Epilogue: Sweet Paradise

Requiem aeternam dona eis. Domine, et lux perpetua, Requiem a eternam, aeternam dona eis. Perpetua luceat eis. In Paradisum, Criste eleison. In Paradisum. Sarah Brightman- In Paradisum

I felt warmth beside me and I shifted closer. Suddenly the feeling in my stomach wasn't so pleasant. I shot up and bolted to the bathing room hand over mouth. I barely heard my name being called as I gave away last night's contents to the metal bucket.

"Shayla, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Folken asked kneeling beside me.

I lifted my head back from the bucket and I looked up at him.

"When did you get back?" I asked groggily from the effects of sleep.

"Late last night, you were sleeping so I didn't want to disturb you," he answered.

I nodded and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Folken reached out and grasped my hand tightly.

"Shayla, are you sick?" he repeated.

I chuckled lightly, "Not that kind of sick,"

His eyes looked confused at first but then there was this spark of recognition, of hope and desire.

I edged closer to him, taking his face into my hands.

"My love, you are going to be a father," I announced.

There was a moment of silence as he merely just stared back at me.

"Where is…can I touch…" he fumbled to say.

"Here," I took both his hands and placed them on the lower part of my belly.

And in that moment we sat on the floor until Alethea came in and scolded me for being on the floor in my condition. Folken of course took action immediately making sure I wasn't doing anything strenuous. It almost drove me crazy his over protection. For the next few months my belly began to slowly swell out and my morning sickness was gone. There was much joy within the palace of the upcoming birth of a royal child; however the joy that Folken and I shared over was beyond anything else.

"You have that look again," Alethea interrupted my thoughts.

I slanted my head up to meet her eyes.

"What look?" I asked rubbing circles on my blooming belly. I was heavy with child and was reluctantly forced to be on my back until the birth. Alethea would come visiting everyday with flowers from the garden.

"You just stare into space with this blissful look in your eyes," she pointed out.

"Yes, but I definitely won't be having this look when I am giving birth," I said.

"Have you decided on names?" she inquired taking a seat beside the bed.

"No, Folken and I have not discussed any. I think we are both caught up with these bundles of joy to be thinking of names,"

"You carry more than one in your womb," she stated studying me with no flickers of surprise in her eyes.

"I suppose it is a mother's gift to know the life growing within me, I have two growing within my body."

"I saw two figures within my vision when you felt kicking for the first time. I was just waiting for you to announce it," Alethea said. I nodded understandingly at her insight since she is a full draconian.

"Announce what?" Van asked walking through the doorway with Folken. I stretched out my hands and felt soft kicks against my abdomen.

They know who their father is

"We were growing restless of your arrival, was there any trouble?" I asked as Folken settled on the edge of the bed.

"No, the meeting just took longer than anticipated. How is everything?" he asked placing his hand on my tummy. I immediately felt a kick to the warmth of Folken's hand.

"We are fine. As you can see, the babies are happy that their father has returned," I said.

"You aren't having one but two! Why didn't you say something?" Van demanded.

"Oh Van, does it really matter? Either way you were going to find out eventually," Alethea soothed.

"Still, that means I have to find another gift for the other baby," he pondered.

"Shayla and I were discussing names, what do you think?" Alethea asked diverting Van's attention away from us. I turned my attention on Folken and his fascination with my bulging stomach.

"How is Keith?" I asked.

"He is well. He sends you letters from him and Flora," he relayed handing over a bundle of papers.

I took apart the seal and skimmed through the contents.

"Keith still won't propose to her," I said putting the letters down on the bed. "I just hope he finds happiness with Flora, just as I have found happiness with you," I wished taking his hands into mine.

He touched his forehead to mine and kissed the tip of my nose.

"I have never known true happiness until you came into my life,"

"If you two are finished, you might like to hear names for your children," Van said dryly.

Folken quirked his eyebrow.

"Do tell, brother,"

"Abira for the girl and Zephyr for the boy. What do you think?" Alethea said.

"Strength for children, yes that sounds right," I smiled resting my head on Folken's shoulder. I listened as the three of them discussed preparations for the children. I found myself staring out across the floor. I could see two children happily playing on the ground. They were laughing and whispering to each other. I looked on fondly as they ran around and around finally out of the door.

"Shayla?"

I snapped my eyes back to Folken.

"Are you alright?" he asked slightly concerned.

"I just had a moment that's all," I reassured.

With that I leaned my head on his shoulder and together we watched the stars.

Abira means strong in Hebrew and Zephyr means strong in Greek.