Fanfic Time: My Baby Now(19)

~After the Shenanigans~

"Fifteen siblings, I can understand," said Astarion, hood up despite having full use of the Sunlight Ring. "Living far, far away, I can deal with. You never mentioned your dad worked in a fucking castle."

Oh, wait until he found out the rest of it. The broken curse, the mixed set of sibs, who the family was in this particular polity... Surprising him with all of it didn't seem quite fair. "He kind of has to," said Aldiirn. "You'll see when you meet him."

The guards let him pass in, though Aldiirn had to invite Astarion past every threshold. From public areas to private ones, all the way to Dad's office. Well. Almost to Dad's office. They had to wait in the Green Parlour while several other bits of business got out of the way. Then Hanagon, Dad's seneschal, made Astarion wait behind.

Aldiirn was arguing about it right up until he got engulfed by an anxious parent.

"Gruss gotts, what happened to you? Your letter didn't say nearly enough. Why'd it take you so long to find my ink? What's this? What's this? What happened to your eyes, liebe?"

"Da-a-ad..."

"Darling? Darling, something's happening!"

"O-oh, you found a snuggle-buddy? Dad was grinning. "They treating you right? You treating them right?"

"Dad!"

Astarion rushed in, holding the Githyanki egg's transportation arrangement as carefully as he could. For a moment, resembling an expectant mother experiencing their first contractions. "I heard something snap and there's a crack. I swear I didn't do anything to it."

Another snap. The shell flexed outwards a little as another crack formed.

"It's hatching! Oh my gods, we're having a baby!"

"Get Delia," Dad ordered someone in the hall. "Raus! Schnell!"

Aldiirn helped Astarion put it down, then rushed to remove the lid and stabilising clay. He didn't care about the acid burns getting it out. And a good thing too. The next snap came with a little green fist. A howl of outrage that only a newborn could be capable of.

"It's a girl!" Astarion crowed. "We have a little girl."

"I have a granddaughter," Dad cooed. He had doffed his velvet doublet, and offered it to wrap their baby in.

"Uh. Dad? This is Astarion Ancunin. My -uhm- my darling dear. And this...?" He looked to Astarion. "We haven't thought of names."

"You stole her fair and square, I'm guessing," said Dad. "Nevermind, one will find her. Wilcommen, kleine kinder."

The Githyanki infant had all her teeth, skin the bright green of olive oil fresh from the presses, and deep dark hair slicked against her skull from the egg goop. She was beautiful. She was perfect. Aldiirn held her close to his chest and cooed a welcome in Drowic. "You are beloved," he said, "A builder of a new kind of tomorrow." The name found her all right. "Koryss. Our beloved builder of a new hope."

"Koryss," cooed Astarion. "Koryss Ancunin-Deepborn. Our daughter."

END?