#she smiled gently and magnanimously and packed a bag and left

[elizabethrobertajones]

TBH re: Grerenville... I make Frog Canon in ffxiv strictly start from only what is suggested in canon and I can branch off and fill gaps but I don't go into anything too AU that needs to be kept track of, because I am really enjoying the Warrior of Light story as presented anyway and Frog is just the best and most special warrior of light (as is every WoL but she's mine so :))

Just because G'raha and Erenville have never met in canon doesn't mean they can't have bumped into each other given the occasional times they've been based out of Sharlayan since Endwalker. Like, it's humorous to me that they haven't crossed paths yet, especially when Erenville is now hanging out with Krile. But also that is just what we see on the surface so why not say they could have met.

Of course, then we get into the complex knot of relationships that is Frog's life, given that G'raha is pretty much The Boyfriend ffxiv hands you of COURSE he's Frog's main boyfriend (vs, like, Aymeric who is merely courting her in the sense that it's still like 90% show at public events with lots of bowing and dancing and chastely kissing the back of her hand, and 10% frantic meetings in the Forgotten Knight :P)

Frog has totally encouraged G'raha he can date other people if he wants and aside from getting very flustered about Aymeric when she takes him on formal trips to Ishgard, and getting tongue tied about Estinien, he's been hesitant to branch out (mostly because if I tried to hold in my mind the web that is Estinien's love life being Aymeric's ex and Vrtra's consort, if G'raha got into all that it would become some sort of unstoppable katamari ball of ship rolling over everything)...

But what harm could one friendly unattached Gleaner do to all this? :)

enter: Frog declaring Erenville her arch nemesis after the Toad Incident with the same level of devotion to the cause that Zenos took to her. And Erenville reciprocating as the arch rival from an high school anime role in her life with glee.

Yeah, sure. I'll just try shipping Grerenville in that atmosphere. It'll be fine.

[shotmrmiller]

simon's many things. a retired fighter, for one. he hung his mma gloves a few of years ago with the excuse of getting older. he still sticks around, though— sitting in the front, so close to the hexagonal cage that his knees can touch the steel, occasionally gesturing price over to hand him a crinkled wad of cash.

gambling's illegal, you know.

thought you were a medic not a cop, pet.

a veterinarian.

good thing we're all dogs here, then.

he's also a bit unhinged, or so price says. you had pressed your tongue against the back of your teeth to keep from asking him if the hits simon's taken to the side of the head knocked a few things loose or if he was simply born that way. you'd be thoroughly unsurprised by the latter.

seen 'em take a man out with one ferocious hit— dislocated his jaw and retired him all in one second— all over cigarettes.

what, did they guy like steal them or something?

no. the prize for the winner of their fight was that pack of smokes.

incredible. (that's insane.)

he's also unrepentantly forward and a bit of a pervert, to boot. no explanation is needed.

lemme take ya out, love—

don't call me that.

and wear a pretty dress with heels. bet you'd look real good in—

stop talking, simon.

and now, you're about to find out that he's also, apparently, magnanimous.

a friday night's hustle and bustle has come and gone, as has the crowd that was in there earlier to watch a fight. the air smells of cheap alcohol and even cheaper cologne. the lighting inside is dim, casting a dull, almost sickly glow over wooden stands and the bloodied arena. the floor, once dry concrete, was now mud-slicked; drinks, urine, and spilled blood staining the surface. betting slips stick to your sneakers as you walk. (trudge, more like.)

with your worn medical supply bag around your shoulder, you tiredly head towards price's office whose metal door is being held open by an old barstool, and gently rap your knuckles on the frame. "i'm leaving, john."

he looks up at you, soft blue eyes crinkling over his glasses as he smiles. "sounds good, love. see ya later. want me to walk you out?"

always the gentleman. "no, i'm alright. i'm sure simon's out there waiting for me any—"

the metal entrance door slams open then, causing you to jump at the startling noise. you whip your head around and a resigned groan escapes your lips. it's simon and he's got bruised company. very bruised.

there's never any rest for the wicked.

"who's that?" john calls from behind you. "he lost?"

the guy whose arm is slung around simon's shoulders looks relatively young. thick, straight eyebrows, a swollen broken nose, and thin blood-crusted lips. the last time you saw a mohawk on someone, it'd been in the early 00s.

"somewhat but it's a good thing i found 'em," simon grunts. his eyes flash over to you. "can ya patch him up f'me, love? i'll go on tha' date you've been beggin' me for."

you ignore simon as you approach them both and tip the guy's head up with your fingers under his chin. searching in your front pocket, you tell him to look at you. "open your eyes as best you can, alright?"

his eyes are like sparkling blue gems— bright like the sky on a clear summer's day. he winces at the blinding white light emitting from the flashlight. "tha' necessary, lass? ah'm not seein' double, if tha's what ye lookin' fer."

he gives a pained grunt before simon tells him to stand still. "my girl here's the medic and what she says goes. clear?"

"crystal, sir." purple bruises are blooming like dark flowers around his left eye and right cheekbone, and the blood that oozed from his split lip long coagulated. his nose, however, continues to languidly drip crimson.

"not the worst break i've seen," you mutter.

the pair shuffle behind you quietly as you head toward the dedicated medical room. the sharp, clinical scent of antiseptic wafts through the air as the door swings open.

"sit, please," you gesture to the well-worn chair in the corner.

black latex gloves squeak in protest as you slide them on. "wanna tell me what's going on, simon? i'm not gonna fix the nose of a wanted murderer, am i?"

simon chuckles under his breath. "no. unlucky bloke chose to mug the wrong person. johnny here is real good at fightin', though, for someone with no real proper trainin'. figured i could give him a way to earn his money instead of stealin' it off of hard-workin' folk."

you hum and press your thumbs as gently as you can where the nasal fracture is. johnny hisses sharply and grips your wrist tightly. "easy. i barely touched it." you quickly tap the back of his hand with your knuckles. "let go, please. last thing i need is you tensing and breaking my arm."

he slackens his fingers and sits on both of his hands. "sorry, lass. ah'd never hurt a bonnie lass like ye. say, how'd ye even end up in the bowels of the city?"

his talking re-opened the cut on his upper lip, blood streaking his teeth pink. "i'm a charity case, just like you, i reckon."

johnny means to continue the conversation, but you take advantage of his distracted mind and push to the left, the sickening crunch of cartilage follows the adjustment. he curls in on himself and lets out a guttural noise that bounces off the white walls. "i'd be sorry but..." you trail off with a casual shrug.

pulling a clean rag from a basket nearby, you order johnny to sit up straight. "look up for me." he leans his head back, adam's apple bobbing as he swallows. "hold this there," he squeezes his eyes shut when you firmly press the rag under his nose, "you'll stop bleeding soon enough."

you swivel on your stool, turning your attention to simon who's been silently watching you work by the door. "any injuries on you?"

he pulls his balaclava up, revealing a blonde stubble and scarred lips. "i got an injury right," he points at his mouth, "here tha' you can kiss—"

"stop talking, simon."

johnny's laughter emerges from behind the crimson-stained cloth.

--

this is the first time you've ever seen simon in the ring.

simon, even while 'retired', fights with a viciousness that borders on primal. his snarl— a ravenous wolf's— bare crooked teeth that hunger for victory, for dominance.

even when he's merely teaching johnny how to survive in this subterranean battleground.

"there's no room for mercy, soap!" he bellows. his eyes are sharp as blades, holding an edge of madness. he charges forward with fists like sledgehammers, delivering blow after punishing blow; johnny's body paying the price for his mistakes.

pain is the currency in that pit of despair, laswell had once said.

simon is a beast in human skin, ferocity incarnate...and you don't remember the last time you were this aroused by such a brute display. if this is what he looks like now, after years of being the spectator and not the spectacle, you can only imagine him in the zenith of his strength, his power.

heat licks up your cheeks at the mere thought.

he looks like he was born and bred to fight. his crib must've been the stained mat he's dancing on, his lullabies the sound of fists making contact, forcing flesh to yield. his broad back bears the weight of history— jagged flesh that stretches taut with each swing.

"fight smart! rules dissolve once tha' bell tolls, mate. many come here for glory, others come for an escape but some--" simon ducks the undisciplined punch johnny throws and gives him a ruthless jab to the ribs once then another to the side of his cut jaw.

johnny falls like a tree that's been cut at the trunk, the sound his body makes on impact with the canvas echoing in the empty basement. his breathing comes in ragged bursts, sweat and trickles of blood mingling on his face. simon kneels next to him, grunting as he goes down. "some are only here for their next meal and those are the most dangerous."

he is in his element, all bruised flesh and bloodied nose.

oh no. johnny's nose is bleeding too. "simon!" his head snaps to you when you scream, eyes wide and unfettered. "i just fixed his nose, you dolt!" his expression softens then— furrowed brows and taut lips relax.

"he'll be alrigh'. even my nose whistles when i breathe," he remarks.

simpleton. nothing but fighting and gambling in that big head of his. "that doesn't mean that it's okay to break bones i mended a few days ago." you keep your eyes fixed on johnny, ignoring the way the heat that's radiating from simon's sweat-slick body seeps into your chilled skin. "why he call you soap, anyway? good at cleaning dishes?"

he slurs a little, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "'cuz ah'm a shlippery bashtard."

you bite on your tongue, hoping that his slurring is because he's still mildly dazed from the punch and not something worse.

"wha' about me, love? i've got a beaten face too, y'know." you look at him then, narrowing your eyes as you take his bare face in. the bridge of his nose is pretty swollen, and you can see the onset of bruising already happening. it's also freely dribbling blood.

"shit, let me go get my medbag."

he hooks his fingers around the loops of your jeans, keeping you in place. "'fraid of a little blood, are ya? i think you'd look real good with me on you."

a jolt of arousal shoots up your spine unbidden, blooming desire, focus wavering. your breath catches and pupils dilate as they lock with his rich, brown ones.

"oi, get a room, aye?" johnny's hoarse voice snaps you back to the present, your thunderous heartbeat ebbing away like a tide from shore.

"whenever you want, sweetheart," simon purred. the lump lodged in your throat makes it hard to respond. "get the bag 'fore i bleed out. price will have my head if i drop dead on his mat."

you blink and scramble away on shaky legs and weak knees.

[underopenskies]

Tell The World I’m Coming Home~

((THIS IS A LONG FUCKING READ PEOPLE. NEARLY 42,500 WORDS. PREPARE YOUR EYES FOR A LONG READ. IT WILL ENTERTAIN YOU FOR A WHILE. *sobs at all the editing*

@fontsandsins

Lets get the ball rolling, baby.

It takes a lifetime to get there. Or at least, it feels like a lifetime. Day crawls into night, they read stories, rinse and repeat, and slowly the wheel of time turns after Hamish left from Bella's first birthday party. Ten weeks was a long time to be without someone though. Two and a half months. Both girls missed him every day, and he missed them too.

But the day was finally here. Skylar was thirty weeks along and some odd change and it was time to go home. She had spent her time in the company of Ronnie and her family, and found that she loved Ronnie's company. It was little wonder that Greg loved the wily tree woman- she was witty and spry and definitely a woman that Skylar could approve of her brother marrying come the time he proposed.

All of Skylar's bags and Vera's bags had all been packed, courtesy of her very sweet and protective brothers, and she was settled in her mother's rocking chair on the porch where she was sipping water as she relaxed and awaited the arrival of Hamish's truck. He wouldn’t be too long, she hoped. The only way she got comfortable any more was laying down on her left side. But, given the massive writhing girth of her belly, there wasn't any dispute as to why. Skylar also had an ultrasound picture packet for Hamish when he arrived. It was tucked just inside of her purse, which was in her lap.

The boys were off spending time with Bella, getting the last of their time in with their niece, while their sister rested. There had been a scare a week back, but it had been a false scare, so she was on strict bed rest. The boys did their best to keep Bella busy.  No one had told Hamish while he was away- he didn’t need the stress while he was finishing the last of the house.

Vera eased out onto the porch and gently tugged Skylar's shirt down slightly. "Riding up again."

"Out growin' this one again." She sighs and rubs her middle. "I need a bigger shirt, but I ain't had the energy t' go t' town t' try stuff on."

"I know, baby." Vera kissed one of her horns gently. "Ya done good t' keep them in for this long. Between me 'n Hamish, I'm sure we can get ya a larger shirt. Or jerry-rig one, at the very least." She soothes gently.

"Mmhmm." Sky sighs, and tucks her skull into her palm. She has bags under her eyes- between excitement and anxiety, Sky hadn't been sleeping the best. Her bed had grown uncomfortable for someone her size too. She rocks slightly, and closes her eyes as Vera strokes her skull gently. "Shouldn't be much longer for Hamish." She murmurs. "Boys got Bella's crib packed?"

"Yup." Vera nods. "Everything is good t' go, baby girl. We didn't forget nothing."

Hamish knew he shouldn't be going so fast. One day it was going to land him in a lot of trouble; but right now all he wanted was to just to bring his girls home. As soon as he hit the road that led to Vera's, and the farmhouse became visible, he smashed his palm against the truck horn, letting out a loud toot.

He pulled up, a cloud of dust drifting from the trucks tires. He swung to door open, grinning wide. "MY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!" He exclaimed. She was huge! Way bigger than she looked in the photos she sent. His cheeks flushed as he jogged up onto the porch and leaned down to kiss her. "Where is my other beautiful girl?" He asked.

The toot of the horn startled her out of her light doze, and she was quite awake when it came up the stairs after his magnanimously loud exclamation of her beauty. Skylar laughed gently and gave him an affectionate kiss. "It's good t' see ya, Haz." She fanned away part of the dust cloud that he had flung at them from his arrival though. "The lil' beauty should be-"

"DADA!" Bella's voice was a loud shriek as she ran around the corner of the house. She was much more mobile than she had been the last he had seen her. She moved quick, tripped, recovered, and scrambled up the stairs to drive her horns into his leg and cling to him. "Dada!"

Hamish grunted and stumbled, leaning down her gripped her under her arms and hoisted her up cuddling her tightly against his chest. "Aggggh! I missed you!" He smooched her cheeks. "Are you ready to come home and see the new house?" He asked her.

Bella nodded in excitement. Her daddy wasn't going anywhere this time, mommy had promised, this time they were going home.

Skylar smiled lovingly. "I think we're all ready t' go home. Ya got the guest room ready for Ma, right?"

"If not, the couch works just fine for me." Vera pats her arm. "Alright. C'mon, baby. Lets get ya up and t' the car."

Skylar grunts and nods. Vera hooks her hands under her arms, and despite the frailty of the older woman, she still hefts her much larger daughter out if her seat and steadies her once she's on her feet.

Skylar is even bigger when she's standing and not half hidden by sitting. Her shirt rides up again, showing a ghost of stretch mark ridden blue flesh. She tugs her shirt down as best she can, and gave him a faint smile. "I am so, so ready t' go home."

"Boys!" Vera calls, not leaving Skylar's side. "Bags 'n boxes in the truck please!"

"Yes ma!" Adam calls from the house. He'd already headed in and was gathering some last boxes from inside.

"It's a rough job, but I've set up the house the best I could with our old furniture. We're going to have to do some furniture shopping. But Ava and I dragged out bed up to our room, we've set up Bella's room and I didn't wanna do too much without your opinion but I put a few things to start the boys, and I set up the guest room so vera should be more than comfortable." He explained, he watched Vera haul skylar up. Hamish's eyes dropped to Skylars belly, he swallowed hard.

Nightstrider - Yesterday at 10:09 PM

If she was huge with Bella, she was absolutely enormous with the triplets. Skylar saw his gaze drop and his hard swallow, and she winked at him. "Good. I can't do a lot o' walking or being out and about," she admits softly, "but we can probably shop for furniture when we make a run in for clothes. I need new shirts, in case ya can't tell. Hope our lil' town sells size 'whale'." Amused sarcasm lights her tone, and she grins at him in cheeky and good humor.

Vera pats her hand. "Well, we have the wheelchair th' doctor sent us home with after... Yeah." She glances at Hamish and lifts a brow, before heading down the stairs. She goes backwards, and guides Skylar down as she goes. It's a slow but careful process, and soon they're down on the ground level. "Lets get ya home before ya go makin' moon eyes at each other."

Hamish blinked. "You have a wheelchair?" He said, stepping down the steps, Bella in his arm with her little fingers deeply tangling in his beard. He made his way over to the truck as Vera and Skylar did. "Did something happen?" He asked, concern coloring his tone.

Skylar sent her mother the dirtiest look possible for spilling the secret. The absolute dirtiest look. "A small scare. Adam panicked n' took me t' the hospital." She says as Vera opens the front door for her. She looks at the seat and ties to work out how she's going to get in. "Doctor has me on full bed rest n' if I have t' go places, I'm supposed t' use the chair."

"She hates the chair." Vera informs Hamish cheerily. "Leg up, baby girl. I won't let ya fall. Up, n' shimmy over. I might be small, but I'm stronger than I look."

"I know, Ma, I know." Skylar sighed, and eased her hip up into the seat. Vera braced her to keep her from sliding back out, and they eased her up into the truck seat. Then Skylar glanced at the seatbelt and paused. "... I don't think it's gonna clip."

Hamish rubbed his palm over his face and sighed. He was a little irritated that Skylar hadn't told him, but at the same time, he was glad. If he had known that there had been a scare with the triplets, the house probably wouldn't be finished.

He opened the back door and put Bella into her seat. "I don't care if you hate the chair, you're going to use it… and when you're not using it... Bella and I will." He said simply, clicking her in. He looked up at the seatbelt and snorted. "It's okay, I'll drive easy."

The boys were loading up the back of the truck with bags, Skylar's and Vera's, and were making quick work of it.

Skylar saw the flash of grumpiness cross Hamish's face and sighed, chewing her lip quietly. "Ugh. It pinches my ass 'n I feel short and everyone stares at the pregnant lady in the wheelchair." She makes a grumpy sound, and adjusts herself a bit in the seat. She makes a soft uncomfortable noise, rubbing her hip, and then tries to get as comfortable as she can. "Good. Ain't a reason t' speed home like our weddin' night." She chuckles.

Vera snickers, and stretches her back. She glances at Hamish, and then hauls herself up into the back of his truck with Bella. "Ya better drive easy. My joints don't like t' be bounced around like the sort o' work ya put your bed springs through."

"Gross Ma!" Adam grumps from the back, hefting one of her bags into the back. "I need earmuffs if you’re gonna talk about that."

Vera laughs.

Hamish's face turns red but he lets out a laugh. He shuts the car door on Bella's side and steps around to the back. "We call good?" He asks the boys, pulling the blue tarp out of his tool box to begin tying the bags down under it. "Now," he said, tugging a knot into one of the ropes. "Don't get too crazy while your moms gone." He said, flashing each boy a smile. He gave Adam a firm pat on the shoulder. "Saw your girl peekin’ out through the window… guessin’ she's shy… Be gentle. She looks like you'd rip her in half." He said, tugging another knot in before slapping the bed of the truck and moving to pull oven the driver seat door.

Adam blushes a bright, bright blue. "Lily is shy. And I am very, very gentle." He huffs. He pauses and grabs Hamish's shoulder before he can slip into the car. His grasp his firm. He gives him a serious look. "Take care o' my Sister and my Ma. Ma might be there t' help ya with my sis and Bella, but she's not as young as she used t' be. Make sure she doesn’t hurt herself. Anything happens t' them, n' ima feed ya your own bits. Understood?"

"Ya keep threatening his bits, and I'm gonna make you eat your bits." Skylar barks from the front seat. "We'll watch each other."

Adam flushed and pouted at his sister. "Why ya gotta be so mean?"

"His bits are my bits. Only one allowed t' eat them is me, and that's in the fun way." Skylar rolls her eyes lightly. "We'll see ya later, Adam. I love ya, lil' bro."

"Love ya too sis." He sighed and withdrew his hand. "Drive safe n' good luck. Sky's cantankerous n' been a grump with me, Greg and Tommy. Maybe ya can tame the 'beast'."

Hamish blinked up at Adam his eyes widened. He looked over at Skylar when she spoke and grinned. He shifted and got into the drivers seat. "I plan to tame her~" He laughed, pulled the door shut, pulling his seatbelt on. He started up the car and put the truck into reverse, backing up, watching out the windows to make sure the boys weren't around the back of the truck. He turned the truck and turned it into drive, pulling out and out of the driveway.

Skylar shifted in the seat, and adjusted her position as they pulled out. The roughness of the driveway was not pleasant, and her belly bounced as they went over the bumps and potholes. It woke the boys up, and a stronger set of feet shoved outward near her belly button. Skylar hummed and rubbed softly to soothe them.

Vera reached up and gently tapped her shoulder. "Why don't ya recline back a little bit? I have plenty o' space for ya t' stretch out."

"Inna lil' bit, Ma." Skylar hums. "Thank ya though. I'll settle back soon. I'll probably sleep once I do, n' I'm not ready t' do that yet." Her gaze slips over to Hamish. "Mmm... So, we can go furniture shopping in a couple o' days? When I've rested up some, n' we're both adjusted t' being together again."

Hamish's hands tightened around the steering wheel. "Uh...I dunno about that." He said. "I was thinking maybe… we just shop online so you can stay in bed?" He risked a quick glance over to her, and then focused his eyes back at the road. He didn't like telling her no, but if there had already been a scare, he didn't want to risk anything.

"Mmm..." She pursed her lips and glanced at him slightly. Her blue eye lights displayed that she was too tired to argue with him. The thought of more time in bed was equal parts amazing- because dear gods she needed sleep- and equal parts depressing because she had been cooped up for ages and was pretty stir crazy at this point. "Alright." Her fingers tap lightly on her belly and she sighs. "We can do most o' it online. But shirt shopping online ain't as easy." She didn’t have any idea how to size herself, and had no real desire to buy something and find out it was the wrong size again. Been there, done that, and the shirt was not even close to her size.

Vera pats her head gently. "The shirt made a cute crop top?" Her mother tries to offer an optimistic reply to her daughter's grumping over the bad order online.

"Yeah, but for Tommy." Skylar replies dryly. "It's easier t' buy it when ya can try it on. I'm only gonna get bigger. I'd rather buy bigger so I can lounge about in loose clothing. At least Adam's sweat pants fit. And no- I did not give them back."

Vera snorts. "I'll take them back when he comes t' take me back. He's not gonna miss them while ya have them."

Hamish placed his hand on her thigh and rubbed his thumb on her leg. He watched the road with a small smile. He moved his hand to shift gears then rested it back on her leg. Unlike on the way to Vera's on the way home he drove properly, making sure to take it easy so Skylar was more comfortable.

"Dada." Bella called from the back.

"Yes baby." He answered, looking up in the rear view mirror at her.

"Dada pudda moosic on." She said, pointing at the radio.

He laughed. "You want music?" He asked, reaching to flick through the radio channels. “I don't know what's on to listen to." He said.

"Mama moosic!" Bella chirps helpfully.

Skylar wasn't necessarily comfortable either way. She could only sit in one position so long before pain set in, so she did a lot of seemingly nervous fidgiting in her seat and shifting of her weight from leg to leg. When Bella spoke, Skylar smiled slightly. "She means th' stuff I sing t' her and the boys. Try the country channel- should be a couple o' ticks down from that one. Mhph." Baby C nailed her good in the ribs, and she took a deep breath of air and gently tapped the tiny feet down off of her ribs and to a more sensible location.

"Charles nail ya again?" Vera hums.

"Mhm. He's not having none o' this car ride nonsense." The horned woman chuckles softly.

Hamish flicked the radio over to the country channel, this seemed to make Bella happy, she danced in her car seat, and sung in babble a long with the songs. Hamish watcher her through the mirror every so often, a large smile spread on his face. His fingers, tapped along to the beat on the steering wheel. About two hours into the drive, Bella had put herself to sleep.

Skylar wasn't much better. Two hours in, and she was fast asleep in the front seat. The only time she stirred was when she found an uncomfortable position and tried to make it better. There was a process to her unconscious actions though. First, her brows would furrow, which would then be followed by a soft noise of pain, and then she would wiggle and squirm until she found a new position. She found a good one, and got comfortable, hands coming over her belly with her chin tucked down on her chest.

Vera was nose deep into a book, and quietly humming to the song on the radio, leaving her the only company awake so far into the long drive."

Hamish sat in silence, his eyes on the road, one hand on the wheel the other on the gear stick. He took it slow around every corner so he wouldn't jostle Skylar and Bella. He moved the hand on the gear stick to his face, rubbing his hand down his face then to cover his mouth as he yawned. Making the big drive out the Vera's only to turn around and drive back home was an extremely big drive. He swapped hands, placing the hand on his face on the steering wheel so he could rest his eyebrow on the small space along the window, resting his cheek on his hand.

"Would ya like me t' drive?" Vera chimes lightly from the back as she listens to Hamish, their driver, yawning. "Sounds like ya could use some sleep. I do remember the way out t' ya farm. Can't drive safe 'f you're falling asleep at the wheel."

Hamish sat up and turned in his seat slightly to look at Vera. "Oh... uh, I mean.." He wanted to say he was okay to keep driving, but he really wasn’t, he could feel his eyes becoming heavy and struggling to stay open. "Yeah… actually." He checked to make sure there weren’t any cars behind him before pulling up on the side of the road. He opened his door and got out, stretching his back.

Vera eased out of the back seat, and then made her way around to the front. The older woman patted him on the arm and smiled faintly. "Lets get ya in the back before I hop in the drivers seat. I'm gonna have t' adjust Skylar's seat for ya t' for back there." She then moved around to her daughter's door, quietly easing it open. "If ya like, we can lean her further back so ya can sort o' cuddle her in your lap, if ya want. Well, about as good as horns n' a skull in ya face is gonna get." She eases her daughter's seat forwards to give Hamish the leg room that his much longer legs need.

Hamish chuckled. "I don't mind, just as long as she's comfortable." He said. He got himself into the back and held the back of the seat so he could help lower it if Vera chose to lower Skylar.

Vera did indeed lower Skylar. She eased her back to take some of the pressure off of her pelvis, and then stuffed a rolled up jacket under her daughter's knees to give them a little extra support. The change In position brought a soft sigh of relief from the horned woman, and she didn’t even stir. Vera winked back at Hamish and got the doors shut, before hopping into the driver's seat.

She had to adjust the seat, as her feet came nowhere even near the pedals on the large truck. After scooting it nearly to the end of the track, Vera got herself buckled up and back on the road while Hamish got comfortable.

His new position left him with a lovely too view down Skylar's shirt, and of the mound of her belly as she slept. The triplets shifted lazily inside of her, only the one at the top really kicking up much of a fuss. Someone didn't much like cars it seemed.

Hamish woke up slightly at his new view. Fuck her breasts where huge. His cheeks flushed and he glanced out the window. He rubbed her horns as she slept, his eyes felt heavy, he glanced back down at Skylar his cheeks turning redder. His hands stayed on her horned but he turned his head away and rested it on his hand, letting his eyes close.

 Her breasts were huge, and jiggled just as much as a water balloon with every bounce of the shocks. Skylar's head angled into his touch, pressing her horn more firmly into his hand, and she let out a sleepily content sound. She didn't stir.

Vera eyed him in the rear view mirror, but simply smirked and kept driving. She headed for his home- it was a long drive, And Skylar would be hurting pretty badly before long. Not much to be done about it except to stop and let her stretch as best she could, though.

Hamish eventually fell asleep himself, He wasn't usually a terrible snorer but the way he was sitting meant he couldn't help his snores. A few times the snores causing Bella to jump in her sleep, his little limbs flailing for a short moment before she settled back into her little dreams.

While the little family slept, grandma quietly sped up a little but and drove them home. She took corners slowly, but straight stretches were taken fairly quickly.

They made it to the house without Skylar or Hamish stirring much. Bella had woken and Vera had pulled over and gotten her changed a couple of times, but the girl was quick to go right back to sleep. The little girl hadn't slept a whole lot the night prior, too excited about her daddy coming to take them home to settle down for more than a few minutes. Skylar likewise got caught up on sleep that Bella had denied her.

When Vera pulled up to the house, she carefully parked the car and cut off the engine. She turned in her seat, stretching tight fingers, and sighed. "Hey. Wake up, y'all. We're here."

Skylar made a tired noise and rubbed her palm against her eye sockets. "Mmm..." Not a fully pleased waking up noise. Waking up meant tight muscles, which meant aches.

Hamish's elbow slipped of the armrest causing him to jolt forward and bump his head on the window. "Jesus." He grumbled, pressing his palm against his head. Bella stretched in her car seat. "mmwwehhhh." she whimpered. Hamish sat up blinking. "It's okay baby, we're home." He said, unlocking her seatbelt and lifting her out onto his lap. She snuggled against him, still waking herself up.

Vera snickered at her son in law, and then made her way around to Skylar. She helped ease her upright, and gently patted her middle, despite Skylar's sharp eyed glare for doing so. Unlike with Bella, the triplets seemed to draw strangers hands to her middle, and being touched without being warned or asked usually made her grumpy after so many people trespassed in her bubblespace. Not so much if she was in a good mood, but if she was already aching from being in one position for too long, then she got snappy.

"Everyone is so grumpy for getting home." Vera chuckles.

Skylar scrubs her eyes and grumbles. "Sore and grumpy go hand in hand. Sorry about the look, Ma."

"I didn't warn ya beforehand. Its alright." She helps Skylar out of the truck, and then lets the mother stretch and take in the upgraded house while she glances over to Hamish. "Any o' your boys still here so that I can heckle into helping me haul all o' this inside while you go get your wife and baby girl acquainted with the house?"

Hamish got himself out of the truck with Bella, there was a white use and the electricians van still parked together which meant it was just the plumber making sure their bath worked and the electrician doing last minuet checks on the lights, Avacardo had left when he did eager to get back home to his own family. Hamish walked with Bella up to the house. "Oi boys!" He called.

The plumber stuck his head up from checking the kitchen sink. "G'day." He smiled.

"Do ya rekon you can lend a hand hauling bags up to the house with me, mate?" He asked.

The plumber wiped his hands off on his pants and stood up. "Yeah, I can do that." He said and followed Hamish back outside. "Good afternood ladies." He greeted walking out to the truck, lifting the bags out of the truck bed.

"Afternoon." Vera greets warmly. She's not talk enough to grab the bags straight out of the back, so she hefts herself up using the back tire and grabs several of the bags into her arms.

Skylar's hands itch to grab a bag and help, but her mother simply hands over her purse and leaves her to carry that. One would think she would be used to it, but she's not. Skylar doesn’t wait to listen to the scolding she's sure to get if she just bypasses her protective mother and husband to grab a bag. Skylar just sighs, and manages a warm smile for the plumber. "Hi. Thanks for your help- careful with some o' the bags. Some o' them are heavier than they look ." She dips her head, and then makes for the stairs to the house. She has a deep waddle, deeper than with Bella, but it doesn’t seem to bother her as she makes her way towards the front deck stairs.

Hamish puts Bella down on her feet to offer Skylar his hand, walking up the porch steps. Bella dances inside, twirling around the familiar house that now looks much more open and spacious. she wiggled her little hips. squealing happily. She finished her dance then dashed off to explore

Skylar leaned on Hamish and the railing as she made her way up the steps. Up was not as bad as down, and thankfully the front steps weren't steep. She smiles as Bella twirls and dances off to explore. Skylar glances up as they enter the house, and she leans a bit more heavily onto Hamish. She takes her time to walk around, brushing her fingers over the new additions that she could see. She breathed quietly and could feel her throat tightening with emotion the more she looked at it. Happy tears gathered in her sockets, and Skylar gave in to the futile struggle against letting them fall.

The house was barebones and empty for the most part, and looked almost more skeletal than they did without the basic things that made it look lived in. However... It was perfect. "Its... Perfect." She manages to murmur in a thick voice to him as she eyes the staircase up to the second floor.

Bella crawled up the stars on her hands and knees, having gotten lots of practice running away from her uncles up the stairs. Hamish supported Skylar up the stairs to the second floor. He smiled, at the sound of Bella’s little feet thudding over the new carpet most of the rooms on the floor waited empty and would possibly stay that way until more children entered the house to fill them, the doors to those rooms currently remained closed, however he had left one open on purpose, and Bella the clever girl that she way picked up on that detail very quickly.

She shoved the door open and looked inside then squealed, bouncing on the spot pointing into her new room. "MAMA!!" She exclaimed running into the familiar but completely new bedroom.

Skylar was in a perpetual state of awe. Seeing it in person was different than seeing it over pictures and video. Bella's shriek still drew her attention, and she smiled warmly. Her hand slid up to dry her cheeks, and she made her way to Bella's room. "Looks like ya found your room, baby girl. Do ya like it?" She asks gently as she looks inside the room.

In place of the crib that Bella had been so used to sleeping in, there was now a little twin bed, with stuffed animals and toys galore. Along one of her walls was a bookshelf with all of the books that they hadn't been able to take, along with a handful of new ones for Hamish and Bella to read together.

Skylar rested her hand on her belly as she leaned on the open door. She looked the room over, and then flicked her eyes to Hamish with a lopsided and warm smile. Her eyes softened and the stress was easing out of her in waves. There was something about being home, even in a mostly bare home, that was soothing. "Ya did good, Hamish." She says sincerely.

Hamish looked at his wide. "Gah, I try...Just wait until you see our room." He purred. Knowing Bella would be kept busy exploring and finding the new things Hamish had added to her room he guided Skylar to another one of the doors and pushed it open, their room was decorated similar to the way it use to be, however they had  a lot more room this time as well as a bathroom attached to their room which would make bathroom trips from the bed to the bathroom a lot easier on Skylar.

Along one if their walls, next to the private bathroom, was a sliding glass door that lead out to a balcony that had definitely not been on the list of things Hamish had shown her. Just through the sliding glass door was enough space on the balcony for a couple chairs for them to lounge on. It would give her somewhere outside to sit and get fresh air without having to traverse the stairs.

Her eye lights blew wide, and she padded in slowly. She trailed her fingers over things, lightly brushing over their old furniture and taking in all of the new space. She looked in the bathroom, took in the shower and the massive tub that would certainly be put to good use, and felt her eyes watering again.

She sniffled. God damn she hated hormones, but everything was just too perfect not to tear up. "It's... It's perfect, Hamish. I love it."

Hamish chuckled and held his arms out, pulling her into a hug against his chest. "I love you." He said, kissed her cheek.

Bella's little feet sounded, running towards their room. She walked in and looked around "Wow." She said, she walked over to the sliding glass door that was currently locked closed, she put her hands on the window leaving little handprints and blew onto the glass, leaving a patch of fog from her breath. "Open it." She said, pushing on the door slightly."

 "I love ya too." She sniffles softly and rubs her face against his chest. When Bella left a fog patch and her adorable little command, Skylar smiled faintly and went to the door. She reached up and undid the lock, glancing down at her. She didn't open the door immediately, waiting until Bella looked up at her first. "This is jus' like the balcony at grandma's house. If ya can't behave and keep your feet on the floor, then ya don't get t' be out here. Okay?"

Bella nods. "Okay Mama."

Skylar then slides the door open to let her daughter out to investigate, and kneads her hand lightly into her lower back as it cramps up.

Hamish came up behind her and pressed her hands against her back, kneading his thumbs along her spine. "Mmn… I think you need a good backrub, beautiful." He whispered. Bella stood out on the balcony looking out over the veiw of their home. "Mama. Mel down der. HALLO!" She called out, waving to the horses. Charlie lifted his head and whinnied in response to Bella.

"I do." She hums. His thumbs on her spine were equal parts painful and nice feeling, and Skylar groaned softly as he rubbed her. "I'm a ball o' knots anymore. And yes, baby girl- that's Mel down there, and Charlie too. Ya hear that? Charlie is saying hello." She smiles. She can see over the railing from where she's at, and she waves at her mare from where she's standing. They have one hell of a view.

Mel's belly isn't nearly as big as one might think, given that horse gestational periods were closer to a year and she wasn’t near that point yet. But she was a bit rounder than normal. It didn’t stop her from perking and bouncing at the sight of Skylar, arching her neck and calling to her joyously.

Hamish laughed. "Do you think Mel would hate me if she saw your belly right now?" He asked. Looking down off the balcony at the horses. Bella peered through the railing and giggled. "An a PUPPY" She said, pointing down to Molly and Leroy who had been napping in the barn but after the noise of their family being home stood looking up at them, barking happily their tails wagging.

"Too bad we don’t have a kitty, or we'd have the whole thing goin' for us." Skylar chuckles. She leans back into Hamish with an amused sound. "Probably. Ya really want t' see if ya can withstand a horse bite from her? She bites if ya make her angry enough, and she aims for the soft spots." Skylar hummed.

"Eh… Maybe well just show her the boys once they're out in the world." He continued rubbing her back.

Bella toddled back inside, standing at the top of the stairs. "NANA!" She called excitedly. She bounced, wanting to Show Vera her brand new room...her brand new house!

"Nana will be there in just a minute!" Vera called from downstairs. Things were still being lugged in and carefully moved where they wouldn't be in the way.

Skylar chuckles. "I think we'll do just that. Mmm... Little lower. Got a knot as big as mini Haz right... Right there. Mmm."

Hamish's face flushed as his massaged his thumbs against Skylar's back. He loved the sounds he drew from her when he did this.

It took a couple of minutes before Vera came and stole Bella, and had the little girl take her on a tour of the house.

Skylar moved to the railing with Hamish as soon as they were alone, and she smiled softly. "It's gonna be nice not t' be as cooped up. I've missed being able t' go places. The boys have kept me home since the false alarm." She sighs softly. The breeze felt nice. The balcony had been on the third floor, so she couldn't go up to it at her mother's house. The front yard only had so much view. "I'm sorry I've been a bit grumpy." She murmurs softly. "M' not trying t' be. Hormones and just... Blech. I'm glad t' be home though. Folks in the town here aren't as touchy as they are over near where Ma lives. Didn't have this problem with Bella, but folks seem t' think the triplets are public property." She shivers slightly. "So many strangers just coppin' a feel."

He hadn't know about all the touching, that made him feel a little grumpy too. He huffed a breath through his nose and nuzzled up to her from behind, kissing her neck. "… No one else is allowed to touch you." He grumbled. He massaged her back again as he spoke. He didn't like being some crazy possessive husband, but the thought of strangers rubbing their hands all over his wife's belly didn't sit well with him at all.

She smiled slowly and sighed as he grumbled against her neck. She slid one arm behind her, and snared his hand, guiding it around her so he could cradle her to his chest, his hand cupping the swell of her belly. Together, she laced their fingers and let him feel the boys moving. “I love when ya get all possessive.” She purrs. “N’ good. Ya can defend me. Adam did his best, but they’d just assume they were his babies and he’d get all flustered n’ sputter and be completely useless. This… ‘s all for you t’ hold.” Skylar thrums warmly.

Hamish pressed his face against he back of Skylar’s neck and muffled an almost moan like sound, his hands rubbing over her belly, holding HIS wife and HIS children close. He let his eyes close, feeling the boys shifting under his hands, the warmth of the life that they had created.

The moan like noise made her smile and feel warm between her legs, and she shifted against him with an almost euphoric sound as he caressed her middle like it was the most precious gem resting in his hand. “Ya wanna see them?” She glances at him with a lopsided grin. “Tommy n’ I found out this lil’ trick a little while ago. Ya got a flashlight? We can go stretch on the bed, ya can kiss ‘m n’ cuddle my belly, n’ then I can show ya my neat little trick.”

Hamish nodded. "I think I got a light. You sit down, I'll go find it." He said, moving away from her, he made sure she was able to get on the bed before jogging downstairs, he opened one of the kitchen cupboards and dug around, pulling out a flashlight, he jogged back up the stairs to Skylar and crawled onto the bed with her, passing the flashlight to her while he snuggled up to her, kissing her deeply before moving down to her belly.

Skylar had gotten settled and comfortable on the bed. For the sake of this little shenanigan, she had laid on her back, which was uncomfortable. She edged her shirt up and her pants down, displaying the full swell of her belly. Unlike with Bella, she’d been marked up with roads upon roads of stretch marks. She didn’t necessarily feel pretty, but they were her stripes, damn it. She had earned them.

As he got settled, she took the light and pressed it to the side of her belly. She flicked it on, and it lit up her ecto flesh. It wasn’t a clear image- no definite details- but there were three blurry and moving outlines inside of her as the triplets reacted with unhappy violence to the sudden bright light in their home. “Kinda neat, huh? Ultrasound ‘s clearer ‘n more definite, but it’s pretty cool that we can do this at home.”

Hamish's eyes wandered over her belly, he thought every inch of her was beautiful, stretch marks and all. When the light flicked on and he could see him boy, cramped and tucked up inside their mama, his eyes widened. His mouth turned up when they squirmed to get away from the light. "Sky.." He breathed, placing his hand on her belly. "Look at them." He laughed. He leant down and kissed her belly.

She laughed gently as his kiss made them stir more, and she got fussy twisting inside if her. Hamish got to watch the action of the kick happening as Baby A booted her in the pelvis, and Baby B stuck his thumb into his mouth. Baby C just stretched and took up as much space as possible with his butt facing skyward. "I know. I spent hours just watching them the First time we saw it. Something ya'd like t' see again?"

Hamish nuzzled her belly. "I want to see this every day." He grinned, watching his boys just living in their little home. "They're amazing, Skylar." He watched the little forms wriggling, fighting each other for more room.

“O’ course they are. They’re part o’ me, and part o’ you.” She smiles at him lovingly, and strokes her hand over his skull. One of the boys lashes out at her spine and she makes a slightly pained face, before she gingerly shuts off the light. “I can only lay on my back for a lil’ bit. Lemme get on my side, n’ ya can play with th’ position o’ the light, mkay? I don’t mind lettin’ ya see multiple times a day if ya want. Bella is fascinated. Ya think Lola ‘n Ava knows about this?” She grins slowly. She had an idle thought that Avacardo, poor seemingly skittish Ava, would probably either find it very neat, or be entirely freaked out by seeing his baby inside his girl.

Hamish helped her get more comfortable and rubbed her belly, taking the flashlight and turning it on again. The boys tried to turn away from the light, it make him laugh as his eyes began tearing up with happiness.

Skylar gently dabbled his tears away, and watched him play with the boys in her belly. They tossed and turned and writhed unhappily, but couldn’t really do more than cover their little faces with their tiny, pudgy looking fingers. Relaxing on her left side meant her blood flow smoothed out, and her soul beats evened out. She took a couple of deep breaths, and massaged her fingers along her middle. “Ya gonna get t’ see them get a lil’ bigger. Doctor said they’ll reach maximum size at about thirty five weeks, given how much space my torso made for them t’ grow. Then it’s just lettin’ ‘m cook n’ mature more.”

He nodded, moving the light over her belly so he could watch the boys stretch out and try to hide from the light. "Hi boys. I'm your daddy." He cooed, smiling when their little bodies twitched in response.

Skylar smiled slightly and dug out her phone. She pulled up her camera to snap a photo, and then quietly pinged it to his phone. It wasn’t a dirty one at all- just the babies on display with the light, and Hamish cooing over them like the dork he was. So, he could send it to all of his work buddies who probably wanted to know how they were settling in. “Make sure t’ thank all o’ the builder guys for me later, yeah? Ya’ll worked double time t’ get done, n’ I much appreciate it. Hgh. Ow- ya lil’ turd. That’s ya Mama’s lungs your kickin’. Why ya gotta kick those, hm?” She tapped her belly where ‘C’ was nailing the flesh that pressed down on her lungs. So little space, but so much more to grow. She hoped she didn’t split like an overly ripe watermelon.

Hamish chuckled. "Daddy's sorry." He said, turning the light off, he watched her middle. He could see a small amount of movement in Skylar’s belly as they got comfortable and settled now that the light wasn't shining in their faces. He kissed her belly, and then moved up to kiss Skylar.

She loved when he kissed her belly. It felt really nice, his whiskers rubbing over her sensitive skin. Skylar loved it even more when he kissed her, and she met his mouth with hers in a tender kiss. "I love ya, Haz. I'm glad t' be home." She murmurs gently against his lips. "Both Bella and I are glad t' be home with ya."

"I'm glad you're home too. God I missed having you around the house." He cupped her cheek in his palm and rested his head against her.

"I missed being around you too." She nuzzled into his palm, kissing his hand tenderly. She cuddled him close, listening to her mother keeping Bella entertained down below. "Though I'm afraid I'm just gonna be a little... Cooped up, until the boys decide t' come into the world. Which, hopefully ain't gonna be for another six t' seven weeks."

Hamish smiled down at her belly and gave it a gentle pat. "At least you're home, that's what matters most."

"Yup." She smiles at the pat and hums. "We'll just need t' be on alert. If I got into labor before our desired time, we'll have t' make haste for the hospital." She hums softly to him. "Hope t' not have t' do that though. Don't have as much freedom in a hospital."

"As long as you and the boys are safe, that's what's important." He said, he wanted to do the home birth with Skylar, he had love Bella's birth despite how stressful it was, but he wasn't going to put his family at risk just because Skylar wanted to be stubborn about a home birth.

"Mhm." She nods. "I want them safe. That's what matters the most t' me." She sighed, and rubbed her belly gently. "At least we're past twenty five weeks." She'd been through that once in her life already. She wasn't sure she could handle a second time. She might be stubborn as a bull, but she's not going to endanger their babies.

The sound of Bella running around sounded outside their room, Hamish rolled to the side slightly to see her burst in. She had a wide smile on her face as she pulled herself up onto the bed.

"Hey baby girl." Skylar greeted their rowdy daughter. "Ya happy t' be home?" She opened her arms, offering for the toddler to wiggle in between her and Hamish. There was space near her chest, though not at her belly, for Bella to settle.

Bella cuddled between her parents, snuggling against Skylar's breasts, her mommy was snuggle any and warm. "Yuh!" She smiled fisting her fingers into the fabric of Skylar’s shirt.

Skylar cuddled her close and smooched her forehead. "Good. Mama is too." She smiled. "Daddy's glad t' have us back too. I bet you're excited t' get t' feed the chickens here soon, hm?" She always was Hamish's little helper.

"Chitens, an puppies, an horsy." She corrected.

Hamish laughed. "Daddy might have to start teaching you how to ride a horsy."

"Once she stops tripping over her own two feet ya can." Skylar chuckles gently. "Don't wanna risk her getting excited n' falling off if she takes off on ya."

Hamish laughed looking down at Bella as she tugged on the bed sheet so she was able to slide under the covers, her head peeking out over the sheets at them.

Skylar reached her fingers down and gently booped Bella's nasal ridge. "What'r ya doin', silly girl?"

She giggled and wriggled. "Warm." She grinned.

Hamish rubbed her little skull. "You're a good girl." His brows pushed together. "Did your horns get bigger…? I didn't notice before." He said, pinching her horn gently between his fingers.

"They did." Skylar smiled. "She's a growing girl. Her horns are growing at a good pace." She hums gently.

"Dada!" Bella giggles and rubs her horn into his hand.

He smiled down at her. "Uncle Avacardo and I made something special for you baby girl." He grinned. His visit to Vera's farm for her birthday and watching the way she played with Skylar’s brothers had given him an idea. Her horns were growing and she was learning how to use them, and it made him slightly sad that he couldn't play with his daughter the way she wanted to play... So he figured the only thing he could do would be to find a way to fix that.

"Huh?" Bella peeked out from under the blankets to look at him. "For me?" She perks up eagerly. "Can see? Dada wa' see!"

Skylar gave him a curious look. "Oh? What did the two o' you get up to now?" There is fondness in her tone for her husband and his friend. Their shenanigans were always interesting.

Hamish rolled off the bed and walked over to their wardrobe, he pulled it open and reached inside. "Don't laugh, okay?" He said over his shoulder at Skylar. He spun around and plonked a tough looking bicycle helmet on his head, which had a pair of hand made horns attached to the top of it.

She clapped a hand over her mouth to try not to laugh, but the quivering in her shoulders and belly gave her away. "I'm not laughing. Ya look very handsome with your own set o' horns."

Bella's eyes grew big, and she wiggled off the bed so she could plop down on the floor. "Dada? Ah!" She wiggled excitedly. "Mama! Mama lookkit Dada!"

"I see, baby girl." Skylar managed to keep her laugh out of her words. "Looks like daddy can finally play with ya."

Hamish puffed his cheeks at Skylar. He sat on the end of the bed and lifted Bella into his arms. "What do you think, baby?" He asked. Lowering his horns at her.

He was adorable. Puffed cheeks, horned helmet on- Skylar couldn't help cooing at him. "You're adorable when ya sulk."

Bella answered Hamish by dropping her horns and ramming her skull into the helmet. She let out a happy croon of approval as she butted her horns against his. "Luv'ou Dada!"

Hamish tightened his arms around his baby girl. The boys weren't lying when they said she was tough. "I love you too baby." He stood up and set her down on the floor, and then knelt down himself, keeping the faux horns lowered at her. "Come on, show daddy how strong you are."

She bounced excitedly on her feet, her little pink eye lights blown wide with joy. She waited until he was down in range, and then lowered her head, charging him with a happy squeal. Bella locked her horns with his, her smaller nubs fitting between the spaces on the helmet, and she wiggled her head at him with a happy giggle.

Skylar quietly took pictures with her phone as she rolled over to see them better. There was no way this wasn’t going to get put into the scrapbook. “Get him, Bella~” She cooed. “Show him how ‘s done!”

Hamish hadn't expected to almost be shoved over by his daughter. He pressed his hands against the floor and pushed back against her, a wide grin on his face as he listened to her happy giggles.

Bella squealed happily, and ruffled her horns against his helmet. She backed up enough to get some motion, and then slammed his helmet again, giggling all the while.

Skylar giggled softly too, and made an attempt to sit up. Finding that she couldn’t, she simply remained where she was laying and gave him a warm look. “So, how did ya make the horns?”

He pushed back against Bella, and tried to talk between his laughter. "Ava cut the wood, then I carved the shape and sanded them all pretty. We wrapped them in a foam sheet then wrapped them in leather. Then we drilled them into the helmet." He explained.

“Both Ava and you are really talented with your hands.” Skylar compliments with a wide smile, watching Bella work him over. “Should be easy t’ fix if they get a little damaged from the thrashing you’re getting.”

Bella eventually giggled and reached up to her daddy’s horns. She grabbed them in her hands, like he did to her mama, and pulled him down to plant a wet kiss on his nasal ridge. “Lov’ou Dada.” She coos.

He smiled proudly at his little girl, he tipped his head and kissed her back, pulling her into a tight cuddle.

Bella giggled and cuddled right up to him.

Skylar smiled and crooked her finger at him. “C’mere. Leave the helmet- somethin’ I wanna do.”

Hamish stood up, lifting Bella with him, he put her down on the bed then sat down himself close to Skylar.

Skylar finally managed to heft herself up by the time he was seated. She gave him a sharp toothed grin, and lifted her hands, gently grasping his horns. She knew he wouldn’t feel it like she could- but the action would not be lost on him. She tugged him down and gently kissed him, her mouth moving softly against his own.

His eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her back, pressing against her gently. "Mmm~"

“Mmhm~” She kissed him enthusiastically, hands drifting down to cradle his cheeks. She stroked her fingers through his beard, and then gently drew back. She gave him a lopsided smile. “Unfortunately- not only do we have an adorable lil’ onlooker, but I’m far past th’ point where I can indulge. ‘S not fair t’ tease ya and leave ya straining in your pants.”

He glanced down at Bella who flopped down into their pillows. His gaze then slid to Skylar’s belly and he smiled widely. They were worth a little bit of a wait. "Can I get you anything?" He asked.

“Hm… Maybe some tea? Er… or just water- the house ain’t fully back t’gether yet. Gonna have t’ do some brewing soon n’ get some tea going.” She shifts where she’s sitting. “And… Well, hah,” she chuckles, “There’s no chance we’ve got any fresh apples either, so I’ll do without on that craving for now.” Skylar gives him a warm smile. “Just water and ya company. That’s plenty enough for me. Maybe move down t’ the living room so we can watch tv later.”

He blinked. "You want apple juice?" He asked, taking the helmet off. "The guys brought up apples to snack on and left a bunch in the fridge. I can make you juice."

She shifted and blinked at him. Her fingers trailed up and over the smooth dome of his skull, enjoying the soft unmarred bone. Hers was besmirched with the crack- she loved his bones. “I’d love some apple juice.” She smiles softly. “Want me t’ join ya in the kitchen with lil’ miss Bella?”

"If you feel up to getting down the stairs."

Bella slipped off the bed and toddled to the stairs.

"Ghh- Bella be careful on the stairs!" He called, rushing after her.

She just looked up at him, got down on her belly and slid down the stairs on her belly. He stood at the top of the stairs and watched her, and then looked back at Skylar.

“The boys taught her how t’ safely go up n’ down the stairs. Her head can take a bump better than the rest o’ her can. If she has fun with it, then that was just a bonus.” Skylar gave him a lopsided smile, and bounced a few times on the edge of the bed, not unlike how one would bounce on a birthing ball. Once she had a rhythm going, she managed to get to her feet. “I don’t want t’ be cooped up here forever, sweetheart. I’m okay t’ take the stairs- just don’t let me fall, please?”

She made her way to the stairs with him, and set her hand on the railing. It wasn’t unlike when her mother guided her down three flights of stairs during their wedding. She just needed a guiding hand.

He wrapped his arm around her and slowly started down the stairs. Bella had gotten herself up into the couch, peeking over the back at her parents.

Skylar leaned heavily on him, and on the railing. She managed to make it down to the bottom of the stairs with his help though, and gave him a grin. “Ha! Stairs were conquered.” She giggled.

Vera pokes her head out of the kitchen and frowns slightly. “The only thing ya should be conquering is your bed or th’ couch, miss Momma.”

Hamish's face flushed slightly. He kept his hand on Skylar's back. He sure would like to conquer the bed and couch with her he thought. But it wasn't the time for that right now.

Bella bounced on the couch grinning at them. "Momma!"

Skylar pouted at her mother but sighed. "I was gonna keep Haz company while he made me some apple juice."

"He can keep me company while he makes it, and ya can go sit down with Bella." Vera nods. "If ya want, Hamish, I can make the juice and ya can join your stubborn wife."

Hamish laughed and helped ease Skylar down onto the couch. "It's alright Vera, let me do it." He knew Skylar probably would have liked him to stay by her, but at the same time, Hamish had been absent for most of the pregnancy and felt like he needed to dote on his wife's every need to make up for the time he missed. He washed the apples and began cutting them up.

"Alright." Vera nodded. She watched her daughter get comfortable, and then turned to finish what she was doing in the kitchen. What she was doing, however, was making an early dinner that they could snack on as needed. Skylar needed many small meals, after all. She glanced over to Hamish as she worked. "If ya do the cooking, just want ya t' know that Sky can't eat as much as she used to. She does several small meals instead of a big one, 'cause the boys have compressed her organs a bit." She informs her son in law gently.

Bella's giggles ring from the living room, and it is a pure and happy noise.

Hamish nodded, taking in what Vera said. They didn't have a fruit juicer currently, perhaps it was something they would add to their shopping list, so to make apple juice, he had to do things a little more old fashioned. The threw the apple slices into a blender and turned it on, the blender blending up the apples into a pulp, then a more watery pulp. After a while of blending the apples and Bella making complaints that it was too loud, he pulled out a little cloth traditionally used to make milk, he found a jug then poured the pulp into the cloth and squeezed it, fresh apple juice drizzling into the jug. It took a little longer than if they hand a juicer, but the result was just as good if not better.

Cheese cloth was a marvelous thing. Vera watched him with a lopsided smile. "Not many husbands would make their wives juice by hand." She comments lightly. "Ya love my daughter a whole lot, don’t ya?"

Hamish added more pulp from the blender into the cloth and squeezed it again. "I don't have the words to describe how much I love her, I don't think the words exist." He smiled into the jug of juice, his cheeks flushed slightly.

"All o' your soul sounds about right." Vera smiles her sharp-toothed smile, and chuckles gently. "I'm glad my lil' girl has a man like you, Hamish. Anyway, if ya leave the pulp t' me once it's been juiced, I can make some apple bread with it."

He knew how it worked; Vera was a grandmother now, and grandmothers baked the best treats! He squeezed out the rest of the juice then scraped the pulp out of the cloth and into a bowl, sliding it across the kitchen bench to her. "It's all yours." He said, he fetched a large glass and one of Bella's sippy cups and filled each with the juice then carried them over to his girls, passing Skylar her glass then Bella her cup, the little girl plopped down onto her bum and lifted the cup to her lips, guzzling the juice greedily.

"Thanks, Hamish." Vera set herself to making some apple bread along with dinner, and hummed while the little family spent some time together.

Skylar accepted the glass happily and took a sip. Her eye lights sparkled slightly. "Mmm... 'S very good, sweetheart." She praises happily. "Ya gonna sit with me a for a lil' bit now?" She hummed to him with a soft happy noise. "Can turn on th' tv if ya like." As long as she got to cuddle him and watch Bella enjoy herself, she was perfectly happy.

Hamish sat down by Skylar, the picked up the TV remote and turned it on, it was still on the Channel that he and the boys had more been listening to than watching while they where working, there was a sports game on and immediately Bella shook her head. "No, no dada."

He laughed. "You don't like the footy, baby?" He asked, and she shook her head and waved her hand at the TV. He snorted and flicked through the channels, there wasn't anything too exciting on, just afternoon cooking shows, the news, channels of advertisements, there was a movie playing that he'd never seen but it looked violent and dark and he didn't want Bella watching that kind of stuff...so there wasn't really too many options, he flicked to the kids channel and brightly colored characters danced on the screen to almost too happy music. Bella's face lit up instantly, and well...there was no changing the channel now unless he wanted to deal with a tantrum.

Skylar tuned out the too-happy music, and cuddled into his side. She curled her legs under her, cradling her belly on her thighs and partly on his, and sipped her juice as she closed her eyes and focused on cuddling her husband. "She likes cartoons. 'S all educational stuff now, so s' not a big deal. Thomas got her started on them." She chuckled softly. "Greg's the only one she could drag over n' make sit through an entire Disney movie besides me. Ah..." She rubbed her fingers along her belly and sighed. "Baby A likes th' music."

Hamish looks down at Skylar in awe, his arms curling around her protectively, he could feel the slight shifts in her belly under his palm and on the part of her belly that rested on his leg. He let his eyes closed, turned his head to leave loving kisses against her skull and the base of her horns.

The triplets were active with the music from the cartoon, and she hummed softly with each of his kisses. Skylar relaxed with every kiss, and pressed her skull into the touch of his mouth, giving soft pleased sounds. The boys twitched in tune with the rhythm of the music, and landed a few hard kicks on their fathers thigh. "Mmm, they're happy." She smiles around her juice.

Hamish laughed, running his free hand over her belly. "You like the silly music?" He asked her belly. He looked up at Skylar, he loved them so much.

The boys shifted slightly under his palm, and responded to his voice by kicking his fingers with vigor. Skylar smiled warmly, and kissed his cheek gently. "I think they do. I think they're getting use to your voice too. They're kickin' strongly for ya."

He rested against Skylar, his hand on her belly… he watched the weird cartoon characters although he didn't pay too much attention to what was going on, the was Bella's job and she seemed super into it, He decided he enjoyed watching Bella more, she responded to everything, every time the characters on screen said to stand up, she stood when they said jump she jumped, danced when they said dance. She was putting on a silly little show for her parents without even realizing it. Hamish let out a soft laugh. This moment with his family had a odd surreal feeling to it, like it shouldn't really be happening, he knew it was because of the gaps between seeing them due to renovating the house, Bella hadn't even been able to walk what seemed to him like only yesterday, and now she was answering characters questions on the tv and dancing a lot with them. It was like she had grown over night, and the same went for Skylar's stomach, slight pudge one day, and a giant triplet filled belly the next.

Skylar cuddled close to him, slowly working through her juice. While it was surreal for him, it was natural for her. She'd watched her grow, been encouraging her to talk and to walk as best she could up until she could no longer safely participate. Then she watched from afar as family stepped in, and gave her encouragement from there, always offering praise and warm smiles when Bella needed them. "She's grown so much..." She murmurs lightly, almost idly.

He nudged his skull against her horns softly then kissed her again. "You did a good job with her." His voice was quiet, his palm smoothing over her belly.

"I had help." She smiles softly against his lips and nuzzles him tenderly. She gives a soft, pleased sound as he rubs her belly, and gently sets her glass of apple juice down so she can better snuggle up to him. "N' now that we're home, both o' us can continue t' work with her." She smiles at him. "She adores you, y'know that, right?"

He nods and wraps his arms around her the best he can, resting his head against her while he watches Bella. She has her hands up in the air, spinning in circles. The squatting down and putting her hands on the floor.

"Mmm... Good..." She relaxes as he does his best to encase her in his arms. She feels her eyes drooping some. Even if she'd slept for most of the car ride over, Skylar had a tendency to be perpetually tired with the triplets in her belly. With her soul fueling the growth of all three of theirs though, it was little wonder why. She yawned slightly, and let her eyes drift closed as she listened to Bella's cheerful little noises while she danced and spun and followed the directed motions from the child's show.

Hamish tipped his head tipped his head, noticing his wife had fallen asleep his body froze up, going into the "I can't move a muscle or I'll wake her up." Mode, he had many moments like that when Bella had fallen asleep on him as a newborn. At least this time he didn't need to use the bathroom.

Skylar wasn't deeply asleep- she wasn’t snoring, though she was breathing deeply.

As the cartoon came to an end, and a boring commercial came on, Bella wiggled on place and then came to try and climb up on the couch next to Hamish. She wanted to get in on the cuddles too! She bounced on her little feet, and pulled herself up onto the cushions. "Dada!" She cooed happily. "Cudwe?"

Hamish smiled down at his little girl and wrapped an arm around her, bringing her close to his chest, he kissed her little skull and the nubs of her horns. "Bet you're all puffed out after that dancing, huh?"

"Yuh." She nodded and snuggled up to him with a happy sound. She yawned slightly. "Mama nappies?" She questions, looking across his chest at her mother's closed eyes and slack face.

"Yeah, mama is tired, so we have to be quiet." He said, putting a finger against his lips in a "shh" gesture.

Bella tilted her head at him curiously, and then looked at her mother again. Her voice was obligingly quieter this time as she asked him, "Why Mama tiwd?"

"The babies are making her sleepy." He explained, trying to keep it simple so he wouldn't confuse her. "When they come out of mama's tummy she will feel better.

"Ohhh." Bella blinked. She gently patted Skylar's belly. "Bad babas. No no make mama tiwd." She scolds softly. She then glances up at her daddy. "How babas geh out?" She asks curiously. Did her mama's tummy open up like a flower and babies just rolled out?

Hamish blinked. "Uhm, they uh... they get out by…" He was silent for a moment, trying to choose his words. He glanced at Vera to see if she had any suggestions.

Vera quirked a grin at her son in law as she came into the room and gave him a soft laugh as she settled down on the other end of the couch. “Bella’s asking all o’ the interesting questions, ain’t she?” She just grinned and offered him absolutely no help. He was going to have to be prepared to answer these questions with his other children- practicing with Bella was going to be important.

“Dadaaaa,” Bella pouted at him and tugged at his beard. “How?” She questions quietly again.

He rubbed her back. "They… come out of… mama's girl parts?" He offered, hoping that would be enough to satisfy his curious daughter.

Bella blinked for a moment before she made a face. "Ucky." She decided, and that was that.

Hamish snorted and cuddled her against his side. "Yeah… it can be a little yucky, but that's where you came from too."

"Eh?" She looked at him with wide disbelieving eyes, and then frowned widely. "Ew. Don' wanna yuckies..."

"Too late, beautiful? It already happened." He tickled her sides, making her giggle. "You came right out in the bath." He said, laughing. "And then you cried very loud and daddy gave you a big cuddle."

"Luv Dada cudwes. Bestests cudwes." Bella chirps. "But ick. Babas be in da tub too?" She questions curiously. "Why tub?”

"The tub was nice and warm, mama just wanted to sit in the warm water, the babies make mommy very sore, and ouchie." He looked down at Skylar.

All of their talking had woken Skylar, who wasn't a very deep sleeper when her daughter was around. One of her eye sockets had opened, and a gentle blue eye light was peering at them with equal parts fondness and lingering sleepiness. She didn't seem upset though. "The boys won't be born in the tub, baby girl, because it's not safe for them t' be born that way. I dunno why it's not safe," she knew why, but was too tired to explain, and saying you didn’t know was the best way to get Bella of your back about something, "but I do know Mama is gonna be very sore n' very tired when they come. Can ya be a good girl for Mama, Nana, and Daddy when the babies come?"

Bella blinks at her mama and then gives her a firm nod. "Yuh!"

Hamish smiled when Skylar’s eyes opened, he listened to her and glanced back to Bella to try and read the toddlers expression. He was relieved when Bella agreed to being good for them when Skylar went into labor. He rubbed her little skull while his other hand did the same to Skylar. He didn't expect Bella to remember her promise to be good when Skylar finally did go into labor, for Bella the labor was probably going to be a little bit scary.

Skylar and Bella had similar reactions, closing their eyes and tilting their skulls into his touch with small sounds in the backs of their throats. Skylar peered up at Hamish again after a moment, and gave him a lopsided smile. “At least we have a while before we get t’ traumatize her with childbirth.” She chuckles softly. “I dunno about ya, but I’d like a few weeks t’ just relax and be here with you ‘n our lil’ girl before I pop.”

Hamish nodded in agreement. He hadn't prepped himself for delivering the boys yet. He would have to remember to make a call the Elaine soon to let her know how they were going to go about it.

Skylar hummed softly and kissed his shoulder. “We’re gonna wanna let Elaine know that I’m home so she can have her stuff prepared for when we call her.” She murmurs. They’d either be calling on their way to the hospital, or calling for her to come to the house. “Mm… lots t’ do before th’ boys get here.” She laughs. “Wanna look at some furniture online before we retire for th’ night after dinner?”

Hamish nodded. "Yeah that sounds good, we'd have to use my mobile to look for stuff and could just lay in bed." He suggested.

Bella decided she had enough cuddling and slid off the couch to find something new to do.

Skylar didn’t mind that Bella was going to go find something to do- she had plenty of toys to entertain herself with, and she was very good at entertaining herself. The house was also quiet enough that Skylar could listen to her for any signs of mischief she might be getting into.

Or Vera could be up and following at her Granddaughter’s heels, intending to keep up with her. Either option worked for Skylar.

The horned mother gently bumps Hamish’s shoulder, and gives him a warm smile. “My phone can browse stuff too- so we can look in different sections o’ the stores n’ see what we wanna get.” She nuzzles him. “Bounce ideas off o’ each other. Sound good?”

Hamish nodded. Now that Bella had run off, he was able to shift himself to cuddle Skylar better.

Skylar wiggled and shifted, draping her legs partially across his lap as she cuddled as close to him from the side as she could. “We can do furniture stuff after bath time ‘n getting Bella settled in bed.

"I’ve never really been a fan of hanging art on the walls, but maybe I can get a few canvases and paint from town and set Bella up outside while I'm working so we can put her art up." He said. They hadn't had a chance to introduce Bella to the concept of painting yet, but he was sure his daughter was going to love how messy it was.

“I’m sure she’ll love that.” Skylar laughed. “She ‘n Tommy seemed t’ love painting Adam with mud, so I’m sure she’d love t’ paint with actual paints.”

Hamish snorted. "She painted Adam with mud?" He asked, a wide amused grin on his face. He loved Skylar’s brothers, but he also got great pleasure from hearing about their misfortunes. It was just funny to him.

“Yep.” Skylar snorted, giggling slightly. “He fell asleep without a shirt on out in th’ yard, n’ Tommy got some mud in a bucket and got Bella to help him make Adam ‘pretty’. I think- I think I have a picture.” She shifted a little bit, leaning into him as she hefted her hip up so she could dig out her phone.

She pulls up the photo to show him. Adam was sprawled on his back, hands behind his head, and fast asleep. He was in a mermaid bra made of mud, with adorable little handprints on each of his muscles on his abdomen. He’d been given a goatee of mud too. “She ‘n Tommy are quite th’ pair. Tommy had t’ do a lot o’ running when Adam woke up.” She laughed.

Hamish took the phone holding it a little closer to his face so he could see it better. He laughed, leaning against Skylar. "That's cute."

“That’s what I told Adam when he came wanderin’ in.” She laughed softly. She watched him have to hold the phone closer to his face to have to see the screen better, and pursed her lips with a soft hum. “Hey, Haz? Can ya see okay?” She motioned to her phone. "Looked like ya struggled a bit with the picture there." Maybe he was just tired?

Hamish blinked. He looked around slightly shifty eyed. "Uh… Yeah I could see it fine… I was just, trying to see the little details." He flashed Skylar a smile.

“If you’re having trouble seeing, there’s no shame in it, sweetheart.” She smooches his cheek gently. “Ma didn’t used t’ have glasses, but she got them when I was younger. ‘S possible I’ll have t’ get glasses when I’m a bit older. But m’kay. I trust ya, Hamish. I know if ya need t’ get your eyes checked, you’ll tell me.” She nods with a warm smile, and steals her phone back.

His face flushed slightly. He pulled his own phone out and opened it, his brows pushed together slightly realizing how large he had set all the icons and text on his phone. "Jeeze... I didn’t realize how large I have everything set on my phone until I looked at yours. Maybe, I do have a little trouble seeing… sometimes." He let out a sigh. That was just another sign he was getting older.

“Oh. Indeed,” She blinked as she really took notice of how much larger his icons were on his phone. “Hamish, sweetheart, there’s nothin’ wrong with needing help t’ see. No shame in it either. Lots o’ folks need it.” She nudges him gently, and gives him a lopsided grin. “Besides… A good pair o’ glasses would look real good on ya.” She wiggles her brows at him lightly and winks. “If ya even need a pair o’ those. They might be able t’ correct or fix it. Who knows? M’ not an optometrist. But ya want t’ get it looked at before it gets worse ‘n ya can’t read t’ Bella, or before somethin’ like driving becomes dangerous.” Considering he did all of their driving, it was likely he would have her, Bella, and their new boys in the car with them when it happened.

Hamish rubbed a hand over his face, dragging it down to scrub at his beard. "Do you think I'm going gray?" He asked, his tone light and more joking.

"I dunno," she leaned her fingers out to stroke them lightly through his beard. Her eye lights twinkle merrily at him, and she gives him a cheeky grin. "Maybe a lil' bit. But that's alright. I've always had a thing for silver foxes." Skylar winks at him playfully. His beard was, as far as she could see, still as lush and dark as ever. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to sass and tease him, because that's just the kind of wife that Skylar was.

He snorted and pressed his head against hers, his mouth curled up into a wide smile. As he pushed against her horns lightly, Bella strolled back into the room, dragging a small wagon along behind her. While it wasn't too exciting of a playroom yet, to keep Bella from wanting to go up and down the stairs he had moved most of her toys into his and Skylar’s old room. Her little wagon held a teddy, a half naked plastic doll and a collection of plastic food.

She pushed her horns back against his with a warm sound, and then peered at Bella as she came out. She didn't move from cuddling her husband though. "Whatcha got there, baby girl?"

She pulled the wagon around in front of the couch and pulled out the teddy, sitting it in the coffee table in front of the couch. "Bibi." She said, next she pulled out the doll and sat it next to the bear.

"Where is your dolly's cloths Bella?" He asked.

Bella looked down at the doll in thought. "Gone, Dada." She pulled out the plastic food next, giving the bear an apple, the doll an egg, and then shuffled herself around to Hamish and Skylar. A plastic cake was special for her mommy, and a carrot for her daddy.

"Thank you, Bella." Skylar gave her a warm smile, and then giggled at Hamish. "The irony? Carrots are good for your eyes." Skylar grins cheekily at her husband. Given their prior conversation, it was hilarious that he would be given the carrot.

Hamish looked down at the little plastic food.

"Eat it." Bella demanded.

Hamish laughed and held it up to his mouth, making exaggerated nibbling sounds. "Yummy, thank you."

When Bella turned to Skylar to make sure her mommy would 'eat’ the food, Hamish gently tossed the carrot back into the wagon.

Skylar gave Bella an obliging smile and made exaggerated nomming noises with the cake pressed to her lips. When Bella looked away to tend to her bear, Skylar eyed the wagon. She couldn't quite make the toss quietly without possibly nailing Bella, so the cake was quietly hidden in Hamish's shirt. His had more space after all. "Mmm yummy." She chuckled. "Do your dolly and your bear like their nummies?"

Bella turned towards her toys she leant across the coffee table and shoved the doll off onto the floor then stole the piece of food she had given it. "Nana eat it?" She said, toddling to the kitchen.

When she toddled off, Skylar got the cake out of Hamish's shirt and tossed it out to the wagon.

"How's about," Vera hummed from the kitchen, "ya put ya toys up instead, and then I get dinner scooped up for ya, baby girl? I got a yummy treat for desert afterward too if you're real good n' put all ya toys back in the wagon."

Bella looked down at the toy in her hand then turned walking back to her wagon and dropped it inside. "Put your doll back in too." Hamish reminded her, she found the doll and put it back. "And the teddy." She pulled the teddy off the table and into the wagon. "Good girl, can you take it back to the room too?" He asked, she picked up the little handle and dragged it back to his and Skylar’s old room. "Speaking of that room." He said, turning to Skylar, his voice lowering to a purr. "I found a box that belonged to you under the bead when we where moving it that you never told me about~" he kept his voice soft so Vera wouldn't hear.

"My box...?" She blinked slowly for a moment, before it clicked. Her mouth popped open, and her face blazed blue. "Oh no. That box." She squeaked, hands coming up to cover her face. "Ya didn't look inside, did ya?" She whispered, embarrassed.

He chuckled. "How do you think I found out the box belonged to you." He whispered, kissing her cheek.

"Oh golly." She groaned and peeked at him through her fingers. "And... What did ya think o' my toys?" She had a couple dildos, and then she had her strap on too among other tiny toys.

"It was interesting." He chuckled. "You never told me you had them there?"

"I never needed them with you." She admits. "N' I ain't really had luck with men n' toys, so I just didn't see reason t' bring them out." She liked Hamish too much to scare him off with the big jumbo dick that Thomas had gotten her as a gag gift at one point. Skylar had never ever used it, but damn did it make for an amusing conversation starter of it was the first thing someone saw. "I hope they didn't embarrass you or whoever ya found m' with." Oh god, if Ava found them with Hamish. All of the awkward.

"I saw the box then moved it, I had no idea what it was so just put it somewhere safe until I could check it myself." He raised a brow at her slightly. "Have you… used all of them?" He asked; the jumbo-sized one had to be bigger than he was, and he was honestly very curious.

"The only one I haven’t used is the jumbo one." She gives him a shy look. It was closer to Adam in size. "It was more o' a joke gift than a serious one." Skylar twiddled her fingers on the top of her belly and shuffled her toes slightly.

He glanced away slightly. "The thought of watching you use one is kinda getting me going." He admitted quietly.

That surprised her some. A slow smirk slid across her lips though, and she leaned up to gently tilt his head back so he would look at her. "Any other time, n' I wouldn't have a problem giving you a private show." She says softly. "But... But I'm thirty weeks now, Haz. That's running a lil' close for comfort, n' going into labor early ain't something I plan on doing. However... 'F ya get too riled, I don't mind sating ya in other ways later tonight." She gives him a loving smile. Just because she couldn't didn't mean that he had to abstain.

He cupped the back of her skull and pulled her into a deep kiss.

Bella had been set up in her highchair ready for dinner. "DADA!" She called out kicking her heels against the plastic of the chair to cause a racket.

Skylar met his kiss with deep enthusiasm. It stalled as Bella kicked up a ruckus, and she pulled back with a soft laugh.

"The two o' ya need t' stop neckin' on the couch like a buncha horny teenagers n' come get the both o' ya some supper. You'll have plenty o' time for that when everyone else 's in bed." Vera called out to them, and got full plates into place.

Skylar simply grinned and wiggled a little as she got off Hamish's lap. She eased upright using his legs to boost her, and then offered him a hand up. Once he was up, she pinched his backside and then fast waddled to the dining room with a mischievous giggle. "Bella, baby girl, Daddy’s coming. Ya don't need t' bruise ya lil' feet. Ya get t' have dinner with Daddy for the first time in a while. Ya excited?"

Hamish's face turned red. It was so easy to forget that Vera was here; he was used to it being just him and Skylar when they were home. He grinned after her as she walked off, and he followed her to the table and leant down to kiss Bella. He assumed she would want him to sit next to her, so he pulled out the chair closest to her and sat himself down.

Vera had dinner settled down in front of everyone shortly after they were all seated, and then took a seat herself.

Skylar sat across from Hamish, and grinned as Bella happily set into her food. "It looks good, Ma." She praises. "Thank ya."

"Not a problem. Got apple bread for desert too if ya have the room." She smiles.

"We'll see." Skylar smiles. She had a small portion on her plate, but it was probably more than enough for her.

"Mmm, we need to do some Grocery shopping tomorrow or the next day. The house is a lil' bare. I can take ya truck n' run some errands if you'd rather take a day with Sky than do stuff outside?" Vera hums as she lightly puts some pepper on her meal.

"'Anna goo 'oo!" Bella burbled through a mouthful of mush. Shopping with Nana was the best! Nana always got her a treat or a toy if she was a good girl.

Hamish dug into his meal; he hadn't realized how hungry he was until the amazing smelling food was set down in front of him. He looked up when Vera spoke. "Only if you're okay with doing that-" When Bella chimed in he gave Vera a sympathetic smile. He could understand if Vera didn't want to take Bella along, the toddler could be a handful when shopping.

Vera simply arched a brow at Hamish's look. "What's that look for, boy? I did this already, but with three toddlers and a teenager all on my own. Well, Sky helped as best she could. Bella is practically an angel compared t' some o' the tantrums her uncles could throw. I don't mind shopping with Bella. She's good for her Nana."

"She is." Skylar laughs lightly around a forkful of her meal.

"Honestly, I can't wait t' hear from Sky how ya handle shopping with Bella and the triplets when they're all toddling together." Vera grins slowly to her son in law.

Hamish smiled. He sometimes forgot how amazing Vera was handling Skylar and triplets on her own. Bella must be as relaxing as a spa day for Vera. He let out a long breath. He could only imagine how it would be for him; he already struggled with Bella trying to pull things off shelves when he took her food shopping.

“He’s not gonna be on his own.” Skylar smiles slightly. “He’s lucky he has a wife with experience ‘n handling multiples.” She finishes her dinner long before anyone else does, and slides her plate away with a soft sigh. She rubs her belly with a soft sound, and then grunts as one of the boys stretches and sends a cramp right through her side. “Mnnn.”

Hamish glanced up from Bella, looking across the table at Skylar. "You okay?" He asked.

While her daddy wasn't looking Bella shoved more than what she could possibly ever hold into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out.

“Just a cramp.” Skylar said. “It’ll go away when I lay down. Bella,” She gave her daughter a pointed look and tapped the table with her finger. “Ya need to finish your mouthful first before you put more in.”

Bella blinked at Skylar and coughed leaning forward to spit to food out onto the highchair tray.

Hamish made a "tch." Sound and rubbed her back.

Skylar sighed, and scrubbed her face with her hand. This wasn’t the first time her daughter had pulled shenanigans. “Are ya gonna do it again, Bella?” She asks once Bella has emptied her mouth.

"No, Mama." She said picking up her spoon to try eating again. Littler mouthfuls this time though.

Skylar gave her a smile. “That’s a good girl.” She praises gently. She keeps an eye on her while she eats, and then nods to Hamish so he could continue to eat. Her hands settle back on her belly, and she massages her belly to try and get the knot out of her side.

He spooned more food into his mouth but kept an eye on Skylar, concern written on his face.

Bella ate happily, making a mess on her cheeks with food.

Skylar watched her daughter, and met Hamish’s concerned look with a warm one of her own. She gave him a soft smile, and lightly rubbed her foot against his shin under the table. “When ya done eating, ya mind giving me a hand upstairs?” She asks Hamish lightly.

He nodded and swallowed his mouthful, before scraping together the last of the food on his plate and spooning it into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, and then stood up to help her.

“I didn’t mean ya needed t’ scramble to scarf down your meal.” Skylar chuffed. She stood up all the same, and leaned across the table to gently ruffle Bella’s horns, before giving Hamish a smile and offering her arm.

“I’ll manage Bella.” Vera smiles. “And bring ya a couple slices o’ apple bread here inna few. You too, Hamish, ‘f ya decide t’ stay up there with Sky. Only thing Bella ‘s gonna insist on is bedtime stories, but I think you’re gonna read t’ both her and t’ the boys?”

"Thanks Vera, send her up when its bath time I wanna try out the new tub with her." He grinned. Bella smiled back with her grubby face. He wrapped his arm around Skylar and became walking with her to the stairs.

"Will do." She nods.

Skylar smiles and leans heavily on Hamish as they reach the stairs. She exhales tiredly and hooks her hand into the railing, and then works her way up slowly. "Thanks, sweetheart."

"You look exhausted." He said, rubbing his hand on her lower back. "You should jump in the tub with Bella and I." He grinned.

"I am exhausted which is dumb because I slept most o' the ride here. I should hardly need more sleep." She sighs. The hand on her lower back makes her smile though. "Sure. I'd love t' hop in the bath with the both o' ya. She's definitely gonna need one before her bedtime anyways. She always does, my messy lil' girl." She smiles fondly. As they reach the top of the stairs, Skylar sighs and rolls her shoulders before heading for the bedroom.

Hamish followed her. It was already getting dark; he still needed to go feed the animals. He helped make sure Skylar was comfortable, and then kissed her cheek.

Skylar noted the color of the sky through the sliding glass door, and smooched Hamish gently. She gave him a smile and relaxed as best she could. “Why don’t ya go get the animals fed for the night before it gets too much darker outside? I’ll wait here for ya.”

He nodded and spun around leaving the room and jogging down the stairs, he made a turn into the laundry and pulled out a can of dog food. He tugged on his boots and went outside, feeding the dogs first. Then he made his way to the barn and topped up the horses grain and water, then let them in. He walked to Mels stall, rubbing a hand over the swell of her belly. "Hey beautiful girl. Skylar is home. I'll have to help her down to see you tomorrow. You're not going to believe it, but her belly is almost as big as yours."

Mel tossed her head slightly and knickered at him slightly. She lipped at the collar of his shirt, and tugged at it faintly, big brown eyes staring at him balefully. She would greatly appreciate getting to see her rider- it had been far too long.

He smiled and rubbed her nose then shut up the barn for the night and headed back inside, kicking his boots off at the door.

He made his way back up to Skylar. "Mel misses you."

"I miss her too." Skylar wasn't alone in the room when he returned. Vera was there, as was Bella. Skylar was setting a covered tray up out of reach of grabby fingers- that was their dessert, as Bella's was smashed all over her face and in her belly- while Vera kept Bella from tracking food bits all over the room. "We have a toddler t' wash."

"Yep ya do. She needs a wash and bed time. She's gettin' cranky." Vera hums softly.

Hamish laughed and scooped her up, carrying her into the bathroom and starting the bath, letting it run.

Skylar bid her mother goodnight, and then joined him in the bathroom. "Ya a messy girl, ain’t ya?"

Bella gave her a grumpy look and then refused to look at her.

Skylar rolled her eyes with a sigh. "She's upset at me. I wouldn't give her our desserts too." She'd get an upset stomach and then they'd have a sick baby the first night home.

He chuckled and kissed her grubby cheek. "Mm you taste yummy. Daddy might have to gobble up your yummy cheeks." Bella tried not to seem in interested in her daddy's silliness, but he saw her smile. He ran the water so it would cover himself and Skylar better, he would hold Bella in the water. He checked down the back of her diaper for anything scary, just a little bit of wee, that was okay. He took her diaper off; she loved being naked and turned to wiggle her butt and him and Skylar. Hamish shrugged out off his shirt then undid the button on his pants, he glanced down at Bella. He picked her up then used his free hand to shove his pants down. Saving his daughter from seeing too much. Then waited for Skylar so he could help her in.

Skylar took the time to strip, and then stepped into the tub with Hamish's help. She reached out to help get his pants the rest of the way down, and then motioned for him to join her with their messy daughter.

He stepped out of his pants then into the tub, sitting himself down. He held Bella under her arms, her little body floating on the top of the water. He laughed then shifted her so she was upright. She would stand up in this tub and the water came up around her chest. She loved it. She splashed her hands in the water, spraying both her parents with water drops.

Skylar laughed gently, and fished around for a wash cloth so she could begin washing Bella while Hamish held her upright. The water was warm and felt good, and took weight off her back, letting Skylar feel almost weightless as she drifted closer to clean her grubby daughter. She was swift and efficient, and got splashed for her efforts, but soon there was a sparkly baby grinning at them From the water. Skylar beamed at her. "Gonna need t' polish ya lil' horns tomorrow or the next day, aren't we baby girl?" Skylar's too. Hers were starting to look very dry, and starting to crack along the inside curve.

Bella lifted her little hand up and held her horns. "No mama." Hamish laughed. "You've gotta let mommy polish your horns baby so they can be strong." He said. He kissed her cheeks

Skylar chuckles. "A no today might be a yes tomorrow." She gives Hamish a smile. "She usually likes her horns polished, so she's jus' bein' silly. Ya being a silly girl?" Skylar drops down in the water until just her eyes and horns are visible, and blows bubbles at Bella in the water.

Bella giggled and leans down to blow bubbles but instead dunks most of her face in the water. She lifts her head back up and coughs, rubbing the water out of her eyes. "Oops, you're okay." He cooed, helping her wipe the water off her face.

"Ya almost had it, baby girl." Skylar says as she lifts out of the water some. She wipes her face, and then helps wipe Bella's face. "You're okay, cutie. There ya go." She coos. "All better."

Hamish chuckled. Bella turned trying to crawl across Hamish's chest. "Where are you goin?" He asked, he feet slipped on his Belly and he grabbed her quickly. "Careful… gh… you almost hurt daddy." He lifted her where she wanted to be, it was easier than her climbing over him and possibly stomping him. He'd rather she didn't do that.

"She almost stomp your bits?" Skylar guesses.

Bella giggles and wiggles her finger at her daddy. "Squishy wormy."

"Don't squishy his wormy," Skylar laughed, "Your uncles taught ya bad habits."

Hamish grabbed her hand to stop her tiny wiggling finger but couldn't hold back the snort of laughter. "Please don't squish it."

Bella laughed. "You a boy, dada."

Hamish sighed. "Yes I am."

Skylar can't help but laugh. "Ya don't squish boy bits, Bella. It's mean. Especially daddy. Don't squish Daddy." Mommy needs daddy's bits- though Skylar can't exactly say that.

Hamish pressed a kiss to her cheek and blew against it, making a fart sound, which made her giggle. She turned to Skylar with a big smile. "Mama tummy so big." She said then looked down at her own, poking it. "Mine a little one."

Skylar’s fingers were gentle as she tickled Bella’s stomach. She didn’t want to rile her too much and make her spit up all the food she’d eaten so recently. “My tummy has three babies in it. Your tummy has lots of nummies in it- there’s nothing wrong with it being a little tummy. It’s a perfectly cute and adorable little tummy. See? I see a lil’ belly button, n’ a cute little tummy roll. Here’s your lil’ rib- ‘s a perfectly good tummy. Ya don’t wanna get all big like Mama, do ya?” She cooed gently.

Bella looked at Skylar, and then down at herself. "There no boobies." She said poking her chest. Hamish snorted into his palm. "You have big ones." She pointed.

Hamish flashed Skylar an amused look.

Skylar gave Hamish a bemused one back. “I do have big ones. I’m gonna have t’ feed your three little brothers with mine, jus’ like I fed you. Trust me though, sweetheart- ya don’t want boobs this big. They make your back hurt.” She gently tapped Bella’s chest. “You’ll get boobs o’ your own. Probably sooner rather than later, ‘f ya anything like me. Ya probably gonna hate ‘m too. It’s hard t’ ride a horse with boobies bouncing everywhere. Ya gonna learn t’ love and hate bras when they come in. But, ya still a little too young for that yet. When you’re… twelve, we’ll talk more about it.” Or whenever her chest started coming in.

Bella made a little ‘O’ shape with her mouth. She would have boobs one day; she thought that was pretty cool. She turned back to Hamish and looked at his chest. "Dada have no boobies. Just fluffy." She said, rubbing her hand on his chest.

“Daddy is very fluffy.” Skylar let her fingers slide up to wander through Hamish’s chest hair. “Sometimes Mama wishes she had hair. Maybe not where Daddy does, but hair would be pretty.” She smiles to Bella, and then glances up at Hamish. Her eye lights twinkle at him merrily. “Daddy has a tummy too, doesn’t he? Not as big as mine, but not as little as yours.” It was like the three bears versions of tummies- big belly, medium sized belly, and little belly.

Bella's eyes went wide. "There a Bubba in dada?!" She asked.

Hamish let out a laugh. "Jeez, I didn't think I'd gotten that big."

Skylar laughed. "No, no, there's no bubba in Daddy. If there was, we'd have a lot t' talk about." She snorted lightly. Like where they were going to fit a surprise fourth baby. Skylar gave Hamish a lopsided grin. "Might wanna cut down on the beers n' stuff, or you're gonna get as big as me here soon." She winks. Not that she minded. He was damn cuddly all pudgy like he was. Yeah, she loves his muscles, but there wasn’t anything wrong with a pudgy man. He was still the man she'd fallen in love with no matter what he looked like.

Hamish laughed and gave his belly a pat. "Yeah I think you're right." Bella paddled through the bath to the edge so she could pull the bottle of soap into the water, she got herself stood up then propping the bottle against her belly to help pump out the soap, she got some into her hand then smeared it across Hamish's chest, scrubbing it, the soap going foamy. "I wash you, dada." She said.

"Oh… wow thank you." He replied, watching her.

She looked down at her soapy hands then rubbed them into his beard.

"That's a good girl, helping Daddy wash up." Skylar praised her warmly. "N' I'm usually right, Haz. I don't mind your pudge though. You're great for cuddling with, Y'now that?"

"Hehe I know, extra fat means extra body heat." He said, letting his daughter scrub soap into his beard. He smiled. "Getting a big tub was an awesome idea." He could imagine it, being able to have all of them, plus the triplets when they where born snuggled in the tub together.

Skylar winked at him from across the tub, her legs brushing his as she got comfortable. "Well, you are warm for cuddling, and I do so enjoy cuddling warm things." She chuckles. "Big tub was a good idea though. Got plenty o' space for us and the kids here. And... Whenever we manage to not have a literal litter o' kids, there's enough space in here for ya t' be in here with me too durin' delivery." She grins cheerily. "Though I think we'll wait on more kids for a while. At least until all of our first four are old enough t' be mobile on their own. Yeah?"

Hamish nodded. "Yeah, definitely." Bella's little fingers tugged gently on his beard as she washed him, making his flinch slightly every so often.

"Good. Pretty sure I'm gonna be wrecked after these three anyways." Skylar already knew she was going to be sore. It took her ages before she let him touch her after Bella. It was probably going to be double that after three horned babies. "Bella," Skylar called softly to her, "ya doin' real good with Daddy's beard. Don't tug though- tugging hurts Daddy."

Hamish lifted her up so she could sit on his belly. "How about you wash it out now, I think it's soapy enough."

Bella nodded and dipped her hand in the water then brought it up to Hamish, by the time her hand was up near his beard all the water in her hand was gone. "Oh." She said then tried again. "I can't, dada." She said.

He clicked his tongue and slid down in the bath so his face was half under the water, she rubbed his beard getting all the soap out, giggling happily when he blew bubbles like her mama had.

Her little hands got all the bubbles out of his beard, and then wandered up on his skull. She ran her hands over where he would have horns if he'd have had them. Bella gave him a perplexed look, and then patted her own head. "Dada no howns. Why? Unca Tummn no howns too. I hab howns n' Mama hab howns. Why Dada no hown?"

He sat up slightly. "Only some people have horn, and you're a lucky girl to have pretty horns." He nuzzled his head against hers. "Daddy wishes he had horns."

"Oh." Bella blinks and nuzzles her face to his. "Kay."

"We love Daddy with or without horns though." Skylar smiles slightly, and reaches a hand out to rub along the smooth dome of her husband's skull. "Just cause we can't lock horns n' wrassle doesn’t mean we cant rough house in other ways." She wasn’t sure his helmet would hold up to locking horns with her.

He raised a brow. He felt like he had made his helmet pretty sturdy, he was willing to challenge his wife's strength. Bella was bound to get a kick out of it.

Skylar lifted a brow back at him. She didn’t doubt his strength, but she knew what she could do with her horns. Locking horns with Bella was going to be vastly different than locking horns with her. Even more so when she's no longer pregnant. "Don't give me that look- I'd feel terrible if I broke the horns on the helmet n' ruined your toy t' play with Bella, and th' boys too when they're big enough."

"Maybe you're just worried id be stronger than you~?" He challenged with a playful smirk. Bella stood up on his belly and butted her head against his, making him grunt. She giggled and pushed against him.

"I dunno," She grins slowly, "If ya can't even handle Bella, how can ya ever hope t' handle me?" She quirks a brow higher at him as Bella works him over. "If I wasn't pregnant, I could hand you your butt." She winks.

"She just caught me off guard." He huffed. He knew Skylar was definitely going to be stronger than him but he also really liked the idea of playing and locking horns with his wife.

Skylar giggled softly. “Just be careful about lettin’ her getcha without your helmet on. Your skull ain’t designed t’ take the sorts o’ smacks ours are, n’ ya don’t want t’ end up looking like me.” She taps her finger against her scar with a lopsided smile, and then grunts as one of the boys shifts and stretches his legs out against her taut skin. “After the boys come, n’ I’ve had some time t’ heal and recover, you n’ I can lock horns n’ we’ll see who’s stronger and have a good romp across the grass. Sound good?”

He grinned happily. "I’d like that. Show the kids how it's done huh?" He looked down at Bella.

She had laid herself down on his chest, enjoying the warm water. He could tell how tired she was by the way her eye lids struggled to stay open, her little fingers tiredly playing with his chest hair.

“Exactly.” She smiles widely. “Speakin’ o’ kids… Looks like Bella’s tuckerin’ out.” The warm water was starting to cool off a little bit too. “Should we hop out and get her settled into bed?”

He nodded and wrapped his arms around her and stood himself up. "Give me one second and I'll come and help you out." He said, wrapping himself and Bella up in a towel. He padded out into the bedroom and rubbed her down with the towel then laid her on their bed, she yawned and stretched out, he quickly pulled on a pair of underwear then diapered her and left her to sleep on the bed while he returned to help Skylar.

Skylar had gotten last minute washing done on her body, and had opened the drain so the tub would empty of water. When Hamish returned, Skylar stood up and gave him a smile, letting him help her out. Once she was out, she dried herself off and waddled naked into the bedroom. “Hm… T’ wear clothes, or not t’ wear clothes. I haven’t gotten t’ do without in a long time.”

He looked back at her as he lifted Bella up to take her to her room, his cheeks flushing. "Whatever makes you more comfortable." He tipped his head to look down at Bella. "I'm going to put her into bed." He said then padded out of the room in his underwear to Bella's room. He pulled back her blankets and laid her down. She stirred slightly but settled. He eased her binky into her mouth and kissed her head, and then returned to his and Skylar’s room.

Skylar had settled into a pair of panties, but was erstwhile bare, not unlike him in his underpants. She was sprawled on the bed, propped up with a stack of pillows and her legs crossed, and had nibbled down her dessert bread while waiting for him to return. Her middle rested on her thighs. In her hands, she had a bottle of scented oils, and was gingerly dribbling a few dots onto the globe of her middle before massaging it into her skin. It was supposed to help keep her relaxed and help keep labor from starting early, as well as reduce and prevent more stretch marks from forming.

Not that it really helped all that much- her stomach was still an unfortunate roadmap, but most of them had faded into light blue tissue instead of angry navy blue. Now they just looked like thousands of old scars. She didn’t mind though- she’d earned her stripes, and her stripes had earned an oil massage.

Hamish stepped into the room, he paused in the doorway for a moment then closed the door. He stepped over to the bed and crawled up to Skylar, placing his hands on the sides of her belly. He smiled. "Mm." He kissed her. "That smells really nice."

It was a lavender and mint scented oil, so it smelled fantastic. Skylar gave Hamish an adoring kiss, and then gently grabbed his palm from her belly. She tipped it up, put a few drops of oil in it, and then guided his hand back. "It does smell nice. S' good for relaxing, and it's supposed t' help keep my uterus relaxed n' keep me from going into labor early. Also helps with the itchiness o' my skin, and my stretch marks." She smoothes her oil covered hands along the upper part of her belly. "Got lots o' oils actually." Some to help with the ache in her breasts, some for sore muscles... She'd use that one on him if he had any sore spots, she mused.

He smiled and rubbed his hand over her belly, looking down at her skill with the oil. "Are the boys awake?" He asked.

"Groggy, but yeah. The hot bath woke them. They're just trying t' settle down again." Skylar hums gently as she watches him. Limbs stretch below her taut skin, and she hums, wondering how much more she can grow.

Hamish chuckles at the movements, he couldn't see them and he could already tell they where going to be just as cute as Bella was when she was newborn.

"How big d'ya think they'll be when they're born?" Skylar hummed softly to him in soft curious thought. She rubbed her hands over her belly, easing more oil into her skin until it was supple and soft and relaxed.

"Much smaller than Bella. I think they will be big for triplets though." He mused watching her belly. "Hang on." He said, rolling out of bed. He jogged out of the room and down stairs, all still in only his underwear, passed Vera who was still washing up in the kitchen and to the door where he kept their hats, there was a small table and in the drawer was a tape measure. He took it and jogged back upstairs. "Okay." He breathed. "We need to do that light trick for a second."

"Eh?" She blinked. "Alright." She stretched over to grab the flashlight off the side table, and then settled it carefully against the side of her belly. Turning it on produced three fussy babies in her belly, but there wasn't much to be done for it. Skylar eyed the tape measure curiously. "Just try not t' cut me with it, yeah?" If they slipped, it wasn't unheard of for folks to get sliced a little bit by the side of the measurer.

He closed one eye and stretched the tape measure out holding it close to he belly where he could see baby A. "He's curled up… but head to butt....he's about 13cm." He said then moved around to her a better angle for baby B "hmm 11cm and..." he changed his angle again. "15cm for baby C. Clearly that's only just a rough measure and I can't get their legs because they're all squished up."

She nods slightly. "N' they still got a couple more weeks o' growing t' do, with any luck." That was a lot smaller than Bella had been. "Probably... I'm betting six pounds for the biggest. Baby C is our not so little big boy."

He grinned. "He gets it from his daddy." He watched the boys a moment longer before gesturing for Skylar to turn the light off and let them sleep.

She did just that, and let them settle as she relaxed back into her pillow mound. She let off a tired yawn of her own. "Big babies seem t' come from my side, but I'm down for blaming it on you a lil' bit." She chuckles softly.

He tugged back the bed sheets and shuffled under, laying back and looking up at her. "I'm a big boy too." He said childishly.

Skylar smiled slightly and rolled onto her side, wiggling down from her mound of pillows after putting her oils away. She propped her head onto her palm as she peered at him, arching a brow with a lopsided smile. “Oh?” Her eye lights twinkle at him warmly. “Are you my big boy? Does my big boy need a cuddle from the Mama~?” She cooed softly, opening her arm for him to cuddle closer to her front. Her belly and breasts were good for cuddling.

Hamish's cheeks tinted slightly as he rolled over to meet her cuddle, his face pressing against her breasts. He chuckled and snuggled against her, wriggling the rest of himself closer, his legs tangling with hers and his belly pressing flush to hers.

She slid her arms around his shoulders and stroked her fingers along the back of his skull. She cuddled him to her chest, and then proceeded to wrap around him like a leech. “That’s my good boy,” She purred, and pressed a kiss to the crown of his skull. Her other arm came down to pillow his head, and Skylar rumbled happily. The triplets wiggled under her skin, and against his.

He lay silently, feeling his wife's warmth and the faint movements of their boys against his belly. He could lie like this forever, he was so comfortable right now.

Skylar hummed softly as her eyes closed, and she relaxed with him. With the warmth of his body entwined with hers, it didn't take her long to fall asleep against him.

Hamish followed soon after, snoring softly as he cuddled against her chest. He woke up around halfway through the night to Bella crying. He almost welcomed the sound, he had thought he would have loved all the quiet nights of sleep he got while they where working on the house, but he missed waking up to his baby.

Skylar too woke with Bella crying, and rolled over in bed with a soft grunt to go get her. She eased off the bed with a yawn, and grabbed a robe, before sleepily waddling down the hall for Bella's room to go get her.

Hamish had scooped her up, cuddling her against his chest. "You're okay." He cooed to her, as her cries settled. He turned when Skylar walked into the room. "What are you doing out of bed, beautiful? I've got her." He said, wrapping his free arm around Skylar.

Skylar yawned and leaned into him. "Mmm, sorry. 'M used t' getting up t' comfort her on my own." Her brothers all had to be up early, so she'd been on baby duty all night. Not that she'd minded- she was Bella's mother. It was her job to do it, not her brother's jobs. Skylar gently rubs Bella's horns, and hums softly. "She's gonna have t' take some time t' get used t' her new big girl bed." She'd probably cry a little less when she was used to her new bed and redone room.

He kissed her little cheeks. "Are you still giving her B-O-T-T-L-E-S?" He asked, spelling out the word in case Skylar had stopped he didn't want Bella to know what they where talking about.

"I'm not, actually." Skylar shook her head. "She's on solid food good enough that she's pretty well weaned off o' them."

He nodded and cuddled her. "Can she come cuddle with us?" He asked, looking down at her.

Skylar hummed softly. “For tonight if she wants to, yeah.” She smiles slightly. “She’s been doin’ real good sleepin’ in her own room all night.” Which was good. Their bed was large, but it wouldn’t hold four eventual toddlers and them. Skylar shifts and yawns, looking down at Bella. “Ya wanna come cuddle with us, baby girl?”

Bella clung to Hamish and nodded. "Cuddle Dada." She said sleepily.

“You’re such a Daddy’s girl,” Skylar smiles sleepily. “Go ahead n’ bring her then. She wants t’ cuddle, n’ I’m not gonna deny her Daddy cuddles after she’s been denied your company for so long.” Skylar eases away from Hamish, leaving him to follow with Bella, and waddled back for the bedroom. She paused, contemplated the kitchen, and then changed directions and headed for the stairs instead. “M’ gonna go grab a snack first. I’ll be back.”

Hamish blinked. "Sky… Let me help you down the stairs, I don't want you to fall… It's dark, hang on." He shifted Bella onto his hip and stepped up to her side.

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Skylar gave Hamish a smile, and took his arm. She let him guide her down the stairs, wobbling faintly in the dark hallway, and made her way down to the first floor. The house was quiet, save the sound of her mother’s snoring from the guest room, and Skylar yawned slightly as they reached the bottom floor. “Mm… Ya want some too? Or ya gonna go get settled with Bella upstairs?”

"You get what you need, then I'll help you back upstairs." He said, Bella had fallen back asleep, her head resting on his shoulder her little hands arms wrapped around his neck tightly.

Skylar yawned and nodded. She padded to the kitchen, and proceeded to rummage around in the fridge. She got a couple slices of apple bread, as it was easier and quicker to eat than leftovers from dinner were, and quietly propped her hip against the counter so she could nibble at a slice. She offered one to him with a sleepy sound. “I have t’ remember t’ eat more in order t’ meet my total calorie requirements for the triplets.” She mumbles around her mouthful. She didn’t have that issue with Bella, but Bella hadn’t compressed her organs nearly as much as the boys were doing.

Hamish waved his hand. "You eat it babe, I'm okay." He said softly so he didn't wake Bella.

“Mkay.” Skylar nibbled through a couple slices of apple bread, and got a drink of water from the tap to rinse the bread out of her teeth. Her molars worked just fine for eating bread, but her sharp frontal teeth always got bread and other non-meat products stuck in them. Such was the life of having carnivorous teeth. She yawned again, stomach feeling fuller, and rubbed one of her eye sockets. “Lets head back t’ bed now, yeah? Thanks for accompanying me.” She says quietly, and offers her arm to him with a sleepy noise.

He smiles and leads her back up the stairs and to their room, helping her back into bed and then settling down with Bella between them.

She stretched out between her parents, and then curled up against Hamish's chest, soaking up his body heat.

Skylar watched Bella get comfortable between them and smiled to herself, before gingerly getting comfortable as well. She settled on her side, and tucked one of Hamish’s legs between hers in lieu of a pillow between her legs to take some of the pressure off of her pelvis. “Get some more sleep, Haz.” Skylar yawned. “Dawn comes early.”

She didn't have to ask twice, he was already back asleep, snoring softly.

Bella's little face scrunched up slightly at the noise her daddy made.

Skylar shook her head at the racket he made, but otherwise said nothing to stir him. She didn’t have as easy of a time falling back asleep- and she had to toss and turn a couple of times in order to finally find that one spot that was comfortable enough for her to get the slumber that her body so craved and needed for the work that it was doing internally.

Hamish woke the moment light crept in through the thin curtains from he stretched and yawned, Bella shifting beside him. She lifted her head and looked up at him, rubbing her hands against her eyes.

It wasn't the light that woke Skylar, but rather her bladder. She rolled out of bed as Hamish and Bella were just waking up, and gave a sound that was not necessarily awake as she half waddled and half stumbled to the bathroom to relieve herself. She was quick to empty herself, and wash her hands, before sleepily wobbling back towards the bed. She made a soft grumbling noise as she slid back into bed, and proceeded to cuddle up to her daughter and husband. "Make th' sun go away..."

Hamish chuckled and leant over to kiss her. He rolled out of bed and pulled a thicker pair of curtains across the balcony window, darkening the room again. He needed the light to wake himself, but his wife could continue sleeping. He leant back over and kissed along her neck. "Stay in bed. I'll bring you breakfast." He whispered. "What would you like?"

The kisses along her neck felt nice, and she sighed sleepily. "Mmm... Pancakes?" Her sleepy voice floats up to him. "Pancakes sounds good. Or just cereal 'f we're out o' pancake stuff." Bella cuddles up to her chest, and Skylar doesn't have an issue nuzzling her horns against her daughter's tiny set, letting the toddler go right back to sleep against her face. Skylar struggled not to join her in the darkened room.

He kisses her again then walks across the room, tugging on a pair of pants before making his way down stairs to the kitchen, the pulled the curtains open downstairs flooding the room in morning light, then began rummaging through the pantry for ingredients, Skylar had taught him how to make pancakes so that was something he could do.

Skylar ended up falling asleep again upstairs after he left.

Vera awoke not long after he did, emerging from her room with a bleary yawn and making a beeline for his coffee pot. She needed coffee before she took Bella shopping with her, after all. "G'morning." She murmurs to Hamish. Unlike him, she was fully dressed and ready to start her morning whenever her granddaughter was awake and aware.

"Good morning." He replied, pouring the first pancake into the pan. It was a test pancake to make sure the pan wasn't too hot or too cold. He watched it until bubbles rose to the surface then flipped it. Perfect. He began pouring out more pancakes then with the extra batter began making smaller Bella sized pancakes.

Nightstrider - Today at 12:05 AM

"Making pancakes?" Vera hums, and gets the coffee pot going. Once it's noisily percolating, all that's left to do is wait for the coffee to finish brewing, and then it would be done and fit for consumption. "Looks good."

"Hopefully they taste good." He said, squinting at the round mounds of cooking batter. He turned and glanced at the coffee pot. "You wouldn't mind pouring me a cup would you?" He asked.

"So long as ya remembered t' add the egg and milk, ya should be fine. Ya want light n' fluffy, not a hockey puck." She hums. Vera eyes him as she gets down cups. "Nope. No coffee for ya." She teases, waving the second mug in her hands to show she was teasing.

He glanced over his shoulder at her and gave her an amused look. Then turned back to the pancakes to flip them. He piled the finished pancakes up onto a plate then when he was finished put three on a plate for Skylar and put toppings on, then did the same for Bella, pancakes would be too sticky for their little girl to eat in bed so he left them on the highchair. He poured a glass of water then carried the cup and plate up to their room, sitting it on the bedside table. "Skylar~" he cooed.

Bella lifted her head again. "Smells yummy." She said, sitting herself up. "OH!" She exclaimed, and then stood up, holding her arms out to Hamish. Hamish lifted her up and looked down at Skylar.

Skylar yawned and rolled over. She rubbed her eyes and blinked up at him slowly as she sat up. The smell of breakfast washed up her nasal cavity, and her eye lights flicked to it. "Oh goodness- ya didn’t have t' bring me breakfast in bed." She smiles warmly. "Thank ya, Haz. It looks delicious." She wasn't sure she could eat that many pancakes, but she would try to eat as many as she could. Skylar shifted and gave him a warm look. "Want me t' change her before ya take her downstairs for her breakfast?"

He shook his head. "You eat, I've got her." He said, kissing Skylar's head and carrying Bella back to her room to change her.

"I have pancake too, Dada?" She asked.

"Yes baby, I made you pancakes too." He answered. She wriggled excitedly. He laid her down and got her a fresh Diaper.

Skylar chuckled and ate her fill of pancakes, making sure to fill up on the deliciousness that was her husband’s cooking. She ate until she was full, managing to eat one whole pancake and a few bites of a second one much to her pride and happiness, and then carefully got up and got herself dressed. She put on a long skirt, and one of her tank tops, before making her way out of the bedroom with her unfinished plate in hand. Skylar hummed, and pondered the stairs, before instead waiting for Hamish to come out with Bella in tow.

The opposite happened actually. Bella left her room first, her hand gripping on of Hamish's fingers as she dragged him along behind her. He had left her in just her diaper there was no point getting her dressed before she ate, because she was going to make a mess no matter what the meal was. He left go of Bella's hand so she could get down stairs in her special little way and looped his arm around Skylar.

Skylar smiled slightly. "She's already dragging ya around by your lil' finger, ain't she?" She hummed, leaning into him as she made her way to the stairs. As Bella went down, Skylar made her way down after, going nice and slow and quietly bemoaning that she wouldn’t be able to manage these on her own for several more weeks yet. "The pancakes were really good. I ate what I could, but there was a lot. I'll nibble on them later though."

He smiled and got her downstairs. "Where would you like to sit?" He asked her.

Bella was at her highchair, jumping up and down wanting to be put in it so she could eat. "Dada!" She shouted.

“I’m alright walking for now. I’ve been sleeping all night- a lil’ bit o’ exercise isn’t going t’ kill me.” Skylar smooches his cheek, and instead waddles to the kitchen to put her plate away.

“A little bit is fine, too much ‘s too much.” Vera hums. She fills her cup of coffee and takes a drink, before humming slightly and going to Bella. She scoops her, and settles her easily in her highchair so she could eat. “Easy does, squirt. We’ll get your grub, n’ then you’re comin’ with grandma t’ go shopping.” Her eyes flick up to Hamish and Skylar. “If ya can make me a list o’ things the both o’ ya need, then I can pick it up.”

“Sure, Ma.” Skylar nods. She waddles for one of the drawers, and starts to rifle through, looking for a pen and paper. “I’ll get started writing one.”

Hamish watches his wife and hums, getting his own coffee from where it was on the counter. "We need more dog food." He suggested, taking a sip.

Once she locates a pen and paper, Skylar props the paper pad on her belly, and starts to write. “Dog food…” She murmurs, before scrawling the usual list of groceries in place. “How’s the house doin’ on toiletries, Haz?” There had been a bunch of men here- there was no telling how much toilet paper they had gone through. Skylar hummed slightly. “Apples… Definitely want apples. And…”

“Banabbas!” Bella chirps as Vera hands over her plate. She stuffs a mouthful of pancake into her mouth and makes a happy noise. “S’awberries!”

“Strawberries and Bananas,” Skylar chuckles and scribbles them on as well, before quietly going and snooping through the cupboards while everyone else ate and indulged in coffee. She wrote down things they were low or out on, and added a few things that they could use in the coming weeks.

"Uh… Yeah. More toothpaste and toilet paper. Diapers for Bella." He listed. Clicking his tongue to try and think.

Bella’s little cheeks where puffed up and full of pancake as she chewed loudly, trying to think of items as well. She liked helping.

All of them got added onto the list, and Skylar hummed thoughtfully. “I need another couple o’ shirts that are a couple o’ sizes bigger than these ones. Don’t care what style- jus’ need somethin’ that I’m not gonna be hanging out of in a couple o’ weeks.”

“I remember what size ya are right now.” Vera nods around her breakfast. “I’ll pick up a couple o’ shirts that are a few sizes up.”

“Thanks Ma.” Skylar makes note of her size anyways, and hums to herself as she taps her finger on her middle. “Hm… Good on eggs n’ milk… How we doin’ on other veggies?”

Hamish looked through their pantry. "We seem pretty good. Maybe more sugar. We're running low on things to make sandwiches."

Skylar scrawled those down as well. “Alright. Hm… Ah, peanut butter, different types o’ jellies… Nutella… Nutella on bananas ‘s actually really good,” She hums to Hamish. “N’ maybe a jar o’ honey, ‘f it isn’t too expensive.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Vera nods.

"A candy Mama?" Bella asked, her little hands full of pancake.

Hamish raised a brow.

“No, baby.” Skylar shakes her head. “No candy. But if Nana tells me you’ve been real good for her in town today, I’ll make ya some banana’s n’ strawberries with a little bit o’ Nutella on them when ya get home.” Much healthier than a candy bar from the store would be. She’d rather her sweet tooth get hooked on fruits and other natural sweet things than processed sugars. Nutella was just a bit of sinful chocolate goodness, even if it was made from hazelnuts instead of strictly chocolate.

She seemed happy enough with that, a wide smile spreading across her little face.

"How does she know about candy? I don't remember us ever giving her any?" He asked Skylar in a hushed voice.

Skylar sighed softly and sidled over to Hamish as she continued to scrawl things onto the list. She leaned her hip against him with a quiet hum, rubbing her belly lightly with one hand as she left the pad to rest on top. The nice thing about being as big as she was, she had a built in table. “Ya can thank Tommy for that.” She sighs. “He took her for a ride into town with Adam and Greg, and got her candy at the store. He got to deal with the resulting sugar high she had on the ride back and regretted every bit o’ it.”

Skylar hadn’t exactly been pleased either. She’d told them no candy- and apparently Tommy spaced it. She’d given him an ear full about it too.

He looked over at Bella in her highchair. Happily eating away. He knew they were trying to avoid her getting into those kinds of food for as long as possible; one piece of candy wouldn't hurt though. His mouth twitches up slightly. "He'll have learnt his lesson though." He laughed.

“Ohhh yeah. She asked for candy again later, n’ he said t’ ask me, and I’ve said ‘no’ ever since.” Skylar hummed. “The processed sugar makes her wired for about two hours, n’ then she crashes n’ gets a stomach ache. She might enjoy the taste, but boy, the after effects…” She shakes her head. “Not worth it.” She finishes up the list, and then hands it over to him for inspection. “See anything I missed?”

He read over the listen and nodded. "Looks good to me. Do you have the horn polish for you and Bella?" He asked.

Bella grabbed her horns. "Ouch." She said, tugging on them slightly.

“Ouch indeed, lil’ miss. Ya horns are growin’ n’ they need polished or they’ll get all cracked n’ start peeling and hurtin’.” Skylar tapped her fingers on her middle with a soft hum. Skylar’s horns were starting to crack along the top of the curl. She needed to polish them when Bella was shopping with her mom. That was about the only time she’d have to really do the in depth polishing her horns needed. “I’ve got about half a container. Wouldn’t hurt t’ pick up another one, since it’ll run out by the time I should be havin’ the boys. Or close to it- n’ we’re not gonna be up t’ running t’ town any time around then. I can’t foresee ya wanting t’ leave me alone for that long before they get here- or me bein’ up t’ going t’ town after they get here.”

“I’ll pick some up then. Ya still use the expensive brand?” Vera hums.

“Only brand I can use.” Skylar sighs softly but nods. “Thanks, Ma. You’re a lifesaver.”

Hamish wanders off for a moment and comes back in with his wallet, opening it and counting out the bills. He pulls out the amount he counted and placed them on the counter next to Vera.

Vera lifted a brow at him, but collected the bills with a soft hum. She tucked them into her pocket to be transferred to her purse. “I’ll bring back your change.” She promises. “Now finish your breakfast- I’ll go get lil’ miss cleaned up when she’s done with her meal, and then I’ll go borrow your truck. Then the both o’ ya can have th’ day t’gether so I can spend th’ day with my grandbaby.”

“Sounds good t’ me.” Skylar chuckles softly. “You n’ Bella like t’ spend time together.”

“Luv Nana!” Bella chirps happily, swallowing her mouthful of pancake.

Hamish rubbed her little skull. "You're a good girl." He said, and then filled a plate of his own with pancakes. He drowned them in syrup and plonked himself down at the table to dig in.

Bella beamed and finished her pancakes happily. She swallowed the last of them, and when waved her sticky fists around to announce that she was full.

Skylar chuckled, and went to scoop her up so she could go clean her up.

Vera beat her to it, scooping Bella up and tutting at Skylar. “Ya can’t bend over t’ scrub her down, sweetheart. Ya’ll brought me along for a reason- let me do m’ job, please. Sit down n’ enjoy ya time with Hamish, yeah?”

Skylar puffs her cheeks but sighs, and goes to sit down across from Hamish as her mother steals her daughter away. “Y’know, as much as I want t’ keep the boys in for as long as I can, I miss being able t’ do my proper motherly duties for my daughter.”

Hamish smiled at Skylar and nudged his foot against hers under the table. He forked a mouthful of the pancakes into his mouth and chewed, watching Vera carry Bella off to get her cleaned up.

Skylar lifts a brow as he nudges her foot. She wiggles it at him, and then slides her toes over his, stroking the softness of her bones over his, before tickling her toes against his shin, Though her foot wandered higher up under the table with out anyone there to make sure her actions stayed PG. She was a cruel wife sometimes. Hopefully he didn’t choke on his pancake as her toes got perilously close to his hidden member. "So, ya mind helping me polish my horns t'day? I also wanna visit Mel, if I can. I haven't seen my mare in forever. I miss her dearly." She kept an innocent look on her face as she fiddled with the saltshaker.

He shoved more food in his mouth to muffle any noise he threatened to make, and nodded yes to both of her wants. He swallowed hard. "I'll help you."

Skylar smiled slyly, stroking her toes gently along his inner thigh. “You’re such a sweet husband,” She coos softly to him. “I probably shouldn’t tease ya so much, should I?”

He poked at his food. "I don't mind it… keeps me feeling young." He purred.

“Ya are young, sweetheart.” Skylar smiles slightly and brushed her toes against his prize, teasing him gently as she listened to her mother getting Bella ready upstairs. “You’re not that much older than me.” Fifteen years might seem like a lot, but it was just a number. Skylar was… Shit, going on thirty five soon. She had been thirty three when Bella had been born, and Bella was one and some odd months- she’d be one and a half by the time the boys came. Sky would be thirty five by the time the boys were half a year old- and Hamish would be fifty soon after, she thought. All the same- he sure didn’t act his age.

Hamish swallowed and glanced down into his lap. He probably should have waited until Vera had left with Bella… because the sight of her foot in his lap, her toes brushing against him had his not so little friend pressing up against her teasing toes, his face going red. He lifted his eyes back up to Skylar.

Skylar could feel his problem growing against her foot. His pants did nothing to hide it, and she could feel her smirk growing on her face. She stroked him slowly with her toes- one of the last sort of teasing she could do, since her legs weren’t trapped in place- and leaned forwards on her elbows so she could talk to him. “Enjoying your breakfast?” She cooed.

Vera’s footsteps meant that Skylar yanked her foot back carefully. The elder woman appeared from the staircase with Bella dressed and on the opposite hip as her purse. “Hamish?” She calls, “Be a dear n’ tell me where ya keep your keys?”

He opened his mouth to answer Skylar but froze up when Vera said his name. "They're uh… on my bedside table." He called back, sweat beading on his head slightly. He glanced down at his plate and cut himself another bite of his breakfast.

Vera grunted and nodded. “Back up th’ stairs I go then.” Her poor knees. She’d brought her healing plant with her, but it only did so much. Up the stairs she went to fetch his keys, and then back down again. She padded into the kitchen to snag a bottle of water, bouncing Bella slightly. “Say bye bye t’ Mama and Daddy- we’ll see them later.”

Bella turned over her Nana’s shoulder, and waved at Hamish and Skylar. “Buh-bye, Mama! Buh-bye, Dada!” She chirped, waving her little hand at them cheerily, her cheeks rosy and her face happy as she clung to her Grandmother.

“Bye, baby girl.” Skylar smiled softly. “We’ll see ya real soon.” She nods. “Drive safe, Ma.”

“O’ course.” She nods. “In a beast o’ a truck like that, I’m pretty sure anything could drive safely. You two be safe n’ behave, y’hear?”

Skylar snorted and rolled her eyes. “We’re gonna go for a wicked fast horse ride n’ then go jump off a bridge for a cool n' refreshing swim.” She says seriously, followed by another snort. “We’ll behave, Ma. Have fun.”

“I will.” Vera smiles.

Hamish waved to Bella, as her and Vera left the house. He finished off his breakfast, listening to the sound of the car door, then the engine starting up, and then the car driving off down the driveway. He slumped down in his chair and looked down at himself. He could see the bulge in his pants very clearly. Luckily Vera hadn't asked him to stand up for anything.

Skylar watched him slump and gave him a lopsided pout. “Poor baby,” She crooned, “Got ya all riled up, didn’t I? Want me t’ take care o’ that for ya~?” She purred, her eyes drifting to half mast. With the car gone, and the house now to themselves, Skylar didn’t have an issue teasing him more. In fact, while he was looking down at himself, her foot came up and stroked him gently again, toes curling out and around to cup his member through his pants.

His whole face turned red, his eyes on her feet as they cupped him through his pants. He looked up at Skylar, taking in a deep breath.

Skylar wiggled a brow at him teasingly, and then drew her toes back. “Mmm, I should probably let ya finish your breakfast first,” She feigns a sad sigh, and relaxes back in her chair. Her fingers massage her belly lightly. “Wouldn’t want t’ deny you good things~”

He glanced at his plate, and then back at Skylar. "I-I'm finished eating." He breathed out, his voice slightly choked.

“Oh?” Her toes danced up his ankles again as she relaxed. They slowly crept up his pants to the apex of his legs, and she eased her toes over his straining member again. “You are, hm? Are you sure?” She purrs, eyes half lidded. She hooks her toes in the waistband of his pants, and eases it down slowly with one foot, the other stroking him slowly but firmly through the barrier of his pants. “Didn’t even finish it all,” She tuts teasingly, “But I suppose you’ve been a good boy besides… Do you think ya deserve a reward?” She asks him lightly.

He brought his palm up to hide his face, he couldn't do anything but nod, lifting his hips slightly so she would be able to get the waistband of his pants down over his hips. His chest heaved with his breath as he watched her. So many things about her were turning him on so much right now; her feet of course, but not only that but the way she was talking to him, the way she looked right now, so full with their babies. His member pressed up hard against his clothing.

“Ah, ah, ah,” She tsked in a scolding tone and tapped her hands on the table. “Hands on th’ table, big boy,” She purred as she slipped his member free of the confines of his pants. Her bare toes stroked his length along his shaft towards his tip. “I wanna see your face. Don’t try and hide that blush from me- in fact, just don’t touch anything at all just yet. Just keep your hands on the table- we don’t want to be a bad boy, do we?” She lifts a brow, sliding a finger slowly along the surface of the table as she watches him. She loved to get him all riled up- watching his reactions to her voice and how she spoke as she stroked him sometimes made it all worth it.

He pulled his hand away from his face and placed it on the table, his body shivering slightly. It was almost gross how much he was getting off on this, his member throbbing and twitching against her feet. His eyes fluttered closed as he relaxed into his chair.

“Good boy,” She praised him warmly, and grasped him gently between both sets of her toes. She curled around him and massaged him gently, before stroking him from base to tip, and then back again. “Tell me,” She purrs, “Does it feel good? Do you want me to keep going?”

He took in a deep breath and nodded. "It feels good, Sky... please keep going." He said, his voice sounding deeper and lustier than usual.

“Good,” She purrs, firmly stroking his member from base to tip again. Her hand massages her middle gently, and she watches him, locking eyes with him. Her eye lights keep his captive, lashes framing the bright lights and making them deem darker, more sensual. “I like it when you feel good. Don’t be afraid t’ make sounds, Hamish. I love hearing your sounds.” She wished the table was closer, so she could touch him- but no, this was as much a torture for her as it was for him. “Make sure t’ keep those hands on the table until I say otherwise.” She reminds gently, and gives her toes a little twist on the downward bob they do on his dick.

His hands balled up into a fist on the table. He tipped his head to the side slightly and let out a breathy moan, his eyes flicking back down to watch the way her feet stroked him. He almost felt like he was going to start drooling at the sight.

“Good boy, Hamish,” Skylar purred. “I love your sounds.” She brushed her toe gently against his tip, spreading the bead of pre-cum along his shaft as she slowly worked it down into the skin. “If you could touch me,” She grinned, watching his fisted hands, “What would ya do with me?” She teased her feet slowly up and down on his cock, tempting and teasing him.

His eyes drifted down over her body. They paused on her breasts, large and heavy with breast milk and he unknowingly licked his lips. "U-uhm… I…" His face felt like it was on fire; how did she stay so calm and confident saying such naughty things to him when he couldn't even wrap his head around the thoughts of what he wanted to say?

Skylar followed his gaze easily to her breasts. It wasn't hard to see where he stopped, and where he paused to kick his lips. She smirked slowly, and lifted her fingers up to her tank top straps. She didn't have a bra on so her breasts dangled free and heavy on top of her belly under her shirt. "These, hm?" Her gaze drifted back to him as she slid her arms gently out of her shirt, and slowly eased it down over her breasts, baring them to him at the table. Her toes continued to stroke him slowly as she teased him with her words and with her hands. "You would touch these 'f ya could, am I right?" She purrs, and cups one heavy breast in he hand. She bounces the heavy mound of flesh gently, and then lightly tweaks her nipple. Milk beads at the tip in response. She hasn’t stopped lactating since she'd had Bella- and her milk hadn’t stopped flowing even when she'd stopped nursing. "They're so heavy and full... Tell me, Hamish what would ya do with them if ya could touch them?"

Hamish watched Skylar, as she slipped the tank top down and exposed her breasts. He licked his lips again, watching her play with her breast and as the milk began leaking from them slightly, just from that minimal amount of stimulation. "I-I'd want to help... relieve you of some of that milk... so they're not so heavy." He said, his voice shaking slightly.

Skylar gently rolled her breast in hand, and watched his reaction. She could feel his cock twitching between her toes, and gave him a firm stroke in response to his excitement. “Mmm, I think I’d like that,” Her voice kept that same melodious purr to it as she teased him. “And if I decided that you could touch me… that you could help me get some relief,” her fingers stroked slow circles around her engorged nipples, watching his eyes following her motions, “Would that make you a happy boy~?” She questioned, giving him another firm stroke.

"It would." He said, biting down on his lip, his hips jerking slightly. He moved one of his hands, planning to hold Skylar’s ankle to help guide her, but he remembered her orders and quickly placed the hand back on the table.

Skylar’s eyes flicked to his hand as it moved, but she gave him a pleased look as he quickly replaced it on the table. “Good boy,” She praised, “You remembered.” She purrs. “I think that deserves a reward… You get to choose.” Her feet stroked him gently and slowly, teasingly. “Ya can use your hands to touch me- but you only get to pick one. Here,” She strokes him pointedly with her toes, “Or here,” her fingers stroke over her breast, beading more milk on her nipple. She dabbles it onto her finger, and leans across the table to gently press the bead to his lips. “But you only get t’ choose one,” She purrs. “So what would you like?”

He swallowed hard, looking down at himself then up at Skylar’s breast. He stood himself up and placed his hands on Skylar’s chair, leaning over to kiss her, slowly inching down until he was kissing her breasts.

Skylar smirked as he made his choice. As he slid around the table so he could actually reach her, it put his member in range of her hands- which was just fine. One hand came to cradle his skull as he kissed her breasts, his beard tickling over the supple and swollen flesh. “Mmm, good choice~” She purrs in praise. Her hand slides down around her belly and his, and finds his member. She strokes him firmly, fingers working over his flesh tenaciously. He was so hard, practically throbbing in her hand- she was surprised he had the self control that he did. Her husband was such a good obedient man when he wanted to be~ “I’m all yours,” She promises.

He rocked his hips into her hand as he kissed her, his eyes fluttering closed, one of his hands moved up to cup her breast. He still wasn't sure if nipple stimulation was something that was risky, so he didn't want to do too much to stimulate her breasts just in case. Instead, he opened his mouth, letting his tongue and out as he gently squeezed around her nipple, letting the milk drip onto his tongue.

Skylar chuckled, and guided his hand. “Like this,” She purred. Just pinching at her nipple wasn’t quite enough to work- but, she guided his hand to the underside of her breast, letting him cup it. She guided his motions in manually expressing milk, massaging gently but firmly down her breast, and the little dribble found itself in a more steady stream into his mouth. Some days the pressure got to be too much even for her- and she had to let loose somehow. She’d gotten pretty good at manually expressing milk. It was sort of like working his cock, but on a much more gentle scale. Skylar cooed to him, and firmly stroked his member as he rocked his hips into her hands. “There we go.”

He let the warm liquid fill his mouth. He stopped for a short moment to swallow, and then went straight back to filling his mouth with the milk again.

Skylar sighed softly in relief as some of the pressure in her breast began to abate. “Such a good boy,” She coos to him, stroking her fingers gently over the back of his skull, “You’re my good boy, yes y’are~” Her fingers continue to stroke him, pausing only long enough to gently fondle his testicles before she’s back to pumping his shaft at the same steady rate of which he drinks her milk. Her toes stroke up and down his shins and along his own feet, a solidly gentle reminder of what she was doing to him prior.

He lets out a happy noise and flicked his tongue over her nipple before continuing to catch it in his mouth. He ran his free hand down over her belly. He felt sweat dripping down his forehead. Hamish pushed his hips against her fingers, the feeling of a building orgasm starting to tingle through his groin.

Her belly was wiggling with life, the boys awake and moving under his palm. Her shirt had ridden up a little bit in her teasing, so his fingers found smooth blue skin, and got to feel small feet press up from the inside unhindered. Skylar watched the sweat beading on his forehead, and smiled slowly, quickening the pace of her strokes. She massaged her fingers up and down his length as she went, mimicking the fluttering of walls around him as she prepared to catch his load on her skirt. “Good boy, Hamish,” She purred, stroking her free hand gently over his skull and dabbling at the beads of sweat gathering on his brow as he swallowed mouthful after mouthful of rich milk. “Good boy. When you come, I want y’ hear ya say my name,” She purrs to him. “Loud n’ clear~”

He swallowed his mouthful and lifted his head, pressing his mouth over hers in a hungry kiss. He focused on the feeling of her hand. He let out a low moan, thrusting his hips quicker to try and get more friction.

She tightened her fingers to give him the friction he needed, and rolled her wrist into his thrusts. She kissed him deeply, and then kissed and nibbled from his lips to his neck, nibbling with sharp but precise pricks of her teeth as he rutted against her. “That’s my good Hamish,” She murmured into his neck, giving him a slightly sharper nip and marking him as hers. Mark made, she kissed her way back up to his mouth, and devoured his lips hungrily. “Come for me,” She purrs, “Come for me, Haz.” Her toes stretch over his and intertwine with his own, rubbing over the tops of his feet with the soft bottoms of her own.

He tips his head to look down at himself and Skylar's hand stroking him, He lets out a deep breath and grips the back of her chair to keep himself balanced. He grunts, and scrunches his eyes shut. She wants him to say her name when he comes… He opened his mouth then closes it again. He jerks his hips forward and opens in mouth again… but he's still not there yet… he feels like he's about to come...and it just doesn't happen. His brows push together and he tries jerking his hips forward again, the whole time he looks down at himself, at her belly… at her feet still teasing his.

She notices his dilemma, and gives a soft smile. He's close, so close, she can see him on the edge... But he's not quite there, not quite tossed over yet. Skylar shifts and strokes him again and brings him up, rubbing his length gently against the swollen girth of her middle. "What's wrong, Haz?" She purrs softly, and trails her foot gently up the back of his leg, letting Hamish press closer to her as her leg moves to make more space for him. She changes gears and begins to toy with his kink he didn’t know he had until he got her pregnant, all the while stimulating him in other ways. Hopefully it would be enough to get him off- she wasn’t a fan of leaving people hanging after all. "Am I not big enough? Here I am, swollen with life... Life that ya put into me," she murmurs to him, leaning up to kiss his neck. "Breasts swollen with milk t' feed them... Am I not large enough?" Her middle shifts, the triplets kicking and moving against the jerks of his hips as his member slides against her belly. She strokes him against her, and trails her toes higher on his thigh, thankful that she's as flexible as she is so she can do this for him. "Could I be bigger...? Fuller...?" She purred to him, locking her eyes on his face.

His cheeks burned. He gripped the chair tighter and tensed up, his cum spilling across her belly. "Gh… S-sky." He moaned, nuzzling against her. "Ghnn… You're beautiful." He kissed her shoulder.

Skylar chuckled warmly as he came, effectively ruining her tank top as he spattered it in sticky white ejaculate. She kissed his neck and shoulders gently, lathing her tongue over where she nipped him. "Good boy, Hamish. Looks like we found ya a trigger~" She praised warmly. "I love you a lot. D'ya feel better?" She queried, brushing her fingers gently over his skull as she drew her fingers back and cleaned them on her shirt.

"Fuck, Skylar. You're amazing.” He mumbled, wrapping his arms around her. He felt a little silly now they where finished with their fun, standing in the middle of the kitchen with his pant around his ankles, cuddling his wife. He was glad they didn't have neighbors.

Skylar snuggled up against him with a warm smile, and smooched him gently. “I like t’ think I’m amazing sometimes.” She winks at him warmly. “Care t’ help me get up n’ get a new shirt though, sweetheart? This can’t be comfortable for your back, all stooped over like this, n’ I wanna get this in the wash. We can cuddle on the couch after before we go feed th’ animals.” She still wanted to visit Mel- and still needed to polish her horns. But, they had plenty of time to cuddle like horny teenagers before they did adult things for the day.

He shuffled back and bent over to pull his pants back up, tucking himself away. He helped Skylar up but had her stay downstairs, jogging upstairs to get her one of his shirts to wear. He came back down and gave her the shirt, and cleaning up from breakfast a little, putting the dishes in the sink to do later and cleaning up the ingredient he had left out from making the pancakes.

It wasn't a huge clean up, he would have to do that later, for now Skylar wanted to cuddle and so did he.

Skylar gave him a soft sigh and an endearing smile, and made a valiant attempt to put the shirt on after she stripped off the soiled one and went to put it into the wash while he did dishes. His shirt did indeed button- only to around her breasts. The buttons wouldn’t even come close to covering her belly. “Hamish, sweetheart- I outgrew your shirts a while ago.” She gave him a lopsided smile. “There’s a reason Ma’s out buying me more shirts.” She looked a little silly, with the shirt buttoned to just under her breasts, flowing open around her belly otherwise. Her skirt was tucked just under her belly, flowing down over her legs and covering them. She cocked one hip, skirt and shirt swishing, and gave him a warm look.

He looked her up and down. "I like that look, it's sexy." He purred. He made his way over to her and rubbed his hand over her exposed belly. "They awake in there?" He asked, his mouth quirking up when one of the boys pushed out against his palm.

“Does that answer your question?” She chuckles. “They got woken by all o’ the excitement.” Skylar gives him a smile as the boys shift and move within her belly, unhappy with all of the movement she’d been doing. “So ya really like the look?” She wasn’t sure she looked good- but so long as he enjoyed it, that was what mattered. Skylar shifted her hips back against the table and then leaned up to kiss him. “Mm… So, cuddles on the couch, or animals first, then cuddles?”

"Well, it's already looking pretty warm outside and they're still in their stalls, let me put some proper cloths on and we'll go let them out together, then we can come back in and cuddle so you can have a rest from walking." He suggested, playing with the part of Skylar's shirt that hung open, meeting her kisses.

“Sounds good t’ me.” Skylar smiles slightly. She lifts her fingers, and steals his hands from toying with her buttons, lifting his hand instead to kiss his knuckles. “Why don’t ya go get in your clothes, n’ I’ll meet ya by the front door? I gotta get into my shoes.” And she was hoping she hadn’t forgotten her slip on shoes at her mom’s house- or she was going to have to ask Hamish to help her lace up her sneakers, because she couldn’t reach her feet, and with as trip prone as she was, there was no way she was going to walk around in her slick-bottomed western boots.

He nodded and jogged back up the stairs. He might start to loose some of his chub with the amount of up and down the stairs he was going to do. He found himself a pair of jeans and a clean shirt and got himself dressed, and then came back down to Skylar. He plucked her hat off its hanger and plopped it on her head, reaching for his own. He paused, his mouth quirking up at Bella's tiny hat that hung up next to theirs.

Skylar had managed to get her sneakers on, but not tied, and she had no idea where her slip-on shoes were. If they weren’t here, they were probably packed up, or at her mom’s home. Skylar followed Hamish’s gaze as she made an attempt to simply tuck her laces into her sneakers. “Tiny lil’ hat- soon we’re gonna need three more.”

He chuckled and turned to her. "You okay? You need help?" He asked, looking down at her shoes.

“I could use some help.” She admits. “I think my slip on shoes are packed away, n’ I don’t wanna go digging through luggage for a pair o’ shoes.” Skylar wiggles her feet slightly. “Would ya mind tying them for me?” She can’t see her feet anyways to even attempt, let alone to bend down.

He smiled and kissed her cheek then knelt down, tying her shoes. He stood back up and wrapped his arm around Skylar, pushing the door open so they could walk outside. He helped her down the front steps and slowly made their way out to the barn. He moved away from her, letting Charlie and the other two mares out first, and then slid open Mel’s door. "Come see Sky, Mel."

The white mare trotted to the door with her usual vigor, and reached out to lip sassily at his hat like she usually did. Her attention was grabbed by Skylar however, and Hamish was entirely discarded and forgotten as she nearly rushed to her rider, prancing in place before her despite her own growing pregnancy. She wasn’t unlike a puppy who hadn’t seen their person for a long time- Mel had missed Skylar dearly.

Skylar had missed Mel. Skylar reached out and took Mel’s nose into her hands, and lifted it up so she could nuzzle the soft, velvety end of it to her face. “There’s my good girl,” She crooned warmly. “I’ve missed ya so much, Mel. Have ya been good for Hamish? Ya kept him on his toes, huh? Him n’ all o’ his work buddies?” She rubbed her chin and under her jaw as Mel knickered softly to her and pressed her face close to Skylar’s chest. “That’s a good girl… Very, very good girl,” She crooned warmly, her forehead coming to rest against Mel’s.

Mel’s eyes drifted closed, and her ears slid forward, simply listening to her rider speak to her as she got rubs and pets and reaffirmed her smell, however different it was at the moment.

“Ya kept her active?” Skylar asked Hamish lightly. “Ridden her a lil’ bit n’ kept her in shape?” Riding horses while they were pregnant was fine, so long as it was light duty. It helped keep them in shape, and kept up their muscles in their abdomen, usually leading to an easier labor. Of course, Hamish had issues keeping Mel under control, so it was possible that he probably hadn’t ridden her- Skylar wouldn’t be upset if he hadn’t. He also had been very busy.

"I tried to… She wasn't too amused by it and I didn't want to keep trying because I knew she was just going to try and throw me and I rather she didn't so I put her in the round yard and lunged her a little to get her moving. She liked that, and I didn't even need to do much like I do when I try lunging the other mares. I just walked her in, she didn't need a rope… all she needed to do was pinch my hat and she practically lunged herself trying to keep it away from me." He rubbed her shoulder. "She has an attitude… but I think she secretly likes me." He laughed, and ran his hand over Mels belly. "She's getting’ pretty big too."

“She does like you, despite all of the attitude she gives ya.” Skylar informs him with a warm smile. “If she didn’t, you would know. Horses are worse than bulls when they don’t like someone- it wouldn’t be your hat she stole if she didn’t like ya. It’d be a chunk o’ meat when she took a big nasty bite out o’ your ass.” She informed him cheerily. “M’ glad she got some exercise, even if it was jus’ lunging. Though the hat trick is pretty ingenious.”

Mel swished her tail at Hamish, thinking he was trying to usher her out into the field and away from her rider when he patted her swollen belly. Instead of walking out to the field, she proceeded to fold her legs and lay down right there, propping her shoulder against Skylar’s leg with a soft and stubborn grunt, and giving Hamish a pleased look at having foiled his ‘plans’. She looked like a big white lapdog. A smug big white lapdog.

Skylar snorted, and rubbed Mel’s ears as the mare leaned her neck back and up for the pregnant skeleton to give her more rubs. “You’re such a silly mare- what’re ya doin’ layin’ down like that? I’m not goin’ anywhere, I promise. I’ll come visit ya every day if I have to.”

Mel blew warm air up into Skylar’s face, and nuzzled her nose against the gravid swell of her belly and against Skylar’s hip as she nickered at her pointedly.

“Oh I know I have a lot t’ make up for.” Skylar chuckled. “But, neither o’ us is gonna do much riding until we both have our babies. You’re gonna have yours long after I have mine.” She stooped down to pat the swollen belly on her mare, much to Mel’s pleasure. “Once we both can ride, we’ll go on a nice ride, n’ bring your foal along too.”

Hamish folded his arms over his chest and raised an amused brow. "You're a doofus Mel." He laughed.

Charlie wandered back into the barn, seeing as Hamish hadn't shut the gate yet.  The stallion walked over to sniff at Mel and Skylar. "What do you think buddy?" Hamish asked.

Charlie snorted and lipped at Skylar's belly, the whiskers around his mouth brushing gently against the swollen skin.

Skylar laughed and rubbed Charlie’s nose gently. “Hey there, big guy. That tickles. Just mind your teeth, yeah? Don’t need t’ pop me early now.”

Mel didn’t quite like the stallion so close to her heavily pregnant rider. The mare stood up again, tail swishing and ears pinning. She sidestepped around Skylar, and shoved her way grumpily between Charlie and the pregnant woman, putting up a protective barrier between the more fragile female.

Skylar laughed and rubbed Mel’s neck. “Ya silly mare- he’s not gonna hurt me. ‘S not your fault you’re grumpy with him though- you’re always protecting me, n’ pregnancy has made ya more grumpy.” Some stallions did tend to be finicky though, and they did sometimes hurt pregnant mares without meaning to- so it was also possibly a herd instinct. Mares could be protective and grumpy things at the best of times- and Mel had been guarding Skylar for years.

Charlie took a step back and turned his attention from Skylar to Mel and began sniffing at her swollen belly, his ears pointed forward.

Hamish chuckled and rubbed Charlie’s neck. "I never thought we'd be dad's together, buddy." He said.

Charlie snorted and nibbled at Mel's mane, tugging it slightly.

Mel snorted back at him and lipped lightly at his neck, but left him to nibble at her mane as she nuzzled her face to Skylar again and nickered softly.

Skylar chuckled softly and gave Mel her desired attention. “Never thought any stallion would manage t’ stick it t’ Mel, but y’ never know.” She gives Hamish a smile. “So, anything I can do t’ help while I’m out here?”

Hamish dragged a wheelbarrow out to the barn and began mucking the stalls. He pulled out the horses water buckets and scrubbed off the spider webs and grime that had built up on them all, filled them with fresh water and put them back into the stalls. He did the same for the water buckets he left out in the paddock. The cows mostly drank out of a small water damn, but they did have a few water buckets as well and they all got a scrub to remove grime.

He moved on after that to the chicken coup. Firstly collecting the eggs, then scraping out all the chicken poop that had built up in their perches. He collected the poop in a bucket so he could use it on his garden. He put new straw in their nesting boxes so they would be nice and soft. He moves all the dirty straw to a large compost bin and puts it all inside to start breaking down with everything else he had in there and soon he'd have a perfect mix to start putting on his garden.

Skylar walked while he worked, pausing only to take the eggs he had collected and put them up on the deck. She was accompanied the whole time by her pregnant mare, who walked alongside her and kept her company as she made her way in circles around the house. She eventually started to tire out though, her back starting to ache from making her way around with such a weight hanging off her spine. When she started to hurt, Skylar slowed down and took a seat on one of the plastic chairs the workers had left out on the lawn.

She rubbed her fingers along her bare middle, smiling when Mel lipped gently at her belly as well. A soft tongue flicked out and licked her a few times, much to Skylar’s amusement, before Mel turned her attention elsewhere. The horse stood by her side and lightly grazed at the grass, content to keep her company as Skylar relaxed and let her body rest. She’d done a lot of walking- more than she usually did- and she was feeling it in her back.

Hamish had been keeping an eye on Skylar as he worked, making sure she was okay. He smiled when he saw she had taken a seat. He would have offered to help her back inside, but the sun was nice as she probably enjoyed being out in the sun with her horse. Some of his cattle had calved, and he took the dogs with him to bring the cows and the calves over so he could check on them.

Mel watched the cattle, and made sure none of them wandered too close to Skylar. She was very much like a fifteen hundred plus pound guard dog for her rider, really.

Skylar watched him bring the cattle in, her eyes keenly looking over the cows and their calves. They looked healthy from here, but she couldn’t exactly wander over and check on them- cattle weren’t as careful as horses were, and she didn’t want to risk an accidental bump. So she sat and relaxed and soaked in some sun, letting it warm her skin and gleam over her horns.

Her fingers itched lightly at her horns, and she winced a little as a flake peeled off and into her hand. It always hurt when flakes shed off. She’d need to sand them down some and remove the peeling parts, so she could wax them properly. Sanding them wouldn’t be pleasant, but it was necessary, since she’d gotten behind in taking care of her horns.

Hamish checked over the mothers first, made sure they were all producing milk for their babies, and then began checking over the calves, making sure their bellies looked to be nice and full but not too chubby. One of the mothers didn't like him getting handsy with her baby, and gave him a gentle- well, not so gentle nudge on the ass that pushed him into the dirt. He sat himself up and fixed his hat. The calf sniffed at him as he stood himself back up and dusted himself off.

Skylar snorted slightly. “Looks like she don’ like ya messin’ with her baby,” Skylar chuckled as she called out to her husband. She crossed her ankles quietly, watching him with a soft sigh as she massaged the warming mound growing from her middle. “Might wanna leave her be unless ya want t’ eat more dirt. The calf looks healthy.”

Hamish rubbed his ass and shuffled away from the grumpy mama cow, letting himself out of the paddock and closing the gate. He made his way back over to Skylar. He raised a brow at Mel; he was really testing the mares’ patience, but he had never properly smooched Skylar in front of Mel, and he was curious what she would think about it. Hamish puffed his chest out and strolled over to Skylar, leaning down and pressing his mouth against Skylar’s in an over exaggerated kiss.

Skylar responded to his sudden and surprise kiss with a startled sound, but relaxed into it with a soft pleased thrum all the same. She wasn’t ever going to turn away kisses from him- she’d have to be crazy to do so.

Mel’s ears flicked back initially as Hamish practically strutted over to her rider with his chest puffed out like a yearling stud. The kiss was strange, however, and her ears flicked forward as she peered at him, watching him for a short time. When it lingered longer than the mare thought necessary, with him leaning over her rider and hovering over her in such a way that Mel’s instincts found threatening, she pinned her ears and reached out with her teeth to give him a reprimanding nip on the backside to remind him to mind his manners around his female and to respect her space, even if Skylar seemed to enjoy him invading it.

If her rider wouldn’t reprimand her male, then Mel would have to teach him his manners and to know when he had overstayed his welcome.

Hamish laughed and moved back, stumbling away from Skylar, tripping over his own feet trying to get away from Mel’s teeth. He fell into the dirt for a second time that day, his hat falling down over his face.

Skylar snorted and lightly swatted Mel's shoulder. "Knock it off, Mel. He can kiss me if He wants t' kiss me." She glances over at Hamish as Mel tosses her head at him. Skylar gives him a smile and rubs her belly. "I guess kisses will have t' be short n' sweet." She laughs. "Ya okay? That's the second tumble you've taken today."

He pushed his hat up and smiles. "It's alright. I wanted to see what she would think about it." He said, getting himself back up. He rubbed his butt. "A little sore, but I'm okay."

"Well, she seems to be okay until you linger too long." Skylar chuckles. She pets Mel's nose as the mare knickers and rubs it against her belly. "Shall we see about putting her out t' pasture so she can go graze with Charlie and the rest o' the mares? I'm glad you're okay though. I dunno if I can handle another emergency trip t' the hospital because ya broke your ass bone or something silly instead o' your leg."

"That would be embarrassing." He laughed. "You going to be okay to walk her out? I don't think she will follow me."

"I can handle a little more walking." Skylar plants her hands on the arms of the chair, and works on hauling herself up. She groans softly, and manages to haul herself up. "Ya wanna walk with me though? I'm sure she wont mind that, so long as ya don't try t' agitate her intentionally."

Mel perked her ears when Skylar got up, and hurried to her side. She was ready to go where her rider went.

Hamish nodded and stepped up to Skylar’s side, wrapping his fingers around hers. He walked with her at a slow pace towards the paddock where Charlie was waiting. The stud called out to Mel.

Mel tilted her head as Charlie called out, and returned his call.

Skylar smiles faintly and pets her shoulder. "Don't be flirting with your old man until you're in the paddock now, Mel. That's just mean." She teased.

The mare didn’t know her words but she knew her tone, and she reached over to bop Skylar's hat lower on her face in revenge.

Skylar snickered, and shoved her Stetson back up into its correct position over her horns as they reached the paddock. "Alright. Ya wanna work the gate, n' I'll guide her in?"

Hamish nodded and strolled over to the gate, pulling it open.

Charlie had wandered over to the gate as well, standing off to the side to wait for Mel.

Skylar gently pulled away from Hamish, and waddled through the gate. Mel followed her, and Skylar gently ushered her in further, before stepping back and out of the paddock. She motioned for Hamish to close the gate, and assisted him in getting it shut before Mel could catch wind of what they were up to and try and come back out again.

Mel gave her a soft snort when she caught on, and stuck her head over the fence to nuzzle Skylar’s face. Her nose got plenty of smooches, before she was turned away so she would go give attention to Charlie, and let Skylar be free.

Skylar shakes her head lightly once Mel wanders off to go visit Charlie. “She’s real clingy when she misses me.” She smiles slightly. “It was nice t’ get t’ spend time with her again.”

Hamish wrapped his arm around Skylar. "Mmn, she really did miss you. I could tell, every time I came out to check on her, there was just this look in her eyes… like she was asking me where you where."

“She probably was.” Skylar chuckles. “She’s a smart horse. She knows when I’m gone, n’ if I’m gone for a long time.” She leans into him with a soft sigh, and leans up to kiss his cheek. “So… got everything done outside?” She was about ready to head back inside- her body was letting her know it was time to rest again.

"I'm done." He smiled, kissing her forehead. "Lets get back inside." He said, walking her back up to the house.

“Good. I’m about ready t’ rest some. Well- gotta do my horns first before I get really settled. Some flaked off, so m’ gonna have t’ sand them smooth before I polish them.” Skylar hummed, and linked her arm with his. She leaned on him as he helped her up the stairs, and then opened the door for them both. Slipping in first, she slid her hat off her skull, and plopped it onto the rack, before working her shoes off her feet. She didn’t bother unlacing them- theoretically, if she did it right, she could turn them into pseudo slip on shoes.

Hamish stood by her and watched then wandered off to collect supplies. They had done the horn polishing routine before, so he knew what she needed. He fetched each item she would need and brought them over to her.

Skylar gave him a thankful smile as she stepped out of her shoes, and took the sandpaper from him. “Thanks, sweetheart.” She gave him a warm smile, and waddled for the couch. She didn’t sit down- getting horn dust on the couch would be pointless- and instead propped her hip against the back of it. She lifted the sandpaper up, and began filing the chipping parts of her horns smooth again. It wasn’t pleasant, one could tell by the scrunch of her eyes, but she didn’t complain. “Mm~”

Hamish rubbed his fingers against her back while she worked on her horns, there wasn't anything he could do to ease the pain that sanding her horns brought, but he could also tell her back was sore and be easing at least one of her pains it could help her feel a little better.

It did feel nice- and once all of the sanding was done, Skylar sighed softly in response. “Thanks for th’ rubs, sweetheart. It feels nice.” She gives him a warm smile. Her horns looked better after being sanded, but they still needed to be sealed in a layer of polish to help keep them from continuing to peel. She took a moment to brush all of the dust off with her hands, and then fetched the container of polish. “Feel like helping me polish?” She questioned lightly.

He smiled and nodded. "I'll help.” He said, plonking himself on the couch and patting the spot next to him.

Skylar gave him a smile, and settled onto the couch with him without hesitation. She offered him the container of polish and the polishing rag, and then tilted her skull towards him with a small hum. “Thanks for the help, Haz.”

He tipped the rag into the polish and then brought it up to Skylar’s horns, starting from the top and working his way back down the to bottom. The polish made Skylar’s horns look so strong and a deeper shade of brown.

Her horns looked a deeper shade, nearly black at the base, and she sighed pleasantly as he worked the polish into her horns. The smooth surfaces drank the polish up eagerly, and the pregnant woman relaxed further into his hands. “Mm… Ya have nice hands…” She informs him warmly.

He chuckled and kissed the back of her shoulder. "Your horns are so beautiful~" He breathed.

“I’m glad ya like them jus’ a lil’ bit.” Skylar smiles softly. “I love everything about you, y’know?” She cuddles into him with a soft pleased sound, her newly polished horns smooth and warm against his touch as he kisses her shoulders.

He puts the rag and tin of polish down and began rubbing his fingers against her back, kneading along her spine.

That wrought a moan from her throat, and Skylar leaned back into his touch with a soft pleased sound. “Oh… Yes… Mmm…” The knots along her lower back began to loosen, and she nearly slumped as her body began to relax. “Hah…”

He let out a soft chuckle. He loved the way she reacted when he massaged her back. She had satisfied him this morning, and while he couldn't do the same for her in the same way, it didn't mean he couldn't satisfy her in other ways.

Satisfying her in other ways was definitely a surefire method to make her a very happy wife. The mass of stress knots in her back began to soften and unwind, and eventually the flesh of her back was softened and relaxed to the point that her muscles didn’t hurt as badly. Skylar sighed softly and began to lean back into him, wiggling to try and get into his lap for a proper snuggle.

He shifted and leaned back against the arm of the couch so she could rest against him.

Skylar cuddled her back against his chest, and gave him a loving smile as she tilted her head back so she could kiss his beard. “I love ya a lot.” She purred softly to him. Her fingers trailed over the bare orb of her middle, still warm from the sunlight, and she gave a content hum. “And they’ll love ya a lot too,” She purred.

"Gosh I hope so." He laughed, rubbing his hand down by hers. "Do you love daddy?" He cooed at her belly, waiting to feel if the boys were awake.

She smiled, and guided his fingers over to where she felt Baby C kicking and stretching lazily inside of her belly. The movements were gentle and languid; showing that time out in the sun with the animals was good not just for their Mommy. "I think that answers ya." She chuckled. "I can't wait t' see what they're like. What their likes n' dislikes are... What sorts o' personalities they'll have. I wonder if one of them will be a Momma's boy, or a Daddy's boy. Pretty sure that's a wonder that'll never end, no matter how many kids we have."

He smiled down at her belly. "I want to meet them, Sky." He said, looking down at their hands.

“I do too.” She hummed warmly, lacing her fingers with his as she snuggled back into him. “At least we know the wont make us wait two extra weeks like Bella did, yeah?” A lopsided grin makes its way onto her mouth as she laughs. “They’ll probably come early compared t’ Bella- so we’ll get t’ meet them early.”

At some point during their cuddling Hamish fell asleep and was awoken when Bella ran inside. Hamish jolted awake and lifted his head. "Take your shoes off." He called out.

Skylar had fallen asleep against him after a while, and the sound of the door smacking open startled her into awareness. She yawned, and rubbed her eyes. “Nnnn… ‘F Bella’s home, then Mom’s home… Should go help her get groceries in.” Skylar carefully shifted off of Hamish’s lap, and struggled to get up. She’d gotten too comfortable- the couch didn’t want to relinquish her.

“A little help from th’ man o’ the house would be nice.” Vera’s voice came from the door, as she scooped up Bella and stripped off her shoes before letting her run barefoot into the main part of the house.

Hamish helped Skylar sit up, and then got up himself. He kissed Skylar’s head, and then shoved his feet into his boots and jogged out to the truck to bring in a few bags.

Skylar wasn’t necessarily idle. She yawned, and waddled her way over to Bella, giving her daughter’s head a gentle ruffle, before making her way outside. She didn’t go down the stairs, but she stood at the top and collected a couple of lightweight bags from Vera and Hamish, before toting them inside the house. She did want to feel somewhat useful, after all. She would begin putting most of the stuff away, however.

Hamish dragged most of the bags inside, Bella bouncing at his feet and asking to carry something. He sidestepped slightly to avoid stepping on his daughters little feet. "Bella, watch out, daddy doesn't want to drop anything on you."

“Wanna help!” She insisted, making grabby hands for one of the bags he was holding.

Vera handed over one of the lighter weight bags she had- the one with Skylar’s new shirts in it- and gave Bella a grin. “Go put this on th’ couch, kiddo. This is for your Mama, so she can put somethin’ on that doesn’t have her hangin’ out in the public.” Vera was a bit more conservative than her daughter was. She wasn’t going to comment on Skylar’s dressing to her face- because Skylar would have words at her mother, and it would not be a pleasant experience- but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t make a side comment where Skylar couldn’t hear it.

Or mostly couldn’t hear it. “I heard that, Ma.” Skylar called dryly from the kitchen. “Ya can thank Haz for the shirt- mine got a bit dirty after breakfast cleanup.” That was one way of putting it. “And I walk around in the nude often enough- my shirt showin’ my belly is hardly an issue.”

“Don’t even remind me o’ your dressing habits.” Vera shakes her head and walks up the stairs with Bella, ushering her granddaughter into the living room so she could drop the bag of shirts off there, while Vera went and dropped off more groceries in the kitchen. “I got the cucumber ‘n apple cider vinegar ya asked for as well.”

“Thanks Ma.” Skylar flashed her a faint smile. “I’ll work on getting that made up when stuff ‘s put away.”

Hamish brought the last load of bags in and set on helping Skylar put things away, as well as doing a better cleanup of the kitchen. He scrunched up the plastic bags and stuffed them inside each other. Plastic bags where handy to have around and he'd rather not throw them all away.

Like Hamish, Skylar tended to hoard the plastic bags. They were useful for a plethora of things, even if they usually sat in a corner for months upon months before being used in a large bunch. All the same, she gave him the bags that didn’t have large holes that made them unusable, and put the rest into the bin for recycling.

The kitchen proper was easy to put away, and Skylar and Hamish got it put away with practiced ease, even if they hadn’t been living together for months. There was something to be said for muscle memory, after all. Skylar even helped him finish cleaning, until the only things left on the counter were several cucumbers, and a massive jug of apple cider vinegar. Skylar went searching for a big Tupperware container, and then a knife, to begin peeling the cucumbers. Well, most of them. She left several alone, tucking them into the fridge for later.

She couldn’t exactly run stuff up and down the stairs like Hamish and her mother could, so she simply busied herself by preparing a sort of healthy snack for much later. She peeled and set aside the cucumber shavings to give to the horses for a treat, before quietly slicing up the cucumber. She sliced the slices into halves, making them easier to eat and making ‘more’ of the cucumber, before plopping it into the Tupperware container. She layered them, sprinkling in only pinches of salt since she had to watch her sodium intake still, and pepper, until almost the entire thing was filled with slices of spiced cucumber.

Then, Skylar poured in the apple cider vinegar, and added in a dash of water to dilute it some, before squishing a lid on it, and putting it into the fridge to let the cucumbers soak in the vinegar. She couldn’t wait to nibble on it later that night- it would give her something to snack on. Not completely unhealthy, and not something that would deplete her supply of fruit that both she and her daughter seemed to enjoy. Darn the McQuillin sweet tooth sometimes- it made keeping ‘sweets’ in the house difficult.

But, vinegar soaked cucumbers were more of something that Skylar was craving than a usual food. All the same, she had a few hours to wait before she could nibble on it.

Hamish stood at Skylar’s side, his brows pushed together in confusion. As a man who lived most of his adult life on canned foods, cucumber in vinegar was like bananas and Vegemite.

Skylar lifted a brow at Hamish’s look. She tilted her head at him curiously. “… What? What’s that look for?” She blinks. “Never had cucumbers in apple cider vinegar before? Lil’ bit o’ salt n’ pepper, n’ they’re really, really good.”

"Look at the man you're speaking too, of course I've never had them before." He laughed, rubbing her back.

Skylar snorts, and gives him a lopsided smile. “Well, ya can try one t’night after they’ve soaked and had time to absorb the vinegar. Trust me, they’re better than they seem.” She rubbed her middle with a soft sigh, and glanced at the fridge. “Too bad they don’t soak up instantly. I could totally eat some right now, but they jus’ wouldn’t taste the same.” She shakes her head. Skylar glances up at him with a warm smile. “Ya don’t get t’ say they’re gross until ya try one.”

He held up his hands. "I'm not saying they're gross. Just something I'd never think would go together." He laughed and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her belly against his.

The triplets want nothing to do with him pressing so close and squishing them, and they nail Skylar in the lungs. She wheezes slightly as she leans into him, and laughs slightly. “You’d be surprised what can taste good when put together. Had Ma get th’ stuff for me t’ do a red wine vinegar roast and gravy for dinner one night, so that’s somethin’ ya get t’ try too.” She gives him a grin. “Gonna get t’ try all sorts o’ stuff that Ma and I came up with while I was livin’ with her for that time again.”

Hamish looked down at her belly and smiled, feeling the boys pushing against him. "Mnn, I love your cooking, Mama~" He purred leaning in for a quick kiss before he stepped back giving the triplets their space back.

Skylar smiled, and gave him a warm look. “I’ll do as much cookin’ as I can since you’ve gone without for so long, but I’m on bed rest, so some nights m’ not gonna be up t’ cookin’.” She reaches a hand up to tickle his beard. “You’re not a half bad cook yourself, Daddy~” She purred back, and smiled at him. “I’m gonna leave one o’ the roasts out n’ do that dinner tomorrow.”

He smiled and leant his head forward to nuzzle Skylar. Bella called out to him, but he didn't have a chance to turn around before a little skull planted itself in the back of his leg. He stumbled slightly and turned around.

Bella rubbed her horns, her little face scrunched up. "Ouch." Her lips pushed out in a pout as she looked up at her parents.

“Bella,” Skylar lifted a brow, “Daddy isn’t like your uncles. Ya can really hurt him ‘f ya ain’t careful with your horns… Speakin’ of… We need t’ get them polished, so they don’t hurt so much. C’mon, kiddo- lets go t’ the couch, n’ get ya all polished up, yeah?” She glanced to Hamish first though. “You okay though? She didn’t get ya too hard, did she?”

"Nah I’m okay... Seems like it hurt her more than me." He said, rubbing her head. "You okay baby? Your horns ouchie?" He asked.

Bella held her horns. "Ouch."  She said again.

Skylar nodded. “Her horns are growing again. She needs some polish on, or they’ll start t’ crack and peel, and then we’ll have t’ sand them down.” And sanding them with a toddler was not a pleasant experience. She’d had to do it with Adam when he had been a toddler- and he’d been a very strong toddler. Skylar offers her fingers to Bella. “C’mere, baby girl. Lets go get your horns taken care of, okay? Lil’ bit o’ polish will make ‘m feel a lil’ better.”

Bella followed Skylar, pulling herself up onto the couch. "Put that on, Mama?" She asked, pointing to the polish. She sat on the couch like a good girl, waiting for her Mama.

"Yup." Skylar eased down into the couch, and collected the tag and polish. She got a small dab onto the rag, and then leaned over, very gently beginning to massage it into the first of Bella's horns. "Polish is very important. It keeps your horns healthy and from cracking and splitting." She informs Bella with a warm smile. "Cracks and splits aren't fun, baby girl. But, that's what Mama is here for; to make sure ya don’t get cracks, and that your horns keep growing healthy and big."

"Big like you, Mama?" She smiled. She looked at the polish.. "Put some on dada… so he can grow howns too, Mama?"

"Big like me." She nodded in agreement. She paused at Bella's request, and then gently moved onto polishing the second nub on her daughter's head. "I dunno if Daddy will grow horns, but ya can ask him if he'll let ya put some polish on his skull." All it would do is make it shiny, after all. It would also be good practice for Bella in applying polish to someone. Skylar was gentle with her daughter's tender horns, and she smiled once she got the polish on. It turned the light brown nubs to a darker, stronger looking hue. "There we go," She smiles. "You're all polished up, baby girl. Your horns should feel better soon."

Bella stood up, looking over the back of the couch. "You turn dada!" She called out to him.

Hamish raised a brow, but he couldn't tell her it wouldn't work. He would just have to humor his daughter. He walked around the couch and sat down. Bella took the rag from Skylar and began rubbing the polish over the top of his skull.

“Ah- like this, baby girl.” Skylar gently took her daughter’s hand, and corrected her motions. She didn’t stop her, or demonstrate- she simply corrected her motions and ensured that she was doing it correctly, before letting her fingers go. “See? Makin’ his skull all nice n’ shiny.”

"No Mama, not he's skull. He's howns." She corrected.

Hamish laughed and looked over at Skylar. Bella worked away, polishing Hamish's ‘horns’ in hopes it would make her daddy sprout a pair.

“O’ course,” Skylar conceded and gave Hamish a wink and a smile. “We’ll have t’ see if Daddy’ll sprout a pair, wont we?” She smooches Bella’s little cheek, and reaches down to rub Hamish’s knuckles tenderly with her hand. “But until he does, he still has his helmet so he can play with ya. ‘F ya ask nicely, he might go get it when you’re done, n’ the two o’ ya can play some more. Would ya like that, baby girl?”

Bella started jumping on the couch. "YAH, YAH!" She gave Skylar the rag and slid off of the couch, running to the stairs and clambering up them. She disappeared for a moment before returning, the helmet in her hands. She sat down on the stairs and slowly made her way back down on her butt, and then ran up to Hamish with the helmet. "Dada, please!" She said, holding it up to him.

“Yeah, Daddy, looks like someone wants to play.” Skylar smiles slightly, and nudges her horn gently against Hamish’s shoulder. “Think you’re tough enough t’ take on Lil’ miss lady here?”

Hamish takes the helmet from Bella and puts it on his head, clipping it in place and making sure it's on tight. He takes Bella's hand and walks her into the new part of the house where there is a large open area still needing to be furnished. He squats down and places his hands on the floor so he is at Bella's height and lowers his horns at her.

Bella’s bare feet dance on the floor in excitement, and she braces herself, before clashing her skull with his. Her hit isn’t as hard as it was the night prior, with her horns still tender and sore, but she works him over all the same, laughing and giggling happily.

Skylar got up and followed behind, propping herself up in the doorway so she could watch her husband and her daughter being absolutely adorable.

Hamish braced himself when she butted against him. But his tough little girl managed to get him on his ass easy, and he laughed and rolled himself back over to try again, bracing hard and keeping his neck down straight to help hold his ground better.

Skylar smiled as she watched. It was good practice for him to head butt against her, and to practice bracing against Bella. When he went against Skylar, it would be like going against a whole new beast- and Skylar didn’t want to sprain his neck. Doing this would help build up the strength in his neck, and he’d be better fit to spat with her. “That’s the third time t’day that you’ve been set on your backside,” She teases Hamish. “Think you’ll manage a fourth?”

Bella giggles at her Daddy’s silliness, and at her Mama’s words, and locks her little nubs with his horns again. She gives a snort, puffing a tiny tuft of steam from her nasal cavity in an adorable mimicry of her uncle’s intimidation tactics, and shoves all of her weight into her next smack. It makes her horns sting, and she steps back a moment to rub them with a soft huff, before diving back in.

Hamish pushes his brows together. He had been going easy on her, his daddy instincts telling him to be gentle or he'd hurt his little girl.

Bella didn't need gentle; she needed competition. He pushed back against her, making her feet slip back slightly and her little eyes go wide.

Skylar smiled as Hamish began to understand just what Bella needed. There was a sort of instinctive level of carefulness within the horned ones telling them just how rough they needed to be with the little ones- Hamish would have to discover and learn his own instincts as he goes. ‘Learned instincts’ were a thing, after all.

Bella’s eyes lit up as her Daddy actually began to challenge her back, and she gave even more of herself into it, happily squealing as she roughed Hamish up and rubbed her head against his in a rough motion. “Dada!” She crows happily.

He grinned and pushed back against her hard, he could still feel her forcing him back, and he wasn't going to let her win again. He let out his own laugh; he loved hearing how happy it made Bella.

Bella crowed happily as she was shoved back. Her pudgy legs strained to push him back, and her little hands came to settle on his shoulders. She let out a mighty grunt as she worked to push him back. Ultimately, the bare bones of her little toes slid on the hard floor, and she squeaked as she slipped and landed on her hands and knees. “Aww, Dada win.” She pouts.

“Dada won,” Skylar nods, “But you did very good,” She praises warmly. “You’re gettin’ stronger n’ stronger.” When Skylar wasn’t pregnant, she’d get down and she and Bella would roughhouse. Skylar’s scar would ache, but she was literally built to take the sort of beating her daughter could give her.

“Yuh!” Bella grinned, and got to her feet again. She rubbed her horns. “Howns owwies.”

“They’re goin’ through a growth spurt, baby girl. They’re gonna hurt as they get bigger.” Skylar hums. “But, they’re not gonna crack n’ peel since you’re all nice n’ polished. Do you want to play some more with Daddy? Or rest your horns some?”

“Mmm… No play.” Bella shakes her head.

Hamish took the helmet off and pulled Bella into his arms, blowing a fart sound onto her cheek. "PRRRFFT!"

Bella shrieked with laughter, and patted his face with her hands. “DADA! DADA NOOO! NOO TOOTIES!”

Skylar snorted, covering her mouth with her hand. She stooped down to collect the helmet for him, holding it under her arm as she watched him ruffle his daughter. She turned to head back to the living room to go rest some more.

Hamish scooped Bella up and carried her back to the lounge. He slumped down on the couch, sitting her on his lap. "Daddy's tired now."

“Dada tiwed?” Bella queried.

“Mama’s tired too.” Skylar settled onto the couch next to Hamish, having plopped the helmet on the coffee table. She reclined as best she could, and curled her feet under her to rest her sore ankles. Bones couldn’t swell, but they could get very, very sore. Her poor feet were generally very sore anymore.

“Babas tiwed?” Their daughter then asked, and scooted over to half drape on Skylar’s belly.

Skylar shifted her, so Bella’s weight wasn’t on her middle, and gently petted her head. Bella was mostly in Hamish’s lap, while the rest of her was cuddling Skylar’s middle. “They are, yes.” She nods. “Are you tired too?”

Bella shook her head but yawned anyway, letting her head settle down to rest where her brothers rested within her mothers belly.

Hamish smiled at Bella, rubbing her little back.

Her brothers shifted under her head, the top most baby kicking lightly against her cheek as she got comfortable. Skylar smiled, and gently stroked her skull. She leaned her own head onto Hamish, and hummed a soft lullaby to help Bella settle down. She didn’t have an issue being a pillow while Bella settled to sleep- once their daughter was asleep, she stayed asleep fairly well.

Hamish watched Bella trying to fight against her heavy eyelids.

She'd already had a busy day, she was still little and needed her naps.

Skylar stroked gently between her little horns, and continued to hum to her. Once Bella fell asleep, Skylar sighed softly, and smiled up at Hamish. “She’s had a busy day,” She whispered gently. “Ya want t’ take her up t’ her room so she’ll sleep without getting woken by the downstairs noises?”

He nodded, cupping her head and lifting her up carefully so he didn't stir her too much. He carried her upstairs and laid her down in her bed. He gave her a kiss, and then closed her door so it just rested closed. She'd be able to let herself out when she woke up.

Skylar shifted on the couch, moving down to one of the arms. She settled on her side, and propped her sore feet up on a pillow as she relaxed and waited for Hamish to return downstairs.

Vera poked her head out of the kitchen, and slid over to the couch to gently brush her fingers along Skylar’s skull. “How ya doin’, baby girl?”

“I’m sore.” Skylar admits. “M’ a bit achy, but the boys are calm. My body hurts, but not in a bad way. In a way that says I’ve been probably doin’ too much today. I did a lot o’ walking earlier, but that’s all I did, I swear.” She glances up at her Mother. “I’m okay, Ma. Really.”

“I know ya are. I still worry. I don’ wanna see what happened t’ me happen t’ you.” Vera leans her short self over the couch to smooch her daughters brow, before straightening up again. “I’m gonna cook up some o’ the steaks your husband has in the freezer for dinner. Red meat will do you good.” She nods. “Ya gonna do the roast tomorrow?”

“Mhm, yup.” Skylar nods. “Gonna put it in the slow cooker in the mornin’, and let it cook all day. That’ll count as me doin’ dinner for the day, and I can rest n’ spend time playing with Bella durin’ the rest o’ the day.”

“I want ya t’ rest most of all.” Vera insists gingerly. “I know ya wanna spend time with Bella, but you’ve got three more in your belly who need you t’ take care o’ yourself. Let us handle entertaining Bella- ‘s what we’re here for. You not resting ‘s what’s gonna send ya into labor early, n’ that’s exactly what the doctor said-”

“I know, I know.” Skylar sighs, interrupting her mother as she crosses her arms over the arm of the couch, and drops her chin onto it with a quiet sigh. Vera only heckled her because Skylar had a tendency to overdo it unintentionally and pay for it later. It didn’t make Skylar feel any better about it though.

Hamish came back downstairs and smiled at the sight of his huffy wife and her mother. "Did you see my helmet?" He grinned, trying to break the slight tension between the two women. He moved around the couch and picked it up off the coffee table, putting it on his head and opening his arms in a gesture of 'ta-da'. He looked like a dork, but the cute kind of dork. "I made it so I could play with Bella. Figured it would stop her butting my knees so much. And she loves it!"

Vera proceeded to snort, and tried to cover it with her palm. “Oh good gracious. Well… From the sounds from earlier, she loves it a lot, n’ that’s what matters. Though… Ya look like a complete n’ utter dork. He’s a keeper, Sky.”

“I know.” Skylar smiled faintly, peering up at him from where she had half of her face settled into the fold of her arms. Her mother’s well-meant heckling might have irked her, but she loved Hamish- and his dorkery never failed to make her smile. “That’s why I married him- he’s a keeper, n’ he’s all mine.”

Hamish grinned, he pressed a hand against the helmet to keep it from falling off and leant down, pressed his faux horns against Skylar's in an affectionate gesture. It felt a little silly, his horns being fake, but it was the thought that counts.

The thought and the gesture meant more than he thought they might. Skylar smiled wider, and leaned her head up to gently press into his touch. She angled her head so she could kiss him softly, and gave him a lopsided smile. "I'm okay," she mouthed to him, so he would know she was fine despite her mood fluctuations that happened from time to time. Skylar kissed him again for good measure.

Vera rolls her eyes in good humor and adjusted her glasses. "Well, I'll leave you two alone. Hamish, make sure she gets rest. I'm going t' go fiddle around in the kitchen. Call me if ya need me."

Hamish's cheeks turn slightly red and he lets out an embarrassed laugh. "I'll make sure she's looked after." When Vera disappeared into the kitchen he smiled at Skylar. "I think your mom is getting sick of our displays of affection." He said, letting out a breath laugh through his nose. He kept his faux horns locked with hers, in a gentle caring nuzzle.

"Well, would your mom have liked t' watch me snogging her lil' boy?" Skylar lifted a brow at him with a bemused look. "Besides, we are very affectionate people for bein' married for almost a couple o' years." They still acted like they were in the 'honeymoon stages' of their marriage, which was ironic since they never got a proper one. Mischief danced in her eyes as he left his head against hers, and she angled her skull slowly up against the hat he had pressed against his skull. She shifted and twisted, and locked one of his horns in the backward curl of hers. She then used her neck to gently pull, urging him to come closer so she could properly kiss him and thread her fingers up through his beard to cradle the back of his head. Skylar knew all sorts of tricks and neat things to do with her horns.

Hamish leant forward slightly and chuckled. "I think she'd like it actually. I never brought any girls home to snog." He couldn't feel it the way he wanted to, but he loved the way Skylar used her horns on his hand made ones.

Skylar chuckled, and unhooked her horn from his so they didn’t get tangled or yanked on if they tried to part ways. Then she kissed him, long and deep, and trailed her fingers smoothly through his beard as she cradled the back of his neck. “Mm… Well, I dunno if she would. Most moms don’t like watching their boys snogging girls,” She grins lopsidedly, “It reminds them that they’re probably off doin’ other more adult things out o’ sight.” She winks, and kisses him again just to do it. “Now c’mere, n’ snuggle up cowboy. M’ sure bending over like this ain’t good for your back.”

He chuckled. "Maybe that’s why I snuck out to meet girls, rather than bring them home." He said, sitting down and cuddling up to Skylar, rubbing his hand over her belly.

Skylar curled her legs around him as he cuddled up to her, and gave him a bemused smile. “Oh yeah?” She quirked a brow, and propped her head into her hand with a grin as he rubbed her belly. It felt nice, and the triplets began to settle down in her middle, giving her some reprieve from their sometimes harsh movements. “I know ya said ya hadn’t had many women, but the way ya phrased it there made it sound like ya were a real Casanova there, Haz.” She gives him a cheeky grin, not sounding bothered by it at all. He might have had other women, just like she’d had other men, but he was hers now, and she was his, and nothing would change that. She didn’t mind hearing of his escapades.

Hamish puffed his cheeks slightly and looked away. "… I mean… I only had… sex with three women." He said, looking away slightly. It wasn't that he was ashamed, more than he was worried what Skylar would think of him.

“Sweetheart,” She leaned a hand over to tilt his chin back towards her so he would look at her, “M’ not gonna judge ya for what you’ve been up to. I told ya my embarrassing stuff- about the blowjobs gone bad. Seriously- m’ not gonna judge ya, I promise.” She leans over to smooch him, and then snuggles up to him.

He smiled and shrugged. "I dunno, it was never anything too exciting. I never went to school, but I came into town a lot with my dad, and some of the girls who did go to the school found me kinda charming I suppose, and had me give them my phone number when they found out I knew how to drive. They would call me up and ask me to come and pick them up and take them for a drive. So I’d sneak out in my dads truck, drive into down and pick up a girl. The first time I did it, the girl directed me to this little secluded clearing area just a few minutes out of town, she said if her friends called me, they'd wanna come here too. We'd always sit in the bed of my dads truck and… we'd kiss... they'd usually give me a blowjob… sometimes they'd want me to touch them too… I suppose, the girls started talking amongst each other, and started passing around my number, because I'd get calls from girls I'd never met before asking me to take them for a drive…"

Skylar chuckled softly. “Yeah, ‘s called the grapevine. You got passed around the grapevine quite a bit. I’m surprised they didn’t jump your bones though- m’ pretty sure ‘f I’d have gone t’ school with you, I’d have probably jumped your bones if I’d have had the time.” She didn’t seem upset by his words- more amused by it. “So ya really didn’t go t’ school?” She tilts her head slightly. “Huh. I did- n’ so did my brothers. Actually got stood up for my senior prom. Longest years o’ my life though, making the drive out t’ school after morning chores, n’ then doing chores at home, managing the farm and my brothers, and managing homework too.” She shakes her head with a sigh, and stretches one of her legs over his.

"My mom home schooled me." He said. "I'd do a lesson, then go out and help my dad for a few hours then come back in and do another lesson, then go back out with my dad until we were called for dinner. My dad needed my help. My mom gardened a lot and would sell food at the farmers markets, but she hurt her hip falling off a horse, so she couldn’t help my dad as much."

“Ah.” Skylar nods softly. “That explains it. Honestly, ya didn’t miss much in being home schooled.” She shakes her head slightly and sighs. “Drama, getting picked on, the teachers picking favorites n’ not giving students the proper attention they need t’ learn… If I could have been home schooled, I would have, but Ma was pretty dead set on all o’ us going t’ public school, even if we all had t’ get up at the ass crack o’ the ass crack of dawn. Well- I did, anyways.” And Skylar wasn’t a morning person. “I didn’t have a lot o’ friends in school,” She chuckled, “because I was what my classmates called the ‘horned morning bitch’. I wasn’t pleasant until I’d had caffeine and it was at least ten in the morning.”

His mouth curled up. "I wish I could have been able to go to school with you. I think I woulda liked you." He snorted and wrapped his arms around her. "I feel like… things happened the way they did for a reason though. Who knows… if we had been in school together, we might now be here, we might have decided we didn't like each other as much after graduation, you know… a lot of stuff like that happened to my mates. Had their high school sweethearts, thought they'd be together forever and it just didn't work."

Skylar nods slightly and snuggles into him with a content sigh. “Mmm, that’s true. But I’ve also seen a lot o’ my classmates who are still with their high school sweethearts. Got a couple o’ kids, n’ all o’ that. Sometimes it works.” Skylar leaned up to smooch his cheek, and gave him a sharp-toothed grin. “I doubt you’d have stood me up for prom had we gone t’ school together. Lemme tell ya, that’s probably one o’ the most crushing feelings t’ experience as a high school girl. I said fuck it, n’ went anyway, but getting stood up sucks. Heh… I think you’re right though- things happened for a reason. I met ya when my brothers were finally ready t’ handle the ranch without me guiding them n’ keeping things in line.” She smooches him. “Though I wish we could’ve met a couple years back, I wouldn’t have had th’ time t’ come stay with you.”

"That and… I never committed to relationships when I was younger because I was more focused on working. My parents never saw a single girl I was with. My mom started blaming herself for me not having a wife when I was younger. She started saying she wished she'd sent me to school. But… I don't think I'd have had a girlfriend even then. I'd feel bad because she'd want to do dates and shit like all the other girls did with their boyfriends… and I'd be you know… Almost an hour away working all weekdays and weekends. I'd never have time for her, and I felt like it was unfair." He explained, watching his hand moving in light circles over Skylar’s belly.

Skylar closed her eyes as his hand rubbed circles on her belly. Her middle shifted and flexed under his hand, pulling and tightening briefly in the most mild of a braxton hicks under his fingers. “Yeah, I understand that completely. Living so far out complicates things a lot, n’ makes it hard t’ keep a stable relationship. It was partly why I never really had any serious boyfriends in school, though the rest was work and the fact that I had t’ mature quicker, and didn’t have a mindset t’ put up with teenage bullshit. T’ be honest with ya, I think I scared most o’ the boys my last couple o’ years o’ school.” She chuckles softly. “I didn’t start seriously dating until after school, and even then I was extremely picky about who I dated. Flings were one thing, but… Dating for me was me considerin’ someone for possibly being with me for the rest o’ my life. N’ no one really… Fit. Not until you anyways, n’ ya had me charmed even without a date.” She glances up at him with a soft hum. “Does it bother you that we don’t do ‘dates’ n’ shit?” She questioned curiously.

They didn’t really, though they spent most of their time together anyways. Her stint away from home was the longest she’d been away from him since they’d gotten together. She didn’t see dates as necessary, really, but she knew it was a normal couple thing to go out on dinner dates or movie dates, even after married. Hell, her mother and father had done it, once she’d been old enough to be left on her own.

Hamish raised a brow. "We do dates." He said. "That time we took Bella to the farmers market. We all got ice cream and watched them herd sheep through town… I would call that a date." He kissed her head. "And when we ordered pizza and set up a picnic in the back yard… I'd call that a date." Okay, not what other couples would call dates.

“Not by society’s standards,” She laughs, “but I’d call them dates too I suppose.” Skylar leans up and kisses him gently, and smiles warmly. “Dates were never big on my list o’ things that were required. I enjoy spending my time with ya- we don’t have t’ go somewhere special in order t’ do that. I can go cuddle with ya in the loft o’ the barn, n’ consider that a date, or go for a walk with Bella n’ you, n’ consider that a date.” She pauses. “Well… a walk might be out o’ reach for me now.” She laughs. “At least a long one.”

He smiled and gave her belly a pat.  "We could go for a little walk." He smiled. "Tomorrow, maybe."

“I did a lot of walking today,” Skylar chuckles softly. “Goin’ for a walk tomorrow might be pushin’ it. M’ really feelin’ all o’ the walking an’ bein’ active that I did today right now. Ya heard Ma grumblin’ at me when ya came downstairs. I’m supposed t’ be on bed rest- which means lots o’ sitting n’ resting. Have I really been listening…? Not as much as I should have been.” She sighs softly, and nuzzles her face against his neck. The pat against her belly woke one of the boys, and baby B gave her a sharp kick to tell her how much he disliked everything about being woken up.

Skylar wanted to go on a walk with Hamish, but she did need to rest. She sure as hell wasn’t going to use the damn wheelchair- not only was it not designed for ground that wasn’t level and flat, but she had no desire to be pushed around at home when she could walk just fine. Town was one thing, home was another. “Maybe the day after tomorrow, we can go on a lil’ walk? Or spend a lil’ time out on the balcony. I can read t’ ya some, if you’d like, n’ we can snuggle some.” She would suggest that they could both read, but with his trouble with his eyes…

He hummed and nodded. "I'd like that." He was quiet, lost in thought for a moment. "Do you think the boys will look more like you or me?" He asked.

“Hm… Maybe a mix. I wanna say closer t’ my colors, maybe. Ma’s got n’ old wives tale that the closer a baby’s ecto flesh color is to your own, the lighter your morning sickness is- n’ since I had none, she’s betting it’s gonna be three for three on blue.” Skylar chuckles faintly. “But… I kinda want a lil’ army o’ mini Hamish’s. Who knows? They might be a perfect mix between us.” She gives him a warm grin. “I know they’re gonna have lil’ horns. Dunno if they’ll grow big or not though. Adam n’ Greg’s didn’t, but they were born severely premature. We’re past that point.”

"Their horns looked smaller than Bella's." He squinted trying to remember the ultrasound picture. "I think their horns are more on their foreheads too like your brothers." He said, though he couldn't remember for sure.

“That’s gonna be fun t’ push out,” She comments dryly, but gives him a warm look. “They are smaller, yeah, but they look a lil’ pointier than hers were if ya recall. All the same, we’ll see once they come out n’ start t’ grow. They might get about as big as Adam’s, or they might stay closer t’ Greg’s size. Maybe even smaller- or they could grow. We’ll see.” She smiles slightly.

He snuggled against her. "Did your dads family have horns? I'm just curious… if more of our kids have horns in the future are we gonna get some crazy looking little horns?"

“Considering the type o’ monster that my Da was, it’s safe t’ figure that yeah, they probably did.” She nods faintly. “I didn’t get t’ know them though. According t’ Da, they didn’t approve o’ him marryin’ a skeleton like Ma. Da told me they gave him an ultimatum- either marry Ma, n’ they’d never talk t’ him again, or find someone else. Da married Ma, n’ that was that.” She shakes her head with a sigh. “Honestly, I don’t understand how folks could be like that. But times do change, n’ I’m glad they do.”

He frowned. He would have liked to have met Skylar’s other half of her family. It would be okay though; Skylar seemed to know enough about horned babies that any question he had she knew the answer to.

She spotted the frown on his face, and sighed softly, glancing away faintly. “Honestly… I’d like t’ at least meet them. Y’know… Show them what they had turned away. Maybe see what sort o’ family I have on that side. But I wouldn’t even know how t’ begin t’ contact them.” She waves a hand with a sigh, and snuggles up closer to him. “Finding lost family wasn’t ever my forte.”

He shrugged. "It might sound terrible, but like I said before things clearly happen for their reasons… If you'd known your family on your dads side… You might have had a different attitude about being with me."

“Maybe… I like t’ think I’m a headstrong woman though.” She nuzzles his chin with a sigh. “Maybe it’s for th’ best that I don’t know them, n’ they don’t know me.” Curiosity still burned in her, and part of her still wanted t’ know that side of her family… but again, she had no way of finding them. They’d also had thirty plus years to find her- obviously they didn’t want to extend the olive branch, as sad as it was.

He kissed her cheek. "I wish I could have met your father more than anything. He seemed like a really good man. I would have like to had a good sit down, and got to talk to him about being a dad."

Skylar smiled at the kiss. “I wish ya could have met my dad. He… He’d have liked you a lot. He’d have adored Bella. Hell- he’d have been here with Ma, and he’d have taken care of the farm for ya while ya tended t’ me n’ Bella.” Her eyes misted over, and she scrubbed them with her wrist. “God damn, I hate pregnancy emotions so much sometimes. Agh, talkin’ about Da always makes me teary eyed like a big ol’ cry baby. Gah… I wish I could turn back th’ clock n’ make it so he didn’t go out that mornin’ with the stallion.”

Hamish kissed her cheek and wiped away one of her tears. "Sorry." He nuzzled her again. "I just wonder sometimes if I'm doing the right thing for our kids. I wish I could ask him these things."

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I don’t mind talking about my Da. I just hate getting all teary eyed over it- it shouldn’t make me want t’ cry, and I know it’s just the hormones doing stupid things.” She nuzzled him back, pressing her horns gently against her bare skull. “Coming from someone who knew my Da quite well… You’re doing an amazing job.” She informed him gently. “You don’t have horns- but ya went n’ invented a device that’ll let ya play and compete with Bella and our future children, just like they need from their dad. Once ya build up th’ muscles in your neck, you’ll be good t’ go.” She smiles wider, and nuzzles him tenderly. “You’re an amazing dad, Hamish. Don’ ever doubt that.”

He smiled. "I just wanna give the babies what they needed. Watching how much fun Bella had with your brothers made me sad that I couldn't join in."

“Ya give them all they need n’ more.” Skylar chuckled softly. “I could tell watchin’ Bella play with Adam n’ Greg was getting’ ya down. I jus’ didn’t say anything so I didn’t make ya feel worse. I fell in love with the man without horns- I knew what that meant when I would have children with ya, sweetheart.” She gently bumped her head to his chin. “Thomas ‘s gonna have t’ deal with that too, y’know? Jus’ cause he doesn’t have horns, doesn’t mean that he can’t possibly pass on the genetics.”

Hamish nodded and smiled. "God seeing how much she loved the horns I made… It made me feel so good." He smiled. He could tell she was still having a hard time wrapping her mind around the concept of him not being able to have horns, but the way her face lit up seeing him with horns, even if they where fake, made him feel so good as a dad.

“She’ll learn that ya wont grow horns… But she’s gonna enjoy the helmet, even into her teen years I’ll bet.” Skylar smiles. “N’ she’s good for ya t’ practice with. You’ll want t’ build up th’ muscles in your neck before you n’ I actually lock horns.” She smooches him gently again, and smiles warmly. Skylar then grunts softly, and shifts positions, so she’s draped against him, her middle resting it’s weight on his body instead of free dangling over the edge of the couch. She had to change positions every so often or she would get uncomfortable, sadly. All the same, this new position let her cuddle even closer, so it was a good position on the couch.

He laughed and reached up, grabbing her horns and giving them a gentle tug. "I bet I could take you on." He teased. He knew it was a lie, but he liked stirring.

Skylar expanded her lungs and held her breath for just long enough, before expelling a cloud of steam from her nasal passage right into his face, not unlike a bull out in the pasture might do before it would charge. It was a larger scale of what Bella had done to him, but Skylar’s was much more impressive and often much more intimidating. She lifted a brow and grinned at him. “Sweetheart, once I’ve recovered from having the triplets, you’re on.” She shook her horns gently in his grasp, not wanting to smack him since they were so close together.

Hamish let his eyes close as the puff of steam blew over his face, his cheeks flushing slightly. He loved when she got a little rough with him; it was something he enjoyed about her, she wasn't soft about things.

Skylar spotted his flush, and leaned up to nuzzle her face to his. “Are ya gonna be able t’ keep up with me?” She grins cheekily at him, sharp teeth gleaming slightly. “Or are we gonna have a visit from a not so little friend while we’re tryin’ t’ see who’s stronger?” Skylar loved a challenge- and she knew that Hamish loved when she got ‘rough’ with him. She wasn’t ever too rough- she knew how to be just rough enough to be fun, but still soft enough to be enjoyable. And blowing steam in his face never failed to excite him- though it probably just stimulated his adrenaline glands- so she had to wonder if them rough housing with their horns would get him rearing to go for a different kind of round.

He made a small sound and shrugged. "I won't know until it does or doesn't happen." He tugged her horns again, leaning her head back so he was able to kiss her. He was usually a little rougher on her but, she had just sanded back her horns and he wasn't sure how long they could stay tender for.

She let out a thankful noise as he was a little bit gentler with her horns, as they would be sensitive and semi-raw for a few more hours yet, and met his kiss passionately. The polish helped keep her horns more pain free than without. Without the polish, he wouldn’t be able to touch them at all. Her hand slid up and cradled the back of his skull, cuddling him close to her as her mouth worked tenderly against his. Skylar hooked a leg over his hip, and let herself be as engulfed by his presence as she could. His scent, his touch, his body- she cuddled as close to her husband as she could and let him envelop her in his being as she sampled his taste and enjoyed him greatly.

He rubbed his fingers along the soft bumps of her horns as they kissed. God her mom was right, they were like horny teenagers, he thought. The thought made his mouth quirk up into a smirk against their kiss.

The smirk had the soft prongs along her lips that she’d inherited from her father quirk up into a smile against him. When she drew back for a breath of air, her brow followed. “What are you smirkin’ at there, mister~?” She teases gently, eyes resting at half mast as his fingers stroke along the soft bumps and ridges that make up the texture of her horns.

He snorted. "Just that your mom is right about us… but hey, we missed out on the teenage years, we've gotta make up for it." He brushed his fingers along the bumps of her horns.

Skylar laughed gently. “That we do. We’ve got years o’ kissing t’ make up for n’ I for one am in need o’ more kisses. And more horn pets, ‘f ya don’t mind giving them.” Her mouth found his again, and she snuggled close, her breasts pressing flush to his chest as she sighed happily against his lips.

Hamish's eyes dropped down and he caught a small glimpse of her breasts as she brushed her lips against his, and he let his eyes closed as he leant in to kiss her again. Kissing was okay, he enjoyed it, but it didn't really turn him on when it was just kissing. It was the other parts of Skylar that were going to make things awkward for him if Vera came back into the room.

Skylar was fully aware of it too- and did her best not to rouse him too much. But her breasts were large and full, and she couldn’t really make them go away, so they pressed to his chest as she cuddled him and kissed him tenderly. Her tongue brushed gently against his lips in a teasing motion, but she choked on it as someone cleared their throat above the couch.

Vera leaned over the back and peered down at them. “I was gonna bring ya’ll drinks. But it looks like ya already got yourself a tall drink o’ water.” She lifts both brows in amusement. “Figured I should ask Hamish if he needs somethin’ t’ drink before ya seduce him n’ drain him dry.”

“Oh my god, Ma.” Skylar shoved her face into Hamish’s chest and felt it burn a bright blue. “Oh my god. I wasn’t… Oh my god. I wasn’t gonna seduce him. Was just… kissing.”

“Riiiight. That offer for drinks still stands.”

“Tea please… n’ then some privacy?”

“Sure, sure.” Vera nods. That was, unfortunately, one of the things that they’d have to deal with until Vera went home. Living with the mother in law usually included all sorts of embarrassing pop ins- mostly because Vera wasn’t just going to socialize with just herself while they snogged on the couch.

Hamish's face turned cherry red. He couldn't stop the flush either; it was just something that happened whenever he was embarrassed or flustered. His flush traveled from his face down to his neck and shoulder. He cleared his throat.

"Uh… I'll take a beer?" He said, trying to force the embarrassed tone from his voice.

“Tea n’ a beer.” Vera nods, and makes a quick trip to the kitchen. She returns, and hands over the promised drinks, before pointing upstairs. “I’m gonna go upstairs for a bit. If ya need me, come fetch me.” She’d have said give her a holler, but Bella was napping and waking Bella prematurely was asking for a tantrum from hell.

Skylar took the tea and the beer, balancing them on her middle and using it for a table. “Thanks Ma.” She nods. Once Vera is gone, Skylar sighs and holds Hamish’s drink out to him. “The one thing about Ma being here… She pops up out o’ nowhere and can fluster the fuck out of you.”

He pinched the neck of the bottle between his fingers and pressed the opening against his lips, tipping the bottle up to take a deep sip from the drink. He let out a long sigh and smiled at Sky. "I… It's alright." He held the beer as he turned his face to hide his flush against her shoulder.

Skylar paused as he hid his flush against her shoulder, and snickered softly. “Ya know… It might not be half bad, ‘f I get t’ see your flush more often. I love when ya get all blushy like that. ‘S adorable.” She nudged his head with her cheek, and giggled softly.

He chuckled and lifted his head, giving Skylar a quick kiss before taking another sip from his beer. "She's not gonna start disliking me for smoochin’ on you all the time is she?" He asked, glancing towards the stairs.

“Nah.” Skylar takes a sip of tea to wash away the taste of beer, which is extremely unpleasant to her pregnancy taste buds. “Ma ain’t that petty. She’ll sass us for all o’ the kissing though, but that’s about it.” Skylar sighed and snuggled up to him with a soft, pleasant sound. “Mmm… I like bein’ right here, all cuddled up.” There might not have been much room on the couch, but it felt nice to be so close to him.

"It's nice." He said quietly, looking down at Skylar. He rubbed her horns with one hand while he cradled his beer in the other.

She leaned into the touches on her beard, and smiled gently at him. “Mm… Speakin’ o’ nice things n’ rubs, y’know the oils I put on my belly? I’ve got some for muscles too. I don’t mind giving ya a rub down t’night n’ working out any tense muscles ya might have, ‘f ya’d like one.”

He bit his lip slightly. That did sound really nice. "Are you sure? If it's going to be too much for you, you don't have to." He said. He'd rather give her a massage and deal with his achy muscles than put her in an uncomfortable position.

Skylar quirked a brow at him and leaned up to kiss him. She’d deal with him tasting like beer- it wasn’t the end of the world. “I wouldn’t have offered if I couldn’t do it.” She smiled at him. “So long as ya don’t mind my belly probably rubbing on ya while I’m massaging ya, then it shouldn’t be an issue.”

His brows pushed together slightly, like her belly rubbing on him would ever be a problem. The only problem they would face would be that he'd probably enjoy his massage in two ways. He laughed and shook his head. "I don't mind~"

“Good.” She smiled. “Then it’s a date. We can do that t’night, after Bella’s in bed.” She grins at him cheekily. Something clicks in Skylar’s head, and she briefly squirms on the couch. She leans partly off, to set her tea on the table, and grab her phone off the coffee table. “Speaking of night time… Here we go… We forgot t’ look at furniture last night. Wanna look at some now while we’re all cuddled up together?”

He shifted slightly to wrap his arm around her, taking another sip from his drink. "Shit, we did forget, didn't we." He looked down at Skylar's phone. "Yeah, we can do some shopping."

Skylar cuddled into him better, and took a moment to make her icons and text bigger, so he’d be able to see what they were looking at without a problem. “Alright. Lets see… What should we look for first, ya think?” There was a lot that they needed, honestly. The house was pretty barebones at the moment.

He hummed in thought. "New couches, for the new living room so we can make this space up into an open kitchen and dining room instead of our table being so cramped...I was thinking a bigger table too, since our family is getting too big for the table... plus, if your brothers and their kids come up, we're definitely going to need a bigger spacing for dining." He said, despite the text being bigger, he still squinted slightly at the phone.

She watched him squint, and frowned slowly. “Mmm… Yeah, we’re gonna call n’ make a doctors appointment for the optometrist for ya tomorrow.” She decides. “Couches n’ a table sound good though.” She flicks through browsers, and types a few things in, before pulling up dining sets first. “Considering we want a big family, we might as well plan for a big one. Also for guests, if our kids ever bring friends over- Lola and Ava and their family too. So… At least what… fifteen seats, since we want like… eight kids?” No sense in buying multiple tables over multiple years.

He glanced away slightly letting out a small puff of air through his nose. He looked back at Skylar's phone. It was easier to see the pictures than it was to read the text. "What about those table that we can extend, you know? We usually have it as a ten seat table, but then when more people come over it extends out into a bigger table."

"I like that idea." She nods in agreement. Skylar tabs through for extending tables, and hums as she finds what she's looking for. "Small selection, but it looks like its a nice selection. Got oak, cherry wood, maple... Ah here we go. This one is a ten seater normally, and can extend to sixteen seats with the extra leafs added to it. Kinda bland t' look at, but nothing that some wood stain and varnish can't fix. What do ya think?"

Hamish leant forward to get a better look, squinting to read the size and details of the table. "I like that one."

"I think we could do something with some stain and get it a darker color." She nods and pokes at the screen with a hum. "Want me t' add it to our cart?"

He nodded. "Yeah, we can fix it up, make it work." He said. "Couches next.. I love these couches, but they're a little small...and old." Most of the furniture in the house was his parents stuff… even some of his grandparents stuff that had been given to his parents.

"Little small n' old is the truth. But they've worked for now." She shifts against him, and starts typing. "What type o' couch? Leather, pleather, suede, regular fabric?" Her fingers worked out other specifications, going for larger end couches. They just needed to know the material.

He shrugged. "Just something that will fit in with the style of the house." He said.

She rolled her eye lights with a sigh at him, and turns to look at him. “Hamish,” She said, “Style doesn’t always matter. The leather or the suede would look very good in the house, and leather is very easy t’ clean if something gets spilled which is good for the fact we now have kids, but leather is colder than a witches tit in the winter. Likewise, leather can also stick to thighs and butts in the summer when one’s all hot n’ sweaty. Same with pleather. If something gets dropped on suede, it doesn’t ever come out, so us having fun on the couch would have t’ be done with a protective blanket, or we’d have stains from us on it, not t’ mention whatever the kids will drop on it over the years. Regular fabric is boring, and fairly scratchy usually, but is usually easier t’ clean if something is spilled on it, and doesn’t give you sticky butt in the heat, or cold cheeks in the winter. Each has it’s merits and it’s flaws- so what sort o’ material do we want?”

She still typed in style as ‘ranch style’, which would give it the wood finish and make it more likely to match the house.

“Leather is probably our best bet with the kids. We can work out a way to deal with the cold and stickiness." He looked over the different colored leather couches that Skylar scrolled past.

“We could get an afghan t’ cover the couch?” Skylar suggested lightly. “I’m not much for crocheting, or I could make one, but buying one wouldn’t be a bad idea.” She glanced over the different colors of leather, and then tapped on a black one that caught her eye. “Ooo, look at this one. ‘S got a wide seat, n’ a nice plush back n’ bottom. That seat looks like it could fit both o’ us for snuggling, and Bella too. It looks like it’s one o’ those weird corner couches.” The ones that were shaped like strange ‘L’s. “So lots o’ seating space. Only thing I don’t like is the space below it, though… I get th’ feeling we’ll have mischievous kids under there grabbing ankles n’ scaring the beejesus out of us someday. Whatcha think?”

Hamish chuckled at the thought. He enjoyed imagining their kids wanting to try and pull pranks on them, playing hide and seek together scurrying under the couch for a good hiding place. "I like it." He said. "Add it to the cart."

She could practically see the wheels turning in his head, and it made her smile. She added it to the cart, and then flipped over to afghans, quietly flipping through. “Well… They all look pretty close to the same for patterns. I suppose we just have t’ decide what color scheme we want? Maybe… Blue, white, n’ brown?”

Hamish cupped Skylar’s hand and pulled the phone closer so he could have a better look. "Yeah." He nodded in agreement. He was never very good at interior decorating. He knew what he liked the look of, and would usually just put things where he though they would look nice.

Skylar seemed to have a vision of what she wanted, and he liked everything she had shown him.

Skylar nodded, and selected a couple of them so they could change them out as needed, and then flicked over to chairs and the like. “Alright… Lets get some chairs n’ stuff. Maybe some bookshelves too…? When we get ya a pair o’ glasses, I imagine reading time ‘s gonna become more common, so a space t’ relax n’ read with the kids would be a good idea.”

"More books would be nice in general. I can read kids books, the text is big and bold… easy to see." He said, poking her playfully.

Skylar snorts and gives him an amused look at his poke. She wiggles her fingers at him, and then proceeds to bury them into his ribs and tickle him in a moment of playful tomfoolery. “We can go get more books at the book store in town once we’ve got the shelves for them. I like t’ read. It’s a nice activity in the winter. You’ll be able t’ read the adult books once we get your eyes checked out.” She sticks her tongue out at him playfully, and then draws her fingers back to herself. She flicks through a few nice cherry wood book shelves, and selects a couple of them to be sent out, before scooting back to chairs and recliners so they could pick a couple of them.

Hamish jerked slightly and let out a laugh, trying to wriggle away from her fingers without shoving her off him. He pressed his mouth against her cheek and blew a fart like he did with Bella.

Skylar snorted in the most unladylike way, and guffawed as quietly as she could. She cuddled up to him and grinned, crossing her legs slightly as she giggled. “Okay, okay, truce. A tickle war with ya will result in me peein’ myself, n’ I don’t want t’ do that t’day.”

Skylar’s snort made Hamish laugh again, and he leant his head back and clapped a hand over his mouth to muffle the sound. He winced hearing Bella let out a slightly distressed sound but relaxed when she went quiet again.

Skylar sighed in relief. She giggled quietly then, and poked his cheek. “Shhh… Lets get back t’ what we were doin’ and let her sleep. She needs it, or she’ll be in a tantrum for hours until she falls back asleep.”

Hamish took a deep breath and calmed himself down. "Okay, okay." His smile stayed on his face however.

Skylar’s did too. She smiled, and settled back down into looking into furniture with him, smiling all the while as she read the specifications to him, and debated on if they should get this, or that.

Hamish smiled at his wife, he took a moment to just soak up her presence, the both of them cuddled up on the couch, and began to imagine what it would be like for them in a year from now, when their boys would be born with their house completely finished. He pondered spending the absolute rest of his life with the woman he sat with, all the while chiming in and giving his two cents when she needed it while they decided on the furniture for their home.