#sire your hair also looks especially fluffy today

[daistea]

hims is studying for school, gonna go back at 30-something to finish his masters degree in cuntology. Inspiring

[cerezsis]

Pastels and Mobiles

Polydiamond Family AU

Chapter Four

Summary: In the wake of the birth of their twins, the diamonds are forced to face the elephant in the room.

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           Yellow couldn’t stop herself from shaking, her eyes locked onto the knife in her hand. The pounding in her ears was so loud it nearly drowned out the cries of the newborn diamond. The reflective glare shining off the gemstone on the pillow below was near blinding, but Yellow still couldn’t bring herself to move. She could still hear White screaming at her to “DO IT NOW!” and “Her form could dissipate at any moment!” She was certain she’d never forget the sound that escaped White’s lips as she plunged the medical tool into the larger diamond’s shoulder. It needed to be done – there was no other choice – but knowing that didn’t make it any less harrowing.

           Seemingly without warning, Yellow felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. Snapping back to the present, she turned around to see Blue holding a screaming, pale yellow baby.

           “It’s ok, Yellow,” Blue tried to assure her, “Champagne is ok.” Taking her hand off her shoulder, she gently loosened Yellow’s grip on the medical tool. Once it was safely resting on the side of the bed, she placed the baby in Yellow’s tense arms.

           Yellow stared down at her daughter, still unable to speak. Like the elder twin, Champagne’s gem was on her forehead, though, unlike Hope’s, its shape was akin to the four-sided gem of her sire’s. Her hair also resembled Yellow’s in color, but its fluffiness and slight curl were features that neither of her mothers possessed. While taking a half-second break from screaming, her eyes peeked open, revealing pale yellow irises and black pupils.

           Yellow knew she should be beaming with pride, but the thoughts racing through her mind were too much of a distraction. They’d known from the scans that Champagne was breeched. They’d spent cycles reading every document on pregnancy and birth, and obtained every piece of equipment they could possibly need to deliver a breeched baby. Even with all that planning, they were woefully unprepared for Champagne to turn onto her side once her twin left the womb. That was never an outcome they expected.

           Seeing her fellow diamond’s continued unease, Blue wrapped her arms around Yellow.

           “It’s ok,” she repeated, “Champagne is ok.”

           Yellow’s only response was to rest her forehead against Blue’s. At least that much was true; aside from some slight swelling in her arm, Champagne appeared to be healthy. Both babies were healthy. Both babies were here. All that was missing was…

           Yellow couldn’t stop herself from looking back at the gem resting on the pillow. The light coming in from the rising sun was still reflecting off its surface, in turn causing streams of rainbow-like light to reflect onto the bedding and walls.

           “White should return to us shortly,” Yellow finally spoke, though her voice was riddled with uncertainty, “The bedding should be changed. I’ll tend to the baby.”

           Blue nodded and let go of Yellow. The two of them were silent as they did their tasks, the only sound to be heard being the whimpers and soft cooing from the two newborns. It was almost unsettling how quiet it was, but neither of them could bring themselves to speak.

           As she spread fresh sheets onto the bed, Blue suddenly noticed how much her hands were shaking. It was so jarring how quickly the mood had shifted. Just moments ago, they were all full of joy, and now… She looked up at Yellow, who conveniently had her back turned.

           “Do you think White will be ok?” she asked, “She already had such a horrible experience when she had Mint, and now–”

           “I don’t know,” Yellow interrupted, placing the now swaddled baby in the unoccupied cot. She stared down at the babies, not saying anything else for several minutes.

“It should’ve been me,” she said through gritted teeth, “I should’ve insisted on being the one to carry. I shouldn’t have let her go through this again.”

           Blue could’ve laughed, had there not been so much tension in the air. “You know White. Your insistence wouldn’t have made a difference.”

           Yellow suppressed a sigh. Of course she knew this – White always did what she wanted – but it didn’t stop her guilt.

           The room fell silent again. The babies were tended to, and the bedding was stripped and changed. Unless the babies started crying, there was nothing left to do except wait for White to return. In spite of Yellow’s earlier statement, neither had any idea how long she’d take to reform. She could be back in minutes, or she could take days. The uncertainty of it was incredibly distressing.

           Finally, after the longest hour of their lives, a bright, glowing, white light caught the attention of Blue and Yellow. Looking to where they’d left White’s gem, they watched as it levitated off the bed and began emitting an even brighter light. Her form appeared within seconds, her body back to how it was pre-pregnancy, and her leotard drastically different from how it was before; the neckline being much lower, and the sharp edges of the design now much softer.

           As her consciousness returned to her, White immediately noticed that despite having repaired herself, she still felt the fatigue from the delivery. She could only conclude that the chemical changes in her body weren’t to be done away with so easily, and the affects of pregnancy and birth would still be running its course for the next several days.  

           As soon as her feet touched the ground, White could hear her lovers exclaim her name, and, before she even opened her eyes, they surrounded her. Under normal circumstances, White would have lavished in their welcome, but right now she only had one thing on her mind.

           “Champagne! Is she –!”

           “She’s fine,” Blue assured her, “We got her out with plenty of time.”

           Feeling an immediate wave of relief, White hurried over to the cots. Seeing both her babies, swaddled and sound asleep, she smiled.

           “Thank the stars,” she quietly uttered. Without even thinking, she gently lifted Champagne up out of her cot. The little one soon stirred and began to fuss.

           “Have they been fed?” White asked, turned back to Blue and Yellow.

           “Not yet,” Yellow said, “We were going to try to give them a bottle if you took longer than an hour, but you just made it.”

           White nodded and went and sat down on the bed, leaning back against the pillows. Pulling the front of her leotard down, she exposed her breasts and started nursing Champagne. She gestured for one of them to bring Hope to her, and quickly started nursing her too.

           As they watched White nurse the babies, Blue and Yellow were suddenly hit with a wave of relief. White was back. The family was together. All was well. Suddenly drained from the past hour’s emotional rollercoaster, they sat down on either side of White, looking down at the babies as they rested their heads against her shoulders.

           While Blue and Yellow finally felt a sense of calm, the quiet gave White too much room to think. Her worst fear had been realized; something had gone wrong. It went so wrong so fast. What was supposed to be a wonderful moment would forever be tainted with horror. She tried to push these thoughts down, telling herself to just focus on her babies and not make things worse, but she couldn’t stop the words from spilling out.

           “I’m sorry for what happened.”

           Hearing this, Blue and Yellow sat up straight, their brows furrowed in confusion.

           “Why are you sorry?” Yellow asked.

           White hesitated, instantly regretting that she said anything. She was too tired for this, but it was too late. The floodgate had been opened.

           “It was supposed to be better this time,” she explained, still looking down at the babies, “Our daughters’ entrance into the world was supposed to be a happier experience this time, but my body failed us. If I–”

           “White, no,” Yellow interrupted, she and Blue suddenly on full alert.

           “It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault,” Blue added, “None of us could’ve predicted what would happen.”

           “Even so, I still failed you two. I put you through so much when Mint was born. The least I could’ve done was give you a better experience this time.”

           Blue and Yellow stared at her.

           “Is... is that why you were so insistent on being the one to carry?” Blue asked.

           “How else was I supposed to fix things?” she asked, still not looking up, “You’re always telling me that Mint doesn’t even remember what happened, but I do, and you two do too. I needed to–” She stopped herself, but a quick glance at Blue and Yellow told her they weren’t going to let her drop it. “… I needed you two to forgive me.”

           No one spoke for the longest time. Blue and Yellow continued to stare at her, trying to find the right words.

           “Who said we hadn’t already forgiven you?” Yellow asked.

           White finally lifted her head. Her mouth fell open, but no words came out.

           “She’s right, White. You never had anything to prove to us.”  

           “What happened when Mint was born is over and done,” Yellow continued, “You’re so great with her now, and you’re going to be great with Hope and Champagne.”

           “No one’s upset with you, especially not because of what happened today. It got scary there for a moment, but you and the babies are ok. That’s what’s important.”

           White still couldn’t speak. Her vision began to cloud as tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she felt a huge weight being lifted from her shoulders.

           “Thank you,” was all she was able to say.

           If it weren’t for the babies on her breasts, Blue and Yellow would’ve hugged her tight. Instead they settled for kissing her on the cheek and cuddling with her until the twins were done nursing.

           “I believe it’s time for Mint and Spinel to join us,” White said as she covered herself.

           Agreeing wholeheartedly, Blue and Yellow sent out a message for them. Within minutes, Mint came sprinting into the room, and the sound of Spinel’s springing footsteps could be heard some yards away.

           “Mommyyyy!” Mint happily cried out as she ran over to White’s bedside. The diamonds smiled, and Yellow lifted her onto the bed. Mint gave White a hug, and in return, White gave her a kiss on the forehead.

           “Meet your new baby sisters.”

           Mint’s eyes widened as she laid eyes on the bundles in her mother’s arms. Very gently, she moved the blankets away from their faces, wanting to get a better look.

           “They’re cute!” Mint said, her eyes sparking with joy. She looked up at White. “Can I hold them?”

           Trying to hold back tears, the diamonds had Mint sit closely next to White. Yellow took Hope from White, and very gently placed her in Mint’s arms, helping her hold her properly.

           “Her gem’s like mine!” Mint proudly pointed out. She gave the baby a gently kiss in the top of the head. “I love them, mommies!”

           Before they could shed any happy tears, they were finally joined by Spinel. Extending her arms to pull herself onto the bed, she let out a happy squeal as she saw the babies.

           “They have your gem placement, White!” were the first words out of her mouth.

           White grinned. She glanced around at her family, so happy they were finally all together, or rather, as together as they could be. As uncertain as the future looked sometimes, in this moment she truly felt the journey ahead was bright.