but she loved the girl no less for it. [color=00aeef]"Mindful as ever, dear, and keen as a whip. I missed you too, I trust you've been well?"[/color] Elizabeth released her hold on Lorelai, giving her up to the children she loved so much. Elizabeth had been trying to warm up to the kids, but she was usually busy with desk work and only got to spend the minimal amount of time with them. She saw Abby stare, but didn't approach the topic. It had been a long time since they had seen Lorelai, and she didn't want to ruin anything with questions. [color=magenta]“The children were great for me. I showed them a few different fighting stances, let them work with wooden swords. One of the soldier witches took the time to instruct them while I was busy.”[/color] Elizabeth grinned, chest puffing up with pride. She would make warriors out of them, probably long before they would start calling her ‘mom'. [color=magenta]“Since they were both doing so good I broke into the sweets, among other things.”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"Like the brandy,"[/color] said Abby, her eyes now shifting down to Liz's stomach, looking for a not quite there bump. Her voice sounded almost bored. The training was...not really her thing, but she did it because it was a useful skill that could be used later on in life. [color=FFF0F5] "It was so much fun mom! I beat Abby once! Abby is really good at it, Mom, can we go back to practicing magic now? I like learning from you the best!" [/color] Lotte shifted so that her back was resting on Lor's chest, so that she now facing the rest of the room. [color=00aeef]"Oh?,"[/color] Lorelai smirked at Elizabeth, winking. [color=00aeef]"Brandy's very fitting for young ladies of your stature, in moderation of course. We don't want to end up drunks like Clarissa do we?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Sound's like Abby's on her way to becoming quite the dangerous lass, hmm?'[/color] Lorelai grinned at the girl, pride plain in her eyes. Swordsmanship required a disciplined mind, and a honed body. Abby had the first aplenty, and the second would come with age. Magical training. That was a complex topic for Lorelai's heart. Sometimes she considered eating Lotte's tongue, and growing her a new one, just so she wouldn't grow up with the gift. Higher powers than her had cursed the girl with it, however. [color=00aeef]"We'll get right back to it then, love. Soon you'll have a lovely menagerie of servitors."[/color] She sighed happily, resting her head back on Elizabeth's shoulder. This was sublime, to sit simply in bed, surrounded by family. [color=00aeef]"Elizabeth? Should we tell them?"[/color] Elizabeth laughed, wrapping an arm around Lorelai and pulling her close. [color=magenta]“I think they have a good understanding, but yes.”[/color] Abby wasn't very interested in hiding her gaze. The child would have to learn more about profiling, she seemed intrigued by that topic. [color=magenta]“Will you do the honors?”[/color] Elizabeth asked, before her eyes flashed with something mischievous. [color=magenta]“Or would you like to report your findings, Abby?”[/color] Abby paused, thinking it over a moment. [color=7bcdc8]"It better be a boy,"[/color] she said shortly. Although she planned on leaving the witches one day, she didn't like the idea of someone else swooping in and making her standing in this little...family less. Boys, for once, we much less threatening than girls. [color=FFF0F5] "What....better be a boy Mom? Mama? " [/color]Asked Lotte, her eyes glancing over to Abby, then back to her mothers. [color=00aeef]"Elizabeth's got a new addition to our family in the works. A sibling for both of you."[/color] Lorelai pecked Elizabeth's cheek warmly. [color=00aeef]"And, we were considering a vacation to celebrate, but that's further down the road."[/color] Lorelai prepared herself for some questions. Girls getting girls pregnant was not something they taught you in school, or the delicacies of gender and romance. Their family wasn't 'normal' though, and the sooner she addressed these things, the better. Elizabeth gave Abby a lopsided smile, trying to keep her mind open to the child. It was endearing to hear Lotte call her Mama, so much so that her cheeks tinted. [color=magenta]“I hope it's a boy too. Do you guys have any ideas for names?”[/color] She grinned, hand running over her mostly flat stomach. Bo said she was inflating slowly, but Elizabeth only noticed the slight definition when she was focusing intently. Abby gave a half shrug. [color=7bcdc8] "Lotte is better at naming things, [/color] she said, looking at her sister. [color=FFF0F5]"Um, Sam? No...Charon? No...Um...Um... Gus? I like Gus. Or... Or... ASH! Abby, we could name him Ashton, then he could be Ash, like Ashley!" [/color]. Lotte beamed at her mothers, thinking it was the best name, that it righted everything. Unaware of the way that Abby increased her grip on the bed post. [color=00aeef]"Hmmm... Ash is a lovely name,"[/color] Lorelai winced internally. It was a tempting thought, to name the child after a departed loved one, to fill that hole in their hearts. It wouldn't work of course, and saddling her new baby with that responsibility would not be kind. [color=00aeef]"But I don't think we should expect such exalted things from our newest member, hmm?"[/color] Elizabeth both loved and despised the name Ash. It reminded her of her childhood friend, Ashlynn. Ashlynn was one of the only girls she would hang out with, because unlike other ladies, Ashlynn wasn't afraid to wrestle with her. As far as hating it, the name Ash reminded her of Matrim slaughtering a child. The sister of her children. [color=magenta]“Well, I do love the name Ash...but your mother is right, we don't want to put too much pressure on the baby.”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"Good. I don't think there should ever be another Ash. Can we go now?" [/color] Said Abby, looking pointedly at Lotte, then at the door. Lotte frowned, not quite ready to leave her long missed mother. [color=00aeef]"Why don't you run along, if you're so eager Abby?"[/color] Lorelai tried her best, but the girl's refusal to display an inch of affection, and insistence that her sister behave in a certain way, sometimes irritated her. She smiled sweetly at the object of her frustration. [color=00aeef]"I'll see you in the morning, and Lotte will be fine sleeping with us tonight if she'd like."[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"Lotte?"[/color] said Abby, although in a question, it can out much more as a demand. Lotte looked from her sister to her mother and back again, biting her lip. [color=FFF0F5] "Maybe... I'll...go with...Abby now and come back in a little to you mom? Is that okay?" [/color] Abby's lips thinned slightly, not liking the out come, but not willing to make a scene either. [color=00aeef]"That's fine, of course, but do hurry back."[/color] Lorelai kissed Lotte's cheek before setting her gently on the floor. [color=00aeef]"I've missed my cuddle buddy."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Goodnight Abby."[/color] Lorelai smiled at the girl. Maybe someday she'd warm up to her, but tonight wasn't going to be it. [color=00aeef]"Please try to send your sister back with pajamas if you would."[/color] [color=7bcdc8]"....Of course," [/color] she said, although she was already rehearsing her speech to Lotte as to why they should let the 'mommies' have 'mommy time'. [color=7bcdc8]" Good night,"[/color] with that she took Lotte's arm and drug her off to some other part of the castle.