In my head, I had a plan for this. Not a schedule but an order. These were supposed to be set in chronological order...

Welp, finals had me beat and I needed to write a pick-me-up. For now, we're some time after Baste but before Capital of the Dead. I'll... explore some of what's mentioned at a later time.

No idea how this comes across to other people but I wrote this because... I needed something cute. I thought this was cute. Enjoy, I hope.

The baby was a squirmy little thing, with a face as red as the fuzz on her head, flailing her pudgy fists at them as she squirmed. Her face was set into an angry scowl as she beheld them from her father's outstretched hands, disapproval clear in her blue eyes. Somehow, despite being a tiny newborn in a fuzzy pink blanket sleeper, her expression was as put-upon as anyone's could be, almost as if she were exasperated by the very world to which she was born.

In contrast, her father was beaming. Tam—Tristram—a longer-haired, robe-clad double of his father in terms of appearance, flashes them a familiar grin as he holds out his child for his father to see. "So," he says cheerily. "Dad, meet your granddaughter!"

This was not the first time they'd met with Tam. Far from it, really. Elizabeth had met with him at least half a dozen times since she'd first found Meliodas and started her quest in true, usually while the carefree mage was with his seemingly-older-but-actually younger sister, Trisha (Tristiana, if you wanted to be more precise), when the two 'popped in' via teleportation to visit their father with reports on how the rest of their siblings were doing or, on one memorable occasion, to wish their father a happy birthday. Tam was a familiar face to all of them, by this point, and not just because he looked near identical to Meliodas, his father.

The granddaughter on the other hand...

Was not.

Far from it, really.

She was new.

(Literally)

Meliodas. Was. Speechless.

"Her name's Isaye," Tam continues, cheerfully ignoring their dumbfounded stares. "Her mother's the one who picked the name—Dad, d'you remember my wife, Esyllt? Anyway, I'm not sure what it means but she thought it was pretty." He thrusts her into Meliodas' arms, who, while not expecting it, while still dazed by the revelation that Isaye even existed, accepted her into his embrace with the ease of long experience, automatically cradling her against his chest and swaying until the little girl's expression shifted from irritation, to bemusement, then, finally, to an easy contentment. Tam smiled at the sight. "Isn't our baby pretty?"

"I have a granddaughter," is all Meliodas can say, the words coming out in a rush, numb-eyed and staring. His expression remained absolutely shell-shocked. "I... have a granddaughter."

The aforementioned granddaughter cooed in his arms, looking much brighter now that she was properly cradled in an embrace, gurgling happily up at him, this man who looked so much like her father, and pounding cheerfully at his shoulder with her tiny fists. All he can do is look down at her as he continued to sway her in his arms, this tiny baby he never expected, little Isaye looking back with bright blue eyes and a gummy baby's grin.

"Pretty much, yeah!" Tam says, seemingly oblivious to his father's obvious turmoil. "She was born two days ago. Trisha's godmother, by the way," he adds. "She says 'hi'."

"... C-congratulations?" Elizabeth tries, still unable to stop herself from staring at both the contented-looking little Isaye in the twitchy Meliodas' grip, to the very proud and very obvious new father beaming in the background. She... doesn't really know what she's supposed to do, in this sort of situation. In all of the stories her own father's told her about the Sins, he's never once mentioned that Meliodas might have children and—really, she's never been that experienced with young children like this; she's the youngest of her sisters and she didn't exactly have any cousins or nephews or nieces. "She's very pretty," she says, at last, and that is, at least, very true. "She's... beautiful..." and her voice trails off as the baby's gaze suddenly locks on hers, little Isaye twisting in Meliodas' arms as she aims her gummy grin in her direction—and it was, somehow, the most magical thing she'd ever seen, this precious little girl and her darling smile. "You must be so proud," she breathes, suddenly enraptured, suddenly wanting, more than anything, to get to hold her in her arms, this perfect little granddaughter—only, of course she wasn't going to ask, she could never be so presumptuous. "She's wonderful."

Tam looked delighted. "She is, isn't she?" he sighs, every bit the sparkling-eyed new father. "She's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen."

"She reminds me of you," Meliodas whispers, at last, now looking down at the baby, no longer quite as shell-shocked but still... not normal. "When you were a baby. It feels like, yesterday, I was holding you like this, Tristram, and now... you have a baby of your own. And she's beautiful."

Somehow, his words made something pang in Elizabeth's chest. She wants to hold him. But, somehow, she knows it wasn't the right time, not yet.

"Dad, I'm over four hundred years old!" Tam says, the words half a laugh, though his eyes were soft with an understanding Elizabeth couldn't hope to glean, not now. "I haven't been a baby in a long time."

To that Meliodas chuckles, the sound somehow wistful. "Of course not!" he says, smiling. "You're all grown up. And a dad yourself!" Delicately, he shifts the baby in his arms so that she was held facing him. "I'm proud of you," he says quietly. "I'm sure your mother would be the same."

"I know, Dad," Tam says, with a roll of his eyes. "You tell us that all the time."

She's mean to but she can't help but notice how the back of his neck had flushed pink, how his now bright red ears stood out sharply against his blond hair.

"Of course! I have to!" he says as-a-matter-of-factly. "So you never forget." Then, before Tam could respond, Meliodas' gaze wanders down to Isaye again, eyes warm. "She really is amazing," he breathes and, as if in response, the baby looks up at him, his tie caught in her tiny fists, eyes somehow questioning for all that she was apparently only a few days old. He smiles softly and there's something about that expression that makes Elizabeth's cheeks turn red at the sight of it. It was so... gentle, and... somehow familiar. "You know you're amazing, don't you?"

"Of course she does," Tam says, looking almost offended. "I've told her everyday." Then, with a more teasing look. "Dad, can I have my baby back? I don't want her to get confused about who's her dad here."

And for the first time, he actually laughs. "Nishishi! C'mon, kiddo, let me have my fun! I haven't held a baby like this since Triss and that was..." his voice trails off as little Isaye raised her little hand to his face, tiny fingers unfurling to clutch at his cheek, eyes fixed on his as she smiled—no, beamed, her face alight. "Aren't you the most amazing thing in the world?" he cooes, by all appearances, absolutely, openly enraptured. "Hiya, Isaye, I'm your granddad. I'm so happy I finally got to meet you..."

Tam was smiling. "Dad, she was born barely five days ago. You didn't even know she existed until just now."

He is very cheerfully ignored by the enraptured new grandfather. "As your granddad, I'm going to spoil you senseless," he was telling the baby, who was still staring up at him with the biggest smile, seemingly just as taken with him as he was with her. "Would you like that, Isaye? Would you like your granddad to spoil you senseless?!"

For a moment, her smile drops.

And, his, perforce, does the same.

Then, squirming, she leans against his chest, hooking her fists around his shoulders, gurgling as she did. It might've just been Elizabeth's imagination, but going by the happiness of the sound, she thought it might've been laughter.

And the position...

It might've been just a coincidence, of course.

But it looked like a hug.

Elzabeth couldn't help herself.

"Awww."

"She really is something, isn't she?" Tam breathes. His eyes were sparkling. "My little girl."

As for Meliodas.

He had stars in his eyes.

"... I'm going to buy you a pony."

Tam laughs. "Dad, she's barely a week old."

"It'll be a magic pony," he promises intently. "Would you like that?!"

"Dad!"

Then, finally, he looks up, eyes finding hers easily, as they always did. "Come over here, Elizabeth," he calls out, beaming fit to break his own face. "Look at her! Come look at my granddaughter. Isn't she beautiful?"

"She is," she says. "She really is, Sir Meliodas, she's wonderful."

"Come closer," he prompts her. "Look... she has... her eyes..."

He doesn't elaborate further but Tam does before she can ask. "My mother's," he says simply. "Her name was Betsy."

For a moment, she feels a flash of jealousy but when he looks at her, longing and just a little sad, she forcefully quashes it down, ashamed for even feeling such a thing.

"It's okay," Tam tells her, his smile wistful, understanding. "Would you like to hold her, Lady Elizabeth?"

Her breath catches in her throat. "P-Please!"

It's odd. She's never really had to hold any babies before—it's not like she has any nieces or nephews or young cousins, after all—but it feels as natural as anything, accepting this wiggly little baby from Meliodas' arms, shushing her protests as she does and cradling her against her chest, the way she saw Meliodas do. She's surprisingly heavy, little Isaye, but she's a warm, precious weight she would've borne a hundred times over. "Hello, Isaye," she murmurs gently into her little ear. "My name is Elizabeth. I'm so pleased to meet you..."

Little baby Isaye looks up at her curiously, almost confused now that she was being held by a person not near-identical to her father, before finally giving her a big, gummy smile, her dark blue eyes sparkling as she reached out grab at her cheeks with tiny, fat fists, happy to be held even in a stranger's arms.

Elizabeth melts.

"Look at you..." she breathes, almost awestruck. She didn't know why but, somehow, she wanted to cry and laugh, all at the same time. "You're already amazing, aren't you? Oh, Tristram, you must be so proud..."

"I prefer Tam," he corrects, though his voice was quiet and, somehow, sad. Now, both he and Meliodas were standing side-by-side, looking at her and the baby with soft, warm eyes. From afar, Tam had seemed identical to his father but now, up close, standing right next to him, it was so much easier to pick out the differences between them, like how his skin was paler, how he didn't have Meliodas' signature cowlicks, how he didn't seem quite as muscular, and how his eyes were closer to hazel than green, their pretty color ringed in dark blue. He was a beautiful child, but knowing who his father was—

He's older than me, Elizabeth has to remind herself. He's not a child... even if he is Sir Meliodas' son...

But she couldn't help it. Somehow, even holding Tam's daughter in her arms, knowing how old he was, there was just something about him that sparked something... maternal in her

Which was silly, she knew full well that she could never replace his mother, that no matter how she felt, there was just no way she could replace his real mother, not in his heart... or in Meliodas'...

But she couldn't help what she felt. And, somehow, she couldn't bring herself to feel all too guilty about it, not now, with Isaye content in her arms, the both of them looking at her with such soft eyes...

(Maybe, someday, she could fill in for her, this Betsy who she knew had died, just as Liz had before her. She doesn't know anything about either of them but she's sure she could love them both just as much and—)

"I'm sorry," she says aloud, forcefully quashing that thought before it could become anything more. "Tam, I mean. She really is wonderful. I'm so happy for you..."

"Me, too," he says, smiling. "And I'm glad she got to meet you... Lady Elizabeth."

For a moment, they only smile in silence, Meliodas, Tam, and Elizabeth, Isaye a warm weight in her arms, enjoying the moment as it lasted, a moment of peace amidst all the strife, where she could pretend she was as much of a part of their family as anyone, that the rest of her own family was safe and this baby in his arms was a grandchild of her own, no matter how young she was...

It felt so selfish but... just for a moment, just for now, she lets herself enjoy it.

Then.

"Captaaaain! We're baaack—oh! Heya, Tam, when did you get here?"

Diane was the first to arrive, cresting the hill where they'd set up the Boar Hat in a single bound, a brace of dusk bison hanging from her hand.

"Hey, Cap'n, they didn't have any thirteen-year old Gloucester wine left so I got ten-year old Gloucester instead. That okay? ... oh, hey, squirt, long time, no see."

Ban was the second, slouching disinterestedly into view, a crate of wine balanced on his shoulder.

"Elizabeth! He didn't do any funny business while we were gone, now did he—what's with the baby?"

Hawk came bounding into view, not stopping until he'd nearly barreled into her legs, skidding to a halt just before he did.

Tam waves, looking almost timid. She instinctively moves closer to him, adjusting her hold on baby Isaye who'd begun to cry, agitated by all the sudden noise and commotion.

In contrast, Meliodas was beaming.

"Guys, you're just in time!" he exclaims. "Come meet my granddaughter!"

There was a beat of silence.

"My daughter," Tam clarifies, moving to take Isaye from her arms. She feels oddly empty without her in them, though she tries to quash it down. "Her name's Isaye."

Then.

"Granddaughter?!"

Later that evening, when almost everyone was asleep.

"... I'm so sorry. About Esyllt."

"Oh for—don't be! Dad, she was sick since the day we met. We both knew it was a risk. But we kept trying anyway." A long exhale. "Dad... Not everything bad that happens to us is your fault."

"... heh. You really are like your mom, you know that, kiddo?"

"You tell me every time I visit."

"Well, it's true! You are." A brief pause. "Tam... "

Raised hands. "I know, I know, I won't try to remind her about anything. We all know the rules, Dad."

"... I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Dad. I'd be the same, if it'd been Esyllt." A pause. "This business with the Holy Knights... you really think it's going to lead to...?"

"Yes. I'm sure of it." Clenched fists. "... it's going to be more dangerous than ever, being around us. You, Trisha, and—and Isaye should probably stay away for a while."

A nod. "I know... you will come visit, right? The school's a safe place; Auntie made sure of it way before she passed us the reins."

"... I'll try."

"Dad."

A grin. "I will! Isaye's not gonna spoil herself, after all!" A pause. "Hey... does Merlin—"

A shake of his head. "I haven't heard from Auntie in years. I wrote to her about Isaye before I left to see you but..."

"I get it. Just... be on the look out for her, okay?"

"Of course." Then. "Dad, we've been talking... not just me and Trisha, me and everyone. We've already made plans for the Holy War that's coming. We're going to keep each other safe. But..." A long inhale. "Dad, we want you to promise... we want you to promise to keep yourself safe. We know about mom, you... our shitty grandparents—"

"Heh."

"—but we want you to swear to us that you'll do your best for yourself too, okay? Not just for Mom. Could you do that? For us?"

"I'd do anything for you."

"That's not an answer, Dad. Promise me."

"... alright."

"I love you, Dad."

"I know. You say it every time you visit."

"Of course! I have to! So you never forget."

"—pfft! Tam, you really are all grown up, now, aren't you?!"

"Nishishi! Are you surprised, Dad?"

"I'm proud! I'm proud of you, kiddo. You've grown up well." A pause. "And I love you, too. All of you."

"I know. So live. Please. For all of us."

He only smiles.

In the moment before he finally fully crossed the door back to the mortal realm from Purgatory, the power, the birthright, he'd reclaimed coursing through the entirety of his soul, he remembers his son, the conversation they had, all that time ago.

He smiles.

"... Sorry."

... This was cute in my head.

Fun fact: Chronologically speaking, Tam's the third eldest of his living kids. Triss, in turn, was the youngest.

Anyway, feedback keeps me going and have a nice day.