Hey guys, another slice of life story. This is on the same timeline as Piece of Tenebrae, and can be considered a companion piece. I hope you enjoy! I figured Mother's Day was an appropriate day to post the first chapter of this.
She held the paper, hardly daring to believe it; the sheet shaking with the tremor in her hands. Pregnant. After nineteen damnable months of trying, being told by doctors time and time again that there was nothing wrong with her or Noctis, negative test after negative test. She was pregnant. She had sent for a doctor to be summoned to the Citadel after she had missed a month of her cycle, and a home test had come out positive. She was afraid to hope, that it was false. She had withheld the results of that first home test from Noctis for fear it would merely break their hearts with empty hope. But not this time. This test wasn't a false-positive. Tears brimmed in her burning eyes, a sob breaking through her attempts to swallow back the burning in her throat. She whispered a small prayer of thanks to the Six, a hand clamped over her mouth to muffle another sob and her shoulders began to shake as she wept. The Six hadn't taken this from them. Of everything the covenants cost them; a family wasn't one of them.
She forced herself to stand, not able to withhold the news from Noctis any longer. She looked up to the doctor who had handed her the sheet after doubting the verbal confirmation of her state, and thanked her before departing. She expected Noctis would be in his study and made her way through the Citadel halls trying to ignore the increasingly strong burning in her legs that was threatening to turn into a tremor before she reached him. She took a moment before the door to catch her breath and reassure herself that she wouldn't simply fall into the room; a palm rested against the wall to support herself as she panted for breath. She didn't want to give Noctis this news with her face flushed, legs trembling, where he would be too preoccupied with her sorry state to absorb the news. After several minutes of impatiently urging her body to finish recovering she pushed the door open. She stepped inside and Noctis stopping conversing with Ignis as he peered over at the door.
"Everything alright?" he asked, brow furrowed. She supposed it was uncommon for her to enter his study spontaneously. Usually at this time of day she was in their gardens, more often than not in the partitioned sylleblossum room he had worked so tirelessly to build and maintain for her.
"Ignis, may we have a moment?" She requested. The pair furrowed their brows, "I assure you, I am quite all right; didn't intend to sound so ominous." She added, realizing how vague her words sounded. Ignis made a gesture with his hand and a shrug, looking towards Noctis,
"I shall give you and the Lady a moment, would do me well to stretch my legs anyway." He picked up his cane and walked towards the door, giving a polite nod in her direction as he passed,
"Iggy for the thousandth time, please, call me Luna." She used his nickname to punctuate her point, and he gave her a smirk before repeating the requested nickname and departed the room. With the door shut she closed the space between her and her husband, nearly running to him, and held the piece of paper out before he could ask anything. He lifted a brow at her, reaching out for the paper. His eyes flicked to the contents and widened. The paper shook as his hands began to tremble, eyes glazing over.
"L-Luna… is… is this… real?" he looked up, stuttering his words, chest heaving with quick breaths. She nodded at him,
"I'm finally pregnant," her voice failed, the words coming out in a whisper. Noctis reached out, trembling hands gripping her hips to pull her closer, nearly causing her to stumble. She braced her hands on his shoulders to keep herself upright, her beloved wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face against her stomach; and wept. His fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, pulling her even closer, mumbling her name against the cloth, shoulders shaking. She leaned over him, resting her cheek against his hair, her own hands grasping at his shirt, another wave of tears burning her eyes.
"I love you…" he mumbled. "Oh Gods I love you…"
"I love you…" She answered him. They remained embraced; weeping shifting to laugher, fingers desperately gripping cloth. They eventually pulled apart, and Noctis held her hands in his own, squeezing them.
"We gotta tell my dad! But he's in Hammerhead for the weekend… and I don't want to tell him over the phone. We'll have to tell him when he gets back. I should tell Iggy I'm done working for the day, we need to celebrate! And I'll also have to tell the guys" he declared, speaking quickly hardly pausing between words. "First off, I'm framing this," he let go of her to pick up the piece of paper that had fallen off his lap. He opened a drawer to his desk, placing it inside. He stood, gripping her hand in one of his own, the other thumbing his phone to text Ignis, asking where he was. He had heard many times it was bad luck to share news of a pregnancy so early, but how was he supposed to hold this to himself? He knew Ignis would likely laugh and chide him for believing in ancient superstitions. Noctis himself had been the first person Ignis called when he was given the news of Aranea's pregnancy, now seven months along. Ignis answered that he was merely in the hallway and would be back shortly.
"I thought you wanted to stretch your legs?"
"A walk in the hall is adequate for me. Lunafreya rarely takes much of your time when you're busy with royal tasks." Ignis answered, making his way back to his usual seat. "What has you both so excited? I can hear your leg bouncing so fast you're shaking your desk, and my Lady you're practically knitting a sweater with your fingers."
"There's a bit of news we wish to share with you," the Queen was the first to find her voice and ceased wringing her fingers to squeeze Noctis's shoulder, urging him to be the one to tell his best friend this news.
"Luna's pregnant!" he blurted, unable to hesitate long enough to come up with something clever. The advisor's face lit up with a broad smile, scar tissue around his eyes pulling tight.
"My word! No wonder you two were practically vibrating, I believe congratulations are in order!" he clapped his hands together, getting to his feet. He stepped around the desk towards the royal couple, Lunafreya meeting him a few steps in and he embraced her tight, patting her roughly on the back, and felt the young woman's shoulders begin to shake, "I am so happy for you both." He drew back from their embrace, giving her shoulders a firm squeeze before she stepped aside to allow Noctis to walk up to his friend. They embraced, Ignis slapping Noctis roughly on the back as well, repeating his sentiments of congratulations.
"She's pregnant man…" Noctis repeated, and felt tears burning in his eyes. He sniffed to keep him from running his nose against Ignis's shirt, and his voice broke with a sob.
"I'm so happy for you both," Ignis let his friend cry against his shoulder for a few moments before he collected himself,
"Look at me… I'm a mess," he turned his sob into a laugh,
"I was no more composed myself when Aranea told me she was expecting. And don't worry, I promise not to tell the guys." He smirked, patting Noctis on the shoulder again. The trio chuckled,
"A future with a kid wasn't taken from us…" Noctis laughed, running his fingers through his hair, recalling his lamenting with Ignis he was concerned the Astrals had not only robbed Lunafreya of her strength, but had stolen their potential for a family. They had known they were the last Oracle and Crystal's King, but they weren't sure how literally the Astrals were to enforce that.
"With all you gave to Eos, this is the least they can allow you. Now. I do say, proper celebrations are in order. What say you we go to that lovely seafood restaurant in Lestallum you're so fond of?" Ignis addressed the question to the young woman.
"That sounds lovely. And invite Aranea, though don't tell her the news. She would be quite perturbed with me if she heard it from someone other than myself." Lunafreya suggested, picturing how angry her dear friend would be should she hear of her pregnancy from Ignis first. She had grown quite close to the dragoon during their travels, and lamented how long it had been since she had the chance to spend some time with her.
"Shall I extend the invitation to the invitation to Gladiolus and Prompto?" Ignis asked, but the King shook his head.
"They're both not around this week, remember? I wanna wait till they're back to tell them in person. "I promise I'll tell them as soon as they're back."
"Fair enough," Ignis asserted. "One moment," He sat back down in his chair, and dialed Aranea's number. "Hello 'Nea… would you like to join myself and our royals in Lestallum for dinner tonight?... Lunafreya was just lamenting how long it's been since she's seen you… wonderful! … Shall I send for a driver to come get you? … I figured as much. Want to start heading this way?... okay, see you soon my darling." Ignis snapped the flip-phone shut before placing it in his pocket. "Aranea shall meet us here in a short while, we don't live far from the Citadel, so the walk here shouldn't take terribly long." he explained to the royals.
"She wants to walk here seven months pregnant?!" Noctis asked, lifting a brow.
"She insists the exercise is good for her, and I learned a long time ago not to argue when she sets her mind to something. She'll call me should the walk prove overwhelming."
"Doesn't she always say she'll call you if she needs help then never does?"
"She's actually been a bit better about that since becoming pregnant. I suppose it's because I am worried not only about her. But point remains, she'll walk the short distance here."
"Now I'm even more excited, I haven't seen Aranea in far too long, I feel like a terrible friend." Lunafreya replied.
"I'm sure she fully understands, she did sound happy to see you again." Ignis tried to reassure her. She smiled at this news, excusing herself to shower before their outing.
"One moment," Noctis stopped her, and hugged her before giving her a quick kiss, leaving her flushed. She gave him a playful glare before squirming out of his arms and leaving the study. Noctis and Ignis attempted to spend the time waiting for Aranea returning to what they were working on prior to Lunafreya's news, but Nocits was unable to concentrate.
"I can't believe it Iggy… after all this time." Noctis stated, putting down his papers after a third failed attempt to read their contents.
"Shall we retire from tasks for the evening? We are making little progress." Ignis suggested, leaning back in the chair.
"Sorry." Noctis apologized, running his hands through his hair.
"That was not said with intention to chide you. You have every right to be distracted." he reassured his friend. "Our kids will be similar in age, at least they'll both have a playmate." Noctis smiled at the thought that his child would have a lifelong friend like he had, Ignis being tasked as his hand and his advisor when he himself was only four years old. "At least they'll be someone to keep your little hellion in line." Ignis teased,
"Hey they'll have mine and Luna's D-N-A, at least they'll be half behaved." Noctis joked back.
"Don't be so sure of that. Remember the stories Luna told us about her childhood."
"Oh Six you're right. We're doomed man. Doomed!" Noctis threw his hands up for good measure, and the two men shared a chuckle. He wondered who their child would resemble more, both in looks and in behavior. "If your kid ends up taking more after Aranea the two together will have the Citadel staff fleeing in droves."
"I should draft up the apology letters ahead of time."
"Apology gift baskets more like it." Lunafreya returned to the study then, drawing the two men's attention. She was wearing a pair of black dress pants, and a grey sweatshirt over a pale blue tee. It was somewhat unusual to see her wearing such casual attire, as she didn't opt for it often. The sight brought a smile to Noctis's face.
"Rare to see you without a dress." he remarked lightly.
"I figured this was a bit more… subdued. Would be easier to pass through Lestallum without garnering attention this way." she explained. Noctis let his eyes wander over her, enjoying his family's color on her. The pants hugged her thighs showing off her shapely legs, but the less form-fitting sweater gave the attire a more comfortable appearance.
"Good idea." Noctis replied, flicking his eyes back up to meet hers, the flush on her face betraying how she had noticed his gazing. "I should go change myself" he suggested, and stood from his desk. "Iggy I'll be back shortly." he stated, and got a go ahead gesture from Ignis and departed the room. Lunafreya sat down in the chair near the bookcase, tucking one ankle under the other from sheer habit.
"Would you like to change as well?" she asked the advisor. He chuckled at the suggestion and shook his head,
"I doubt it would have much point. Even my casual clothes don't look every casual." He answered her. He flinched slightly, and then pulled his phone from his pocket. He made a command to it, and a robotic voice read a message aloud,
Hey there sexy glasses, just got here. Taking a breather outside before I come up. Try not to miss me too hard.
"Umm… I should go greet her. Meet you back here?" he suggested, trying to sit a little straighter to compensate for the heat rising in his cheeks as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket, cursing himself for not stepping outside to have her message read to him.
"By all means. I'll try not to disappear in the meantime." she joked. He stood and departed from the room, Lunafreya listening to his footsteps retreat while she stood and pulled a book off the bookshelf to entertain herself while she waited for her companions. She started to read, one hand idly rubbing her flat stomach as she pictured herself sitting in a chair next to a small bed, reading a story to a miniature version of Noctis, a smile pulling at her cheeks, and hoped this future child would enjoy reading as much as her. She was a page shy of finishing her chapter in the book when Noctis appeared back in the study, sporting a casual outfit of black pants and a white tee with a hat to match. She smiled a bit at him and stood, meeting him halfway into the room and reaching up to link her hands behind his neck,
"Why, who is this scruffy young man come to woo a young woman?" she asked him, "Certainly not my regal King." she tisked playfully.
"Hey, I thought you liked this hat." He asked, defensive. She couldn't help but laugh a little, and reached up to lightly flick the rim of it,
"Why I never I said I didn't like my scruffy young man." she answered him. She stood on her toes to place a light kiss on his lips, and settled back on her heels to enjoy his grin.
"To think, one day we'll kiss and it'll be accompanied by a loud eww" Noctis joked. He couldn't remember his mother, and spoke rather about things he saw in movies or shows. He wondered for a moment if stuff like that actually happened. And realized how little he knew of what it was like for a child to have both parents.
"Hmm… one day soon."
