Dark Magick

By the end of the Buried Alive tour they supported Avenged Sevenfold alongside Hollywood Undead and Asking Alexandria on, Ash was closing in on the seventh month of his pregnancy. The last seven months or so of his life had passed by so quickly that it didn’t feel like it’d been that long, but he knew it had.

His belly was huge and ripe with the twins he carried, both of whom were said to be little girls, and making his back arch more than it ever had just from standing up. Said back was prone to aching much easier now, too, as were his feet. His feet and ankles, like Andy’d said right after they first found out he was pregnant, were beginning to swell, especially if he was on his feet for too long. Most times now, he had a stool brought out for him to sit on while on stage, as he couldn’t stand being on his feet too much anymore.

Playing his bass was harder than it had been before, too. It was harder to get it settled on his leg right while sitting down, and it was sometimes hard to reach around and below his belly if he let it hang beside him from the strap, even while sitting down. The last few shows of this tour, he actually had to let his best friend take over actually playing bass while he did his best to sing his part of the backing and gang vocals. That was easier said than done, though, because there were times where he’d get kicked in the ribs or lungs, thus making him mess up mid-note, which was embarrassing.

Thankfully they wouldn’t have to go on tour again till around March, and hopefully by then, he’d have had the babies. Granted, he may not get to go on even that tour, simply because caring for two babies would be exhausting and time-consuming. Ash hoped he’d be able to, whether as a man or woman, but it looked like the chances of him getting to were slim-to-none and getting slimmer by the day.

“Ohhh, Godsmack,” the bassist groaned, gently rubbing his belly as his daughters apparently tried practicing their martial arts on each other.

“You okay, Ashie?” He looked up to see Andy in the doorway of his bedroom, concern etching his features.

“I’m fine. The girls apparently think my innards are a martial arts studio, though,” he chuckled.

“Sleepy-time for Daddy’s little princesses,” his best friend murmured, kneeling by the edge of the bed. “You girls can’t be hurting Mommy.”

Ash blushed as he pushed his shirt up to expose the growing orb, gently pressing a kiss to his popped navel.

“You’re so cute when you blush,” the younger man chuckled, moving to gently kiss his forehead.

“No, I’m not,” he argued feebly, blushing an even brighter red.

“Yes, you are,” the frontman insisted. “It’s part of the reason why I love you so much.”

Having known he loved him as a brother for ages, he didn’t say anything, but didn’t try to argue anymore, either.

“And I’m not saying that as just brotherly love, either,” Andy said, sighing. “Even if it’s not the same for you, I’ve found over the past few months that I love you as far more than that. Not just because you’re currently in a woman’s body, or because you carry my daughters; I love you for the person you are at heart.”

Shocked, the bassist’s eyes widened as he looked at him, struggling not to tear up at the heartfelt words.

“You may never feel the same way about me, and that’s fine; if friends is all we can ever be, regardless of what gender you are physically, I’ll take what I can get,” he continued. “I haven’t said anything before now because I didn’t want things to be awkward, but I wanted you to know, Ashie.”

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he pushed himself up enough to wrap his arms around him. “I’ve felt the same way for a while now, too,” Ash admitted, sniffling.

“I’m guessing you didn’t say anything for the same reasons?” his best friend asked, chuckling.

“Mmm hmm. I felt things were awkward enough, and I saw no reason to make them more so,” he answered, nodding.

Andy gently wrapped his arms around him in return, holding him as tightly against his own body as he dared while tucking his face into the crook of his neck. The love he felt for him, which went well beyond brotherly at this point, was stronger than anything he’d ever felt before. He knew that he’d do anything for him, even take a bullet right between the eyes, if it meant he was safe, happy, and loved.

The bassist could feel the love he felt radiating off him, but was unsure if he was purposely using his magick to project it or not. He doubted he was, that it was just a subconscious thing he wasn’t even aware of. That was of little matter to him, though, because it was nice to feel just how far that newly-professed love went.

Both of them held each other close for a few more moments, then the young frontman let him go and rose to his feet, groaning as his knees cracked. Ash couldn’t help but chuckle since that was nothing in comparison to what he felt these days. His best friend shook his head at him and said that he was going to get started on dinner. Since it was only about three in the afternoon, apparently whatever he was planning on making was going to take a while to actually prepare.

Sighing, he laid down on his side again, propped up a bit by the mound of pillows behind him. He no longer liked laying on his back because the weight of the babies, their placentas, and the fluid surrounding them was just too heavy to bear. It made his breathing too labored, which wasn’t good for any of them, and with his back so prone to hurting, laying on his side was just the most comfortable. Thankfully, now that they’d heard their daddy’s voice, the girls were moving just enough to get comfortable. In just a few minutes’ time, they were only moving jerkily every so often, and he knew they were asleep.

* * *

A couple hours later, Ash awoke with a soft groan as he was head-butted in the bladder, a sensation that was still taking some getting used to. Judging by the scents wafting up from his kitchen, lasagna was on the menu tonight, which suited the Hell out of him. He’d preferred poultry and fish over red meat before getting pregnant, but ever since then, he’d found the stuff particularly enticing. Must’ve been a hormone-induced craving to make sure the girls got everything they needed, which was fine by him.

With movements as quick, but gentle, as he could manage, he sat up and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. His belly was big and cumbersome, but he was still able to do quite a few things on his own, and making it to the bathroom in time was one of them. Still, he wore a pad most times, just in case of a kick-induced accident, to save embarrassment.

Sighing softly as he drained his bladder, the bassist gently rubbed his belly. He’d been thinking of what to name the girls for a while now, but nothing seemed to strike his fancy quite the right way. Even if he put Ashley Abrocket Purdy as the mother’s name on their birth certificates, he wanted them to have Andy’s surname. It only made sense to him because he was their father, after all. It shouldn’t matter if the two of them were in a relationship or just best friends; their daughters deserved to bear their father’s surname since it wasn’t like he was a rapist, pedophile, murderer, or anything of the like.

Once his bladder was finally drained, Ash managed to lever himself up off the toilet and get his maternity jeans pulled back up. He had to stand sideways at the sink to wash his hands, though, because of how big he’d grown, but that was okay. Knowing that he was growing so big meant that the twins were growing, and their health was of the utmost importance to him, like it should be.

“You ready for dinner, Ashie?” His best friend sat on the foot of his bed, apparently waiting patiently rather than invading his privacy.

“Oh, yeah,” he answered, rubbing his belly and blushing as his stomach growled loudly.

“I guess it’s a good thing I just finished it, huh?” Andy chuckled, wrapping his arm around his shoulders.

“What can I say? Being pregnant makes me really hungry,” the bassist said sheepishly, blushing even harder.

“I don’t blame you. I probably would be, too, especially if I were pregnant with twins,” he agreed, still chuckling softly.

“Mmm, it smells sooo good,” Ash said, drooling a bit as he sniffed the air.

“Let’s hope our little princesses agree,” the frontman laughed.

“They already do,” he told him, grinning. “They’re kicking and moving around like they always do when I’m in a good mood.”

Returning the grin and kissing his temple, the younger man got him seated at their little breakfast nook before heading to the kitchen. Moments later, he returned with a plate in each hand, just as his stomach decided to growl again. The bassist blushed again as he set his plate down in front of him, then went back for their drinks.

While Andy’s own plate was piled fairly high, his didn’t have quite as much on it. If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t eat as much as he used to, a fact they both know, he’d have been pouting, whimpering, and complaining that it wasn’t enough. But he hadn’t been able to eat quite as much as he used to for a couple months now because of how much room the girls took up inside him. His best friend was only making sure he didn’t give him too much, knowing he’d go reheat some of the leftovers later if he got hungry again.

The younger man set his glass down beside him and he thanked him, grinning as he started cutting up his lasagna. Ash closed his eyes and groaned softly in pleasure with the first bite, as his cooking was always surprisingly delicious. He didn’t know if that was a result of his magick or because he was a naturally talented chef. Either way, he couldn’t care less, nor could he seem to get enough.

“I’m not even gonna ask if you like it,” Andy chuckled, sipping his Pepsi.

“Mmm,” the bassist hummed, nodding as he chewed a bite.

“Well, judging by the way you’re wolfing it down, there’s really no need to ask,” he laughed.

“I can’t help it that your cooking is so good,” he said, pouting. “I dunno if it’s magickally-enhanced or not, but I don’t care.”

“It’s not; I’m just a natural chef,” his best friend admitted, grinning.

“Well, without asking, I could be sure.” Ash shrugged before taking another bite.

“True enough, I suppose.” The younger man quickly wiped his mouth as he finished. “I’m just curious, but have you thought about any names for the girls?”

“Ugh,” he groaned, shaking his head as he, too, finished. “Nothing I think of seems to fit, as far as I’m concerned.”

“Hmmm… What about Legacy and Magick?” Andy suggested thoughtfully.

He merely cocked a brow at him curiously.

“Well, think about it. They’re gonna be born into a rock ‘n’ roll legacy that most kids would only dream of being born into, and their daddy’s an Elf who wields incredible magick.”

“Wait—you’re an Elf?” the bassist asked, shocked.

“Yeah. It’s why my skin’s so fair and my eyes are so light,” he answered, nodding. “I spelled my hair black and use my magick to keep my ears from appearing pointed to everyone around me.”

“So that’s why you never have to dye your hair. Ugh, lucky,” Ash groaned.

“Yes, it is,” his best friend chuckled. “Anyway, I think the name Legacy Aurora—Aurora because it means dawn, and they’re the dawn of a new chapter in our lives—and Magick Sera, are pretty.”

“They really are,” he agreed. “But which one would be which?”

“Hey, I came up with the sames, even though you’re the one carrying them,” Andy said, throwing his hands up. “You should get the right to choose which baby bears which name.”

“Hmmm… I think baby A should be Legacy, and baby B should be Magick,” the bassist told him.

“Sounds beautiful, Ashie,” he agreed, gently kissing his temple. “Just like the girls.”

Now that they were both done eating, Ash pressed one hand against his back, the other cupping his belly, as he headed upstairs as the younger man cleaned up. He was planning on taking a warm bath, particularly in the jacuzzi, to soothe his aching back. Even getting back rubs from his best friend weren’t enough anymore, not with all the extra weight pulling on his spine funny.

In the master bathroom, he started a warm bath, although it wasn’t nearly as hot as he would’ve liked it for the girls’ sake. Before he started stripping off the maternity clothes he was forced to wear these days, he added a decent measure of lavender-scented bubble bath to the water filling the tub.

As he sat down on the closed toilet to strip his jeans off, there was a soft knock at the door before it opened to reveal Andy. His best friend—his lover—came over and silently took hold of the elastic denim, gently tugging them down his smooth legs. He blushed as he finished helping him undress, then into the jacuzzi. What he didn’t expect was the younger man to strart stripping him, especially since he didn’t take him as a bubble bath kind of man, but the bassist didn’t mind. In fact, he rather enjoyed being so close to the man he loved, and in such an intimate setting, to boot.

The bassist sighed contently as he leaned back against his chest, letting out a soft, delighted purr as he began to gently wash him. Granted, his hands gently rubbing over his swollen belly—particularly his popped navel—was a turn-on to Ash, but he tried not to let it show. That endeavor was futile, though, and before he knew it, they were making love in the jacuzzi. It was a slow, gentle lovemaking that made him love Andy more than he already had, and he couldn’t help but wonder what the future held in store for them.

Notes