Secrets of the Enslaved

Time continued to pass fairly peacefully, and before long, Christmas had rolled around. Both Ash’s and Jinxx’s pregnancies were moving along nicely, neither one really encountering any problems. The younger fertile was now almost seven months pregnant, his baby bump almost too big for his body to handle. Its weight needed constant support from at least one of his hands, the other pressed against the small of his back to support it since it obviously hurt more often than not. Jake was highly concerned about him, their kitten, and both their health, but there wasn’t much he could do to help more than he already did.

The older fertile, however, was only about three months pregnant and was still more or less miserable from the morning sickness he was suffering. He could barely keep anything down, and at his last appointment with Dr. Adams, threats of hospitalization to treat dehydration were being made. He hadn’t quite reached the point that he needed to be hospitalized for it yet, and begged her to hold off till after New Year’s, if it was safe.

Of course, this meant that Andy was highly concerned for him and their kitten’s health, clearly feeling the exact same way the middle Dom felt about his mate. The oldest Dom was just as worried about them and tried to split his time helping the two fertiles as evenly as he could, considering that he still hadn’t found his mate. And that wasn’t counting all the help they had from their Master since Nikki was just as concerned, as well as Gunner, Storm, Decker, and Mary.

When Christmas finally rolled around, which was when the youngest Dom finally admitted that his sixteenth birthday was the next day, Ash was up with the sun as he always was. Instead of merely waking up early out of habit so he could watch the sun begin its daily ascent, he was nauseous once again. He had to fight his way out of his mate’s arms, accidentally waking the younger Neko, so he could make a run for the bathroom. It was either that, or vomit all over their bed, and he didn’t know about Andy, but he really didn’t want to have to launder their bedding later because of that happening. And it wasn’t the least bit surprising to hear his mate jump up and follow him to the bathroom as if his ass were on fire and the Hounds of Hell were on his heels.

“Awww, my poor Ashes,” the younger Neko murmured softly, rubbing gentle, soothing circles into his back as he held his hair out of the way. “I’m sorry for doing this to you.”

“Not entirely…your fault,” he moaned miserably, collapsing against his mate’s chest. “I wanted…what caused this…too.”

“I know you did, but I still feel bad,” he told him, gently kissing his temple.

“I wish that we were a bit older before this happened, like Jake and Jinxx do, but since we’re mates, it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Ash sighed, relaxing into his hold.

“Doesn’t mean I have to feel good about making you so miserable,” his lover whispered, still holding him as tightly as he dared.

“Andy, it’s fine,” the older Neko assured him. “It was bound to happen, and I knew it was coming.”

The young Dom soon helped him back to his feet, allowing him to lean on him as he rinsed his mouth out and brushed his teeth to rid himself of the acidic taste left there. He still didn’t feel nearly as well as he had before getting pregnant, but he definitely felt better than he had a short time ago. Since that was the case, it was Christmas morning, and they were already up, they decided to just go on downstairs.

Jake and Jinxx were already stretched out on the couch, the middle Dom gently spooning his sweetheart with a hand each resting protectively over his belly. They could see the younger fertile’s belly moving slightly, not just from his breathing, but from the kicks of the kitten within, as well. As they got settled on the loveseat next to the couch the other couple occupied, their pregnant friend winced uncomfortably and started to rise. His mate gave him a concerned look, and he assured him that their kitten had stretched, catching him in the ribs with their feet while head-butting his full bladder.

“How’re ya feeling this morning, Ash?” the middle Dom asked, watching his own mate leave the room with a wary eye.

“The morning sickness is still giving me Hell,” he answered softly, cuddling into his mate.

“Yeah, it gave Jinxxy Hell, too,” Jake said sympathetically. “It gets better, though. If your pregnancy is anything like his, it should go away soon.”

“That’s what Dr. Adams said, too,” Andy agreed, his arms wrapped around him loosely.

“I can only hope so,” the oldest Neko groaned miserably. “I can’t put up with this for nine straight months. I’ll go insane if I even try.”

“So when do you think everybody else will get up?” their friend asked, purring softly as his pregnant mate returned.

“There’s no telling when CC will rise and shine, as you both know,” his lover answered. “I haven’t lived here long enough to know when Nikki’s kids’ll rise and shine on Christmas morning, and Nikki was likely up all night playing Santa Claus.”

“They’ll be up in—” Ash was cut off by quick footsteps and a soft thud! at the bottom of the stairs. “Now, I guess.”

Moments later, little Mary ran into the living room to see what Santa’d left her the night before once she’d fallen asleep, a soft squeal coming from her when she saw them. It was a playset of a dollhouse and several dolls to go with it that she’d asked for, so obviously she was happy. As she sat down in the floor and started to play with them, her siblings sleepily followed in her wake, their eyes all lighting up like the Christmas tree in the corner when they saw what Santa’d left them.

Unlike their younger sister, the others greeted the four Nekos already there, the last one when he entered right behind them. They all returned the greetings, none of them really wanting to move since one was heavily pregnant, another miserable from morning sickness, and the other three not wanting to jostle them around any more than they had to. CC sat in the floor at Jake’s feet, resting his arm on his knee since he didn’t want to make Jinxx uncomfortable since his pregnancy already did that enough. The five of them sat there watching Nikki’s kids enjoy what Santa’d brought them, smiles splitting all their faces. They hadn’t asked for anything from Santa since they already had everything they would’ve asked for from him.

“Morning, guys.”

Looking up, everybody saw Nikki stumbling through the doorway, looking absolutely exhausted.

“Here,” Jake said, standing up to free his seat. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“You sure? You were there first,” their Master said, yawning.

“I’m sure, Nikki. I’d rather you sit down before you fall down,” the middle Dom insisted. He smiled reassuringly at his mate, who didn’t want him to get up.

“Is Daddy sick?” little Mary asked, concern marring her features.

“No, Daddy’s not sick, Princess,” the older man answered, patting his knee so she’d come over to him. “Just sleepy. Santa came and got me up last night because he needed help putting your dollhouse together, and none of his elves could come with him.”

“Why couldn’t they come with him?” she asked curiously.

“Because they were cleaning up all the sawdust and trash in his workshop so they could get started on next year’s toys,” Nikki answered. Even if he hadn’t been a colossal liar in the past, it was amazing how well and fast he could think on his feet.

“Oh. So you were up really late?”

“Kinda. I didn’t go to bed till around midnight, and I was only asleep for a couple hours before Santa woke me up.”

The Nekos and his older kids were struggling to hold back laughter, knowing full well that Santa didn’t even exist. Ash and Jinxx were really the only two succeeding in that endeavor, the former because it made his morning sickness act up, the latter because it made him nearly piss himself, especially when he took a kick to the bladder. Their mates were somehow able to hold themselves together fairly well, if only so they could tend to their needs, but CC and the rest of Nikki’s kids were really struggling.

After they’d all shown the older man what Santa’d left for them, Gunner, Storm, and Decker decided to go get started on Christmas breakfast. They already knew that Santa didn’t really exist, which was why their dad was so tired right now, and didn’t want him burning the house down. He’d taught them enough in the kitchen that they could handle things fine on their own.

Andy gently ran his fingers through his poor mate’s hair, the pregnant fertile so miserable from his morning sickness that he was considering taking him back upstairs to bed. He was trying his best not to be a party pooper and dampen everybody’s spirits on such a joyous day, but he could tell it was hard for him. If he were honest, the youngest Dom had to admit that it’d likely be pretty hard for him not to dampen everybody’s spirits if he were the one feeling that way, so he had to commend his sweetheart for how well he was doing. Like the oldest Neko, he just couldn’t wait for their kitten’s arrival so he was no longer miserable.

Once breakfast was served and devoured, they all crowded around the Christmas tree once again to open presents from one another. Again, the group of Nekos stuck together as much as they could, their ears upright and tails twitching slightly in excitement. Everybody’d gotten two presents for the pregnant fertiles: one for Ash and Jinxx themselves, and a second for their kitten to enjoy after birth. They were pleasantly surprised, the latter wrapping his arms around them for as tight a hug as he could manage with his melon-sized belly, the former merely smiling a bit since he felt so bad.

“You wanna just go back to bed, sweetheart?” Andy asked, concerned about his mate.

“Mmm hmm,” he whimpered, trying not to cry. “I feel horrible right now.”

“I know, I know,” the youngest Dom crooned. “I’m sorry for doing this to you. As much as I wanted a kitten of my own someday, I never would’ve done this if I’d known you’d be this sick.”

“Don’t worry about it, my love,” the fertile insisted. “It’s just as much a part of pregnancy as weight gain. Well, eventually.”

“I just don’t like seeing you feel so bad,” he told him, pouting.

“I don’t like feeling bad, either, but as far as I’m concerned, this kitten is the best thing to ever happen to me besides having such a loving, caring Master, and meeting you and the others,” Ash told him. “If I have to suffer a little to bring such a sweet and priceless gift into the world, it’s all more than worth it in the end.”

“I guess that’s one way to look at it,” his lover agreed a bit reluctantly, gently lifting him up bridal-style.

“Better than cursing this little parasite growing inside me, even though it’s a part of me,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around his neck.

The oldest Neko in the house snuggled into his mate’s hold as he excused them from the room, saying that he wasn’t feeling very well. Everybody in the house knew that his morning sickness had been hellacious thus far, to say the least, so they didn’t complain when they wanted to head up to their room. Even if they didn’t get intimate, the likelihood of which was slim to none right now, Andy was concerned for his fertile’s health. He appeared to be losing weight when he should be gaining it, and he worried about him and their kitten more than he’d ever worried about himself or anyone else.

Poor Ash just snuggled into the covers of their bed, waiting patiently as he grabbed a decent-sized trash can to put in the floor on his side of it. The young Dom didn’t want him having to jump up and run any more than he had to, and he was thankful for having such a caring and understanding mate. He purred happily as he crawled into bed and spooned him, thinking that his Christmas couldn’t have been any better than it had been.

Notes