The Halfing

Chapter 8: Reunited, Part 2

After Rayla went upstairs, neither she nor Callum came back down. Everyone assumed they were exhausted from their ordeal and took up their spots to sleep like they had that first night in the house. Ezran was the first to awake the next morning. He stood up and noticed that Sarai hadn't come and jumped on him like she had when they were traveling to Xadia. Out of concern, he decided to check on her and make sure Viren hadn't taken her again in the night. Quietly as he could, he crept upstairs to Sarai's door and opened it.

She was still asleep on her bed, but he couldn't help but chuckle a little. Callum and Rayla were on either side of their daughter, their arms wrapped around each other and keeping her secure between them. No way Viren would be able to sneak in without being noticed again, not when they were with her like that. Ezran wished he was as good an artist as Callum so he could capture the moment, but as it stood he wasn't. He'd hold onto the memory, though; maybe he'd describe it later for someone. Quietly, he closed the door to let the little family get their rest.

"They awake yet?" Soren asked when Ezran came downstairs. He'd apparently woken up while Ezran was checking on the three former prisoners.

"Not yet, but they're together. I don't think they wanted to be apart from Sarai again."

Upstairs, Callum was the first to stir. He felt warm, and safe, and really and truly happy for the first time in two months. As he opened his eyes, his heart swelled even more to see his two favorite people in the world—his wife and his daughter—curled up asleep beside him. They were both with him, safe and sound and free. Sarai mumbled to herself and cuddled closer to him. She'd always preferred his body heat to her mother's, but that was mostly because he had more of it. Rayla was the exact same way... especially with her cold-as-ice feet.

As if she'd sensed him thinking about her, Rayla's eyes fluttered open.

"Morning," he whispered.

"Mornin'," she echoed in reply with a smile.

Sarai shifted between them and Rayla glanced down at their daughter with a smile.

"We're really together again."

"Yeah, we are."

They leaned forward and shared a kiss. Once again, Sarai moved but this time she was sitting up. Her eyes were still bleary from sleep as she looked from her mother to her father, then a smile spread across her face.

"This is a nice dream..." she mumbled.

"It's not a dream, Moonbug. We're back together again, as a family."

Sarai's eyes widened and she tackled Callum in a hug, as if to make sure he was really real. He laughed, ruffling her hair.

"It's real." Rayla glanced at the door, then slid off the bed to peek through the keyhole.

"All right, Sarai. Before we do anythin' else, your father and I have somethin' ta tell ya."

"What is it?!" Her eyes were wide with excitement.

"Ya can't tell anyone. Especially not your uncle Soren—he can't keep a secret!"

"I promise. What is it?"

"Well, while we were imprisoned in Viren's fortress, Claudia found out something about your mama," Callum explained. "And you're going to have a little brother or sister."

Sarai nearly fell off the bed as she threw her arms up happily. Rayla caught her daughter just in time, laughing along with Callum.

"Which one?!"