Lily blinked a bit as she stared at Anastasia. “I’m more worried about Nymphaea. She is far from a good girl when feels pent up and aggressive.” She looked so upset by the sudden movement of her daughter. She simply didn’t want to lose her little girl.

She let out a squeal as he ran over and picked her up. She felt dizzy for a moment as she kissed him back. She held onto him and smiled as she sat down with his help. He picked her up and carried her back into the kitchen. She was now laughing because he was so protective over her. He sat her down on a stool and she looked at the food. “Please, Dear I have been pregnant before. That troublemaker that we’re looking for wasn’t exactly an easy birth I’ll have you now. It’s what’s keeping me short of killing her.”

It was a joke as she laughed even in the solemn moment of Angela’s death she felt like… Angela had left her a present. “Now that we’re alone…” She eyed the glass of water and she picked up her fork. “I feel as my future husband you deserve to know what’s going on. You cannot tell anyone else. Promise me, it will set a dead panic in all of Arri.”

She picked up the glass of water and drank from it before she started to pick at her food. “Angela’s son Lucian was not able to take the test. It threw him out… it means either Arri isn’t ready for a new king or… Angela isn’t dead. Not yet or not even. We don’t know which yet. We’re keeping it to ourselves until we find out anything else… We don’t know if she’s become one with life’s energy or if something else is at play. Her temple is still standing as well…” She was musing.

“I almost feel like our baby was her gift almost. I don’t think Angela knew what would happen to her when she took that hit but..” Lily was so full of joy that when her eyes looked down she dropped what she was doing to tighten her dress. “How did I not notice that before?” She had a little belly and it made her laugh.

As Clyde listen to her speak about Angela. He knew Lily would be alright. She couldn’t be really dead. She was a Goddess after all. He put his hand over Lily’s, his smile gone. Now he was serious. “Thank you for telling me. I was worried you would break….” He paused as he remembered his own sister dying. He couldn’t stop it, he wasn’t there fast enough. “I know how it feels to lose a sister.” He hadn’t told her yet about Katherine’s death. It took a toll on him for a very a long time. Today was bringing up too many memories of that time.

Seeing her belly, his eyes widen. How could he missed that? Had her belly really grown over night? He had just kissed her stomach the night before. He looked up at her with a smile. “With us being non-human. You might not be pregnant for nine months.” He said as he got up from the stool.  They had only been together for a month tops. Kneeling down slightly before her, he leaned his head on her stomach. “Hey little girl.” He smiled looking up at her, he had a feeling it would be a girl, girls ran in both families after all.

“I am your Father. I think we are going to meet you sooner than we expect.” He paused as he laid his hand on her belly next to him. “I am never going to leave you. I will love you so much. I will also cherish you as I do your mother…..and nymph.” He added the last part after a smile. He pulled away to kiss her belly. “I can’t wait for you to be here.” He whispered into her stomach. With a laugh, he rubbed his face into her stomach and kissed it again before standing up to hug her.

“This has been quite a journey we have been on.” He said into her hair as he snuggled into it. “I would never change it.” He leaned back to kiss her lips softly.

Lily gave him a soft smile as she brought her hand up and rubbed his cheek. “I can’t break my Love. My court needs me more than ever. Arri cannot lose two queens in a row that would just be terrible. I have to be strong and hold onto the hope that all of this is just a joke of some sort.” She gave him a look like he would tell her about his sister later and let it go.

She chuckled a bit and nodded. “I have a feeling you are right. The baby will be here before we know what to do.” She watched him as he knelt down and put his head on her belly. She put her hands around his head and gently pet his hair as he spoke to their child. 

“I think you already love her.” Lily corrected him as he spoke and chuckled. “And cherish her. All it took was finding out that it exists. It’s what makes you such a good father. You, me, Rowan, Nymphaea, and even Angelique. We’re all one happy family now. Wedding or no wedding.”

She hugged him back and as he snuggled her she just chuckled more. “Tell me about it. We have to break it to all three children we are bringing a fourth child into the world. I hope Angelique takes it well.” She was a bit worried. “And Nymph for that matter…” She kissed him back and took a huge sigh.

“Thank goodness for Ana making me that tea this morning. I was throwing up all over the place. Glad the house staff is so good at their jobs.” She blushed a bit as she held her hands to her stomach protectively.

As he held her, Clyde’s mind went to Angelique. Would she accept him marrying Lily? What about the child? His mind swarmed with thoughts about his daughter. He hoped when he told her, she wouldn’t turn off her soul again. She was fragile when it came to family. Then he remember how she told him not to have Lily get away. He stayed quiet for a moment as she talked about throwing up. A small laugh left his lips. “The great things that come with pregnancy. That is why I am quite happy I am a man.” He joked with her.

His thoughts went back to his daughter “Angelique will accept this and the baby.” He paused in his words a smile coming to his lips. “We talked about you much. She told me not to have you get away and not to pass this up.” He pulled away from her to cup her face. Looking down into her eyes he spoke, “I can’t wait to start this new adventure with you.” He leaned down to kiss her once more.

---

It didn’t take long for Anastasia to find her son and Nymph. They were killing off some demons. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at her son. He sheathed his sword and gulped. He was in for it. “Lets go. Both of you “ Her eyes turned to nymph, her words stern as before. “Your mother is back and worried sick. In her state, she shouldn’t be. She needs to speak to you. Let’s go.” WIth that, the elemental turned around, she didn’t bother to make sure they were following. She knew they were.

Before they reached the house they spotted, Rowan, Lily’s other child. With him, Ana’s voice wasn’t stern. It was normal with a bit of cheer in her voice. “Hey come on kid, your mom would like to talk to you.” She smiled at him before she walked passed.

As they reached the house, she stopped outside. “Nymph and Rowan, go ahead. Alden. Stay here.” When they walked into the house, Anastasia scolded her son.

---

Clyde stood there smiling with Lily, his eyes lit with joy as he laid his hand over her little baby bump. He didn’t notice the two walk in. When he did, he drooped his hands and put one arm around Lily’s shoulders. His face lit with smiles still. “Hey kids. We have some news.”

Lily shook her head at Clyde and laughed. “Sure, leave all the troublesome stuff to your future wife. I’m sure I’m going to be getting up every night with said child too.” She teased him as she leaned over and rubbed her nose on his. She smiled more when he mentioned Angelique. “I’m glad. That means we, her and me, can have a relationship as stepmother and child.” That made Lily quite happy. She kissed him again and hugged him close.

–

Nymph was having the time of her life. The way the hellfire danced around her body. It was a lot like an elegant dance. She said she had the basic control but it was the way it was in love with her. The way the green and purple flames made her skin and hair glow. It scorched some of her clothing as it tore through other demons. There was a look of pure thrill on her face. Yaeger’s blade was able to slash through the demons with relative ease showing how sharp the blade was.

“What’s wrong?” Nymph stopped dead as the flames burned at the grass. She sheathed Yaeger and had the same look as she saw Ana. “Busted…” She said in Alden’s direction as they stalked off together. “In her state?” What the hell did that mean? Her eyes narrowed to Ana but Ana said nothing more. She could have asked a thousand questions but she knew that Ana the way she was wouldn’t have answered them.

She sulked as she followed the woman and kept up with Alden. Of course, Ana was completely friendly with her goody-goody brother. She gently rolled her eyes as Rowan nodded and followed them. “Good luck,” Nymph giggled to Alden before he was left to the mercy of his mother.

Rowan and Nymph made their way into the kitchen and Nymph’s eyes immediately went to her mother’s bump before Clyde dropped his hands. “What’s this?” Nymph was obviously confused as she moved around the room. Rowan nodded in agreement with Nymph.

“Well, Clyde and I have some exciting news. It looks like there will be a new member of the Rose Vladimir tribe.” Lily blushed a bit as she snuggled into Clyde.

Nymph’s mouth dropped. “You two work a little fast don’t you think?” She was flabbergasted. “What about me? I still need you, Mom.” Nymph was pouting now.

Lily smiled and she got off the stool as she came over and hugged Nymph. “I’m still going to have time for you. I’ll just stick the baby with Clyde… Is that okay?” She pulled the girl to her. “I never knew you liked my annoyance.”

“Life is quiet without your nagging,” Nymph admitted as she hugged her mother. “Am I in trouble?”

Lily sighed a bit. “Yes but for now you can just stay in the house and not leave.” Lily stroked Nymph’s dark hair and brushed the scorch marks off her corset. “Why must you get yourself dirty… Now stay in the house… Alright? We’ll talk more about the punishment… right now is a happy time.” Rowan went and hugged his mother.

Nymph stalked out and went to another little side garden so she could sit. “And I’m grounded again.”  

Lily watched her daughter leave. “She took that hard… I hope she accepts the baby too.”

When her children entered the room, he stood beside her with his arm around her. Clyde was too happy to remove the smile from his face. It wasn’t when Nymph wasn’t too thrilled about it all that made him frown. He knew she was going to take this hard, but he hoped that this wouldn’t drive a wedge between mother and daughter or daughter and stepfather for that matter.

Clyde’s arm dropped to the counter as he watched Lily hug her daughter. “Of course.” He said with a small smile. He wouldn’t mind having some baby daddy time. He let mother and daughter talk. He didn’t want to interrupt.

He smiled seeing an accepting son. Clyde and Rowan didn’t have much time together like him and Nymph, he made a note to do so.  He soon left his mother because he had things to do but would be back later. Clyde smiled as he shook his hand and then he left. He returned to Lily’s side.

A sigh left his lips as he saw his sister come back in. “I am looking for a place around here!” She announced. “With a baby on the way, she will need her Aunt around.” She smiled down at the noticeable baby bump. “I am calling my other children here.” Anastasia said as she started to walk out the door. “Clyde, can you watch over Alden for me? I am going to make the necessary arrangements …..He should be with Nymph.” With a nod from her brother, she left.

“Well. This will be interesting.” The elemental said with a laugh before picking up Lily. “Lets leave the children be. I am sure Alden will keep her in check.” With that he headed upstairs with Lily in his arms. “Let’s go and celebrate.” He said with a smirk on his lips as they entered the room.

Lily laughed at Ana. “There should be a few nice houses nearby. Just what a child needs more aunts.” She chuckled knowing that Ana would probably claim that she was the best aunt out of the bunch. “We can watch him it won’t be too hard. I’m sure they won’t leave this time since they got caught already. Nymph doesn’t like a game of cat and mouse.” 

She nodded up to Clyde as she squealed when he picked her up. She clung to him and laughed the whole way up the stairs. “I’m sure he will. They got in trouble once… and we do have much to celebrate today.” They were going to be parents after all… again. Lily gently kicked the door shut as they got into the bedroom. She figured this was where they were going to spend the rest of the evening.