Beyond The Sacrifice

Epilogue

Marcel's POV

I walked through the door of our home, tired but satisfied with the day's hunt. The animals I had caught hung from my shoulder, and I couldn't wait to prepare them for the evening meal. But before I could even set them down, I heard the sound of quick footsteps.

"Marcel!" Clara's voice was full of excitement, almost like she couldn't wait to tell me something.

I chuckled as she ran straight into my arms. "Whoa, little rose," I said, laughing softly as I kissed the top of her head. Her arms wrapped around me tightly, and I could feel her heart beating fast against my chest. There was something different about her today—her eyes sparkled more than usual, and there was a glow to her face.

"What's going on?" I asked, putting the animals aside, my hands resting on her waist.

Clara pulled back a little, looking up at me with those bright green eyes that always made my heart race. Her lips trembled into a smile. "I... I have something to tell you," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with emotion.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?" I asked, trying to read her expression. She took one of my hands and placed it gently on her stomach.

"We're going to have a baby, Marcel."

For a moment, I just stared at her, frozen in place. Her words echoed in my head, but it took a few seconds to truly sink in. And when they did, joy—pure, overwhelming joy—flooded my chest. I let out a breathless laugh, my eyes wide as I looked between her face and the hand she'd placed on her belly.

"A baby?" I repeated, my voice almost shaking with emotion.

Clara nodded, her smile growing as tears welled up in her eyes.

Without thinking, I lifted her off the ground, spinning her around in my arms. "A baby! We're going to be parents!" I laughed, feeling like my heart might burst from happiness. I could hear her laughing too, her arms wrapped around my neck as I held her close.

When I finally set her back on the ground, I couldn't stop smiling. I cupped her face in my hands, kissing her forehead, her cheeks, and finally her lips. "You're going to be the most amazing mother, Clara."

"And you'll be an incredible father," she whispered back, her eyes shining with love.

Still overwhelmed with emotion, I knelt down, resting my head against her stomach. I closed my eyes, listening as if I could hear the tiny life growing inside her. I kissed her belly softly and whispered, "Hey there, little one."

Clara's fingers combed through my hair, and I looked up at her, my heart so full I thought it might burst.

I stood up and pulled her into my arms again, holding her tight as if I never wanted to let go. "You made me the luckiest man alive," I said softly, resting my forehead against hers.

[9 months later]

I paced back and forth outside our home, my heart racing with every scream Clara let out. I ran a hand through my hair, frustration and fear clawing at me. Loric sat nearby, looking way too calm for the chaos going on inside, while Darian leaned against the wall, trying to reassure me.

"Relax, Marcel," Loric said, his tone too casual for my liking. "Blanche had a rough time with our first too, but everything turned out fine."

"Easy for you to say," I muttered, tension thick in my voice. "You weren't standing here, listening to every scream."

Another pained cry from Clara pierced the air, making my heart feel like it was being torn apart. I wanted to be with her, to hold her hand and tell her everything would be fine. But the midwife had been firm: this part was for the women.

Darian finally spoke. "Clara is strong, and she's got all the help she needs. Just hang in there."

I tried. I really did. But the sound of her screaming... It was unbearable. Every muscle in my body tensed with each one. It felt like time had slowed to a crawl, every second dragging on for what felt like hours. I clenched my fists, helpless and angry that there was nothing I could do to ease her pain.

And then, suddenly, the screaming stopped followed by the cries of a baby.

I froze, holding my breath as a tense silence filled the air. I stared at the door, half-expecting something awful. Then, it swung open, and the midwife stepped out, a smile on her lips.

"It's a girl," she said, her smile wide and warm.

I couldn't move at first, couldn't breathe. The world seemed to tilt for a moment as I stood there. I have a daughter. My daughter.

"She's waiting for you," the midwife added, stepping aside to let me through.

I walked inside, my heart pounding in my chest. I barely noticed anything else except Clara, lying on the bed, looking pale and exhausted but smiling at me. My eyes darted to the small baby cradled in her arms.

"Come here, meet Elora" Clara whispered, her voice soft and filled with so much love it broke me.

I sank down beside her, my breath shaky as I looked at our daughter for the first time. She made a small sound, a soft whimper, and I reached out, gently brushing my finger against her tiny cheek. I felt like I was falling in love all over again, but this time it was with two people—my wife and this beautiful little girl we made together.

"She's perfect," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat.

Clara smiled, tears shimmering in her eyes. "She is."

I bent down and pressed my lips against Clara's forehead. "You did it," I whispered. My gaze moved back to the baby, and I couldn't stop the wave of emotion that crashed over me.

My family. Clara, our daughter. It was everything I never knew I needed.

"Thank you," I whispered, looking into Clara's tired, loving eyes. "For making me the luckiest man alive."

THE REAL END