The Gerudo were still buzzing with excitement from both the festival and the news of Aeris's apparent pregnancy. The thought still made her stomach churn uneasily, but seeing Ganondorf positively beaming with excitement and pride almost made it worth it.

He was always smiling, always pulling her close and gently touching her stomach, almost as if he was afraid to hurt her. His caution made her smile, it was adorable the way his eyes would shine with such pride, but each gentle caress of her stomach made her skin crawl with unease.

Memories of pain lingered there.

Memories of heavy metal boots and searing pain.

She was happy though, the thought of a happy, healthy child made her heart soar. She often found her own fingers drifting to the smooth skin of her stomach that had yet to stretch and morph with new life.

She was there, though.

Even if Aeris couldn't feel her yet, their daughter was safe and warm right where she was supposed to be.

It was common enough to hear the Gerudo speak of how one didn't know how hard they were willing to fight for something until they became a mother. Aeris believed that notion in the depths of her soul, she'd fought against unspeakable odds before, and she would happily do it again if it meant holding a smiling healthy infant in her arms.

Upon their return to the Fortress, with full bellies and happy hearts, the Gerudo settled back into their daily routine's while Aeris made her way to Amearu's chambers. She'd almost had to threaten Ganondorf into letting her make this trip alone. He'd insisted on accompanying her, refusing to miss even a single moment of her pregnancy, until she'd mentioned that Amearu would likely want to know some sensitive information which had made him pale and eventually agree that it was best she went alone, or with Urora at the very least.

She was alone, though, there were things she wished to discuss with the healer that she'd rather not be heard by anyone else.

The thick smell of herbs made her stomach turn as she approached the healers home. Her sense of smell seemed to be in over drive, with even the simplest of smells that she usually found enjoyable making her nauseous.

As she approached, the wooden door swung open and Amearu stepped out into the hall to greet her. "A little birdy told me that I would be getting a visit from you soon,"

"A little birdy, or a whole flock of them?" The news had spread quickly, and Aeris doubted that anyone had to tell Amearu anything.

"Come, we have a lot to talk about,"

A lot was an understatement.

Aeris stared blankly at the three books that Amearu had given her. Thick tomes about the female body and childbirth. One of them even had illustrations that scared the living daylights out of her. "Aeris, dear,"

Aeris looked up as Amearu placed a gentle hand on her knee. The older woman gave her a soft smile. "I know this is a lot to take in, but you have months to ready yourself,"

Aeris let out a breathy chuckle and shook her head. "I just wish I knew exactly how long we had,"

Amearu's eyes lit up as a grin spread across her face. "I can't promise exacts, but I can give you an approximate timeframe,"

"Really?" Aeris jumped at the information. The last time, she had been alone and in the dark about what was happening. Knowing something, even if it was an unsure timeline, she would take it.

"Come," Amearu motioned for Aeris to follow her behind the beaded curtain that divided her home.

Beyond the privacy screen was a low cot that was presumably used for examinations. "Lay down for me, dear, and take some deep breaths,"

Aeris did as she was told and jumped as Amearu gentle hand on her bare stomach. Her hands were warm, but the touch was foreign.

"I'm going to press down on your stomach," Amearu's words were meant to be comforting, but something about her tone set Aeris on edge. "It's going to be uncomfortable,'

Aeris let out a tense groan as Amearu pressed down on her abdomen, just below her bellybutton. Uncomfortable, was an adequate description, not quite painful but not necessarily pleasant either. Her breath hissed between her teeth as Amearu pressed down again and her face twisted in confusion.

Aeris's stomach dropped to her toes, and she forced herself up onto shaky elbows. "Is something wrong?"

The warmth faded from her fingers and toes as Amearu shifted her hands. "My dear," Aeris's heart froze, she silently pleaded with the woman to stop speaking, but instead stared blankly ahead, fearing the worst. "According to what I'm feeling here, I would put you at nearly sixteen weeks,"

Aeris fell back limply against the cot, relieved that nothing was terribly wrong. "Sixteen?" She knew that pregnancy were kept track of by weeks and trimesters, but what exactly those things meant alluded her. "What does that mean exactly?"

"That all of your worries were for nothing," Amearu helped Aeris back to her feet and guided her back to the sitting area. "Which explains your adverse reactions to the teas you were given, your body simply didn't need their help,"

"Meaning?" Aeris took the cup of tea that Amearu extended to her. Her head was still spinning as she took the first sip of the steaming liquid.

"Meaning, you're already well into your second trimester, dear," That didn't make sense. All this time, all the effort she'd put forward had been for nothing? Or, well, not, nothing exactly.

She stared down into the amber liquid in her cup and found herself smiling softly. "I suggest you prepare my dear, this baby is coming sooner than expected,"

- - ┈┈∘┈༒┈∘┈┈ - -

Ganondorf's arms were around her the second she stepped back into their chambers. His scent enveloped her like a comforting cloud, and his arms shielded her better than any steel ever could.

He pulled her into a sweet kiss, a greeting that needed no words. It said everything he needed for it to without uttering a single word. 'I love you,'

She hummed happily as he lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. "How did it go?"

"Everything is going as it should," Her fingers carded through his beard. "There was a tiny surprise, though,"

"Oh?" She chuckled as his face flashed from concern to confusion, then back to wonder.

"I'm a bit further along than expected," Confusion won the battle over his face, and she kissed the end of his nose in an attempt to calm him. "You, mister, will be a papa come late spring,"

"Late spring?" His grip around her loosened, but she never once thought he would drop her. "But, that's only—"

His face softened and the look of wonder returned to his face, seconds before he pulled her closer to his chest in a crushing embrace. "It's sooner than expected, but,"

His lips silenced her, and she melted into another kiss that screamed his emotions for him. She could feel the joy rolling off of him in dizzying waves. "All the better,"

Their foreheads met as they parted, he was so excited to be a father. She was excited to see him become one. But, there was still a faint, nagging sense of dread that settled into the pit of her stomach as the reality of the moment sat in.

"What's wrong?" He pulled away from her and cradled her chin between his large fingers.

She leaned into his hand and hummed. "Nothing, love,"

"Something," He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and brought it back toward him as she tried to turn away. "I know you better than you would think, I can tell when something is bothering you,"

She sighed, nothing ever escaped his notice. "There's just so much I'm uncertain about,"

He nodded slowly and lowered her gently to the ground. Giving her space to think and speak freely. "What are you uncertain about?"

"Nothing," She laughed nervously. "Everything,"

Her eyes drifted closed as he brushed a stand of her hair from her face. "Tell me,"

She met his gaze, there was no point in lying to him. It would all come to the surface eventually anyway. "What if I'm not strong enough again?" She watched as realization settled over his face and her hand drifted to her stomach. "What if something happens and I lo—"

She didn't finish the thought, he wouldn't let her. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her into another crushing embrace. "That won't happen," He spoke into the top of her head as he gripped her hair tightly. "I won't let it,"

She tried to smile against his chest, it was sweet that he was so determined to protect her, but if the worst were to happen again, there was nothing that anyone could do. She knew that now.

"There are other things," There were so many possible scenarios that plagued her mind. "What if Hyrule backs out of the trade agreements, or another war breaks out. What if," she stopped herself.

"What if what?" She watched the mask of joy slip from his face as he thought of the same possibilities.

She swallowed thickly. "If trade with Hyrule and the other kingdoms is disrupted, I don't think I can watch our child starve,"

Darkness clouded his golden eyes, but his lips remained sealed in a tight line.

"We talk like it never happened, but I remember it as clear as day," He looked a thousand miles away as she continued. "Never knowing when our next meal would be, praying that the hunters would bring back enough for everyone or that one of the girls would marry someone with enough money to send supplies or money,"

His grip on her hands tightened, but she couldn't stop. Now that it was starting to surface, it needed to be said, or she would explode. "I can still remember hearing mothers crying in the night because they couldn't feed their children," Urora had spent more than one night awake crying while she thought the girls were asleep.

"I won't do that," She shook as she finally said it. The truth of the darkness that was settled in the pit of her stomach. "It would kill me,"

Ganondorf's hands were shaking as he dropped to his knees and wrapped one arm around her hips while the other settled on her stomach. "That's behind us now," His voice was raw with pain as he looked up at her. "This child will have things that we could only dream of,"

She could tell that he was smiling through pain as he looked up at her, and she tried her best to return the gesture, but it felt empty. She brought one of her hands up to his face and cradled the other against the hand on her stomach. "You can't promise that,"

"I can, and I am," His face hardened, and her heart dropped as a familiar icy coldness settled into his eyes.

"Even if it kills me,"