A/N – About a week ago, I came across the fantastic news that Gideon Emery would be voicing some of the characters in FFXIII-2. That got me all aflutter, and I found myself watching youtube clips to be reminded of the awesomeness that is Balthier and Mr. Emery's heaven-inducing vocals, which eventually led to me reading my story. Now, I would have sworn that nearly a year ago, I finished this story and posted its epilogue. Imagine my surprise when I loaded it—there was no epilogue and it was marked incomplete. Time to fix that, I say! I know this isn't much, but I just wanted to put a cute little cap on my story to finish it off.
Disclaimer - Square Enix owns Final Fantasy and the characters.
The pitter patter of tiny feet brought Ashelia out of her slumbering state, and she felt the gentle impact of two small bodies as they jumped into the bed, giggling and squirming. She opened her eyes to find her daughter's bouncing brunette curls on one side, and on the other, her son's warm chocolate irises.
"Good morning, momma," her daughter cooed, her blue-grey eyes shining in the morning's rays. Her son simply smiled at her in greeting, one that curved upward on the left side just like his father's. She reached for each of them with an arm, pulling them into an embrace and kissing them on the head. "Good morning, my loves…"
She heard her husband's rich timbre from the other room, "Bella! Cid! I asked you to gently wake your mother…not trample her."
Balthier appeared in the doorway carrying a tray full of breakfast, which he set down on the nearby nightstand. "Ok you two, front and center."
They both abandoned the bed, running to grasp their father's knees. "If both of you behave yourselves this morning in your studies, and your teacher gives me a good report—I will take you with me this afternoon…"
Cid cut him off, beside himself in excitement, "On the Strahl, Daddy?"
She smirked at her son's innocent question, and even more at her husband's answer, "Of course, my boy, Daddy will pilot no other ship."
He herded the children out of the bedchamber as he spoke, crossing the threshold into the common room, but she could still hear their animated conversation as Balthier patiently answered his brood's questions. The voice of Sera, the children's tutor, joined the cacophony of sounds, along with the clicking of closing doors, and finally, the ensuing silence.
She called out to him as she sat up in the bed, propping herself up with pillows, "That smells delicious."
He reentered the room minus his cohorts, and she appreciated the sight of her lover's flexing biceps as he gently crawled into the bed to sit beside her. A mischievous grin crept across her face as she met his gaze, "Maybe this whole bed rest business won't be so bad after all…"
He lifted a finger to stroke her cheek, "I figured you wouldn't mind me giving Denia the morning off."
"Not at all—I do not get served breakfast in bed by my debonair husband nearly enough."
From his seated position, he performed a mock bow, "I only live to serve you, my Queen."
She rolled her eyes at him, and he chuckled deeply, so she stuck her tongue out at him playfully, "It is fitting for you to wait on me, considering that it's your fault that I'm stuck in this predicament."
He pulled her into his arms from behind, and she could feel his chest rumbling in laughter against her back and shoulders. His hands began to caress her swollen abdomen, and he leaned down slightly to her ear, murmuring, "Should I apologize for being good at what I do?"
She took a deep breath, ignoring the tiny stir that he still somehow managed to cause within her, despite her present state. "No, but can you convince your child to get moving already? This patience thing is difficult—especially when you insist upon torturing me like that."
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched his lips twitch into a wicked smile, as he laid a chaste kiss against her temple, "I am sorry, my beloved. The doctor said that you shouldn't have too much longer to wait. And I swear that I will make it worth your while…"
She sighed deeply, turning in his arms to face him, "I can think of one way to compensate me, and as a bonus, make my bed rest that much more enjoyable…"
His bent his head, bringing his mouth close to hers, and she quickly put a finger over his lips, halting his advance. His eyes widened in surprise as she deadpanned, "I meant by rubbing my feet…"
His mouth contorted into a half-confused, half-incredulous grimace, as she burst into a fit of laughter.