Guardian

act 2. iv. be alright

They stay for 2 weeks until they're sure Hope and Zay are okay.

Since Hope had a complete natural birth, she was in pain for an entire week. She's still healing but she was able to make it downstairs by herself today.

"Momma, you're walking!" Zyra exclaims happily as Hope wobbles into the kitchen holding her small daughter.

Marie irks her eyebrow at your daughter while placing a plate of food in front of Lian and Aurora. "You shouldn't have walked down the stairs with the baby, Hope."

Hope glares at Marie, to which her mother raises her hands in defense.  "My nipples are sore from breastfeeding, so I need a bottle that I pumped."

"On it," Marie says as moves her way back to the kitchen.

"Where's Zay?" Ally asks, taking the small baby from Hope as she slowly sat down.

"He went to go get an escort to take us back home," Hope sighs, staring at the food that her younger sister was eating. "Lian, can I have some of your eggs?"

Lian pauses from eating her food to chuckle. "I'll just go get you a plate. I put sugar in my eggs."

"Gross."

"You ate straight mayonnaise when you were pregnant with Zy. Don't 'gross' me." She replies before getting up to go to the kitchen.

Hope looks around notices her other newly found sister isn't here. "Where's Yuele?"

"She's with grandpa," Zyra says as she eats her plate of pancakes. "He came back and they finally met! How cool is that?!"

"You're not supposed to talk with your mouth full," Aria comments, moving her small hand over to close her mouth. "You might choke."

Zyra looks over at her cousin as she quickly crews her food. After swallowing it, she grins at Aria. "Cool! Thanks! Let's be best friends!"

Aria shrinks under her excited stare but still nods. "Okay," she speaks quietly, though Zyra hears it loud and clear.

"Yay!" She exclaims, moving over to Aria's chair to hug her tightly, to which Aria disappears at the sudden action, but the hyper five year old does not care. "Momma, I have a best friend!"

Hope looks tiredly at her hyper daughter, though she had a small smile on her face. She loves her daughter. The girl was always happy and excited. "That's great, sweetheart."

Lian comes back with a plate of eggs, bacon, and grapes for Hope. She looks at her young sister in gratitude. "Thanks, Lian."

Marie comes back with a warm bottle for the baby. "So, have you guys thought of a name? It's been a week."

Hope nods as she takes the small infant back from Ally. "Yeah, Cai," Hope says, smiling down at her daughter. "It means colorful. Zay thought of it."

"I approved it!" Zyra speaks with a bright grin.

"Yeah, she did," Hope giggles as she grabs the bottle from her mother's hand. "Thanks, mom."

Marie leans down to kiss her forehead as she moves past her. "When you get healed, I want lots of visits. Like, monthly. Or else, I'll come visit you and you know I like to overstay my welcome."

Hope chuckles and playfully rolls her eyes as she feeds the small baby. "Of course, mom."

//

As the crew makes it back to their village, Izabel laugh as Nick immediately meets her inside the castle and hugs her tightly. "Hey, babe."

"Hey! You were supposed to be gone for a day; not two weeks," he laughs, kissing her lips for a moment. He pulls away at the gagging of the little ones as they enter as well. He blows raspberries at them before moving his hand into Izabel's as he ushers her away. "C'mon, I have a surprise."

As Nick and Izabel scurry away, Austin lifts a drowsy Aria up into his arms. "You tired, munchkin?"

She nods as she yawns, falling into the crook of his neck. Austin looks at the girls. "I'm gonna put Aria down for a nap. If you girls aren't tired, you can go play outside until it's time to come inside."

The two girls squeal excitedly before running outside.

Ally chuckles at them. "I'm going up to the room to change."

After he tucks Aria in, he kisses her forehead and makes his way to their bedroom. It was only a few doors down. All of their girls stayed in the same hall.

Austin unlocks their door with his key before coming inside. His eyes widen at the sight of rose pettles and candles spread all among their room. "Uh, Als?" He calls, looking around the room. Was this a trap or—

His thoughts out interrupted by his Miracle Warlock of a wife exiting their bathroom with a loosely tied silk robe. She smirks at him. "Hi."

Austin licks his lips. He didn't care how many times he saw her naked; it never failed to turn him on. Still, he approaches her with a weary look. "I know what you're doing and Ally, I said I'd think about it."

"Okay, I'm giving you more to think about," she says, smiling as she skips her way over to him. She doesn't wait a moment to clasp her hands behind his head and rub the hairs on his neck. "So... whatcha thinkin, love?"

One thing that made it extra worth it marrying Ally: as the years went on, she became more and more self aware. She knew what she was doing to him. She knew exactly how to seduce him and get her anything she wants. She doesn't need a seductive charm or anything; she knows exactly what he likes.

"We would have to be more careful for a year."

"Mhm."

"And, you know, be prepared for more fighting from the girls. You know how it was when Aria was born."

"Yup."

"Not-Not to mention the baby would be born in the spring, which is right after the winter and we all know how the winters goes in the village," he was running out of things to say and she knew it. "You know, it-it's going to be cold and we're going to have to do more supply runs, so I'll be gone for a lot of the time and what if you—"

"Austin?"

"Yep?"

"You're rambling," she murmurs, leaning to his lips as she stared up at him. "Just make love to me."

Austin opens his mouth to splurge out more bullshit before Ally takes the initiative and finally kisses him. That's all the push he needs to push the robe off of her body.

Another baby wouldn't hurt at all.