To outshine the darkness

Chapter 14

Leonora Vermillion P.O.V.

I lean my back against the wall of the Black Bull base and turn my face toward the sun as I close my eyes. "Here ya go" I open my eyes and take the tea from Yami. He sits down on the bench next to me. "What are you doing all the way out here?" He asks. I close my eye as I look at him. "You're telling me you don't want me to visit?" I ask teasingly. He immediately gets an annoyed expression. "We're going that way?" He asks. "I'm just teasing" I say smiling before taking a sip of my tea. "I needed some herbs, that can be found in these forrests. So I thought I'd come visit" I say. "Don't they sell herbs in the capital?" Yami asks as he lights a cigarette. "They do. But the fresher, the better" I answer. "You alright?" He asks looking at me. "I'm fine. It's just that the nausea won't bother me as much, and I can eat normally. Rather have it as a precaution, that I have it close for whenever I need it" I say. "I see" Yami says, smiling slightly. "How was the tournament yesterday?" Yami asks. "My hands were itching to participate" I sigh and stretch my legs out in front of me, crossing them at my ankles. I smile slightly. "Our kids did good" I say softly before taking a sip of my tea. "So they did" Yami says. "How is Finral doing?" I ask. "He is recovering in his room, his confidence got quite a dent though" he sighs. "Yeah I bet. I was heading down too just like Asta, Luck and Magna but Leopold stopped me" I say. Yami smiles. "Yeah they told me, but they appreciated the sentiment" he says. "They're still family. All of them" I say softly. "I know babe" Yami says. For a moment we just sit there in silence, looking at the wind blowing through the grass, and the leaves in the trees. "Why do you keep smiling like that?" Yami asks after a while. "Because you make me feel at ease Yami. It's a nice change than the tension at home, or at the crimson lion" I say. "Your brother and sister don't make you feel at ease?" Yami asks. "Not like this. They try. But it's different"

With my eyes closed, my head leaning against the wall, I enjoy the sun on my face. I open my eyes when I feel fingertips against my cheek and jaw. "If you're that tired baby, why don't you go up and take a nap. You can't fly back like that" Yami says softly. "I'm not that tired" I say. "You look a bit tired" he says. "I am just a bit" I smile. Yami sighs and smiles as well. "You're still a stubborn jerk, aren't ya?" Yami asks. "Hormones only made it worse" I say. Yami first looks at me surprised and then starts laughing loudly. I soon join him, even when I see a silver flicker in the sky coming this way. Both our laughs turn to chuckles when Nozel lands. "Why am I not surprised to find you here?" He sighs as he steps off the eagle. It disappears immediately. "You didn't waste any time to take her back" Yami says. "Actually I came here for Noelle" Nozel says, I see the judgement in his eyes as he looks at the base. "Noelle is out today" Yami says. "I see. Might as well take you back, as you disobeyed me already" Nozel says looking at me sharply as I stand up. "Wouldn't talk to her like that when she's pregnant if I were you" Yami says amused. "How would you know that?" Nozel scoffs. Yami grins slightly. "She's been pregnant before" he says and this time I look at him sharply. "Tells me enough about your seed since she lost it" Nozel says. Obviously annoying Yami. "What did you say?" He asks immediately. Before either one can say anything I smack them on the back of their heads. "Oy!" Yami says as he rubs the back of his head and Nozel looks at me annoyed as he does the same thing. "What did I say about the childish bickering?" I ask. I sigh deeply as neither of them respond and they both look away. "Let's just go" I sigh, giving Nozel a slight push. "Don't forget your broom" Yami says as he lights a cigarette. He smiles at me though. "I'll see you" I say smiling slightly at him as I grab the broom. Nozel helps me onto the eagle he just conjured before climbing on as well and take off. "This disappoints me Leonora" he says. "I didn't do anything but drink tea. He's still a friend Nozel" I say. "I needed to be in this Forrest for herbs so why can't I stop by?"

In a comfortable chair I sit near the window of our bedroom. I may complain a lot, but their view is amazing. I stare at the box on my lap. For a long while I just stare at if before hesitantly opening it, and the letter that's on top. My dearest Leonora. I scoff. Your father and I are so happy to hear about your pregnancy and the prospect of becoming grandparents. I scoff once more. I remember when I was pregnant with Mereoleona, how scared and anxious I was. This anxiousness always stayed, during all my pregnancies, but I found something that calmed me down. I bought you all the supplies and hope it'll help you as much as it helped me. Let me or your father know if you need anything. All my love, Okaasan. I sigh deeply as I doubt the sincerity of it. I put it on the table next to my chair and find embroidery cloth, with a drawing of the Silva and Vermillion crest as well as a lion and an eagle. Besides that there's an embroidery  loop and colored yarn and needles. I put the box down and the supplies except for the cloth on the table. For a moment I just stare at it before readying a needle, and put the cloth between the embroidery loop.I start at the Vermillion crest. Unfortunately it does calm me down. I start humming a lullaby, and don't even hear Nozel come in. "What is that you're humming?!" He asks sharply. "A lullaby, Nozel. Am I not allowed?" I ask annoyed as he places a cup of tea for me on the table. "Of course you are.. it's just.." he hesitates for a minute. "My mother used to sing that for me and my siblings" he says softly. I smile slightly. "Acier-san had good taste" I say softly. "I keep forgetting you knew her too.." he says. I smile again and put the cloth on the table and take my tea. Nozel kneels down in front of me and press a kiss against my stomach as he places his hands on my waist. "Are you going to sing this to our baby?" He asks, placing his cheek against my stomach. "Perhaps" I say as I softly stroke the back of his head with my fingers. "I'd like you to" he mumbles as he closes his eyes.