Page 41 of Hera

“You’ve got this, my love,” Lucifer said.

“Get ready,” Hera said. “Here it comes. Pushhard!” She reached into the tub as the baby’s head appeared. “Another push for the shoulders!” she said over Chloe’s shout. The baby slipped easily out and Hera scooped her up, dropping her in between Chloe’s breasts and rubbing the baby’s back gently.

A healthy cry warbled out of the little girl’s mouth and then she was quiet, eyes opening slowly.

“She’s here?” Chloe said incredulously.

“She’s here,” Lucifer affirmed in wonder. He stroked the back of one finger down the baby’s back, sharp claw carefully away from the soft new skin. “She’s perfect.”

“Lucifer, do you want to cut the cord?” Hera prodded the new father from his enraptured state as he stared at his daughter.

“Oh, yes! Sorry. She's just so... "Lucifer flashed that mega-watt grin.

Hera chuckled, and then pointed to a small area on the cord where she’d placed two clamps, and handed the beast the scissors.

Lucifer fumbled with the small shears for a moment in his huge demon claws, and then managed to snag the pair of metal blades with the tips of two nails, quickly snipping the cord where Hera had indicated.

Hera quickly swiped the baby’s eyes with a cloth, covered her with a warm tea towel, and checked on Chloe. “You’ve got a bit of a rest until the placenta arrives. Bond with the baby. I’m not going anywhere,” she added when the new mother looked up at her with panic in her eyes.

A little later, Hera dealt with the rest of the delivery, checked Chloe, and then dealt with all the new baby things that had to be done while Lucifer helped Chloe to the bathroom.

“Aren’t you the sweetest little bundle of joy?” Hera cooed to the tiny baby. She efficiently swaddled the baby in a light blanket and watched, heart melting, as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Lucifer returned, in his human form, and carefully picked up the baby, tucking her against his chest. “Chloe wanted to lie down. Did you need to check on her again?”

Hera nodded. “Yes, but not until later today. The baby will wake up in a couple hours and will be hungry. Text me and do skin-to-skin with her until I get here and then I can help Chloe with the first latch. Oh, I almost forgot...” Hera handed Lucifer two labeled bottles. “The instructions are on them. One for her breasts, to promote lactation and to ease swollen nipples, the other for the vulva for the pain.”

“Thank you. From Chloe, myself, and Atlanta,” Lucifer said as he walked her to the door.

“Beautiful name,” Hera said with a smile. “I look forward to seeing more of her. Get some rest, if you can.”

Lucifer smirked. “I think you know how well that advice will work.”

“Better than you think. You may not have been the one to give birth, but you’re more exhausted than you realize.” With that, Hera transported herself directly to her room and toppled into bed for a two-hour nap.

CHAPTER12

“Wake up, sleepyhead!”

Augustine rolled over with a groan and pulled his pillow over his head. “Mmm mm, mm mmm, mm?”

“Sorry, didn’t quite catch that.” His sanctuary was ripped off of his head and he growled, on all fours and on top of his brother Jaden in seconds. They rolled, fighting for dominance, and knocked over an end table, the things on top of it falling to the floor with a crash.

“Take it outside,” Finley ordered from the doorway. “Or better yet, stop?”

“Not until he apologizes for waking me up,” Augustine said, his tail flicking his ankles in clear agitation. “What was so important?”

“It’s almost noon,” Jaden said and shrugged. “You’re a bear to wake up on the best days, but you won’t sleep tonight if you stay in bed past noon.”

“Oh, I am sorry, are you my father?” Augustine growled. “Since when do you decide on my bedtime?”

“When your pacing keeps me up at night!” Jaden shouted.

“This is the first I have heard of it!” Augustine’s voice rose to meet Jaden’s. “I will just leave and walk the streets when I cannot sleep, if you cannot handle me walking about in my own home!”

“Now, boys,” Finley tried to calm them both down.

“You shouldn’t be out in the middle of the night! What if someone thinks you’re up to no good?”

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