La Mienne
Never Turned Back

"This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change."

Naminé pulled her long hair into a mess of a curly bun and dusted off Roxas' old university hoodie. Her blue eyes lit up as she felt her body lower itself onto the large couch, relaxing for the first time in hours. She hummed with approval as she felt her muscles just relax and breathe. Then the footsteps came. Little, tiny beats came from the hallway, scuttling toward the living room that the young woman had found herself relaxing.

"Mama!" the tiny voice came bounding through the archway.

"Valentine?" she smiled as he ran to her, his blonde curls bobbed with each bound.

Valentine was a perfect mix of his mother and father with his father's turquoise eyes and mother's plump, pink lips. The three year old's cheeks were flushed pink from his run and his tiny hands gripped a book in his hand. He stopped short of Naminé, with a joyous glint in his eye, holding out the book to her. 'The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh' was emblazoned on the top with the familiar yellow bear sitting and eating a jar of honey.

"Mama?"

"Read that?" she gently removed it from his hands and sat back on the couch, "Okay, just one story 'cause Mama's tired."

The little boy's smile grew wider as he flung himself into his mother's lap. She began reading as he settled himself in her arms. He sat quietly and stuck his fingers between his lips, biting his hands while staring intently at the pictures. His ears perked when she changed her voice, giving each character their own voice. When she finished the story, he was lounging happily in her lap and picking at his lips. Naminé, looked down at him and smiled happily as she brushed hair from his eyes.

"You know Mama loves you right?" her voice was low and hushed while he nodded, "How would you feel if I told you something very special that I haven't even told Daddy yet?" Valentine smiled looking up to his mother with confused eyes, "Mama's going to be giving you a little brother or sister very soon."

"Really?" his high voice dipping with awe.

"When Daddy gets home we'll have to tell him the surprise okay," she pointed to her lips, "Together though okay?"

"Okay," his head bobbed happily, "Where are they?"

"They?"

"Brother or sister? Where?"

"Oh, your new brother or sister is growing right here," Naminé grabbed his hand and placed it directly on the already forming baby bump.