A month after talking with William, Aurora's water broke; she had been seated in her study, reviewing documents with William helping her when she was suddenly hit by a wave of pain. In a matter of hours afterwards, Aurora had finally reached the point of giving birth; in minutes after that, Aurora was holding her child-and to her, she's never held such perfection.
"You're so beautiful." Aurora mumbled quietly as she gently pushed back the flurry of curls that were situated on her child's forehead."I've never seen anything so perfect…" She curled one of her child's orange-red locks of hair around her finger."Isn't he beautiful William?" He didn't respond, as his face was still buried in his hands; he trembled slightly as a nurse tried to comfort him."He'll be a wonderful King. I just know it."
The doctor stood awkwardly on the side, trying to give them time but knowing she couldn't let this go on for long."Your Highness…" She began, her face solemn and her voice monotonous."You need to give him back to me…" Aurora didn't respond or react to the doctor as she continued twirling her son's hair around her finger."Your Highness, please…"
Aurora didn't stop her movements, prompting William to finally look up. His eyes were already puffy and his cheeks were marked with tear stains."Aurora, please. Give him to her."
Aurora stopped and she slowly looked up to the doctor; she was void of any emotion but she handed her son to the doctor, who took him with a frown."Thank you." She said to Aurora before handing off the silent child to the nurse. The doctor then moved closer to the quiet mother and she tried to console her."If it helps… the other one is still breathing."
"That won't last long." Aurora stated curtly as she sat back against the pillows."It's clearly the weaker one. The runt of the two. It won't last through the night." The doctor swallowed a lump in her throat at Aurora's statement; William meanwhile only stared at his wife with a horrified expression before turning to the doctor.
"I-I want to see them." William said in a soft voice. The doctor nodded and she left for a few moments before coming back with a small bundle of blankets. Aurora made no motion to take the bundle herself but William put his arms out, awaiting his other child. The doctor handed the baby to him carefully, noticing that he was still trembling."T-Thank you."
William shifted the bundle in his arms and a soft smile graced his features."My Graces Aurora, she's beautiful." He glanced up towards her, his smile slowly growing."Just like her mother."
"Tch." Aurora said as she turned away from him, acting like she was about to take a nap. William frowned at her reaction but he still held his child close.
"You're a lovely little girl aren't you? What name should you have? Are you a little Dove? Or maybe you'll be my little North? A Zealand?"
"You are not naming her that." Aurora said as she continued to have her back facing him."You're not giving her any name. She's not going to last the night so what's the point?"
"What about Atlantis? I bet you like that name!" William glanced towards his daughter with a smile, but she still didn't react."Okay, I guess not. Next page!"
"Can you give it a rest already?" Aurora hissed as she sat up from her bed and faced William; he paused in rocking his chair, which he had brought into their bedroom since their daughter's birth yesterday."You've been doing this since last night!"
"Well, of course I am." William began before raising his head in a proud manner."Contrary to your belief, our little fighter is still very much alive. And still quite the beauty too."
"That's just luck! She probably won't last by the end of the week."
"That still means she was alive for more than what you thought." William lifted his daughter gently into the air before putting her head on his shoulder where he began to bounce her slightly to entertain her."You said there was no point in giving her a name. But look at her now! Alive and healthy after the first night." He turned his daughter towards Aurora who scrunched up her nose, something she did whenever William tried to prompt her to get close to the baby."Come on, look at this face! Even if she doesn't make it, we should at least name her." He put his daughter back down and opened his journal again."But she's just like you; she doesn't like any of the names I told her!"
Aurora rolled her eyes and she tried to go back to sleep although William just continued his efforts of picking a name."It's not even that important."
"Yes, yes it is important!" William declared, having heard Aurora even though she hadn't spoken loudly."This is our baby! Our legacy! Our future! She's our child so right now, she is the most important thing in our lives!"
"Please, she has no more importance than the one that didn't make it." William was surprised by how easily she was able to say that considering her reaction to the death of their son."Actually, she is likely less important. If our healthiest didn't survive, who's to say she will?
"Aurora, please. Just because she was smaller and weaker doesn't mean she's less than… him." William gently stroked his daughter's cheek, prompting her to emit a giggle. He gave her a sad smile as he continued speaking."At least give her a chance. Her party is in a few days; we at least need a name by then."
"No we do not since she won't even last by then!" Aurora shouted, tired of William's constant insistence."What don't you understand you moron?!" She threw herself back into bed, yanking the covers over her face. She was sick and tired of listening to William insisting that she would last. The perfect, healthy one hadn't lived; why would that make it any different from the one who was barely the same size? Or who barely had the same beauty?
Aurora clenched her eyes shut, trying to force herself to sleep to ignore William when she felt a slight weight on her side. She groaned and pulled her blanket off her face slightly only to end up face to face with her daughter who stared back quietly."William, get it off of me."
"No, you need to learn to love her." William insisted as he shifted his daughter closer to Aurora's face, causing her to cringe."Since you won't name her, you have to hold her at least."
"No, I don't." Aurora would have pushed her daughter away had she not noticed the thin line of drool slowly trailing out of the corner of her mouth; the thought of touching it by accident made Aurora feel sick to her stomach."Get her away, she's drooling!"
"No, she is your daughter, drool and all." William pushed her even closer and Aurora was near the point of gagging."Now, give her a nice big kiss on her cheek. She loves kisses."
"I will not-" William moved her even closer and Aurora gasped as she tried to lean back."William, I'm serious! That is so disgusting!"
"I will hold you hostage as long as I need to. Even if that means all night."
"You wouldn-" William moved so fast that Aurora didn't have time to react. The baby was shifted so suddenly and soon enough, she was over Aurora's face, staring down at her mother. The drool that had been coming from the corner of her mouth began to run downwards and Aurora nearly screamed."S-Stop!"
"A good mother holds her little baby and doesn't mind a little bit of drool on her face." William slowly began to lower his daughter, closer and closer to Aurora's face. She had lost all color to her cheeks and Aurora was practically gasping for air, terrified as to having a baby drool on her face.
"W-William, please! N-No!" Aurora really did feel sick and she put a hand over her mouth, worried she might vomit by accident. Her daughter seemed perfectly oblivious and merely began to giggle, thinking her father was playing a game."D-Don't do this t-to me!" He didn't seem like he was planning to stop anytime soon however, further worrying Aurora."Please, I'll help give her a name! Just don't bring her any closer!"
In one slick movement, William pulled their daughter back over his shoulder and he sat down beside Aurora, who was slowly regaining color."See, that wasn't so hard now was it?"
"I… hate you."
"No you don't darling." William said with a slight chuckle before kissing Aurora's cheek."Now, what page of the journal did you want to look over for names?"
"None of them." Aurora hissed towards him with her eyes narrowed."You're forcing me to do this, so I will pick whatever name I want."
"But, I thought up so many!"
"And your point is? Did you think you could hold me hostage and still get your way?" William opened his mouth to respond but he knew he had nothing to say in return so he merely sat back and he began to bounce their daughter on his knee gently."Now, shut up and let me think. I don't want this to take long."
"You should take your tim-"
"I've decided on a name." William blinked in surprise at Aurora's speed but he still smiled with a raised eyebrow.
"Already? What name?"
"The name is… something you don't get to find out until her party. Now good night and keep her away." Aurora quickly ducked under the covers before William could ask anything; he was still confused and he struggled to come up with a response. Finally, he managed to think of something even though Aurora had already fallen asleep.
"Are you just stalling?"
"Aw, she's such a cutie!"
"She doesn't even cry when I hold her!"
"Not as charming as my little Malia, but close enough."
William felt quite proud right now. It was the night where he could finally showcase his daughter to the other Kings, Queens, and nobility and he has never felt better. He was overjoyed that they were gushing over his little daughter that he had nearly forgotten that Aurora never told him the name she had decided on. Well, nearly.
"What's her name?" Queen Luminous asked as she handed Malia off to Crescent in order to pick up William's daughter. She held her with a smile, making silly faces to entertain her."I bet it's a beautiful name."
"Well, uh, Aurora hasn't actually told me yet what to name her…"
The Queens and Kings were silent as they turned to William with surprised expressions."You don't know the name of your own child?! It's been more than a week!"
"I-I know but Aurora insisted that I wouldn't know until today and I don't like to pressure her or anything…"
"But this is your child. You should have a say as to what her name is. Especially since you said Aurora wasn't the happiest when it came to being a mother."
"I… I guess you're right. But, Aurora just needs time and space to think…"
"William, you have more than enough reason to make this decision or at least know what she has in mind. Go over to her now and talk to her."
"Or you can grow a pair and demand she tell you. Just a suggestion." William frowned at King Aiden's suggestion-then again, Aiden had his six fiery sons to deal with-but he still took the general idea of his advice.
"You guys are right… I'm going to talk to her right now." William took his daughter from Queen Luminous and he sought out Aurora who had made a point of staying on the opposite side of the ballroom from those attending the party. She was sitting by herself, not making any effort to create an inviting area at her table but William steeled himself and walked over.
"Aurora, we need to talk."
"About?" She said calmly, in her usual professional way; William already didn't like that, considering Aurora only ever acted like that when it came to dealing with someone she didn't want to talk to.
"About our baby's name. You said I would find out at the party and frankly… I don't think that's fair." Aurora did not respond nor did she seem like she was planning to so William continued."I came up with a lot of nice names for her and you didn't even want to think of any. I think I should get to choose her name and unveil it when we give the speech. I already have one in mind that would be perfect for her and-"
"No."
"W-What, I-Aurora, were you even listening to what I said?"
"Of course. I always listen."
"Then why did you still say no?"
"Because I have already made up my mind."
"B-But! Aurora, I should pick the name not you!"
"Not that long ago you were insisting that I pick the name. When I actually do it, it suddenly becomes a problem?"
"Y-You don't understand! I wanted you to pick but not anymore! I-I mean… what I mean is… um… I-I just don't think you should take on this responsibility…" Aurora continued to wait patiently for William to collect himself for a better response."I-I-I mean… y-you said you didn't want her in the first place… I-I shouldn't have tried to make you pick her name…That's far too precious…"
"Thus why I took some time to think about it."
"You… You did?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I? You said it yourself, this is our legacy here. I don't want it to be eternally cursed by the horrid names you have."
"W-What did you pick then?"
"Ladies and Gentlemen! May we have your attention please?" Everyone turned in the direction of William's voice as he chose to not stand on the stage in the ballroom, opting instead to remain beside Aurora. He didn't need to stand up there anyways, his energy so bountiful that everyone in the room could feel it." My lovely wife, Aurora, and I would like to begin by thanking all of you for joining us to celebrate the birth of our lovely daughter."
The sound of vibrant clapping filled the room, many of the guests murmuring in agreement."But, tonight, I have been asked a question I could not answer; I was asked for the name of my child." There were nobles who raised an eyebrow in confusion while the Kings and Queens looked at each other knowingly."But it is with great pleasure that I can finally announce the name of my darling child." William lifted his daughter in the air, hoping everyone could see her; he glanced back to Aurora with a smile even though she turned away. He could still see the slight smile that she was trying to hide and he continued." May I present to you all the lovely, brilliant little princess of the Sunny Kingdom, my and Aurora's daughter, Princess Elsa!"
There were some who clapped in the crowd while others laughed or talked about William's enthusiasm. He didn't care what they did or said; this moment was special enough for him, equivalent to every happy moment in his life. Nothing compared to letting her name roll off his tongue with more joy and pleasure than he could express.
It wasn't possible to make William any happier than he already was.
"So Aurora… how did you pick the name?" William couldn't help being immensely curious. Aurora never expressed interest in a name similar to 'Elsa' nor was there a historical figure with a name like that or even something similar. He turned towards his wife who was reading in bed while he continued to try to rock Elsa to sleep." I mean, you always have a reason for everything."
"Not everything." She said as she flipped the page in her book."Sometimes, things just happen."
"But you're you! You always have some sort of meaning behind every choice. So tell me, why that name?"
"Does it really matter? I named her, exactly what you wanted. Case closed."
"But Aurora! I'll just die if you don't tell me!"
"You say it but you don't mean it." She said as she shut her book and placed it on her nightstand; she shifted down in the bed to cover herself with blankets."Now good night. End of discussion."
"... I'll put Elsa on you again."
Aurora groaned before sitting up, annoyed." Fine. I picked the name because I liked it. Happy now? Can I sleep?"
"...Because you liked it?"
"That's what I just said."
"Not some other reason like 'it'll make her a good ruler' or something like that. Just because you like it?"
"Yes, why is that so hard to believe?" Aurora said with a scowl before covering herself with the blankets again." Now you have your answer so good night."
William was still a bit surprised that Aurora didn't have a 'practical' reason behind it but he had no complaints. He smiled and continued to move around in his attempt to put Elsa to sleep.
"Look at that. Guess your mommy did care a little bit about you."