Cinderfella 2: A New Life - 13. Chapter 13

Seth thought a few minutes. “If we do this.” He said slowly. “How are we going to feed a baby? We have nipples, but nothing’s coming out of here.” He tapped his own chest and grinned at me. “And try as I might, nothing comes out of you.” His finger brushed me on the shirt.

Christian’s fork made a loud clank as he dropped his fork, holding his head. “I don’t need to know this.” He muttered.

I chuckled as my brother started to turn a little pink.

Ella smiled, shaking her head. “You can always hire a wet nurse. She can breastfeed a baby.” Then she thought. “Of course, cow’s milk or goat’s will do fine, just dilute it. Cow’s milk is better when they’re very young. I had to with Ada and Ana.” She hefted a breast. “And that little monster you’re holding, Seth can clean me out!”

Christian moaned. “Do they have to hear that?” He asked his wife.

“It’s a natural thing, Honey.” Ella didn’t understand her husband’s embarrassment. Then she grinned at me a little evilly. “Even Christian likes it.”

Now Christian was beet red. “Ella!!” He moaned covering his face with both hands.

I chuckled at my brother. “Well, there are other things a person can suck on with men, but milk doesn’t come out of there either.”

Christian rose from his chair, now putting fingers in his ears. “I don’t want to know!” He began humming so he couldn’t hear.

Seth and I were laughing with Ella. I got up and pulled my brother back down. “We’re sorry, Christian. No more talk about whose sucking what on anyone else.”

Christian nodded unsurely. “Okay.” He said as his color returned to normal.

“Though it does explain why Ella can’t keep up with Edward,” I added with a chuckle as his color went back to red.

“Okay!” Christian said firmly holding his hands out to stop this attack on his virtues. “As king, I’m telling you guys to knock it off!”

Seth laughed. “Technically, Christian, you’re not Erik’s and my king. My brother Sam is.” Making the three other adults laugh, but not Christian.

Christian narrowed his eyes. “Then as your older brother, knock it off!” He groused.

I got up, kissing Christian on the temple. “We’re kidding you. You know that.”

Christian nodded. “I know, it’s just so….”

“Personal?” Ella questioned patting her husband’s arm. “Breastfeeding isn’t. It will and has to happen.” Then she looked at Seth and me. “Eric helped me with Thomas, Ada, and Ana. He’s seen me feed them. And helped me.”

Christian’s eyes grew alarmed. “What!?”

“Milk, honey. He’s seen me feed them cow’s milk.” Ella said smiling again but shaking her head.

I chuckled again. “And even if I had seen her breastfeed. You know I wouldn’t be interested.” I patted Seth’s arm as he held Edward.

Christian wasn’t really angry, uncomfortable yes, but not angry. His eyes rolled. “I’m just glad the older children aren’t here now. They’d be asking questions….”

“Well, in four or five years Thomas will want to know about it all.” I smiled at Christian. “And you promised.” Reminding him of his promise to me on the way to Blethos for the first time before Seth and I even met. “You’d be honest with him.”

Christian’s head lowered to the table. “I did.” Then his head rose. “It’s just not…a subject we talked about growing up. Now I know how Dad felt about talking to us.”

I nodded. “I was raised here, too. I know. But it’s so important. Maybe the older children should have been here. So they could ask their questions.” I smiled returning to eating my breakfast. “There will be time.”

Christian sighed. “I hope so.” Then brightened. “We have a week left!” He looked at the two of us. “Is there anything you two want to do?”

The whole situation with Seth, me, Christian and Ella was mostly humorous, but there had to be changes with people need to make. Why would two people wait until their wedding night to figure out how things work? Christian and I knew because we had a library and a tutor that explained some basics. Seth found out about two men from seeing it. But practical knowledge was needed. Young people out in this world didn’t always have that and ignorance was dangerous.

We had a good time with the family, but as always…good times ended. Seth and I had the carriage readied again with supplies, horses hitched and stood in the courtyard saying our goodbyes.

“’Eth.” Edward said to Seth.

All of us just stared at the little boy.

Seth smiled holding Edward out, looking proud. “He said my name!”

I chuckled. “It’s better than him calling me ick. The letter R is tough in my name.” Now I was crying. “This is agony,” I said as tears again were flowing from everyone.

“I know what you mean.” Christian nodded hugging me. “But we have Demetrius to keep in touch. And you will come back.”

I nodded. “Absolutely.” Then I watched Seth, who was handing Edward back to Ella.

Edward was fussing and then crying as he reached for Seth. Seth was also crying.

“I wish we didn’t have to leave!” Seth moaned. “This has been so wonderful.” He kissed Ella on the cheek, then kissed Edward on the head as Edward wanted Seth back. “It’s breaking my heart.”

Christian put his arms around Seth. “This proves we’re a family. Parting hurts, and Edward’s tears tell you that for certain, you will be missed. By all of us.”

Ella kissed me. “We love you two. You have to come back.” She tried to jostle Edward, but he was still reaching for me and Seth as his little heart was breaking. “I’m going to have a time with this one,” Ella admitted sadly.

I nodded, taking Seth’s arm. “I’ll have a time with this one.” I grinned as we headed to the carriage. “But we’ll be back. I promise.” Hugs to everyone and we climbed up in the carriage and headed out.

Seth sniffed and rubbed his face to clear it of tears. “You’ve got a great family.”

“Which is also your family.” I reminded him.

He nodded. “I know.” He grinned at me. “With Sam and Terry, they are only a couple of days away. These are so far away!”

I shrugged. “But it can’t be helped. We have a life in Royal Valley.”

Halfway between A’Dore and Blethos, Seth and I were relaxing by a fire we had cooked on during the evening, now we're just relaxing as Seth lounged against me. There was the sound of a bell.

I grinned at Seth. “Guess who.”

“At least he rings now first.” Seth chuckled.

Demetrius came out of the darkness. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Seth smiled. “Not yet.”

I grinned at Demetrius. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

Demetrius sat near us. “Fine. There are others that I help. So, it’s sort of busy. I just came to say hello.” He grinned. “Hello.”

I hadn’t thought about that. “Others? You help others.” I nodded. “That makes sense. You have all this time, so why not?”

Seth looked at Demetrius, then sat up a little. “Are you finished with us?”

Demetrius looked surprised. “Heavens no, you’ve both alive. We’ll be in each other’s lives a long, long time.”

Seth nodded. “Then could we ask you something?”

Demetrius nodded and grinned. “You just did.”

Seth rolled his eyes. “A potential favor.” He clarified.

“Oh.” Demetrius smiled. “You can ask, whether I can do it is another thing.”

Seth looked at me. “We want a child.”

Demetrius’ eyes grew hearing that. “A child!?” He shook his head. “We can do some miraculous things, but a child with two men…”

Seth reached and took Demetrius’ arm. “No, no…I mean, we want a child, but there will be other problems.” He explained. “Laws and rules are few about taking a child in. Many couples find a child and keep them when no one wants them. No questions are asked. In both A’Dore and Blethos, to be a member of a House, the head of the house makes a public statement and it’s done. And the orphanages are all pretty much run by the Church and they would never give us a child.” He gave a shrugging nod knowing that wasn’t always true. “Well, we could bribe them and maybe then, but…you never know with these orphanages. They could be the child of thieves, or murderers. Or even with a good family line, there are potential dangers from insanity to diseases.”

I gave Seth a little shove. “That’s true with one if we could have one of our own. We don’t know. No child has any guarantees.”

Seth nodded. “I know…and I don’t mean to sound like we’re better or anything, but…”

Demetrius nodded. “But a good family history sort of helps.”

“Sure it does,” Seth said. “There has to be someone out there, having a child they won’t be able to raise. Good family history and healthy. That wouldn’t mind their child being raised by us.” He said waving at me and him. “We have money. It would be well cared for…”

“I’m not a baby broker,” Demetrius said sadly. Then he sighed. “Many times, when a young girl finds herself in this sort of trouble…giving up a child can be traumatic. Death can be involved, or a rape…” then he looked at us. “Or just because she trusted the person she was with just once. Foolish or not.”

I shook my head. “We won’t care about that.”

“Not everyone in my own family would I want a child from. Arthur, Darius, and Deena are prime examples of who I do not want as a parent of any child we get and they were family! Many others trying to be king or queen either are just as bad….not criminal...”

“A young woman who was raped?” I asked. “Her family history could be fine, but her rapist? What would be passed to the child? It’s not the girl's fault or the child’s but…”

Demetrius nodded. “I get it.” He waved his hands to stop us from continuing. “I get it.”

“There are hundreds of children born unwanted and unloved…” Seth continued.

“Guys!” Demetrius said suddenly. “I get it.” He sighed. “I don’t make things happen. You know that.” Then he nodded. “But I do present opportunities. There is a choice that people can make to take these opportunities or not.” He nodded again. “I can ask the others. Someone has to know of someone.” He grinned. “We’re not omnipotent. We can’t always just know. But I will ask.” Then he looked at our spit we’d put aside with an animal that we cooked. “That rabbit looks good. Can I have some?”

I chuckled. “It may be overdone now, but help yourself.”

“And Erik wasn’t convinced I could hunt.” Seth grinned. “I showed him. I can handle a bow and arrow just fine.”

We got back to Royal Valley and were stunned! It was growing! There were people moving there. Okay, that shouldn’t have been so surprising, but who was moving there was. As Seth and I rode through town, we noticed a business that hadn’t been there before. We’d been gone for almost two months, so there was time for something like this.

“Teas and cakes?” Seth read the sign. The store was a building that had been something else but now had a festive awning. The windows had baked goods from cookies, cakes, and pies. Breads! The fancy kind, not the loaves we all knew. Scones! I knew the bakery would be upset at that. Seth pulled the horses to a stop when we spotted Zek and Gabe inside. Zek was working with his father and Gabe worked in the winery, so they were customers. Seth stepped down from the carriage as did I. We walked in a store where there were places to sit with tables. It was like they wanted you to stay and eat.

Zek looked up from the man he was talking with as we came in, his eyes grew large. “Seth! Erik!” He hurried over and hugged us. “Welcome home!”

Gabe who had been sitting with Zek hurried over as well. “Did you have a good trip?”

And of course, we nodded, greeting our two friends. “It was great!” I answered. “But Zek was right, it is a long, long way. We’re glad to be home.” Then I looked at the man Zek had been talking to. He wore something around his waist, like an apron. “What’s all this?” I motioned to the store.

“Isn’t it great?” Zek asked us. “Daryl, meet Prince Erik and Prince Seth!”

Daryl’s eyes grew in shock. A handsome man, in his early thirties with brown hair and eyes. “Your Highness.” He began to bow.

Seth hit Zek lightly. “Stop that!” He said to Zek who only pretended to worry, but only a little and all was kidding. Seth grinned at Daryl. “Yes, we are, but we’re just people here in Royal Valley.”

Daryl nodded. “But you were king! Everyone in Blethos knows that. Probably around the world!” He shook Seth’s hand. Then he looked at me. “And you’re the man he married that made him king!” He smiled at me.

I nodded. “I am.”

Daryl turned to look in a portion we couldn’t see. “Curt! Come meet Prince Erik and Prince Seth!”

We had people from other countries that lived in A’Dore and Blethos, but clearly from the name he was from Germania. That was a whole other continent! The man that came out wiping his hands on a cloth as he came was blonde! Very handsome, in his middle thirties with blue eyes and he was most definitely from Germania. Our histories told of conquerors in the past that had come from Germania and other continents in ancient times. Ella’s people in ancient times had come from Scanavol. Another country known as conquerors in the past, that was why she had the blonde hair. But Curt looked…well, he was nice looking but big!! Huge! He was taller than Seth. He must have been over six feet and five inches. A giant! “Really?” The man asked coming over quickly. Then he shook our hands. “It is a great honor to meet you!” He spoke our language just fine but accented. I’d heard Germanians before, so I knew some of it.

Gabe nodded. “They are a couple! Just like Zek and me. And you two!”

Seth’s eyes told me he was not prepared for this. “Oh!”

Daryl nodded. “We met in Berl. In his country ten years ago, we fell in love, but word about your marriage came and we had to come to Blethos! Then we get here and heard you’ve moved here, so, we came here to open this!” He waved at his store.

“And there’s another male couple in town!” Zek said excitedly. “They haven’t opened a business like this, but are looking for work. Isn’t it great?”

I looked at Seth, who was still in shock. “Yeah.” I nodded and grinned back at Daryl and Curt. “Welcome to Royal Valley.” Then I got closer to them. “You know it’s still illegal here.”

Curt waved that off. “It is everywhere. But we thought maybe here they would be more receptive if they knew the truth.”

“Has anyone here given you problems?” Seth asked.

“A few.” Daryl nodded. “But not that much. We get some strange looks occasionally, but no one has come right out and said anything.” He chuckled. “Safety in numbers.”

Gabe shook his head. “I just know more are on the way!” He was almost giddy!