Elunara walked into the room and spun around. "Varian!" She gasped.
"I spared no expense. Hell, I ordered four consultants to bring me the works." He grinned.
"This is far more than I ever had for any of my children."
"I even have an army of nurses and nannies on hand."
"You might as well fire them all right now." She shook her head. "I don't believe in maids, and I'll certainly be raising our child personally."
"I didn't mean to offend."
Shaking her head, she kissed his cheek. "No, you never will. It's just the truth of my existence."
"Anything for you." He breathed, as he laid his hands on her still small belly. "Perhaps we should name her..." He hesitated. "If it's alright."
"Well, being who I am, I can guarantee her survival, so yes, a name is alright." She laid her hands over his. "Why don't you name her?
"Really?"
"Please."
"Then... may I name her Emaline?"
"Emaline it is."
"Oh, I wish I could feel her." He sighed.
"Maybe you can." Closing her eyes, she focused her energy into Varian's hands. Pulling out the trail of energy, she connected the life energy of the baby to Varian's hands.
"That... That's her?" He breathed. "I feel her tiny heartbeat!" He marveled.
"Isn't it beautiful? She whispered.
Kneeling, he placed his cheek against her belly. "Hello, my daughter." He murmured. "You may not know me now, but you WILL know me. This I swear." He blinked up at Elunara. "What is that I feel?"
"She's responding to your voice. She may not understand you, but your tone speaks to her."
---
"Hello, Bradly."
Sitting under the tree, he blinked up and just openly stared.
"How are you today?"
"Norma..."
"Who's Norma?" She giggled nervously. "My name is Evelyn."
With a sigh, he closed his book and stood up. "What did you do to yourself?" He held up a lock of freshly dyed hair. "You looked better as a brunette."
"But..."
"Why are you trying so hard to look like Lydia?" Frowning he pulled out his knife and cut the laces on her corset.
She gasped for air. "Oh!" She put a hand to her chest and tried to readjust her top.
"Let them go." He said quietly. "You don't have to stuff them." Brushing his hand on her cheek, he sighed. "Norma, don't change yourself to impress me. It won't work."
"But..."
"No. If you don't stick to your true self, you'll never find happiness." He chuckled. "That sounds like something my mother would say. However, it's true. If you really want to impress me, then be Lydia's friend."
"What?" This new track floored her.
"She has so few friends as it is, it would make me extremely happy if you'd just try to be her friend, and not some kind of side competition."
"I don't understand." She pouted.
"It's been awhile since I've seen you. You should understand that my mother has three husbands and a wife, and one of her husbands has another wife. This only works because they're all friends. You should see them together, it's beautiful. If you want my attention, then you will be the friend of the woman I love. I freely admit that I just got out of a terrible relationship with someone who hated the people I love. I can't do that again."
"I... I didn't know..."
"Norma, be who YOU want to be, and be friends with my family, and then maybe we can figure something out, alright?"
Considering his words, she sighed. "Alright." She said quietly. "But, can I keep Evelyn? I HATE being called Norma."
"Only if it'll make you happy." He smiled.
"I also kind of like being blonde." She fiddled with her hair.
"Alright." He laughed.
The next day, she made her way down to the training yard. "Um, hello."
Both Lydia and Susan blinked up. "Hello." Lydia smiled.
"C-can I sit down?" She fidgeted.
"Of course." Lydia made some room. "How have you been Norma?"
"I'd... I'd rather prefer if you'd call me Evelyn."
"Yeah, sure, ok. I can do that. How are you, Evelyn?"
"I... I like your babies!" She blurted.
"Um, thanks." Lydia ran a hand over one of the sleeping forms. "I don't think you're here about them."
"Bradly... Bradly told me..."
"I'm aware of what Bradly told you." Lydia smiled.
"I'm sorry!" Evelyn began to shake. "I'm so sorry. I... when I heard that... when I heard that he'd given up on you, I thought it was my chance." Pressing her hands to her chest, she began to cry. "I've had such a huge crush on him for so long, and I thought..." She hiccupped. "I thought... I feel so foolish." Tears streamed down her face.
"Hey, hey, stop." Lydia wrapped her arms around the other woman. "No, don't do that." She brushed her cheek against Evelyn's hair. "I remember you from back then. You were that little chubby kid that everyone picked on when they weren't picking on me. You used to hide in the corners and do what anyone else made you. You were never cruel to me, you were just too afraid of everyone else."
"I-I just didn't know what to do!"
"I can feel your misery. But I know what it was like too. Please don't be sad. I could never dislike you."
"You... You mean it?"
"I do."
"LYDIA!"
Evelyn yelped and tried to scoot behind Lydia.
"What now, Gingy?"
"Don't be like that. I need your approval on my design." She shoved her notebook down into Lydia's face.