Times were moving rather fast for the goddess, it always felt that way when she was carrying. Her hands were pressed against the baby belly she protected so dearly. She felt wrong having to fight while he was there. She felt wrong having to do anything remotely bad while he was there, as if he would witness it. It was one thing she didn’t want her children to know about until they were old enough to understand. Iva was her exception but rules were meant to be broken.

She relaxed in the hot spring that was housed in her bedroom while she waited for Drae to get home. It was suppose to be a short business trip he said. Just out to the mage city and back. She didn’t ask the details but she trusted him. Her eyes weighed heavy as she sank further down into the waters. Rohan’s music filled the small room and a smile came across the goddess’s lips. “You are everything but active.”

Her hands protected the large belly as she began to drift off to sleep in the waters. Her energy was more focused on other things at the moment to remotely care about how or where she slept. Her red curls were pulled up into a messy bun and a balled up robe was behind her head as a pillow. She felt too lazy to even climb into bed. “Maybe Daddy will be home soon.” She yawned as she whispered to Rohan. He was tired too, she didn’t know how he was but she could feel it.

Drae stepped through the rose gate that was found in Wyllmochvar and was instantly transported to the Shrine of the Mother. His satchel was full of arcane equipment. It was high time he decided, that he was going to turn one of the empty rooms at the Shrine into his personal workroom, that way he didn't have to be away from Iva and Angela for long, especially now where Angela was getting much further on in her pregnancy. While the baby had yet to kick yet, Drae was counting down the weeks until his son would arrive. 

The warlock carried the heavy satchel into the master bedroom where he was sure that Angela would be relaxing, and quietly pushed the door open. The sound of rippling water reached his half-elf ears and he guess that Angela had to be in the spring. With a contented sigh, he pushed into the room and set his satchel down on the ground before pushing the door closed again. He could see the top of Angela's head, her bright red curls wound into a bun on top, and from the even sound of her breathing, Drae guessed she must have dozed off. Quietly he got undressed before he went over to the spring and slid into the water next to Angela. He gently moved up close to her and took her hands into his and pressed kisses to them to wake her up. 

"What? Too tired to crawl into bed?" he asked her gently as he leaned over to kiss her forehead, a hand falling to her swollen belly. "How is our little prince today? Still not moving?"

Angela found herself in a happy dream world for once. It had been this way since she got pregnant with Rohan and for once she was glad to dream. She knew she was lulling off a bit too much for one of the resident Triune but she was certain that her fellow members could excuse her if only for a few months more.

It was an hour or two later that Drae finally woke her up. She reached a wet hand up and rubbed her eyes. A large yawn left her lips as she stared up at him with half dozed eyes. “Only for a bit… Way too tired to crawl into bed once I hit the water.” She chuckled softly as her hands went to his. “No, he is content on just making noise instead of acrobatics. We really do have an odd one.” 

She moved if only to lay on him. She felt her fingertips pruning and sighed a bit more. “I hate to see my feet at this point.” She chuckled. “No idea how long I’ve been in here?” She questioned Drae as if he knew her every moment. She knew for certain he did not but at least she had someone to ask. As if on cue Angela felt something strange in her belly. At first she thought maybe she was hungry, that was happening a lot more as the time went one, but it wasn’t that. “Did you feel something?”

It was a bit after that when the second shock wave in her belly hit. It wasn’t a massive one but enough that Angela’s eyes got wide. “That little shit! All these weeks we’ve been waiting and all you had to do was give a command?!” The goddess was in an uproar for a moment before she started laughing. “I’m going to give myself a sickness if I don’t stop getting all upset. I can’t believe you Rohan.” Angela fussed over their little one before smiling up at Drae. “Think you can make him do it again?”

At first Drae couldn't be sure if the movement he felt from Angela's belly wasn't just her stomach rumbling for food, but when she called attention to the movement, he looked down at her belly in surprise, and almost instinctively placed his hands where hers were not. Sure enough, a moment or two later the movement happened again, and though it wasn't much, it was enough for Drae's eyes to mirror Angela's and get wide with excitement. He beamed at the Goddess as she made her exclamations and he couldn't help but begin laughing heartily at how up in arms she was getting over it, especially when she cussed out the unborn child… or was it DRAE she was really cussing out?

He didn't care. For the first time, he had felt his child moving within Angela's womb, and he couldn't help but feel overwhelming joy. 

He looked back at Angela and replied with a huge grin. "I don't know, but I will sure try!" he laughed and leaned a little closer to her belly, his hand still in place. 

"I felt that little prince. Are you just going to keep singing us songs, or do you want to show Daddy how strong you are?"

Angela could tell that Drae was highly amused by her as she yelled at their little one. “He is defying his mother! He waited for you to come home and practically beg him to move.” She held onto her belly. “I give you a home and food and this is how you repay me.” She teased her little one as she laughed with Drae. “I cannot even begin to understand him. He is wonderful.”

With both parents excited, they waited in awe. Sure enough as if Drae’s words worked like magic Rohan kicked in his direction. It was sort of forceful but like Rohan knew what his parents wanted. Angela was gleeful. “You are a terrible little monster.” She whispered softly as she hugged Drae now. She found herself far away from him and she sighed. “Though, as he grows I can’t quite get to you.” She flailed her arms in a silly manner as she laughed.

“I can’t wait for him to get here.” Angela took a moment to get herself out of the water. “Sorry, but all this water makes me.. well you know.” She chuckled at him and took care of business before getting dressed. “He is growing so fast Drae! I can’t believe how big he’s  gotten and strong.” Once Drae was out of the water she put his hands back to her belly. “Hopefully he doesn’t do this at night.” Their baby seemed a lot more active after he had been willed awake.

“Do you think he was using all that energy for singing instead of moving?”

"I didn't beg. I would never stoop to such things. The boy clearly just wants to please his father!" Drae laughed. He chuckled as Angela flailed around, pretending to reach for him and acting like she couldn't. The warlock chuckled more and grabbed her hands, kissing each finger. "I know. It's like he KNOWS he's being an inconvenience. At least he hasn't made you crave strange foods," he grinned. "Or should I be expecting pleas to go to exotic places to acquire foods we can't find here?" he asked, more to the child in Angela's womb than to her. 

Drae chuckled and followed Angela out of the spring and proceeded to dress himself. "I know, love. In a few short weeks he will be here…" he said softly as he caressed her belly. He pressed a kiss to his love's baby bump and stood back up. "Good grief, if he keeps that up all night, none of us will sleep. I thought it was hard to sleep when he was singing!" he laughed. He looked thoughtful. 

"With how much he was singing, I wouldn't be surprised. Inside of you it must be so loud that he is probably practically screaming to be heard," he laughed. "But now, maybe he'll do both. Iva sure likes to hear him singing, let's see how excited she'll be to feel him kick!"

Angela laughed and nodded. “I have never heard you beg but during rather intense bedroom moments.” She flicked underneath his chin and smiled. After her loving flail she stopped to give him another loving looks. Her eyes were excited. “Need you to go pick them? I can spawn them and even make the Durian fruit I so love NOT stink. Have you ever actually smelled a real one?” She stuck her tonuge out in disgust. “Taste heavenly but they smell fetid.”

After they were dressed Angela ran her fingers through Drae’s hair as he kissed on her belly. “I know, it doesn’t seem like we only have four months left! I just want him to be super healthy and come out safe.” She pat her belly as if giving an order. “Hopefully, he listens to that.” She chuckled and kissed Drae’s lips softly.

“You might be able to sleep if you stay away from me,” Angela pouted at him softly. “But you wouldn’t do that to Roh and I would you? We would get so cold if you moved away from us.” She scouted closer to him and laughed as she wrapped herself around him the best she could. “It is wonderful when we aren’t sleeping.”

Angela groaned a bit. “It’s not too loud but I think he uses magic so we can hear him out here.” The goddess nodded and laughed. “Let’s go tell Iva, she’s so excited about everything already.” Taking Drae out into the hallway, they found their way to Iva’s room. Opening the door she found the girl changing into her nightgown. Iva was putting up her red hair now as she seen her parents.

“Daddy! Mommy! You are here.” She ran over and put her face into her mother’s belly. She felt a kick and stared at the belly. “Mommy, ROHAN KICKED MY FACE!” She laughed a bit and tapped lightly. “You can’t do that I’m the big sister you have to listen to me.”

Drae sighed in relief. "Oh good. I was really dreading the inevitable midnight trip into Ataiyo because you were craving some sort of exotic dish," he said with a chuckle. 

He sighed deeply as Angela ran her fingers through his hair and he looked up at her lovingly. He chuckled again when she said she wanted Rohan to arrive healthily and safely, and then made the comment about him listening. "For both our sakes!" the warlock added with a wily grin before he kissed her back. 

"I know. You hear that kiddo? IF you want me to stay and keep you and Mommy warm at night, it means no funny business from you!" Drae said in a mock stern voice as he pointed at Angela's belly with one had on his waist in a very fatherly fashion. 

Drae slipped his hand into Angela's as they walked out of the bedroom and headed down to Iva's room. "She should be getting ready for bed right about now I think," he said softly as they approached their current youngest's room. "This will be perfect. We can do story time all at once." 

There was something satisfying to Drae about putting Iva to bed. It was one of his favorite rituals, not because it meant that Iva would be asleep, but because it was a time when he really got to bond with her. Drae looked on serenely as Iva noticed as they came in and patted her head affectionately as she pressed her face into Angela's belly. As if on cue, Rohan kicked at the pressure that was her face. Drae had to chuckle heartily at Iva's response. It was exactly what he had hoped it would be. 

He shook his head and rubbed Iva's head. 
"I hate to break it to you darling, but even if you are the big sister, little boys very rarely listen to ANYONE but Mommy," he said with a laugh as he picked her up. "Are you ready for bed, Little Imp?"

Angela laughed a bit and kissed him. “No, you just have to put up with me getting fat.” She smirked.

The couple looked content as they listened to Rohan. It was how they were spending most of their nights anymore. They would lay in bed and listen to the little one inside of her belly. A soft smile crossed her face as she listened to the father speak to his son. She would have thought it was his first child but her mind always slipped back to Iva. Drae did a wonderful job raising Iva and even went through a lot to keep the girl happy. “Thank you for being a wonderful father Drae.” She whispered it to him as they walked out of their room, a soft kiss went to his cheek as the loving look stayed on her face.

“Not many people have been able to put up with her. I’m so happy you can understand her so well.” Angela understood how much story time meant to Drae. Rarely did she interrupt, if anything all she did was watch.

Iva smirked as they entered and did her bit with Rohan as usual. She was a bit excited over the movement but the amount of sleepy in her eyes made her look adorably ready for bed. “That’s not fair, no one else’s mommy is as scary as mine.” 

Ang made a face before laughing. “I’m only scary to those who deserve it.” She pat the young one’s head and sighed softly as she moved into the room and began to pick up after Iva.

Not wanting to fuss anymore over her mess getting cleaned up Iva put her arms up for Drae to take her to bed. “What are you going to read tonight?” She exclaimed happily as she kissed his cheek and held onto him. “I love you daddy.” She snuggled into him as she was tucked into bed. Angela put Winston next to her and tucked him in as well.

“Mommy can Winston get a nighttime cap?”

“If Iva is good and goes to sleep like we ask… I’ll have one in the morning.” She pat the child’s head once more.

"Hmmmm… what would be a good story…" Drae said thinking out loud as he settled down on the bed beside Iva once she was all settled. He picked up a book of fairy tales he had found in Wyllmochvar for her and flipped through the colorfully illustrated pages before he picked one called "The Maiden from the Mirror." 

He proceeded to tell the story of a very lonely wizard who used a mirror to create a maiden  to keep him company, and the adventures the two of them had together, exploring dragon hordes, discovering ancient forgotten ruins, and in the end the two of them getting married and living happily ever after. When the story was over, he cuddled her for a moment, knowing that in no time she would be soundly off to dreamland, and he did hope that tonight the dreams would be pleasant for her. 

"I love you too, Iva," he said softly as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head as he pulled the covers up and tucked them snugly about her, and made sure that Winston was in the blankets with her. "Sleep well, little Imp," he whispered before he moved over to join Angela and turn the lamps low so that she would sleep. 

"Don't think I will ever get tired of this," he told Angela as he slipped his arm around her.