A/N: If it weren't for some one-liners I still love in this second part, I wouldn't have bothered posting the first part of this attempted rewrite. After this, we can get to the one-shots I cranked out in 2020, which are much better, I promise.

Fate's Shadow Part Two

Baron Harold von Gikkingen paced the soft grass in front of his home, sending frequent glances down the road; feeling more and more anxious as each second slowly ticked by. 'I don't know what I was thinking. I should have gone with Triana anyway. Hasho must be a nervous wreck by now. But she needed to be there for Naoko, and knew I'd just get in the way of things-'

"Father."

Harold looked up, to see his young son standing on the porch. In his hands was a simple cup of tea.

The tawny lad looked at his father gravely. "You won't do anyone any good if you collapse from exhaustion." Humbert placed the tea carefully on the banister, and poured his father a cup.

Harold looked at it wearily. "Is it that personal blend you've been working on, son? I haven't quite recovered from your last batch."

"Nothing's wrong with this one. I checked it."

Sighing, the man hesitantly took the offered cup, and sipped. The baron sighed with relief. "This one's a bit better, son. Keep working on it."

Humbert nodded solemnly, and rubbed the handle of the teapot nervously. "Father? Do you think that General Hasho's right? That his child will be a girl?"

Harold sighed, and sat down on the steps. "Only time will tell, Humbert. It could be that he just wants a daughter more than a son." He smiled a little foolishly. "I know I wouldn't have minded having a little girl, if your mother was strong enough for it."

The young lad sighed tiredly, sitting next to his father. "How long does it take for babies to be born?"

"It varies greatly. It could be anywhere between ten minutes and a day or two. Any longer, and it would kill both the mother and child."

Humbert's eyes flicked with horror.

"Oh, don't worry. Naoko's probably fine," Harold hastily assured him, partially wishing that he wasn't so open with his son. Humbert had never even seemed like a child, being born serious. The baron sighed, and gripped his son's shoulder gently.

With slow realization, they heard the wheels of a wagon. The von Gikkingen men immediately sprang to their feet, and ran up to Triana, who looked tired, as the guard eased the horses into a halt.

"Well?" Harold asked anxiously.

His wife smiled, and kissed his cheek to thank him after he helped her down from beside the driver. "Naoko and her daughter are fine. Hasho's about ready to burst with pride."

Humbert sighed with relief. "What's her name, Mother?"

"They were still arguing over that when I left. Naoko asked me to bring you two tomorrow, when things are cleaned up and everyone's rested. Please, I'm so tired…"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Humbert gripped his mother's hand nervously, as they entered the Yoshioka home. Hasho was there to greet them. His too-bright eyes and slightly bent posture said that he hadn't slept much, but the man was too cheerful to care.

"Wait 'till you see her! Both the girls!" the general said excitedly, pushing them down the hall. Humbert stared at the man, who was nearly giddy with joy.

"Sir, are you sick?" the lad asked.

His father laughed, as did Hasho.

"No, Humbert. Just happier than I thought I'd ever be. Oh, my little Haru's so beautiful!"

"Ah, so you decided on a name," Triana said blandly.

Hasho nodded again, and softly opened a door. "Yes, and it suits her. Naoko, the von Gikkingens are here."

"Thanks for the warning. … Okay, it's safe to come in."

Beaming, her husband opened the door, and bid his friends to enter.

Naoko was sitting on a well-cushioned chair next to the window, which freely let in the morning light. In her arms was a bundle of blanket, making Humbert wonder if there was even a baby. Naoko's face, although flushed and tired, was radiating joy. "Hello, Triana, Harold, Humbert. Come see Haru."

Feeling a little shy, Humbert placed the flowers he had brought on the table next to the redhead, and stood next to the chair as his parents leaned in over the blanket. 'Well! So there really is a baby.'

The child in question was a bit red from being so new, and her dark hair was thin and soft. She opened her large brown eyes, which matched her mother's, and yawned softly. Her voice was so soft, like a songbird. Little fists raised up a little as she looked at all the new people.

"Ah, coo?" she seemed to ask.

Humbert laughed a little. "Can I hold her?"

Naoko smiled, and took her feet down from the stool they were propped on. "Sit on that, Humbert. Have you ever held a baby before?"

"Never," he answered, doing as he was told.

Naoko leaned forward a bit and used one hand to move his arms around in the proper position. "Be sure to watch her head," she implored, carefully setting her treasure into the boy's arms.

The eleven-year-old looked at the little brunette in his arms, liking the comfortable weight she provided. "Hello, Miss Haru."

"Coo?" One of her little fists found his gloved finger and held on tight.

The blonde lad blinked once. "Hey, she's got a good grip."

Hasho nodded proudly, his eyes shining with happiness as his daughter moved around in the blanket she had been wrapped up in.

"Ahhhh," Haru yawned, already falling asleep.

But Humbert didn't miss how she had smiled at him. "I think she likes me," he said excitedly.

Without warning, the door burst open, revealing the two brand-new uncles.

Muta snorted. "Great. Not even a day old, and she's got a suitor."

Humbert turned a lovely shade of magenta. "I didn't mean it like that!" he protested, making Haru squirm around and open her eyes again, maybe a little irritated that her nap had been interrupted.

Toto laughed. "Yeah, sure Humbert. Say that again sixteen years from now."

Hasho stood up. "That's enough, you two. If you're going to start a fight, do it elsewhere. It's not good for Haru to know about your squabbles so early."

Toto grinned, and walked up to the footstool, tickling his niece's chin to make her gurgle. "Don't worry, Hasho. I'll do my duty as the favorite uncle to make sure she doesn't-"

"Hey! Who says you're going to be the favorite uncle?!" Muta shouted.

"Is there another option?" Toto asked in mock innocence, moving away from the stool so that the children wouldn't get flattened by the flying fatso.

"You're going down this time, you bird brain!"

"You'll never take me alive!" Toto taunted, running around the room to avoid his sort-of-brother-in-law.

Haru blinked slowly, as the noise intensified. Then she started giggling, apparently finding her uncles' conduct to be hilarious.

Humbert sighed, rocking her gently. "It looks like they've already corrupted her, Sir."

Hasho sighed, looking at his daughter. "It would appear so, Humbert."