This takes place a few years after Y/n arrived in twst
-Author
Years had passed since the chaos of Night Raven College, yet life had only grown brighter for you and Leona Kingscholar. While Leona's pride and sharp tongue remained as fierce as ever, time—and you—had mellowed him. The two of you had built a life together in the Sunset Savannah, far away from royal duties or the weight of comparison that had once pressed so heavily on his shoulders.
It was a peaceful afternoon. Warm sunlight poured through the windows of your modest home, bathing everything in a golden glow. Leona lounged on the couch in his usual fashion—sprawled out, shirt rumpled, tail lazily flicking off the edge. He had one arm behind his head and the other draped across his chest, his eyes closed as though he were napping.
You stood in the doorway to the living room, wringing your hands as you watched him. You had news—big news—and though you'd rehearsed telling him a hundred times, you still couldn't shake the butterflies swirling in your stomach.
You took a shaky breath, clenching your fists. Okay, Y/N. Just say it. He's your husband, not a monster.
"Leona?"
The deep rumble of his voice emerged from the couch. "Mmm?"
You stepped closer, hands trembling as you tucked them behind your back. "Can you sit up for a second?"
His brow furrowed faintly, but he cracked one emerald eye open, peering at you with suspicion. "Why? I'm comfortable."
"Please, Leona," you added softly.
That word—soft and just shy of nervous—was enough to stir him. Grumbling under his breath, he hauled himself into a sitting position, one hand tousling his already-messy hair. "What's the fuss, huh?"
You shifted on your feet. "I... I have something to tell you. But you need to promise me you'll listen, okay?"
He sat up straighter, ears twitching as he studied you. His gaze softened slightly when he saw the nervous way you wrung your hands. "What's wrong? Did someone say somethin' to you? Who do I need to—"
"No, no! Nothing like that." You shook your head quickly, your voice a little shaky.
Leona stared for another beat, then let out an exaggerated sigh, his sharp grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Alright, fine. You've got my attention. Now spill it."
Taking a deep breath, you looked him straight in the eye, your heart pounding in your chest. "Leona... I'm pregnant."
Time seemed to stop.
Leona froze. His emerald eyes widened, flickering with something unreadable—shock, disbelief, and a flash of awe. His mouth opened slightly as though to say something, but no words came out. The infamous Leona Kingscholar, sharp-tongued and quick-witted, was speechless.
You bit your lip, your hands nervously grasping the hem of your shirt. "Leona...?"
Then it happened—his face broke into the widest, most genuine grin you'd ever seen. His sharp canines glinted in the sunlight as he let out a loud, joyous laugh that rumbled deep in his chest.
"You're serious?" he blurted, his voice brighter than you'd ever heard it.
You nodded, unable to hide the smile tugging at your lips. "Yes, Leona. I'm serious."
Leona shot up from the couch so suddenly you startled, his tail lashing behind him in excitement. He paced the room, running both hands through his hair as his face lit up like a child seeing their first sunrise. "You're sayin' I'm gonna be a dad? Me?"
"Yes, you," you laughed, watching him fondly.
He stopped pacing and turned to face you, his grin wide and beaming, the proud glint in his eyes nearly blinding. "I can't believe it..." He crossed the space between you in a single step, his hands suddenly cupping your face as though to make sure you were real. "You're not messin' with me, are you, herbivore? Because if you are—"
"I promise I'm not messing with you, Leona," you whispered, a tearful laugh escaping your lips.
For a moment, he just stared at you, his expression softening into something *rare*—something vulnerable. Slowly, his hands fell to your stomach, his calloused palms resting there with uncharacteristic gentleness.
"There's really a little kid in there, huh?" he murmured, his voice almost reverent.
You nodded, blinking back tears. "Yeah."
Leona let out another low laugh, his shoulders shaking. "Ha! That's insane. I'm gonna be a father..." He crouched slightly so he could press his forehead against your stomach, his mane brushing against you. "Hey, kid," he said softly, a hint of wonder in his voice. "You'd better know how lucky you are, havin' your mom as your mother. You're already set to be the strongest, smartest kid in the Savannah."
You laughed, running your fingers through his soft hair as tears finally slipped down your cheeks. "And what about their dad?"
Leona looked up at you, that mischievous, sharp grin returning to his lips. "Their dad's gonna be the best."
You raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The 'best,' huh?"
"Yeah." He stood and pulled you against him, wrapping his arms protectively around your waist. "The kid's gonna learn everything—everything—from me. Chess, fightin', lookin' cool..." He tilted his head, his tail flicking with pride. "But I'll let 'em be soft too, like you. They'll be perfect."
You chuckled, leaning into his warmth. "You're already so proud of them, and they're not even here yet."
"Of course I'm proud," he scoffed, resting his chin atop your head. "That kid's mine, isn't it? And yours. We're talkin' royalty here—my greatest treasure. You really think I wouldn't be excited about that?"
His words made your heart swell, tears of joy pooling in your eyes. You had worried he wouldn't take the news well, but here he was—grinning, pacing, his tail flicking excitedly like a child on his birthday. Leona Kingscholar, the man who spent his days pretending he cared about nothing, was now bursting with excitement for something he hadn't even known he wanted.
"Leona," you whispered, your voice thick with emotion. "You're going to be a wonderful father."
He scoffed playfully but pressed a soft kiss to your temple. "Damn right I will. And you're gonna be the best mom, Y/N. You'll see."
The two of you stood there together, wrapped up in each other as golden sunlight bathed the room. Leona's pride had always been a strong, untamable thing, but this—*this*—was different. It wasn't pride in himself, but in the little family the two of you had created.
And for the first time in his life, Leona Kingscholar knew he had something worth more than a throne, more than power.
He had you.
And now, he had your child.
His greatest treasure.
