Sofia was cooking breakfast in the kitchen, a hearty breakfast for two. She had woken up earlier than her husband or so she thought as he crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He smothered her cheek and neck with numerous furious kisses causing Sofia to giggle. He rubbed his nose into her hair and kissed it lightly.
"Good morning Mrs. Wrenne," He greeted, not taking his arms from around her even as she was still cooking. "What are you making? It smells delicious."
"Good morning Mr. Wrenne," She replied back, flipping the pancakes perfectly before dispersing them onto a plate. "I'm making blueberry flapjacks, granola with raisins, sausage, scrambled eggs, and some honey walnut butter biscuits. Oh and your favorite, a nice big pot of black tea, no sugar no cream."
"Mmm. You know at this rate I won't have to hear my parents complain that I'm too skinny. I'm going to come back from this at least ten pounds heavier," he stated, plucking a blueberry off of one of the pancakes and popping it into his mouth. "Did you pick those yourself? They taste fresh."
"Yes I did. There are a lot of berry bushes around here."
"You got up very early then. You don't have to do all that for me, you know. I could have just conjured up some food for us."
"I know but I like to cook, I don't get to do it a lot at the castle. I used to cook for my mom sometimes at the shoe shop," She explained, trying to get him to release his tight grip on her so she could place the plates down. Reluctantly he did and she was able to serve up the food at the table. Cedric pulled out her chair for her and she sat down. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, sweetie," He said back, planting a smooch on her cheek then sitting down. "This looks fantastic. You've outdone yourself."
Sofia beamed with rosy cheeks, feeling like she achieved something great. As he took the first bite and let out a noise of enjoyment she smiled even bigger. It made her happy that he liked her cooking. She reached for the salt and shook it on her eggs slightly. "So," She began, "today's the day we head back."
"Ugh why did you remind me?" He groaned in dismay, not looking at all pleased with the assessment.
For Cedric every day here with her in the peace and quiet had been nothing short of bliss. There were no interruptions, no missions for her to do, no tasks to complete, no enemies to face, no potions to brew up, just the two of them in love. He was able to lazily lounge about all day and night with her cuddled with him, kissing endlessly, hugging all the time, snuggling and nuzzling consistently, and of course, given their vast alone time and their mark as newly weds there were a lot of other things they did often. Very often if Cedric could manage it. At least twice a day. It had been heaven, the two would at most go outside and enjoy a leisurely stroll in the forest, watching the clouds go by, sitting there and looking at the deer bounding in the fields with their adorable fawns, one even came up to Sofia and she pet it. They would collect fruits and vegetables for their meals sometimes, and chase each other playfully until nightfall.
Every day was like being in a wonderland for him and for her too. Nary a moment went by where he wasn't grinning and full of light. Now it was their last day of their honeymoon and they had to go back whether they liked it or not. In Cedric's case he really didn't like it. Everything would go back to normal and the two would be busy and have eyes on them often, paradise would end. It's not as if he didn't miss the people back home enough but he liked this. Still he knew she wanted to go home at some point, she had her family and her duties and she wouldn't abandon them. He understood that well enough so he sucked it up and enjoyed what time he would have with her now. After breakfast he knew there were precious moments left until the carriage came back.
He decided then to spend it in the comfort of her arms, just talking with her, brushing his fingers through her hair. Just this alone, this was all he needed. The two stayed like that only departing from each other briefly to pack and get dressed then they went right back to the other. It felt like it took only seconds for the coach to arrive but it had been hours. Time does pass faster when you are having fun. With a heavy sigh he lifted up their luggage and walked back to the carriage, closing the front door and running his hand along it. He would forever cherish the memories he made inside those walls. The couple got a warm welcome once they came back, her sister near immediately wanting to pull her aside and hear all about it. Cedric knew Sofia wouldn't go into vast detail, some things were just too private to tell anyone.
He allowed her to leave, he couldn't keep her sewn to his hip all the time even if that's truly what he wanted. Once he arrived in his tower he was greeted by an overzealous Minerva who seemed to have missed him a lot. He pet her lovingly as he unpacked his stuff. Minerva wouldn't inquire about his time even if he could understand her, it was none of her business anyhow. He looked well rested to her and had less bags under his eyes. Once he was all done unpacking he knew there was work to be done, the castle had gone a full ten days without his services and hers as well. There wasn't much to do but do it. At least he knew that whatever the other did they would always do it together and never be too far apart.
It was true what he had assumed, more often now Sofia took Cedric with her on her protector missions until one day he was made into a protector too, an honorary one. They could certainly use someone as powerful as him on their side. That wasn't all Sofia took Cedric to her secret library, the first person to ever go there that wasn't an amulet wearer. He was mystified by it all, the entire thing to him was a vast treasure trove. Then Sofia explained everything to him as she pulled down a book with his image imprinted on the front of it. She told him how he was tied to the library and to the land by his ancestry and how Sofia was supposed to be his from the very beginning. He was floored to say the least. He had always assumed that something brought them together but he didn't know how true that was. He also didn't know his blood line could be traced back to the original wizards who built this place.
He was able to meet him, his ancestor, and they had a lot of talking to do with each other. Cedric now had to add more history to his family tree. Even his parents didn't know this much but were pleased to hear that their son was a direct descendant of some of the strongest magic that had existed in the land. It truly was meant to be, him and Sofia, before they were even born it was already being written. He didn't care if fate said they had to be together, nothing could tell him how to feel. He fell in love with her on his own and she with him. That love that they shared grew and grew and they weren't the only ones. Over the next couple months a lot of couples were getting to be wed or proposed to of which included Vivian and Desmond. Then months turned into years and even more big news happened. Birthdays and holidays of course passed but more important than that was Sofia was an aunt now, just like Tilly.
Her sister's announcement of being with child made Roland outright fall right onto the ground, after spitting out his drink. Amber was nineteen at the time of this and even though her father was rather perturbed by it she was anything but. She was as giddy as a schoolgirl on Wassalia break. This was, of course, all she had ever wanted in life and it was a good thing almost all her life all she thought about was marriage and children. She already had oodles of baby names but that didn't mean she didn't come up with more. Each one she ran by her royal advisor and the rest of her household. Roland wasn't sure exactly how to feel being a grandfather already so early in his life but Miranda didn't seem to mind as much. She loved children and the same went with her daughter. They were both anxiously awaiting the day they would get to meet the new royal.
During this entire time she wasn't sure if she was going to have a boy or a girl so she wasn't sure how to decorate the room meant for the infant. Should she do all pink and girly girly or maybe green like her and James's favorite color? Should she make it sporty? She wasn't sure but as usual of Sofia she gave Amber an idea, to go with a theme that was neutral to both a boy or a girl. So Amber did, she wanted it to be themed after pirates and mermaids, that way there would be both girlish stuff and boyish stuff inside. The servants had painted the room mostly sky blue with golden sands on the bottom and waves crashing along the shores of the islands. Palm trees swayed in the wind heavy with coconuts and big X's marked where the buried goodies lie. Amber had them paint all the mermaids she had ever met and then some and James helped with the pirates. He too was excited about the baby.
Unlike Amber he hadn't taken to family life, he and Zoe were not even dating any more. She was too much of a free bird to be tied down, even more so than Sofia, but they stayed good friends. James wasn't too heartbroken about it, it's not like he didn't care for her at all, he really did, but he knew when to let something go. He knew somewhere deep within himself that perhaps he just wasn't ready to shove into these kinds of things yet, there was so much to do and explore in the world for her and he wouldn't stop that. If it came down to it when they were older and they still wanted each other, he'd consider it then. For now he and she wanted to enjoy their freedom. James stayed on as a knight and that suited him just fine, defending helpless people, rescuing damsels, all that kind of stuff. He made a great knight, one of the very best out there. Amber was more than glad to have someone so protective as an uncle to her child.
Amber's pregnancy had been painful and aggravating, she yelled at a lot of people and ate more than she used to but once it was time for the little ones to be born suddenly all else didn't matter but that. Axel had been there for her to witness the birth of the new generation, his future heir. Only everyone was surprised to see it wasn't one heir, but two. Just like her mother, she too had twins and just exactly like her and James too. One girl and one boy. Naming the boy was a piece of cake, to honor her father's lineage she named him Roland the third which made her father even more weepy than he already was. Her daughter however, needed a special name because even though Amber would liked to have a son she wanted a daughter to dress up and play with, someone she could really spoil with a thousand dresses and teach her the ways of being a true lady. She was stuck between three different names just like she had been stuck between three different wedding dresses but this time she wouldn't smush all the names together. When thinking about it just a bit longer she knew what to name her baby girl. Thus Prince Roland the third and Princess Pearl the first were born.
They all had to call Prince Roland by a nickname as not to confuse him with his grandfather. Usually they would call him Ro, which is what James had started calling him and the baby seemed to respond to it well enough. It was also part of his favorite nursery rhyme and one they all sang to the new baby, that and the twin song. They were well loved by their mother and father, absolutely spoiled with all the luxuries money could afford. Every day it seemed they had a different outfit. Amber made a good mother despite the fact that she gave them literally everything. She was always seen with her little darlings, taking them outside to play and making sure she and she alone took care of them. She wasn't going to dump them on some nurse or maid, she would do it even if she was confused.
Miranda was all too happy to help show her the ways of motherhood. She taught her how to change a diaper, how to warm a bottle, how to burp the child, and how to lay them down to sleep. All her tips and pointers helped as well as having auntie Sofia always there to make them laugh and smile. Aunt Tilly was now a great aunt and couldn't be more ecstatic about the new family members. She never did have any children of her own, like Zoe she just wasn't ready for that and maybe she would never be but with two nieces and a nephew and now the new babies she really didn't need to have kids. They all played with baby Calvin on playdates but also there were other babies to play with too. Hildegard had already had a child herself before Amber, just another thing she did before Amber could do it and she was wondering if she really was trying to beat her at everything. Her child was named Abelard, her son, a name which rhymed with her own on purpose no doubt. She promised Zandar their next child could be named something based off his own country.
It seemed he wouldn't have to wait long for that as they were already planning on baby number two, after all she had to compete with the fact that Amber had two children already. It would be Zara if it was a girl and Ranbir if it was a boy. Clio only just now was taking things up a notch with Khalid with talks of maybe marriage in the future but nothing more. The two were too focused on their theater work to have all that happen just yet but all knew it would be soon enough. Hugo had eventually married his ice skating partner, they had been secretly dating this entire time and nobody knew it. He wanted to keep things hush hush. He wasn't the kind of man to have his whole life out in the open for everyone to mock or judge. Once everyone found out though they were all happy for him.
It was a big event once the new twins turned one year old. Even though they were scarcely toddlers at this point Amber didn't care she threw them the biggest party ever because for her babies nothing was denied. Everyone with kids was invited which included Ruby and Jade. The two had married their prospective loves and had children a little after Amber. Ruby had a son named Jaden, Jade had a daughter named Rubella. They named their children after each other in a way and Sofia thought it was just plain cute. The big birthday for the babies was just a big playdate where the mothers could all socialize and let their children run around and have fun. Callista was invited along with Calvin though the children here were all too young for her to play with so she stuck to Sofia like glue, even though Sofia was no longer a child.
"Oh Pearl is absolutely your daughter, no doubt," Hildegard claimed with a smirk, "her favorite gift thus far is the tiara I got her. I just knew it would be the perfect gift."
"Yes that's my child. Just like her mommy, she loves shiny things, don't you precious?" Amber cooed, picking up the blonde baby girl who made noises of happiness while holding onto the shimmering blue ice diamond tiara. "That's right! Can you say, tiara?"
Pearl just gurgled intelligibly, obviously more interested in her glittery new toy than anything else at the moment. "Can you say momma? Say momma."
"I don't think she's at talking age yet, dearie," Cordelia supposed, "My Callista didn't start talking until she was almost three. Her first word was strawberry."
"That's a big word for a kid to say," Sofia assumed, holding Callista in her lap who at this point was twelve at least, a little too big for lap holding but didn't mind. "Mine was birdie."
"Of course it was," Amber laughingly remarked. "Can you say bird, Pearl? Say bird."
"Buh!" She sputtered out trying to nibble at the tiara. Amber took it out of her mouth much to her daughter's upset.
"No no, it goes on your head not in your mouth silly. See look at mommy's," She pointed out, directing her daughter's attention to on her head. Baby Pearl looked at it and started to reach for it with grabby hands. At first Amber was not allowing her to do so but then gave up and let her daughter play with the priceless object. "Oh yes I can tell now you'll just love the jewel room when you're older."
"I hope all our kids stay best friends," Jade hoped, scooting along a little wooden train with her children and making train noises. "Just like we did Sofia."
"That would be wonderful, they could all play together. I think it's pretty neat that even though we all come from different backgrounds and ended up going to different schools we stayed friends no matter what."
"Speaking of," Amber started up, now holding both of her kids and snuggling them both. "When are we to be expecting you to have your own little ones?"
"Oh!" Sofia remarked in surprise with a reddening face. "I uh...well...I'm not sure yet...it's a lot to think about you know. I have a lot of responsibility and I'd have to give that up for a long time if I'm to have children at all. Don't get me wrong I want some but they are something I want to devote myself to. There won't be any time for protecting. I can't just leave them with Cedric for all hours of the day that's just unfair."
"But you are planning aren't you? My mummy won't stop pestering me and I assume Cedric too about it. When when when it's all she cares about these days," Cordelia complained with a huff. "She's waited eons for Cedric to find his one and now that he has she wants grandkids stat."
"You can tell her we are planning but not sure when. Maybe by next year? I think. I'd like them to be born in the spring, so you can guess around there."
"I'm going to be rather blunt and honest here, I'm shocked you haven't already been with child yet," Cordelia boldly uttered.
"Yes me too, with the way he always has his hands on you," Amber added in with a light blush on her cheeks.
Sofia laughed nervously and blushed even redder than before. "He's just...well...um...oh...oh dear..."
"Come on guys we're making her feel funny," Ruby smartly assessed. "We shouldn't pry. I think it's just simply he's a magician...he knows a lot of things."
"That's true," Cordelia affirmed with a head nod.
Sofia felt hot at the moment and the whole time had her hands pressed up against Callista's ears. This conversation was not to be heard by children. Thankfully it all died down and they could concentrate on just having a good time. Pearl and Ro were showered with gifts from everyone and now they had even more things to play with and wear than before. Amber appreciated what Ruby and Jade had made for her, even if it was simple, it was the thought that counted. They had so little to give just being there was enough for her. Late at night Amber put her babies to sleep with the help of Sofia who tucked in Pearl into her seashell shaped crib then kissed her head. She watched Amber rock her son with stars in her eyes and love in her voice and felt warm all over but she also felt something else. A longing inside.
What they had all talked about today was something she had truly been considering and wanting. She touched her stomach and imagined what it might feel like to have a small life inside of her, kicking around and sleeping soundly listening to her voice. This longing inside of her intensified as Ro was put to bed and the covers put over his tiny body that she was rubbing. She sung to him his favorite lullaby in the sweetest voice and Sofia could see a small smile form on his face as he drifted off into slumberland. Amber thanked Sofia for her help tonight then said her good nights to her sister with a hug. Sofia thought about it more now, everyone seemed to want her to have kids, especially Winifred who had been bothering Cedric his whole life about it and now it seemed closer than ever. Yet she still was denied any. Sofia would not do it for her, for her sister, for anyone else, she would only have children when she wanted to, for herself, for them.
She walked up the long spiral staircase and opened the door with her key seeing Cedric there already in his night attire ready for bed. He smiled at her as she walked in and opened his arms for her to come into them. Sofia closed the door and walked towards him, holding him to her and sighing with joy at just being near him. Sofia magically then transformed into her sleeping clothes and the two went hand in hand upstairs to his bedroom but when they got there Sofia did not get ready for bed, she sat on his bed. He had been with her and married to her long enough to read her expressions and right now she looked troubled. He sat right next to her and placed his hand on her leg, stroking it up and down.
"Something wrong, my dear?"
"Cedric...I think I...you see its...I want...I'd like to..."
"Yes...?" He leaned closer in with a curious face, wondering what it is his beloved could want that would alleviate her seemingly sad face. He'd give her anything in the world just to see that smile.
"I want to have a baby."
He hadn't been expecting her to say that and stood there frozen stiff, eyes wide and mouth tightly closed. He felt dizzy and hot, a bit delirious but also full of this unusual elation that coursed through him rapidly. She waited there for him to respond to her statement, chewing on her lip with anxiety. He was staying still and it was making her more upset. As soon as she looked that way he stopped and started blinking rapidly, snapped out of it simply by her distraught whine. His heart was like an alarm ringing in his chest making it vibrate hard with each beat.
"A...b-b-baby? Really...? You mean it...?"
"Yes I really really mean it. Of course if you don't want one just yet I will wait. It's a joint decision."
"Not want one? Sofia you must be mistaken. I do want one, more than one actually. I want to have several kids with you I just was waiting for you to tell me when. Are you sure, though, that you want to start trying now?"
"I've never been surer. Please, Cedric, please can we try?"
"Sofia you don't even need to ask me, love. I'm yours. Why the sudden desire though? Just curious."
"I don't know it was seeing everyone with their kids and I just realized something was missing in my life, something I had been wanting for a long time but had been putting off. I didn't realize how much I actually wanted one until I saw Amber today with hers. I know it will be a lot to handle and I know I have to quit being a protector if only for a few years but it is worth it to me. Do you think you're ready...?"
"I'm more than ready if you are, dearest. I just hope that I can be a good father to our future children."
"You'll be the best father. How many do you want to have?"
"A million."
"Cedric!"
"Alright a million and one," He teased with a wink. She shook her head at him and then leaned forward and kissed him.
He laid her down sweetly upon his bed, turning down the lights as he went along. He wasn't sure if it was going to be tonight or another night but it didn't matter when. All that mattered was they would be a family, created with nothing but love. They had tried many a time and each time came up with nothing. It had begun to wear down on Sofia and on him too. He started thinking something was wrong with him that he couldn't do something that was natural to a man to do which is create children. He hated hearing her in the dead of night when she thought he was asleep sighing sadly to herself. It was breaking him. He swore not to use any sort of magical enhancements, no potions, no spells, nothing of the sort. It wouldn't feel right to either of them to know that their child had been born into this world unnaturally.
The desire to use those means was becoming tempting to Cedric though. He knew of fertility spells and things such as that but even though he wanted to use them all he couldn't. He had promised and he did not want to break that promise. Trial and error after trial and error and each time leaving Sofia with a lingering in her. She wondered if she should just give up, if it wasn't meant to be but no. She wouldn't give up or give in. She was not the type. It would happen on its own schedule on its own time, she couldn't rush it and she couldn't make it happen just like that. She also couldn't get distressed that it had taken all her friends so little time to have theirs when it was taking such a long time to have hers. She vented a little to her family and tried to vent to her animals but they didn't have much to tell her other than let it wait, let nature take its course.
Just as Baileywick had told her so long ago, everything blooms in its own time. The waiting had paid off at last. It had taken a solid month of trying but on the first day of the next month Sofia ran as fast as her legs could carry her to Cedric's tower and burst right in. She shocked him some and caused him to nearly break something but he caught it in the nick of time. She couldn't contain herself, she threw herself at him with her arms around his neck and kissed him with as much passion as she could give him. It was a welcomed surprise for him that was for sure. He touched her face and then pulled back when he noticed her cheek was wet with tears.
"What's wrong...I don't understand you kissed me and now you're crying."
"Happy tears, Cedric! I'm overjoyed! We did it, we actually did it! I'm pregnant!"
"...Wh-wha...what? Pr-p-p-pregnant...?"
She shook her head up and down quickly with a big beam on her face, all teeth.
"I think...I might faint...please hold me steady."
Sofia did as he told her and tried to stop him from falling right onto the hard wood floor. She took him to the sofa to sit down and grabbed him a cool glass of water. He drank it down in one gulp then ran his fingers through his hair. He let out a little laugh then he too started crying with pure rapture.
"S...Seriously? You really are?"
"One hundred percent positive."
"Oh thank Merlin! I had begun to fear for a moment that I was...inadequate in some way."
"No you're fine it just needed to take time. I'm so happy I could just scream!"
"I...I'm still processing all of this...I'm...going to be a father...Zeus's xylophones I really am! Oh Sofia I'm over the moon right now! I should think I shall scream too!"
They held their hands together and stared into each other's eyes with grins on their faces. He released her hand for a moment to touch her stomach even though there was more than likely nothing to even feel there he rubbed there anyways. A father, he was really going to be a father. He just couldn't believe it. All his life he never thought he'd have the opportunity to be one, that his lineage would only continue though his sister and he would remain a failure to his parents. No woman could ever want him, he felt this was certain. Now he had the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid his eyes on as his wife and expecting a child. He wondered what it would be and which one he preferred. He supposed the old male pride made him want to have a son, someone to take up under his wing and teach his ways. Someone to carry on all of his life's work, become the future royal sorcerer to the next line of kings and queens. He thought a son was what he wanted the most so he could treat him the very best possible way.
He would erase all the mistakes of his own life and right the wrongs with his own son. His son would be the literal opposite of him in every way, he'd have a happy childhood with more than one loving parent who would dote on him, support him, teach him, strive for him, learn with him, hold him when he was down, lift him up and up whenever he failed, and never make him feel lonesome. If he didn't have a son he supposed that was fine too, a daughter might be nice. She might even look a little like Callista. Either one would be fine actually he was so elated he didn't care at the moment which it was going to be he just wanted them to come on out already so he could meet them. In the months that followed Sofia made sure to let her protectors know about her current situation and they all were very understanding. They would miss her but this was her decision and they would honor it. Whenever she was ready to return she would always be welcomed back.
The realm wasn't going to be unprotected at all, they all made sure of that so that Sofia wouldn't be worrying about it the whole time. She already had enough to worry about as is. After that she had to make sure she notified the library somehow of her absence. In this case she knew no other could take her place as library story keeper but she had no choice in the matter. The librarian there understood her predicament. For now the stories had to be put on hold, they had waited longer than this to be completed. As time passed her stomach grew and grew, full of new life and everyone it seemed wanted to touch her stomach and listen in and talk to the baby inside. Amber couldn't wait for her children to have a cousin or two to play with now. James just couldn't wait to see if eventually her child would be able to do magic too. Sofia hadn't really thought about what their child would be considered.
Would it be a half wizard then? Would that be allowed into Hexley Hall or would it have to go to the Magic Academy? That's if it wanted to even do magic at all. He or she were free to stray away from what their parents did even if Cedric seemed to enjoy the idea of a little magician around the house. He explained to her that Hexley Hall would accept their child on principal alone, meaning because it was hers and his they were guaranteed access. Nobody would deny the child of Sofia the hero of all the land and Cedric the Sensational, who was chummy with Merlin. Callista would also be considered a cousin to their future child or children, just like Pearl and Ro would be. Winifred was enthralled to say the least that at long last her Ceddy Kins was having a grandchild for her to smother with love and gifts. Although he maybe wasn't the best at showing it, Goodwin was exceedingly joyous to have his son be a father. He knew without a doubt he'd be a great one.
Months rolled by until it was time for Sofia to give birth. It was a painful and long process but she handled it well as she does all things in her life. It helped too that Cedric was there by her side, actually everyone was there waiting for her but Cedric was the only one literally by her side. She pushed as hard as could possibly be and then it happened, the sound of a baby crying filled the air. After hours of being in labor the child was born into the world. The nurses cleaned her and the child up then as soon as it had been tended to Sofia was given her child. As Cedric had wanted it was a boy. It had black hair just like him and blue eyes just like hers with a small button nose and the slightest upturn on it. Once the air was cleared everyone was allowed to come inside and see the baby. They all gushed over it but none more than Winifred who wanted to steal it away almost immediately but waited her turn to hold it.
"Oh he looks just like you did when you were a baby Ceddy kins, only he has Sofia's curls. He's going to be a handsome one he is, just like his father and his grandfather. What are you going to name him, dear?"
"Well we thought about it for a long time on what to name our kids and we had a lot of options out there," Sofia clarified, holding her new baby close to her chest as gently and as softly as possible. Over and over again Cedric let out a contented sigh and stroked over his cheeks. It was still hard to believe and come to grips with but he had a child now. A wife and a child. Sometimes he would wake up and think it would all disappear but no. He was just that lucky to have someone as wonderful as her give him such a wonderful son. "We of course thought of C names, to keep the tradition going but we decided perhaps there were already enough C's in the family. So we finally settled on one name that started with a B, Brendon. It means the raven prince. We thought it suited a son of someone like Cedric."
"Brendon Balthazar Wrenne. It sounds almost regal, doesn't it?" Cedric assumed with pride. Sofia still kept all her last names but called herself Sofia Wrenne to make it easy on everyone, however she wanted to honor her departed father. The Winslow name would carry on in Amber who was the rightful queen and maybe just maybe one day it would carry on in James but Sofia was different, she was always different. She broke tradition time and time again. She wanted her children to be distanced from royalty even if they were a little of it. They should be raised like normal children and not be given a million tasks to do and rules to follow. She wanted them to be like she was in the village but if they chose to act like mini royals they could do so. It was their choice.
"It's a marvelous name," Miranda exclaimed, staring lovingly at her new grandson. "I know you two will make wonderful parents."
"How could they not? After all they've went through parenting should be a slice of pie," Roland presumed with a bit of a chuckle.
Everyone that was in the room shared in his laughter including the parents. They knew though that even still after all their battles and wanderings that parenting would be its own adventure, an adventure they would go on together. It would have many ups and downs, twists and turns, unexpected things, sadness and strife, happy times and bad times, and difficulties too. Yet they went into this just like any other adventure they headed into with bravery, love, determination, and hope. They would never lose sight of any of those things and never lose sight of what was important either. Looking down at their child they knew this was opening a whole new chapter in their story, a whole new book to write, to fill in, to one day read but it might not ever be finished. The ending would always be the same no matter what and they knew that to be the truth. No matter what happened, come what may, they would always live happily ever after.
The end.