Author's Note: Good Evening everyone! I'm proud to announce the start to my 2nd installment in my Path trilogy. For those who do not know, I wrote Path of Memories some time ago, and I had decided to make it a trilogy.

It's not required to read Path of Memories first, but it is meant to be the first in the series, as it sets up a lot of questions that get answered in both this story and the following one. It's still just as enjoyable afterwards, though, so if you're interested I definitely invite you to read it as well.

Chapter 2 of this story will be uploaded on June 5th, 2016. The story is already pretty much done and entering its final edits, so I'll be sticking to a pretty good schedule with this. It won't be left unfinished nor will you be left waiting a long time for a chapter.

I hope you enjoy the read, and I highly appreciate any comments or critique you can offer. All I ask is that it is constructive~

Best regards,

Serif

Chapter 1: A Bloom in Winter

=^x^=

He paced uncomfortably across the room, his glasses teetering at the very tip of his nose. He kept his hands in his pockets, worried he'd start biting his nails again if he took them out. His hair was falling out of its ponytail, and his exhaustion gave him a rather haggard appearance. He couldn't help it, though. He wasn't sure how long it had been since an update, a sign, or even a sound from the other room.

He wiped sweat from his brow and fell into one of the waiting room chairs, burying his head into his hands. He didn't know why he was so worried. After all, it wasn't the first time he'd played this waiting game. He knew how it went by now. Still, it didn't erase that creeping feeling of dread at the pit of his stomach, that worry that something, at any point, could go drastically wrong and leave him every possible shade of helpless. After all, it had nearly happened before...

No, he thought to himself, things will be okay. You always worry like this.

He chuckled to himself.

I mean, I'm kind of the one who set this place up. I should know things will be all right...

He shook his head and groaned softly.

But that just means it's even more my fault if...

His thoughts were cut short by a sound he'd been anticipating all day: a baby's cry. In what looked like a single movement, he leapt out of the chair, dusted himself off, and drew in a shaken breath as the door swung open, and he met the eyes of an elderly woman with a pink shawl draped over her shoulders. To most people, she could look quite scary, but the warm smile and glowing look in her eyes when she saw him was the most welcoming thing he'd seen all day.

"Irene...?"

"7:09 PM and perfectly healthy. Very little complication."

He let out a relieved sigh, and she laughed understandingly.

"Come see."

She beckoned him inside. He gulped nervously and followed her through the door, his hands still clenched inside of his pockets. She patted him on the shoulder as he moved past her, and the sight he'd been so anxious to behold all day finally came into view: his wife, exhausted and glistening with sweat, her cheeks as red as the day she was born, but still as beautiful as ever. In her arms lay a bundle of pink blankets, its contents barely visible until he moved closer. She gazed up at him, her eyes just a bit teary, and held the bundle out to him.

"Meet your daughter..." she whispered, and the genuine happiness in her smile was enough to make his heart swell.

He took the tiny pink bundle into his arms and gently pulled back the blankets. Her cheeks were puffy and pink, and she stretched ever so slightly. He placed a finger within her tiny palm, and she gripped it tightly. He rocked her gently, unable to stop smiling, and he sat on the bed beside his wife, who was laying back on her pillows, her eyes tired but warm, shining happily.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, brushing stray strands of hair out of her face.

"Tired," she answered, laughing softly, "but I'm also excited to finally see her."

"Me too..."

His gaze fell back to his daughter, whose feet were gently kicking inside the blankets. He planted a little kiss on her forehead and smoothed out the bit of red hair topping her head.

"I can already tell. She's gonna look just like her mother," he said, eyeing his wife with a smile.

"She has your nose."

"She has your beauty..."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Please. I'm a mess."

"You're still the most gorgeous creature I've ever laid eyes on."

"I have enough cheese on the farm without you, Jin..."

He laughed and ruffled her hair.

"It's good to know motherhood still hasn't dulled your tongue, Rei..."

"If anything, it's sharpened it."

"You're not wrong."

Rei held out her hands, and Jin placed the baby back into her arms. She cradled her against her chest and gently rocked her, cooing softly. Jin watched, admiring his wife's glow. She scooted over so he could lay beside her, and they rested their heads against each other.

"I told Irene to call Luna," she said softly, "I know poor Alex is probably out of his mind right now."

"Considering how bad I was, I can only imagine he's dying for news."

"Ha. You were worse last time."

"Well it was also the first time..."

"And this is the last."

She stretched her legs a bit and slumped down a little, her head falling onto his shoulder, his still resting against hers. He could still smell hints of shampoo in her hair.

"For now, at least," Jin murmured, closing his eyes.

"No. Forever."

"Aw Rei..."

"We agreed on two."

"And two it will remain..."

He snuggled up to her a bit more, silently admitting defeat. Their first child had been a rather difficult birth, and considering a second one had been a hard decision for them both.

"I'm proud of you..." He said, his voice flowing into her ear in a soft whisper.

"Proud of me?"

"Two beautiful children, all thanks to you."

"Hey...I had a little help, you know."

"Only a little...even through the troubles you had..."

"Thankfully the worst this little one did was keep me waiting..."

"If that's the worst of it, I'll gladly take it."

He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arm around her. He felt so warm and comfortable beside her, with only the sound of her and the baby's gentle breathing filling the room, and he fell into a light dose. He could feel her fingers slowly grazing his cheek, playing with his hair. He heard her humming softly, felt every slight movement, knew from the way her shoulder moved that she was gently rocking their daughter as she hummed.

"Jin?"

"Mm..."

He moved sleepily, and she giggled lightly.

"Jin...what are we naming her?" Rei asked.

"We're not naming her Emma?" He replied, cracking an eye on slight surprise, "Your heart was so set."

"I know, but..."

She gently passed the baby back into his arms.

"Look at her. Does she really look like an Emma?"

Jin didn't need to look for long.

"She doesn't. Not at all."

He smiled and kissed the baby's forehead. She was waking up, and her curious eyes slowly fluttered open. She gazed up at her father, and a smile spread across her face. He saw the world in her eyes, the sincerity in her cute smile. Rei's sincerity. He thought of Rei, thought of how their first real meeting had taken place where all they heard were waves crashing against stone...

"...I like Nami," he said softly.

"Nami?"

"Yeah...she just looks like a Nami..."

Rei thought for a moment, and her eyes lit up.

"You're right," she said, "It fits her perfectly."

She embraced him and kissed his cheek, and his glasses fogged up a little.

"Our little Nami..."

=^x^=

Jin wasn't sure how much time had passed. All he knew was the room had suddenly become crowded. He reached blindly for his glasses, not succeeding until a cheerful giggle chimed out from somewhere nearby, and two petite hands placed the glasses onto his face.

"Good to see you awake, Jin!" a cheery voice said.

"Oh, Luna," he mumbled, half-yawning, "How was Alex?"

"Like a rocket itchin' to take off," Luna said, "Poor boy couldn't sit still. He could've run the globe on anticipation alone."

Jin gazed sleepily around the room. He was curled up in an armchair by the bed. A small boy with wild black hair was sitting on Rei's bed, and she was showing him how to properly hold the baby. The boy looked to Jin and beamed.

"Dad, look, I'm holding the baby!" he whispered excitedly.

"Good job, Alex," he said, stretching and walking over to the bed, "Are you excited to meet your sister?"

"Yeah but she took forever!"

Jin grinned and ruffled his son's hair. Alex looked up to him curiously.

"So how long till she can play with me?" he asked.

"You can play with her when she's a little older, but she can't play rough games like you and Vivian play," Jin explained, "You need to be careful with babies."

"They're fragile," Rei added, "You know how you play with Angie? You need to be quiet and calm when you play with the baby, okay?"

"Alright, mama," Alex agreed, smiling broadly, and he looked back down at Nami, "You're gonna be so good at all my games."

Luna plopped down next to Rei as Alex and Jin fixated themselves on the baby, and the two shared a knowing grin.

"Was it a difficult one this time?" she asked.

"A little, but nothing like the first time," Rei said, "It was more the waiting than anything. She was still pretty comfortable in there, apparently. But we had to get her out a bit earlier than she wanted..."

"Well, when she gets older, just tell her we couldn't wait to see her anymore."

"I wouldn't be lying...plus I must admit..."

She leaned over and whispered into her best friend's ear: "I'm dying for a drink..."

Luna barked out a short laugh.

"Remember when I made Gill sneak wine into my room after Vivian was born?" she whispered.

"He told us the bottle was in your mouth before you were even done pushing."

"Oh, he exaggerates." She waved her hand dismissively and shook her head, but the grin grew ever wider. "I'm pretty sure I let him cut the cord first."

The girls giggled softly, and Rei's eyes fell back to Jin. His arm was around Alex, who was gently rocking his baby sister in his arms. The two were talking quietly.

"He wanted a daughter..." Rei whispered so only Luna could hear, "I got my boy, and he got his little girl. Our little family has become just what we wanted..."

"I'm glad for you," Luna said, "Gil loves Vivian, but I know how badly he wanted a son. I don't know if I want to go through another pregnancy though..."

"After what you went through, it's probably for the best."

"That little one scared me far more than anything in this world could ever manage..."

"Nobody can blame you."

"I'm just glad you and I got through it well. After the trouble you had the first time, I have to admit I was just as anxious as poor Alex." She thought for a brief moment. "Though, watching you go through it again and come out of it so well is helping me reconsider."

"You know I'd be there every step of the way."

Rei pat her on the shoulder.

"I'll always make sure things are okay, no matter what," she said, popping one of her cockier grins, "After all, I have a bit of a knack for it..."

Bells rang in the distance as she spoke, and Luna cocked a knowing brow at her.

"You two planned that," she said, laughing.

A sly smile graced the redhead's rosy face, and she teased her best friend with a little wink.

"Nah, she just knows me too well."