Chapter Two: Birth of a Phoenix

The atmosphere was both solemn and joyous as father and son stood outside the birthing room. Two-year-old Lance was pouting, unhappy to be parted from his new sibling for any reason; the little boy saw the entire birthing process as merely another obstacle between himself and a new playmate. Artorius scooped his son up, bouncing him and smiling at his son's gleeful squeal.

" 'hen baby come?" Lance asked, pouting at his father again.

"Soon, son," Artorius soothed.

" 'ant to play 'ith her," Lance insisted, a little loudly.

"Shhh," Artorius chided, "Give your mother a little peace, there, boyo. And we don't know if it's going to be a girl or a boy yet."

His son was unimpressed. "Girl," he insisted, even louder.

"Lancelot." A single word, with enough warning packed into it to make even the two-year-old obey.

The little boy gave a dramatic – but quiet – sigh. " 'hen Gamma and Gampa coming?"

Artorius snuck a look at the door, hoping to see his parents. "I don't know, sport," he admitted. "They should be here soon."

As if on cue, two figures appeared and hurried to their son and grandson. Lance lit up, but, at a warning Look from his father, restrained himself to merely lunging out of his father's arms and into his grandfather's. "Baby come soon," he declared, marginally more quiet than he had been; his father just sighed. "Baby sistuh for me," Lance added proudly.

"A baby sister, huh, sport?" Percival asked, raising both brows at his grandson. Lance nodded as fast as he could.

"Artorius?" Alexandria questioned in an undertone.

Artorius shrugged helplessly. "He's been insisting it's a girl for weeks, Mum. I don't know where he got it…we didn't want to know, just like when he was born." As his father distracted the little boy, Artorius sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not sure what to do, Mum…three months ago I found him, already in his Animagus form; I've locked the form down for now, but if he gets to it again…I don't think I can lock it down again."

"My goodness," Alexandria breathed. "He certainly has a talent."

Artorius nodded, but lowered his voice even further. "Any news?"

A grim look. "The Ministry still hasn't gotten their heads out of the sand, but He is on the move, that much is certain. And the longer those fools refuse to acknowledge the truth, the worse it will be."

A baby's wail cut the air, drawing instant attention. "Baby sistuh!" Lance cried, a two-year-old's triumph in his voice. He squirmed in his grandfather's arms, but his grandfather held him fast, letting Artorius take the lead through the door.

Artorius reached his wife's side just as the Healer placed the newborn bundle in her arms. The newborn was completely bald and had a squished look to her features. "A girl?" he breathed, shocked at the validation of his son's prediction.

"A girl," 'Toria agreed, just as stunned. The little girl's eyes flicked open as her father ran a wondering finger across her face; violet eyes met light blue and the baby managed a tiny giggle and waved a chubby hand that had snuck free of the blankets. This time, Artorius let his wife introduce the newborn. "Mother, Father," 'Toria began, smiling at her in-laws, "Meet Alanna Victoria Calvin, the newest member of the House of Calvin."

"Baby sistuh!" Lance declared proudly. " 'ant to meet."

"Give your father a chance to meet her first," Alexandria chided her grandson.

Lance's face fell, but he stopped squirming. "Daddy meet sistuh," he agreed after a moment's deep consideration. "Me meet sistuh too."

It seemed like forever to the little boy, but, soon enough, his infant sister was placed in his arms with the gentle, "Be careful with her, Lance. Support her head."

The two-year-old nodded solemnly; he would be the bestest big brother ever. "Hi, baby sistuh," he greeted the newborn, "I Lance, you big brother." A thread of violet light danced around him and he giggled. "That tickles," he declared, letting his own magic out. Violet and gold twined around each other, lighting up the siblings' corner of the room.

'Toria was looking at her in-laws, conversing quietly with them, leaving only Artorius to watch as his children got acquainted with each other. In the shadows behind them, he 'saw' who they could be, who they could become, and he shivered a little. Two Wild Mages, both far more powerful than those who had come before, and he had precious little idea of how to raise them properly. All he could give…was love.