Request by keller75863548274483
A quarter of an hour, 15 minutes, that's all the time he had been gone but that's exactly how long it took for his bedchambers to fill with familiar faces, all of them smiling and facing his bed. Byleth was at their core, nestled against a mountain of pillows but her arms were empty. Dimitri froze, his grip on the tea tray nearly slipping as he scanned the backs of his friends for any sign of his infant child
His heart was simultaneously soothed and horrified as his eyes rested on the tiny bald bundle, her tiny fists wrapped in a swath of black hair. His eyes widened beyond all reason when his newborn was held in Felix's arms, tiny fists tugging on his hair and giggling in response to his annoyed grunting
"Felix let me help you." He was able to breathe again as Mercedes gently scooped the baby from his hands as Felix went about untangling her little fists. If there was anyone he would trust with his child it was the gentle and careful Mercedes, or so he thought before his confidence was betrayed, the young woman carefully rested the baby in Sylvain's awkward hands
The man hadn't even removed his gauntlets and now held the princess awkwardly, his large hand cradling her delicate head.
It was too much.
There was a loud clang as the tea tray fell to the ground, hot tea spilling out over the stone as Dimitri pressed forward. He towered over Sylvain who looked confused of his crime, and very gently Dimitri pulled the cooling baby into his arms, pretending not to hear Byleth giggling behind him