Chapter Twenty-Six
The Best is Yet to Come

"Alright! Here it comes, push!" the midwife shouted.

Anali bit back a sob, she tightened her hands into a couple of fists, and pushed. Breathless, Anali laid back against the pillows. She was panting, she was exhausted, the contractions started in the middle of the night, hours ago. The midwife yelled at her to keep pushing, while the nursemaid encouraged Anali to breathe.

A shot of pain tore through Anali's abdomen. Breathe… breathe… breathe… Sobbing, Anali laid back against her pillows while the midwife passed the baby to one of the nursemaids to be cleaned. "You can relax now," said the nursemaid, "they're out, they seem healthy."

"They?" Anali echoed.

The nursemaid was suddenly at Anali's side with bundle in her arms. "See for yourself," said the maid.

Anali took the bundle into her arms; her face paled in utter confusion. In her arms were a number of tiny, furry creatures with pointed ears and long, thin tails.

"Mew."

Anali's eyes snapped open, she stared at the ceiling, her lips pressed into a hard line. Without thinking, her hand laid flat on her belly, now larger and rounder. She had another nine or ten weeks before the baby came.

A human baby, not a litter of kittens.

Chrom was still sound asleep at her side, the one of them who got a full night sleep these days. The baby was going to be a fighter with how often it kicked, and Anali could no longer get comfortable because of it. Inhaling, Anali held her breath for a moment, then released it through her nose.

The nursery was right across the hall from their room, a basinet would be placed close to Anali after the baby was born. The royal family had a tradition of wet nursing, and they did have one on standby should something come up, but Anali wanted to at least try. If the baby wouldn't latch on, or if Anali couldn't produce enough then they would be wet nursed.

Her midwife assured her that there was nothing wrong if Anali couldn't breastfeed. There were plenty of children who wouldn't take their mother's milk. But the thought terrified Anali, the thought that she could be rejected by her baby shook her to the core. Why should this child love her? Anali had no past, and she had reason to fear she was going a little mad. That was the only explanation for her dreams. Not the kitten dream she just had, but seeing Marth fight something Anali couldn't see, and… and…

Biting back a sob, Anali clung onto Chrom. She had that nightmare several times within the last few months, even on their wedding anniversary. Anali had much the same reaction as that one time in the inn. She still wouldn't tell Chrom what happened, she wouldn't talk about it, she just wanted to put the memory as far away as possible. Reoccurring dreams where she murdered her husband, what kind of person did that make her? One that didn't deserve the love of this child, that's who.

It wasn't even the thought of Chrom dying that scared her, it was the fact that Anali was responsible for it. That she killed the man she loved, the man who loved her regardless of her lack of a past, the father of their child. That was what Anali truly could not bare.

Anali shouldn't have been allowed to hold the baby. She shouldn't be this close to the person most precious to her. But at the same time, she couldn't stand the thought denied these actions.

She started to hiccup on small sobs, just all around scared. Scared that the baby would reject her, scared that her nightmare could be more than just a night terror.

Nowi kept her ear close to Anali's belly while the woman's fingers worked around the needles and yarn. The Manakete's tongue stuck out slightly in the corner of her mouth, impatiently waiting to feel a kick from the baby. She was the only one in the room who was not knitting, there was Libra and Elaine, who were knitting blankets for the visitors at the food house. Anali, on the other hand, was trying to knit a blanket for the baby.

Within the last several months Vaike and Miriel had married; they made it particularly obvious whenever they did the deed as Vaike was always particularly exhausted the mornings after. The rumors said Miriel was surprisingly pretty adamant about having a child herself. Though people were split on whether or not she legitimately wanted a child, or if it was part of her research. Anali was in the latter category given how Miriel seemed to genuinely smile whenever she saw the couple in the mess hall.

And then there was poor Tybalt, caught between his duties as Griffin Rider captain, and the new Duke Duir. Anali still laughed when she recalled Escalus' face when Shalom swooped in during their post-harvest council meeting and reviled his plot against the Alder family. Apparently Escalus never bothered to learn Gaius' name, therefore was unable to recognize that Princess Lissa's intended was the very same man he more or less forced into framing Shalom.

The act was enough to strip the Duir's of their titles, but Chrom was merciful. Escalus would pass the title to his first born - his only born - and would pretty much just disappear. He was not to come to any more council meetings, to any royal events - such as the baby's christening. Chrom had all but said that he never wanted to see Escalus' face again.

Tybalt took the title of Duke, but would not step down from the Griffon Riders. So he spent the months to follow flying from Ylisstol to his duchy and back. Both man and griffon were exhausted these days.

Anali eyed Nowi when she slowly slid her hands across her belly. Silently, Anali told the little one inside to keep kicking so the Manakete could feel it. "Say, Nowi," Anali said a few minutes after, "how are baby Manakete's born?"

Shrugging, Nowi made an 'I-don't-know' sound. She couldn't tell a person if a Manakete baby came out as a dragon, or looking like a human. Or even if they laid eggs. If Nowi had met other Manakete's she had little memory of it anymore. There was one way to answer Anali's question, but Nowi wasn't even sure if Manakete's could reproduce with humans. She could sort of see female Manakete's able to have a hybrid child, but she couldn't tell you if a human female could even survive it.

Anali looked down at her work, somewhere along the way the knitting became very uneven. If she chose to continue Anali would only succeed in making the worlds most awkwardly shaped blanket. "I have no talent for this," sighed Anali.

"Practice makes perfect," Elaine said with a cheeky smile. The smile died moments later. "Okay, I can't lie, I have no idea how you did that."

"Guess I'm just not crafty."

"Ooh! Ooh! I felt it!" Nowi exclaimed happily.

Instantly, Elaine stood up and hurried to Anali's side, Nowi lifted her head from Anali's stomach allowing room for Elaine to feel. A surprised little gasp escaped Elaine's lips when she felt the little kick. Being an only child with relatives too far away this was probably the first time Elaine actually knew the expectant mother, thus actually got to see this sort of thing for herself. "Libra! Libra! Libra!" Nowi chanted. "Your turn! Your turn! Your turn!"

"I heard you the first time," the priest said with a slight smile. "But, I'm afraid I'll have to pass. I couldn't-"

"Pish posh," Anali waved it off, "might as well get in on the fun now while it's kicking."

Libra had a few argument's in mind, but Nowi had grabbed him by the hand, and pulled him across the room. His fight against her was pitiful, in the year they spent trying to locate his heart, Libra learned pretty quickly that if he fought against her, then Nowi would lose that brilliant smile of hers. Between the Manakete and Princess Lissa they could light up a room with their smiles alone. What Libra would do if he killed those smiles.

Nowi just about forced him onto his knees and placed his hand flat on Anali's round belly. The War Monk was beginning to feel rather awkward, as he wanted to argue, he was neither Anali's husband, nor a relative, this seemed improper. Anali placed her hand over his own and guided it to the side. And then he felt it, a tiny bit of pressure against his hand. A tiny little life making itself known.

Libra tried to push out the thoughts of his mother doing such a thing when she was pregnant with him. He couldn't think of his mother knitting blankets for him, or of his father preparing a nursery for him. Those thoughts would only bring about darker thoughts. Dark thoughts would put a damper on Libra's mood and cause his friends, and especially Nowi, to worry.

Instead, he forced himself to think happier thoughts; how Nowi would be somewhere between exuberant and terrified when meeting the child, for it was obvious she wanted to. Something so tiny and delicate in her arms. Lissa would have her eyes full of tears, but an ever-present smile on her face while she held her niece or nephew. Frederick might have gotten in on the emotion too, given how dedicated he was to the royals. The people of Ylisse would celebrate the birth of the new prince or princess. He thought of the happy couple to receive this blessing, the Exalt who had suffered a great lost last year, and his wife with no memory, no family.

Libra didn't realize he was smiling until Sumia walked in with a tray of small meat pies. "I didn't have much to do," Sumia said, passing everyone a plate, "so I thought I'd make lunch."

Anali eyed the meat pies greedily. She could almost hear Chrom telling her that she shouldn't eat the pie crust because it's connected to fruit pies, which had sugar, and blah, blah, blah, mental back flips. He still wasn't fully willing to listen to the midwife. The way Anali saw it, trying to distance their children from sweets was a futile effort since they were going to be born into a world where Gaius was their uncle.

She noticed two ways the pregnancy messed with her appetite; she had a particular fondness for radishes, and some Feroxi potato dishes (much to Lon'qu's pleasure), and meat seemed particularly delectable these days. Of course Anali was always a carnivore, but it seemed like this baby would be following in her footsteps.

One bite of the meat pie was almost enough to send Anali into tears. The mouth-watering ground beef, the savory gravy, the fresh peas, the hint of potatoes, and the crisp crust. "I take it you like it," Sumia said, holding the empty tray to her abdomen.

"Of course!" Anali said. Rising to her feet she took Sumia's hands into her own, and stared at her friend like she was a heaven-sent goddess. "Let's annul both our marriages and run away together!"

Sumia simply stared at Anali, her cheeks slightly flushed and a smile forced onto her face. "That's little… rash for you, don't you think?" asked Sumia. "Besides I think we'll come across trouble the instant you go into labor."

Anali pouted as she sat back down.

Libra had offered to wash everything after lunch, it was the kind of work he did find some genuine enjoyment in, even if the pans Sumia cooked it all in were a little difficult to clean. Nowi was helping by drying everything and putting them away. "That was fun," Nowi said, climbing onto one of the counters to put the plates away.

"Yes," Libra had to agree, "it was nice. I do admit, feeling that little one kick filled me with a warmth I've not felt in a long time."

Eyes lit up again, Nowi practically leapt off the counter. "Do you think you've found your heart then?" she asked.

Libra blinked twice. That was a legitimate question. As Libra had told Nowi over a year ago he spent most of his life trying to avoid what lied in his own heart, it was silently agreed between the two that their search would take time. He imagined it would have taken longer if they were looking for Nowi's heart, it would have taken them much, much longer than a year.

"I honestly don't know," Libra said thoughtfully. After he dried his hands he shifted his hair over one shoulder, then seated himself on his knees. "Would you… care to try?"

Nowi nodded silently. Carefully she rubbed the scar on the back of Libra's neck. The touch littered Libra's neck and arms with goosebumps. He wasn't exactly used to being touched period, but this didn't have the same pain as it did once. Actually, it didn't hurt at all. "Well?" Nowi asked after a long period of silence.

"It's… slightly ticklish."

"But it doesn't hurt anywhere?"

"Quite the opposite," Libra said, standing up. "It felt warm… tender even."

"But where are you feeling it?"

"Right here," Libra placed a hand right on the left half of his chest.

Nowi's brow rose curiously. "The same place where it used to hurt?" she inquired.

"Yes, exactly."

Clapping her hands, Nowi bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. "I think we've finally found your heart!" she cheered. Her brow rose again when she realized Libra was just staring out into space with his hand still over his chest. "What's wrong? Aren't you glad?"

Blinking, he looked down at her, a smile finally played upon his lips. "Of course," he said gently. "I'm… overjoyed."

"Hehe. That's good!" Nowi said with the biggest smile she could muster. "'Cause when you're happy, I'm happy, too."

"Nowi," Libra cleared his throat, "what would you say to us spending even more time together?"

She tossed her arms into the air. "I'd say that would be amazingly awesome, that's what! Actually, I was going to ask you the same thing. Spending time with you has been my highlight of the week and I wanted to keep hanging out after we found your heart."

Libra felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest, and like a completely different, heavier weight had put itself back on it. His hand went into his slacks pocket and wrapped itself around the cool stone he had been carrying. What he was about to ask was probably going to hurt Nowi more than it would help her. Because she was going to outlive him by several dozen centuries, but wouldn't the few decades they would have together be better than being alone? "In that case," Libra said, taking the stone out of his pocket, "perhaps you would do me an even greater honor? I'd like to have this made into a ring as proof of my love and affection for you."

Wide-eyed, Nowi stared at the stone, it looked kind of like a dragonstone with its ripples of greens. But it lacked the ethereal glow to it, it lacked the magical properties that allowed her to transform. The scenario brought up a scene Nowi had heard of plenty of times, granted it usually involved a ring, but Libra just said he'll have the stone made into one. "Libra…" she utter softly, "you mean, like… as your wife?"

"Yes," replied Libra. "That is exactly what I mean."

He froze slightly, surprised when Nowi wrapped her arms around him. "Of course I will!" Nowi said, squeezing him tighter. "I'm so happy!"

Libra chuckled slightly, returning the gesture. "If this fluttering in my chest is any indication," he said, "I am, too, Nowi."

Outside by the stable, Cordelia fiddled with the small pendant around her neck. It was about half the size of her pinky, and looked like it had caught many different colors within it. It was a gift from Sumia for her most recent birthday last July. On it's own the stone wasn't all that impressive, but with the clay beads it was perfect for casual wear.

Unfortunately, fiddling with whatever necklace she wore was something of a habit of hers whenever she got a little frustrated. In this case, it was her ability to run. It was never her strongest suit, and it still looked like she would always stay mounded. Not that she didn't love flying, but still, she wanted to be useful if she was ever needed on foot.

Her eyes widened when she spotted the Exalt sparring with Priam, something the two of them had been doing a lot as of late. Cordelia had a feeling it was to help with the Exalt's anxieties over Anali's pregnancy. They stayed close to the garrison's heavily damaged wall, and Cordelia was reminded of Panne's words a year ago, how the Exalt wasn't as graceful as Cordelia had said he was. But Panne was just wrong, watching the Exalt battle like this, even if it was just sparring, proved that.

The Exalt took a step back, blocking Priam's oncoming attack, and then he fell over. The Exalt tripped over his own cape. Priam was bent over double, chuckling at the sight before him, even the Exalt was laughing at his own slip-up. It was just one slip-up. Just one. This didn't mean anything. The Exalt… the Exalt…

The Exalt lost his footing often when Cordelia thought about it. He had a tendency to sway after a long battle, and he often lost his composure when someone he loved was in danger. That Plegian general after Exalt Emmeryn died… when Anali was injured in Elrond… the grace and charisma was gone. And the cross-country tour when they spoke, the Exalt was at just as much of a loss for words as she was (granted she didn't make it easy for him). All that grace and charisma… Did she really embellish it in her head?

"Here's what I think," she could almost hear Liam tell her so long ago, "I think you fell in love with some fabrication that just happened to have Chrom's face."

Anali's belly grew rounder and rounder in the next couple of weeks, and at long last, April came. The baby was due any day now. On one hand, Anali was just drained, the baby kept kicking and moving, it kept her up at night, her back was killing her, and walking was a hassle now. She did not envy Liam and Lazuli, who had announced to the Shepherds that night in the garrison that they were now expecting. That their own child would be born in November.

"Personally, I didn't think Liam had it in him," Chrom said, his hair still wet from his bath.

"Yes, but I'm sure people thought the same with you," Anali snarked with a raised eyebrow. "Now, is it just me, or does it seem like everyone in the Shepherds are getting hitched? I mean, there's Olivia and Lon'qu, Lissa and Gaius, Libra and Nowi, Sully and… who's she marrying, again?"

"I don't think it's anyone in the Shepherds," Chrom climbed into bed with Anali, "honestly, I'm still trying to figure out where Lon'qu and Olivia came from."

"I can kind of see it," said Anali. "They're both socially awkward."

Chrom pulled Anali close to him so that she was almost seated in his lap and laid his hand flat on her belly. Now, that they were finally in April and expecting the baby any day, waiting was unbearable. They had widdled their list of possible names down to four, two for each gender. The nursery had been set up, and the midwife was prepared for the delivery anytime.

"Nine months of waiting," Chrom murmured, "not sure I can wait another few days."

"Imagine how I feel," Anali replied. "This kid's been messing up my bladder."

He laughed, and Anali playfully smacked him with the back of her hand. Anali slid herself off his lap, and laid back, trying to make herself comfortable. Chrom laid down beside her, with one arm wrapped around his wife as though that alone could keep her and their child safe from everything. Content in that moment, it didn't take Anali long to doze off.

I watch as the tall, sickly man drops to his knees; a dark haze dances around his body. Chrom turns to face me, smiling, and with it I feel lighter than I have in ages. I just want him to hold me and never let go. To go home to Ylisstol and live out our days with them. I reach out for Chrom, intending on taking hand, and maybe scold him for overexerting himself, but we both hear the tall man choke out, "This isn't over…"

From beyond Chrom I see the tall man prompt himself up on one arm. In his extended hand, I see the spell he's gearing up. "Damn you both!"

I shove Chrom out of the spell's path, taking the full force of it myself. My vision goes white, and I feel like I've just swallowed an entire campfire. I can't breathe…Why won't my lungs work?

As soon as my back slams against the floor I'm finally able to get precious air. My vision clears, and I see Chrom springing up to my side. He drops down onto one knee, then wraps an arm around my shoulders to help me sit up. "You all right?" he asks urgently.

Unable to find my voice, I nod. Relieved, Chrom looks back at the man in the dark robes, his body has disintegrated into a dark haze that left nothing in its wake. "That's the end of him," Chrom says as he helps me onto my feet. "Thanks to you, we carry the day."

Back onto my feet, I feel Chrom's hands on my shoulders. I wince, a sharp, agonizing pain pulses through the very center of my head. I don't think I could find it in me to yell out in pain. "We can rest easy now," says Chrom. His voice sounds so distant from me. It is like I'm miles underwater. I feel myself sway on my feet as another shot of pain tears through my me head. "At long last."

Another shot rips through me, one after another. I am vaguely aware that I'm squeezing Chrom's arm. The action is enough to get Chrom to look me in the face. "What's wrong?" he asks me.

I can't bring myself to answer. My head hurts so much I'm afraid the slightest movement will make it worse. Thought all the pain, I'm somewhat aware of the panic swelling in the pit of my stomach. My vision is bathed in red. "Hang on!" Chrom encourages me, I feel one of his hands on the back of my neck. "Hang on-!"

Pain erupts from my abdomen.

Anali's eyes fluttered open to meet a discomfort in her lower belly. It didn't hurt, hurt, just… discomfort, like a menstrual cramp. She laid awake, staring at the ceiling, when the discomfort happened again she tried to steady her breathing. Grunting, Anali sat herself up and climbed out of bed. She hobbled to the door; upon opening it, she poked her head out to find the dimly lit hallway. She didn't have to wait long before one of the guards came by, making his nightly rounds. "Excuse me," she called, hailing him down.

"Milady," the man said with a brief nod of the head.

"Can you or someone fetch my nursemaid? Tell her that I think I'm starting to feel contractions. And can someone inform Lissa?"

The guards eyes lit up for a moment. "Right away, Milady," he said before he rushed down the hall.

Anali could already feel the ache in her back from standing for just a few minutes. She limped back to her bed and sat down beside Chrom. He looked so boyish and peaceful when he slept, it seemed like such a shame to wake him right now. But when she felt another contraction Anali was reminded that this was finally happening. "Chrom," she said gently shaking him. "Chrom…"

He woke with a start and prompted himself up on one elbow. "Wha?" he asked a little disorientated.

"Sorry," Anali said with a slight wince. "I just sent one of the guards to get the midwife. I've been feeling a couple of contractions."

"Huh?"

"The baby's coming."

That woke him up.

A few minutes later Anali sat back against the pillows, watching Chrom dress himself despite the fact that it was still early in the morning. The midwife and a nursemaid arrived moments later with the ever vigilant Frederick. The midwife clapped her hands twice, pointed at Chrom, then pointed at the door. "Out." she ordered.

"But-"

"Out."

"Chrom just listen to her," said Anali, "I asked Lissa to be here a long time ago. She should be on her way."

Anali wasn't dumb, she knew it would have been improper to have Chrom there with her. But the thought of being alone with a couple of people she hardly knew while she was giving birth terrified her. She just needed someone to hold her hand. So, weeks ago Anali asked Lissa if she could do that. "Okay," Lissa said beaming. "But only if you do the same thing for me for my first born!"

"Okay," Anali said with a giggle.

"Best get him a pot of tea ready," the midwife told Frederick, "this is going to take awhile. And have someone send us up a pot, too."

Lissa arrived minutes later, just in time for Anali to have another, contraction.

By midmorning everyone in the palace, and everyone in the garrison heard that Anali had gone into labor. The Shepherds gathered in the mess hall, some of them playing card, Cordelia played a few numbers on the harp, and Olivia danced. However the dancer seemed a little distracted that day, and Cordelia's songs weren't exactly joyous.

Chrom was in the sitting room with Gaius and Frederick, the two of them caught up in a game of chess. Chrom couldn't sit still, his hands had to do something, and he had gotten up to pace around the room more than once. He had watched the sun rise and set with no news. "What's taking so long?" he asked at length.

"Child birth is a lengthy process, milord," Frederick said, moving a black piece across the board.

"'Lengthy' is a nice way of putting it," said Gaius. "Imagine trying to push an eight-pound alien right out of your-"

"Thank you," Chrom cut him off.

When the door opened behind him, Chrom whipped around. His shoulder's fell, it was just Sumia with another pot of tea. She poured Chrom a fresh pot, then eyed him. "Sit down," she ordered, "relax."

Having been on the receiving end of Sumia's 'slap' twice, Chrom obliged. He picked up the cup by the rim, having broken two cups already, and put it to his lips. He kept one eye on Sumia and only put the cup down when she nodded in approval. "Try to relax captain," Sumia said sweetly as she took a seat beside Frederick, "I'm sure Anali's doing fine."

Squeezing Lissa's hand, Anali sobbed. The midwife shouted for her assistant to get water, or maybe it was to get a blanket, Anali wasn't sure, she couldn't hear over her own heartbeat. The contractions had gotten worse, had gotten painful, and now she was being ordered to push. "I want Chrom," she blubbered.

"I know, I know," Lissa said, trying to soothe her. With her free hand, she wiped Anali's sweaty brow with a cool, damp cloth. "But when you see him again you'll have a beautiful baby to show him."

"Alright, Anali," the midwife said, working between her legs, "I'm going to need you to push for me, and if it's a good one, it's out."

"Keep breathing," Lissa encouraged.

Anali leaned forward and pushed. Her thought's were screaming, her heartbeat was in her ears. Almost there… almost there… almost there…

A sound cut through everything she heard in her head.

Her eyes snapped open.

"Okay, that's it, I don't like playing with Stumbles," Gaius groaned, leaning himself back on the couch.

Sumia slid her winnings across the table. "I guess I had some good teachers," she said innocently. "Or it's just beginner's luck."

The chess set had long been put away in exchange for playing cards. Sumia claimed that she didn't know how to play poker, and, unknown to the guys, she played them all for fools. Chrom wasn't sure if Frederick had just fallen for Sumia all over again, or if he was jealous of her poker face. "Who's up for another game?" asked Sumia.

Before any of them could answer, the door flew open. Lissa hurried in, rounded the corner and threw herself over Chrom. A moment later Lissa whispered something to him, instantly Chrom was on his feet. He hurried out the door, then down the hall. "So, Lady Anali had the baby?" Frederick asked.

"Yup," Lissa sat back with a sigh. "Sound's like they're both okay."

"That's good," Gaius said while he massaged Lissa's very red hand. Who knew Anali had such a grip on her?

"So…" Sumia said leaning foreword. "Boy or girl?"

There had never been anything more beautiful than the little girl laying right beside her. Her little daughter; a healthy, beautiful baby girl, a princess. Her tiny hands close were to her face, while her eyes were closed, content after being cleaned and fed. The child, surprisingly, came out with a full head of hair. A full head of blue hair.

Anali laid on her side, exhausted, sore, still covered in sweat, and filled with so much love for this child. This little life that was proof that Anali had a future in spite of her big blank of a past. That future, her own life, belonged to this precious, beautiful baby.

She choked on a sob, one hand wrapped around her little daughter while she held her as close to her body as she could. What had Anali done to be given something so precious? The tears spilled out of her as the child squirmed slightly. She needed a name now, and Anali had that name on the tip of her tongue, for it was one of the names she and Chrom had decided on. "Lucina," Anali's voice cracked.

The alternative would have been Kendra, but Lucina was far more appropriate for the child. A little light in the world, how appropriate for Ylisse's future queen? How appropriate for a mother without a past?

She was a mother now. What a thought.

Anali looked over her shoulder when she heard the door creak open; Chrom had taken a cautious step inside. A small, tired smile formed on Anali's lips. "I think Lucina wants to meet her father," she said, her own voice sounded strange to her ears.

Chrom looked like a wide-eyed child as he rounded the bed. He took a careful seat at the edge of the bed, as far away from Lucina as possible. "Don't be nervous," Anali said, her head still rested on the pillow, "she's your daughter, too."

As tired as she was, Anali forced herself to sit up. She collected Lucina into her arms, the baby stirred with just a slight turn of the head, her small eyes fluttered open to reveal a couple of pale irises. Making sure her blanket was around her Anali held her out to Chrom. "Keep her head up," Anali instructed while the baby was passed between the two.

She had to smile at the slight tremble in Chrom's arm muscles. He couldn't have been anymore frightened of her than if she was literally made of porcelain. He kept his watering eyes on Lucina. "She's beautiful," he whispered.

"She's perfect," Anali said, lying back down as she spoke.

"You called her Lucina, already?" Chrom asked looking down at his wife.

Anali shrugged her shoulder lazily. "It was the most appropriate," she said. "When you consider everything around her, she's definitely a Lucina."

Chrom smiled. "More than a Kendra."

A few minutes later he placed Lucina back down between the two, and laid down on his side, prompting his head up with one arm. He just stared in silence, imprinting the image of his wife and daughter drifting off into sleep. He wasn't ever going to let go.

Authors Note: Short chapter is short, but who cares? The baby's here!

Again, I'm trying to avoid rom-com cliché's, hence why everyone so calm. I knew for a long time that Lissa wasn't going to help with the delivery itself. She's a princess, why would she help with a delivery, cleric or not? You wouldn't have Emmeryn do it. But she is there to be than hand to hold for her sis-in-law.

I utterly adore Libra/Nowi. They're like amongst my top five favorite parings in this game (along with Chrom/Avatar, Frederick/Sumia, and Lon'qu/Olivia). And I started shipping them by complete accident. When I first played Awakening I was trying to marry Nowi to Gregor, but I kinda messed up in the pair-up during Chapter Nine, and she ended up C-Supporting with Libra first. I was curious to see where they were going and I fell in love with their supports. And then I went through Morgan/Nah and learned that Nah actively prays and the rest was destiny.

And what do you know, the second year in the timeskip went by faster… because reading about a pregnancy is boring. Very few can make nine months of domestic life interesting.

I never really decided on what the second boys name would have been, but the first was definitely Morgan. Anali's pretty determined to name a son Morgan.