I was extremely glad to have my new Kitten to snuggle with once the girls and I made it to our bed. We all played and cuddled with him, as we snuggled and kissed each other. What with my new issue and the exhaustion of using so much Magic and relaying so much information, My Cramps had returned twice, causing me to stop in my tracks, as I desperately used the pain-relieving magic. The Bath in the Morning couldn’t come quickly enough. Luckily, my time ended prior to the Wedding, unluckily though, Jeanettes had decided that moment to start. “Is this going to be too much for you? I thought I would be the cripple here.”

  Jeanette smiled. “I’ll be fine; no way am I going to miss this, even if I wasn’t supposed to be up there.”

  “Ok, just tell me the instant the pain returns, I’m not letting you suffer today of all days!”

  “Oh, I will love, believe me, I will!”

  The hall was amazing! The colors were on point, amazingly beautiful, just like my girls. I waited nervously in my custom black tuxedo. I had a Red Kerchief and a deep blue necktie. The girls hadn’t seen my outfit yet; nobody but my Seamstress had seen it. She was overjoyed, exactly as the Queen had said.

  I entered the hall and approached the Dias to stand ready by Darnel, who had agreed to be my Best Man, which was a completely alien concept. He was proud and touched to be selected for the honor. The Queen had relayed the tradition of the Father walking his Daughter down the aisle past the attendants of the ceremony. As it happened, to my surprise, Jeanette had managed to get a Message to her parents, and her own Father was immediately roped into the Ceremony, and the Queen made her Mother stand beside her. Both Fathers were grinning ear to ear at being beside their daughters, to hand them to their new Wife.

  The whole something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue thing didn’t exist here either, but the notion had amused the Queen, and she had snuck all of it into each girl’s Dress. The borrowed items were Jewelry from other families, who were all too happy to be represented in the ceremony. Though they didn’t have any recognized religion, there was a Master of Ceremonies, who officiated over Noble Weddings. She stood tall and proud as the Fathers delivered their daughters to the stage, then went to stand by their wives.

  “Lords, Ladies, and assorted guests. We are gathered here today to join these three Women as Wives. May all bear witness.” The whole crowd applauded. “There are some,… Interesting vows to read. Jane, you’re first, since it’s your tradition.”

  With that, I took one of the addition rings from the Pillow, and with a deep breath, I approached Alian, being the Royal in this equation, I had to do hers first, or so I told myself. “I Jane Rae Richards, take you Alian, as my lawfully wedded Wife, to have, and to hold, in sickness and in health, for rich, or for poor, until death do us part. Will you accept this ring as proof of my Vow, and our entwined lives?”

  She smiled, stunned at this gesture, as I slipped the new band right onto the first. “I do.”

  I then took the second ring, repeating the Vow, but altering it to include Alian. “I Jane Rae Richards, on behalf of myself, and Princess Alian Marion, take you, Jeanette, as our Lawfully Wedded Wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for rich or poor, till death do us part. Will you accept this ring, as a symbol of our joint Vow?”

  I slipped the ring on her finger. “I do”

  “Do the two of you agree to place your joint Token on my finger, for the world to see the proof of our vow?”

  Both girls shared the duty of placing the ring on my ring finger. Adlibbing, Alian spoke. “I, Princess Alian Marion, happily, take you, Jane Rae Richards, and you, Jeanette, as my Lawfully Wedded wives, to have, and to hold, in sickness and in health, for rich, or poor, until death do us part.”

  Jeanette followed. “I Jeanette, take you Princess Alian Marion, and you Jane Rae Richards, as my Lawfully Wedded Wives, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, till death do us part.”

  “As the vows have been stated, and witnessed, by the powers vested in me by the Royal Family, I hereby pronounce these women as Wives, in sight of all present.”

  The attendants of the ceremony all applauded as they stood from their seats. “I, Princess Alian, on behalf of my Wives, do thank you all for coming and witnessing our Wedding.”

  “I, King Donican Marion, also thank you all for attending. We will now adjourn to the Banquet Hall.”

  We left the Dias and waited for the guests to reach the Banquet hall before we entered. I had explained this intentional delay. The family of the participants is always seated last, and the people who were just married would enter the room afterwards, and be first to be served, followed by the King and Queen, regardless of their relation to the newlyweds, then their families.

  The guests were floored by the food. Even the Nobles who had eaten improved food for some time, weren’t expecting the even more improved wedding dishes. Everyone was offered choices for their dishes, or to have some of everything. Everyone took everything, no surprise. When the cake arrived, the stunned silence, including that of the Queen and my Girls, was priceless.

  I whispered in the Girl’s ears that it was our duty to cut the cake for the Family before taking our pieces. We all three went to stand by the cake, all taking a hand on the Knife together as we jointly cut the first pieces. The servers took each freshly cut piece to a member of the Family. King Donican first, Queen Vanessa second, Jeanette’s Father third, her Mother fourth, then Darnel, Cassandra, Adel, and lastly Gabby. Then we cut our own three pieces, and stepped away, handing the knife to the server. Cakes were never a thing until now, since Sugar hadn’t been created yet. I cheated, though, using fruit sauce and honey as a substitute, rather than dealing with the sugar beets yet.

  “Astounding!” Everyone was equally stunned. I, however, sighed in disappointment.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Alian.

  “Well, it’s not the same as back home, since I haven’t made Sugar yet. It’s good, but not AS GOOD as it could have been, sorry.”

  “Don’t be, this is the best dessert I’ve ever had!”

  All of the Family, Jeanette’s included, nodded in affirmation. “Truly Jane, this is astounding! I know we haven’t officially met, but I hope you’ll accept me as your Mother.”

  “Yes, Mom, I accepted you and Dad here, the second I stood up there. I hope you won’t be disappointed with me as your Daughter.”

  “Nonsense, Jane, I couldn’t be happier to get an adorable new daughter, let alone two ha ha ha!” My even newer Father replied. “My name is Kent by the way, and my wife is Tammy.”

  Their cat features were tabby-like, and ablaze with Joy. “Well, I should introduce your granddaughter then.”

  Their eyes bulged in surprise. I laughed loudly, then pointed to Gabby, who was between us. “Didn’t you wonder why there was an adorable Fox Girl sitting between us? This is Gabby, our adopted daughter, and thus your granddaughter.”

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  Dawning understanding and joy lit their faces. “Well, the word granddaughter did startle us, thinking it wasn’t anywhere near nine months since you could have met, Jeanette was home for a visit only five months past. Not that I would have been upset if you had somehow managed it early, but this is much less startling. You’re welcome at my home anytime, Gabby, though, it’s not a Palace, I’ll put you to work; I run a Farm after all. Had to hire people to tend the Farm for this trip. Only took a week to get here, so it isn’t too expensive, but everyone works on a Farm!”

  I jolted in surprise at the word Farm, and only a week away. “Dad, is your community off the beaten track?!”

  He looked at me in surprise. “I suppose it is at that. Unless they’re specifically coming to us for Produce or with a Message, nobody ever comes to us. Why do you ask?”

  “Before that, is it a large community, or pretty small, where everyone helps everyone, and you defend each other?”

  “Small, definitely.”

  “Perfect, Your Majesty, who better to entrust?”

  The King nodded. “I agree, not only is the location exactly what we want, but having Family to entrust makes it even better.”

  I beamed. “Ok, Dad, I can’t discuss this here, you’ll be hired for something, your whole community will. Government subsidized with reduced taxes for maybe up to ten years.”

  Kent’s eyes practically popped out of his head. “I hadn’t considered reduced taxes, but if we’re affecting the entire community, and requiring secrecy, then it makes sense. Either two years of no taxes, or ten at half taxes.”

  Kent immediately responded. “The half for ten years is the better idea.”

  Donican nodded. “I’ll tend to the paperwork before you leave. I assume if you agree, Jane and Jeanette will be going with you, probably Gabby too, unless I’m much mistaken. I assume the project will take some days for Jane to complete.”

  I was excited. “I hope you don’t mind such an early intrusion.”

  “I’m certainly not staying behind, Father. Jane and Jeanette can protect me. They’re my Wives, and I don’t intend to be separated for such a long time so soon.”

  Sighing, the King Nodded. “In that case, I’d ask that only my detail come with us, your Majesty. With a change of clothes, they can appear like adventurers, and they’d act like it. Then I think I can use light magic to alter my and Alian’s appearance so we don’t look like Tigers while traveling. That’s the best security we could have, anonymity.”

  “Hmm, if you can do the light magic, then I’ll allow it.”

  I focused inward, and soon my Tiger ears and tail had altered to match Jeanette’s patterning, with minor variations. “Oh my, you look like Jeanette’s sister now.” Tammy gushed with joy!

  “Is that just an expression, or do I have a Sister to meet? What about other siblings?”

  The look of a proud mother was evident on Tammy’s face. “Well, I only have Jeanette, but Mira has one of each. So you have a Brother and a Sister to meet. Though Mira is Wolf Clan so you look more like Jeanette, so it’s kinda like I really had two children, instead of only Jeanette. Mitchell is twelve, and Darla is sixteen. Their little wolf tails were so cute as babies!”

  “I look forward to meeting all of them. Family is precious to me, and I will always come to your aid, anytime, anywhere. With such adorable-sounding siblings, I’m surprised, and grateful that Jeanette managed to force herself to leave home.”

  “Well, I felt awkward, since Dad and Mira are…active.”

  “Ah, but you left them to deal with it?! I mean, I get it, but I’d feel bad about leaving them behind. Especially if it isn’t discreet.”

  Jeanette blushed. “I did feel bad, but I couldn’t take them with me, knowing I didn’t have any place for them to be safe while I worked.”

  “You didn’t feel like you had to leave, did you sweetie?!”

  “No, Dad, it’s just, well, I didn’t want to see, or hear that. I’m sure Darla and Mitchell would love to get away too, not because they don’t want to be with you, but because they don’t want proof of how they came into being.”

  “Well, since it was that bad for you, then perhaps, if it’s ok, maybe there’s a place for them here?”

  Tammy asked with a mix of hope, both for and against the idea. “Certainly, they’re family, and Jane is already teaching Math, Reading, and Writing. Those skills will help them in any line of work, including farming. Record Keepers are always needed. If they choose to come back with Jane, they’ll be given rooms right next to Alian’s.”

  Tammy and Kent both smiled. “Thank you, your Majesties.”

  “I have to say, even though I’m in a multi-party marriage myself, it’s going to keep surprising me that it’s so acceptable. They’re extremely rare back home, and even then, they aren’t legally recognized. Only the main couple is legally married. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy about the Laws being what they are, but it’s still surprising to me.”

  This intelligence surprised Kent and Tammy, but they took it in stride. The girls and I departed from the Hall ahead of everyone else. Gabby had agreed to spend the evening with Darnel, rather than sleeping in our chambers. She was feeling much safer in the Palace, so a night or two alone wouldn’t bother her over much, she said.

  Though Jeanette couldn’t fully participate, she didn’t hold back either. Specifically, Jeanette demanded we attempt to impregnate her,…together right then. “I know it might not take, cause it’s that time, but who knows, maybe it will, and I, REALLY, don’t want to wait even one more second to have our little one in my arms!”

  She was passionate, and it only took one look at Alian to know she was just as eager, though waiting for a more likely time for her. “Alian, I can see clearly that you’re wanting yours too, so is there any reason to wait? We are married now, and with Gabby, I feel my reluctance is already gone, well as far as raising a Child goes.”

  Alian nodded, a twinkle in her eye. “I’ll admit, I’ll be a little sad if I don’t get Pregnant soon too, but yes, let’s try!” Alian and I sent our own Mana into Jeanette, and Jeanette willed herself to accept it and fuse her own Mana with ours.

  To our utter joy, and my personal shock, not knowing in advance there’d be an instant result, Jeanette’s belly glowed from within. An image of all three of us was shown on her belly merging together to a single point. “Wait, does that mean it worked?!”

  “YES!!” Both my girls shouted in Joy.

  Jeanette’s flow was suddenly expelled from her in a single mass, then instantly stopped. “Huh?”

  “I guess if you’re flow is stopped in this way, it gets all flushed out at once? Maybe? It’s a first for me, I don’t even remember hearing any tales about this happening.” Alian was stunned at the sight. Jeanette, though, ran into the Bathing room to clean herself. I moved to strip the now bloodied sheet from the bed. Once Jeanette returned to the sheet-free bed, we were all free to enjoy our night.

  In the morning, we joyfully ran to the dining room for the Royal Family, where not only Alian’s parents, but the still nervous parents of Jeanette were also eating, with Darnel, Cassandra, and Adel just ready to start eating. All of them were stunned to see us so soon, but our expressions told them that something had happened. “Is there some news?”

  ”YES!” We all said at once.

  “Ahem! Remember the crazy idea to try merging all three of our Mana, to make a baby? Well, we tried it last night, and not only is Jeanette Pregnant, but it successfully merged all three of our images, Father. This is groundbreaking, and as a side effect, though a bit messy, it stopped her…issue. She doesn’t have to suffer through it now. We shall try again on myself later today, I think, I’m close, so maybe it will work now, if not, maybe in two more days.” Stunned silence, followed by joyous shouting, over one another trying to get more details, even though everything was already said.

  “With this outstanding news, you three, and Gabby too, will be swarmed by the entire court asking for details. As much as I’d rather you stay here longer, I’ve already written up all the documents for the Farm Project. I think it’s better for you to leave immediately, with Jeanette’s parents. I’ll send word to Jane’s detail for their disguises, and all of you can leave together today. Prepare quickly, if you manage to succeed again before you leave, simply send a Maid with ‘it worked’ to let us know.”

  Looking at each other, we nodded. “A working Honeymoon sounds perfect, Your Majesty! We’ll prepare for Gabby too, if you’ll send her along after she’s done eating?”

  “Naturally, Dear, and congratulations on the Baby, or Babies to come. Off with you now!”

  We ran again, back to the Room, to find our own Breakfasts waiting. Only then, Jeanette ran to the Privy, and Morning Sickness was clearly the cause. She returned, and we ate quickly, then grabbed our packs, and stuffed all the clothes Gabby would need, since we were still packed, and ready for ourselves. We needed to set up a Pack for Alian once we were out shopping.

  Once ready, Jeanette and I turned to Alian, and she bounced in excitement. We all channeled our Mana together, with Alian receiving this time. The glow was just as bright, and again all three of us were shown, and blended together. “It worked, it worked, already, I was so scared I’d have to wait. I’m so glad we’re pregnant together. If, if only, well you know, it would be perfect, but it’s fine like this too!”

  “Yeah, I get you, but I just can’t, sorry my Loves; I want to be able to get past that block some day, but now,…I just can’t!”

  They hugged me tight, and Gabby came in with a Maid. “Oh, good timing, inform the King and Queen, it worked.” She bowed and left quickly.