Sean realized that he must have fallen asleep in the chair because when he next awoke, he was in bed. Yawning, he rolled over to face Dark's side of the bed. It was empty. So, he ran his hand over the empty space. He couldn't blame Dark. Running a kingdom was hard enough. Running a demonic kingdom on the brink of war couldn't have been any easier. Snuggling closer to Dark's side of the bed, he sighed and snuggled his body against Dark's pillow. He could still smell him on the sheets, and it helped him fall back asleep for a bit. At least until the imps rushed in. They didn't mind that he wasn't up yet and didn't open any of the curtains. They simply checked his heating blanket, brought him his morning tonic and stocked the crackling fireplace to keep the room warm. Sipping the blood with the mixed tonic, he shivered uncontrollably. The stuff wasn't bad but drinking it made his body spasm. After he got it down, one of the imps brought him the MP3 player and speaker that Anti had brought over. Helping him to put the speaker to his stomach and showed him what track to start with. He'd forgotten how long he was supposed to do this for, but an imp winked and told him. "No worries. I'll let ya know. Just relax, highness."

Laying back, he closed his eyes. He could hear the audio playing but it was too muffled to hear what it was saying. Which left him a little bored. All he could hear was the crackling and popping of the wood in the fireplace. He was about to fall asleep again, until a weird sensation made him open his eyes. The moment that he did, he sat up in slight shock. He heard whispering voices from everywhere. Some spoke in languages that he didn't understand. Others were prayers begging for help. Others were demons sharing casual conversations. Flipping back the blankets, he got up to his feet and covered his ears as he hissed out. "What is this? What are you doing?" Shaking his head, he snapped out. "Stop! Stop it!" The whispering voices drew louder and louder until Sean was wincing and whining. His vision blurred the colors turning to shades of black and white until he could see through the walls! A sharp gasp made him grab the bedpost as the floor appeared to vanish beneath him to show the floors below. As he focused on each room below, he saw the x-ray vision of the imps' bodies moving around to preform their chores. Shaking his head, he pleaded out. "Ok... I'm scared of heights! Stop!" His vision changing back made him dizzy. Dropping to his knees, he tried to collect himself. Only to see the shadows rise up from the floor to wrap around his arms and body like tentacles.

It was like quicksand pulling him down throw the floor! Trying to jerk back from the floor, he yelled out. "DARK!" Unable to resist, he was pulled into the shadows and felt like he was falling fast. Letting out a scream, he twisted in the dark, before seamlessly rising out of the cement on all fours. Shakingly looking up, he tried to figure out where he was. He was outside in a street somewhere. It was dark outside, and rain was falling. Easing up to his feet, Sean gulped. There were two demons standing nearby that turned to look at him with glinting red eyes. Seeing the daggers dripping with blood in their hands made Sean back up a step. One turned to face him, chuckling out. "Well. Well. Looks like Dark's bitch came to us. That will make this easier." The other demon spit, telling the other sinisterly. "Let's just kill him and get out of here before Darkiplier comes home." Sean trembled, raising his hand to plead with them. "You don't want to do this! Dark will-!" Before he finished, the shadows on the wall lashed out to grab one of the demons. Coiling around his neck and slamming him up against the wall! Sean turned his hand over to look at the shadowy black mist that was puffing off his hand. The other demon yelped, quickly throwing his dagger at him. Sean raised his other hand to protect his face, when green lightning wildly sparked across the ground as he moved his hand up. Sending the bolt of green lightning into lamp post before hitting the demon.

The lamp post exploded in a shower of sparks, while the zapped demon was sent flying with a body spasming in electricity. The dagger hit some kind of shield of white flame that caused it to melt to the ground. The choking demon thrashed, removing something to cut the shadows. Landing on his feet, he dashed for Sean as he removed something. It looked like a sword. The demon lunged the sword out and instinctively Sean dodged and was thankful that he had. The blade pierced the shield and sliced his cheek! Acting quickly, Sean shoved the demon away from him, causing him to stagger to the ground. This time the shadows coiled over the demon to hold him down and green lightning began rippling over every coiled tentacle. The demon let out screams of agony unable to move as the lightning seared his body while the tentacles tried to crush him to the ground. Sean watched in horror for a minute, before turning to look at the other demon that had been sent flying. He was coming back. Sean raised a hand toward the other demon, but nothing happened. The approaching demon hissed, snarling out. "Nice trick. Too bad that will only work once!" The demon opened his large wings and dashed for him at full speed. Sean put both hands up, but still nothing happened. All the power was still on the other demon that they were still zapping and trying to crush! Sean yelped, dropping to a knee, until someone slammed into the demon.

Seeing Anti tumble with the demon before gripping the demon's throat and letting out a yell as he electrocuted the demon from the inside out. The demon hadn't expected it and thrashed, but Anti only increased the voltage. When the demon seemed to be pretty resistant to it. Anti stopped and yanked the demon up into his kiss. Sean gave a disgusted look that faded quickly. The demon began to gasp and thrash as his face turned a sickening green. His face was starting to melt! Flicking out his forked green tongue, Anti rose up as he told him. "Did your master forget... I'm poisonous and full of acid?" The demon clawed at itself as he started to melt away with slow sizzling sounds. Placing a hand to his stomach, Sean nervously uttered aloud. "Don't you dare get any ideas about that..." Chuckling Anti asked him curiously. "What are you doing out here?" Sean could only shrug, glancing at the other demon. Walking over, Anti told him with a smirk. "Shall I finish him? Or do you want me to show you something?" Sean felt a kick to his ribs and grunted out. "I don't care. Just make this stop!" Taking his wrist, Anti told him seriously. "Point at him and snap your fingers. It will increase the voltage and strike the lightning in a more focused manner. Try it."

Straightening up, Sean obeyed and snapped his fingers. Just as Anti said, the lightning flashed over the demon's body causing him to scream louder and burn faster than he could heal. He'd been built to resist the electricity but couldn't handle both the shadows trying to crush him and the burns at once. After a few more zaps, the shadows were able to bring the demon to ground and crushed him into bone dust. When it was over, Anti chuckled out to him. "How am I supposed to protect you while Dark is gone. If you willing go outside the castle?" Sean huffed, uttering out. "Willingly? My own kids are dragging me around..." Anti smirked but told him casually. "I can't help ya with that. You chose this." Stalking around him, Anti lightly informed him. "I'm a little impressed. Seeking out the threat before it got to you... Definitely something I do. Ruined my fun... but impressive." Sean raised a hand to Anti, before rushing over to the grass to vomit. Behind him, Anti chuckled out. "Shall I take you back inside now?" Straightening up, Sean began walking around the manors courtyard to head inside with Anti at his heels. As he entered, Sean asked curiously. "Where is Dark?" Rolling his eyes, Anti answered. "Natemare and Verine took him to go celebrate his baby girl news."

Looking a bit grim, Sean blurted out without meaning too. "And he didn't take me? That seems... rude." For a moment, Anti raised an eyebrow, before telling him gently. "I'm sure he didn't want to stress you out. Or wake you. He's... excited. I think it would kill him to have you miscarriage right now." Taking a seat, Sean grumbled out. "Still... I'm just feel so... I don't know..." Anti leaned against the doorframe, stating bluntly. "Bored? Neglected? Lonely?" Staring at the carpet, he slipped in. "Scared... actually." Anti's smug grin faded, and his tail stopped swinging. Hugging himself, he sniffled and told Anti. "I don't know what to do. You see what my kids are doing... I can't... I feel so helpless. And Dark... I get that he's busy. I get that he can go out and do these things... but..." Sean drifted off, prompting Anti to finish suddenly serious. "But he wasn't here when you called..." Sean nodded, lowering his face into his hands when he sniffled out. "I feel so selfish... I'm jealous of him... I... What if I go into labor? Will he even be here? I can't do this alone..." Anti tapped his tail against his leg, uttering out coolly. "I think I know what you need. Wait here." Grabbing an imp, Anti snarled at it. "Protect him with your life or I'll make you wish for death."

The imp's eyes widened but it nodded as Anti slipped away. Shortly after Anti left... Sean smirked. Every imp in Dark's service was soon in the living room with him. Hundreds of them. Sitting all around him. Their eyes on every spot of the room. Armed with whatever sharp or pointy thing they could find. They tensed at every sound, but Sean found them mildly amusing to watch. Anti had only been gone a minute or so. When raised voices came from the hallway. The imps got up and pointed at the door as the doors opened. Causing a few of Verine's boys to jump back in surprise. The imps hissed and jabbed their pointy objects in the cutest most threatening way they could. Until Anti shooed them all out like bats leaving a cave. When the room was clear, Anti told Verine's boys. "There. Take a seat. I've got to get back on duty." Snapping his tail, Anti left and Sean smiled. He was happy to see Verine's boys. Russ walked up to hug him tightly, asking over his shoulder. "Are you alright? Anti said you needed some... support." Getting up, he hugged Russ just as tightly. Tears were falling down his cheeks, but he didn't care. Seeing his state, one of Verine's older boys called out into the hallway to an imp. "Bring us some coffee and snacks, will ya?! And pillows! Lots of pillows!"

In a short time, the imps had arranged the room to allow them to sit in a circle of pillows on the floor. Scented candles filled the room with a soothing beach smell. They nibbled on a variety of snacks off low tables in the center and sipped chocolate coffee or sweet flavored teas. Beside him, Russ chuckled and told him openly. "I can imagine it is hard on your own. It's why I don't mind Verine's harem. I was pissed at first... but... in times like this. It helps." Sean nodded, blushing when he said softly. "How many times have you... done this?" Russ rubbed his slightly swollen belly, chuckling out. "I've done this... seventeen times now... Kay has done this over twenty times." Across the way, the sandy haired blonde threw a carrot at Russ, mumbling out. "It's a kink. Leave me alone." The group laughed. Rubbing his arms, Sean whispered to him. "Does it... Does it hurt? I mean..." Sean couldn't finish. He'd been told from Verine that it didn't... but his mind just refused to believe that. Russ smirked, telling him honestly. "No. Verine is about lust. Not pain. You won't feel it. You'll just... orgasm a lot. Afterward, you'll feel weak and too tired to move... but that's about it." Swallowing, Sean whispered over Russ's shoulder. "But... how... I mean... There is only one way it could and that's..."

Sean blushed so hard that he thought he'd pass out. Russ didn't tease him. Instead, he coolly said. "They come out very smell. But they grow quickly once they are born. Takes a few weeks and the babe will be about normal size. You'll be fine. Your ass won't look like a watermelon was rammed up there." A few guys laughed, but Sean felt better. Leaning against his side, Russ whispered to him sweetly. "Trust me. You'll like it. It gets addictive and it's so much better than... any normal pregnancy. You have nothing to worry about." Nibbling on a cookie, Sean mumbled out. "I can't seem to not worry about it. What if I'm different? What if something goes wrong?" Russ draped an arm over his shoulders, answering so beautifully. "The worst thing to happen is a miscarriage. Or someone dropping the baby. In all the years we've done this. No one has gotten hurt. It's natural to be scared, but you'll be alright. We can walk you through it." Russ suddenly sat away and sneezed out pink heart bubbles that made everyone bust out laughing. It was so uplifting to see others dealing with the same issues that he was. So, for a long time they chatted and joked like life long friends.

When the doors finally opened hours later, Sean smiled at the sight of Dark's confused face. Blinking a few times, Dark uttered out. "Verine has been frantic trying to find them..." Luke rolled his eyes, huffing out. "Figures. He didn't see the note. I told you he wouldn't see it." Sipping his drink, Sean shrugged out with a warm smile. "Well, tell him they are here and we're having fun." Slinking cautiously into the room, Dark asked him as he eyed the others. "Are you? What are you doing?" Hiccupping some bubbles, Sean answered. "Ya. We're talking and gonna watch movies soon. It's like a sleepover." Stepping around them, Dark crouched to wrap his warm arms around his shoulders. The sensation made Sean moan, while asking hopefully. "Wanna join us?" Kissing his cheek, Dark purred against his neck. "I can't. The mail just came in. I've got to sort the boys from the girls... and finish the kid's rooms." Sean pouted but hummed as Dark purred lovingly against his neck. "I'm glad you're having fun. I heard what happened... I was worried... but... you seem alright." Smirking, Sean teased back. "Jealous?" Flashing him a smug grin, Dark replied sweetly. "Yes. I love you"

Turning slightly in his arms, Sean cupped Dark's face and kissed him. He could feel the passion in Dark's kiss. The longing to do more. Yet, he pulled away and reluctantly told him. "I've got to finish my work. I just wanted to check on you." Sean smiled, kissing Dark briefly, before telling him. "I love you. Come see me when you're done?" Dark purred over his lips in response. "I will. Have fun. I'll see you in a little bit, Darling." Sean hugged him and reluctantly let him pull away. Just as Dark left, Russ told the others. "Let's get the movie in! I need to see some shirtless men in some action peril!" The boys cheered and rushed to put it on. While Sean laughed with Russ.  To Be Continued...