Chapter 1: Prologue
Narcissa fell onto the couch beside the bed where Bellatrix layed, covered in blankets holding a baby. There had been quite a bit of blood, and she had just finished scouring the sheets. Narcissa thought she was done delivering her children seven years ago, after the first two girls had been born, and she had thought that any after that era would have been dealt with. She was shocked to hear that her older sister was once again pregnant. It wasn't fair. It had taken her years of trying and miscarriages before her own success.
Bellatrix turned softly to look at Narcissa, an essence rare to her, and began stroking her baby's hair in a way Narcissa had not previously seen. With her older two she was hardly a good mother; she was constantly out doing things with and for the Dark Lord. The baby had been born small, which was lucky because it had been breached. It had a full head of black hair that the other two girls had not.
"Is he here yet?" Her voice was raspy from the screaming. Narcissa hoped that her own birth would be nothing like that. Narcissa propped herself up.
"Rodolphus is outside," Narcissa said softly, knowing who her sister was asking for. Bellatrix glowered at her.
"Not that imbecile, him."
"No one has heard from him within the last month, Bella." Bellatrix threw her head against her pillow, and the baby started to whimper. She pulled down her nightgown to feed her, the baby easily latching.
"Rodolphus is watching the other two. They all want to see you." Bellatrix knew this to be a lie. She had not spoken to Rodolphus about anything other than the girls in passing during the last three years.
Someone knocked at the door, and they both looked up, the baby still latched to her breast. Narcissa nodded and slipped out the door, mumbling something to the visitor. He had come.
Voldemort entered slower, almost cautiously into the room, and sat near the top of the bed, looking at Bellatrix. She gulped nervously as she turned to face him, his face frozen at 35 years old, void of wrinkles and greying hair.
"My lord," she bowed her head slowly, trying not to disturb the baby who was just finishing. She moved the baby to burp her lightly before moving her back into the cradled position. The baby's eyes barely fluttered at the presence of Voldemort.
"It's just us, Bella," Voldemort whispered, unsure whether he should reach for the baby or stay back.
"Tom," she smirked. The baby cooed lightly.
"Do you have a name, or were you waiting for me?" He took her chin, much more gentle than normal, and looked into her eyes with an emotion she had rarely seen from him.
"I of course was waiting for you, Tom," she smiled lightly and began to run her fingers through the baby's hair. He let go of her chin and stared down at the baby, gesturing to take her. Bellatrix lifted her into his arms, pausing slightly when their hands touched. She lied back into the pillows as he stared at the baby, as though she were the only thing in the room.
After a few long minutes, he turned to Bellatrix, and whispered softly, "Estella."
Bellatrix smiled, and sat up to meet them. She leaned into his arm, and stroked the baby's cheek. The two sat like that for quite some time before hearing several eager knocks on the door. They snapped apart, and Narcissa put her head through the door.
"Your girls really want to see you." Bellatrix frowned slightly, and nodded. Voldemort handed Estella back to her and stood up, kissing her forehead.
He turned around and whispered, "I think I love you both."