𝑬𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟑𝟐

Aveline sighed, flipping through the baby name book once again, her hand resting on her swollen belly. "Come on, little one. Don't you want to meet us already?" she muttered, feeling another strong kick from inside. She groaned, laying her head back against the pillow. She had been fed up for weeks now, but this was a new level of impatience. Aveline was 40 weeks along and there was no sign of the baby. Marcus, of course, was stuck in a trial, and she was counting the minutes until he returned.

Another kick. "Alright, alright. I get it, you're restless too," she said, rubbing her stomach soothingly.

Her thoughts drifted to names again. Despite flipping through pages, nothing had clicked. They still hadn't settled on the perfect names yet. And with no way of knowing whether it was a boy or girl, the process was taking longer than she liked. Marcus had suggested some names, but nothing felt quite right.

Carlisle had reassured them multiple times that everything was progressing normally, but Aveline was still impatient. The baby was stubbornly refusing to leave the comfort of her womb, and she just wanted to hold them already.

Aveline's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. She looked up to see Marcus, his tall figure framed by the soft light from the hallway. His expression was weary, no doubt from the trial, but the moment his eyes landed on her, it softened, the lines of stress on his face easing.

"Finally," Aveline murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips as she extended her hand toward him.

Marcus didn't hesitate. He moved to her side, slipping into bed with her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders as he pulled her close. His other hand instinctively found its place on her belly, feeling for the familiar flutter of their baby beneath her skin.

"How's our little one?" he asked softly, his smile widening when he felt a strong kick beneath his palm.

"They're not exactly cooperating," Aveline huffed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Kicking like crazy."

Marcus chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Seems like they're taking after you already. Stubborn," he teased, though his voice was full of warmth.

Aveline sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "And we still don't have names," she muttered, her frustration returning for a moment.

"Then let's figure it out now," Marcus said, his hand gently tracing circles on her belly. "I can't have you this stressed." He reached for the baby name book she had been reading and opened it to where she had left off.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, still thumbing through the pages as he scanned the names.

"I'm ready for this baby to be out," Aveline grumbled, though her irritation was tempered by the comfort of Marcus's presence. "But honestly, I missed you more."

Marcus paused, his smile returning as he turned his head to look at her. "I missed you too," he said softly, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. Then, with a mischievous grin, he lowered his head to her bump, speaking in a mock stern voice. "Alright, little one, let's give your mother a break, shall we?"

As if in response, the baby gave a solid kick, right beneath Marcus's palm. He laughed, the sound deep and warm, before resting his head gently against her belly. "They're going to be as strong-willed as you, I can already tell."

Aveline laughed lightly, feeling the tension in her body ease as Marcus's presence filled the room with warmth. "I want the name to be perfect, Marcus," she murmured, her voice softer now. "It needs to mean something special, especially since our baby is going to be... well, extraordinary."

"Of course," Marcus agreed, his voice full of pride and affection. "What are you thinking?"

Aveline sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "I was thinking something elegant, powerful, but not too overwhelming."

Marcus flipped through the book, scanning names thoughtfully. "Something timeless," he mused. "A name that will carry them through centuries, not just years."

Aveline nodded in agreement, reaching for the book and flipping through a few pages. Her eyes lit up when she spotted a name she liked. "How about Lucian for a boy?" she suggested, her voice carrying a note of excitement. "It means 'light.'"

Marcus's brow furrowed as he considered the name, then slowly nodded. "Lucian... it's strong. I like it."

"And for the second name," Aveline continued, flipping through a few more pages, "we could go with Valen. It means 'strong' or 'powerful.' Light and strength—it feels fitting for him, doesn't it?"

Marcus smiled, clearly pleased. "Lucian Valen Volturi... It sounds perfect. Light and strength. He'll be a force to be reckoned with."

Aveline grinned, the weight of uncertainty about the boy's name finally lifting from her shoulders. "Yes, I think so too. Lucian Valen."

Marcus's hand remained on her belly as he looked at her, his voice softening with love. "Lucian Valen... our son. He'll be remarkable, just like his mother."

Aveline felt her heart swell, and her eyes grew misty as she met Marcus's gaze. "And just like his father," she whispered, her voice full of affection.

Marcus pressed a soft kiss to her lips before pulling back and giving her a teasing grin. "Now... what about if it's a girl?" he asked, flipping through the book once more.

Aveline's eyes sparkled with amusement as she took the book from his hands, scanning the pages until she landed on a name that caught her attention. "What about Ariadne?" she suggested, her voice thoughtful. "It has a regal feel to it."

Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ariadne... I like it. It's elegant, timeless."

Aveline smiled, nodding as she ran her fingers over the printed name. "For the second name... how about Regina? It means 'queen' or 'ruler.'"

Marcus's smile widened as he considered the combination. "Ariadne Regina Volturi. It's perfect. She'll carry both grace and power, just like her mother."

Aveline chuckled, resting her head against Marcus's shoulder once more. "Lucian Valen or Ariadne Regina... either way, they're going to be perfect."

Marcus's voice softened as he spoke again. "They'll be strong, just like their mother," he murmured, his hand brushing against her belly as he gazed at her with adoration.

"And loved, just like their father," Aveline replied, feeling a sense of peace settle over her.

For a moment, everything felt right. The worry about the names, the uncertainty of the future—it all faded away as they shared this quiet moment together, imagining their lives with their child. The baby gave another kick, as if impatient to meet them, and they both laughed.

"Alright, little one," Aveline whispered, her hand resting on her belly. "We're ready whenever you are."

Marcus chuckled, leaning down to kiss her bump. "Yes, we are," he murmured, his voice full of tenderness. "We can't wait to meet you."

They stayed like that for a while, just the two of them and the baby between them, enjoying the warmth of each other's company. The future felt bright, full of promise, and despite the challenges they knew were ahead, they were ready.

And when the time came, they would welcome their child—whether it was Lucian Valen or Ariadne Regina—with open arms, hearts full of love, and a future full of possibilities.