Work Text:
Baby Steps
“Ohmygod he’s so cute!” Karlach leaned down to peer at the small child currently nestled against Astarion’s chest. “Oh you’re just a cutie aren’t you?” she cooed. “Can I hold him?”
“What do you say hmm? Want to meet your auntie Karlach?” Astarion carefully lifted the baby out of the sling on his chest. “Just be careful, he’s a bit of a squirmer.”
“Oh you’re a big one,” Karlach grinned and bounced the baby. “Gods how old is he?”
“He just turned one,” Astarion reached out and brushed an unruly curl away from the child's forehead.
“How the hell did you end up with a baby, fangs?” Karlach asked.
“How else does one get a baby?” Astarion asked with a raised eyebrow. “And no Wyll, I didn’t steal him.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Wyll had to stand on his toes to look over Karlach’s shoulder. “He’s got Gale’s eyes, how funny is that.”
“Actually, they’re a mix of mine and Gale’s,” Astarion smiled.
“Wait…” Karlach looked at Astarion. “Are you saying…the two of you…really?”
“Really what?” Gale asked as he walked over with Shadowheart in tow.
“These two made a baby together,” Karlach answered.
She held up the child and he babbled, starting to squirm in her hold. He smiled revealing a set of incoming teeth and two tiny fangs.
“How?” Karlach asked. “I mean, I’m not dumb, I know how but also...how?”
“It’s a bit of a long story,” Gale rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“We’ve plenty of time, plenty of food and wine,” Shadowheart held up a bottle for emphasis. “I think I speak for all of us when I say, you two clearly have us beat in terms of ‘how’s my life been since we last spoke.’”
“I don’t suppose you’ll leave us alone until we say something hmm?” Gale asked.
“Probably not, woah hey, ow, alright, how about we say hi to uncle Wyll?” Karlach winced as the baby grabbed a fistful of her hair and babbled pulling on a few strands. She passed him off to Wyll who didn’t have any time to move before a tiny fist was closing around one of his horns.
They all got comfortable around the fire, Astarion offering Gale a glass of wine as the two sat next to each other.
“So how did the two of you wind up with a baby?” Karlach asked.
“Well, it all started when we were on our way back from a small trip and we got caught in a rainstorm,” Gale began. “And so we decided to take shelter in what we thought was a stable.”
“Only it turned out to be an abandoned shrine to Lathander.” Astarion finished as he drank some of his wine.
A Year And A Half Earlier…
They’d been traveling back to Waterdeep after seeing Karlach and Wyll in Baldur’s Gate.
Ever since they’d found a way to leave Avernus with ease they’d be coming back semi-frequently to see Wyll’s father. They’d been visiting Sorcerous Sundries after the shopkeeper had written to Gale about some trouble he was having with some of the artifacts Lorroakan had in his tower.
“Hells! it’s really coming down out there isn’t it?” Gale had to shout over the sound of the thunder and rain to be heard despite the fact that Astarion was standing right next to him. “I don’t think we’ll make it to the next town.”
“Well we can’t stay out here!”
“What?!”
Astarion leaned in closer. “I said we can’t stay out here!” He squinted and Gale was thankful that at least one of them had darkvision and cast a small shield as Astarion took his arm suddenly pulling him out from the makeshift cover they were standing under.
“Where are we going?!” Gale asked.
“I think I see a small shelter or something!” Astarion answered.
It wasn’t very special. Mostly non-descript, made of stone. On first glance it might even look like a small stable if it weren’t for all the candles and the small shrine of Lathander in the middle of the floor.
They ducked inside and Gale shut the door behind them dismissing the shield, not that it had helped much. Gale pushed his hair back from his face and wrinkled his nose as his robe seemed to cling to him.
He could still hear the rain coming down on the roof but thankfully it held.
“We should warm up…well, you should warm up,” Astarion was already unshouldering the packs he’d been carrying.
Gale had to agree and they got to work getting a fire going. It felt weird making a camp in a shrine dedicated to Lathander but it seemed like it hadn’t been used in a long time.
“I know you don’t feel cold the same way, but you still need to at least get out of those wet clothes,” Gale told him as he took off his robe and found a spot to hang it to dry. His underclothes weren’t as soaked and once the fire had started going they were more dry than damp.
“Usually I’d make you buy me a drink first but we do have some wine left,” Astarion joined him on the pile of blankets and pillows Gale had conjured up for them to sit on. He’d dressed down and pulled the cork out of one of the bottles before sitting down next to Gale and taking a long swig before passing it over.
Gale laughed a little and drank some wine. “Do you think it’s odd that this shrine is here in the middle of nowhere?”
“It’s a shrine to a god, aren’t they meant to be in the most obscure places?” Astarion rolled his eyes.
“What about followers though? I mean, the few days we’ve been traveling in this area, we haven’t seen a hint of another person,” Gale told him.
“You’re thinking about this too much,” Astarion smiled amused and accepted the bottle back from Gale. “It’s dry, it’s warm, well getting warm. We have wine and miraculously the food hasn’t gotten waterlogged. We’ll just throw a sheet over his statue and pretend it’s not there.”
Gale laughed a little. “If we’re just going to be eating and drinking do we really need to cover him up?”
“Who said we’d just be drinking and eating hmm?” Astarion raised an eyebrow.
“Astarion!” Gale tried to be scandalized.
“Gale,” Astarion smiled. “Darling, I know you’re close to your rut. Otherwise you wouldn’t have wanted to leave as fast as you did.”
“Can you really smell it?” Gale frowned. “I used soap and everything…”
“You do remember I’ve got a keen sense of smell, yes?” Astarion raised an eyebrow. He shuffled closer. “And you know how you get when you keep trying to put it off. Cranky, irritable.”
“I do not get cranky,” Gale blushed and drank more wine.
“Darling, you get cranky,” Astarion laughed. “It’s cute though.”
“You really want to? Here? Of all places?” Gale asked. “In a small shrine?”
“Isn’t Lathander the god of life or something? He’d probably be flattered,” Astarion set the bottle side and straddled Gale. “Granted, it still won’t top the time you let me drink from you in front of Mystra’s shrine…but you’ll sleep better. And I trance better when you sleep better.”
“Careful, your sentimentality is showing,” Gale teased as he slid his hands under Astarion’s shirt and stroked his skin.
“You’re rubbing off on me,” Astarion shrugged and leaned in to nuzzle him. “So…is that a yes?”
“It’s increasingly hard to say no to you, you realize that right?” Gale leaned in and kissed him.
“I know,” Astarion grinned.
Astarion didn’t waste time and pulled Gale into another kiss. “So, are you going to fuck me?” He nuzzled him and scraped his teeth over Gale’s scent gland feeling the man shudder.
“As I said,” Gale swapped their positions and pressed Astarion down onto the bedroll and nudged his legs apart. “You are, increasingly hard to say no to.”
He reached between them to palm Astarion through his trousers. The scent of his slick already starting to fill the air and his senses. He kissed the other man and slid his hands up and under his shirt to stroke his skin and pinched his nipples between his fingers.
He couldn’t wait to get their clothes off and used a simple spell so they were naked and skin to skin. Even with how cool Astarion’s skin felt, it didn't quell the heat that Gale was feeling. He kissed down his chest, wrapping his lips around a nipple and teasing the man's hole with his fingers.
He could smell his slick and briefly brought his fingers to his mouth to suck them.
“How is it, you always, taste so good?”
“It's a talent,” Astarion nipped at his lip. “Now are you doing to fuck me or not?”
“Bossy,” Gale nuzzled him.
He eased his fingers into him, stretching and working him open slowly as he prepped him. As much as he wanted to just fuck him, he didn't want to hurt the other man. He pulled his fingers out onc he felt he was prepped enough and nudged Astarion onto his front.
Gale stroked himself a few times and pressed the head of his cock against the vampire’s hole and started to ease in slowly.
Astarion moaned clenching around him and resisted the urge to push his hips back and bit his lip. Gale pressed in before pulling out and thrusting back in creating a steady rhythm. He tucked his face against Astarion’s neck again and breathed in his scent.
The bergamot, and death that entirely Astarion. He wrapped an arm around his middle, splaying his fingers over his stomach.
“Ah fuck,” Astarion moaned louder and started to rock his hips back to meet his thrusts. “Wi..will you knot me?”
Gale felt his hips stutter.
“Are…are you sure?” he asked.
“Please,” Astarion reached down and put his hand over his. “I-I want you too.”
Gale kissed the side of his neck and began to pick up the pace. He could feel the air getting warmer, the sound of their skin slapping against skin. His knot pressing against him with each thrust.
He left a few open mouth kisses on the inside of Astarion’s neck. Grazing his teeth against the skin and let out a low groan as his knot pressed into the man beneath him. He continued to thrust his hips, moving his hand to stoke Astarion’s cock.
He didn’t come yet and just continued to thrust into him even with his knot stuck inside Astarion. It didn’t hurt like he thought it might, it felt good. Astarion’s walls clenching around him.
Astarion came first, spilling over Gale’s fingers, moaning his name.
Gale came after holding himself inside Astarion. He expected that was it, the calm before the storm, but his knot started to deflate and he pulled out before thrusting back in holding Astarion by the hips.
“Gale, I'm pregnant…Gale, you know how you always talked about one day settling down and having a family? Well, here's your chance.”
Astarion groaned and fell back on the bed to look up at the cieling. He smoothed his hands down his stomach and curled them into the material of his shirt.
A child. He was carrying a child. This was beyond the realm of anything he could consider to be a possibility. And yet, here he was. Maybe they shouldn’t have had sex in that temple after all.
It was the only timeline that fit. It explained why he hadn’t had his heat in a few months. They’d always been sporadic to almost non-existent at times. They’d been a bit more regular since unofficially mating with Gale.
They were practically mates, they just hadn’t bonded.
Which was fine. Neither of them were eager, or had really talked extensively about it. Between his bond as creator and spawn and Gale’s former bond with Mystra, both were content with being free for the time being, but...would that change with the baby?
He stood up and went downstairs to the kitchen to the ice chest stocked with blood. He picked a jar at random and got a pot to put over the fire. There was still a little time before Gale returned home and while Astarion wasn't worried. He was still…worried.
“I've never done this before you know,” Astarion sat on the sofa next to Gale with his feet tucked under him.
“That makes two of us,” Gale smiled and reached over to put his hand over Astarion’s. “But, that’s alright isn’t it? We’ll find our footing together...Take it one day at a time.”
Astarion looked down at their hands and nodded.
“One day at a time.”
And here they were. Four hundred and thirty two days later.
Not that Astarion was counting.
He poured the blood into a large mug and carried it upstairs to the tower's library. Gale had enchanted the windows after they had first returned home so the natural light could fill the room and Astarion didn’t have to worry about bursting into flames. It was a thoughtful gesture, one that Astarion eagerly took advantage of. Gale was searching for the rumored sun walker ring that would let Astarion walk in the sun permanently.
But Astarion had found Waterdeep’s night life was nothing to scoff at.
The sun was just about setting when he heard Gale come in downstairs. His feet on the staircase before he walked into the library, dropped his things on the floor, walked over to the couch and sat down next to Astarion promptly lying down and laying his head in Astarion’s lap with a loud groan.
“Rough day darling?” Astarion chuckled and ran his fingers through Gale’s hair.
“The headmaster wants me to give this year’s commencement speech,” he titled his hand in the direction of Astarion’s fingers. “Oh yes, right there. That is lovely.”
“A high honor no doubt,” Astarion mused.
“Yes, but why me?” Gale pouted. “I have done everything I can to not make myself stand out. I’ve done my part getting the students ready to actually graduate.”
“You’ve also managed to skip out on commencement every single time,” Astarion pointed out.
“I’m being punished aren’t I?” He opened his eyes to look up at Astarion. “How are you feeling? Did you see the healer today?”
“I did,” Astarion didn’t stop stroking Gale’s hair.
“Anything we should be worried about?” Gale asked
Astarion took a deep breath. Now or never, he thought.
“I’m with child Gale. Your child,” Astarion answered.
He waited, watching the mage’s expression for any change. He blinked up slowly at Astarion.
“You’re...pregnant?” He asked.
“Yes,” Astarion answered.
“...With my baby?” Gale asked.
“Yes,” Astarion nodded.
“...Do you think we have to send a card, or go back to visit that shrine for Lathander?” Gale asked as he looked at Astarion.
“Lathander didn’t make it so I could have your baby...he can’t do that can he?” Astarion frowned. “Of the two of us you do have more experience with the gods.”
“No…at least I don’t think so?” Gale started to sit up. “God’s aside, it…sort of makes sense? I mean, we’re not running for our lives anymore, steady food supply, a proper place to rest…”
“So my body decided it wanted a baby before I did? Wonderful,” Astarion leaned back on the couch and ran a hand through his hair.
“Is it what you want?” Gale asked. “Shock aside. I can’t say I’m not happy at the prospect of us having a baby together. We have a good life. More than enough room in the tower. We’ve plenty of money so cost isn’t an issue, but those are just things on a list, they don’t cover the emotional aspect of what it means to have a child.”
“I haven’t really thought past the whole ‘oh wow, I’m pregnant’ part,” Astarion told him. “And I could be wrong anyway, it just sort of fits.”
“Alright,” Gale reached over and took his hand. “So, first thing tomorrow. We’ll go to the healer and get confirmation and go from there.”
“One step at a time right?” Astarion asked.
“One step at a time,” Gale answered. “I stopped by the butchers on the way home. Picked up some more deep rothe blood that you like. I can warm some up for you.”
“Maybe later,” Astarion squeezed his hand. “Tell me about the rest of your day. How’d the rest of it go? Aside from being forced to give the commencement speech at the end of the semester?”
Astarion grimaced as he splashed some water on his face. He reached down and rubbed his stomach waiting for it to stop rolling and settle. If he had any reservation about his being with child before, there weren’t any now. It’d been a few months now, and there was a small swell where his stomach had normally been flatter.
It was weird.
Knowing he was carrying another life now.
One that he and Gale had created together. He was scared, worried about what the future was going to hold for them. He didn’t remember his own childhood and so much of his life had been under the thumb of the monster that made him into a vampire spawn.
He ran a hand through his hair as he left the bathroom and went downstairs to the kitchen. He could hear Tara and Gale talking to each other quietly.
“What are you two conspiring about now?” Astarion asked as he sat down at the kitchen table.
“Conspiring implies there were never plans to tell you,” Gale walked over and leaned down to kiss him and pressed a warm cup of blood into his hands.
“True true, I’m more likely to conspire you plan,” Astarion mused and took a small sip of the blood. He relaxed when it didn’t appear to make him sick and leaned back in the chair. “So then, what were you planning?” he asked.
“I was thinking we could go out for dinner once classes are over this week,” Gale answered. “Get a little dressed up?”
“What, like a date?” Astarion laughed a little and cleared his throat when he realized Gale was being serious. “Really?”
“Yes…that is if you want to,” Gale answered. “We don’t have to if you would prefer to stay in.”
“No, no,” Astarion set down the cup and stood up walking over to Gale. He took his hand and leaned in to give him a kiss. “That sounds nice...I don’t think you’ve taken me on a proper date yet. And we haven’t done much aside from baby planning, it’ll be nice to do something different.”
“Yeah?” Gale smiled and wrapped an arm around his waist. His other hand drifted down to rest over the small swell and stroked it with his fingers. “Speaking of baby’s...you know we’ll have to tell my mother at some point?”
“I know...but we still have a little time right? I know the healer said things were progressing smoothly, but I just want to wait a little longer before we say anything..is that alright?” He bit his lip.
“Of course,” Gale assured him. “We can tell her when you’re ready. No rush.”
“You’re spoiling me,” Astarion leaned up to kiss him again. “And you’re also going to be late if you don’t leave now.”
“I could always cancel class,” Gale replied.
“Next time,” Astarion gave him another kiss. “Now go. We’ll still be here when you get home.”
“Fine fine,” Gale squeezed his hip. “I’ll try not to be too late.”
Astarion shook his head and sighed as he walked back over to the table and sat down. He picked up the cup of blood and pulled over one of the books they’d discarded on the table reading a few pages.
Astarion smoothed his hand down his stomach as he finished getting dressed. It was hard to believe that a little over three months had passed. It was harder to deny that he was pregnant now that there was a definite swell to his midsection.
It was still a bit surreal to know he was carrying another life. Their child. They had agreed to wait before telling anyone. It wasn’t that he was scared, but part of him had still felt like everything was just a dream and one day he’d eventually wake up and none of this would be real.
That it was some figment of his imagination that he’d conjured up.
But it wasn’t.
It was real.
“Astarion? Are you almost ready? I told my mother we’d be there a little after sunset.”
“Almost,” Astarion called back and ran his fingers through his hair to fluff up the curls. “Just putting on the finishing touches.” He sat down to put on his shoes and stood up as Gale appeared in the doorway. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful,” Gale smiled as he walked over to kiss him. “Are you sure you’re alright with walking? I know it’s not a far walk, and the fresh air will be good…”
Astarion rolled his eyes. “Gale stop it. I can walk the half mile to your mother’s house,” he wrapped his arms around him. “It’s your knees we should be worrying about,” he teased.
“Hush you,” Gale kissed his cheek.
It was a nice evening and he could tell Gale was going over everything in his head as they walked. Astarion himself was trying not to let on how nervous he was. Gale always talked about his mother, they were close that much was evident, even if he’d never officially met her. She sounded lovely and Astarion wanted to make a good impression.
He wasn’t sure showing up three months pregnant, and not mated was the right way to go about that. But he had to try right? He was brought out of his thoughts as Gale squeezed his hand and opened the gate leading up to a quaint looking cottage.
He knocked before opening the door and letting them in. “Mother? We’re here,” He called as they stepped inside.
So he was welcome…That was a good sign right? He thought as he crossed the threshold. Or was it because the baby was part human?
An older woman with a striking resemblance to Gale stepped out of what he assumed was the kitchen drying her hands. Her soft brown waves were tucked up in an elaborate bun and her eyes sparkled with mischief that Astarion immediately liked.
“Gale Dekarios, I know you did not make this poor young man walk all the way here in this weather?” she chided her son gently as she walked over to greet them.
“Mother it’s barely an hour walk,” Gale replied.
She walked over and gave him a hug before pulling away. She held her arms and Astarion realized she was asking permission to hug him.
He was enveloped in her scent. She smelled like lavender and oranges. It tickled his nose in a pleasing way and he inhaled deeply, already feeling calmed by her presence.
“He’s taking very good care of me, I assure you,” he told her. “And it was a lovely walk.”
“I should hope so,” she smiled as they parted. “You’re carrying precious cargo after all.”
“Mother!” Gale blushed embarrassed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Sorry…I uh, may have gotten a bit…excited…”
“Gale! You said he knew,” she crossed her arms over her chest. “And you call me gossip.”
Astarion looked between the two of them. Gale had told his mother? They had agreed not to say anything until Astarion had gotten further along but at the same time, he couldn’t really fault him for it though.
“It’s alright, I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did,” Astarion smiled. “Well, at least now we don’t have to worry about spilling the secret before dinner.”
“Sit sit,” Morena took his hand and led him over to the sofa to sit down. “I want to hear all about you, oh Gale, I took down the good glasses and I picked up some cider from the market. It’s strawberry. Gale mentioned you are able to keep some things down?”
“I’ll just get the drinks then,” Gale leaned down and kissed Astarion’s cheek before going to the kitchen.
And here Astarion was worried.
“I am, which was a fun little discovery,” Astarion smiled.
“Do you believe it’s because the baby is both a part of you and Gale? A, oh what did he say, a dhampir? Am I saying that right?”
“You are,” Astarion smiled. “And it’s possible? We’re still trying to figure it out ourselves. We’ve written to our druid friend, Halsin. He’s going to be stopping by for a visit soon to check on the baby, and mentioned he had a bit of research that he could share with us.”
Gale returned with three glasses of cider and offered one to Astarion. He took a small sip before a larger one. The right side of sweet and tart. He’d have to have Gale get a few bottles to keep at home. “In the meantime, you’ll have to tell me all the embarrassing stories of Gale as a child.”
“Oh!” Morena grinned. “That reminds me, I was cleaning out the attic and look at what I found,” she set down her glass and reached under the sofa to pull out a leather bound book. “I found Gale’s school and baby portraits.”
“Mother…” Gale blushed embarrassed. “Astarion doesn’t need to see those…”
“Oh I most certainly do,” Astarion grinned as the woman opened the book. “Oh you are adorable.”
Astarion stretched as he paced the length of the hall. He ran a hand through his hair and admired the paintings, and diagrams that lined the walls of the tower. A few were family portraits of Gale and Morena. Some were of Tara, and some were of Morena, Gale and Tara.
It was sweet. Maybe they could get one one day.
He went back to the bedroom and started to sit down on the bed when he felt some movement.
“Gale! Gale!”
“What? What’s the matter,” Gale appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. “Is it the baby? What’s wrong?”
“They kicked me,” Astarion let out a delighted laugh. “I…I was walking around, stretching my legs, and I felt it.” He walked over and took Gale’s hand placing it on his stomach. “Wait…wait for it.”
He grinned, feeling another small kick.
“Oh that was a strong one,” Gale laughed and moved his hand as he felt another one. “Gods this is…surreal.”
“You’re telling me,” Astarion smiled as he leaned his forehead on Gale’s shoulder. “They…they’re kicking, and I…I can feel it. I…feel everything.”
“Hard to believe only a few more months before we get to meet them,” Gale stroked his stomach. “Are you excited?”
“Terrified,” Astarion hugged his stomach. “Being able to feel them, means that…it’s all real. That we’re going to have a baby and a-a family, and I, I never really had that before. Not really.”
Gale wrapped his arms around him. Astarion wiped his eyes and cleared his throat.
“Sorry…”
“Hey, you don’t need to apologize,” Gale cupped his face in his hands. “I can’t imagine all the things you must be feeling right now, but you are allowed to feel them.”
“Even if I start crying over the tiniest of things?” Astarion asked as he looked up at him. “Or get mad at you for something stupid like leaving your clothes strewn about?”
“Even then,” Gale smiled and leaned in to kiss him. “Oh,” he looked down at Astarion’s belly, feeling another kick. “And I think they agree.”
Astarion groaned and fell back on the bed. He was supposed to be meeting Gale at the academy later that evening. It was a little ritual they’d started doing, Astarion would walk to the academy to meet Gale, and they would walk home together.
Only this time, he couldn’t fit into his pants. He ran a hand through his hair and sat up. He rubbed his stomach.
“This is it isn’t it?” he asked, to no one in particular. “I’ve crossed the threshold. I can no longer fit my own pants.”
He stood up and walked back over to the closet but paused as he passed by the mirror. He knew he couldn’t see his reflection. Before it had never really bothered him. He didn’t think he ever really changed, but now here he was carrying a new life, and he could see the changes his body was going through but he couldn’t see the changes his body was going through.
Astarion dug through the pile of clothes and the floor and found some pants that seemed like they would fit. He found his shoes and cloak and made sure he had everything before leaving the tower. He used the spell Gale had taught him to lock the door.
He made his way to the academy. It was mostly empty given how late it was and he followed the halls to Gale’s classroom.
The man had an office but was hardly, if ever, there. He knocked on the door before poking his head inside and saw Gale at the desk. He’d taken to wearing spectacles (much as he hated them Astarion thought they made him look dashing).
“Hello darling,” Astarion smiled as he went into the classroom and shut the door. “Hard at work I see.”
“Hey you,” Gale set down the quill he was writing with and stood up coming over to meet him. “Is it that late already?”
“Not impossibly,” Astarion wrapped his arms around Gale’s neck. “I...would have been sooner, but it seems the little one, has decided I’m no longer fit to wear my own pants…”
Gale raised a curious eyebrow as they parted and looked down. “Are…are those my pants?” he asked amused.
“Yes alright…” Astarion crossed his arms over his chest. “I had to borrow them...Just,” he ran a hand through his hair and walked over to sit on Gale’s desk. “All this stuff is happening with my body, all these changes and…I…can’t see it so I can’t prepare and if I can’t prepare then I don’t know what to expect and…”
“Hey, hey, it’s alright,” Gale walked over and rubbed his back. “No one can really be truly prepared for children Astarion, but, that’s not what you’re referring to is it?”
Astarion shook his head. “It’s vain I know.”
“You are vain,” Gale smiled and cupped his face in his hands. “You wouldn’t be you if you weren’t. But I can also understand your feelings, and I might have something to help with that.”
“What? Do you have some kind of magic mirror hiding in here?” he asked.
“Not this time,” Gale answered amused. “But something close. Let me get cleaned up here and we can go home and I’ll show you.”
“I do love a nice surprise,” Astarion stood up and watched Gale gather his things and took his hand as they left the classroom. “How was class by the way? Shaping the minds of tomorrow?”
“It was good, they’re doing well,” Gale replied as they walked back to the tower. “The headmaster has approached me once again about the commencement speech.”
“And you said no?” Astarion asked.
“Commencement this year would fall around the time of the baby’s birth,” Gale replied. “It’d be too close.”
“And the excuse next time?” Astarion raised an eyebrow.
“What? That’s…that’s not an excuse,” Gale replied.
“Darling, we’d have at least a few tenday if not more between the commencement for this semester and the baby’s arrival,” Astarion told him. “Besides, I think it’d be good for you. As much as you like to pretend, I know you care about your students, and they adore you. I think they’d appreciate hearing you speak...and I wouldn’t say no to seeing you up on that stage.”
“Oh really?” Gale asked and wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Indeed,” Astarion answered.
They made it back to the tower and Gale dropped his things off in his office. He grabbed one of the spell books he kept on the shelf.
Astarion sat on the arm of the sofa as Gale flipped through the pages. There were notes in the margins. Calculations. Comments written in Gale’s scrawl.
“Ah, here we are,” Gale smiled.
“What’s this?” Astarion asked.
“It is a spell,” Gale answered. “It’s…I’ve been working on it for a while now, modifications I mean. Different ways to do the spell. And I think, I can teach it to you. It’ll take time, but I can at least use it to…show you what you look like.”
“You, you can do that?” Astarion asked.
“Magic involves having some sort of conduit. Natural magic users are connected to the weave, so that is what we use as the conduit. For you, at least at this time, I can be your conduit.”
He offered his hand to Astarion.
Astarion bit his lip. “Alright…and, this will work?”
“I’m not sure,” Gale admitted. “I’ve never done this before, but we could try, right?”
Astarion took Gale’s hand in his own and sat next to him giving it a small squeeze. “We can try.”
“Alright, repeat after me,” Gale instructed.
He read off the spell and Astarion repeated after him. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to feel anything. Or if he was going to feel anything but he did feel a small shiver up his spine. And smelled a hint of rosewater and the ozone. Not dissimilar to when Gale was using his command of the weave.
“Good, now I’m going to picture you in my mind's eye, and if the spell worked, you should be able to see it,” Gale told him softly. “Alright, open your eyes.”
Astarion wasn’t even aware he’d closed them. He opened his eyes and let out a small gasp. “Is…is that me?” He wanted to reach out to touch but he was scared that it was just going to disappear.
“That’s you,” Gale told him. He helped him stand up and take in his own full appearance. “Astarion? Sweetheart, what's the matter?”
“Nothing, nothing, I just,” Astarion reached up to wipe his eyes with his free hand. “I haven’t seen myself since the last time my eyes turned red, and I grew fangs.” He reached down and put his hand over his stomach.
He turned to the side and the mirror image did as well. He could see the definite swell of his stomach. He pulled Gale into a hug and kissed him. “Thank you. This is, thank you. Will you teach me the spell?”
“I’ll write it down for you,” Gale promised. “And with practice, you’ll be able to do it on your own, without my help.”
“Thank you Gale. Really,” Astarion tucked his face against the man’s neck.
The next couple of months almost seemed to fly by. It didn’t take long to master the spell and it became his own little ritual. He’d wake up and lay in bed. Gale would leave some blood for him on the nightstand and a little snack.
He’d cast the spell and look himself over. It was a marvel being able to see the changes his own body was going through. There were still good days and bad days. They still didn’t know much about how their baby would be.
There wasn’t much information on damphirs. Between Gale and Halsin they’d scrounged some things together, enough to get by, not not enough to really know what they’d be getting into once they were born.
“Do you think they’ll be able to withstand the sun?” Astarion asked as he watched Gale paint the nursery.
He’d been helping but his back had started to ache so he’d made himself comfortable in the rocking chair. Another gift from Halsin in addition to coming by to check on him, and the bassinet he’d built for them.
“Some of the reading I’ve found-”
“You mean old bard’s tales?” Astarion asked as he stroked his stomach. He smiled, feeling another kick.
“Some bard’s tales hold grains of truth,” Gale told him. “But yes...some of them say that it is possible they’re able to withstand the sun but have what might be considered an allergy to it. Nothing that could really cause them any harm.”
Gale set down the paintbrush he was working with and wiped hips hands off and walked over to sit with him.
“I keep thinking about all the things that parents do with their kids,” Astarion answered as he looked at Gale. “Taking them out for strolls. Going to the park. Playing…outside…what if we can’t do those things with them? What if…I can’t do those things with them?”
“We will find a way,” Gale took his hands. “I know we don’t know a lot about what this baby is going to be like, we’ll learn. If our baby can’t go outside then we’ll find a way so they can. If they can’t eat regular food then, I’ll explain to the butcher that I’ve become some deranged sanguimancer.”
Astarion laughed. “Something tells me he just might actually believe that,” he let go of Gale’s hand and stroked his cheek. “And…what if they can do all those things...but I can’t?”
Gale knelt down on the floor next to the rocking chair. “Do you remember when we first got to Waterdeep and it rained for...the entire first two tenday? And I was upset because I wanted to show you all that Waterdeep had to offer but we couldn’t because of the rain.”
“You moped around for most of it, how could I forget,” Astarion smiled a bit.
“I...yes, I was disappointed,” Gale chuckled. “But do you remember what I did during and after I finished mopping?”
“You made it sunshine indoors for me,” Astarion answered. “We walked through the garden, and watched the docks, and you made me a sunshine that I could withstand.”
“And I will always make it sunshine indoors for you, and if I have to make it sunshine indoors for you and our baby, then I will make it indoors for you and our baby. We will make this work. No matter what.”
“Promise?” Astarion asked.
“Promise,” Gale answered.
“You feel…so good,” Gale buried his face in Astarion’s neck and continued to thrust into him. “Are you sure this is alright?”
“Darling for the last time, if you do not fuck me, I will flip us over and ride you myself,” Astarion reached back to grip Gale’s hip.
Gale chuckled and nipped at his shoulder. “You know, that isn’t exactly a bad thing in my book.”
Astarion laughed a little and pushed his hips back against Gale’s as the other thrust into him. He could feel Gale’s breath on his neck, the hand holding his on the bed, the hand cradling his belly as they moved together.
He thought sex with Gale was great on a good day, but this was, he didn’t think it could feel this good. His whole body felt like it was on fire. Everywhere Gale touched felt aflame and Astarion couldn’t get enough of it.
“Mo-more,” Astarion closed his eyes and leaned forward to let Gale thrust in deeper.
His knot pressed against the rim of his hole and he could feel it stretching him with each thrust. Gale sat up, still holding his hand and putting the other near the base of his spine as he kept thrusting into him.
“Gods you’re beautiful,” Gale moaned. “And amazing. And incredible, and I love you. So, so much.”
“I love you too,” Astarion moaned and squeezed his hand.
“Goodness, look at you, appear ready to pop,” Morena smiled as she gave Astarion a hug. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” Astarion smiled as he hugged her back. “Ready to pop...still a few months away but gods am I ready for them to be here already.” He reached down and put his hand over his belly. “Oh, oh they’re kicking.”
He took her hand and placed it over the spot he felt them moving. Morena squeezed his hand as they walked to the kitchen. He got them some tea and sat down.
“Thank you for stopping by, with Gale busy with the end of the semester. It's…been a bit lonely, and since I can’t go outside for another couple of hours…”
“You’re going a little stir crazy?” Morena asked.
Astarion nodded. “Pretty much.”
“I was like that too right before Gale was born, all the things I wanted to do but couldn’t,” she replied. “But, at the same time, you’ll miss it once the baby’s here. Trust me on that.”
“Gale’s already told the headmaster he’ll be taking the next semester off to help with the bay,” Astarion smiled and stroked his belly.
“And don’t forget, I’m just right down the way. I will be more than happy to come by and take the little one off your hands,” she told him.
“I...was hoping to talk to you about that,” Astarion bit his lip. “Gale and I were wondering, if…and you can one hundred percent say no,-”
“Yes,” she smiled.
“You don’t know what I’m going to ask,” he smiled.
“You want me to stay after the baby’s born? Just for a little bit while you get settled?” she asked.
He nodded. “Is…is that a big ask?”
“Of course not,” Morena reached over and took his hand. “I would be more than happy to stay after the baby’s born. That’s what family is for. I’m here for you both.”
“Thank you, that, that means a lot,” Astarion squeezed her hand. “Really. I’m not used to…”
“It’s alright,” she told him. “I know, it was…hard after Gale’s father left us. But you are not alone in this. You’ve got Gale, and I’m right here with you.”
Astarion leaned forward and hugged her. “Thank you Morena, just, thank you.”
“Gale, what’s going on?” Astarion asked as the other led him upstairs.
“It’s a surprise,” Gale smiled as he wrapped an arm around Astarion. “You’ll like it, I promise.”
“Gale you’re going to spoil the both of us,” Astarion smiled as he let Gale lead him upstairs and down the hall. “What did you do?”
He was a bit worried, Gale had been doing so much for them lately. Though he was excited to see what was in store.
He felt Gale move behind him and cover his eyes.
“Now keep in mind, it’s not finished so it’s still a work in progress,” Gale said as they came to a stop.
He uncovered his eyes and Astarion let out a small gasp. It was the second largest room in the tower, not counting the master bedroom and the library. The walls had been painted a pastel violet, and had thick golden curtains. The floor polished with an intricately designed rug on the floor.
There was a hand carved bassinet and it looked like Gale was in the process of having some sort of tree motif painted onto the walls to look like willow trees.
“Gale this is, this is beautiful,” Astarion walked into the room and looked around. He walked over to the bassinet and ran his hands over the hand carved wood.
“You’re crying,” Gale walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.
“They’re happy tears,” Astarion promised as he turned to look at Gale. “Gods this is, this is beautiful and perfect, and I can’t wait to see it finished.”
“I was going to open this wall here, that way it could open into our room. Make it easier for when we need to get them,” Gale told him.
Astarion leaned up to kiss him. “I love it. I love you,” he told him.
Astarion winced as he started to wake up and rubbed his eyes. He felt sore and achy as he lied there in bed.
“You're awake,” Gale set down the cup he'd been carrying and sat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” Astarion winced and Gale moved to help him sit up, putting a pillow behind his back. “Exhausted…empty…”
“Doing a baby can do that, so I've heard,” Gale smiled and leaned forward to kiss his forehead and closed his eyes. “I got so worried. When Tara told me you’d gone into labor and I wasn't here.”
“But you made it in time,” Astarion took his hand. “Are…are they okay?”
“He is...perfect,” Gale smiled and pulled away.
He got up and walked over to the bassinet and picked up the small baby wrapped in an ombre blue and purple knitted quilt and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Oh hello darling,” Astarion cooed as he took the baby. He stroked their cheek and looked at Gale. “Nearly nine months I carried him and he looks almost exactly like you...that is entirely not fair.”
Gale laughed and rubbed his back. “I thought you said I looked cute as a baby.”
“You did, which is going to make it harder when we get into the ‘no, you can’t do that phase’,” Astarion leaned his head on Gale’s shoulder.
“He’s got your eyes though,” Gale pointed out and reached down to brush a curl from the baby’s face. “And I’ll bet he’s going to have your smile.”
“At the moment,” Astarion mused. “He needs a name.”
“What about Asher?” Gale asked.
“Asher?” Astarion asked.
“Means hope,” Gale answered.
“I like it,” Astarion smiled as he looked down at their son. “Hello Asher. I’m papa, and I already love you so much…please don’t singe our curtains until you’re at least ten years old? You’ll get that from your father.”
“I shall do my best to lead my example,” Gale chuckled and smiled. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, no, I’m just fine right here,” Astarion closed his eyes and held their son close. “Everything I could ever want is right here.”