I finally got the first chapter of the sequel done! Woohoo! I'm crazy though with all the writing I intend to do. I will be putting up a side story to this one of what is going on with the rest of the Hamilton family back in Ferelden, so look out for that one as well. You don't have to read it to know what's going on in this story, but it'll explain how some events mentioned in here happen. So yeah, crazy.
If you haven't read the prequel to this, you probably will be rather lost to what is going on, so check read, Where I Belong, first. Things will make better sense.
And here's a big THANK YOU to all my readers who have stuck with this story, and the reviewers especially giving me feedback. Makes my day seeing people enjoy my creativity. Anyway, on with the story!
CHAPTER ONE
It took three weeks for Alistair and Olyvia to reach Antiva. They had encountered little bad weather on the way over, having been through only one rough storm which slowed their progress so much so they may have well gone backwards for a day. When they first saw the country on the horizon, Olyvia was more than ready to be there.
"I can't wait to be off this ship," Olyvia moaned as she and Alistair double checked their packs that they had everything, "It'll be so nice to be on solid ground again."
"Has it really been that bad?" Alistair asked.
"With my morning sickness, yes," Olyvia replied, "The teetering and tottering doesn't help my already queasy stomach."
"I guess that makes sense," Alistair said quietly.
Watching his wife for a few moments, Alistair smiled lovingly before moving over to wrap his arms around her, just beneath her bust and above the slightest swell of her belly, where their child was progressively growing bigger within her. When they first left Ferelden for the safer shores of Antiva, she had barely been showing, but having been out on sea for nearly a month, her baby bump was much more easily noticeable.
"I'm sorry you haven't been having an easy time of the trip," Alistair whispered into her ear after giving her a kiss on her cheek, "It wasn't much of a honeymoon was it?"
A smile spread across Olyvia's face, "I wouldn't say that. I still enjoyed the time spent with you. I just wish I wasn't sick so often."
"Sorry," Alistair apologized again.
"You don't have to apologize," Olyvia said, leaning her head back so she could try to see Alistair's face, "It's not like it's your fault."
"Isn't it?" he asked.
"Not really," Olyvia replied, "Unless you think you need to apologize for getting me pregnant, because that is the reason for my sickness."
Alistair pursed his lips together in thought, "Hmm…I'm not exactly sorry for that, since it's what I wanted, but I just feel bad seeing you sick like this."
"It's only worse than usual since we're on this ship," Olyvia said, "So don't fret over it. I'll start feeling better when we reach land. Not completely better, since it's morning sickness, but better."
"Okay," Alistair said quietly, giving her a kiss on her temple.
Sliding his hands further down, he let them rest on the swell of her belly as he just held his wife. Closing his eyes, he imagined what it would be like in about six more months, to finally hold his child in his arms. He couldn't wait for that moment.
"So are we going to stay here until we dock, or are we going to wait on the deck?" Olyvia asked.
"Let's wait here," Alistair replied, "You don't seem to like being on the deck too much."
"It's because I'm closer to the water and I have a bit of a phobia of sharks," Olyvia said.
"Phobia?" Alistair asked in confusion.
"Fear of," Olyvia explained.
"Ah."
"Yeah, so I'm okay with waiting here," Olyvia said, unwrapping Alistair's arms from around her and sitting down on the bed.
Alistair sat down beside her, and the two just relaxed for the few hours it took for the ship to finally dock. When they heard the crewmen shouting that they had, they grabbed their packs and made their way off the ship. There were a lot of refugees leaving the ship, so it was quite crowded, getting off. It took a while for both Alistair and Olyvia to become accustomed to the solid ground beneath them, transitioning from their sea legs to land legs.
They were again checked over by guards, Antivan this time though, before allowed to leave the docks so the couple was stuck there for quite a few hours. When they finally got through, it was past suppertime so they found the first tavern they came across to get a room for the night and a meal.
"So what are our plans for tomorrow?" Olyvia asked as she stretched out across the bed once they returned to their room after dinner.
"Well, do you want to travel further into Antiva before finding a place to settle down, or do you want to go ahead and stay here at the port city?" Alistair asked, "My own opinion, I don't think staying here would be the best idea."
"Since it's a main city," Olyvia stated, "I understand that. So we leave town tomorrow morning?"
"We'll leave whenever you're feeling up to it," Alistair said, pulling off his tunic and setting it on top of his pack before laying down on the bed next to her.
Scooting closer to her husband, Olyvia rolled onto her side and rested her head on Alistair's chest, draping one arm along the length of his torso, tracing lazy circles on his chest with her fingers.
"That might end up being the afternoon when we leave then," she said.
"That's fine," Alistair assured her, "I just want you as comfortable as possible."
"I thought you wanted to get as far away as you could from Ferelden as fast as you can," Olyvia said with a low chuckle.
"Your comfort is my main concern," Alistair replied, "Then it is how far away we can get from Aedan."
Olyvia frowned hearing his name. It was the first time since their wedding they had even mentioned his name. They usually just referred to him in some other manner instead of just saying his name outright. They didn't like the guy; he did try to kill them both after all.
They had been laying there for a few minutes when Alistair let out a heavy, sorrowful sounding sigh. Moving her head to look up at her husband's face, Olyvia asked, "Is everything alright love?"
"Yeah," he muttered, then seeing the doubtful look on her face changed his answer, "No…not really. I feel bad that I'm running away from the Blight instead of doing my duty as a Grey Warden and ending it."
"Alistair, we're running away from Aedan, not the Blight," Olyvia told him, "There is a huge difference. I know you'd still be fighting this war were it not for Aedan's selfishness."
Alistair nodded in agreement, "I would…despite the chance of me never seeing you again. It is a war after all."
"I would have been confident in your survival," Olyvia said, "But let's not think of what could have been, instead let's focus on what is, which is us together, happily married, with a little one on the way."
Alistair smiled, and moved over onto his side so he could more easily kiss his wife, cupping her face in his hands to pull her in closer.
"I couldn't ask for a better life," Alistair whispered against his wife's lips, "I can't believe how lucky I am, to have everything I ever dreamed of. Sometimes I wonder if I really am dreaming everything seems too good to be true."
"You have a madman hunting you down, I'm sure that's enough to keep your reality in perspective," Olyvia said.
"There is that," Alistair agreed, "Still, it seems so surreal that I'm married to a woman I'm hopelessly in love with, who I hope is just as in love with me."
"You know that I am," Olyvia chipped in.
"And that I have a family now," Alistair continued, placing a hand on Olyvia's belly, despite the awkward position it was in, "That's all I ever wanted in life, and I guess the Maker decided I had gone through enough suffering to earn it."
"You would have deserved it even without the suffering," Olyvia said, "Because you are just that good of a guy, and I love you."
Alistair kissed her again, trailing his lips down her neck, and once he reached the collar of her dress, scooted down to rest his head on her belly, placing a few quick kisses on it.
"It is amazing how you can love someone so much…that you haven't even met," Alistair said quietly.
"Six more months, you'll love them that much for about ten seconds before they start crying," Olyvia teased.
Alistair chuckled, "No, I think I'll just love them more."
Olyvia reached down with a hand and tangled her fingers into Alistair's blond locks, massaging at his scalp with her fingertips as he just laid at her belly. She knew he'd be there a while, this had started becoming a ritual almost during their trip over so this was something she was used to.
"Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" Alistair asked quietly.
Olyvia thought over it for a moment. This was the first time they discussed this.
"I'll be happy with either," Olyvia said, "I don't…really have a preference."
"Liar, everyone has a preference," Alistair muttered, pressing his lips to her belly again.
"Okay…girl," Olyvia said, "Just because I'm a girl so therefore girls are better."
"If all girls were like you, then I would say that is completely true," Alistair said, "But I've met enough other women to know no one is like you so therefore, your statement is false."
Olyvia laughed, "Let me guess, you are hoping for a boy."
"But not only because boys are obviously better," Alistair replied, "I want someone to carry on the Theirin name."
"Well, technically it's going to be Thorne, since calling ourselves Theirin will just get us killed—."
"You know what I meant," Alistair grumbled.
Olyvia smiled, "I do, and I understand your point as well."
"I wouldn't mind a girl either," Alistair said, "Just so you don't feel the pressure of giving me a son."
"Well, for your information it's all on you on whether we have a boy or girl," Olyvia said.
Alistair lifted his head to look at her in confusion, "How so?"
"Knowledge from my world," Olyvia explained, which would have been enough for Alistair to know that he probably wouldn't get it, but she continued anyway, "Science has shown that it is the man's…seed, we'll use that term, that determines the sex of the baby. Of course, it's not like you actually have a choice, it just depends on which seed gets there first."
"So…I should have been egging on the male seed as you put it?" Alistair asked.
Olyvia burst into laughter, "I think that would have been a little awkward after sex, you talking to my belly, egging on your little guys."
"Well, if it helps them…I just might do that next time," Alistair muttered, "If we have a girl."
Olyvia continued to laugh, "You are a dork."
"Isn't that the reason you love me?"
"One of the many," Olyvia replied, cupping his face in her hands and started pulling him up towards her as she scooted down to meet his lips with hers.
Alistair enthusiastically kissed her back, scooting the rest of the way up to meet her. Breaking apart quite a few minutes later, Olyvia changed out of her dress into a nightgown and climbed back into bed with her husband. Telling each other they loved the other once more, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
Olyvia was up first the following morning, due to feeling ill, and chanced eating some breakfast once Alistair woke and went downstairs with her. She just barely managed to keep it down, which was better than the last week they were on the ship. Every breakfast ended up out of her within a few hours after her eating. With her keeping this meal down, they took that as a good sign, and once her nausea decreased to a tolerable level by early afternoon, Alistair searched for someone with a wagon traveling to the next town that they might catch a ride with so that Olyvia wouldn't have to walk all the way there.
It didn't take long to find someone leaving the city, but it took a little longer to convince one to take them. After three refusals, one elderly man, his wife, and who they guessed to be a servant or hireling, since the other was a male elf, agreed to take them, the wife sympathetic to Olyvia's current condition.
The man informed the couple that it would be quite a few hours before reaching the next town, so they would be arriving at dark, since they had left the port city that afternoon, and that they would have to walk the rest of the way into town since he was just going to go straight home. They were fine with that though, not expecting anyone to go out of their way for them.
A few hours into their journey, the wagon came to a sudden stop, and Alistair poked his head up from behind the bags and barrels to see a group of bandits standing across the road, blocking their path.
"Bandits," Alistair growled.
"Lovely," Olyvia grumbled, poking her head up to peek over as well.
"Hand over all your goods and coin, and we'll let ya pass," one ugly looking fellow in the front called out to them. His black hair was balding on top, and it looked like he hadn't had a decent bath in weeks.
Olyvia counted out the men standing across the road, a total of seven there. Then she looked at the amount of goods in the wagon.
"Really? You honestly expect all of you would be able to carry this?" Olyvia asked, "I think they just intend to kill us and take the wagon."
"Silence wench!" the ugly one snapped.
The elderly man driving the wagon turned to Alistair, fear in his eyes, "Just uh…how good are you with that sword of yours?"
"Good enough," Alistair replied.
"Why don't you just charge through?" Olyvia asked, "It's seven men, with swords, against a wagon. I think the odds are in our favor."
"And leave the bandits to hassle some other poor traveler? I don't think so," Alistair said, grabbing his sword and shield as he went to hop out of the wagon.
"Do you want my help?" Olyvia asked.
"No," Alistair said firmly, "There is no way I'm going to put you and our child at risk. Stay in the wagon."
Olyvia nodded, and crouched back down behind the goods, but still able to see what was going on in front with the bandits. Alistair walked around to the front of the wagon, and Olyvia would be surprised if the bandits didn't think twice about attacking him due to him being much more heavily armored than they, as well as looking like a seasoned warrior.
"I will give you one chance to leave, and I suggest finding a different line of work," Alistair said.
The ugly one scoffed, "You think you have any chance against us?"
"I take that as a no then," Alistair said, drawing his sword.
The seven men surged forward, drawing their weapons and giving out a battle cry. Alistair was unaffected by their try at intimidation and just stood there waiting for one to get close. The ugly one, apparently the leader of the group, got to Alistair first, and swung down with his sword at his head. Alistair brought his sword up, and then with a mighty push of his shield, bashed the man in the face, sending him flying backwards. The other six men paused seeing him sent reeling backwards, but then continued with their charge. They really were nothing compared to the years of training Alistair had, first with the Templars and then the year or so spent as a Grey Warden. Olyvia was sure that had they known Alistair was a Grey Warden, they would have skedaddled. That was to be kept a secret now though, for it would give them away and could expect Aedan on their tails within weeks.
Not even a minute passed before the bandits lay dead, and after cleaning and sheathing his sword, Alistair removed the bodies from the road, dumping them elsewhere for the animals and the elements to deal with them. Climbing back into the wagon, the man and woman stared in shock at him for a few moments before turning back around and getting the wagon going again.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" the elfin man asked as Alistair got settled back in next to his wife.
"I uh…," Alistair wracked his brain for a good answer that wouldn't give away who he was and risk blowing their cover.
"He was training to be a Templar, but then his father died and he had to return home to run his estate," Olyvia lied for him, "Being his only family, he had obligations and couldn't fulfill his duty to the Maker."
"Terrible, terrible shame," Alistair added, though the sarcasm was easily heard. Olyvia couldn't help but slap the palm of her hand to her forehead. Alistair was horrible with this lying thing.
The elf chuckled, "I'm guessing you didn't quite take to the Templar duties."
"Not really," Alistair replied. That at least he could sound genuine with his reply.
Silence followed for a few more minutes, before the elf spoke up again.
"So why are you here in Antiva, if you were to care for your family's estate?"
"The Blight," Alistair replied, "It destroyed over half of Ferelden by the time we fled the country. I have nothing left there so there was no reason to stay."
"Then why come to Antiva?"
"Erivan, don't pester them," the woman scolded.
"Sorry ma'am," Erivan apologized quietly.
Alistair breathed a silent sigh of relief. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep up with the lies. Life was going to be difficult, having to use them to build a safe life for Olyvia and him, to remember what lies they've told.
Erivan didn't speak again the rest of the trip, and as night fell, Olyvia fell asleep against her husband, despite it being his Silverite armor she was using as a pillow. She was tired, and she didn't care what she was resting against. She was woken later by Alistair, telling her they had reached the town and they needed to head to the tavern for a room to spend the remainder of the night. Giving their thanks to the elderly couple, they made their way to the town's center, where they were easily able to find the tavern. Once acquiring a room, they headed straight up and climbed right into bed. They had yet another busy day ahead of them, and they would need their rest.
The following morning, Olyvia and Alistair decided they would travel one more town over, then find themselves a home to settle down in. The next town though was a few days travel, and that was by wagon, so Alistair was hesitant to go, for fear bandits would attack them at night while they camped. Since they had agreed to go to the next town though, they acquired a ride with someone heading that way. It was a large, quiet, middle-aged man that was kind enough to let them travel with him, and they were grateful that he was quiet. He didn't bother them with any questions aside from where it was they wanted to go before they even got started.
The first day of travel went off without a hitch, the night having only a few skirmishes with local wildlife coming to investigate their camp. The second day they had another run-in with bandits, only this time their driver was the one who sent them running, drawing a Greataxe from the wagon bed, hidden under his goods. Olyvia was glad to have him on their side.
It was the third day they arrived at the town, in the early afternoon so the couple went ahead and looked around the town to see what the place had to offer. It was a large town, not quite a city, but not large enough to have any local powers living there. The highest rank of power there was most likely the Chantry. It was part of the land ruled over an Arl there, in a city to the east. There were enough people there to hide amongst, and it wasn't industrialized like the port city was. Here, there were a plentiful amount of trees, and wildlife, just the sort of place Olyvia was comfortable with. It reminded her of home. Plus, the people were friendly.
"This is a very nice town," Olyvia said to her husband as they laid in bed that night at the local tavern, "I could see us living here."
"As could I," Alistair agreed, "As long as it offers me a good job so I can take care of my family."
"Well, then I guess that's what you're going to have to look for tomorrow," Olyvia said, "Because the money we have is only going to go so far, and the longer we stay at the tavern, the less amount we'll have to buy a home."
"I guess lucky us then that Aedan was a huge money hoarder and had hundreds of Sovereigns," Alistair said, "We're still good for quite a while dearest."
"Better safe than sorry."
Alistair nodded in agreement, "Very true."
Snuggling up next to her husband, Olyvia whispered goodnight before letting herself fall into an untroubled sleep. She hoped for there to be plenty more nights like this, or even dare wish for them to come indefinitely. She wanted the life she and Alistair were starting to be worry free, and put Aedan in the past, because that's where he belonged.
As they agreed to do the next day, Alistair began job hunting. Having no luck that day, they spent another night at the tavern. Day after day he searched, until almost a week later he finally had luck, the local blacksmith agreeing to hire him. With a job for Alistair, it was time to look for a house. Since they were well off with the money, they looked for a nice home with all the necessities, not looking for anything with too much they weren't going to utilize. They found a quaint little place in town, with a decent sized yard in the front for a small flower garden to pretty the place up and a moderate sized area for the back yard, providing room for a vegetable garden if one wished, or a place for a little one to run about and play.
It took a little over two weeks to get everything in order to obtain the house, Olyvia marveling at the rate her belly was growing in that short amount of time, so she was extremely grateful to have a place to call her home. It would be great to just sit down and relax again.
Olyvia spent her days making the place a home while Alistair went to work, so she could occupy her time with something instead of being bored the whole time. Usually when Alistair returned home, he was in a good mood, but today when he got there, he didn't look happy at all.
"Everything alright love?" Olyvia asked as he stomped into the washroom to clean himself up.
"Yes," he said tersely, before glancing over to his wife and seeing the look of doubt on her face and sighed, "No. Just received news from Ferelden."
"What news? Bad news? I mean…from how you're acting I assume it's bad news."
"The Blight is over, the Archdemon has been defeated," Alistair said, as if he were quoting a headline.
"I thought you'd take that as good news."
"Aedan killed the Archdemon…and survived," Alistair said, "From what you told me about the sacrifice given when killing the Archdemon, the Grey Wardens in Weisshaupt are bound to ask questions. Do you think he'll tell them the truth?"
"It's Aedan, what do you think?"
"I guess that was a stupid question," Alistair muttered, "That means that he'll be regaled as a hero, a living legend, for having survived killing the Archdemon. He doesn't deserve it."
"So that's what this is all about," Olyvia said, walking up behind her husband and wrapping her arms around his waist, "You're upset that he was there for the battle, fulfilling his duty as a Grey Warden, while you weren't, and will be forgotten."
"And that the fact that someone like Aedan doesn't even deserve to be a Grey Warden," Alistair said darkly.
"Are you saying Duncan made a mistake in choosing him?"
"Yes," Alistair replied immediately.
"Wow, never thought you'd be so quick to shoot down a choice Duncan made."
"Aedan was clearly the wrong choice," Alistair said, "And I can't believe I'm actually saying this out loud, but I'm really glad Solona was killed in the Deep Roads before the Landsmeet. Who knows what she would have done."
Oh yeah, Solona. Olyvia had completely forgotten about her. Goes to show how insignificant she was. She definitely didn't want to think about what problems she would have caused had she survived the Deep Roads.
"And now he will be King too," Alistair said, "At least we're here in Antiva where he has no say."
"There is that," Olyvia said, "Can we stop talking about Aedan now? I'm already getting a headache. And feeling nauseous."
Alistair smiled, and turned around to face her, placing his hands at the small of her back, "Are you sure it's not your typical pregnancy issues giving you the nausea?"
"I'm pretty sure it's from saying Aedan's name over, and over," she replied.
"Then we won't talk about him again today," Alistair said, giving her a peck on the lips, "Or tomorrow. Or the day after. Because he's not in our lives anymore, it's time for me to move on and enjoy my life with you and our child to the fullest."
"I like the sound of that," Olyvia said, a goofy grin spreading across her face.
After a few more kisses and whispers of sweet-nothings, Olyvia headed back into the kitchen to resume where she had left off with making supper while Alistair went back to cleaning up. Working at the blacksmith, he got really dirty from all the soot and coal.
Once supper had been made and eaten, Olyvia headed to the bedroom to write a letter to her family. She wanted to let them know they had made it safe and were well, so they wouldn't be fretting for much longer. Looking down at her swollen belly, she debated on telling them she was pregnant yet. She and Alistair had only been married for two months now, while she was four months pregnant, so she didn't think it a good idea to tell her mom just yet. She would leave out how far along she was of course, because she knew her father would hand deliver the reply letter and kill Alistair. It couldn't be kept secret for long though, because they would figure it out eventually if she didn't say anything. When the time was right, she'd tell them the truth.
"Everything alright dearest?" Alistair asked seeing his wife hunched over the desk in their room, tapping the quill on the inkwell lid.
"Yeah, just debating on what to write," Olyvia said, "In relation to the baby."
"I thought you'd be excited to tell them."
"I am, but with us being married for two months, how exactly would I know for sure I'm pregnant?"
"Oh," Alistair muttered, "Then um…you should wait a while because I prefer living."
Olyvia chuckled, "My thoughts exactly. So I'll forgo that news this letter. Perhaps the next."
"Sounds good to me."
"Now…how exactly do you write with one of these?" Olyvia asked, referring to the quill in her hand.
Moving behind his wife, Alistair removed the lid to the inkwell, took her hand and moved it to where she dipped the quill into the ink, then moved it back to the paper.
"Like this," Alistair said, holding his wife's hand in the proper manner and moving it to drag the quill downwards on the paper, making a short line at the top of the page.
"I see," Olyvia said, turning her head to look up at her husband, "Thank you love."
Planting a kiss on her lips, he replied, "Your welcome. I'll just leave you to that then."
He left the room, probably to go back to washing the dishes they used for dinner, and Olyvia continued with her letter. And because she was paranoid, she included what her parents, or siblings, should do with writing letters if they suspected them to be searched through if Aedan really went that far with trying to find them, such as alias names that should be used, and where to send the letter. Since mail was taken to the businesses, she figured using the blacksmith's business address to do just fine, just make sure it was addressed to just "Thorne", their current alias surname, no first name. Yeah, Olyvia was extremely paranoid, but doing this just might save their lives, keep them safe.
Reaching the end of her letter, she signed only her first name. Setting down the quill, she sighed sadly, tears stinging her eyes. She really missed her family.
After a month living in the Antivan town, Olyvia and Alistair had finally gotten settled in to the place and into a routine. Alistair's day mainly focused around work, but when he came home, it was all about the baby, oh and Olyvia too. Olyvia certainly didn't feel secluded for long, having made friends with their neighbors, and fairly quickly too, since the women practically came in droves when they saw she was pregnant. They thought that was such a lovely thing, and wanted to help her out, since it was her first time. They all had children themselves so each one thought they had ample advice to offer. She made close friends, and they would come over to keep her company during the day while Alistair was gone, and offer to help with chores since some of the work was becoming more difficult with her growing belly.
Five months pregnant, and Olyvia was still marveling at the size of her belly, and thinking it would only get bigger over the next four months? She wasn't sure how she'd be able to stay upright. Once her friend Evelyn, the neighbor across the street, left for the day, Olyvia went and sat down in the living room. She needed to be off her feet. It wasn't too much longer that Alistair arrived.
"You look exhausted," Alistair said when he saw her.
"I am," Olyvia replied, "Though I'm sure you are more exhausted."
"No, actually I feel pretty good," Alistair said, walking over and giving his wife a quick kiss on the lips, "Grey Warden thing you know."
"Right, how could I forget?" Olyvia chuckled, "That's how you got me pregnant after all. Your stamina."
Alistair blushed, "Well, what can I say? I was just a little ecstatic to know you had feelings for me."
"Just a little," Olyvia said sarcastically.
With a smile, Alistair gave her another kiss, and began to bend down his head to give her belly a kiss for the baby when she grabbed his head to stop him.
"You're covered in soot, please wash your face before you press it against my clean clothes."
Alistair frowned, but stood up straight, "Yes dearest," and then headed into the washroom. He returned a few minutes later, and headed straight back to Olyvia, planting a kiss on her belly.
"I love you, little guy," Alistair said.
"Still hoping for a boy?"
"Of course."
Olyvia chuckled as Alistair kissed her belly again, but then she felt something odd. Placing her hand on her belly, she waited.
"You alright?" Alistair asked, seeing the confused look on her face, mistaking it for a look of pain, and with a hand on her belly, he was starting to panic, "Are you hurting?"
"No, I'm fine," Olyvia assured him, "I just thought—."
She was interrupted as she felt a little kick against her hand. With a gasp, she sat up a little more.
"What? What is it?" Alistair asked in a panic.
"They're kicking!" Olyvia said, a huge smile splayed across her face, "The baby is kicking."
Grabbing Alistair's hand, she pressed it to her belly, where the kicking was occurring. Alistair's eyes grew wide with wonder as he felt the tiniest of kicks against the palm of his hand.
"Oh wow," Alistair said breathlessly.
"It is amazing isn't it?"
"Is it possible to be more in love with this little one? Because I think I love them even more now," Alistair said, keeping his hand pressed to her belly as the baby kicked at his hand.
Olyvia's smile grew even wider, if that were even possible, "I'd say so. I am."
Once the kicking came to a stop a few seconds later, Alistair reluctantly pulled back his hand.
"What makes them kick anyway?" he asked.
Olyvia shrugged, "I don't know, maybe to test out their growing limbs. Or to kick you in the face when you try to give them a kiss."
Alistair's brow furrowed in confusion, so Olyvia had to explain.
"They kicked right after you kissed my belly the second time," Olyvia said, "So either it was the baby's way of kissing you back, or telling you to go away."
"I'll take it as the former," Alistair said with a laugh, "But even if they were telling me to back off, too bad, I'm going to shower them in love."
Pressing his lips to her belly again, he began raining down the affection, before stopping after the umpteenth kiss, and just rested his head against her belly as he hugged his wife.
"I hope this child realizes how spoiled it is," Olyvia chuckled.
"Yes, very spoiled indeed," Alistair agreed.
Olyvia didn't think Alistair's grin could get any wider as the baby kicked at his face.
Alistair had never been happier as he had been the following few days after feeling the baby kicking inside the womb. The fact that he could almost feel his child now just made him glow with joy. It was becoming all so real now. Olyvia, however, was not all flowers and sunshine. The baby had moved slightly, so instead of kicking low in her belly, they were kicking her bladder. So she was making frequent trips to the bathroom during Katrina's visit, another neighbor who lived a few doors down.
"Not so much of a wonder now, is it?" Katrina asked with a laugh once Olyvia joined her out in the living room again.
"Not so much," Olyvia agreed, "Can't wait until they move again."
Katrina smiled and got to her feet, "Well, I apologize for having to leave early, but there are chores that won't do themselves at my place."
"That's fine, thank you for coming over."
Saying another goodbye, Katrina headed out the door. Olyvia stayed in her seat a few minutes longer before getting up as well and headed into the kitchen. She wanted something sweet to eat so making cookies sounded great at the moment. She had just started mixing together ingredients when there was a knock at the door. Thinking it may be Katrina again, having forgotten something, she wiped the flour from her hands with a rag and headed to the door. Upon opening it, her eyes grew wide, seeing someone she was not expecting.
"Zevran?"
"Hello Olyvia."
"What…what are you doing here? How did you find me?" she asked.
"I was previously an assassin for the Antivan Crows, remember?" Zevran asked, "I was trained in this sort of thing?"
"Okay…but why are you here?"
Zevran's smirk vanished, his countenance replaced with a look of regret, "I've been hired to kill you."