[Sam260]

Julia shook her head and sighed "No, Sirius... Honey, I need you to take a seat... We should talk. I'll make the tea; Ginger, right?" At Sirius's nod, Julia took the mug from the tall man and gently pushed him toward the dining room table "Go and sit." Julia said as she filled the tea pot with water and then set it over the stove to heat up "Nothing like freshly steeped tea... My husband even showed me how to steep tea leaves that are already pre-bagged."

As she started the process of opening the bag of ginger tea and getting it into a steeping pot, she looked toward Sirius "You realize you have your fiancé - my son - absolutely worried about you and the health of your two boys? Not the ones he's carrying, but the two you're carrying?"

[hockeypreg2]

Sirius put a hand on his belly, frowning. "But I'm doing fine. No problems with the babies. He goes to the doctor with me so he knows that."

Sirius huffed a little, stretching his legs out. "I know I'm older but we did all the tests and as far as we can tell there aren't any genetic abnormalities that can happen with advanced age. There could be a surprise when they're born but Marc hasn't seen anything on the ultrasounds that would suggest that. Why would he even think there's anything wrong with them?"

[Sam260]

Julia frowned heavily and shook her head as she came over with two mugs and the steeped tea, setting them both on the table and pouring two helpings of tea. She sat down beside Sirius and looked at her future son-in-law seriously "It's not that kind of health I'm speaking about, Sirius. Of course he knows that they are healthy, but this..." she pointed at him, encompassing the bags and lines around his eyes and the general tired slouch he was in "This is not healthy."

Julia sipped her tea slowly and sighed "You are effectively running yourself into the ground, exhausting yourself, just to try and be a superhero fiancé... When Gio doesn't want, nor need, that from you. He just wants you to sit with him, hold him, talk to him. He doesn't need you running around and cleaning, he doesn't need you trying to carry him everywhere... He just needs you by his side." Julia reached over and took Sirius' hand in hers "He needs less of a superhero, and more of a fiancé - do you understand what I'm saying?"

[hockeypreg2]

"I just want to take care of him," Sirius said softly. He squeezed her hand gently. "He is so uncomfortable all the time and it's because of me. The babies are large because of me and I can do things to help him out. And he can't do the cleaning right now and I can. I plan on hiring a service but I haven't found one yet..."

Sirius trailed off at the look Julia was giving him. "Does he really think I'm not resting and taking care of myself? Because I am. I know I look awful right now so that doesn't sound like the truth. I don't like being away from him either. We spend most of our free time together so I think I'm by his side ... but I guess I'm not doing it right."

[Sam260]

Julia sighed and scooted over so she could wrap Sirius up in her arms, laying his head against her chest and softly humming into his hair "Shhh, It is okay, my son... It is okay." Julia said softly in Greek, rubbing her hand up and down Sirius back lightly "You are doing the absolute best that you can, we both know that, but he doesn't care right now if the house is clean or if you have clothes to wear." Julia laughed softly and nuzzled Sirius' head lightly.

"Yes, my son may be uncomfortable and in pain, but it is not entirely your fault; you weren't the only one having unprotected sex." Julia reprimanded lightheartedly, letting Sirius sit up again cause she knew the tall man was likely uncomfortable "But that is besides the point - if you needed help, you should have asked your brother, or Sidney, Carlo... You guys could have called me - I would have flown out here in a heartbeat if I knew that you needed assistance... You are not alone in this Sirius, no matter how much you want to be, you have a lot of family members now that can help you - Even those two little ones, Titan and Theo? They could have lent a hand around here, I'm sure, if you paid them the right price."

[hockeypreg2]

"I don't... I'm not good at asking for help," Sirius said haltingly. He turned the mug in his hands before bringing it up to his mouth to sip. "I've been on my own for a long time and used to not relying on other people, even in relationships. I'm good at giving help but asking for it." He shook his head. "No. Especially not with my family."

"Silas and I didn't get along for a very long time. I mostly dealt with Sidney and I really came here to be closer to their kids. So I could help them. I've gotten pretty good at leaning on Gio and turning to him when I need something but right now he's just as stressed as I am. Probably more."

[Sam260]

Julia huffed, stubborn as a mule... All Greek men "You are just like your brother, and my husband. I can only imagine what your father and his father, and the father's before were like." Julia said as she stood up and grasped onto Sirius' ear gently "bring your tea with you, I am sure that your fiancé is not yet asleep."

Julia carefully yanked Sirius up by the ear and tugged him through the open living room and into Gio and his bedroom "You are to lay down with your fiancé, and you are not allowed to get up but only to go to the restroom, for the rest of the evening. You will call for me if you or Gio need anything." Julia released Sirius and pointed a stern and steady finger toward the bed, glaring at Sirius when he looked ready to protest "Ah-ah, you listen to Momma Julia and go to lay down. I do not care if you sleep, but you will be resting more frequently for the remaining months of your pregnancy."

Gio buried his face in the pillow, cheeks and ears turning a bright red as he tried withholding his laughter. When Julia snapped at him in Greek, Gio huffed and lifted his head up "Sorry momma. I won't antagonize him!" he said with a grin, looking over at his fiancé as he begrudgingly got into the bed next to him.

[hockeypreg2]

Sirius looked completely taken aback as Julia stood over the bed until he actually laid down. Misha climbed up her steps and trotted up to curl up on the pillow next to Gio, not caring that Sirius had just gotten scolded like a child. In fact, he hadn't been treated like that since his mother had passed away and it was a little ... well. Julia reminded him of her a little. Calla Flint had been a very tough woman.

"I'll rest," Sirius said quietly, turning onto his side and getting a pillow between his legs. He got as close to Gio as he could, his belly pressing against his back. "I was going to rest soon."

[Sam260]

Julia nodded and smiled as she bent down to press a kiss to the back of Sirius' head, and then gently scratched behind Misha's ears "Good. You need the rest, you both do." Julia said and then left the bedroom, pulling the door shut behind her.

Gio giggled as he turned his head and kissed Sirius on the forehead as best he could "I'm sorry. I should have warned you that my mother picked up a lot of bad Greek habits. She has lived there almost all of her life, except for the first thirteen when she lived here with her parents..." Gio said and shook his head, slowly turning over, bringing the pillow with him. He set his hand on Sirius' stomach, letting their bellies touch lightly.

"My grandmother used to pull my father and grandfather around by the ear whenever they would do something she did not approve of... And my momma, God bless her, picked up that habit and has been doing it for the past thirty years with my Pa, and all of her kids."

[hockeypreg2]

Sirius reached up and stroked Gio's cheek lightly. "My mother used to do it as well. Your mother reminds me of her a little. It's been a long time since anyone has mothered me. Turns out you remember how to act when they grab the ear. No struggling, bend down, don't complain. Like riding a bicycle."

One of Gio's babies kicked hard, pushing against Sirius's belly. Both of his babies responded and he laughed a little as they kicked back. "Really? They're roughhousing in separate wombs. We are going to be in trouble with these boys."

[Sam260]

Gio laughed and looked up at Sirius, sniffling a bit - even if he wasn't crying, he was always sniffling; like he had a non-stop cold, which was almost true the further along he got in pregnancy. "Yeah well, they need to stop because my bladder won't be able to take much more of the roughhousing." Gio said, squirming slightly; but he didn't pull back, a soft smile on his face.

"At least we know that they love each other, even though they can't see each other right now..." Gio said as he gently rubbed his thumb back and forth on Sirius' stomach, feeling Sirius's twins kicking as his own two kicked up a storm of their own as well. "We need to reinforce them though, as they get older... I really do not want stubborn children, Si."

[hockeypreg2]

"They will be Flint's. There is going to be some level of stubbornness in them," Sirius said with a small smile. "But we'll work on it and maybe they won't be as stubborn. I know that Theo and Titan aren't that bad compared to Silas and myself."

Sirius stroked his thumb over Gio's cheek. "You should roll back over. It's better to be on your left side. I'll get as close as I can to hold you. I do want a nap. I know you want one as well."

[Sam260]

Gio: Eight Months Pregnant | Sirius: Nine Months Pregnant.

Gio huffed as he shifted on the bed once again; his body surrounded by a mountain of pillows, mostly around his hips to keep the pressure off of them - Just one month left and he had been on bed rest for his seventh month, the beginning of his eighth, and he was not going to see his ninth month of pregnancy - that had already been determined by Marc who had been making regular house-calls to Gio and Sirius' house to check on the two pregnant men. Gio was completely developed and had already been showing signs of pre-term labor; and along with all of that, Gio was completely and utterly miserable - he hated being cooped up in bed all day.

The only positive and bright side to it, was Sirius was keeping his promise to stay close and not do too much. It wasn't necessary, not with Julia around and keeping the house in order. Sidney and Silas were also frequent visitors to the house, bringing all six of their kids over to entertain Gio and Sirius while Julia and Silas cooked up meals and Sidney did house chores - it had been hard, at first, to get Sirius to agree to all the help they were receiving, but once he did, he found his stress levels going down dramatically and he was able to just focus on growing two happy and healthy little boys, which of course, in turn, made Gio's stress levels go down as well, so while they were uncomfortable and pregnant and complained about looking like beached whales - they were happy, healthy, and growing.

Gio whined loudly and clutched at the blankets, a gasp leaving his mouth as he dropped his head back against the pillows. "Siriusssssssss!" he screamed, his fiancé being in the shower at the current moment. Gio had been warned, several times, what a real contraction would feel like and he was damn certain that what he'd just felt was really real! Marc didn't care if Gio went through three million contractions before he was even dilated, he wanted Gio at the hospital immediately, because of how bad-off Gio's hip was, needing to stabilize it for the delivery so they could hopefully avoid a C-Section.

[hockeypreg2]

Sirius heard Gio's shout but he couldn't move quickly at this point, his belly large and low. He was due in two days but Marc said he looked like he was pretty stable the last time he had been over. He wasn't dilated at all even though the first twin was head down and in position.

He stuck his head out of the shower, shampoo in his hair, one hand on the wall to help him keep his balance. "What is it?"

[Sam260]

Gio squirmed and whimpered loudly, panting through the first short contraction "It's time, Sirius..." Gio said, turning his head so he could see Sirius; having to raise his voice over the sound of the shower and the distance between the bed and the shower "The first contraction hit and... I don't think they are going to be slow and spaced out properly... That first one was really painful and strong!"

[hockeypreg2]

"Okay," Sirius shouted back to him. "I've got to rinse the shampoo out of my hair and then I'll be out. Call for your mom and have her call Silas. We need him to come over."

Sirius got back under the spray and rinsed out as quickly as possible. He really needed to wash but he would deal as he lifted his arms to at least rinse off the sweat. He turned off the water and carefully got out, drying himself off quickly and wrapping the towel under his belly so he didn't flash Julia. He waddled out to find Julia helping Gio pant through another contraction.

"How close are they?" Sirius asked, going to the dresser to get clothes on.

[Sam260]

Julia shook her head slowly "Only about fifteen minutes apart so far - I've already called Silas and he's on his way over. Thank god it's still early in the day or he would have been at the restaurant already." Julia said, rubbing Gio's back slowly and kissing the top of her son's head "You are doing so good sweetheart... Just relax until the next one."

Gio nodded and laid back against the mountain of pillows again "My water started breaking, too... We're gonna have to buy a new mattress." Gio said, turning his head to watch as Sirius pulled the towel off of his body and started changing - his fiancé may not have wanted to flash Julia, but Gio was certainly getting an eyeful of Sirius' ass and other parts. A blush coming to his cheeks as he held onto his mom's hand "Momma, I love you. Thank you for being here!"

[hockeypreg2]

"Of course, my baby." Julia kissed his forehead and snuck a peek of Sirius. She winked at her son and gave him a thumbs up. "I am glad I am here to see my grandbabies be born."

Sirius struggled into a pair of underwear before carrying sweats over to the bed. It was impossible to get dressed standing up at this point. If he was sitting down, he could pull the pants up enough to get them on. He was glad Silas was on the way because his back was aching and he wasn't going to be able to help Gio as much as he wanted to. Silas was going to be his stand-in when strength was needed. Otherwise Julia was going to do a lot and Sirius was going to do what he could while sitting down.

"A new mattress is not a problem. I'll have Sidney handle that for us," Sirius said, grunting a little as he pushed himself back to his feet to finish pulling up his sweats. "Julia, I'm going to need you to put socks on me. That's just impossible at this point."

[Sam260]

Julia laughed softly and waved Sirius back down into a seated position "Never mind you, sit down and I'll help you. Good thing Gio is already dressed..." Julia said as she grabbed a pair of clean socks and got down to help get them over Sirius' feet; she lightly touched around his ankles and feet and sighed "You're awful swollen today, Sirius... How are you feeling?" Julia asked as she stood back up.

Gio sat up in concern as well, hissing as his hip jostled slightly "Don't jinx us, momma! We are only allowed to do this one at a time! Marc said so - we cannot go together!" Gio panicked, his eyes going wide.

Silas came in at that point and shook his head "Gio, my brother is stubborn as a mule - you know this. He'll make sure those boys stay inside of him until you are well off and out of labor." Silas said as he came over to the bed and pulled the blankets back slowly "I'd say we had time for you to change your pajamas, but we really don't..." Silas said as he bent down and easily lifted Gio up into his arms, turning to face Julia and Sirius "Who is ready to deliver some more Flint twins?" he asked happily.

[hockeypreg2]

"I'm fine," Sirius assured everyone. He pushed his way to his feet and tugged a t-shirt over his head. It clung to his stomach tightly even though it was huge. "My back hurts but that's nothing new nor is the swelling. These boys will stay put until the other two are born."

He waddled after Silas, Julia following him. Misha was at the bottom of the steps, yipping softly and bouncing around. "Misha, crate. Carlo will come get her as planned, right?"