Six months.

Six months is a long. god. damn. time.

Definitely too long to be fucking pregnant!

Juniper sat next to Warren, grinding her teeth at the thought.

"I want this baby out of me," she grit for the tenth time today.

He was on her bladder.

"Why don't you take a break-"

"I've taken five freaking breaks in the last two hours, I've peed every time. How is that possible!"

"I don't know June but we can just stop for the day maybe we can get food-"

Juniper groaned at the thought. "Can we have pizza please?"

"Sure thing girly," he rubbed her back. Juniper was half tempted to have him carry her. But, stubborn as always, she stood up on her own slowly. Juniper was plump to say the least, her tits popping out of her dress and her belly rounded and acting as a built in table nowadays.

Warren debated telling Raphael in warning, but lately Juniper couldn't stand anyone except her mate which he supposed made sense. But seriously, she was the devil to everyone except the demon king. It was like a switch flipping.

"Frozen pizza or take out?" She waddled behind him before he offered her his arm to which she gladly took. "Frozen." The two nodded at one another.

"Your mates sending me to the main land next week," her friend grunted to her.

Juniper rest her head on his bicep, pursing her lips. "Why?" she groaned. "I hope you know you're leaving me with too much work for a poor pregnant lady." She side eyed him to see if her guilt trip was working.

Warren scoffed, "Something tells me you'll be fine. I'm going to get some updates from the Legion. Saint says I'll be meeting with a few upper rank officers, staying for a few days then heading back."

Juniper nodded at the information, "Alright," she sighed.

She held his bicep tight while he got the pizza out and set it in.

"What am I going to do with myself while you're gone?" Juniper once again complained. Warren smiled down at her in amusement.

"Oh I don't know, maybe spend time with the father of your child?"

"He doesn't want me anymore he just likes to work," Juniper pouted. Even if she said it semi jokingly, Warren knew she felt there was some truth to her words.

"Stop it," he shook his head. Juniper glared at him, "Don't tell me to stop it."

He held his hands up, "You know Raphael wants to be here."

"He said months ago he'd be around more and he's not," she croaked. "It wasn't a problem before, I liked having time to myself while he was working. But we talked about it and he said he'd be home more and that only lasted a week."

"I know they're getting slammed over with the legion. He has to rewrite a shit tone of agreements because he doesn't like how they'd affect the demon species or something," Warren explained. "It's not because he doesn't want to be here."

Juniper's eyes watered, "I know. It sucks for the both of us. Stop making me feel guilty," she smacked his shoulder.

Warren could see now it was like flipping a switch in Juniper when she saw Raphael. She missed him, it wouldn't make sense for her to have a bad attitude in the small times they had together.

"He's going to be late today," Juniper sighed quietly.

Warren's brows furrowed, "What makes you say that?"

"He called during one of my pee breaks," she crossed her arms tightly.

"Well I won't go anywhere until he gets home alright? We'll watch some movies."

Juniper nodded, sparing him a grateful smile.

Within the next hour, the two were on the couch. The blunette wrapped in many blankets with pillows while lying on her side. Warren sat besides her sleeping form, watching her in concern as she complained about not feeling well earlier.

The hound was tempted to tell Raphael but she insisted on not worrying. It was getting late now, he guesses it was okay since she finally fell asleep.

They were watching transformers, the movie was just finishing with a big action scene. The second a loud boom sounded from the speakers, Juniper sat up with wide eyes.

"It was just the movie," Warren explained softly to his friend.

Juniper didn't respond and moved to stand up. Feeling beneath her skirt, she cursed.

"Fuck!" she hissed and stood up. Warren rose a brow as there was a wet spot on the couch, it wasn't pee he knew from the smell. He wondered if she managed to spill something.

Juniper buzzed around the house, grabbing bags that were in the closet. "Take me to the hospital."

Warren balked, "Did I fucking miss something?"

"My water broke you moron. God damn!" she hissed. "Motherfucker, they said seven months!"

Warren grabbed keys swiftly and took the bags from her. "Isn't this a good thing? You said you were ready to get him out?"

"Not now!" Juniper snapped as she waddled with her fucking wet legs. "I'm changing."

"You have to go to the hospital!" Warren all but shrieked.

"Labor takes a long time," Juniper paused as she felt what she could assume was a contraction. "Damn. Fuck this shit. I'm putting on sweatpants!"

The pregnant woman stomped around the house as Warren gaped. Blindly, he dialed Raphael.

No answer.

Called again, rather frantically. No answer.

"Let's get this show on the road," Juniper came back down while pushing Warren towards the car.

"Raphael isn't answering."

"When he last called me he told me he'd be in a building with spotty reception. So, this is great," Juniper grit as her eyes went steely. Warren would bet money if you looked straight at them you'd see hell.

"Alright... okay we're doing this."

"I'm doing this. You're driving me."

"That too," he started the car and peeled off to the other side of the island.

When they'd been rushed into a hospital room, rather frantically might Juniper add even though she wasn't hysterical, her vitals were taken.

"You could cut the tension with a butter knife," she gruffed to herself.

"They're about to deliver the demon kings baby. Who's coming early. Without the demon king," Warren reminded her. Not that she needed reminding.

"Why can't I call Seraphina?" Warren paced in front of her hospital bed where she gripped the railing as her muscles contracted in pain.

Gritting her teeth, she shook her head. "I'm fine. I know you don't want to be here, you can leave if you want Warren."

It was true, Warren was severely uncomfortable with this situation. Not because he didn't want to be here but because he was worried for his best friend. "Don't ever say that shit to me again. I'm not leaving you alone."

A pang struck Juniper in her chest, tears gathered in her eyes not only at the pain but at the situation.

"Thank you," she rasped. They'd just given her medication to help her body through the birthing process as she began to dilate. She had a good amount of time left before she was ready but damn it she just wanted to get it over with.

Juniper was pissed, she couldn't even be that excited about being able to hold her son because she was so angry with the situation. She told him. She told Raphael it'd be smart to be home more often.

And she was even more angry that she could barely be mad at him because she knew he was overworked. She knew he was trying to get everything done before her seventh month but apparently their son didn't understand the concept of being on time.

"What do you want me to do?" Warren asked while grabbing the hand that was beginning to turn white with how hard she was holding the rail.

"Sit there and look pretty," she rolled her head to give him a smirk. He deadpanned, "I'm serious."

Juniper huffed, "M-Maybe try to call him again. The contractions are getting closer, might not take as long as I thought."

"I'll let the doctor know and call him again," Warren kissed her forehead and walked out.

Before Juniper knew it her feet were being propped in stirrups. This had to be a bad dream. There was no way Raphael was about to miss Santiago being born. But after an hour and a half of radio silence, the birthing elixir given to Juniper working a little too well, and an impatient baby- here they were.

Warren looked a little green in the face, Juniper was scarily calm even during contractions where her face would twist in pain, and the doctor was telling her to prepare herself.

"I thought these things took longer," Juniper groaned as she grew sweaty against the bed.

Dr. Perkins fixed his gloves, "We assumed you'd be birthing more similarly to shadow demons. Or regular demons in general. Berserker births were recorded as being 'quick and painful' not to concern you we have much more medicine than we did since the last berserker birth."

Juniper swallowed hard, gripping Warren by his collar.

"You have security around the hospital?" She wasn't dumb enough to think no one would try and hurt their baby if given the opportunity. "All the guards I asked for?"

Her friend nodded quickly.

"Mrs. Saint we'll begin pushing any minute now-" her doctor cut in.

"We- that's fucking funny!" She snapped. Turning back to Warren, pointing to the doctors and nurses. "They all have background checks- everyone in this room?" Her voice grew louder as she groaned in pain between her words.

"They all have background checks, two of them are witches working directly under Raph."

Juniper's eyes found the two witches who gave her a comforting smile. She nodded at them, "If anyone makes a move you don't like towards me or the baby- kill them." The shadow demon instructed.

The two witches nodded immediately and the rest of the hospital staff paled.

Loud sounds were heard from outside the room, roaring heard that shook the ground.

"You let me the fuck through!"

Her mate. Raphael was here.

Juniper swallowed hard as her head fell back against the pillow in relief. For the first time today, tears slipped down her cheeks.

Everyone flinched as the berserker threw the door against the wall, pure panic on his face.

"I'm gonna kick your ass, Saint!" His shoulder fell in relief at the sound of her voice.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he repeated endlessly while rushing to her side. Tilting her face up, he held her cheek while kissing her hard. His other hand gripped hers.

"I'm so fucking mad," Juniper grit her teeth while curling forward in pain.

"I'm not going back to work for two months- was supposed to be a surprise tonight. Apparently Santiago had his own surprise ready," Raphael panted as he looked at the doctor who quickly caught him up.

Juniper looked up at her mate in momentary surprise, nodding weakly at his promise. She caught sight of Warren over his shoulder who stood by the door concernedly.

"Don't leave please War," she groaned.

"I'm not going anywhere, Juni," her friend reassured her. Raphael looked over his shoulder and nodded gratefully at the hellhound.

After that his eyes set on his mates face and only her.

"It's time to push, Mrs. Saint," she was instructed.

Raphael clutched her hand as a short scream tore from her chest. "I love you, I love you so fucking much sweetheart."

He could only watch as she went through the pain of labor. His mind darting back to just twenty minutes ago.

Raphael growled lowly as he sat at a round table. Phoenix was besides him, he wished his damn phone would work. He was too far to mind link his mate.

His stomach turned, swallowing hard he stood as the meeting adjourned. A witch was waiting for them outside of the building on the mainland.

"It's god damn cold here," Phoenix complained.

Raphael only grunted as he pushed forward. "Raph?" Phoenix furrowed his brow and collected their paperwork himself.

"Hold up, buddy."

"Wanna get home." Raphael demanded as he nodded to the witch to begin opening the portal.

His brow furrowed as his phone began blowing up right as he walked through. The portal was right in front of his car parked at the office where the both of them could leave from.

Examining his phone, Raphael watched many texts from Warren arrive. Before he could read them and the pit in his stomach could settle, Warren was once again calling.

Answering urgently, he heard the hound yelling.

"Fucks sake! You had me about to shit myself man. Get the fuck to the hospital before Juniper kills everyone!" The hound shouted while his voice echoed wherever he was.

"The fucking hospital?" Raphael roared as he snapped at the witch to open another portal. "What happened to her? Warren I swear to god-"

"Her water broke!"

Raphael paled drastically. He swore his heart stopped. "N-Now?"

"Now- I had to leave to talk to security I'm on my way back to her-"

"She's alone?" Raphael croaked as crushing disappointment hit him as he began stalking towards the portal now open.

"Phoenix take my truck, have Seraphina meet you at the hospital. Th-There's a car seat in the back of mine make sure it's set up."

Without another glance Raphael was rushing through the entrance of the hospital and hanging up on Warren as he followed his mates scent.

Now, Juniper told him to sit behind her. The doctors had originally advised against it but the snarls from both Saint's had them shutting their mouths.

Her back pressed to his chest as her body heat made him sweat, his jacket was strewn on the floor besides them in the hecticness of it all.

"You've got it baby," he braced his arm around her chest as she held his knee on her side tightly for support.

"Shut up please," she groaned.

Raphael wasn't phased and pressed his mouth to her mark, inhaling her scent while nuzzling his own into her to hopefully ease what he could.

Warren had went just outside the room where Phoenix and Seraphina were waiting as well.

"Feel like I'm gonna throw up," she wretched as the pain was so bad even with the meds.

Raphael brushed her hair out of her sweaty face.

"He's crowning, two big pushes!"

Juniper shut her eyes tight and grit her teeth, doing just that determinedly.

It took minutes, wailing echoing the hospital room. Juniper immediately sagged back against Raphael, her eyes shutting.

The berserker didn't know where to look, his son who they immediately began wiping or Juniper who's breaths were shallow.

Feeling his chest tighten, Raphael checked her pulse even if it beeped in the room faintly.

"Baby?" he rasped nervously.

"M' okay," she slurred.

His wild eyes found the doctors who came over with their son. Santiago was pressed to her chest as the flap of her gown was opened. Juniper sighed thankfully, cradling him close. "You're so gross," she mumbled against his damp head.

The cord has been cut, the after birth was in the back of her mind but that could be dealt with later.

"He's okay?" Raphael immediately asked as he stared at the boy.

"Healthy as an ox."

"Check her- check her please," Raphael all but snarled as the fear of what happened to Juniper's own mother hit him.

Raphael watched like a hawk as they checked her over. She was drowsy, but stable as her blood pressure had dropped and leveled out momentarily.

"Why'd he come early?" Raphael pulled Juniper close against his chest.

"He's... well we have no idea other than the fact that he's progressed incredibly fast over the pregnancy. He's a big baby, as you can see. Our prediction of seven months was based on the berserker average but obviously your son is a special case scenario. He has the same results as any child born on their planned due date."

Juniper hummed as she stared down at Santiago, he had deep indigo hair. It wasn't the same blue as her own. A blue violet, she saw his little curls sticking to his head. His skin was a dark caramel, cool undertones to his soft skin like Raphael's. The tired woman smiled down softly at him, his bleary eyes blinked as he calmed down at his mothers warmth.

Dark brown eyes stared at her just like his fathers. Humming, she pressed her cheek to his forehead while listening to his soft breathing.

His soft fingers grasped at her collar.

Raphael pressing a kiss to her temple brought her back to reality, lifting her head up slowly to him. His own dark eyes were misty as he stared down at his mate and his boy.

"He's here," Raphael said the words as if he didn't believe them himself.

"Hold him, Raph," she whispered quietly while leaning up slowly.

"Easy," he cooed softly while rubbing her back. With shaky hands he cradled his Santiago, Juniper opening his button up shirt so they could be skin to skin.

Her IV was adjusted but she didn't even spare the nurse a glance, watching Raphael intensely with their baby. He leaned forward, their foreheads resting against one another's. "I love you," he rumbled quietly.

"I love you," she sighed. A nurse came and gently explained to them that they'd have to give Santiago the proper medication and then he'd be ready to feed. Juniper peeked at one of the witches who was still standing guard.

"Go with them," Juniper cocked her head. "Please," she gave a tired grin before leaning back. Raphael's chest rumbled and the noises comforted her as more doctors came to her for the after process.

"We did it," she laid against his chest as she already grew anxious without the baby. Her eyes were shut and she rubbed his arm that wrapped around her chest.

"We did it, ever think we'd get here after that first day?"

She smiled a little, "I don't know it took us a while to figure that shit out."

"We deserve a pat on the back," she patted his shoulder weakly. Raphael chuckled quietly, giving her a light one back. A healing elixir was put into her IV, hopefully getting her back to 100% a tad quicker.

"So proud of you."

Juniper turned her head, kissing his jaw. "I would've killed you if you missed anymore than you did."

"I would've let you," he nipped her ear. "Sleep while you can, please. You're going to give me a heart attack babe."

Juniper couldn't keep her eyes open anyway, falling asleep to kill the time before getting to feed her Santiago.

Raphael stayed awake to watch them dutifully, finally releasing a breath he'd been holding when Santiago was laid back on Juniper's chest so they could all lie back in the bed.

~

Santi's here!! were we on the edge of our seats when Raph wasn't there lmao?

i was excited to write this chapter, sometimes i just go off the dome without much of a plan and i'm very happy with how this chapter turned out

love u guys!! have a happy holiday all of you🫶🫶