(Disclaimer: I do not own Skyrim; just Xana and my other OC's)

(Authors Note: Hello again dear readers, I'm delighted you're enjoying this story because I absolutely love it. I'm surprised that I was able to post another chapter so quickly after the last one, but I just couldn't wait anymore. I'm sure you're aware of what's about to happen, which is why I couldn't bring myself to make you all wait. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and I look forward to posting more in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read my work and until next time, stay awesome!)

(Warning: This chapter contains depictions of childbirth.)

-The next morning-

Keeping her mind distracted from her labor pains, Xana had stayed awake all night nesting and organizing her bedchamber for the upcoming edition to her family. Odahviing had also stayed awake as he didn't need to sleep as often as everyone else. In doing so, he kept his mate company and distracted her from the pains she was feeling. By dawn, Swims-To-Sea, Runs-To-Shore and Renessie descended down the stairs and were currently in the dining hall stoking the fire and brewing tea. All three Argonians were unaware of their sister's current physical state and assumed she was no closer to delivering her child than she was the day prior.

Upon exiting her bedroom with Odahviing by her side, Xana cheerfully addressed her brothers' and sister-in-law, "Good morning, I trust you three are well?"

"We are indeed, dear sister. And a fine morning to you both as well," replied Sea with a slight nod of his head. "I daresay, you look pale this morning. Are you ill?"

"No, I'm not ill. I'm actually in the early stages of labor."

Their eyes widened, to which Shore pulled out a chair and offered for her to sit down, "Xana, shall I travel to Whiterun and fetch Danica for you?"

She shook her head and donned a smile, "That's very kind of you to offer, but at the moment it's unnecessary. I was informed on my last visit that labor could last for hours if not days before the child is ready to be born. I have no desire to inconvenience Danica at this time. The pain I'm currently experiencing is still quite tolerable and hasn't drastically increased much these last few hours."

"Gods, you've been in labor since last night," Renessie asked, surprised.

"She has," Odahviing spoke on behalf of his mate. "I was not aware of her change in condition upon turning in for the night. However, I awoke later in the evening to discover that she had started nesting again. As such, she had insisted on staying awake and relentlessly organized and rearranged our chambers."

"Well, it's only because I want to make sure everything is ready when the time comes," Xana interjected with a mock pout lining her face, causing him to emit an amused chuckle:

"I think you're more than ready in that aspect, dii brit fahliil."

"Am I," she playfully narrowed her eyes at him before emitting a pained groan and holding her belly.

"Xana?! Are you alright?"

The young Dunmer waved it off and gave him a nod, "Yes, Odahviing, I'm fine. It's just another contraction. This one is a bit stronger than the last ones were."

"Do you think you're close to delivering," Shore asked, concerned for her well-being.

"Oh Gods no. This pain is similar to those I sometimes experience during my heavier monthly bleeds. It's painful, but still tolerable to a degree." She glanced at her eldest brother and asked, "Sea, would be so kind as to boil some water and fill up a waterskin for me? I believe applying some heat will alleviate some of my discomfort."

He nodded, "Of course."

"Can I get you something to eat," Renessie asked in a doting tone.

Xana took a moment to do her breathing exercises before answering, "Something soft and easy on the stomach would be preferable."

"I'll make you a bowl of porridge then."

"Thank you."

"Of course, dear sister," she politely bowed her head before slipping into the kitchen to start breakfast.

XXXXX

During breakfast, Xana's brothers' would constantly inquire about her current condition, to which she would assure them that she was well and fine. She knew they meant well, but it was getting rather annoying to some degree. Upon finishing her meal, she decided to take a turn around the Main Hall with Odahviing by her side as a means of distracting her from the pain she was experiencing.

Holding the hot waterskin against her lower belly, Xana clutched onto his arm and emitted a groan. "Ugh, this sucks.."

"Xana, love, do you want to lie down?"

"NooOoo...I don't want to lie down," she growled as she suddenly let go of his arm and grabbed his shirt collar, to which she then pulled him down to her level, "You did this to me…"

His gaze softened, for he knew she was in pain and prone to anger at this point, but he didn't care. She was beautiful; even in her current state. "Zu'u mindoraan daar Zu'u drey daar wah hi, dii brit fahliil. But your pain will be forgotten in time and the reward of your labors will be worth it," he then tenderly kissed her forehead, while she winced as another contraction rolled over her frame.

"Why are you so good to me?"

He fondly smiled and gently pulled her in for a comforting embrace, "Fah hi los dii kiim."

She started to cry out of hormonal impulse and happiness that she had him in her life, for she loved him dearly and could no longer imagine her life without him.

XXXXX

-Later that afternoon-

Xana was now bracing herself against a dining room chair and swaying from side to side. Her contractions were now considerably more severe and had her frequently doing her breathing exercises as a means to keep herself calm and distracted. Despite her protests, Odahviing had ordered Runs-To-Shore to take Braum and ride off to Whiterun to fetch Danica. Thankfully, she had met him on a previous appointment and knew his relation to the young Dunmer to not suspect him of treachery or false claims. Regardless, he had left the homestead nearly an hour ago and would not return for another hour still, if not a bit longer depending on the condition of the roads.

As they all waited for Shore's return, Odahviing gently rubbed circles across Xana's back while she groaned and started trembling in pain. His heart clenched at seeing her in such agony, but all he could do was offer his support and try to make her as comfortable as possible. "You'll get through this. I love you, Xana."

She turned her head and snapped at him, "Fuck you, Od-AH-viing! You did this to me!"

Her words had little effect on him as he lovingly continued to rub circles on her back, "And I take no pleasure in seeing you in this state, but you're doing exactly what your body was designed to do."

"What? Endure intense stabbing pain and eventually push a melon out of my carriage?!"

"Of a sort. However, you are not the first to endure this sort of agony and you certainly won't be the last…"

"But I am the first to be carrying a hybrid child such as ours."

"Geh, that's true…"

"Yea, so don't you dare compare my pain to others because it's not technically the same! Oh Gods, where is Danica?"

"She and Shore should arrive within the hour, sis," Sea replied in a calming tone. "In the meantime, perhaps you should move into the bedroom and lie down. I'm sure the bed would be much more comfortable than standing on your feet for another hour or so."

With a huff, Xana nodded and slowly pushed herself off the chair where she then held onto Odahviing as he led her into their room and over to the bed. Meanwhile, Renessie began boiling some water, while Swims-To-Sea gathered clean linens and placed them on the table in his sister's bedchambers.

XXXXX

Xana was by no means a stranger to pain, for she was the Dovahkiin and therefore, familiar with the uncomfortable aches and injuries that often resulted from close encounters with her foes. She had endured force shouts from draugr Deathlords, various destruction spells, close encounters with bears, sabercats, trolls and frostbite spiders, attacks from assassins, daedra, Forsworn, Thalmor and the occasional vampire, as well as standoffs with dragons. She knew she would prevail in this current endeavor, but at the moment, she was reduced to a trembling mass. Her contractions were becoming increasingly worse and all she could do was lie there and endure them.

Meanwhile, Odahviing sat beside his wife and gently dabbed her forehead with a damp cloth. "You're so beautiful right now, Xana."

"No I'm not," she frowned. "I'm fat! My hair is disheveled and sticking to the back of my neck! My breasts feel like they're ready to burst! I'm in immense pain! I can't fight! And I can't fit into any of my armor sets! I'm a wretched sight to behold!"

His blue eyes softened as he continued to gently dab the cool cloth upon her brow, "Xana, dii brit fahliil, you are as lovely today as you were all those months ago when we first met at Dragonsreach. More so now, because you are carrying our kiir," he tenderly placed a hand over her rounded belly. "You are my kiim, my wife, and I love you as strongly as I did all those months ago. Know that no matter what happens, I will always love you, dii brit fahliil," he then tenderly placed a kiss upon her ringed finger, bringing a tearful smile to her face.

At his kind and meaningful words, Xana started to weep for she knew he meant every single one. "Odahviing, what in Oblivion did I do to deserve you for a husband?"

"Just being you, my dearest, loveliest Dovahkiin."

XXXXX

Runs-To-Shore arrived at the homestead an hour later and was accompanied by Danica Pure-Spring. Upon entering the house, they were greeted by Swims-To-Sea and Renessie. "Thank the Divine's you've arrived," the young Argonian woman stated upon seeing the Nord healer. "Xana's condition has gotten worse and she's been in a fit of agony for over an hour now."

"Come with me, girl. You'll have to assist me when she's ready to deliver. The menfolk will have to remain outside of the room."

"I'm afraid, Odahviing isn't so easily swayed," she stated as she led her into the bedroom where Xana was currently sitting upright on the bed, completely naked and holding her belly, while reciting her breathing exercises.

Meanwhile, the dovah in question protectively sat beside her and gently rubbed circles along her exposed back. While he was relieved to see Danica, Odahviing instinctively emitted a snarl at her as a warning. He may currently have the appearance of a man, but he was still a dovah. And as such, he was fiercely protecting his mate and unborn offspring.

"Easy there, Odahviing. I'm here to help Xana. I need to see if she's ready to deliver, but I'll need you to stay out of the room with the other men."

"Nid! Zu'u fen ni bo," he snarled, baring his teeth.

Knowing he wasn't going anywhere, Danica emitted a sigh of defeat, "Very well, but if you're going to stay here, I'll need you to go to the other side of the bed so I can help your wife."

He gave her a nod of understanding before moving aside so she could examine Xana. Within seconds, the Nord woman gave a reassuring smile, "Well, looks like I arrived just in time: You're ready to begin pushing."

At that bit of good news, the young Dunmer emitted a sigh and grabbed a hold of Odahviing's hand. "It's time…"

He nodded and kissed her forehead, "Losei bo kos aan Monah."

Before she could respond, Xana suddenly felt a strong contraction and something in the back of her mind told her to push. She breathed in and bared down as she slowly started to push her baby out.

"You're doing great, Xana. I can see the head," Danica stated as she encouraged the young mother-to-be, to which the young Dunmer emitted a pained scream as she continued to push:

"AAAHHHH!"

"You're doing so good, dii brit fahliil. Keep pushing."

"AAAHHHH! FUCK YOU, ODAHVIING!"

"I love you too, Xana," he replied with a loving smile as she crushed his hand in a vice grip.

"That's it, Xana. The head is out," Danica stated with a smile as Renessie dabbed a cool, damp cloth over her sister-in-law's forehead.

"It's almost over, dii brit fahliil."

Sweat lined the Dragonborn's brow as she gave another push, causing the shoulders to finally emerge. "..I..I can't..I can't do it.."

"Yes you can, Xana! You're strong! You can do this! Just one more big push and then our kiir will be out," Odahviing encouraged her, to which she tightly squeezed his hand and gave one final push:

"AAAHHHHH!"

There was a blinding pain followed by a sudden release as the rest of her baby came sliding out of her womb and into Danica's awaiting hands. She felt happy tears sting her ruby eyes before she realized something was wrong: the baby hadn't started crying yet!

Both she and Odahviing remained on edge as Dancia attempted to bring life into its still form. Within seconds, the tiny newborn coughed up some fluids and heavily started to cry, bringing relief to the new parents.

"Congratulations, it's a girl!"

Hearing this, Xana tearfully smiled and glanced over at her mate, "..Odahviing...we have a little girl…"

"Mu lost aan mon…," he replied and lovingly kissed her as Danica tied off and cut the umbilical cord before drying the newborn off in the clean linens Renessie had presented to her.

The baby was Dunmer-looking, but she had some very unique traits that were obviously derived from her Father. While she had light blueish/ashen grey skin like her Mother, there were tiny crimson scales along her outer thighs and lower legs, as well as on the outer regions of her arms and along her back and parts of her neck (similar to an Argonian's scale placement). She had a tail that was also covered in tiny crimson scales; and her ears, while elven, were more rigid-looking. In place of fingernails/toenails, she had tiny claws on her hands and feet which resembled those of an Argonian hatchling. Tufts of wispy red hair adorned her little head and upon closer inspection, they realized she also had two tiny nubs on her head (one on either side), indicating that she would have horns.

All in all, she was perfect.

After drying off the wee babe and checking her over to make sure she was healthy, Danica gently handed her over to Xana, which she happily accepted her newborn daughter and started to cry out of pure joy. "Oh Odahviing...she's so beautiful."

He fondly smiled and gently caressed the baby's tiny head, "Geh, rek los. Aside from you, she's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen."

She glanced up at him and tiredly asked, "Would you like to hold her?"

"Are you sure? I-I don't want to hurt her."

"Odahviing, you're not going to hurt her. Here, hold her like this," she then gently handed their wee daughter over to him and showed him how to properly hold her, to which he then cradled her and stared down at her in utter bewilderment. As the new Father looked upon his tiny newborn, he felt something roll down his cheek.

Odahviing suddenly realized (for the first time in his existence) that he was crying! So this is what it felt like. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he forgot there were others in the room. But he didn't care. His attention was completely devoted to the tiny life in his arms. "Drem yol lok, mal gein...Zu'u hin Bormah…"

Xana couldn't help but smile at the tender exchange. She then asked, "What should we name her?"

Keeping his gaze upon their daughter, Odahviing softly answered, "...Brii. Her name is Brii."

"Brii...What a beautiful name for our little Dovahkiin."