A special time for Daine and Numair

Thank you to all the people who reviewed. For something that was meant to be a one-shot, this story hasn't turned out /too/ bad. This is the last chapter so enjoy it.

Daine fell down, completely exhausted, on the bed. Numair pulled her closer and chuckled as she sighed "I never thought I would be unhappy that she turned human,"

Now that Sarralyn was in human form, she needed constant attention and constant feedings. It was one hour into the new day when the seven week old girl had decided to wake her ma, by squealing her head off, longing to be fed.

Daine had performed this thankless task before trudging back to her bed, her head aching from the screams and fatigue.

"Lucky men, lucky Numair, don't have to feed little screaming babies every hour of the day," she grumbled as she re-arranged herself into a comfortable position in Numair's arms. Numair chuckled again but stopped at the glare she gave him; his lips quivered to fight laughter. But he knew the laws of nature: NEVER, NEVER EVER argue with a mother.

"I would feed her, but as a male, I am incapable of doing that," he said in her ear.

"I know. Mithros, if I wasn't worried about the fact it may kill her, I'd put a sleeping charm on her. Or rather, get you to," Her eyelids were heavy and she felt lethargic. When Numair spoke to her again, he realised his wife was asleep.

But for all her complaining about having child, Daine rarely left her daughter's side and looked at her as if she was a gift from the gods (which in anyone's opinion, she was). She had just put Sarra down to sleep when Numair came into the room. She was just standing over the cradle, watching her.

"Daine," he said softly from the doorway. She didn't turn to look at him, but continued smiling at the little bundle below her. He walked up to her, silent but for the click of his boots on the cool stone. He wrapped his arms around her and rested is chin on her shoulder.

"She's gorgeous isn't she?" Daine whispered, not showing the fact that she had been up at midnight once again. She felt Numair nod and say "Hmm-hmm," in answer. Though he said it half-heartedly (he was more tired than Daine and he didn't even have to get up!) Daine knew he meant it with whatever part of his heart she didn't fill. It was strange. Last year she had filled his whole heart, yet now he loved his daughter equally. But Daine didn't feel any less loved. Instead, she could have sworn his heart had just doubled in size, instead of trying to fit them both in. Any of their friends would have agreed with her if she had mentioned it.

And she was indeed gorgeous. She defied the guidelines of genetics; she had a soft tuft of browny/blonde her on the top of her head and sparkling cerulean eyes to match Daines, though hers were clearer than her mothers. Alanna had said it was impossible for this to have happened, but Numair had simply said "Anything is possible,"

Numair had remembered the first time he had seen those eyes.

They stood, watching their child for a few more minutes, before Daine turned and wrapped her arms around her husband and rested her head on his chest. He steered her out of the room and the door closed with a soft 'click' as Numair closed it with his foot.

They made their way to the large bed, lying on , kissing and touching gently, though doing nothing provocative. They were almost asleep in each others arms, both of them equally fatigued, when a squeal erupted in the air.

Daine moaned a little and Numair went to attend the child. He left his love lying on their bed, and returned with a chubby girl on his hip, and was smiling coyly. He looked over at her, and saw Daine was asleep, breathing softly.

He smiled to himself, and lay beside her, falling asleep himself, their Sarralyntucked in between them.

I think the ending was an anticlimax, but I am glad it's over. People have been telling me to do the Varice is Evil story, but it's hard. I didn't think anyone would read it so…. Well, review please!