Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 56: A Namesake

She lay there, staring at the ceiling. She remembers nearly ten years ago how she had been in this same position. She wonders now how she will survive this. If she will survive it. She is not quite old but she is passed proper age for childbirth. She steels herself. She has a few months before that time. She cannot afford to fret now. Cullen lays at her side as he always does. But unlike he normally does, laying near her middle, high enough to embrace her protruding stomach, he instead lies wuth himself wrapped around her, craddling her.
Cassandra relaxes into this.
It is no time to be worrying abput death. She must cherish this time. She feels ger gusband beginning to drift off. They have not had the evening meal yet but Cullen is exhausted. He spent most of the day training with the children. They are all becoming quite skilled. But their ferocity has worn out the retired templar.
"I have been thinking." Cassandra breaks the silence and startles him awake. "What was that, Darling? I think I nodded off." She chuckles but continues. "I was thinking about names for the baby." She repeats. He sits up then and Cassandra slides up in the bed with him. She leans against him and he kisses the top of her head. Her hair smells off bath oils and flowers. It is intoxicating. "He or she will need a name, even if we are only to have a short time with... it." She mumbles. Cullen squeezes her hand in his and sighs into her hair. "Her." He corrects. Cassandra turns her head with a grin to look at him with expectant eyes. "I hope it's a girl." He whispers and kisses her high sculpted cheekbone. She cannot help smiling at this and giving a short giggle. "Then I was think of names for her." She restates. "And have your thoughts bourne any fruit, my love?" He asks with interest and curiosity. "Well, I thought she ought to have a namesake. As Anthony is named after my brother and Regalyan, I thought it only fair that we name our second child after someone from your side of the family." She claims as she draws circkes in his palm with the tip of her fingernail. "I was thinking Adelaide, after your mother." Cullen's smile shrinks as she says this. It has been a long time since he thought of his parents. With the passing of his siblings, it only makes theor avsence hurt more. "Or if you dislike that one, we could name her after the inquisitor." She panics seeing his fallen expression and retries an attempt at offering names. He stops her fron correcting herself though and squeezes her hand once more. "No, Darling. It's fine. It's..." He pauses, seeing golden locks of curly haor and dark hazelnut eyes. "Perfect." Cassnadra grins at this. "But you must pick the middle name." He chuckles at this. "Yes, lest you name another one of our children after another of your lovers." He jokes. Cassandra smacks his chest playfully. He knows full well he and Regalyan are the only men she has ever been with. And Galyan was more friend than lover. He will forever hold a place in her heart, even from the grave. "You know I only tease, love." He kisses the side if her face. "How about your mother's name, Tigana? Oh, or one of your many middle names?" Cassandra groans in reply as Cullen gets a good laugh out of her discomfort. "Maker no!" She shouts at him. There could not be a worse idea. They are silent for a moment as he holds her close, his hand running iver the swell of her belly. "We could allow Anthony to choose." Cullen suggests but Cassandra rolls her eyes. "Yes and we will end up with a child named after one of your many mabari or the Inquisitor's daughter." Cullen laughs at her. She has an excuse for everything. Anthony walks in then, looking dog tired. "What's wrong, champ?" Cullen asks as he climbs on the bed and wraps his arms around his mother's pregnant stomach. "Nicolynn beat me at swords again." He groans, pouting and only half angry. He'll get over it. "You'll best her eventually, Lad." His father encourages, ruffling his hair. Cassandra moves her hand across his shoulders, soothing his tiredness. "I'll be able to best Little Bit one day. It'll never beat me at swords." Anthony speaks into Cassandra's side. His voice is muffled and low. Cullen looks at Cassandra. "Little Bit?" He questions. Cassandra brushes their son's hair back as he lays beside them. "It is what he's calling the baby." She whispers. Cullen cannot help but grin at their boy and his perfect innocence. His smile does not fade as the three of them drift off to sleep just like that.