Hey everyone. Thanks for checking out my latest chapter fic. It's chock full of my own headcanon and original characters, but hopefully you find the story compelling. I've been thinking about it for quite some time, and it's finally coming out to play. So... Enjoy!

A fire crackling in the hearth to bathe the room in cozy warmth and light; the lazy sound of Azrael's purr as she dozed next to her mistress' leg; his wife lying across his lap with her head on the arm of the sofa while he drew the fingers of one hand rhythmically through her hair; a book for her and a few little things to finish up the workday for him; and a mug of tea for each sitting on the coffee table nearby. It was a quiet evening, the kind he liked best. He had long ago made a decision to treasure each moment he had, and evenings like this made it an easy resolution to keep. Nothing was perfect, of course, but he rather thought this was almost as close as things got.

A soft, sleepy sound drew his gaze from the paper in his hand down to Raine as she shifted a little. He smiled and smoothed hair back from her forehead while she rubbed her eyes. "Are you getting hints?" he teased her softly. She had never been much of a night owl, but lately it seemed that the little one she carried demanded quite a bit of sleep from its mother. She was solidly six months along, and symptoms and side effects had significantly increased in the last two weeks. It was quite a task, creating life.

She hummed, but her nose crinkled briefly. "Actually," she mused, "she's feeling feisty tonight."

His brow raised. "'She'?" Raine closed her eyes and set her book down to ease her hand under her lower back, and automatically he slid his own fingers behind her neck to rub at undoubtedly sore muscles. "What led to that determination?"

"Mother's intuition."

Regal chuckled and inclined his head in a good-humored concession. "I see. Does that intuition come with a name, too?"

This provoked a small, wry smile of her own, and he leaned forward carefully to deposit the paper on the table before resting his now-free hand over one of hers against her middle, stroking across her knuckles. "No, but Colette's latest letter did. I think she asked every single person in Sylvarant for suggestions."

"Well, at least we'll have no shortage of inspiration, I suppose." As first-time parents, the two of them continued to be the recipients of well-intentioned, if not always particularly sought, suggestions and advice and trivia. For the most part, he jumped eagerly at any new information that might help ensure preparation for this drastic life change. It was new and exciting and terrifying, too, and he was far from above taking counsel from the more experienced. Still, there were other times when it was rather overbearing. Some things came down to individual and instinct, and he trusted hers when it came to their child. "How is Colette?"

"Her usual self, as I gathered. She is excited about next week, though."

"I imagine so. Sylvarant and Tethe'alla signing an official treaty at last. The world finally achieving peace. It sounds like everything she's ever wanted."

Raine nodded gently, though she added, dryly, "A treaty signed in the shadow of the fallen Tower of Salvation, the ancient Holy Ground of Kharlan. Sound familiar?"

It was a little ironic, all things considered, he had to admit. It was also different, though, than the last time. "Mithos' 'treaty' was in response to the death of the Kharlan Tree, signed to keep two nations apart. With any luck, the fact that this one takes place after the birth of a new tree, to unite a once-divided world, will lend itself to slightly better results this time around."

She snorted. "Slightly."

"Well, maybe our child can follow in our footsteps and reunite the world if someone else decides to split it." The face she pulled made him bite back another laugh, though an odd sort of twitch under his fingers pulled his attention to their now-joined hands as Raine drew a soft, startled breath and then released a faint chuckle of her own.

"Apparently, I'm not the only one who dislikes that idea."

"I'd say not." His smile remained soft as he returned to combing through her hair and drawing his thumb back and forth over the back of her hand. It was still a very recent development that he had begun to be able to feel the baby's movement from the outside, though its first kick had happened several weeks ago, according to his lady love, and it never failed to warm his chest. It was also endlessly entertaining – for him more than her, he was well aware – when there would begin a little fit of hiccups for their tiny bundle-to-be.

"You know we're supposed to go, too. The 'Heroes of Regeneration' are expected to bear witness to this monumental act of peace." She draped the back of her hand over her eyes after rubbing at one of them again.

Regal sifted strands of her hair in lazy playfulness through his fingers. "Do you think you'll be up to the trip?" She wasn't exactly fond of sailing at the best of times. Piling a very harrowing boat ride on top of the third trimester of pregnancy sounded to him like a very poor decision. If there was one thing he had tried to take on these past months, it was ensuring she wasn't placed under undue stress.

"I doubt it matters much. Lloyd and Colette are the ones Sylvarant wants to see, and Zelos has to be there for Tethe'alla, and having the chief of Mizuho in attendance doesn't hurt. You would do well to show up, too, as the head of the world's largest financial institution as well as another member of the Tethe'allan court, but I somehow doubt hearts will break if I don't."

He arched one eyebrow. "You know," he told her, drawing the hand of hers he was holding up to his chest with a spark of impish mirth, "you are nobility, too, lady duchess." This elicited a roll of her eyes, and he chuckled fondly. "But aside from that, you and your brother are just as much ambassadors as Lloyd or Sheena. You represent an entire race of people hoping to find a place once more in this newly-reborn world. I imagine your support would inspire more than you think."

She hummed as though in noncommittal dismissal, but he could tell by the way she she turned her head away and braced to try sitting up that she was embarrassed. Compliments weren't her strong suit. After providing what assistance his proud partner would let him offer, he draped his arm over her shoulders and touched a kiss to the top of her head. A future for the world, and here, leaning right into his side with her sleepy head in the crook of his neck, a future for him. Yes, the treaty was quite a significant event, but he wouldn't be ashamed to admit he was more enamored with the idea of having more evenings like this; of meeting his child (his daughter, if her supposed instinct proved correct); of holding them, rocking them, watching them grow and keeping them safe and giving them everything they could ever want. Both of them, he thought, looking down at Raine.

He didn't deserve any of this, could never hope to deserve it, but it was still his. Despite everything, this was his. Regal shifted slightly just to reach his other arm across and allow her to settle in his grasp. After a moment, he rested his mouth against her crown and whispered, "Raine."

"Mm?" came her sleepy hum. She was fading fast, and he chuckled silently to himself.

"I love you," he told her.

"Good." Her words were a little muffled, a little slurred, but he couldn't deny the warmth that filled him when she mumbled, all her well-known defenses and censors clearly already retired for the evening, "Because I love you, too."

He rubbed her arm absently after touching another kiss to her head and hugging her close. "I think it's time for bed."

"Mm comfor'ble."

Regal tilted his head a little, then rested it down against hers and closed his eyes. To be quite honest, he was comfortable, too. Considering she was very clearly falling asleep there against him, he settled himself back into the couch. They would have a long couple of days coming up, if she decided to travel after all. He would let her nod off, maybe doze a bit himself, and carry her up later.

For now... For now, he would just indulge them both and let visions of the future play across his mind.