Colette Clay
Pairing: Cold Graves, with special guest @hyperionshipping and Caleb
Warning: Mentions of pregnancy, mentions of childbirth
“Oh, Nic, she’s soooo cute!” Jester squealed as the Nein gazed at the week old baby nestled in Nic’s arms. The Firbolg was smaller than average, but bigger than any human baby. She was covered in a silver-gray fur with a small tuft of brown hair on the top of her head in a little mohawk.
They were gathered in the center of the grove, relaxing on the grass and blankets set up. Nic chuckled at Jester’s words, bouncing her daughter gently. Caduceus joined the group, setting down a small array of food before sitting beside his partner.
“She’s not as cute when she’s crying at midnight,” Nic teased, tickling her daughter’s nose with her finger.
“What’s her name?” Beau asked, staring skeptically at the baby. Did she and Yasha want kids? They had talked about it on and off over the last decade.
“Colette,” Caduceus told them softly.
Nic giggled. “Have to keep up the tradition after all.”
“So how many are you two planning on having?” Caleb asked, already in his brain planning on how to rearrange Caduceus and Nic’s shared room in the tower to accommodate the new addition. “Are you one and done, or can we expect more little ones?”
“Oh, um…” Nic and Caduceus looked at each other. Did they want more children? Colette was a surprise, but planning out more kids seemed logical.
“For now she’s an only child,” Caduceus answered, giving his finger to Colette who tightly gripped subconsciously.
“Yeah, I mean, you know Cad and I aren’t all that into sex anyway. It was just a one time thing and it resulted in our little rainbow, so for now just one,” Nic added.
“Well, you know, if the two of you ever need a break you have a few options for babysitters,” Caleb said, smiling softly as Tricks leaned against his back, the tiefling draping his arms over the wizard’s shoulders.
Nic couldn’t help the snort that escaped. “I love you guys, but I trust none of you with my daughter.”
“What about Veth? She’s a mom.” Yasha suggested, pointing to the rogue who was making silly faces at Colette. She had yet to giggle.
“As a mom, she’s wonderful, but as an aunt…” Nic sucked in a breath. “I fear she’ll be a terrible influence.”
“What about me?!” Jester protested.
“You’d be the worst influence,” Caduceus replied light-heartedly.
Jester pouted, leaning against Fjord’s chest with her arms crossed. Her fiancé rolled his eyes playfully. “Can we at least hold her?” Jester asked.
Nic tensed at the question. Since the moment Colette entered the world she had a strong protectiveness over her daughter. It took her a whole day to gather the courage to let Caduceus’s parents hold their granddaughter. But the Nein? Sure, they were her and Caduceus’s closest friends, but they weren’t known for being careful.
Sensing her anxiety, Caduceus rested a hand on her back and subtly casted Calm Emotion on her. Nic eased, relaxing at his touch and letting out a sigh. He had been using it on her more and more lately. She was a ball of nerves, and that spell was the only thing giving her any sense of peace.
“If any of you drop her, you will be blighted,” Nic threatened calmly, looking at Fjord.
He was taken aback by her staring directly at him. He was offended at the accusation. “Why did you look at me when you said that?”
“Honestly, Fjord, you are kind of clumsy,” Jester told him matter-of-factly.
“I am not clumsy!” he objected.
“I’ll hold her first,” Beau begrudgingly offered, holding out her arms. Nic placed Colette in the monk’s arms and helped Beau position her arms so the baby was comfortable. She stiffened up as she held the newborn, afraid to move and hurt her. Yasha didn’t miss a beat and began cooing at the baby.
“Oh look at you. Look at your little cheeks. And those ears, they’re so floppy and cute,” the barbarian put on a baby voice, gently squishing Colette’s cheeks. “I could just eat you up. Yes, I could. Yes I could.”
“So how are you feeling?” Tricks asked Nic, moving to settle in Caleb’s lap.
“Greater restoration, some healing spells, and I feel great,” Nic waved her hand. “But I’m so exhausted. She eats so much, and so often. I feel like Veth’s endless flask. But this is nothing compared to the actual labor. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was a whole week.”
“I could barely get her to sit still long enough to eat,” Caduceus chimed in, handing Nic a cup of tea he poured. “But Colette’s birth was special.”
“I wanted her to be born outside in nature so I gave birth out here in the yard of the grove,” Nic told them. “Actually, she was born directly in that spot you’re sitting on, Fjord.” She pointed to the half-orc.
“What? Oh, ew.” He pushed Jester off and moved to the side, off the spot Nic was talking about.
“She was born in the rain, though. It was actually a sunshower. You know, when it’s raining but it’s sunny out,” Nic said, taking a sip of her tea. “And afterwards, when it stopped raining, we looked up and saw the most beautiful and vibrant rainbow ever.”
“Wow, that sounds amazing,” Jester sighed dreamily.
“Don’t do it. Don’t give birth. It’s hell. I’ve been stabbed in the stomach and it was less painful that having a baby,” Nic warned, snuggling into Caduceus’s side.
After a few minutes Beau leaned over and quickly placed Colette in Fjord’s arms. He let out a yelp, not expecting to be handed the newborn. “Here Fjord, you hold her,” Beau said. She couldn’t wait to pass off the baby.
“Ah!” He was startled, cradling Colette carefully. Nic’s threat echoed in his mind. “Good… baby.”
“She’s not a dog!” Veth snapped.
“I don’t know! I’ve never held a baby before!” Fjord exclaimed nervously.
“It’s not that hard,” Jester said, taking her from him.
“Be careful with her. I spent ten months making her,” Nic said, a bit anxious as she watched Colette be passed from person to person.
As if on cue, Colette started to cry. The shrill scream pierced the moment and it set Nic on edge as she was already reaching for her daughter. She took the baby from Jester as Veth spoke up.
“Way to go Fjord!”
“What did I do?” Fjord asked.
“It’s not you,” Caduceus assured, watching as Colette clung to her mother. “She’s hungry.”
“Again,” Nic said, standing up. “Excuse me.” She walked away, heading into the temple to feed Colette.
“It seems like a lot of work to take care of a baby,” Jester commented.
“Actually Colette has been an easy baby so far,” Caduceus told her. “It’s Nic that’s been a handful.”
