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The rust and copper colored leaves are rustling, the open window of the kitchen shows a scenery out of fairytale books: soft green grass that plies under the weight of beautiful, bountiful pumpkins; the vines from the trees ondulate in the light breeze, the air fizzy the night approaches.
The darkness is a long way though, as is the cold.
Right now, the honey gold glow of the sun setting bathes plants and the two lovers inside the gorgeous mossy cottage.
The room, warm with the sunlight and lit scented candles, is filled with notes of the oleander and jasmine tea piping in the kettle, a loud whistle alerting the two laughing lovers of its precise readiness.
"So, and I had said-" Lizzie laughs with a little snort "- No no, okay! She could clearly see I was expecting but acted as if I'd gained 15 kilos just from eating peaches. Ridiculous!" she laughs more, hands busy with some peanuts and the kettle she's filling.
It is true, though, she does love eating peaches… It's not that though that makes her tummy a round circle.
Music echoes through the house from the living room, the source of it a vinyl of classical music.
Cleo dances behind her, depositing a soft blanket over the Queen's shoulders, who whispers a soft Thank you.
"I think she was just trying to- Actually, no. That was way more rude than asking directly" Cleo entertains the conversation, stealing two peanuts from Lizzie's hands.
Lady Marceline had meant absolutely no harm. She was… shocked, to say the least, when she found out a royal baby was due.
"I thought I'd never see the day!" She had excitedly clapped her hands, shaking her husband's shoulders who cheered just as loudly.
Lizzie had laughed then and hugged them both.
After their retirement, it’s always a pleasure to see the old couple at the palace.
Through the modifications it's gotten, Lizzie had restored the couple's sleeping quarters, in honour of their long service to the Crown.
“Do we know which it'll be, yet?” the cyan axolotl lady had asked excitedly.
“We're actually waiting for the big reveal like everybody else, no need for divination” Cleo had piped up.
From first entering the Ocean Empire on a murder mission to now expecting with the love of their life, it's been a big change.
Lady Marceline can finally stand her.
“I don't suppose the mother has an inkling…?” Sir Strawberry asked, nosy.
“Well, I do! But I'm not telling!” Lizzie shook her head and made a show of pouting and folding her arms.
“Must be hard with only one parent helping now, where are lovely Dame Gem and Lady Pearl?” Marceline wondered.
“Gem is up north, busy setting up Dawn. And Pearl is on a diplomatic mission to inform the royal uncles of our soon to be born little star” Lizzie had sighed, one hand on the baby bump.
After finding out (it had been a… messy day) the four had wondered how the baby would develop.
If Lizzie would have a first semester like this, if she'll lay the egg later, or if the baby would be born from the womb.
She's close to 36 weeks now.
As it appears, she might be laying soon. From then on, it's up to Time to take care of the baby.
Cleo will be keeping a very close eye.
It was in early September when the two rulers of the Ocean Empire and Chronos had been invited to the new cottage the fawn had personally built to accommodate the pregnancy and the Rulers.
Truly, Gem just wanted to be present during the pregnancy. And Lizzie is glad for that.
As September's pace quickens to reach Gem's birthday at the end of October, the leaves outside the royal cottage fall to form crunchy patches.
“C'mon, fetch the mugs, I'll get the sugar, or honey, if you want that?” Lizzie bumps her shoulders against Cleo's.
“Yeah, I do. And yeah, in the cabinet… Up here!” Cleo reaches up, feigning ignorance when their pinky brushes against the blue axolotl's cheek.
Lizzie blushes.
“If you want to cuddle, just say so, King Cleo… jeez” Lizzie laughs.
She's holding both the pot of sugar (handmade by Pearl, white with little ladybugs and bees painted on) and the honey bear shaped glass container (made by Gem, who's found a real passion in glass blowing).
“I miss them” Lizzie sighs, sitting at the table with her partner. She stares at the centrepiece: a beautiful composition of magnolia flowers and baby's breath.
After everything that went on these past years… She misses Gem and Pearl's constant presence. She'll see them soon though.
Probably, later than sooner, another tour will be required to show the first royal baby an Empire has had since… well, centuries.
Not that some other sovereigns are that far behind, the Ocean Empire just came first, and on top.
Cleo and Lizzie sit next to each other, tea cups on the tablecloth with pink oleander and cornflower blooms embroidered on. A gift from False.
Lizzie catches her lover's eye be a little too deep in thought. Eyebrows too scrunched, mouth oblique.
“You know, it's nice that she gave you a gift, after all that” Lizzie tries. These waters are murky. She hates murky waters.
“I'm glad she's finally free. Finally able to live her life” Cleo sighs, looking away then holding Lizzie's worried stare.
“It'll still be hard for her” Lizzie reasons. Whatever she and… Well, whatever they had, everyone is happier without the Fairy Court's abominable ruler.
“It's been hard for us, too” Cleo notes, fingers tapping softly on the ceramic.
“I know, still is, sometimes. We're doing our best, though. Anything for little…Uh…” Lizzie hums, slowly smiling.
“Whatever name you're going for, you know we need the approval of Gem and Pearl. Who aren't currently here.” Cleo smirks, so done with her antics.
That's good. But there'll be way more. Forever.
“Yes… Let's conspire, then… Whatever the mother wants” Lizzie nods, sagely.
“That kid's about to have like four mothers… three and a half? Well, more than two;” they hum.
“Yuh, well, right now, the baby is inside One mum, me, the Ocean Queen, so… Well, which one do you prefer? Personally I think it should be a queenly name.”
“...Why?”
“Why? Well, because- Both our names come from old human mythology, slash uh, history. So, Elizabeth and Cleo, make up…”
“Ah, historical names then? I have a few, actually.” Cleo comes closer, Lizzie is all ears.
The mugs are in their hands, and they're so close together, fingers pressing against the other's.
“... Which I'll suggest when Gem and Pearl are here next week”
“Oh! Boo-hoo! You're no fun…” Lizzie laments, blowing a raspberry at the redhead.
Cleo laughs, raucous and bright as fire.
Their magic barrier’s down, her skin and cheeks finally reveal her true form, her eyes shine a dark green, her full lips in that gothic black lipstick of hers.
They glow in the gold of the kind sun, precious as gold, as diamonds, as the divine.
“I love you” Lizzie sighs, head held on her hand, pink fringe covering her fluttery blue and fuchsia eyes, the lovely achromatic effect on her hair absorbs the sun, making the Queen a beautiful, perfect star in Cleo's eyes.
Cleo grasps her hand, delicately circling the wedding ring. A similar one sits around their own finger.
“I love you, too” she smiles, mirthful and jaw droppingly gorgeous.
“And I love you too, whoever you are” they whisper, one hand sneaking around the blanket to settle on the baby bump.
“I don't think they can hear you” Lizzir laughs, head falling on the other's shoulder.
Their tea drunk, mugs cold, sitting further on the table. It's dusk.
“Oh, but if they can, then they know they're my favourite” Cleo shrugs, as if this is a competition.
It's not, yet. It'll be.
When the sun drops completely behind the horizon, the windows are closed and the kitchen becomes illuminated by orange lamps and the lit fireplace.
The smell of roasted mushrooms and creamy pumpkin soup fills the air, as does laughter and the late night smooches the two share.