Disclaimer: Game of Thrones is D&D's property, after being GRRM's property. Or else, Lancel would be the happiest kid in Westeros, should it be mine.

Summary: He was born in the light, she in the shadows, yet it was her who would become her sun. [Modern AU. Kevan/Dorna]

Author's note: This story is a bet from Assassin Master Ezio 91.

Shadow and Light

Chapter 12

The situation was getting worrisome. Dorna had been in the labour room for hours and still, there was no sign of Lancel's impending birth. Her cervix wasn't opened enough and worse, the waters remained unbroken. At first, the doctors thought it only needed time. After a while, they had given her an hormone injection to speed up the process. It utterly failed. Lancel seemed to be fine, however, the nurses feared that, after some time, issues could occur. They needed to give her a second injection, they told her. If the waters didn't break then, they'd have to do it because Lancel could actually get sick. Dorna was exhausted and due to the hormones, the pain was getting heavier and heavier, to the point she had to request an epidural. Kevan had remained with her the whole time, trying to cheer her up and to ease her pain the best he could. His presence made her feel like she could achieve anything.

"I'm exhausted..." She confessed

"Sleep. I'll watch over you two. The nurses won't be back for an hour."

He gently woke her when the midwife arrived. Dorna was certain they'd have to do a C-section. They had told her they were considering this more and more, as she was getting exhausted and Lancel's heart could start to weaken too.

"Mrs Lannister." She started. "I can already see his hair."

Kevan and Dorna froze. Dorna hadn't felt a thing and despite Kevan's watchful eye, he hadn't noticed any advancement on Lancel's arrival. It was almost as if their son was trying to help them too.

"I must warn you. It's been a while since the labour started and not so long since the waters broke. You'll have to push the hardest you can. If we linger too long, your child could be in danger."

Dorna's hand tightened around Kevan's.

"How long?" She asked

"Fifteen minutes top. The doctor for the C-section is on his way, just in case."

Right when she was told to, Dorna started to push the hardest she could, ignoring the pains, Kevan telling her she was doing great. There was no way she'd let her son be in danger! Not if she could prevent it! She would push as hard as needed, even if it tore her organs, she would. Lancel would be born safe and sound, she'd bleed to death if it was asked of her. She didn't know where her strength came from, how she felt she could move mountains if needed.

"You are doing very good! We're almost there!" The midwife announced about five minutes later

With one final push, Dorna felt her son was out. Yet, if she fell flat on her back, exhausted and sweating, her mind wasn't at rest:

Lancel was born, true.

Yet, he was not crying.

Was it too late? Had she failed? Two seconds later, her worries died and joy overcame when Lancel finally let them hear him roar. The doctor arrived at the same moment, happy and relieved his patient wouldn't have to undergo an emergency C-section. After a few exams to make sure the baby was okay, Kevan and Dorna could finally hug their son for the first time. Carrying him, the first thing Dorna managed to tell him was how much she loved him. She looked at him. He was such a chubby baby! How did she manage to give birth to him? He already had a bit of hair, blond, like the Lannisters. Of course, they knew it could get darker as he'd grow. They didn't care. Lancel was perfect and even better than everything they had ever imagined. She could see how moved and amazed Kevan was. Lancel grabbed his finger and squeezed as hard as his little fist allowed him to.

Their son was a brave little fighter.

XXXXX

Dorna woke up to the smell of eggs and bacon. Going downstairs, she found Kevan finishing breakfast, carrying Lancel against him, who was making soft noises. They had returned home the previous day.

"Good morning." She greeted

He smiled as she kissed him, then their son's forehead.

"He must be hungry." She said

"I found him wide awake. And he didn't cry for the whole night."

"I'll feed him while you finish."

Sitting down, she began to breastfeed him. It appeared he was actually starving, drinking fast.

"We have quite the patient baby." She said

Kevan raised an eyebrow.

"How so?"

"He was actually very very hungry."

"And he didn't cry for it?!"

"No. He waited. Hey, Lancel, Honey, you can wake us up at night if you are hungry, wet, scared or lonely."

The baby continued to drink away.

"Do you think... There is something wrong with him? He barely cries, even at the hospital he barely did." Kevan worried

She smiled softly.

"The doctors would have spotted it, we remained there for a whole week. I think we simply have a quiet, curious baby."

She looked down at her son, still amazed. They were actually parents. They had a baby boy. He was home, with them, healthy.

"Mommy means it, Honey. If you need something, you can tell us."

His big expressive eyes melt her heart.

XXXXX

The house was fuzzing with noise and excitement, the entire Lannister and Swyft families gathered to celebrate Lancel's arrival, two months after his birth. Laying on his blanket, Lancel was fascinated by the hanging moon, star and sun from his little mobile ark. True to his words, Jaime was sitting near the baby, who was doing what his mother called "his little workout", gently kicking the air and moving his arms, babbling away. He couldn't stop smiling at Jaime.

"I think he likes you." Tyrion had told his brother "Good taste, kid."

"For once, I can agree." Cersei approved

Dorna smiled at them. Genna had been so excited to be an aunt again, Harys was thrilled to have a grandson. And while Tywin hadn't uttered a word on his feelings, Dorna knew him enough to know he was happy for them. Lancel was already known as the Lannister miracle by everyone around.

"I assume Lancel will be baptized soon." Tywin said

"He will." Kevan confirmed "Though he'll be free to follow any religion he wants when he grows up."

His brother nodded. With a small move of the hand, Kevan invited Genna to join them.

"Dorna and I would like to ask you both something." He started

He could see he had their full attention.

"We would like you two to be Lancel's godparents." He revealed

Genna's eyes immediately lit up and sparkled.

"You mean it?!"

"We do."

"Of course! Of course I'll be the godmother of my little pumpkin if you wish it!"

While his face was unreadable, a thing that was going on since Joanna died, Kevan could feel Tywin was actually surprised and moved.

"It'd be an honour, being your son's guardian." He temperately answered

Hearing his son's soft laughter, Kevan turned his head to watch over him, the child trying to grab Cersei's hair and the teenager seemed to actually enjoy her time with him. Dorna was near them, capturing this moment for decades to come. He smiled.

He really had found his happy ending.

To Be Continued