Alistair woke with a start, the roar of the dragon still echoing in his mind. Just a nightmare, he thought to himself, releasing a long exhale and sinking deeper into the chair. When the final remnants of adrenaline finally wore off and his skin stopped tingling, he looked down to his chest and the woman lying against it.

His wife lay limp in front of him, her breathing even and slow. The book they'd been reading together lay in her lap, still open under her fingers. He continued glancing around, the dim fire casting the room in a warm, if soft, light. Camelot, Ashlyn's mabari, lay at her feet. On them actually. She complained of cold toes often, and Camelot was happy to warm them for her.

Alistair tightened his arms around her, being careful not to wake her, and brushed his fingers against her protruding stomach. Their baby had been growing in her belly for nearly five months and while he was excited, he also…

A sigh escaped him. The entire pregnancy had been nothing but stress for both of them in his opinion. Her being pregnant at all had been a shock. He didn't understand why all of the sudden things had changed. For years they had tried, but had eventually come to accept that they would probably never be blessed with a child. Just one more sacrifice for they Grey Wardens.

And then there was what had happened a couple of weeks ago. They had been in the Great Hall, waiting to meet with a local noble for an audience, and Ashlyn had suddenly fallen, crying out in pain. Alistair had snapped at a nearby guard to fetch Wynne, who had luckily been close, and the woman had managed to save the baby, though she had been exhausted from her efforts afterwards. Ashlyn had insisted ever since that the rest of her pregnancy be a relaxed experience, that Alistair stop stressing and that neither of them were bothered with small problems until after the baby was born. Big issues, of course, they could not ignore, but she was adamant that her child be given its best chance, and for the most part, the castle staff seemed to agree (even if foreign dignitaries didn't.)

He sighed again, running his fingers gently along her stomach with a frown. He wasn't sure that he could stay relaxed for her. Even if it was what was best for the baby all he could see was the problems they had had, his wife's degraded health, and –

A sudden flutter beneath his fingers made him freeze.

He didn't move for many long moments, and enough time went by that he began to think he had imagined the little whispering movement. But just as he was about to move his hand, he felt a sure thump against his fingertips and a small gasp left him. His baby was kicking.

He pressed gently against the spot, watching his wife's face carefully for signs of waking, and smiled when the baby kicked again, as though trying to push his fingers away for intruding. When the movement stopped, he laid his palm flat against her belly and let his head rest back against the chair.

Just like that…his stress over the pregnancy was lessened. He couldn't say gone. It wasn't in him not to worry for his family…but that was just the thing. He had a family. A wife, and now a child. It was just suddenly hitting him at once, that he had something he'd wanted his entire life, even if he hadn't entirely realized it.

His child was going to grow up knowing its parents, knowing that its family loved him…or her. It would never have to wonder if he and Ashlyn cared, because he would be sure to tell him all the time, and how proud he was. He smiled again. The child wasn't even born yet, but somehow, he was proud. That his child was strong enough to live, that he or she had beaten the odds. He wrapped his arms tighter around his wife, a rush of love washing over him.

Ashlyn finally stirred, her first response being to move her arms to squeeze his, unable to properly hug him. Her eyes blinked open and she turned to gaze sleepily at him, and he grinned at her. "Welcome back, my dear," he whispered quietly, giving her a soft kiss.

She stretched with a little yawn, and said "Maybe we should go to bed. I'm still tired," she scratched the tip of her nose with her pinky finger, a habit that forever made him smile. "I'm always tired these days."

"Perhaps you're right. You need the rest," he said as she stood. Camelot with a little shake and yawn of his own, snorting at the disturbance. When Ashlyn moved to walk to the bed he grabbed her wrist, gently pulling her back to stand in front of him. He kissed her stomach and laid his head against it, listening though there was nothing to hear at the moment.

Ashlyn smiled, cupping his cheek and gazing down at him, happy, if puzzled. "What's this all of the sudden?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "For…panicking so much lately. I'm sure I've only caused you more stress, and that is wrong of me. I love you, and our baby, and I promise I'm going to do my best to make this easier on you from now on. You're not alone in this, Ashlyn."

Her eyes were watery as he stood, and she leaned up for a kiss, which he returned, before guiding them to bed for the first fully restful sleep in months.

His nightmares did not return.

A/N: It got a little confusing trying to make sure this worked with the other baby chapter. XD But I think I managed!

Sorry this was late, but I am safely home now, FINALLY. Ugh, I hate having to drive for two days. I mean, the hotels are nice but I prefer my own home.

Special thanks to Connie Weasley and Cel for their reviews! You guys are superstars!

Please leave a review if you enjoyed! Happy reading!

UPDATE: I feel so bad for doing this but I need one more day guys. I will explain tomorrow.