Jealousy didn't come to Eli often, but he was having a hard time getting over this wave of jealousy. An even harder time because of who he was jealous of.

The warm water from the sponge caused steam when the heat met the chilled air. Manny ran it along Trixie's right shoulder, careful to avoid the newly bare skin there. Some of the fainter feathers came off with the next stroke and he pressed his lips to the now red areas.

Trixie shifted. Despite her action appearing to be reflex, she hugged the soft cushion keeping her upright, hiding her blush.

Manny was a terrible being but the way he adjusted the white sheet, tugging it up to cover her tail feathers but leaving the front sagging yet concealing her bosom pissed Eli off to no limit. Eli should be doing that—not to Trixie but....

Across the room, reclined in a beanbag chair, Slade fought back sleep. Her job was turning the two large eggs. She'd taken to the task with gusto, shifting between holding one then the other. Both eggs, now triple their original size and different in color, always had someone on guard.

Slade liked being around them. Manny took to soothing Trixie most of the day. That was fine, but when the bathing stop, bathing that was incredibly sensual despite Trixie's efforts to stave off her pained moans, and Manny maneuvered to sit before her while feeding her fruit, Eli could barely stand it. A time or two, that asshole vampire had to caress the harpy's face, urging her to eat when the pain became too much and she didn't have the strength to move.

A grape in his mouth, Manny rubbed their cheek together. Trixie refused to take it but the kiss did what it intended.

Eli gritted his teeth. That should have been him and Slade. He seethed, so angry that he squeezed what he was carrying.

A pained yapping reminded him of poor Piper, caught in his hold.

"Hey. You're holding her too tight, dumb ass," Manny snapped. "You have one job."

Eli remembered himself and looked down at the human headed bird creature that glared up at him, contemptuous.

"Oh. Oh, sorry Pipe. Here."

The baby harpy touched down on the stone floor and scampered away. Eli couldn't let her go off on her own for long—that always led to trouble.

"Tell you one thing," Manny said, gathering up the fallen feathers, "harpies are misunderstood. I mean, harpy babies are easy. Not only do they get independent much faster, they eat like birds so the cleanup isn't as ghastly. I swear, Louis III was a horror to be around. Baby harpies? A joy. Look. Even when they cry, it sounds like birds calling. It's adorable."

Piper scampered out and Manny watched her retreat.

Finally, he whispered, "And their...unusual appearance makes certain A. nobody fucks with them, and B. no fairies are dragging them off. I tell you, it's a gift that keeps on giving."

Trixie's next groan had Manny fanning her with a grouping of most of the feathers she'd lost. Watching the vampire put each molted feather together had been strange and creepy. The moment he produced that feathered fan, Eli'd cringed, convince Manny was a cruel moron. But the way it calmed Trixie pissed Eli off—and he didn't know why.

Hunched forward, as she had been most days for three weeks, Trixie closed her eyes and begged, "Can you come closer?"

As expected, Manny was cruel enough to hesitate. "My rune amount is still higher than I want. Give me a moment and I'll find Piper and have her reduce it"

"No," Trixie bowed her back, begging, "now. Don' leave. Please."

Though he set his mouth to refuse, he paused and rethought his decision. Finally, he tugged the large pillows she held. Her naked frame collapsed onto him.

Wings still extended up, Trixie held on. This was hard for her—harder still because these three weeks had made the harpy's culture quite clear—and quite excusable.

Three weeks. Three weeks in crippling pain, unable to move to find food or shelter. Three weeks, unable to even sleep comfortably. Day in, day out. It was no wonder they chose to break one egg and use its runes to hatch the other. With the help of that strong rune, the female harpy born would grow to adulthood in a short span of time. Otherwise, the mother would suffer. And if she didn't die in those three weeks of vulnerability, she'd certainly wish she did.

"How do you like that, harpy? Did you hear me talking about how lovely harpy babies are?"

Trixie's muffled chuckle bordered a sob. "They're pretty hard to get."

"But they're so easy to care for. Aren't they?"

Exhaustion won out before she could answer.

Eli couldn't stand it. The way Manny gazed down at her, guilt etched into his face. The way Manny stroked her brow, cooing to soothe her at the next groan. And especially the way Manny always knew what to do.

"I've got a whole plate here. And I refuse to let you fall asleep on me until you have eaten it."

Trixie turned her face away.

He looked about ready to weep. "Harpy..." he began but paused.

Piper scurried past and Eli remembered his task—to keep everything and everyone clear of Trixie.

He raced to try and scoop Piper up but she took flight, despite her back being to him—she knew he'd come.

"Leave her," Manny said, defeated. "The harpy's about to fall asleep."

Piper touched down and dropped something. She then looked up at her father. Eli closed in and cringed.

Four fat earthworms squirmed on the ground.

Manny regarded them with a sigh. "At least choose something with some meat on it; something your papa can cook."

Piper snatched up one worm, tilted her head back, and mashed it between her beak. Once she was finished, Manny celebrated.

"Well, look at that." He tried to see Trixie's face. "Look. She can eat on her own."

Piper flew toward him, an action that had even Slade rising to intercept her with an audible, "Whoa."

Before she could land on Trixie's back, Manny held out his right forearm.

"No. No. Come here. You can find purchase here."

And she did. She gagged and coughed.

Manny shifted under Trixie and held out his left hand up to the baby harpy's mouth. The remnants of the worm came back. Even Manny gave out a vocal protest.

Piper stared up at him, however, a pleasant smile plastered on her face.

Eli puzzled over that for some time until Manny laughed and nudged Trixie.

"Look. She's trying to give you a present. She's even chewed it up."

Trixie, face still turned away, groaned in response.

"I don't think harpies eat that stuff," Eli said, "do they?"

Piper waited, Manny waited, too. Rather than ask Trixie again, he brought the worm to his mouth and fought back his gag as he swallowed.

Annoyed at first, Piper whistled a protest.

The overexaggerate way Manny licked his hand, complimenting the gift made her preen.

"This is brilliant." Manny patted her head and then her cheek to which she closed her eyes and ruffled her feathers.

Eli stifled a laugh. How absurd.

"You're really good at this," Slade marveled. She asked what Eli was thinking. "How?"

Trixie took up Manny's attention again. "It is actually rather easy. I just think what would father do...." He met her gaze. "And then I do the opposite."

Slade beamed. "Wow."

Eli looked between them, awed. Oh, how he hated Manny.

"Well, there's three more," Eli teased, "you're right in saying you father'd never eat them all."

Manny stared him down then smirked. He leaned close to Piper and whispered, "Hey, guess what? This is so good. How about giving some to Aunty Sophie?"

Slade recoiled. Eli watched, helpless when Piper picked up the three remaining worms and hurried to present her gift. Her enthusiasm was hard to disappoint.

At first set to refuse, Slade plucked one worm and forced a smile. "Oh wow. This is...amazing. It looks so yum, Pipe."

Eli's eyes settled on Manny to find the asshole vampire staring back at him, smug.

Piper's blue eyes on Slade forced her to swallow hard before she tilted her head back.

Eli slipped around her to position his cheek against hers. she regarded him in doubt.

"You don't—"

In one suck, Eli stole the worm from her fingers. He also couldn't stop himself from swallowing it. It wiggled all the way down. His breakfast nearly came back up.

Once he calmed, he closed his eyes and let out a held breath.

"Just two more to go," Manny announced.

Trixie's sharp pain drew their focus.

"Harpy!"

"Three...two...."

One of the eggs cracked. Manny stopped himself from rushing to investigate.

Slade was already in motion. "It's the girl," she said. Purple colored egg in hand, Slade hurried over.

Each crack had Trixie screaming into Manny's throat.

"Take Piper out," Manny begged Eli. "I don't want to scare her."

In one scoop, Eli plucked Piper from the floor, careful to leave the worms in the rush.

Manny's voice carried. "Bring it closer. Proximity matters to a rune. Harpy, you must hold it."

"I can't. I don't want to."

Her cries were met with little sympathy. "Distance requires more power. You cannot afford to give anymore," Manny scolded. "You hold it."

Another sharp wail had Eli picking up speed. Once he was out in the large hall, he held Piper up.

"How bout you and me go for a run—?"

Trixie's scream came with the sound of squawking.

"Werewolf," Manny shouted, "get your ass back in here! We need someone to hold the egg."

Piper looked at him, hopeful, but Eli had to put her down. "You stay close. And don't go flying up." His eyes cast to the ceiling to focus on the four succubi there. It was best not to think about them. "Stay close."

Twenty minutes later, Trixie breathed a bit easier, Slade held the other uncracked egg, and Manny had a new, smaller, baby harpy tied to his bare chest.

"She needs runes," Manny complained. "I don't think I can lose any more and I don't want her by the harpy."

Sweat poured from Trixie's brow as she muttered, "Twenty-four. Twenty-three and fifty-nine."

A trance had started. That was never a good sign.

Manny held Trixie's face and pushed her eyelids back to see the all-white pupils.

"I'll have to calm her." He eased out of the wrapping and hurried to Slade who understood. She took it and dragged it on over her clothes, securing the new baby harpy to her instead. "Are you sure this is wise?"

"What choice do we have? She said herself not to leave her in it. I'll calm her down. Keep Piper at a distance. All the child-raring books I've read say the older sibling gets jealous. I'll spend some time with her later on but...."

The pain in his eyes when he gestured back at Trixie broke Slade's resolve.

Her smile held admiration; she was impressed. "At least we've got twenty-four hours. That'll give us time to readjust—"

"Twenty," Trixie muttered. "Nineteen and fifty-nine."

Eli gasped. "Don't be so sure about that."

"The boy's coming," Manny gushed, rushing to the egg. He bought the sheet up to cover Trixie's lower back Finally, he sat with them, the egg nestled under Trixie's naked body. "Closing the space'll mean he won't take too much from her." He met Slade's eyes and hesitated. "Let's...let's do it. Bring the honey."

Slade wasn't as forthcoming but after glancing at Trixie once, she hurried away.

Eli wasn't sure how he could help so he watched on. He looked at that strange family, loathing pulsing through him.

Loathing with how Manny sat and dragged Trixie and the egg close. Loathing with how the ailing harpy pounced on him, clinging for dear life. And finally, loathing for how massive Manny, the very normal-sized vampire, looked like a god lying there holding his would-be woman and his would-be offspring.

They were playing most of this by ear. Not that there was much of a choice with all the bounties on Manos Dresden. Everything had to be done here at the manor. At least it was still enchanted.

Crack.

Trixie sobbed.

"Shhh. You're doing well," Manny soothed. "You're doing well, harpy. Just a bit more."

"I can't—I can't stand it," Trixie cried.

Her wings still raised, the same as they had been for three weeks, she clutched Manny, begging, "Please, no more."

"Hush. It's coming. Look. It's cracked."

"Fifteen, fourteen and fifty-nine."

"Okay. See that. It's only the length it takes to draw a bath. And you'll certainly get that. It's not so bad."

Eli stood frozen in fear. He nearly fell over when Slade came back and rushed past him.

Manny reached for her. "Give me the baby. I want her to be here when her brother arrives."

Three weeks of groans and quiet crying didn't compare to Trixie's bawling this time.

Five minutes remained by the time she mustered enough strength to ease up and shove the egg away.

Manny caught it one-handed. "Harpy," he warned, "it's five more minutes. That's nothing. Just hold on a bit longer."

Despite his words, he watched her in fear. The next attempt she made at pushing the egg nearly had him losing his grip.

"Here," Manny entreated Slade, "hold it close to you."

She hesitated. "But don't you—"

"The harpy's not going to last five more minutes if I don't calm her. Just take him—take them both."

Eli had enough sense to take the new girl. No one suggested the honey again. Trixie was inconsolable by the time Slade snatched up the egg. She thrashed and clawed.

Manny took each blow in stride. "There we go. Fight me then if it'll help. This is my fault, isn't it?"

"Two," Trixie screamed, biting down into the cushion as she gripped Manny's bicep for dear life.

In Slade's arms, the big egg split in two but remained together.

With under a minute to go, Trixie's cries sounded more like torture.

Manny was the one who counted. "Fifty-nine seconds. Right?" He dodged the attempt to scratch his face but met her cheek to cheek as he pulled her in.

"Look, thirty, twenty-nine. Look at that, just twenty-five more." His expression betrayed his worry but his tone remained steady.

Eli looked from the new sleeping baby harpy in his arms to her wailing mother.

Once Manny reached one, a part of the egg collapsed inward.

A noise came with Trixie's cries.

Once Eli looked inside, his breath caught. Slade gasped as well.

"Brother. Come look at this."

"Not now." Manny struggled to catch hold of Trixie's fists. The sheet fell away and he yanked her to him.

"Brother..." Slade warned again.

"Not now, I said. Give me a moment."

Manny held Trixie close with all his might. The moment she ceased in her struggles was the moment he sighed with relief.

The ruckus with the egg quieted as well.

Manny'd wanted his boy. There'd been days he'd gazed at that egg, proud and eager. Now? Now he didn't look up from Trixie as he stroked her brow.

"You did good, harpy. Look at that. All set. It's all said and done. Isn't it? You've done something most harpies—most people never will. You've given life unselfishly. Rest now."

Her body trembled and she refused to open her eyes.

Slade swallowed hard as she risked approaching. "You should see this, Brother."

"What?" Manny snapped. "What was so damn important that it couldn't wait?"

Once Slade was close enough, she allowed him to peer in.

Manny examined the contents and gasped. "Oh shit. No!"