Chapter Fifteen

Half Human

Reo held his breath for longer he thought he could as he slowly, nervously extended his arms as Jade passed a tiny bundle wrapped in a soft blue blanket across to him. "Mind the head..." Jade mumbled weakly, looking tired but very happy.

Reo had the baby's head resting in one palm, the other arm keeping the body level, as he admired his child…his son; he couldn't breathe even though he wanted to; it was almost too unreal.

"Brother..." Firno shook his shoulder very gently with a soft smile. "Breath before you pass out."

Reo nodded and held the baby boy close to his chest; he may still have a chill around him, but the baby seemed to enjoy being held close by anybody. Reo leant back in his chair and smiled as the shock was worn away by awe. He stroked the feathery locks, curled atop his sons head; it was almost like looking in a mirror, black and red hair and his face pretty much resembled Reo; the new father rocked himself slightly as the baby stirred, something the back of his mind told him to do, even though he had no idea how to look after a child it was all parental instinct.

Jade's pregnancy went amazingly; both parents were worried about how the baby would turn out like. Thankfully, Reo kept a regular check on the shadow part of the baby, and it seemed like the human side of the tiny child was winning, they had nothing to fear. Jade was nervous about being a mother at first, but as the months ticked by, as Reo held her hand through the baby shops and the parents curled up together to feel the babies kicking, she was excited by the end of it.

Sure, the birth was like torture, and the Doctors looked like they had a few rounds with an angry Wallop, but the tiny baby was worth it. Jade had to smile when the midwives cooed over such acute baby, after all it's not everyday you see a child with natural black and red hair.

Jade watched Reo connect with their child, and tried not to cry with happiness. Sure, she was over emotional at the moment, any new mother would be, but she guessed this moment would bring tears to anyone's eyes, if you knew what they had gone through.

"Hello little one..." Reo smiled down at the baby. "I'm your Dad..." Firno grinned and leant down to look at his nephew.
"And I'm your Uncle." He grinned as he gave a little wave even though the baby was asleep.
Reo stood up and sat on the edge of Jade's bed. "We're going to look after you...no-one will ever hurt you, son."
"We better name him before YOU'RE Dad gets here." Jade smiled as she slowly and carefully sat up onto the cushions, reaching over and stroking the babies' hair; Zexion had been grinning like an idiot when he realized he had a grandson on the way and had been coming to visit and fuss over Jade ever since her stomach had started to swell like a balloon.

"Shadow name or human name?" Reo shuffled down so he was level to Jade, the baby still asleep in his arms.

"A Shadow name, since he hasn't got much left in him, it'd be nice to let him have a Shadow name." Jade said with a smile

"Hm...Brother? What do you think?" Reo turned to Firno after gently placing the boy back into Jade's arms.

"Um...something strong, but not weird enough to get beaten in the school yard." Firno

chuckled slightly.

"And not one that hurts children's ears when they call him." Jade giggled as she cuddled her son close, brushing her nose against his with a smile; there was no feeling in the world greater then holding your child close with the greatest man anyone could ask for stroking your hair as he thinks.

"Well how about Saik? Means wise." Firno thought out loud.
"...Nah, wouldn't suit him." Jade shook her head.
"Keeran?" Firno said next.

Jade paused and looked at the baby. She thought it over and smiled.
"Yeah...Keeran War......I like the sound of that…what about a second name?" She asked softly with a smile

"Wait, isn't the child supposed to take your name, since we're not married." Reo asked surprised at this as he raised an eyebrow.
"But I want him to have your name...so it's tough." Jade poked her tongue out playfully at him" Speaking of your names seen as your shadow name is Araxta we can change that and use it…Hmm I always liked Adrian…"
"Hmmmm I like that" Roe said with a chuckle as Reo rubbed the back of his head.
Jade nodded, not budging on her decision.

"Keeran Adrian War..." Came a soft and excited voice. Zexion closed the curtains behind him, beaming; Zexion was also very ecstatic about the baby, saying he'd always wanted a grandchild.

"Hey grand-dad." Jade smiled as Zexion grinned and walked around. Jade gave Keeran one last gentle squeeze before lifting him up into his grandfather's arms.

"Whoa...this takes me back to when Reo was born...deja vu." Zexion smiled down at Keeran. "Looks just like you son." The new King looked up and smiled at Reo, who was back on Jade's bed, cuddling the mother of his child.

Soon the bed was almost crowded by new guests as the Storm Hawks came in. Poor Keeran was hardly out of someone's arms until the nurse told them that visiting times were over. Reo, however, was aloud to stay for a little while longer.

"Looks like from now on, things are finally settling down." Reo smiled, Jade in his arms as they both looked over at the clear cot, holding their baby.

"Yeah...the whole thing with Vexel is finally over, we can lead our own lives, just like we said we would" Jade rested her head on Reo's chest with a yawn, Reo running his fingers through her lilac hair.

"We're finally free..." she murmured before she drifted off to sleep.

*

One year later

Reo stretched his arms before opening the front door. "I'm home!" He said cheerfully as he walked in, a typical day for any family; father comes home from work to be greeted by his family.

"Dada!" Keeran giggled as he raced to Reo's feet and clung to the trousers. Reo smiled and picked his son up and rested him on his hip; Keeran's intelligence was outstanding for his age; by four months he was already attempting to walk, and said his first word at six months. The bit of shadow Keeran still had allowed this to happen, since Shadow babies learn things a lot faster.

"Hello my boy." Reo smiled. "Where's your mum?" Reo walked into the kitchen, where Keeran was pointing. Jade was sitting on the table in the centre of the large kitchen with a cup of coffee. "Sorry I'm late coming back." He said as he kissed Jade gently with a smile.

Finally, things finally started looking normal, Reo managed to fond and held a good paying job, which allowed them to buy a great house in Atmosia; a place where Jade had always wanted to go and settle down on. Keeran was raised like any other child; the small child adored his father, clinging to Reo after he returned home from work. Keeran refused to do anything unless Reo fed him breakfast in the morning, since Reo never slept; he was always ready when Keeran was.

Jade never got upset when Keeran asked for Reo or sits by the front door when the child hears his father's Skimmer pull in. Jade and Keeran still had a very tight bond, since Jade was always there to play with him until Reo came home. She never got annoyed because she knew that many mothers were alone, or had a bad father looking after their child; she was the lucky ones who had someone to love and look after her son without hesitation.

"Keeran explored the shadows again today." Jade said after kissing him back.
"Again?" Reo sighed. "Keeran I told you not to." He replied, sitting Keeran on the table edge, keeping his arms at the ready incase he fell.
"...Sorry Dada..." Keeran muttered in an adorable tone, playing with the hem of his top in a shy and sheepish way; it was so adorably cute, that Jade melted at that expression.
"Aww...how can you stay mad at him." Jade teased as she cuddled Keeran with a chuckle, Reo grinned and played along.
"I can." He crossed his arms and looked away with his eyes shut.
"Dada?" Keeran reached over and tugged on one of Reo's spikes.
"Nope, I'm unhappy." Reo shook his head, Keeran tilted his head slightly and crawled across to Reo and poked at his face.
"Smile, Dada..."

"Yeah, smile Reo." Jade giggled, joining in; Reo frowned but he couldn't hold it for long as Keeran looked ready to cry when Reo wouldn't smile, Reo chuckled and ruffled his son's hair gently "You guys are mean to me..."

*

"Reo, your son is in the Shadows again." Jade giggled.
"MY son?" Reo rolled his eyes. "I got him..." Reo stood up off the sofa, placing his book aside and walked into a dark corner.

"Keeran?" Reo called into the darkness. "Come on son it's too dangerous in here..."
"Yes it is." Came a cold chilling voice, Reo spun around as he froze in shock; it couldn't be...not now.

"No...Not you..." He whispered a slight panic in his chest. "Let my son go!"

Vexel snarled, Keeran struggling in her arms, a hand over his mouth; the poor child looked absolutely terrified in Vexels arms

"So...you had a child…" Vexel purred looked down at the terrified child a look of disgust on her face. "Half shadow...half human...how disgusting." She hissed.

"Let him go, Vexel, he has nothing to do with this!" Reo shouted, his anger bubbling up from the surface at calling his son disgusting.

"He has EVERYTHING to do with this! Is this why you left?! Is this why you deceived me?!" Vexel snapped as she held Keeran out by just his arm leaving him to dangle helplessly in the air; the baby screamed and cried, the sound of his chills scared and in pain went right through him..

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Reo took out his blades and shot at Vexel, as far away from Keeran as he could, however he moved swiftly, dodging the shots and held Keeran close to her again, like a shield. Reo ceased fire; he knew it was far to risky to try and attack Vexel while she used his son like that "Keeran was not the reason, Vexel...I didn't even know Jade was pregnant until afterwards!" He roared, oh he was really pissed; no-one harmed his child and got away with it.

"Hm..." Vexel stroked Keeran's hair to calm the child, which didn't work. "I see...so you left to be 'free', yes?"
"I need my own life, not yours! Not the one you tried to force on me!" He snarled.
"Interesting, Araxta..." Vexel said amused as she continued stroking the frightends childs hair like he was a pet.
"How the hell did you survive the war...?" Reo narrowed his eyes.
"I'm never gone, Araxta, I have my ways" She said as she grinned evilly. "And I see your father," She spat at the word 'father' as if it was a curse in itself "Is ruling your world."
"I don't want it!" Reo snapped back "I never wanted to rule! I never asked to be a prince! I never asked for ANY of the shit you put me through!"
"It's tough! Now...I can't believe I have to go through this again...either take the throne or your son dies."

"Same old Vexel...you still haven't learned your lesson" said a whisper. Suddenly Vexel screeched and dropped Keeran as she was blasted sideways; Reo drifted as fast as he could and caught him, holding him tightly, as Keeran clung to Reo and hid his face into his shoulder, shaking.

"Shh, it's okay Keeran..." Reo looked up to see Vexel hurry off back into the Realm. The second figure was Firno...he sighed in relief. Firno kicked his legs until he was with his Brother.

"Are you guys okay?" He asked and Reo nodded.
"Yeah...I think Keeran's in shock." Reo said, looking his son over. "But other then that, he's unharmed...let's get back to Jade..."

"She's back again?!" Jade gasped, clutching Keeran close and stroking his hair softly.
"Yeah...still not backing down about the whole 'me ruling the Realm' thing" Reo rolled his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "I never thought I'd say this but she's seriously giving me a headache."

"I wouldn't worry; it won't be long until she finally learns that it just won't work with you, your far to stubborn and set in your ways brother to conform to what she wants, as long as we work together she'll get the hint" Firno replied, leaning on the nearest wall.

"Yeah but then we hit another problem, if she finally does figure out she can't have Reo overtake the throne...then it mean's she'd be after you, Firno..." Jade said softly. Reo blinked at that; surprisingly that had been something he hadn't thought of; his mother had always rejected Firno but he knew it was also a possibility.

Reo sighed and looked over at Firno, but the younger brother said nothing as he fell deep into thought biting his lip...