George and Alanna decided to take a stroll through the village and along the rocky beach for part of the day before their anniversary. In a light summer dress the color of sunlit amethysts that matched her eyes, she looked beautiful to him. His heart thrilled at seeing her in something so womanly. Goddess knew he loved his Woman Who Rides Like A Man, but he loved the rare treats of seeing his woman as a woman.
As they strolled down the cobbled streets, they paused to buy trinkets and knick-knacks, a weakness of hers on occasion. Green eardrops, a gold chain necklace, a bronze hoop for his ear, then a kitten who was so adorable neither could resist. With the small furry ball curled in the basket along with their prizes, they dined in soft candlelight at a charming inn and walked along the beach hand in hand, stopping every so often to kiss gently, or just to sit in the sand and watch the gulls wing overhead. It was sunset when they came across the small family, a mother and father strolling with a child swinging between them. The red-headed toddler squealed as it was lifted high and set down with the next step. When the father turned and swept the babe up to toss it up and catching the squealing child, the copper-locked mother came close and tickled their boy until his giggles were breathless. Cradling him close, the father leaned in and kissed the woman happily, lingering to nibble on her lips. Leaning closer, the woman whispered something in his ear and his blonde-streaked head came up sharply. The child raised his arms and the mother picked him up and settled him close to their faces, saying something. The boy squealed and the man's hand touched her belly, green-hazel eyes filled with wonder and joy as he looked into glowing purple ones.
As fast as the family had appeared, it dissolved, leaving Alanna and George staring in wonder. They'd talked about children, but now it seemed perfect. Smiling with eyes filled with hope, Alanna lifted the charm for protection against pregnancy- and dropped it into the sand. With a shout of joy, George wasted no time in lowering her to the sand and creating his first child.
A month later, Alanna leaned down after another round of heated lovemaking and whispered something into his ear. George looked shocked, thrilled, then completely filled with joy as his hands rested on her belly and he kissed her, murmuring in between, "IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou."

Alanna woke eight months later to a strange wet feeling and a rippling pain in her stomach. In less than three seconds knowledge kicked in and she shook George. "George, George, wake up! My water's broke! Wake up!"
With a jolt he jumped out of bed and carried her from the room, running towards the birthing room and shouting for the midwife, who had stayed close at hand the past few weeks.
In what seemed like a blur George was shoved out by a kind woman with a take-charge attitude. Servants rushed in and out the door for hot water, fresh towels, ice chips and such. They never let him know what how his wife was fairing, just patted his shoulder.
An hour later his panicked mind was in chaos, praying, bargaining, pleading for his love to be okay. He heard a shout of pain and then a baby's wail and his knees gave out, plunking him into a chair. The midwife came out and he rushed inside, straight to his pale wife. "Lass," he whispered achingly, stroking wet hair back from her face.
"Look," she whispered, pointing weakly towards the babe in the arms of the midwife. Swallowing the lump that threatened to choke him, he awkwardly cradled his newborn babe. A look at Alanna had her smiling. "Thom. Thom Trebond Cooper." Worshipping eyes gazed down at the tiny infant, now sleeping. George hadn't thought he could live any more than he did already for her, it he felt his heart grow, enclosing this tiny wonder and expand until he ached with bow much he loved them. He kissed the downy head and set his son in the cradle next to the bed, turning to her once more. His heart stopped.
Her head had lolled to the side, eyes open and unseeing and blood covered the sheets in a growing red stain. A hoarse shout broke out from his core and he shook her shoulders, then clasped her tight against him and rocked while tears escaping his eyes. "Lass, Alanna, wake up. Don't do this. Don't leave!" The midwife rushed in with another healer and he was shoved aside as they gripped both of her hands. Maroon and sky blue magic curled around their hands and spread over her. His heart kicked in his throat and he stared numbly as they tried to heal her. His thoughts came seemingly in slow motion, but each lasted only a moment.
I can't lose her. She can't leave. Don't go. Please, let her live. Don't let this be it.
As despair settle on him, the healer broke away, stumbling, followed by the shuddering woman. George raced forward, gripping Alanna's hand. The healer pit a shaking hand on the younger man's shoulder. "She'll live. The bleeding was stopped and she'll wake in some time with no pain." At a look from the midwife, he continued. "She'll be able to have more children, of course. Don't fret about that." Nodding his reassurance, they left, leaving a shaken-to-his-soul George alone with the body of his love.
It wasn't long before she opened her eyes, looking around before becoming snared on ragged, blazing green ones. Terror had changed George's eyes pure, dark green. "George," she rasped, and her hand fluttered weakly against his rigedly locked jaw. With a shudder, he sobbed against her palm and pressed it closer, kissing the center. Never before had she seen him so shaken, so terrified. "Easy, love. I'm here. Don't cry so," she soothed, pulling him down to cradle his head against her breast. She stroked his hair until the sobs had died into echoing shakes.
"You died! You..." he stopped, shutting his eyes against the memory burned into his mind. "You pointed to him and when I turned you were dead. I can't lose you," he whispered, looking into her eyes. Her breath caught at the agony in them. "Don't go where I can't, Alanna. I love you more than life. You are my life."
Crying now, she pressed her lips to his and tasted his tears mixed with hers. "I promised I wouldn't. I'm not going anywhere." Smiling at him, she pointed towards the still-sleeping babe. "Bring him over and let me see our family." When he placed the tiny boy in her arms, her heart felt enormous and aching. She raised eyes to his and found the same. "Perfect." She drew George down to lie next to her and rested her head on his shoulder while cradling their son. She felt his hand stroke her hair and she sighed, falling asleep. "I love you, George. I'll never leave you alone. You or our son."
She heard right before she drifted off his low rumble. "I love ye too, lass. So much. I won't let ye go. Ye or our lad. That I promise." Clasping his arms tight around her and anchoring his hands in her nightgown, he fell asleep with her head on his shoulder, his son close to his heart, and the legs of man and wife tangled together; no one was in danger of slipping away.