In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 34 - New Goals

Goldwath slammed his paw on the meeting room table.

"Alright everyone, listen up. If we're gonna take down Dazzling, you're gonna have to take all my words into consideration, since I know him from experience. He's a tough nut to break, you wouldn't believe it."

"And we also have to remove Suizul from the throne, along with Starshern and her psycho niece," added Ultramine with bitterness in his mouth. "We'll help you, Justice League. And Goldwath. Aquamarine and I."

Goldwath looked to the King and Queen with warmth. He was starting to appreciate the King a lot more than before. He nodded to the Thanagarian, who returned the gesture.

"Alright. Here's what we do. Get closer everyone..."

***

"How you doing, love?"

After the meeting ended and the game plan was set, Goldwath went ahead and visited Lazuli in the Medical Bay. The princess wearily raised her head, her eyes half open. Though still exhausted, she stared at him with amusement. "Worst experience ever, 0/10, would not recommend," she chuckled. She looked back to their child and plopped her fluffy tail over her, hearing the little one squeak. "Look... There she is.."

Goldwath nuzzled his head on Lazuli's cheek, taking in her scent. It was sweet, but it was mixed with pain and trauma. It pained him that this whole ordeal had happened to her when it shouldn't have. That he could have been there to protect her and their children. Protect their son from dying prematurely. He clenched his paws, determined to do everything in his power to be there for her, to care for Lazuli and now their newborn daughter, the next heir to the Atlantean throne. For now, he took in the sweet and motherly scent while having his sight occupied on their daughter.

"Moons of Thanagar, she's gorgeous," he remarked with a soft chuckle back.

"Isn't she? She looks just like you."

"No, I'd say she's much more like you."

"Mmwrah!" their daughter interrupted their conversation, rising clumsily to her hind legs and slamming her front paws down to Lazuli's tail. They both chuckled.

"Hehe, aww! She's got my spirit," Goldwath added proudly, puffing out his chest.

"She'd be a great warrior."

"Ohhhh no, oh no no. Her small size would be a huge disadvantage."

The princess laughed, before stopping to hiss out the pain. She rubbed her abdomen, sighing.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a worried tone, kissing her.

Shaking her head, she smiled back at him. "Well, what should we call her?" Lazuli asked softly. He blinked, looking away. Names. That topic never came to his mind up until now. "I'm...not sure," Goldwath answered honestly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Probably should have planned that earlier eh? Hah.."

Lazuli bapped Goldwath's nose. "You dingus."

He laughed, rubbing his nose and looking at their daughter.

We thought that was it but we were informed there was one more. We had to deliver the little one ourselves.

The words about Goldwath and Lazuli's second born came back to haunt his mind. He still saw it from afar, the little body wrapped up in a towel to soon be buried.

We tried everything we can to save the little guy, but....unfortunately, by the time we had pulled him out... He was dead.

Oh buddy, you didn't deserve to have your newly formed life be cruelly snatched away from you too soon before you could even take your first breath, Goldwath lamented in his mind. You should be here, alive and well, curled up beside your mother and sister, playing with them.

"What do you think?"

He snapped himself from the pain and looked back to Lazuli. "Of what?" he asked her gently, slightly choking.

"Orca."

Orca. It stuck to him, better than any Thanagarian names he knew. He reached out his paw to his daughter, Orca, who immediately reached out with a small "mrah!" and nibbled on it. All grief seemed to temporarily vanish as a smile widened across his face, the feeling of love comforting him. "I love it," he responded. He pulled her close to him and gave her a little nuzzle, which made her squeak. "Is it a permanent name or temporary?"

"I was thinking temporary until you had a different name in mind," Lazuli answered, raising an eyebrow. "Or if not, then permanently."

He raised his head, looking to her, then looked back again to his dead son. "No. No Thanagarian name I know would suit our daughter. No, I... I like Orca-"

"Goldwath, you keep looking back. What's over there?"

Probably should have been more subtle than be obvious, he had realized. He shook his head; Lazuli can't know about their deceased son. No. She was already in a fragile state at the moment, with the coup, the death of her friend, and the stressful delivery of Orca.

He had to lie.

"Nothing, I was just clearing my mind--"

"Goldwath."

He gritted his teeth, heart pounding. *Whatever you do, do* not *mention him to her.* "I--"Lazuli narrowed her eyes, cutting him off. "No, stop. You know, you guys have been secretive about something ever since I awoke from the birth. I thought I was just still tired but now I slowly pieced the strange puzzle you all shoved at my paws. Something has been off. My only child, a strange scar on my belly.... You think I'm stupid? Where's the other one?"

"No, love, I don't think you're stupid," he quickly rushed before fumbling his words. "I... Uhm--" *She found out. What do I do?*

Do not *mention him.*

Goldwath scrambled to form words as he reached out to Lazuli. "I-- Lazuli, you need to understand: he--"

"He?!" Lazuli looked around her. "I knew I was carrying more than one pup. Where is he?"

Goldwath blinked, already feeling tears welling. He stood up, defeated, and headed to the wrapped up blanket. He picked it up gently and laid the bundle in front of Lazuli's paws. "... He's dead, love." He looked away sadly. "We did have a son, along with Orca. Your mother and the others, they... Well. They tried to save him when you had passed out... But it was too late. He had died before he even was born..."

Even though he couldn't see it, he could already tell Lazuli was having the shock of her life, eyes wide and jaws agape. He picked up the sudden increase in her breathing, becoming quick hitches. He finally turned back to her; Lazuli was having a complete and silent mental breakdown. He gently rubbed her back but she quickly swatted his paw away with such a temper he had never seen before.

"Get rid of it..."

"Love--"

She jerked her head down, eyes tightly shut. "I SAID GET RID OF IT!! RIGHT NOW! I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIS LIFELESS LITTLE BODY ANY LONGER! PLEASE, GOLDWATH!! I BEG!!" she shouted as she grabbed his arms tightly, tears rolling down her face. "I-I can't bear it. Clams and pearls, this shouldn't be happening; this should have never happened! I-I can't do this, I give up--"

"Now hold on! Don't say that, love, of course you can do it!" Goldwath gently snapped, nodding to Orca. "We still have her, not all hope is lost."

Lazuli didn't let go of Goldwath; she stared at his chest, breathing heavily. "But.... She is premature. She is so small, so weak... What if I can't raise her properly? What if I fail, what if- ...what if she ends up just like him?" She looked back to the blanket.

Goldwath kissed her forehead. "I ensure you that is not going to happen," he told her confidently, picking up the little bundle. "You're strong enough to get through this. I know you well, love. You can get through everything."

She looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes, not saying a word.

He didn't have to hope if he was right as she let go of him and retreated back to their daughter.

He knew it.

Lazuli would be the greatest mom there was.


{To be continued...}