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Eternal Sugar knew better than anyone the joy of marriage and the blessing that a baby was, after all she used to be a symbol of fertility and love being the virtue of happiness.
So of course she noticed the signs in her best friend, he was always tired, ate more than usual and was so irritable to the point that he couldn't even tolerate himself.
There was no doubt, he was pregnant.
“Shadow Milk, when were you going to tell us that you are pregnant?”
The room fell into a deathly silence, the other beasts turned to look at the accused who looked just as or even more confused than them.
“Sugar, I’m NOT pregnant.”
“Of course you are, it's obvious you are, you have all the symptoms and now that i'm looking at you, it's even starting to show in your body.”
Shadow Milk instinctively placed a hand on his belly, realizing that Eternal Sugar was indeed right, he could feel it bulging more than usual.
Burning Spice nudged Silent Salt to annoy him, it was obvious who the only person who could be responsible for this was.
“If Eternal Sugar says so, you’d better go to a healer to verify.”
With all his glorious calm, Mystic Flour stood up from his seat indicating that it must be at that very moment.
“Given the situation, I'm the most suitable person to accompany you. Any of you three would react in a way that would be compromising for us, and if it's real, we don't want anyone to find out about this moment of weakness.”
“I can go alone.”
“Nonsense, we can’t risk it.”
Shadow Milk had to reluctantly give in, just looking at the others it was obvious that they all agreed with Mystic Flour that he should be escorted to a healer.
[...]
“Congratulations, miss, you are indeed expecting a baby.”
The two beasts had disguised themselves so they could go unnoticed, Shadow Milk taking the appearance of a young lady and Mystic Flour putting on clothes that concealed her identity.
Hearing the confirmation, Shadow Milk opened his mouth in surprise, Mystic Flour thanked the man, and they both left.
The beast of deceit could not believe what he had heard, many questions were running through his head.
What was he supposed to do now? Pregnancy was a very delicate stage, and this meant he'd be vulnerable throughout the entire time. Plus, his body had always been fragile, which was a total disadvantage for him.
What if the cookies found out? What if the witches found out and tried to do something against him, taking advantage of his moment of weakness?
“Shadow Milk.”
The jester stopped, realizing that his companion had been calling him.
“What?”
“You don’t have to fear for your well-being or that of these children; we are here with you.”
Children, plural, of course, according to the healer it was likely that he was going to have two kids.
Him, the beast of deceit, bringing two children into the world? It was certainly something he'd never believed would happen.
“You also have Silent Salt.”
“Yes, I guess you’re right, thanks Flour.”
[...]
That same night, Silent Salt stood with Shadow Milk on his balcony, leaving loving kisses on his face and hands.
The jester knew the knight was a man of few words, but he could easily tell that he was just as worried about this pregnancy as he was.
"I'm afraid."
“I would never let anything happen to you, I won’t allow anyone to hurt you even if I have to stay by your side all the time to do so.”
Shadow Milk smiled at him, not his typical malicious smile, but a more sincere smile, similar to the way he used to smile before his corruption and then gave him a sweet kiss full of love.
[...]
As the months passed, Shadow Milk realized how horrible this whole pregnancy thing was.
His back hurt, at some point he had to change his clothes to something more comfortable, he couldn't sleep well, no matter how much he ate he couldn't feel his appetite satisfied.
And the hormonal changes were even worse, he would cry and get angry at almost anything.
Now the gardens of his domain were filled with milkcrown flowers, that last bit wasn't so bad, he loved them; he could even say they were his favorite flowers.
But that wasn't the worst of it, no.
The worst part was the other beasts, they didn't let him do practically anything or go anywhere alone.
And when he thought he was finally alone, one of his friends would come out of nowhere to stop him from doing whatever he was going to do.
Their rabbits even felt like their jobs were being stolen.
He was sitting near the Yogurt River waiting for his friends, with one hand caressing his belly. It wouldn't be long before the little bastards who had made him suffer all these months were born.
“Shadow Milk, we’re back!”
He turned towards where the sound was, Eternal Sugar and Mystic Flour bringing some things to make an impromptu picnic, behind them came some of his bunnies helping them carry the things.
When they finished arranging things they sat down next to him.
“How are you feeling? Are you dizzy? Does anything hurt?”
“I’m fine, damn, you don’t need to be on top of me all the time.”
“Dear, you’re in the final stages of pregnancy, they could be born at any moment.”
“I agree with Sugar, we've managed to keep you safe for all this time, only for you to decide to belittle our work now.”
Shadow Milk rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
After a few minutes Burning Spice and Silent Salt joined them.
The beast of deceit was happy to see them living together like this, it made him feel nostalgic, he began to think that maybe this pregnancy hadn't been so bad.
Until he started feeling the contractions.
“I think I need help.”
[...]
“Get this thing off me!”
“Damn Flour hurry up, it’s destroying my hand.”
They hadn't had time to go inside the spire so they had no choice but to help him give birth there. Burning Spice had offered him his hand to hold and now he thought it had been a horrible idea.
Silent Salt stroked his hair to comfort him while Eternal Sugar helped Mystic Flour.
The sound of crying was heard in the place, and for a second Shadow Milk forgot about the intense pain he was feeling in his bottom.
It was the cry of a baby.
His baby.
Eternal Sugar cleaned them up as best she could with a cloth, then wrapped them in a blanket and handed it to Silent Salt.
He took him with all the care in the world, cradling him in his arms against his chest, close to his souljam.
The little cookie shivered from the cold of the armor but stopped crying.
“It’s a boy.”
Shadow Milk didn't realize when tears started rolling down his cheeks, and then he heard another cry, Eternal Sugar handed the new baby to him.
He held her against his body in fear and amazement, it seemed that this was a little girl, he couldn't believe that he had created these two little cookies.
Such small and innocent beings that they did not know the bitterness of lies, the cruel side of this world.
He gently stroked the cheek of the girl in his arms.
Although he was still filled with fears about all this, he was sure that he wanted to protect these children, he wouldn't allow anything to happen to them, he would tear apart anyone who dared to harm his children.
Now he understood perfectly what his friends had been thinking all these months.
Silent Salt watched him in complete silence, he could tell how fascinated Shadow Milk was with these children, he looked again at the one he was holding, so small, so fragile.
The other three beasts looked at them with a smile before approaching to see the little ones, between chatter, jokes and laughter.
Shadow Milk had lost hope in this world a long time ago, believing it wasn't worth it and would continue to think so for many years to come.
But deep down he hoped these helpless cookies could see what he never could.