Hello! This is a short story created for the Tumblr EscaWeek 2021. You can open the illustration that goes with this story at my site quietduna. com
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The days were warmer, and Hitomi didn't know if she was happy about it. She was so tired lately she couldn't even leave the bedroom. Pregnancy was getting heavier day after day, but nothing could make her feel bad or sad.

Van had his duties so she spend most of her days alone on their bedroom, and some days she went to the garden. Well, she spent her days "alone", as she had some maids waiting for a minimal signal from her to enter and help her at her request. Hitomi didn't like that, but she understand that the situation was special. She just only needed Van by her side. He told her that he was delegating more and more of his tasks to his Council, so he can spend more time with her and with their future child.

Unconciously, she grabbed the pendant that was shining weakly on her chest. Everything was going to be alright.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door lightly and it opened a bit. "Hitomi, may I enter?" said Van.

"Since when do you ask for permission to enter your own bedroom?" asked Hitomi, happy to have him here at last.

"Well, I don't want to find you naked!" replied Merle in a high voice. "You're not my type, you know!"

"Oh gosh, Merle! Come inside!" laughed Hitomi, delighted to hear her voice. "How are you, dear Merle?" Hitomi stood with difficulties and hugged the catgirl. "We've missed you so much! Oh, look at your hair, Merle, you look gorgeous!"

"I know, I am gorgeous" smirked the catgirl and hugged again Hitomi.

Van watch them exchange hugs with a soft smile on his lips and moved behind his wife to support her. He wished to help her in any possible way.

"Everything is ok, Hitomi. I will later tell you everything, but NOW I want to know everything about you! Oh my, you're so big!" she laughed at Hitomi's frown. "How much time is left?" asked the catgirl, giving a step backwards to observe Hitomi's pregnant form.

"Just three weeks or so. It's almost here" said Hitomi while caressing her tummy. Van gave her a soft kiss on her cheek. "Do you think we will be good parents?" asked with a touch of anxiety in her voice. "We've decided their names! If it's a girl, she will be Yuri, as my grandmother. If it's a boy, then Fanelia will have another Folken Fanel".

"Yuri or Folken…Two beautiful names" sighed Merle, and took a good look at them. They were the most important people in her life. Lord Van was his adoptive brother and will forever be the love of her life. And Hitomi was now her sister. Merle loved this clumsy and dummy girl from the Mystic Moon! Merle was aware of all the suffering they went through to live and enjoy their love, an impossible love that crossed all boundaries and to finally fulfill it in the form of that unborn child. Suddenly she felt a lump on her throat.

"You will be the best parents in all Gaea", breathed, wiping quickly some tears. Smiling widely, she kneeled before Hitomi and tried to touch her. "May…May I?"

"Of course"

Merle put one of her ears in Hitomi's tummy. She didn't know very well what to expect, to be honest. She didn't have any experience with these kind of issues.

"I don't hear anything…hey! Tell your child to say hello to aunt Merle!" said, jockingly.

Suddenly she felt like a soft thump and looked up at Hitomi in disbelief. Hitomi and Van were laughing softly at her surprised face.

"I think the baby likes you, Merle".

Merle tried to listen the baby again, and closed her eyes to focus in the sounds.

"Hey, baby Fanel" whispered to the tummy. She really hoped Van and Hitomi couldn't listen to her, but that was impossible. She blushed. "It's your aunty Merle here. We…we will be good friends, and we will have plenty of years to getting to know each other and to get along…" paused, trying to pass the lump in her throat again. She felt a tear rolling down her cheek.

"…I just want you to know…that I'll always be here for you. Always", whispered fiercely. "I'll always procure your happiness. I'll always be by your side, supporting you, listening to you, loving you. You are my family, little angel. You will such beautiful wings, like your father."

Merle was openly crying, and forgot how to whisper anymore. "I promise. This is a lifetime promise, do you hear me? A lifetime promise".

Thank you for reading!

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