Blaine looked at his son with some disdain as Jayden took a shot of brandy. It was early in the morning and while he wanted to drink, he had to worry about how Toya would feel since she couldn’t very well take in one of her favorite pastimes. Somehow he got roped into not drinking around her, which was a problem because he was damn near always near her. His son, on the other hand, was free to do as he wished. Not that he was doing this on purpose, but ever since he heard the news of his mother’s pregnancy, he remained home for a time to help out his father and sister as they had to deal with the likes of the White Queen.

“So today Aunt Angela is suppose to come over”, he asked with his father nodding. “Yeah, hopefully they can civil to each other for a little bit. If not for their sake, then for that of Sparrow.” Jay had some concerned about this, but honestly the goddess was more than qualified to do the job, and not to mention that this mess was as much her fault as it was his mother’s. “She should be getting here soon. Guess I will check up on mother… “ He left the dining hall and heard some of the brandy being poured into the glass and chuckled on his way out. His father was certainly a booze-hound and he wasn’t sure how he had made it this long, all things considered.

Going into his mother’s room, he went over to her side and sat onto the bed. “Good morning. How are you feeling?” He smiled warmly at her. “Now, Aunt Angela should be on her way here shortly. Have to check up on the progress of Sparrow and everything. You think you will be able to resist the temptation of decking her while she’s here?”

Toya was in quite the mood today. “I don’t want to look at her smug face.” She crossed her arms over Sparrow’s bulge and pouted. “Don’t let her in the house.” There was muttering going on as Jay came up to her. “Don’t let your aunt into this house. I’d rather give birth alone.” She was being stubborn now.

The White Queen gave her son a stubborn look. “I’m alright Jayden.” She put her hand up to his face and kissed his forehead. “I just hurt a little that’s all… Your Aunt’s attitude with me is just going to annoy me more.” It was an honest answer that she could only give Jayden or Blaine. She had this soft spot for Jayden that she couldn’t have with her girls. Maybe it was because she had lost Costel. She kissed his forehead again and moved her hands down to Sparrow. “Your brother is so active it isn’t funny.”

She had ignored the last question but now she tilted her head. “I suppose I’ll just bitch slap her if she goes too far.”

There was a knock at the bedroom door now as Toya’s face went white. “The bitch is here,” she whispered as she pulled the blanket up and peeked over the top of it. Instead of Angela a small slender woman came in. She had blonde hair was almost white with dark blue eyes. There was silver around her pupils as she gave them both a smile.

“Belle, why the fuck are you here?” Toya hissed.

“Um… Well, you see…” The girl rubbed the back of her neck. “Mother has decided that she wants me to be in charge of Sparrow’s development and hopes that you forgive her absence…” She bowed to them both. “She will make sure I do everything right but in light of the twins births she asks that you give patience and allow me to help you.”

Toya was red in the face, “SHE DITCHED ME. SHE GOT ME PREGNANT AND SHE BAILED ON ME.”

Belle flinched a bit. “She offers her deepest apologies and hopes that you will forgive her…”

Jay gave his mother a bit of a pout and before shaking his head. She was asking for something next to impossible for him to do, despite his love for her. He wouldn’t refuse the help of his Aunt in this, especially if he knew he couldn’t stop her. “Locked doors won’t stop her. I don’t think father would refuse her either. You need her help, mom. You both do.” His eyes went to her body where his little brother was in. “Don’t be like that, it’s gonna be fine.” He knew how she could get but all in all, she knew that this was far better to deal with with her sister. “You two…I swear. When we thought she died, who was the first one that wanted to wage war and slap someone…” He was patient with her and accepted the kiss on his forehead as he gripped at her hand. Being the oldest son, he felt he was somewhat responsible in helping to make sure the family remained strong and safe. Perhaps Sparrow would join the ranks of him and their father when he grew older.

|”He’s a fighter, like the rest of us.” Jayden smiled and held it right up until the knock at the door. “Guess she is here. Come in!” Instead of his Aunt, it was someone else. It took him a good moment before he recognized her as one of his cousins. What was Belle doing here? Scratching his head, he started to listen to her explain why she came over and halfway through, he was getting the idea. “Oh great…”, he spoke between gritted teeth. He knew how his mother would respond to this and at that time, Blaine came up behind her and made his way into the room. He had already taken another shot from the looks of it, and it was obvious that he had met with Belle when she first arrived.

“Don’t take offense, Belle. We were just expecting your mother since she played a part in this…”, the older lycan stated. “Now Toya, calm down now.”

“Yes mother, maybe she’s busy with her twins…”, he suggested before looking to Belle. “It’s fine. I trust my Aunt’s judgment if she believes in you. Hopefully my mother will be a willing patient for you. Right, mother?”

“I fucking guess,” Toya groaned as she stared at her husband, “Do I smell whiskey?” She mouthed to Blaine silently.

Belle looked sort of upset for a few minutes as she moved around the room. She was setting up odd instruments that Angela hadn’t ever used here in Revaliir but that Toya would have been used to back when Aurora had been born. “I’m afraid, unlike my mother I can’t just tell you what is going on. However, she is listening and making sure I follow all procedures. In no way, shape, or form are you in any danger. You or Sparrow.”

The woman seemed so much more mature and focused than her mother but then again her mother was all powerful and could do readings like no one else could. “To be honest, I think my mother didn’t come here because she stresses Aunt Toya out. Aunt Toya has an older body now… Also in most cases, a woman who has had so many children would be in danger should she have anymore.”

Toya made a face, “I’m not old…”

Looking up from her spot Belle smiled at her aunt. “You are older than most human women who give birth. By your age, most women cannot have children anymore. It is only because our bodies are capable of so much more compared to humans that we can continue giving birth until our end days.” She began to mix things in a bowl and crush it up.

“Our time together will be much longer than with my mother. She would come in here tell you he is fine and then leave… but I am a healer in training so you’ll have to pardon my inexperience. I’ve delivered many of Sularia’s babies along side my mother though… so I know how to be a midwife. This is my first time taking the reigns by myself.”

While both father and son looked more relieved to learn about her experiences, Toya looked as though she was still somewhat worried. Not to mention that she might have been missing one of her favorite pastimes. Blaine knew it which was while he tried not to drink in front of her until she could do so. “You’ll be fine once Sparrow comes in and you’re done nursing him”, her husband sighed and looked to Belle, “Don’t you fret. I’m sure you will done fine.” He was sure that Angela wouldn’t leave her nephew’s life, or that of her sister’s in the hands of someone she didn’t feel confident of. And the girl had assisted her many times beforehand, so it sounded like plenty of experience to him. 

“Father’s right, you know what you are doing and we will be here to assist you in any way we can.”, Jay added in, as he gripped his mother’s hand tighter. “ You just have to relax, mom. Do it for Sparrow.” He knew underneath all that stubbornness and thick headedness, she wouldn’t put her children in any sort of danger, no matter how prideful she was. It was what made Toya a great mother. Hell, he was living proof of that.

“Nah, the only old one is me, darling”, Blaine reassured her as he came over to her side and kissed her head. Jayden released her and went over to Belle as he noticed her grinding up ingredients. “What you fixin’ to make with that?”

Belle nodded and gave them all a smile as she looked at her ingredients. “Fine, fine. As long as she does Sparrow good I don’t care who looks after him.”

The tiny Rosenite peeked up at her cousin and blushed a bit as she thought about how to put it into words. “Well, recently we’ve been experimenting with new ways to try and replicate what my mother does with her magic. She was able to give an ability to a cleric named Shayla that showed what the baby was in the womb and give an image. So what we do is replicate it using a variety of alchemy ingredients and a series of arcane circles. Within these circles, it triggers the magic in a more complex way than what Shayla does.”

Belle cleaned off the mortar and pedestal and smiled at Jayden. “I can show you all how it works now actually. This method was used on Naota’s wife Echo-Rose when she was pregnant with their triplets. It was done during the time when my mother was at war with Dalanesca and couldn’t be there with him at all times. It was able to accurately see if anything was wrong with the babies and what the sexes were. We already know Sparrow is a boy for reasons…”

“Because your mother is a…” Toya bit her tongue and Belle blushed once more as she brought the mixture over to Toya. “What?” Belle instructed Toya to pull up her shirt and Belle began to draw the circles.

“Anddd.” Belle blew hard on the circles causing Toya to laugh. Her magic lit the powder up and at first, there was a fast beating heart. “I have to adjust everything I know because the baby is half lycanthrope. Lycanthrope hearts beat faster. Normally this would be a cause for concern and we would deliver a baby early or in some cases…” She frowned and shrugged it off. “Terminate the pregnancy for the sake of the mother.” It was hard for her to say. “I don’t ever want to do that last bit… With Mom, we’re always able to save both but… There’s going to be a time when I don’t have my mother and have to make a hard choice.” It was a somber moment before the magic displayed the image for them.

“See? Sparrow.” It was crude and you couldn’t make out much but she smiled. “Our magic isn’t as advanced as Mother’s or Shayla’s.”

Jayden wasn’t too familiar with the healing arts; most of what he knew were of offense spells that he incorporated into his swordplay. So when he was listening to Belle’s explanation as to what she was up to, Jay was listening attentively. “I didn’t think such means would actually be possible… “ He looked to his father, who looked somewhat thrilled to be able to see what the latest member to their family would look like. This would prove to be an exciting experience.

Blaine was trying to hold his excitement but found it easier once his wife butted into the conversation and he gave her a dirty look. “Be good”, he spoke through gritted teeth as she did as Belle instructed her. “Oh, I could have told you about our hearts.” Even now, the father could hear his unborn son’s heartbeat as steady as a wolf’s could be inside Toya. Blaine held his wife’s hand tightly; there was no way in hell he wanted to lose either her or Sparrow. And he knew that she felt the same way. Jayden didn’t want that either, especially since he knew how the deaths of his older siblings had affected her prior. But he had faith in Belle and her skills. “I don’t think you will have to worry about this one. My brother’s strong, as if my mother. And I’m confident that you will be able to deliver him safe and sound.”

 His eyes watched in awe as they could see the image of Sparrow set forth for them thanks to her concoction. Blaine was speechless as he looked on with a gaping mouth. “So that’s him…he’s so tiny”, Jayden said- though to be fair he barely had an experience with babies before so seeing him like that was just mesmerizing to the knight. “Still, the magic that can do this is amazing…” 

Belle peeked up at Jayden and tilted her heads. “By studying the gifts that Gods have and the gifts that Gods can give we can recreate things… Maybe not perfectly or anywhere near that great but it should be mentioned that my mother was actually able to create Varaz and Komiteia’s barriers just by being given god-touched plants. It happens and that’s what allows the Academy to become better.”

The healer nodded up to Blaine and smiled. “I forgot to ask. Generally, we’re supposed to make sure that the parents don’t have anomalies such as a fast paced heart beat. Typically with Rosenites, we have a slow paced beat but we’ve found with research and patience that Rosenites who have children with Lycanthrope generally don’t pass on the slow heart beat.”

There was a blush on her face as Jayden spoke and not knowing how to handle his compliment she rattled on a bit more. “Did you know that compared to Lycanthropes who run hotter… You and your siblings run slightly colder thanks to your mother?”

Finally, it was time to show them her hard work as the image appeared. She used magic to allow the sound of the heart beat to resonate in the room. Toya was completely taken back. “…I love him…” The queen was in awe as she took Blaine’s hand a bit tighter in hers. “Can you imagine if we had this when the twins… or even Aurora was here?” She smiled up at Blaine.

Belle let them get a good look before the magic started to ween and she began to clean up Toya. “The magic is strong but because it is strong it needs the alchemical base. Once that base runs out the magic shorts. It takes a trained eye to learn all about it. From what I saw and heard Sparrow is very healthy. Toya is very healthy as well, a lot more so than most women her age.”

“Am I really that old?” Toya looked up at her husband.

“I see. How long have you guys been at this sort of magic for?” Jayden was curious about them obtaining this sort of power. He was also weary since this could be just as bad as it was good should it find its way into someone’s malicious hands. Or it didn’t have to be such- power was able to corrupt even if it was intended for good purposes. Still, his main concern was for Sparrow- the other tidbits could wait.

“Haven’t had a problem if I recall correctly”, Blaine offered as he looked to his eldest son. “Jayden, the twins and Aurora made it fine and well. Nothing wrong with them other than having some of Toya’s personality mixed with my own.”  He let out a snide chuckle as he rubbed Toya’s belly with care. Jay nodded while taking notice of Belle’s blushing, but was too gentleman like to speak of it. “You don’t say…that makes sense, to be honest. I’d imagine that I would pick up other things from my mother as well.” He suppose that compared to the other houses, the White Court was vastly different from the others. Perhaps that was what made their house unique, and it was something he grew used to as well as loved.

The sight of Sparrow had done the impossible- Jay saw his mother in awe and quiet for a bit. It was a rare sight and he looked to his brother from start to finish. “I know, sweetheart”, Blaine answered as he placed his lips against the back of her hand. “I love him too.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Jay couldn’t help but to smile widely as he watched him. The magic started to come undone and before he knew it, Belle was hard at work again. “I think we can all take pleasure in knowing they are both fine then. It won’t be too long now before he will want out. See? I had a feeling that we were in good hands, Belle.”

His father stroked the top of his wife’s head and sighed. “No, Toya. You’re still look as young as the day we met. Don’t worry about it. And if it makes you feel better, the rest of your sisters are as old as dirt.” Their son rolled his eyes as he started to help Belle clean up.

 

“It’s really quite recently. I would say at least within the last ten years. It took a while to even be able to replicate what Shayla can do with the gift Mother gave her. Even then we’re not as good as they are with it.” Belle sounded so confident as she answered his questions about magic and the academy… However, anything else she lost that confidence and got shy with him and the others.

“I imagine if Aunt Toya had any problems that my mother would have disclosed them to me. She might see uninterested most of the time but her memory for medicine is one of the best around. She doesn’t forget a patient and if there is a slip up she tends to review her file on them.” Belle reassured Blaine and the others.

Thinking about it she shrugged. “I’m not too sure what else you guys have inherited but half Lycanthrope mixed with Rosenites tend to get the best of both worlds. You might have noticed how small Liz is compared to you though. Different types of Lycanthrope I would bet, she is much agiler.”

Toya snuggled up into Blaine as they watched Sparrow. He had captured everyone’s hearts already it seemed. Belle blushed again at Jayden and nodded. “It won’t be much longer at all, he’s right on schedule. Might even be a few days earlier at this rate.” She gave them a smile.

The blonde woman smiled at Jayden as he helped her clean up. “Thank you very much, Jayden.” Her voice was so soft when she lost her confidence.

Toya tilted her head and laid back on the bed again. “Girl, you should stay here in case there are problems. I wouldn’t ever offer that to my sister but you aren’t her as far as I can tell.”

Belle blushed a bit more and chuckled a bit. “No, I think my mother is one of a kind… Thankfully. I would be more than happy to stay here until Sparrow is born.” She bowed a bit to them. “You should try to exercise though… It would help your hips and other things of that nature… Walking up and down the stairs would be good for you Aunt Toya at least until you are much larger.”