The young man sighed and would follow along after Victor to take his bath, at least looking forward to the chance to be around his friends working deep within the castle. He loved watching the tailors work and put together the loveliest of clothing together.

A few weeks ago Victor had a larger tub installed so they could both fit. So now he was sitting across from the boy with a soapy cloth in hand, submerged chest deep in water, and scrubbing the sweat and grime from Gabriel's round body. "I want you to be on your best behavior."

Gabriel loved the new tub and more so, the fact that Victor was willing to come into the water with him. It always made him blush to see that pale, handsome body naked, though at times it did inspire some embarrassing reactions from his body. The young man sighed again and rolled his eyes. "Just what are you expecting me to do? Throw a fit or something? Make a scene?" Seemed the Vampire still wasn't giving him much credit. Why would he purposely put himself into a situation that would give him further attention?

"No, but you will refer to everyone by their proper titles. I let you get away with being casual when it's just us, but in front of company you will refer to me as Lord Mihalache. My Sire is Lord Hugoi. You will address his mates as Lady or Mistress depending on which ones he brings with him." Victor scrubbed the boy down, even getting behind his ears and between his toes. "You will bow to them and only speak when spoken to. My Sire's women abide by these same rules. You will allow my Sire to say or do what he wishes. Anything out of line will be taken care of by me. Your presence is required at dinner and you must dance with me at least once."

Gabriel flinched as Victor attended his feet, biting down on a yelp. Seems he was ticklish, and was perhaps both a little thankful and a little disappointed that Victor never had the good humour to tease him with that fact. "Doesn't that seem a little like lying to everyone?" he said with a little frown at the Vampire. "It's not like that usually, so you want to put up this stuffy front to everyone? I think that's just stupid, especially since, well... this isn't exactly a conventional situation to begin with, now is it?"

"It is called manners. What we do behind closed doors is our own business, but we are to keep an image in front of others. We demand respect by being proper people. We have the good sense to be relaxed when times are easy, but also reflect our authority when needed."

"Well I get that, it's just... what's so wrong about me calling you Victor in front of others?" Gabriel squirmed and blushed, feeling self conscious right then. "I don't want people thinking that all I am to you is another servant."

Victor met Gabriel's eyes. "It's about respect."

"Well fine then, Lord Mihalache," Gabriel met that gaze with his usual defiance and let the title fall off his lips like venom. "I'll play the good and docile little pet you want." He would strive to get up then, not wanting to draw the moment out any further. Even if they had struck up a bit of a civility towards one another over the past couple months, their relationship was still as rocky as an unpaved mountain road.

"Look, you need to understand. If you show me respect, then you will earn respect in return. The town's people like me and they won't like seeing you so indignant with me. I know you don't fully understand, but it's the way things are around here."

Gabriel got out of the tub and fetched himself a towel. He failed to see what would be so wrong in being more personal towards Victor. Wouldn't people see that as a sign of them being close? He hated that they might consider him just another underling, forced to bend to the Vampire's rule. It hurt his pride as a Hunter... even if those days were long over.

Victor watched the boy. He knew how Gabriel felt, but things were different here. The boy would understand soon enough. The people wouldn't see him as a servant. Gabriel was something they had been waiting for and would respect him.

Gabriel kept his back to Victor as he dried himself off, and then looked over his shoulder as he hung the towel up. "Well, are we going to the tailor's or not?" he huffed, and strode out of the room, as usual, not caring about his nudity around Victor.

"Yes." Victor got himself dried off, wrapped himself in a black robe and gave a green one to Gabriel.

Gabriel threw it on hastily and with a light snort.

Victor grabbed Gabriel's arm and jerked him around, glaring and lip curling. "You stop giving me attitude right now. I'm doing this for you! I'm trying to do something nice for you, to show you my appreciation! Anybody can call me Victor. A total stranger could call me Victor, but it doesn't mean anything. By calling me Lord Mihalache, you show you care enough about me to show some endearment." He let go of the boy's arm then. "That's why I will be addressing you as Master Silverstrike."

Gabriel winced as Victor grabbed him, and knew there would be bruises later... there usually were. Though he had been surprised that Victor would be addressing him as such, since he'd expected very little from Victor's own treatment of him... maybe that was the problem, they both still gave one another so little credit. "Fine... just... you know I'm not used to this! I'll never be used to all of this!" he cried, and pulled his freed arm close. Crap, there go the mood swings again... and tears stung at his eyes.

The Vampire sighed. "I'm trying to make this as easy as I can, really. We have to work with each other, but we don't seem very good at that. Maybe we can talk more about it after the party." Victor drew Gabriel into a hug. He remembered receiving them as a child whenever he cried.

Gabriel sniffled and brought his arms around Victor, glad for the comfort, even if he was sure that Victor hadn't a clue on what he was doing. "I know you're trying, I'm sorry. I just get... confused at times. I'll do my best at this party. After all, it's only a couple of hours, and after, we can just forget about the whole thing."

"I'm sure you will do just fine. We just have to show up, smile, say a few charming words and then it's all over." Giving the boy a gentle squeeze he then let go and took his hand. "You and I will look great. Jonas said he's going to make us matching suits."

Gabriel sniffled and wiped at his eyes with his free hand, smiling up at Victor, "You're going to look great, and I'll just look all ballooned out. I don't think they'll be able to tell we're supposed to be a matching pair."

"Jonas has promised to make something that would look quite handsome on you. Even the right clothes can make a man look good, despite his size or shape. I'm sure he can use some patterns and cuts that will make you look slimmer, but aren't you proud of the way you look?" Victor glanced down at Gabriel. "People will want to see how lovely you look. You've kept yourself in wonderful shape and you carry yourself with great grace."

Gabriel blushed a little at the compliments, but was glad to hear them, as they gave him the much needed boost he sometimes needed. "Well, I guess I am, for the most part," he said, brushing back some of the thick, dark hair that fell against his shoulders, again wondering if he should cut it short again. "I just... I don't want people staring at me like I'm some kind of a freak. I like that I'm having these children, even if it is a little strange, and I don't want them thinking that I'm something that I'm not..."

"My people have come to learn that things are very different than what they seem. They know you are a man, a very proud and capable man, but they also know you are the mother of my children. There are two sides to every coin."

"Well, what side am I supposed to show them at the party then?" he asked, putting his hands to his stomach gently. He didn't want to seem weak after all.

"Show them a man who is proud to be having children. You really aren't any different than being a father. You're just the one pregnant with them, earning the mother title. Just be your self."

"Funny, I never thought of it that way." Gabriel smiled and moved over to Victor, where upon he then rose up on tiptoe to place a kiss upon the Vampire's cool cheek. "Thank you, that makes things much easier."

"Glad to help."

*   *   *   *   *

"Ooooh! Look who's here everybody!" Jonas came prancing up to Gabriel and gave him a tight hug. "Hey, cutie! Long time no see! What's it been... three weeks?" His callused sewing hands cupped Gabriel's stomach. "You just look grander and lovelier every time I see you!"

Gabriel blushed and laughed, returning the eager hug. "Too long either way," he said, and his cheeks grew darker as his stomach was cupped by those hard working and skillful hands. "You're just saying that, you big tease."

"You know I mean it. Honey, I could just eat you up, you know?"

Victor grunted.

"I know, I know, you two are here on business. So..." Jonas grabbed the sleeves on Gabriel's robe and practically tore it off. "Let's get down to business!"

Victor was just as quickly disrobed and many of the seamsters and seamstresses set to work getting their measurements and picking out fabrics and colors.

"I hope that you would savour me to the last bite then," Gabriel said with a giggle and gasped as Jonas undressed him so quickly. "Ah! Jonas, you brute!" he teased with a twinkle in his pale green eyes, "So forceful."

"Only cause I know you like it like that," Jonas returned. "Now, I'm seeing the both of you in red. Velvet and cotton. Fine wool overcoats for the greeting. We'll make them to fit, but also so you can move." He flashed a flirtatious grin. "I hear you two will be dancing."

Gabriel only laughed at that and beamed. "Ah, that would be the plan, yes. Red sounds pretty... bold, doesn't it?"

"It'll make a statement." Jonas started going about the room gathering spare articles of clothing that had already been made. "Gabriel, we have this white under shirt for you. I had it made from silk so it won't irritate your skin. I also designed these form fitting shorts for a sense of security while you move around. Your pants will look black, but are actually a very dark maroon color with a barely raised oak leaf pattern. A long sleeve tunic with front buttons will serve as a base layer, made of cotton of course. It'll be more like a wine color. We're also putting together a velvet vest to wear over that. Same color with a deeper embroidered oak leaf pattern."

"Wow." Gabriel was quite impressed and already looking forward to when he would be able to wear such a wonderful piece of work. "Sounds like you're really outdoing yourself this time."

"Victor will be dressed in a tuxedo style outfit in similar colors and the same oak pattern. You two will look just precious!"

"And you'll have them done in time for the party tonight?" Victor inquired.

"Lord Mihalache, darling, I could have them done in three hours if I had to. Don't you worry your handsome face. You'll get wrinkles."

Gabriel giggled. "Have some faith, he really is a wonder of the thread and needle craft."

"Yes, that is why I hired him."

"We've set up a place for you two to sit while we work."

"Good, we have to talk about some things anyway."

Gabriel nodded. "Thanks again, Jonas," he called, before waddling over to the offered seating.

Victor held Gabriel's hand as he was lowered into a seat. He even took a large piece of cloth to drape over the boy's lap. "How do you feel about being touched?"

Gabriel was thankful for the bit of covering and smiled at Victor's thoughtfulness. "Touched? How do mean, like having my belly rubbed?"

"No, just touch. More like how Jonas just greeted you. A lot of people at the party might want to touch you like that, but I won't let them if you don't want them to. Simple hand shakes and courteous bows can be set as rules if that is what you're more comfortable with."

"Uh, I guess I'd rather they didn't," Gabriel replied with a little squirm, "Jonas is a friend, so he can do that sort of thing... strangers, I don't want them being that familiar with me."

Victor nodded. "That's perfectly fine. If anyone makes contact you don't like, tell me and I'll have them removed. However, my Sire is to touch you as he likes. There is an order between him and me that is untouchable. I can protect you against crude advancements, but anything else is out of my control. Do you understand that?"

"I... I guess so," Gabriel replied, though was unsure if he could be trusted not to... let it be known himself on if he didn't like something that this other Lord would be doing to him. "But he's not like you, is he? I mean, the ones he's bringing are all women, so... he likes them better in general, right?" Of course, finding a man who could become pregnant was a rare thing indeed, so maybe it was just out of circumstance that the Sire had several women.

"I'm not really sure. Sire liked to toy around with me when I was his fledgling, but that might just be because he's a greedy person."

"Toy with you?" Gabriel wondered what that could mean... and if he was being foolish for thinking of something naughty in that regard. It did make him more curious as to just what this man was like though.

Victor frowned and looked away. "I do not want to talk about it." He crossed his legs and his fingers curled around the seat of the chair. "Just do as he asks of you and do not fight him."

"I won't pry," Gabriel said and put a cap on that curiosity of his. "And... I'll try."

"Do you tire easily? Would you prefer to sit most of the night? I don't want to wear you out too early. We'll have many guests to entertain."

"I should be fine with something like standing around and humouring folks," Gabriel replied. "I don't want to dance the night away of course, but I do pretty well for being this big and heavy. Though if I change my mind, I'll be sure to let you know."

Victor nodded. The Vampire still seemed a little shaken up, his eyes flittering around the room. The ice blue spheres finally settled on Gabriel as he uncrossed his legs. "Come sit with me."

Gabriel frowned a little, taking note of this new mood within Victor, and with a nod he came to do as the other asked, or was it demanded... sometimes he wasn't sure, but didn't really care much anymore. "Is everything okay?" he asked softly and brushed a hand carefully along Victor's cheek.

"Are they moving?" Victor asked with his hand upon the crest of Gabriel's swell, obviously avoiding the question. "They haven't been as talkative since our training session. Perhaps they fell asleep."

"I can feel a little bit of squirming," Gabriel replied and allowed Victor his privacy. If he didn't want to talk about it, then Gabriel felt that pressuring him would just incur trouble again. "They tend to get worn out after a good bit of exercise. I'm sure they'll be wriggling around inside me and all trying at once to let me know what they want for dinner."

"Well dinner is on the seventh hour tonight. They will have to wait until then." Victor began to rub fondly. "The chefs are preparing a spread of just about everything so they will most likely get whatever they want."

"That's usually the case," Gabriel said, sighing softly as Victor rubbed his large, exposed belly. He blushed a little, knowing that they were still in a rather public place for this. "Thankfully none of them have disagreed to what their siblings want. That'd be rather tricky, denying one child what the others are eager for."

"We would have to teach them how to compromise, wouldn't we? I think their cravings are similar because they all need the same nutrients to continue development, but once they are born and grow, their tastes will change."

"They'll become different as they grow as well, become different people with their own likes and interests," Gabriel said and smiled fondly down at his belly. "I actually look forward to seeing what kind of people they'll be, and in how I can help shape them into good folk, ones that this town can be proud of."

"As mush as I would hate to break up this adorable scene, I need both of you to try your pants on, pretty pretty please," Jonas chimed in all of the sudden.

Gabriel laughed and rose up carefully. "Adorable?" he said, lifting a brow to Jonas in question.

"Of course!" Jonas snapped his wrist. "You two are the cutest couple I've ever seen, and honey, I've seen plenty of them come through this place. A bunch of the servants are married. Didn't you know? We've been making dresses and tuxedos down here for nearly fifteen years since I took over as head tailor."

Victor nodded. "It's true."

"Fifteen years?" Gabriel looked Jonas over and wondered how old the man was, as he still looked to be in great shape and rather young. "Now I feel bad for not having kept up more with their lives," he pouted, but wasn't convinced that he and Victor made... the cutest couple.

Jonas nodded. "You bet. I'm a ripe 32 years old." The flamboyant man struck a pose. "Don't I just look fabulous?"

"Well... yeah, you do," Gabriel said. "I guess I can only hope that I'm half as... fabulous, when I get to that age."

"Maybe the good lord here will turn you into a Vampire one of these days and you won't have to worry no matter how old you get." Jonas held the pants for Gabriel and offered his own set of shoulders as a balance for the boy. "You could live to be a hundred and still be spry as a chicken. Cutie, what I wouldn't give to be sixteen again sometimes."

Gabriel was glad of the support, as he got into the pants, finding that they fit rather nicely, though he couldn't really tell on how they looked. He moved his legs about to test the flexibility of them at least. "Oh, I don't think he’ll be doing that... and that'd be a whole new bit of thinking to be doing, since well... ex-Hunter and all."

Two women scurried over carrying a mirror for Gabriel to see himself in. Victor just had to trust he looked good, seeing as how his own reflection was always distorted in shape or color, sometime beyond recognition. "Cutie, you listen here. That man is going to fall head over heels for you some day, and when he does, he's going to take your heart make it beat forever."

"Well aren't you the optimist?" the young man replied, though was rather skeptical of that happening. He had no idea what he could possibly do that would make Victor suddenly fall in love with him, and it really wasn't much of an issue. They had a relationship, strange as it was, that Gabriel was growing more accustomed to and comfortable with each day. "Nice work, I love the details."

"I'm a romantic." Jonas winked. "And thank you. All right, take them off so you don't wrinkle them before the party. We should have the other pieces ready soon."

"I can hardly wait," Gabriel replied with a sweet smile.

It was a couple of hours before their party clothes were completed. Both men did indeed look quite handsome in their matching suits. After getting dressed they moved upstairs to get groomed for the party. Gabriel's hair was well brushed and then tied back with a red ribbon while letting a few pieces hang in front to frame his face. Steam was applied to Victor's own waxen locks to make it straight and smooth.

Gabriel felt his heart pound in his chest as he grew increasingly nervous about the whole ordeal. Could he really behave? What if he did slip up?

"You'll be fine," Victor insisted. "You are very charming and the people will see you as one of their own. That is your Ace, you see? My people will feel like they can relate to you seeing as how you are just as common as they are. You are one of them, only you were lucky enough to rise to a status of power."

"A champion for the people then?" Gabriel mused, though it may not have been quite so valiant as that, it did seem somewhat apt. He placed a hand to his belly and closed his eyes for a moment, just feeling and listening to all that went on within him. "They're pretty excited too. There will be so much for them to take in this evening."

"Be sure to tell me if they become too overwhelmed."

"Of course, of course," Gabriel replied, waving his free hand. Really, Victor worried too much. The most that would happen is that the little ones would exhaust themselves and fall into a nice, deep sleep, where their little squirmings would let Gabriel know that they were having wonderful dreams.

Once they had been pampered and groomed, Victor took Gabriel to the grand hall where his throne was. The servants had been working all day to get the place ready for the party. Everything had been dusted, washed and polished. Now the band was getting set up over in the corner. A smaller secondary throne had been set up for Gabriel to sit in.

"You can either stand or sit here to greet the guests."

Gabriel was impressed with how beautiful the place looked, for although it was usually in perfect working order, it had a lonely feel to it. Now, with all the bustling about and preparation for the party, it gave the vast space a new atmosphere and sense of welcoming. The secondary throne caught him by surprise, and he felt his heart flutter even more. It rather served to drive home just how different life was now.

"I uh, guess I'll sit for starters. That way, I'll have more energy when it comes time to move around and do some of that dancing."

"Good. Do what's best for you. Stand when called to attention, sit when all others are sitting." Victor fixed Gabriel's collar and sleeves. "When you do stand, everyone will stand for you. It's just courtesy."

"I hope I don't make a fool of myself," Gabriel murmured, eyeing the secondary throne as Victor set him out properly. "I've been pretty good with getting in and out of chairs lately, just... sometimes it feels like more work than usual."

"Don't be afraid to ask for help. No one will think any less of you. You're pregnant. Everyone is willing to help." Victor gestured to the smaller throne. "See how well you handle."

Gabriel rather disliked the notion that being pregnant made one fragile and helpless... then again, when he considered how he could no longer wear shoes with laces, he had to admit that there was some merit behind the misconception.

He would take himself over to the throne and gracefully take a seat, settling himself down into it with his hands situated upon the arms primly. "Rather comfortable actually," he mused, mostly to himself as he'd thought that it would be hard and unyielding somehow. "Right, the big test." And he would raise himself up, trying to make the move as smooth and refined as possible, hoping to impress with his mastery over his own rotund form.

Victor gave him a smile. "Charming," he said. "Everyone is going to love you." Suddenly there came a loud and energetic barking as the two black Borzoi came bounding into the room. They ran up the few steps to the thrones. Mariska, the female, decided to perch herself in Gabriel's seat. Bernard, the male, jumped up to put his front paws on Victor's chest. Both canines had been getting thoroughly groomed all day so they too could be presentable for the party.

Victor just laughed quietly while petting the dog's head. "You look handsome, Bernard."

"Mariska, no!" Gabriel admonished, trying to get the large, but lovely female off his chair. "I can't have you getting your hair all over my backside, now get down." The young man pouted and even though he got along well with the beasts, he'd often wished that Victor would take a bit more discipline with them.

"You don't have to shout at her," Victor insisted. "They're trained to follow simple commands. All you need is a firm yet normal tone. Mariska, down." He waved his hand in one graceful stroke and the Borzoi obediently got back down on the floor. She sat at Gabriel's feet while wagging her tail. "Mariska rather likes you. You should try spending more time with her."

"I think she just puts on a good front for you," Gabriel replied, but would carefully kneel down before the elegant dog so that he could give her a good rub along the ears and through her coat. "I've been meaning to ask on whether you'd allow her to have puppies at some point. Perhaps after the children are born, so that they could see them."

Victor nodded. "I don't see why not. Another Borzoi would have to be imported. Bernard is her litter brother. We can't breed these two properly. If we time it right, she can have puppies for one of the childrens' birthdays. Maybe when they turn five or so." He thought for a moment. "Of course, Mariska might be too old by then, but I can have another female brought in instead."

"If you could, that might be good, and the children can at least get to know how to handle her and Bernard, so that when the pups come, they'll be more familiar with them." Gabriel thought a moment as well, and peered at Victor shyly. "Speaking of animals in the home, I was wondering if you could allow me to have a cat..."

The Vampire lord became very serious, a bold frown falling on his lips. "No, absolutely not. A cat is out of the question."

"Why not?" Gabriel asked, pouting at the outright denial. "My family always had at least one cat when my brother and I were growing up. They're wonderful creatures."

"I'm terrified of cats," he answered bluntly. "I will not allow any creature of feline nature in my home. Is that understood? No cats."

"Terrified?" Gabriel blinked, shocked at this news, "But... they're so cute and fluffy."

"No, they are horrible creatures. There is nothing cute about them. A cat would sooner rip out your eyes than be at all affectionate with you. Now, I will hear no more on the matter. Do I make my self clear?"

Gabriel continued to scowl and pout, but kept his lips firmly sealed. No more on the matter... for now.

"Good, now... The guests will be arriving soon. First it will be the villagers. Business and shop owners will see us first followed by the farmers and then those who are home keepers. My Sire will not arrive until after dark. If you need to eat or take care of any other business, I suggest you do it now. Otherwise we should take our seats."

"I'll get something now, so that the children don't get upset later," Gabriel murmured as he rose up onto his feet and patted his belly as he felt all that squirming within him. "Hopefully it'll calm them down a little too."

Victor put his hand on Gabriel's shoulder as the boy began to walk away. "I'm sorry about the cat. I just... can't."

Gabriel smiled and looked over his shoulder and up at Victor. He placed a hand over the Vampire's own. "It's all right, thank you." That Victor put an effort into apologizing meant a lot to Gabriel, and he felt that he would drop the subject for a good while.

He nodded. "Find something to eat and then hurry back. Our guests should be here in about half an hour."

Gabriel nodded in return. "I won't be late." He promised, and would hurry off.

This story is wonderful. A real page turner. One minor criticism that I have is that it seems as though (in my opinion) Gabriel accepted...no that's not the right word...he became "overjoyed" about his pregnancy a smidgen too quickly for my tastes. I found that I repeatably had to remind myself that all of this action was taking place within the span of 7 days. (On that note I love, love, love how his body came to full term so quickly, yet he's still going to have to wait a few months until he delivers. One thing I hate about speed-pregnancy stories is that usually they'll have the guy go into labour immediately after. I don't like that, I enjoy reading about the actual pregnancy.) I was hoping he would be a bit more rebellious. Also Im usually I'm not a fan of multiples (twins being the limit for me personally) however this was explained very tastefully, and I actually like the idea of him having so many. I love the babies (for some reason I imagine them all as boys lol) and I love Lucille. That whole "You lie there like some lazy overstuffed pig, too content to realize how grotesque he is" bit pushed so many of my buttons Luv! Anyway Im rambling. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your story, and how I eagerly await your next update!

Once in the parlour, he settled himself down comfortably, wincing as he noted the women's actions. "I can hardly imagine being cooped up like that while being like this." He gestured vaguely to his own large belly.

"Oh, we ask'd ta wear dese," said Desta. She was a dark-skinned woman with charcoal eyes and thin dreadlocks hanging down her back. Her sharp looking teeth were ivory and her tongue like a razor. The dress she wore was buttercup yellow with elbow length sleeves and a neck line that cradled her humble breasts.

"Just because we're pregnant doesn't mean we're going to sacrifice our figures in front of an audience." Such proud words were spoken by Sofie, a fair-skinned maiden with pale eyes and strawberry blonde hair. She was very petite causing her swollen belly to appear very overpowering. Her pink dress featured many ruffles and a pair of matching white gloves.

"At least Alexander didn't ask either of you to dance," huffed Jarmila. She had the olive complexion with short dark hair and grey-green eyes. This one seemed the oldest and perhaps bore the most children out of the three.

"Well, I guess I can understand that," Gabriel replied, knowing that he'd been quite pleased to be able to dress so finely for the event. "Lord Hugoi's name is... Alexander?" he asked tentatively, unsure if he was still supposed to be on his best behavior here.

Desta nodded. "Alexanda Hugoi. Dat man has been livin' longa than dan any of us put togeda. I rememba bein' a little gurl and workin' in his suga fields. Man hasn't aged at all since. Apparantly he lik'd da way I grew up, so he took me as a Mistress. Best ting to eva happen to me."

"My daddy was visiting on a business trip when I was sixteen," replied Sofie. "He brought me along thinking I'd like to see a new country. Alexander was quite taken with me and told daddy he'd accept our company's offer if he could keep me." The girl shrugged. "It's not so bad. I really like living there now. I get everything I want."

"How many children have you carried for him, or are currently carrying?" He eyed the round bellies before him and was genuinely curious, as he did appear to be the larger of the bunch, and was told that seven was a very good number, especially for a first try.

"Five," Sofie answered sweetly. "This is my first time."

Desta nodded. "Did is my second batch of five."

"Six," Jarmila said in a bored tone. "I've done it four times already, so I'm a bit over it by now."

Gabriel was clearly impressed with all of them, though perhaps more so with Jarmila, and he wondered if she'd been given a rest between pregnancies, or if Hugoi had had her right on the tails of the previous batch. "What are they like, when they're born, and as they grow older?"

The oldest woman shrugged. "They're just babies. They cry and eat and sleep and make messes. You wake up in the middle of the day having to feed them. Of course, you won't have to deal with that," she said while rubbing one of her own large, tender breasts. "They end up learning to crawl and walk like we did. Next they learn how to talk. Around age three or four is when they go through that temperamental 'No' phase. They really aren't that different, except for the drinking blood and having to be kept out of the sun."

Gabriel blushed at that and was thankful that he hadn't felt any such... tenderness there, well, maybe a little, but it definitely wasn't a precursor to anything! "I've never really been around kids, so this is all very new to me. That, and well, they're Vampires, which just adds to my own ignorance unfortunately. Um, will they stop being able to uh, ‘talk’ to me when they're born?"

It was Desta's turn to answer. "No, ya lose da connection once ya go into labor."

"Oh..." Gabriel looked clearly crestfallen by this news, and his shoulders sagged. "Do... they remember any of it?"

"Sometimes." The island woman nodded. "Depends on how much you really talk to dem after dey're born. If you keep up da voice, dey rememba betta."

Gabriel rubbed at his belly self-consciously, hoping that he was doing a good job. He'd be so very sad and disappointed if it turned out that all the love and attention he'd given them at this time would be completely forgotten. Even if they only remembered a brief impression, he wanted them to know that they had always been loved and cared for.

"Can you hear yours right now? I was apparently early when they started talking to me," and maybe that would mean they would retain more... he could only hope.

"I heard mine talking three months ago," said the redhead.

Desta nodded. "Mine started a few days ago."

"Mine aren't old enough," Jarmila answered.

He nodded to them and smiled. "Getting to hear them is pretty amazing, isn't it? It's another thing that makes this different from a normal pregnancy. They're always so bright and avid, though a lot of the times what they want is food."

Jarmila sighed. "They're usually complaining about something or other. I've had so many that it's just like all my other kids going on and on about whatever."

"I like it," Sofie chirped. "I'm pretty sure they're all girls."

Gabriel briefly felt sorry for how Jarmila viewed the situation, though was unsure if he wouldn't become jaded as well, if Victor really was to put him to use as some kind of breeding machine. He gave a private shudder at that, especially if it meant Victor being rough with him each time.

So he turned his attention to Sofie. "Really? How can you tell? I'm hoping for a pack of boys, but being able to prepare for a few girls in the group would be nice."

"Oh, just by the way they talk." Sofie rubbed her own stomach. "They like to giggle a lot and each of them calls me mommy. Really it's more of a feeling I have. I can't be sure."

"Der is dat old wives' tale," Desta added.

Gabriel considered this a moment, he sometimes heard a lot of giggling, but wouldn't be entirely certain that they were just girls. Also, considering the whole Silverstrike curse working its magic upon him, it might be logical to assume that he should expect several boys...

"Old wives tale?" The young man was shaken from his thoughts and perked up his ears, always interested in lore and old fables that had been passed down the generations.

The island woman nodded. She had a slight voodoo look about her, like maybe she'd been raised by them. "Dey say dat if you carry high and in front, you most likely be havin' a batch of boys. Hangin' low usually means gurls. If you're goin' ta have a combination of both, you at least should be carrying center."

Gabriel tipped his head curiously. "Hm, it's kind of hard to check to see just what manner I'm hanging at I think. All I see in front of me is a big belly, though I guess a mirror might be good... if I can tell the differences."

"You got more boys dan gurls," she said. "I can tell. Our Lady has carried as many as you quite a few times, wit both boys and gurls, and she was shaped a lot like you. You seem pretty firm, so I tink you gonna have more boys."

"Oh, well that's wonderful news," Gabriel replied with a blush, eager to tell Victor then, "Not that I would've minded having a batch mostly of girls, of course." He giggled softly in happiness, and then blinked. "Lady?" he briefly looks to Jarmila, wondering if that was what she was to be called by the others.

Jarmila noticed his gaze. "Oh, no, not me," she said shaking her head. "I was bought. Hardly 'Lady' material. No, our Lady is at home. She is currently carrying nine. Quite unheard of, actually. Needless to say she wasn't fit to travel."

"N-nine?" Gabriel squeaked, and very briefly felt a touch of jealousy, though he quickly waved it off. "That... she isn't bed ridden is she?" She must have been huge, could they even find a carriage to take her in?

"Our Lady sleeps a great deal of the time. She is in fact bed ridden. Her back cannot support that much weight. Actually, she broke her ankle a few weeks ago when she got up to eat."

"Oh dear," Gabriel gasped, feeling sorry for the poor woman, to have to undergo such an ordeal for several months. "How does she keep herself from going mad? I don't think I could do it, even with the children for company."

"Luckily she likes ta read and paint. Alexada makes sure she got everyting she needs to keep busy."

Sofie giggled. "My girls and I like to sing. Lord Hugoi likes to listen to us when he has the time."

"Most of my boys come out athletic," said Jarmila. "Even my girls are tomboys. Alexander has been working hard to train it out of them. He thinks girls should behave like girls. I don't really care either way. There's no arguing with him."

"I'm hoping my boys will be athletic, though Victor seems to want them to devote most of their time to studying, so that they can look after this kingdom and help it prosper." Gabriel giggled. "I seem to have a little singer in here as well. It's so sweet, always coming up with such clever little ‘lyrics’ over the simplest things. I'm hoping that the girls will be able to make their own choices too, when I think about the strong women I've come across, I'd hate for them to be forced into a role and... well, made weak because that's what's ‘expected’ of them."

"Victor should know better than anyone else that boys and girls aren't always what they seem," Jarmila said. "After being married to Allen I would expect him to be accepting of his children no matter how they turned out."

Desta eyed the boy curiously. "How does someone like you just roll ova and let himself get pregnant? I don't know a single man who would put himself trough dis willingly."

"Maybe it wasn't...." Jarmila suggested.

Gabriel nodded to that, as he'd often wondered the same thing about Victor's views on the matter. He would love the children, no matter if his girls turned out to be rough and tumble tomboys or if his boys turned out to favour pretty skirts and embroidery. His smile dropped however, when Desta made her comment and he squirmed within his chair, unable to meet the gazes of the three women. "It's... it's complicated..." Although when he thought about it, it really wasn't. Victor had raped him, he'd gotten pregnant...

Jarmila shrugged. "You only practice what you've been conditioned for." The oldest woman also seemed to have the biggest mouth out of the group. "After everything Lord Hugoi put Victor through, it doesn't surprise me what he did to you. Rape kind of turned into the only thing he knew." Then she smirked for the first time that night. "Did you get to see that scar on his side? Victor was attacked by a Werewolf years ago. It tore right into him."

Gabriel nodded, though that night he'd been a little too distracted by the pain and horror of what was happening to him to notice Victor's body, he had since then, managed to catch a couple glances now and again of the Vampire's form. "I didn't think it would be right to ask about it," he murmured, though there were still a lot of things he never asked about... the time spent with Hugoi was among the top on that list, and he couldn't help but cast a glance over towards the door, wondering just what the two Vampires could be discussing... if that was indeed what they were doing, and he shuddered.

"It's a good ting you came along. Alexanda would call on Victa every coupla weeks to.... play. We were curious ta know why he wasn't comin' around anymore. Den we heard about you. Alexanda would probably still be calling on Victa if he didn't need ta feed your babies."

Jarmila glanced over at Lucille in the corner. "You know about that, don't you?"

The blonde girl didn't respond.

"Is that... what they're doing right now? Having Hugoi... play with him?" Gabriel murmured and was tempted to run from the room and go put a stop to such actions right then. He worried that Victor would close up from him again, and so soon after they'd shared a moment and made it a point that Gabriel wanted to help Victor.

He looked over to Lucille briefly. "She helps with the feeding... as much as she doesn't like it."

"Oh, that's not what I'm talking about."

Lucille suddenly tensed. "That is private family business."

"Didn't you ever wonder why she hates Vampire offspring so much?" Jarmila asked in a dark teasing tone.

Lucille took a step forward. "Bite your tongue, Jarmila!"

"Lucille!" Desta snapped. "Away wit you."

The girl glared at all of them before storming out.

Jarmila laughed. "I see her temper hasn't changed one bit."

Gabriel blinked and shook his head. "I don't understand. I... think the Vampires might have done something to her sister, which she lost, but otherwise... I don't know why she hates them so. They haven't done anything."

Jarmila settled back into her seat looking oddly content. "Vampires did plenty to her sister."

"Ooh!" Sofie clapped merrily. "I love this story."

"See, Lucille's sister, Julia, was attacked by a rouge Vampire one night and was impregnated by him. He ran off at the first signs of dawn. We're pretty sure he was insane anyway. Julia ended up carrying eight. Victor sent her to Hugoi's castle since Mary was the only specialist for miles. It's just too bad that Vampire wasn't around to feed his offspring."

"That's awful," Gabriel remarked. "Does it have to be the fathering Vampire who feeds them?"

"Always. Hasn't Mary explained this to you? Vampire offspring are fledglings. Fledglings need the blood of their Sire to stabilize their forms and their minds. Fledglings who don't have a Sire usually go insane. Julia came full term and then it came time for them to be fed. Hugoi tried feeding them, but his blood couldn't sustain them for very long. I still remember how much she screamed."

Gabriel held a hand to his mouth, horrified. "She... she lost them? Did she die?"

The woman looked at her painted nails. "Well of course she died. They ate her alive. Eventually the nurses had to tie her down. It was a terrible sight. Her belly rippled and stretched as they thrashed around inside her. In the end they ripped their way out and died a few hours later."

Gabriel stared in horror at the woman and at how apathetically she delivered this news. His wide eyes looked down to his own giant stomach, and he remembered all those times he'd heard the children and how sweet they always sounded. Could they really be capable of such a thing, of going mad and trying to eat their way out of him in a desperate struggle for sustenance? The young man shuddered and shook his head lightly in disbelief, though a part of him was never more grateful for Victor's steady and constant presence. Again he looked towards the door, wondering where Victor was and what he could be doing with the other Vampire, growing anxious thanks to the tale. "I... I would never have suspected... it seems dangerous for Vampires to then just bed anyone, especially if they don't mean to have children..."

"Well yeah," she replied.

"Don't you know anything about Vampires?" chirped Sofie with a slight tilt of her head. "Vampires need blood, like, a lot. They'll die without it. I mean... when humans can't eat animals, they resort to eating each other. Normally Vampires only drink blood in controlled amounts, but if they don't get what they need..." The girl then made a wet sucking sound for emphasis, showing her fangs off as well.

Desta sighed. "You two are so dramatic. Clearly Victa didna turn him, so he dun really know what it's like. Gabrial, you listen to Desta now. Dun let dese two scare you. True as dat story may be, you ain't got nutin ta worry 'bout. Your babies are gonna be born happy and healty. Yeah?"

"I... I certainly hope so." Though Gabriel couldn't help but feel embarrassed, it seemed he still had so very little knowledge on the Vampires, as people and as creatures of the night. He just, was never sure on how to address his questions to Victor, and when Mary was around those days, he tended to let them slip his mind. Just as before, it seemed like some things would be learned as he went along. "Victor loves these children, and... I don't think he'd let any spat between himself and me lead him to neglect a feeding."

"He wouldna risk losin you eitha," the dark woman added. "If Desta knows anyting, it's when a man is in love. I see Victa look at you, boy, he'd walk on de sun for you. Victa hides it well. I know. And you..." Her charcoal eyes focused squarely on Gabriel. "You gotta quit doubtin. Dun be tinkin all dis affection is just for dose littal ones. Why, I dun tink his mind was eva on dem at all tonight. It was all you, boy."

Gabriel blushed and shifted in his seat, unable to meet those dark eyes as he averted his own gaze. "I... I think I still have some work to do with him, before... he can love me properly." He bit at his lips and peeked at the women shyly, his cheeks growing darker. "Does... does Hugoi... still... you know, pay attention to you ladies?"

"Sure, when it fancies him," Jarmila answered. "He and I slept together just the other night.

"What?!" Sofie's eyes were wide. "I asked for him to be with me that night! He told me he wasn't feeling well!"

Jarmila smirked. "That's because you give him a headache."

"I do not!"

"Oh please. We can all hear you. You screech like a cat when he rides you. Maybe if you toned it down he wouldn't be so inclined to say no."

Gabriel's flush remained bright, but he smiled shyly. Well, that came as a comfort actually, and at least now he knew that there was no harm in... a little additional exercise. Though a part of him was saddened, remembering that Victor was... currently unable to perform without things becoming twisted. He squirmed some more in his seat. Was he actually thinking about this again? His first time had been pretty horrible. Would it really be any better if Victor was gentle?

A deep pained howl bellowed through the halls of the castle. Each woman seemed completely unfazed. In fact, Jarmila and Desta had a look on their face like the sound was familiar.

"Alexander is at it again," the oldest one said.

"Jarmila, not now," Desta hissed, having some decency in front of Gabriel on the subject.

The dark-haired woman just smirked. No one could pull her down off her high horse tonight. "Only Alexander would have the audacity to **** someone in their home. He thinks he owns everything Victor has to his name. Like being Sire entitles him to it. Better hope he doesn't come for you next, kid."

Gabriel rose to his feet in alarm, his eyes growing wide again. "That... that was Victor?!" He turned to the three women. "I... what is he doing to Victor?!"

"Noting dat concerns you," Desta replied. "What Alexnda does behind closed doors is none of our business. You just look de otha way, boy. Hear me?"

"But... how can I? He's hurting Victor!" Gabriel felt a rush of emotion come over him and tears welled in his eyes. This was why Victor couldn't embrace him, why it might take years (if he was hopeful) to help the Vampire to be gentle and tender with him... though if this was to happen with every visit from Hugoi, then all his efforts might be for naught. He ground his teeth and began to storm towards the door. "And I'm not allowing that!"

"Gabriel," Jarmila began, "You won't like what you find. Ignorance is bliss. You walk up there now, well... You had better be sure you want to get involved in that."

Gabriel paused with his hand upon the handle of the door and one upon his stomach. Without looking back, he spoke, "I'll endure it, because he shouldn't have to be alone all the time." And he would leave out then and seek to continue on, heart hammering, but determined not to fall back. "I'm coming for you, Victor."