The Rise of Venus

Blue Eyes and Lies

Song: romantic/light academia playlist by crachead

"Hold still, please," I murmured. My son, LJ, stopped squirming in my lap at my quiet order. Taking a deep breath, I forced my hands to stop trembling and grasped the black comb. Working out the knots was easy once I got him to stay still. Small knots of his shaggy silver hair fell into the trash as I made silk out of untidy straw. "There, all done."

LJ turned to me with a goofy smile. One that reached his wide, startling blue eyes. It created lines at the edges of his eyes just like his father did when he genuinely smiled too. My heart stuttered at the little mocha skinned pup. The one that was mine but not mine at the same time.

"Thanks, Mommy."

Mommy.

This river, my Gods this river was far too cruel.

Forcing a smile, I watched as little LJ hopped off my lap and joined Leo by the stove. At Leo's stern order to stand back, our pup became upset, pouting at the slight rebuke. I stifled a laugh while watching Leo's broad back work diligently to make our breakfast. To appease our raging pup Leo let LJ make the chocolate smiley faces in the pancakes. He even let LJ flip the bacon in the popping oil.

Popping oil that burned Leo as he turned LJ away from the hazard. Shifting LJ so that he was more comfortable on his hip, Leo single handedly cooked the rest of the food. With our son's help he plated everything nicely.

Still dressed in his checkered pajamas, little LJ heaved himself onto the chair next to me. As if by habit, I reached over and cut his food up into bite sized pieces. LJ watched me hungrily as he munched on the sausage he stole from Leo's plate.

"Thanks, Mommy."

Mommy.

I smiled again, rustling his soft hair as he dug in. The boy was a sloppy eater. Syrup lined his lips and dribbled down his chin. He whined when his eggs touched his cold fruit. Regardless, he still ate it after Leo raised a single brow at him.

"Hey," Leo called. "You ok?"

Worry lined his older features as he reached over to rub my belly. A warmth like no other spread throughout me at his gentle touch and I felt a kick from within. Gasping at the new sensation, my gaze fell to my stomach where my unborn pup was kicking. She was strong. Her legs were pounding away where her fathers hand rested. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before.

Nothing short of euphoria could describe this moment right here.

"Blue Eyes?"

Placing my hand next to his, tears lined my eyes as her kicking increased tenfold. "She's kicking," I whispered. My child was kicking.

"Oh, lemme feel!" Before I could protest LJ's sticky hands latched onto my stomach. His small palms pressed against my belly. In response his sister focused all her kicking in his general direction. The two pups bonded through my skin as I watched on with pure awe. The swelling in my heart made me want to stay in this moment forever.

I didn't want to leave.

"Hey, Marshmallow," LJ giggled. His sticky fingers spread the syrup all over my white dress as he dragged his hands everywhere. It was like a game they played all on their own. Wherever LJ's hands went my baby girl's powerful kicking would follow.

"LJ, how many times do I have to tell you that you're not naming your sister, Marshmallow?" Leo fed me blueberries and chunks of pineapple as our pups played. LJ huffed at his father, never taking his gaze off the rippling of my skin. Leo poked my cheek, raising a brow at me teasingly. "This is what happens when you tell our son he gets to name the next baby."