Chapter Text
9 Months Before Labor Day
"Hey, Luz?" Amity stared at the small plastic stick in her hand. Half a dozen others were strewn about on the floor of the bathroom or on the countertop. They all had the same sign on them.
Positive.
"Yeah, babe?" Luz responded from her spot in the living room. She was lounging on the couch, and Amity was pretty sure that the werewolf was watching some type of sports documentary or the like.
The Queen of Hell took a long, deep breath as she nervously peeked her head out the bathroom door. "When we were having fun a few weeks ago, on the full moon, uhhh... Did you double check with Wolfie that she was firing blanks?"
A grunt sounded from the living room as Luz slowly got off the couch. "I'm, uhh, pretty sure? I mean, yeah Wolf rushed the transformation a bit but I think she made sure to give us the snip."
"Well," Amity started. Staring down at the floor because she absolutely could not look her loba in the face, she stuck her hand out. When she saw her fiancee's wolf paw slippers shuffle into view, the demon slowly opened her palm and revealed the pregnancy test. "I think this little guy begs to differ."
Luz stared at the little plastic contraption. She stared at it really freaking hard. She lifted a single eyebrow. She blinked. Then, she smiled.
It was that smile that brought Amity to tears.
Collapsing to her knees, Amity sobbed as she wrapped her arms around her lover's legs. "I don't - I don't know what to do! I... We were so careful! We were always so careful. You always checked with Wolf, and I always made sure mine -- But... And - and then it just all goes to sh--"
"Hey, hey, hey," Luz said softly as she knelt down to be level with her girlfriend. Gently, she tucked a strand of hair behind the demon's ear and cupped her chin. "You're pregnant, Amity! That's - that is freaking incredible!"
"R-really?" Amity forced out, choking down a hiccup.
"Really," Luz confirmed. "You're already the best damn Queen this realm has ever seen, and I know - I know! - that you're gonna make a kick butt awesome mom too." After a second, she added, "Takes one to know one, after all."
Amity softly chuckled before burying her face into her lover's chest. "I... I... Thank you, Luz."
The two held the pseudo-half-hug for a few more seconds as Amity tried to regain her composure. After a kiss on the cheek and temple and nose from her loba, the demon slowly, shakily got to her hooves.
Then, a thought dawned on the Queen. "Oh no."
"What?" Luz replied as she got to her feet.
"How are we going to tell your mom? Or my dads? Or Willow or King or Eda or -" Amity rambled, but she was cut off with a finger to the lips.
"Shhh," Luz ordered. "Relax, babe. I've already got the best idea."
"And that is what exactly?" Amity said. "I've got a... magic werewolf-demon baby thing growing in me! That's not exactly normal!"
"All we have to say is that Wolfie has finally claimed her territory," Luz replied with a smirk.
Seconds later, the werewolf received a throw pillow to the face.
8 Months Before Labor Day
"What's the matter, Amity?" Gilbert inquired, looking to his daughter across the breakfast table. "You've barely touched your food."
Snapping back to reality, Amity looked down at the bowl of Scream of Wheat and shoved the cereal around some more with her spoon. "I dunno. I just... Ummm..."
"Is something going on with you and Luz? You haven't done your weekly gush session about how perfect and wonderful she is," Willow added.
Amity wanted to stick her tongue out and blow a raspberry at her sister, but that would've been childish and it didn't feel right. "No, no. Luz and I are great. Better than great, even. It's just..."
"Yes?" Harvey prodded, making a 'keep going' motion with his knife.
"I'm... I'm pregnant," Amity said, forcing it out quickly before she could think twice. "Luz and I are gonna have a kid!" To further fill the dead air, she forced an obvious fake smile, complete with jazz hands. "Yay!"
The table was silent for a long time. Harvey's eyes went wide. Gilbert covered his mouth. Willow stared at her sister, slack-jawed.
Then, Willow was the first one to break the quiet. Chuckling, she gave her sister a playful slug on the arm. "Nice going, sis. I didn't think you had it in ya. So... are they gonna be a human kid or some cool hybrid type?"
"I... don't know," Amity slowly replied. "Luz and I are obviously... not the typical... couple? I dunno. Words are hard. How are you so cool about this, anyway?"
Willow laughed. "Well, if Daybreak has taught me anything about what happens when a werewolf and their special someone love each other very --"
Amity stuck her fingers in her ears. "Lalalalalala, I don't need to hear about your fiction preferences, thank you!"
Suddenly, a hand clamped down on Amity's shoulder, causing the demon to jump in her seat and give a small scream. Looking up, Amity found herself face to face with her Papa. Gilbert had a giant, obnoxiously huge grin on his face.
"I'm so happy for you!" he said as he yanked the demon into the tightest hug she'd ever felt, smothering her in kisses all over. "I can't believe I'm actually going to be a grandfather. Oh, this is the best day. The best day!"
Then, though, the man came to his senses and quickly released his daughter back into her chair. "Err, sorry. Got a bit carried away there. Congratulations."
Amity chuckled shyly, fixing her hair and tucking it back behind her ear. "Thanks, Dad."
"So, were you and Luz planning on this, or?" Harvey said, trailing off as he left the other option implied, not wanting to say it aloud.
Amity collected herself and took a deep breathe before responding. "It... was an accident. But a happy one. A very, very happy accident."
7 Months Before Labor Day
Sitting on the Royal Throne of Hell was never an easy feat because of all the philosophical and political and religious and other implications and impacts that it had, but now it was physically hard, too.
Shifting in her seat, Amity tried to get comfy. It wasn't working. The same cushioning would be too hard one second and then too soft the next and then her hooves would start to ache or her horns would feel like they were tearing at the skin of her forehead or her ears would be itchy or her fur would be rough or any other sort of maladies may choose to make her life worse that day.
Overall, it was not a pleasant experience, but she soldiered through it anyway.
"Next!" the Queen called out. During the brief reprieve, Amity took a deep breath to calm herself. She just had to make it through a few more petitioners and then she was free for the next few hours.
The chamber doors opened, and a pair of twin souls and two demons shuffled into the throne room before all dropping to a knee. One demon was from the Fifth Circle, while the other was from the Seventh. The two spirits looked to be from either the Second or Third circle. As they approached the throne, Amity made her best attempt at getting to her hooves, but a wave of nausea pulled her back down.
"Wha-What is the reason for your petition today?" the Queen asked, fighting back the rising bile.
The demon from the Seventh Circle cautiously looked up. "May I step forward, Your Majesty?"
"You may," Amity replied. She could have gone on her spiel about not needing to do the whole 'Your Majesty' this and 'Your Highness' that, but she didn't have the energy.
"We come to you, Your Majesty," the demon began, "as representatives from the Working Spirits and Demons Union, and we have come to petition for an alteration to the Law Doctrine regarding the recent... ahh... banning of compulsory unpaid labor."
Amity stared at the fool. "I'm not bringing back slavery," she said flatly. "Leave, please."
"But Your Highness," the other demon butted in, stepping forward towards the throne. "The souls, they don't know that --"
"Leave!" Amity repeated, her speech flavored with a hint of the Royal Deamonne Voice. She tried to stand, but fell backwards, landing in her throne with a grunt. Curses, she got up too quick.
When none of the nincompoops made a move towards the exit, Amity rubbed at her forehead and slammed her eyes shut. "If you four are not gone from this room the next time I open my eyes, I will paint the walls with your --"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" all four interlopers said in unison.
"We'll leave immediately," the Seventh circle demon added.
Amity frowned. "And don't come back unless you have a change of heart."
When the fools had finally cleared out, Amity slowly stood, careful to not do anything too fast that would send her body into another bout of "Hey, do you want to nearly fall over again?" Taking multiple long, deeeeeeep breaths, the Queen of Hell stepped down to the floor.
"Alert all the remaining petitioners that they'll be heard tomorrow," Amity announced. "I... don't think I can hear another case today."
"Of course," Rakthil, one of her most senior guards, replied. Donning his Mask of Amplification, the demon slipped out the doors and into crowd.
"All petitioners, please return to your homes!" Rak's voice boomed over the drone of the masses. "The Queen will hear you tomorrow. Thank you for your time today, and we are sorry for not being able to attend to you today."
Seconds later, Rak returned. Removing the mask as he closed the door once more, he returned to his post on the line by his Queen's side.
"Thank you," Amity said softly. "I'm - I think I need to go be with Luz."
"Would you like an escort to your quarters?" Rak responded.
"I think I'll be fine," Amity said. "But thank you." After a second, she addressed the rest of her guard as well. "All of you. Go talk with the kitchens and have yourselves a feast. Eat, drink, have your fill and then some. You all have more than earned it for your stellar conduct."
"But what about yourself, Your Highness?" a fresh-faced guard questioned. "Do you not deserve a feast as well?"
Amity brushed them off with a dismissive hand wave. "I'll be fine. Besides, Luz and I haven't had a home-cooked, self-cooked meal in a while. We could use a date night of just the two of us."
6 Months Before Labor Day
It was three months, five days, eleven hours, thirty-nine minutes, and twenty-six seconds from the time that Wolfie Tobeans IV had given Amity "the gift". Not like Amity was counting or anything. But if she was, then she would've written that down in her journal as the time it took for her to feel the first signs of movement.
She was in her study, reading over a scroll on the burning of the Grand Library of Bel'alil'shgthoz. "Oh," was all the Queen reacted with when she first felt it. Her initial assumption was that it was just her stomach not cooperating with whatever food she had been served most recently. The shamburger she'd snacked on for lunch did seem to be a bit on the cold side, but it looked cooked enough when she had bitten into it.
But then she felt it again. That definitely was not her stomach being mad about some undercooked shamburger. Slowly, Amity put down the scroll and lowered a hand to her stomach.
A few seconds passed of her waiting with bated breath. Then...
kick-kick
There it was for a third time! Smiling to herself, the Queen of Hell got up from her chair and speed-walked as fast as she could (but not running, since that was absolutely not going to happen) to the throne room. Zooming past the guards with just a "Thank you!" as recognition of their work since she was far more focused on something else, the Queen approached her throne. Well, she approached the massive dog bed to the side of her throne that her fiancee was currently taking a big nap in.
"Luz! Wolfie!" Amity said as she got close.
The Wolf slowly opened her eyes at the call of her name. She was just in the middle of such a good hunting-dream. Whoever disturbed that better have a good reason. After seeing who awoke her, though, Wolf's eyes instantly lit up and her tail began to wag.
"Hi," the demon said as she stepped into the obscenely comfy bed. Okay, yeah she could see why Luz would take naps in here regardless of being human or wolf form.
Slowly rising to her paws, Wolf nuzzled up against her beloved's face, giving her love-filled tongue-kisses. Amity laughed and fixed her hair that had gotten licked astray.
"Wolfie, I want you to meet somebody," Amity said softly. Lifting her blouse to expose her stomach better, the Queen shimmied backwards into a more comfortable position. "See if you can feel them. They just started to say hi to me," she added.
Wolf slowly met eyes with her lover. May I? she asked through her expression.
"Go ahead," Amity said.
The Wolf gently, softly lowered her head down near the Queen's stomach before stopping once big, fluffy ear met skin.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as both waited. Then...
kick-kick
The nonstop tongue-kisses and face licks and happy yips from Wolf lasted six minutes. Those were some of the happiest six minutes of Amity's immortal life.
5 Months Before Labor Day
Amity could not hide it anymore: she was pregnant. Even for being a shapeshifter, there was only so long she could go trying to hide the little one growing inside her. Or little ones, multiple, maybe. Her old wardrobe had been abandoned, and for now she was just relying on whatever dresses and gowns and tops that would have her not feeling like she was being suffocated by the fabric.
Currently, the Queen was resting in her chambers, a rare reprieve from her duties after working extra hard the day prior. And best of all, that meant she could spend the whole day with her beloved and not be bothered by anything.
"So..." Luz started as she laid her head across Amity's lap, though part of it was dangling off the side because of a certain someone's belly being in the way. "You really don't want to get an ultrasound? Or whatever the Hell demon equivalent is?"
"Nope," Amity replied. "I want whoever and however many kids we meet to be a surprise. For you, me, the doctors, everybody."
"Hmm," Luz sounded. Turning her head to the side, she planted a kiss on her lover's stomach. "Well, I guess can be patient. Thought of any good names yet?"
The queen of Hell brushed her off with a scoff and an, "Eh, not really? I think it would be best to wait until we actually meet our little love nugget to give them a name. Don't want to give birth to a kid who looks like a, I dunno, Jordan and have to name them Sarah because we agreed on it today."
"That's fair," the werewolf said. "Though..."
"Though, what?" Amity asked.
"Could we give the kid-slash-kids a name that starts with L?" Luz suggested. She looked up at her fiancee with the best pleading cute puppy-dog eyes she could muster.
Amity thought. And thought. And thought. Eventually, she gave her decision. "Yes."
"Yeah!" Luz instantly celebrated.
"As long as we don't call them Luz Jr.," Amity finished.
The werewolf jutted out her lip as she pouted playfully. "Please? Pretty pleaseeee?"
Amity rolled her eyes. "No," she countered. "We'll think of something other than you but junior. How about..." Amity tapped at her chin as she scoured the depths of her name bank,"Lauren? Lee? I'm spitballin' here," she ended with a small laugh.
"We'll think of something," Luz replied, looking up at her fiancee with a smile. "We'll think of something perfect."
4 Months Before Labor Day
"What's the meal plan for lunch, Reg?" Amity asked as she slowly lowered herself down into a dining chair. Getting up and down was starting to become more and more difficult as her pregnancy lengthened, and the effects were starting to take their toll with each passing day.
Reginald, the head chef of the palace, clasped his three sets of hands behind his back as he bowed to the Queen. "For your midday meal we have prepared a chopped salad with a vinaigrette dressing as a starter, followed by the main course of grilled shrieker fish accompanied by a side of roasted vegetable medley, and as a sweet treat for dessert there will be a slice of flaming lava cake. How does that sound, Your Highness?"
Amity pursed her lips as she thought through the menu. "I... Ummm... No salad, please. And could I get a double portion of the fish? And could the kitchen also add a few orange slices to the flaming lava cake? Actually, no. Just scrap the cake and bring the oranges as a second side to the fish. Oh, and could you add some spice to the fish? Like really spicy. Like 'make me question my life choices' spicy." After a second, she added. "Sorry for... messing with your meal plan. You probably had everyone working so hard on stuff and then I just went and --"
"No, no, no," Reginald said, waving all six of hands. "We are here to serve you, Your Highness. We are nothing if not adaptable. We will have your meal prepared just as you want it and it will be out in just a few minutes. Would you like me to grab you anything in particular to drink while you wait?"
"I'll... I'll just take a water," Amity replied. "Just water and ice. No fancy lemons or fruit flavorings or whatever. Plain. Please. Thank you."
"Of course, Your Highness" the chef said. Bowing one last time to the Queen, he returned to the kitchen to relay the new order to the rest of the staff.
Sighing, Amity crossed her arms in front of her on the table and laid her head down on them. It was barely past noon and she was already dead tired. Not only did she have to deal with a bevy of petitioners who seemed particularly intent on making her life painful, but she didn't even have her fiancee her to vent to or to lean on. Luz was back Topside for a few Earth days to help Camila with moving into an apartment that was closer to the portal so the mother could actually visit her daughter and soon-to-be-daughter-in-law without Amity having to shadowwalk all the way to Earth and back.
The worst part was the waiting, though. One day on Earth was around a week in Hell, and that meant Luz being on Earth for 4 days was also Luz being gone from Hell for a whole entire month. Luz had been Topside for a few Earth hours now, and those 3 days that Amity had spent without her loba were already torturous.
Sighing, the Queen finally looked up when the clink of glass being set down on the table reached her ears. "Thanks, Reg," she mumbled as she blinked and tried to look invested in what was going on around her.
"Your meal will be ready any second now, Your Highness," he replied.
As he turned to leave, though, Amity grabbed at one of his lower arms. "H-hold on. Sit."
Reginald froze, looking to the Queen with a raised eyebrow. "Sit, Your Highness?"
Amity nodded. "Mmhhmm. Take a seat."
"But the kitchen -" the chef started.
"Is a bunch of professionals," Amity finished for him. "They can handle themselves just fine. But me? I... I need someone to talk to, Reg."
"Oh," was all Reginald replied with. Slowly, cautiously, he sat down in the chair across from Her Highness. "O-okay. Well... Tell me, then. What do you want to talk about?"
3 Months Before Labor Day
Rolling onto her side, Amity groaned as she tried to slide off the bed and get to her hooves. Gently nudging Luz's arm off her, she chuckled as the werewolf loosed a massive snore and turned onto her stomach to continue her beauty sleep. Her loba had always been a clingy sleeper, but nowadays the Latina was even more spoon happy, one hand over Amity's stomach and the other under her chest as she held the demon close for protection and warmth.
After taking a beat to steady herself, the demon shuffled over to her wardrobe. In just over an hour, there was going to be a big gala for all the Kings and Queens and Lords and Ladies of all the Circles. Since she was Queen of Hell, that meant Amity was to be the most VIP of all the VIPs.
Right now she was not feeling very VIP-like, though. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she used one hand to steady herself against the wall while the other hand scoured the never-ending rack of clothes. She needed to wear something presentable, of course.
For her sleep attire, she had just thrown on one of Luz's old college hoodies since it managed to fit her well enough. Apparently, a hyper-athletic tall werewolf and a heavily pregnant short little demon could wear the same clothes if she ignored how the bottom of her belly wasn't getting fully covered. That was a problem for other people to deal with, because right now the hoodie was very comfy and it smelled like Luz and that made her happy. As for her lower half, though, Amity tended to just leave her waist and below in the buff. Her fur was more than enough for warmth.
While her lover's stolen clothing was comfortable and worn-in and well loved, the same could not be said for the dresses that she was staring at. All of them had been crafted prior to all the changes that had happened and very much were not built to handle her current form and figure. And of course - of course! - the seamstresses had said that they would have a new actually well fitting gown finished for her by yesterday, but that hadn't come to pass because the lead designer was some perfectionist little dillweed and needed Amity's approval on every single stitch even though the Queen had explicitly told them to take creative liberties and to express themselves and to NOT bother her at every waking moment because they wanted her to try on a new prototype.
Blinking, Amity tweaked her jaw and rolled her shoulders. Gah, she just needed to pick something. Jamming a hand into the rack, she grabbed a dress at random and pulled it out.
Amity stared at the tiny thing that she now held in her hand. She didn't need a second thought before putting it back on the rack. Even if she had worn it before the pregnancy it would've been a more risque design, but on her current form it would've looked downright scandalous. The dress would've had children getting their eyes covered while mothers and fathers hurled obscenities at her for dressing so lewdly.
Not a chance of that one seeing the light of day.
Curse her body for making this so difficult.
Sighing, Amity grabbed another dress off the rack. This one looked more promising. It was a far more "modest" design (at least, compared to what she had just looked at) and Amity could actually see herself being able to wear it without fear of scandal. Taking a deep breath, the Queen of Hell grabbed her dress for the day and went to go put it on. It was time to get to work.
2 Months Before Labor Day
Deep in the woods of the First Circle, Amity stood across from her fiancee. A small collection of friends and family were sat on chairs carved from the very trees they were surrounded by, and the only light came from the dozen or so torches circling the venue. Harvey, Gilbert, Willow, Darius, Camila, Eda, King, all of them had gathered in the unholiest realm to celebrate the holiest ceremony.
"From the first day we met, and you complimented my stupid little Azura phone case, I had this thought in the back of my mind that you were... different," Luz read from her little note card, staring down at it like her life depended on it. She knew she wouldn't be able to meet her lover's eyes without crying in joy. "I never knew how right I was. I was this young, naive freshly-turned werewolf, and all I could tell was that there was this other cute gal who looked like a deer in the headlights, same as me."
The werewolf chuckled to herself as she shifted the card in her hands so she could decipher the next portion of her chickenscratch handwriting. "And then you kicked my butt and set me on fire, and in my mind I was thinking 'Okay, but I'll probably never see her again', but then you went and gave me your winnings and helped patch me up. I think that was when I realized you weren't just different. You were special."
The Queen tried to keep her composure and not be a blubbering mess as Luz read her vows, but a few tears still managed to slip through her defenses. Sniffling, Amity dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"And then there was everything that happened at college," Luz continued with a laugh. "The classes, the games, the date nights, all those... wacky adventures. I know my Mami told me that college is supposed to be the best years of your life, but I think she might be wrong just this once. Sorry, Mama."
Looking up, Luz finally met her bride's eyes, and she raised a hand to cup Amity's cheek. "The best years of my life are going to be the ones where I get to wake up every day and spend them with the most beautiful, smart, funny, brave, incredible woman that Heaven and Hell and Earth have ever seen."
Amity smiled, doing her darnedest to not break down right then and there. Her jaw quivered and wings fluttered a mile a minute as she tried to stay standing. After a few seconds, she managed to compose herself so that she wouldn't bomb her own wedding.
"And Amity? Your vows to your betrothed?" the officiator asked.
The Queen froze for a second. "Oh, right! Yes, yes." Reaching into the pocket of her dress, she withdrew her own vows. They were a rushed printed version since her hand had been shaking too much when she'd tried using a quill.
Clearing her throat, Amity began to read. "Luz. I know I didn't get the greatest grades in my Spanish courses that I took to try to impress you, but I do know that your name translates to 'light.' I think you have a very fitting name. You always brighten up whatever room you walk into with your charm and your wit and your corny jokes. You aren't afraid to make a fool of yourself. Whenever I doubted myself, whether it was about something serious like ruling a realm or something silly like what hat I should wear to cover my pointy ears, you always had a bright idea."
Luz smiled at that. The werewolf gave a dismissive hand wave, as if to say "Aww, me? No..." but she remained silent while her bride continued.
Leaning forward, Amity grabbed her beloved's hand. "Luz Noceda, for all the years that we have known each other, you have been the light of my life and the love of my life. I can't wait to spend the rest of it with you." Gently, she raised the werewolf's hand and placed a small kiss on it. After a few seconds, she finally let it go.
"I do believe that means we're ready," the officiator said as Amity folded her vows and returned them to her pocket. "Mr. Kingsley?"
King slowly stood from his stump. Reaching into his suit pocket, the gangly teen withdrew two small wooden boxes. Approaching the wives-to-be, he smiled as he gave a box to each bride. "One for the pretty lady, and one for the nerd. Who's who is for you to debate amongst yourselves."
"Thanks, lil dude," Luz said, giving him a fist bump in exchange for her ring box.
"Thank you, King," Amity replied as she received hers. She gave him an appreciative nod because trying to do a curtsy like she wanted wouldn't exactly have been feasible.
Firing finger guns, the werewolf quickly bounded back to his stump and returned to sitting between Eda and Camila. When he had gotten as comfy as could be, he flashed a big double thumbs up, earning a laugh from Luz and Amity.
Turning back to face her lover, Amity hesitated. "So... do you wanna go first or should I?"
"You go. You go first," Luz insisted. "You have rank seniority over me after all."
Amity scoffed. "That doesn't matter. But okay." Making sure the hinge was facing toward herself, Amity cautiously cracked the box open. Slowly, she pulled the ring from its velvet lining. "Luz Noceda. May this ring be a constant reminder of the love I have for you. Wear this and be safe in knowing that I will always love, protect, cherish, and hold you for the rest of my days."
Reaching forward, Luz held out her hand. It was shaking. She had practiced this a thousand times in the mirror, but now her hand was betraying her.
Amity smiled, though. Taking gentle hold of her lover's hand, she carefully slipped the ring on before sneaking in another quick kiss to the newly adorned finger. Pulling back up, she smiled. "I love you, mi loba" she said quietly.
Luz took in a short, shuddering breath. "I - I love you too." Hands still not fully cooperating with her, the werewolf clenched and relaxed her free hand a few times.
Eventually, though, she steeled herself. Taking one more deep breath, the Latina opened her own ring box. Rats, it was facing her! Flipping it around quickly to the laughs of her loved ones, Luz quickly grabbed the ring and waited.
Laughing, just as cute as ever, Amity eventually held out her hand.
"Amity Park," Luz started. "May this ring be a constant reminder of the love I have for you. Wear this and be safe in knowing that I will always love, hold -- err -- protect, cherish, and hold you for the rest of my days. Sorry."
Getting down one one knee, Luz slowly slid the ring onto her lover's finger. "I love you, mi reina."
Rising to her feet after giving her own hand kiss, Luz quickly brushed the dirt and grass off her suit pants before standing up straight.
"And finally, the affirmations," the officiator said before looking to his Queen. "Amity Park, do you take Luz Alma Noceda to be your lawfully wedded wife? If so, say 'I do.'"
"I do," Amity repeated.
The officiator then looked to the werewolf. "And Luz Alma Noceda, do you take Amity Park to be your lawfully wedded wife? If so, say 'I do.'"
"I sure as Hell do," Luz replied with a grin.
The officiator smiled to himself and rolled his eyes before continuing. "In that case: By the power vested in me through Her Majesty the Queen, I now pronounce you as wife and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Neither women needed to be told twice.
1 Month Before Labor Day
It was a lazy day in Hell for Amity, and that sounded like music to her ears. At this moment, that music happened to be very literal. Chin secure on its rest, hands and wrists and elbows positioned properly, her bow was flying across the strings of her violin as she lost herself in the tune. It was a slow piece, but that was what she needed right now. Calm and peaceful.
"Hola, mi amor," Luz announced herself as she blew the door to the bedroom open with her hip. The werewolf was covered from head to toe in dirt and soot and other things Amity didn't even want to hazard a guess at what they were or how they got all over Luz's clothes. "Ooh, a concert!"
The Queen dropped her instrument to her side as she stopped her performance. "Did you just... wrestle a mud demon or something?"
"Noooo..." Luz said, drawing out the vowel. "I got in a fight with one."
Amity's jaw dropped. "What - why would you fight a mud demon one on one?"
"Well," Luz started as she sat down on the bed, earning a stink eye from her wife since she had just gotten those washed the other day. "The dude was being super disrespectful about you and me. Guy was going on and on and on about how a woman shouldn't be ruler and that you should've married some freaking rich noble guy demon instead of... me."
That caused the Queen to raise an eyebrow. "Oh? Well excuse me for existing I guess. Jeeze!"
"Yeah, so I kicked his butt six ways from Sunday!" Luz said with a smile.
"Go take a shower. You smell like a dirty dog," Amity chided, giving her lover a playful shove off the bed.
"Only if you join me," Luz countered, waggling her eyebrows and flashing a stupid grin.
Scoffing, Amity rolled her eyes. "Fine. But no funny business. I've got a meeting in an hour and I am not going to risk being late."
Her wife saluted like a soldier. "Aye-aye, ma'am. No funny business."
Smiling and sighing at how her wife's goofy antics seemed to always work on her, Amity slowly put away her violin and bow back in its stand. Returning to her lover, she gave the werewolf a shove towards the bathroom. "Get a move on, mi loba."
Labor Day
In the recently created hospital wing of the palace, Amity Park was currently doing her best to remain calm as the baby inside her belly squirmed and thrashed and kicked. She really was trying to not shout every profane word or phrase in every language she knew, but that was unfortunately not in the cards for her at this moment. The Queen of Hell gritted her teeth and slammed her eyes shut, her hands gripping onto the posts of the bed frame with all her might as the baby slowly, painfully slowly entered into the world.
"I see the head!" Doctor Aesculapius announced. "Okay, Amity. Widen the opening a bit. We need just a little more clearance."
"Okay," Amity said with a small nod. "I- I can do that." Spreading her legs as far as they could go, she poured all of her concentration into her shapeshifting magic, willing the opening betwixt her legs larger. Oh sweet mother of mercy, she'd never tried to do anything like this before. Still, though, more space meant easier everything. Sucking in a breath, the demon hissed through clenched teeth as she pushed her matter manipulation skills to the max.
"Oh. That's not exactly what I - OH , oh my!" the doctor stumbled through his words as he suddenly found himself staring directly into the inner workings of the Queen's body.
Taking long, deep breaths, Amity relaxed her body. "Is that... Is that good enough for ya?"
"Uhhh..." was all Aesculapius could respond with as he looked at the entirety of the newborn baby while it was still actively inside the mother. "Yes?"
"You gonna do your job, doc, or are ya just gonna stand there gawking at my wife?" Luz asked.
"Sorry, sorry!" the doctor rushed out. Reaching blanket-covered hands in, he slowly, gently, nervously used one hand to cradle the head of newborn and to begin the expedited delivery, while the other hand supported the rest of the body during its short passage.
In a matter of seconds, the baby had gone from inside the comforting dark of Amity's body to the unknown bright lights of the outside world. Getting a fresh blanket, the doctor transferred the newborn over before swaddling them, and the babe seemed to like that, giving a happy coo in response.
"Well aren't you already talkative," Luz said as she peered over the doctor's shoulder. "Hey, doc. Two questions for ya."
"Oh no," Amity softly muttered.
"Is the kid a guy, a gal, or something cool and fun?" the werewolf asked for her first question.
"Umm..." Aesculapius slowly checked under the blanket. "The child appears to be male, ma'am."
"Nice," Luz said with a nod. "Looks like Uncle King will finally have another guy to hang out with that isn't the stuck up bird brain."
"Be nice to Hunter, Luz," Amity chided as she slowly tried to sit upright. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Or, more accurately, taken from her belly.
"Fiiiiiiiine," the Latina said, but not until after making sure her wife saw the massive eye roll. "Okay, Dr. Sleepy. Question number two for ya: is the kid human?"
"As far as I can tell," Aesculapius replied. "I don't see anything external that would suggest otherwise."
"Yes!" Luz said, giving a victory fist pump. Turning to her wife, the werewolf rubbed her hands together greedily. "Somebody's gotta pay up."
Sighing and shaking her head, Amity reached toward the bedside table and batted her wallet closer to her. Opening it up, she withdrew a $20 bill and handed it over to her wife. "Congrats."
"Thank you very much," Luz replied as she pocketed the cash. "That's our, what, seventeenth bet in a row that I've won?"
"Way to not rub it in," Amity replied sarcastically.
"It's not my fault your luck is abysmal," the werewolf countered. After a second, she added., "So... What are we gonna name the little ball of sunshine?"
"Well, I did promise an L name to make you happy," Amity said, giving her wife a playful nudge. "So, how about... Hmm... Lucas?"
"Lucas," Luz repeated. "I like that. I like it a lot." Bending down, she placed a finger under the baby's chin and lifted his head up to look at her. "Hi there, Lucas! How ya feeling, buddy?"
The baby gave another happy coo in response, drawing smiles from the two parents. Stretching his tiny little arms out, the babe yawned and batted at the edge of the blanket surrounding him.
"Oh, look!" Amity noticed. "He's got your eyes, Luz! Oh, they're so pretty!" she squealed in joy. Then, she looked to her wife. "Just like his mama's, of course."
"Aww, thanks!" Luz said, sneaking in a quick peck on the cheek to her wife. "Mwah!" Then, she planted a gentler kiss on Lucas' forehead. "Mwah-mwah-mwah! Oh, you're so adorable!" The werewolf couldn't top herself from giggling. Oh, this was perfect!
When the barrage of kisses finally ended, Lucas reached out again, this time for his Mama. As he batted at the air, trying to reach for the werewolf, his hand started to shift and change. Finger thinned and elongated, nails sharpened into claws, and fur sprouted to cover the back of the hand. In seconds, the baby had gone from two cute little chubby hands to one cute chubby hand and one still very cute little wolf paw.
Amity raised an eyebrow. "Oh." She looked up at her wife. "So our little guy's got a Wolfie in him, too, huh?"
Luz chuckled. "Hehe, King's gonna be ecstatic to not be the runt anymore."
Amity sighed and shook her head. "If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have met, though, so cut him some slack. He's your little brother. Be nice."
"Yes, but that also means I get to annoy him and he gets to annoy me," Luz responded. Looking down at her son, she added. "But nobody's gonna annoy or mess with you. You're way too cute!"
Lucas made another happy babble, pawing at his Mama and the blanket and whatever he could sink his paws into. Taking the hint, Amity slowly set the swaddle down on her stomach to allow the boy free rein to explore, and he didn't need long to find his way around. Crawling up his Mama's belly and climbing up to her chest, Lucas gave a happy squeal before meeting his Mom's eyes.
"Hi there," Amity said quietly, giving a small wave and smile. "I'm your Mom."
Lucas yapped and yawned before curling up against his mother's chest, the warmth drawing him in. As he snuggled, Amity watched as tiny little marks on the boy's back started to appear. Then, they began to move. They grew long and thin. Bumps formed under the markings before the skin began to slide out of the way as bone and cartilage sprung from the twin slices. They were wings. Wings just like the ones that Amity carried on her back. His were small, though. Delicate. But they were also beautiful.
Staring down at her son and the wonder that he was, Amity gently stroked his back with the lightest touch of a finger. She wouldn't dare go near his wings, as those were too precious to risk damaging. The Queen of Hell couldn't even put into words the joy that she felt, so she cried instead.
Nine months of waiting, of not knowing how many there would be or what they would look like or if they would be human or demon or werewolf or hybrid, but now she finally had her answer. She loved the answer. She loved her son.