The next morning started off calmly enough; Bee and Oum awoke first and made a delightful breakfast, Raine squeezing in some practice with Fennec before listening to some of the CDs they'd gotten at the mall and mentally beginning to compose ballads.
So, when Eda came down after showering, with a smile on her face but glancing around and lifting things up and down, the Boonchuys and her love were not nearly as concerned as they would've been otherwise.
"Eda? Is everything okay?" Bee asked.
"Did you guys put Ami down somewhere?" Eda asked. "I went in to play with her, but she's not in her cradle."
From within the Owl Lady's mane, a giggle could be heard. The other adults smiled as they saw Eda's mane shuffle.
"Oh no, wherever could she be?" Oum asked, playing along, stopping her lunch prep and acting worried.
"Hmmmm. She's not outside." Raine fake mused.
"And she's not watching TV." Bee added
"Wherever could little Ami be?" the grandparents all said together as another giggle escaped from Eda's mane.
"We'd better find her soon; we have ice cream and guests coming soon." Oum smiled.
"I scream?" A cute voice cooed out, the movement in Eda's hair stopping as the Owl Lady herself dropped the act of playing 'where's Ami'.
"…Guests? ….What kind of guests?"
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
Bee and Raine raced to the door before Eda could ask again, opening it to reveal two faves all the adults adored.
"Hola, Boonchuys y Clawthorne-Whispers!"
There stood Luz Noceda and her beloved Amity Blight, bright grins on their faces and Luz's belly a bump; indicating she was pregnant.
"Luz!" Eda beamed in delight at her daughter and all but blood, racing to hug her before someone beat her to the punch:
"Tia Uz!" Ami, poking her head out of Eda's mane, beamed as she spied the Dominican girl and her plus one. "Tia Mit!"
And without any thought or care, the baby half-witch jumped towards her aunties, shocking the older adults aned making them scream in worry….
"AMI!"
"OH, SWEET TITAN SHE JUMPED!"
…Before Domino quickly caught her and flew her over to Luz, who was quick to take her niece into her arms.
"Aye Que lindo! you are still so adorable, Ami!" Luz cooed as she nuzzled her niece's nose, then playful munching on her cheeks before wincing and patting her belly. "Oh, pardones, Azura! Mama didn't mean to ignore you."
"Azu?" Ami asked, confused.
"Si." Luz beamed, letting Ami rest an ear on her belly, where the baby could faintly hear someone moving with a beating heart. Her mismatched eyes widened and she let out gasp, then smiled and nestled in.
"Ola, Azu." Ami cooed, a sweet smile on her face. "Me Ami."
Before anyone could coo, Luz suddenly tensed, a bright smile on her face.
"Luz? D-did she…?" Amity asked, a mix of hope and worry in her voice.
"Yeah! She moved!" Luz beamed and happy gasps filled the room as Amity gently knelt down and laid a hand next to Ami, hearing the heartbeat of her unborn daughter.
"Sweet Potato, I'm fine." Luz assured her beloved. "I'm not helpless, after all. Just pregnant."
"…I know." Amity smiled. "Sorry."
"No worries." Oum smiled, taking Amity and Luz's coats. "Bee was the same with me when I was pregnant with Anne."
"And Ollie was the same when Anne was pregnant." Luz smiled, kissing Amity on the cheek.
"Speaking of whom…" Eda smiled evilly. "Did you two…?"
"The very same night." Amity beamed in pride.
Flashback-Two nights ago
"Look, in my defense, you were out on a mapping journey last I'd heard." Olivier sighed, massaing his temple for the umpteenth time.
"And you know I'd put it on hold for my goddaughter! Besides, Luz is in a bit of baby fever as she starts to show, so seeing her niece would be good for her."
Olivier couldn't deny that: When Ami was a few weeks old, Anne and Olivier had taken her to The Boiling Isles too met the extended family and friends, as part of Luz's Quinceanera. And what a difference those weeks had made; it was almost as if they had never seen the baby!
It had been a fun day; party games, catching up…and for Luz, the best gift was a vacation cruise in the sky with Amity. That was, until Ami, who'd dozed off, awoke as the skyship took off and cried at all the noise. Hearing the baby crying, Amity had LITERALLY turned the ship around and demanded to know who she had to fight, Luz being right behind her.
If there was any doubt in Olivier and Anne's minds about making them their baby's godparents? They had died.
So, yes. Lzu and Amity HAD called the couple, right as they entered their hotel room, believe it or not. And while Luz had teased Anne before their conversation became friendly? Olivier did not receive the same grace from Amity; who'd spent a good 10 minutes droning on and on (he felt) about why he shouldn't be pressuring his in-laws when he had two awesome aunties to look after Ami.
"Did you at least finish mapping one of the islands?" Olivier asked. "Also, how was I supposed to guess mom would spontaneously give Luz a reading week and…okay, yeah, I should've seen that one coming."
Amity chuckled at that.
"As a matter of fact, we got the Scourge Islands mapped and started on the Savage lands when Luz texted me. Nagare won the coin toss, so he's taking over until we get back."
"….How're the guys doing?" Olivier asked.
"The best crew I could ask for." Amity admitted, temporarily distracted from. "Edgar's made sure the ship is in tip-top shape, the twins are wonderful boredom killers, never mind the fact we never go hungry on Nagare's watch and Karma scares off most of the sky-beasts with his illusions. Apollo is surprisingly a great gunner and Fraost scares off most of our wannabe attackers."
This made Olivier smile; it had been some time since he and the Clawthorne Coven had been able to chat in proper, but to hear they were enjoying working under Amity warmed his heart.
"I'll admit though." Amity mused. "I miss the days of the BloomBlightBoonClaw Pirates."
Olviier smiled.
"Yeah. Those were fun times…Willow and Hunter say hi, by the by."
Both Amity and Olivier's minds recalled the memories; sialing and flying on the open seas and skies, facing dangerous beasts, fighting foes new and old, Hunter finally going from rival to friend (well, as much as he could be considered such before the whole affair in Belos' mind)…and of course, the SECOND time they all saved the Boiling Isles from invasion; the first being the Sunken Isles debacle….
"Happy to hear that. Say, any word from Ben?" Amity asked, Ghost coming to live and meowing. "He's still on earth with you guys, right? Plus, Ghost misses Specter."
"Yep." Olivier smiled. "He actually works with Marsha at the Gravesfield Historic Society: Apparently, they offended a lot of people with their historically accurate edits to the exhibits; something about destroying the town culture and or pride….but tourists and I think Netflix are interested."
That made both witch and half-witch smile; aside from Camilla and the Cabin 7 members, Gravesfield was still a toxic and hypocritical place, so anything that showed this to the masses? They took it as part of revenge for what the town did to Luz.
"Oh man, I forgot? How is Gus doing?" Olivier gasped.
"He and Bria are fine." Amity smiled. "She'll be joining us on the next voyage….And, well…?"
"Yeah?" Olivier asked.
"Luz thinks Gus has been looking for a ring." Amity smirked.
The line went silent.
"…Um…Olivier?" Amity asked. "You still there?"
"…I'll call you back." Olivier said hurriedly.
"Wait, what?!" Amity roared. "Why?! What is so important for you to ignore your other littler brother figure…?"
"My goddess of a wife just finished a shower, tossed all her clothes at the foot of the bed and is giving me 'the look' with no baby girl to cry in distraction." Olivier spoke through his teeth.
"…Fair enough." Amity blushed. "Have fun."
"Oh, I most certainly will." Olivier stated, finally ending the call.
"…He is hopeless." Amity chuckled.
"Oh, Sweet Potato?"
Amity was soon distracted as she drank in the sight of her wife's own barely clad form and adoring smile….
"…Then again? So am I."
Present day
Eda smirked in pride as Amity finished telling her story. Raine and the Boonchuys on the other hand?
"So many mixed feelings." Bee and Oum said together.
"Like how much of a shame it is that we still need to wait a few more years for Olivier junior?" Raine guessed.
"Actually, they're thinking of naming him Louis now." Bee noted. "But yeah, that's one bit."
"….Not sure how to feel about that." Raine admitted.
"I do not need to know about my daughter's sex life." Oum grumbled shooting Eda a look. "And why do you?"
"Proof I raised him right if he can keep Anne happy." Eda smirked.
Throughout that whole thing, Luz, while still comfy with her niece, noticed something.
"Oh, Ami?" She cooed knowingly. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"
The baby half-witch, realizing this, reached for Amity, who took her into her arms.
"Hi there, little star." Amity smiled, tickling the baby, who grabbed one of her fingers. And in doing so? Brought Amity back to another memory.
Flashback One year ago
The waiting room was packed: The Hexside Squad, Eda, Raine, Vee, Sasha, Marcy and Camilla had been called by Bee two hours ago and dropped everything to come here: Something that had been a long time coming.
Bee was pacing back and forth, worry racking his brain., annoyed he couldn't join Oum and Olivier in the delivery room. Eda was tapping her foot in worry, Raine barely keeping her calm. Willow did the same with Hunter as Luz rocked back and fourth in her seat, her maternal instincts both excited and worried. Sasha was biting her knuckles and Marcy breathing in and out to calm herself down. Amity tried using a stress toy, but it did nothing.
Vee and Gus tried to read magazines, but couldn't focus.
They all had one thought on their minds:
'HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?!'
Finally, two hours later and clad in a hospital fatigue, Olivier Clawthorne finally appeared.
"Excuse me, Mom? Rad? Bee?" He smiled, getting their attention. "You want to meet your granddaughter?"
No words are said; they all went in. Olivier returned to his wife's side as everyone stared at the newborn baby.
"You did good, sweetheart." Mrs. Boonchuy smiled at her daughter, fighting back tears of her own. "Very good."
Anne was tired but happy, her eyes on her baby and only leaving her to kiss Olivier and receive kisses from Eda.
"She's so pretty." Vee cooed, Marcy quietly squealing in glee.
"Strong looking too." Hunter smiled, fighting back tears.
"So many broken hearts incoming." Sasha teased. "…Well, if daddy lets it."
Olivier was too engrossed to care.
"So...what name did you decide on?" Willow asked.
Olivier and Anne looked at each other, smiled and looked back.
"I think we're going to go with Amity." Anne smiled, delighting at Amity's shocked look. "To honor someone who became so strong and caring, even with a few bumps in the road."
All eyes turned onto Amity, who looked frozen. She looked to Eda, who simply smiled. If that was what Olivier and Anne decided to call her grandbaby? She'd not objected.
Olivier then cooed to his daughter. "Say hi to Auntie. Okay?"
Gently taking the baby from his wife, Olivier passed the baby over, the grandparents all sneaking kisses or nose nuzzles with the baby before she finally made her way towards Amity's arms.
"I...I don't know if I should." stuttered Amity, nervously, backing away. "Ollie, what I did to you...I still can't forgive. I'm not worthy to holding her, much less being named after her!"
Everyone looked at Amity with soft expressions; they all expected something like this.
Eda, currently holding the baby and sneaking in one more kiss on her forehead then approached Amity.
"Kid. The past is passed. let that Amity be dead and buried."
"Now woman up and your goddaughter." Olivier teased.
"Wait, what!?" Amity blushed like a Tomato, further shocked.
"Me and Anne...we talked." He explained.
"And while we almost chose Sasha as well…." Anne noted, getting a gracious nod from Sasha, who was waiting to hold the baby after Amity. "We decided to make you our baby's godmother to look after her if anything happens to us."
Amity was flabbergasted at this. "B-But, I-"
"Here." Ed, getting annoyed by this, put 'Ami' into Amity's arms.
The former Blight Heiress held froze as the baby looked up at her with big brown eyes of different color shades. It was as if even the baby was judghing her, as if asking: 'Who is this? Not mommy or daddy. Not grandma, grandpa or Raine. Who is this?'
Amity continued to stare, unsure how to react. All she could do was think of how she once hurt this baby's father; even after everything, she felt like she had no right to hold this child.
But then the baby reached out to her. It touched Amity's nose and face with her tiny hands.
"Ama...Ama." muttered the baby, trying to form words.
Amity frowned...but then finally smiled. She held the baby close as if she were her own daughter.
"I still don't feel worthy of you...but I will try to be."
Amity, tears escaping her eyes, finally hugged the baby who name they shared, shedding a tear. Luz said nothing, and simply patted her beloved on the shoulder.
Amity then handed Ami over to Sasha, who handed her back to Olivier, who smiled and returned her to Anne.
There was a silence...which Luz then broke with a question that made Amity blush so hard, she nearly passed out:
"So, when are WE gonna have baby?"
Amity became a tomato in shock.
"Si, I want to have a grandchild to!" Camila noted.
Present day
"Oh boy…" Luz said, suddenly bringing her knees together and covering her mouth.
"Bathroom?" Oum guessed knowing that look: The Sickness. Getting a nod, she and Eda helped Luz to the bathroom, while Bee and Raine rushed to check on lunch, which was about to burn.
This left Amity with her goddaughter alone. Sighing, she took a seat on the couch and decided to make the most of it….as soon as she figured out how.
Ami, for what it mattered, was happy to be in Tia Mitt's arms, and intrigued by her tattoos. And for the momet? That was enough for Amity.
TO BE CONTINUED….
Hope this makes your moving easier, MetroXLR. I'll try to do better with Amity's feelings towards baby Ami in the next chapter. To whet your appetites; a certain beloved book will be coming up for sure and Eda will have a nice moment with Amity…who will have had some measure of revenge/humiliating on Boscha and Odalia.
Sorry for the shortness; I wanted to update but the rest of the chaopter is taking a while, so I split it again. Hopefully after the next one, all the chapters will be single part stories.
This chapter/mini arc is something that MetroXLR and I have had in mind not only since starting this story, but ever since we first interacted over their drawing of Ami as a little girl. In fact, with some edits, that's where the majority of the flashback this chapter came from. As as you can read above, I clearly have plans for this, but getting them down is taking some time, plus my parents are having some health problems that I'm helping them with.
Should have part two of this arc up Monday at the latest. Happy to hear suggestions and as usual, I will give credit if I use the ideas within.
Luz's pregnancy is directly inspired by a new idea for the Ollie-verse MetroXLR shared with me, but until its properly sorted out, I will say no more of. Now, in the proper timeline, Ami and her fellow 'Owl House Next Gen' kids were born the same year, but I thought it would be sweet for Ami to showcase some big sister energy
After Luz and Amity, who would you readers lo like to see visit next? Hunter and Willow? Gwen and Dell? King and Gus? Or would you rather have a day at the museum/movies? Something else entirely? We got four more days to go and I am looking for suggestions!
Will be posting the beginning of the Cross Country arc in 'Thanks to All" next, followed by a double update for 'City of Angels' and then starting the longawaited Convention arc in 'Brought to a Boil'!
Keep safe until next time!