Okay, SO itâs been more than 2.5 months since we last left our dear TeleStratus couple to being adorable as fuck and finally confessing their love and fucking after a year of an arranged marriage done for âpolitical reasonsâ (I would put the link for convenience purposes for anyone who hadn't read everything but Tumblr won't let me). And they have not left my brain and will be putting the ball in your court now.
So my dear friend, I ask you a simple question:
What happens when you combine Telemachus with a sudden bout of baby fever?
Oh my friend you know just what to say to get me to lock the hell in. Bet.
For those of you who saw the last thing me and my wonderful friend Gub wrote out of a sheer whim, you know how crazy this is about to get.
For those of you that havenât seen it, this is that silly little post that turned into a whole fic if youâd like some backstory to these two sappy little love birds.
Now! Letâs see where our little dove and jellyfish are a year after that crazy night, shall we?
Telemachus turned slowly at the sound of his husbandâs voice, a smile across his face before his eyes found the beauty curiously watching him. He was met with a soft smile and a bit of a chuckle as Peisistratus crossed their bedroom to where he stood on the balcony. Telemachus held out his hand, and Peisistratus curiously complied. Telemachus pulled the smaller man against his chest, secured an arm tightly around his back and dipped him as he kissed him. Peisistratus giggled lightly into the kiss, holding on tightly to Telemachusâ shoulder even once he stood upright again. âYes, Peisistratus?â Telemachus finally answered, not bothering to hide his love-drunk smile from his husband.
âWatching the waves again?â
Telemachus shrugged. âJust enjoying a quiet moment, wishing you would walk in the door to make it even more enjoyable. And look at that, you did!â
Peisistratus playfully rolled his eyes, a bit of suspicion sneaking into his smile. âNot talking to the Earthshaker again, are we, my dove?â
âNot today, my jellyfish. Donât tell me you miss him.â
âNo, and I donât trust the two of you together anymore.â
Telemachus chuckled at the teasing but chose to ignore the comment. âAre you done for the day?â
âI am. Do you still want to go down to the market?â
âI do, but you donât have to come if you donât want to. I just need to get some more ink and parchment.â
Peisistratus pecked his lips. âOf course Iâll come with you. Youâre not getting rid of me that easily.â
Telemachus hummed. âWouldnât dream of it.â He wrapped his arms around his husband and gave him a proper kiss before taking his hand and leading the way out the door.
The last year of their lives had been quite the adventure despite not leaving Ithaca. Telemachus had enjoyed every moment of getting to reacquaint himself with his husband after they both finally admitted to themselves that there was more to this political arrangement than they first believed. Telemachus had never been happier; mornings had never felt so warm, meals had never tasted so delightful, music had never sounded so sweet as they did with his heart by his side.
Even mundane trips to the market were far more enjoyable with comforting fingers laced into his own. Sure, they had walked through the markets hand in hand during the first year of their marriage, but it had all been for show. Now it was as if Telemachus could feel Peisistratusâ heart beating in his hand, and he reveled in the knowledge that his heart beat only for him.
They chatted idly as they made their way down the path from the palace, catching the other up on the things they did in the few hours they were apart. Their chatting died down as they entered the market square, squeezing through the crowd and smiling at the bowed heads directed their way as they passed. The market was always busy at this time of day, but Telemachus never minded. Though it did make the trek to the stall at the far end of the market a bit longer, he enjoyed seeing his subjects mingling and happy now that the days of awaiting the Kingâs return were behind them.
As they stepped up to the stall Telemachus was aiming for, Peisistratus pulled gently on his hand. âGo ahead and get your ink and parchment. Penelope asked me to get some more of that blue thread while we were down here. Itâs pretty crowded, it might take a while so we better divide and conquer.â
âGood idea. Iâll meet you at Lady Aphroditeâs statue?â
Peisistratus nodded and quickly kissed his lips before disappearing into the crowd.
Obtaining the ink and parchment didnât take too long thanks to the vendorâs familiarity with the materials Telemachus preferred, though the walk back through the crowd took a little longer. Thatâs what they got for coming at peak hours, Telemachus supposed, but they werenât in any rush. He knew the stall Peisistratus would be looking for was roughly halfway between the statue and the stall Telemachus had come from, so he figured it wouldnât be too much longer. He settled by the base of the statue, set slightly off from the center of the market, which made a perfect meeting place for when they separated to run their errands as opposed to the other godly statues situated further into the fray.
Despite the slight chaos of the busy market, there was a clear open space right at the center with no stalls that a group of children had taken over. The adults, despite the bustling, parted around the childrenâs acquired play space and flashed them fond glances as they rushed by. Telemachus found himself chuckling along with the childrenâs joyous laughter and squealing, enjoying the chance to witness such carefree little smiles.
But the longer he watched, he felt a slight heaviness settle in his chest. He tried to shrug off the strangle feeling, but it persisted no matter what he tried. He focused his attention on studying the children playing, trying to unravel the rules of their made-up game, but that only made the heaviness grow.
A shrill cry had him whipping his head around, looking for the source. He quickly spotted a woman holding a small infant, smiling down at the bundle in her arms and cooing until the cries settled. Tiny hands reached up to her, and she offered a finger for them to wrap around. A man stepped up next to them, his arm wrapping around the womanâs back as he smiled down at his child and cupped his other hand under the babyâs head.
And suddenly that heaviness in Telemachusâ chest pulled into a deep, consuming ache.
Telemachus quickly looked away, but the damage was done. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but all he could see behind his eyelids was Peisistratus smiling down at their own little bundle, Telemachusâ arms around them both. And even when he opened his eyes, the image danced in the back of his mind as if taunting him.
âSorry, my dove, there were a lot of people waiting at the- Hey, are you alright?â
Telemachus looked up into the concerned eyes of his husband and flashed his most convincing smile, trying to blink away the building moisture in his own eyes. âYeah. Ready to go?â
Peisistratus smiled back at him and nodded, but his pinched brow told Telemachus he wasnât convinced. Still, he took Telemachusâ hand and led the way towards the path to the palace. Telemachus couldnât help glancing back at the couple and their infant one last time before they were swallowed by the crowd.
It wasnât the first time Telemachusâ mind had been distracted by the sight of a baby. Far from it, in fact. Telemachus used to love interacting with the children of Ithaca, infants especially. Peisistratus, however, changed that. His relationship with his husband, especially in the last year, was nearly perfect if not for one glaring issue.
After the arrangement with Peisistratus, the sight of a baby filled him with an odd resignation, knowing that either him or his husband would one day have to find a lover. And knowing how much he loved his husband, he knew it would be difficult for him to come to terms with it when the time came. After their revelation a year ago, that resignation turned to dread.
The ache, though⌠The aching was new.
His mind drifted back to that first night they had, the whirlwind of an evening when they finally confessed their shared love a year into their arranged marriage. They had joked multiple times about praying to the gods to allow them to expand their family on their own, but they were only jokes. In the end, they had agreed to carry on with the plan as it had been: marry to strengthen their kingdoms, find lovers to secure heirs. Simple enough.
The ache rotted away his chest at the thought now. Inviting a third into their marriage bed felt like treason to their vows. He wanted no one but his Istra, and Peisistratus clearly felt the same about him. But what other choice did they have? Neither of them could bear children.
Then again, Athena and Poseidon had mentioned-
No. He wouldnât ask that of Peisistratus. His poor husband had seemed horrified by the suggestion. What he had said while they were fucking was irrelevant.
Still⌠The image of Peisistratus holding their baby was seared into his mind now. The thought of a woman in that picture put a sour taste in his mouth. Maybe⌠Maybe they could just adopt. It wasnât unheard of, though the circumstances were usually unexpected. It would be difficult, but not impossible. Not anymore impossible than the idea of inviting a woman into their relationship, at least. But how would they even-
âDove?â Peisistratus shook the hand folded into his own to get his attention. âYouâre falling into your own mind again. Whatâs bothering you?â
Telemachus glanced up. They were nearly at the palace steps now. He couldnât even remember stepping out of the chaos of the marketplace. âSorry, jellyfish. Itâs nothing, really.â
Telemachus flinched at the flat tone accompanying his name. His husband knew him too well. He sighed. âIstra, Iâm fine. Just⌠Thinking a lot.â
âI know youâre a warrior of the mind and all, but thinking doesnât usually put that much of a scowl on your face.â Peisistratusâ tone was lighter now, teasing. âCome on, talk to me.â
Telemachusâ brow furrowed. âItâs⌠I justâŚâ
Peisistratus pulled him to a stop, reaching out for his other hand and turning Telemachus to face him. âYou can tell me, dove.â
Telemachus quickly found himself lost in those emerald green eyes patiently waiting for him to speak. That was a mistake, because the next thought that crossed his mind was a little baby staring up at him with those same green eyes, maybe Telemachusâ dark hair falling around its face, a cute little button nose just like his Istraâs tooâŚ
Telemachus pursed his lips and pulled his eyes away, looking instead at their clasped hands. âI⌠Well⌠Do you everâŚâ He closed his eyes and sighed again. âDo you ever think about us⌠As fathers?â