Archive of Our Own

The night was calm. 

Though rain poured outside and thunder roared, the night was peaceful inside Castle Whitestone. A few hours of stress and chaos had been forced to a close, the warm light of candles and a roaring fireplace casting a warm glow over the rooms. 

The silence of the room was broken only by the sound of the thunder and rain hitting the window, but it did nothing to bother the people inside. 

The castle was safe and warm. 

And the night was calm. 

Vex languished against the softness of her sheets, her blankets pulled over her, but not nearly providing as much warmth as the newborn baby resting against her chest. She couldn’t bring herself to be bothered by the sticky feeling of dried sweat covering her body, the fresh shift she’d changed into contrasting with the efforts of her labor. She couldn’t be bothered by the wisps of hair that stuck to her face and neck or the way her body ached and shook in the aftermath of it all. 

Her baby was here.

Her beautiful son. 

It was a comfort and familiarity she’d experienced in the hours following the births of her older children. Still, as she rested in it, relishing every breath her tiny son took against her, she wanted to savor every second. 

Percy lay beside her, holding her gently as his eyes darted between her and their newborn son with so much devotion and love in his eyes, she thought he would melt. His hand was gentle against their son’s bare back, cataloguing every rise and fall of his tiny chest. His eyes traced over every dark curl across their son’s scalp, almost as if he wanted to memorize each angle of each curve and know each one. He seemed to cycle through staring at their son before looking back up at her, marveling at her as if she were the most magnificent being in the universe. 

And, with a pang of warmth in her heart, she knew, to him, she was. 

“He’s beautiful, Vex’ahlia,” he murmured.

She hummed, her smile only growing as she looked from her husband’s adoring eyes to her baby’s tiny face against her chest, his eyes shut as he rested shortly after his first feeding. 

Fair enough, she thought, bathing in the warmth of her baby against her, You’ve had a big day, little one.

The birth had been quick and easy in comparison to the birth of Vesper and the twins in the years before, her son entering the world after only a hasty seven hours of labor. For a moment, before she’d heard that first cry, when Pike had proclaimed that they were nearly there, she thought it was a lie. That it had been too easy. But then, her baby had taken his first breath, and his tiny but strong cry echoed throughout the room. And he was with them. 

Strong. 

Healthy. 

Both she and Percy had instantly burst into tears at the sound of their son’s first cries, laughter, and tears of amazement filling the air and chorusing with the thunder that seemed to herald her son’s arrival. Percy had instantly lavished her with worship, whispering to her how strong she was and how much he loved her, every compliment whispered into her skin like a fervently breathed prayer. He’d kissed the tears from their cheeks while affirming to her that the pain was over, and that she’d done it, somehow making her feel powerful, even in the middle of such vulnerability.

When their son was laid on her chest, she fell in love with the tiny, squirming thing. 

Another burst of life and love. 

Brought into the world by the love she and Percy had for one another.

After the delivery was finished, and Pike and the midwife’s work was done, she had nursed him for the first time while Percy had gently brushed and re-braided her hair, helped her dress in a clean shift and gently washed the blood from between her still-shaking legs, even if staff members had protested that such actions were unbecoming of a Lord during every birth of their children. He hadn't cared, of course. To him, there was no job more rewarding than caring for his wife, who'd just brought life into the world—and he’d told them as much. Her husband had been deaf to all criticism and had fallen into the natural rhythm of caring for her while she had focused on the squirming life in her arms, their beautiful little boy.

Now their son was settled in her arms, the tiny puffs of breath dancing over her skin. 

And gods, he was perfect. 

Like his siblings, he was a beautifully unique combination of both of them. He had a tiny button nose that would eventually take on more of a shape that resembled hers or Percy’s, his tiny ears slightly curved like Percy’s before ending in the characteristic point that she’d given all of their children. His eyes looked more like hers in shape, where the other children had Percy’s eye shape right off the bat, and he had much thicker and darker curls than either of the twins had. 

She’d loved him from the moment she’d discovered she was pregnant, and holding him now, she found herself loving him more than she’d ever imagined. 

It was the same wonder and love she’d had every time she’d brought one of her children into the world, and yet, somehow, the realization of that love still came as a surprise every time. 

She knew Percy felt the same. 

“You’re incredible,” her husband whispered, brushing a kiss against her temple, “You’re a magnificent goddess.” 

“You say that all the time,” she snorted, trying to contain her laughter so as not to jostle the baby on her chest,  “I think you said those exact words with both Vesper and the twins.”

“And I mean it every time,” he breathed against her hair, his eyes wide as he peered down at their infant son resting against her, kissing her temple again, “I just…You’re amazing. Look at him, Vex.”

She grinned, leaning against her husband, just savoring his warmth as they both stared at the new life they’d introduced into their family. 

“Our boy…” she whispered in amazement, studying the soft features of their son, one of her fingers tracing over his soft curls, “Our son…”

She’d once never believed she’d be a mother. 

The life on the road, of danger, was not the kind that had ever afforded her any sense of comfort. 

But here she was, all of the things that she’d never believed she’d ever fully be. 

A renowned warrior.

A respected woman of the court.

A revered and adored wife. 

And now a mother, cradling her fourth child.

A beautiful little boy who had so much sitting in front of him. The potential to make the world a better place with every breath he took. 

And gods, she loved him. 

Her heart seemed to grow in size as she thought further about her other children, presumably already in bed. The three beautiful souls that she and Percy had introduced into the world seemed to hold her whole world in their hands. In them, she could see the best parts of both her and Percy, and somehow, the lessons learned that she and Percy never had. They were bright, unique, and beautiful in their own ways, and the thought of this new child fitting into the beautiful puzzle their family made was something exciting and brilliant in its own right. 

She smiled up at her husband, who was cradling her softly while she held their son, watching the way the love multiplied in his eyes. 

They’d come so far from the hurt, broken people they’d been over a decade before.

They’d come so far from being those ghosts hunting jobs on the edges of Emon. 

Hell, they’d come so far from being the new heroes of Emon.

Before the Briarwoods.

Before the Chroma Conclave. 

Before the Whispered One. 

They’d come so far, and they had a beautiful life to show for it.

And every day she found herself falling more and more in love with life…with the life that she had.

But that wasn’t to say the grief ever went away. 

She’d never thought she’d love a life that didn’t have her brother in it. She’d never thought she’d live without her brother in her life, or see the face that was a mirror of hers every day. 

The grief she had for Vax had never fully gone away, the wound a scar on her heart that hurt some days more than others, but there were also moments…where she swore she could feel that he was with her. 

As if he were truly alongside her. 

Never far. 

Never far from her. 

Just…away. 

As she lay there, looking down at her beautiful son, she wished her brother were with her, but at the same time, she felt as if his pull on her heart remained. A presence that lingered in these moments, a realization that her brother was never really gone.

In all of the small moments.

In the warm moments. In the silent moments. In the moments when their child had taken their first steps or laughed for the first time. In the moments when Vesper had picked her first lock and had offered her and Percy a mischievous smile when they’d asked her what she was doing. In the moments where Wolfe and Leona would observe and follow each other's steps, sneaking to the kitchens past bedtime to steal sweets, only to be caught red-handed by one or both of their parents. In the moments when Vex would find the twins asleep on either side of Percy, he would read them a bedtime story while Vesper snored softly in her own armchair. In the moments when all three of their children would run towards her with gleeful smiles after a long hunt. In the moments when the firelight would gleam in their eyes in front of their Winter’s Crest fireplace, or the way their smiles grew wide when Percy’s fireworks would light up the sky. 

Somehow, she just knew her brother wasn’t far from her.

She knew he wasn’t far from her and Percy’s growing family. 

It went beyond the ravens that had suddenly populated Whitestone after he left.

It went beyond the thriving snowdrops and black feathers that littered her favorite walking paths in the Parchwoods. 

It went beyond the way she could almost feel his hand on her shoulder when she would sit back and look at the world she’d suddenly known. 

Her brother was never far from her. 

Her smile grew slightly as she watched the way her son sighed softly against her skin, curling gently into her warmth, his tiny hand flexing and unflexing while his little mouth was drawn into a frown that almost laughably looked like his father's, even at only an hour old. 

“He’s perfect,” she whispered, looking up to tiredly smile at her husband, “He’s incredible.”

“He gets it from his mother,” Percy whispered softly, his eyes soft as he kissed the top of her head.

They were silent for another moment, just savoring the peace that lingered as they watched their son breathe. Percy curled in closer to her, providing a sense of comfort and gentleness despite the ache in her body. Though he was possessed in wonder, she could tell he was looking over both of them for any sign of something wrong, as if he was poised for any discomfort or pain and wanted to answer that call should it present itself. Her smile deepened at that, at the consistent proof her husband never wanted to leave any need unanswered, that he would always be there for her and their children, and wouldn’t allow them to face anything alone. 

It was just one of the many small things she loved about him. One of the infinitesimal quiet ways he’d shown her how deeply he loved her, and she could practically feel her heart screaming her love back at him in answer. 

“Are you alright?” he whispered, his words falling forward like clockwork, making her smile, “How are you feeling?”

“A little sore,” she whispered, “Tired…but, happy.”

And that was the truth. 

Completely. 

Incandescently. 

Happy.

That was all she could feel as she lay there in her husband’s arms, watching her newborn son sleep. 

Percy nodded, “If you need anything…anything at all…”

“Then you’ll be the first to know, darling,” she smiled tiredly up at him, taking in the worried creases of her husband’s face, “...but for now, this is perfect.”

Just the three of them. 

Her. 

The love of her life. 

And their beautiful baby boy. 

“We have four children now, Percival,” she murmured, brushing a kiss against her husband’s collarbone, almost laughing at the reality they’d suddenly found themselves in, “Four.”

Percy chuckled lightly, “If we thought we were outnumbered before….we’re doubly so now, dearheart.”
She laughed at that, prompting a small gasp from their little son against her chest. She instantly went still, watching the way the boy squirmed for a moment, his face scrunching up adorably before his tiny mouth stretching open in a yawn. Her heart was captured by the way his tiny arms stretched outward, before he settled again, relaxing once more. 

“We’ll be alright, though,” Percy murmured, and she could hear the smile in his voice, “I doubt our children will try to burn Emon to the ground.”

“Or resurrect an ancient god?” Vex chuckled, forcing her husband's smile to deepen. 

“Yes,” He nodded, kissing her temple again, “Though…Vesper is getting terribly good at her translations.”

“She’s already smarter and stronger than countless necromancers, ” Vex waved him off, “If anyone tries anything, they have her to fear.”

They both laughed softly at that.

It said a lot about their healing that they were able to make humor from some of the darker moments of their lives. Though the trauma of Delilah and Sylas, of the Conclave, or Vecna lingered, there were still moments when they could laugh and smile, poke little jokes at the enemies of their past. It wasn’t much, but the fact that they were able to manage a laugh or two about it was enough to show that they were healing. That they still had life to share with the rest of the world. That their work on the Material Plane was far from done. 

They’d faced difficulty and pain at nearly every turn in their younger lives. Injustices and grief that nobody deserved to survive, but they had, and now they were giving back to the world and the people who’d suffered alongside them. They were making the world a better place for their children, giving them the safe and happy lives they’d had ripped from them.

And their children, with everything they did, every little bit of magic they’d brought into the world, were making it better than they ever could. 

And they both were so proud of them.

Percy chuckled, shaking his head, “Our little forces of nature.”

“Beautiful calamities,” she agreed, smiling brightly as she looked down at their sleeping baby. 

There was a moment of silence again, as they sat there, watching their baby sleep peacefully against her chest. Percy gently ran his thumb over their son’s spine, prompting a small gasp from the little thing, making them both laugh as he settled again, his frown deepening. 

“He’s got your scowl,” Vex chuckled, gently running a finger against her son’s cheek, “Perhaps you’ll have another little tinkering buddy.”

“Maybe,” He mused, his smile growing, “Or perhaps you’ll have another new addition to your cadre of hunters.”

They both laughed, smiling at the sea of possibilities their newborn son had before him. 

“Regardless of what you decide to be, my darling,” she breathed, “We’re so proud of everything you are.”

“And we love you,” Percy breathed, “We love you so much and cannot wait to see the kind of person you become.”

Their son let out a small humming noise, the corner of his mouth quirking up in what almost looked like a smile that captured her heart completely. 

“Oh…” she whispered, “Look at that…”

Percy chuckled, his smile growing, if at all possible, “He may have my frown, but he has your smile.”

Vex giggled, brushing a kiss against her husband’s shoulder again. The amount of laughter and smiles that seemed to grow throughout the room was enough to make her feel completely at peace. Percy’s arms wrapped around her gently as they sat there. Neither one of them felt like they wanted to sleep, rather just savoring the golden moments following their son’s birth.

But there was also something else they needed to do. 

Something they’d not brought up yet.

“He needs a name,” she breathed after a moment, not tearing her eyes from her son.  

 “Hmm,” Percy nodded, a smile dancing on her husband’s lips, “He does.”

They fell into silence again, staring at their little boy, the various names they’d discussed bouncing around in the silence. They’d discussed a variety of names, from family names to new names of many meanings. The name they’d kept coming back to was Frederick, after Percy’s father, but she could see it on her husband’s face that somehow that name just didn’t fit their newborn son. 

“I don’t think he’s a Frederick,” Percy breathed after a moment, whispering her exact thoughts into the world, “Seeing him here now, I don’t think it’s right for him.”

“Hm,” she nodded, “But it can still be part of his name. A middle name, perhaps?”

Percy nodded, “I like that idea. But he still needs a first one…”

They sat there for another moment of silence, taking in the features of their son once more. The dark curls that covered his head, the crack of the smile on his face, and the tiny point to his ears. 

Percy was right when he’d said that their son’s smile was hers…but his smile also was an echo of someone else’s.

And that name kept appearing in her mind, one that tugged at her heart in both a painful and beautiful way she couldn’t imagine.

She inhaled sharply, before it left her in a whisper. 

“Vax’ildan.”

Saying it aloud shocked her a little bit. Speaking her brother’s name now felt as if she were mourning or constantly stuck in a state of remembering the brother she’d lost. 

But as she looked at her son…somehow…somehow she knew that the name was perfect. 

She bit her lip, tears stinging at the edges of her eyes as she tore her gaze from the newborn baby in her arms before looking back up at her husband. But when she met Percy’s eyes, she didn’t see hesitation; rather, she saw something that she recognized in herself, as if he’d had the same thought that she had, but waited for her to say it first. 

Tears brimmed in his eyes after a moment as he looked at her, that same pull of grief dancing between them. 

He nodded, swallowing hard as a small, sad smile tugged at his face, “It’s…It’s perfect.”

She unleashed a small cry as she looked at her son in her arms. Just looking at him, it felt as if it was already fitting with him. The name was an homage to someone they’d loved and yet somehow, uniquely his. 

“Vax’ildan…Frederick,” she breathed, meeting her husband’s eyes again, the pieces of the name falling into place easily, “Vax’ildan Frederick de Rolo.”

Named for the brother who’d sacrificed everything for their family. 

Named for the father who’d died a terrible death protecting his home and family. 

Named for the brother who’d loved selflessly. 

Named for the father who’d stood tall and strong. 

Two men who’d exemplified to both her and Percy the importance of family and strength, even when the darkness of the outside world threatened. 

Their son would be carrying a name of legacy and significance, but his.

His own name. 

His own life. 

A name born of love and family, and offering him possibilities that were greater in number than the stars in the sky. 

He wouldn’t be named to replace Vax or Percy’s father, but he would carry the love and strength and lessons that those two men had passed on in their family. He would never be a replacement for the two people they’d lost, but in the sacrifices and memories of Vax and Frederick, their son was given a chance at a beautiful life. Their son would grow to hear stories of his uncle and grandfather, and would see from their lives that he had his own life to build. A life where he could do whatever he needed to become the person he was destined to be. A life where he could be whatever he wanted to be.

And what a beautiful gift that was.

“Vax’ildan Frederick,” she whispered, brushing one of her son’s tiny curls away from his face, “Do you like that, darling? Is that your name?”

With a small hum, her son’s smile almost grew, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a smile, as if he was acknowledging that the name was his. 

“I’d say that’s a yes,” Percy whispered with a gentle smile, his hand gently tracing small patterns on their back, trying the name out for himself,  “Vax’ildan Frederick de Rolo.”

“Our son,” Vex smiled softly. Her heart melted with the confirmation of the name.

Their son. 

Their precious boy. 

More time passed, and she decided she needed to see her husband hold their newly-named son. As he had with the other children when they’d been born, he unbuttoned his shirt, holding his son to his bare chest, allowing for that crucial moment of warmth and bonding to pass between father and child. Tears brimmed in his eyes the moment he took their son in his arms; all the edges the world had carved into him softened as he stared at the beautiful life they’d created. The small gasp that left her husband as he held their son to his chest captured her heart for the millionth time in their marriage, and she found the love for the man she’d married seemed to grow tenfold. 

Most people saw Percival de Rolo as the Terrible Tinker of Tal’dorei or the lost son of Whitestone, a man who’d endured and suffered, and had come out the other side. Some saw the legendary warrior from Vox Machina. 

But this…the real Percy…seemed to be reserved for their family. 

For the rest of Vox Machina. 

For their children. 

For her. 

Watching Percy become a father had been one of the most beautiful things she’d ever witnessed, and it only seemed to grow all the more beautiful every time another child joined their family. He was patient, kind, and loving at every turn, taking every bruise and scrape seriously. He soothed tempers like a seasoned professional, and helped promote their children’s minds, and every spark of him that she saw in their children was something that made her smile wider than she’d ever thought possible. 

He was perhaps the most loving and gentle father she’d ever seen in her life. 

“Vax’ildan Frederick,” he breathed, his tear-filled eyes filled with so much love and adoration for their son. He whispered something to their son in Celestial, the rhythmic and beautiful sound of a holy language passing from his lips to their son’s tiny ears. Her heart always felt captured completely when he spoke like that to her or their children. Vesper was the one who always seemed to have the most understanding of it, but that didn’t lessen the purpose of the words or the impact they had on their children. 

She wasn’t able to recognize the whole of what he was saying, but the few words and syllables she caught sounded like the lyrics of a song, each note unique in its purpose, and somehow, she knew her husband was whispering promises to their boy of how much they loved him. Of how loved he was by their family, and the beauty of the future he had. 

When the words stopped, he glanced at her with an adoring gleam in his eyes, before he murmured one final thing to their little boy. 

Just from the way his eyes darted to her, she knew he was talking about her to their son. 

Rather than teasing him as her heart so longed to do, she simply leaned into her husband’s side, resting her hand on their son’s back, watching her husband love their son. 

That was when she heard it. 

“Can you see them?”

“Shh! They’ll hear you!”

“Can you see the baby?”

“I wanna see!!”

“SHHH!”

The voices were so faint, but unmistakable, just barely audible and coming from their barely cracked-open bedroom door. 

Ah. 

Just looking at her husband’s face, she could tell he heard it too. His smile grew as he playfully rolled his eyes, almost as if he’d expected their children to come far sooner. 

She glanced at the door, unable to stop the laugh that left her.

“Well,” she called to the door, “Are you going to come in or are you going to keep snooping?”

A moment of terse silence passed through the room before the bedroom door creaked open, revealing their three older children, all still dressed in their sleepwear, blinking sheepishly at their parents. The four-year-old twins looked as if they were trying to find an excuse for why they were awake so late, but were unable to find one, while fourteen-year-old Vesper had a look of acceptance in her dark eyes, knowing full well they’d been caught. 

“Hi, Mummy,” Leona murmured softly, her big blue eyes growing even wider behind her glasses as they zeroed in on the bundle Percy held close.

“Hello, darling,” Vex whispered tiredly, unable to stop her smile from growing at the sight of her other children.

“How are you feeling?” Vesper murmured, offering her a small smile, though making no motion to move closer to the bed. 

“Better,” Vex chuckled, “Sore, but I’ll survive.”

“Oh,” Wolfe nodded, matching his sister’s apparent awkwardness,  “You must be tired.”

“Well…yes, dear,” Vex laughed at her five-year-old son’s eloquence and manners, a trait he’d stubbornly picked up from his father, “...but I’ll be okay.”

The three children stood there, nodding at them strangely. All of them clearly wanted to approach, but were unsure if they should.

After a moment of strange silence, Percy chuckled, “Are you just going to stand there, or do you want to come meet your brother?”

Wolfe’s eyes grew big as he gasped, “We have a baby brother?!?”

“A baby brother!!” Leona needed no further prompting as she bolted forward with a slight squeal of delight, immediately scrambling up onto the bed with the agility of a cat. Almost instantly, the little girl was burrowed in her father’s side, becoming gentle as she registered the small bundle Percy held, trying to be as careful as possible without compromising her excitement. 

Wolfe followed very quickly, only, rather than crowding into Percy’s side as Leona had, he moved around to Vex’s side of the bed and crawled up beside her. He looked as if he wanted to burrow into her side, but thought the better of it. 

“Can I…” he whispered, “Can I hug you, Mummy? Or would that hurt you?”

Vex didn’t answer. Rather, she simply offered her little son, all knobbly knees and messy brown curls, a smile before wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close, her joy almost completely multiplying from the closeness. Almost instantly, Wolfe melted into it, humming softly as he brushed a kiss against her shoulder, hugging her tightly.

Vesper was unable to keep from smiling as she sat beside Vex, angling herself so she could better see the baby. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as Vex took her hand, offering her eldest daughter– her first and forever baby— a small smile as she squeezed her hand. Her daughter was quiet, her dark eyes always keenly observant, but she could see the joy that lingered there, her smile creasing her eyes ever so slightly. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of her braid as she stared in awe at her baby brother, already adding her little brother into the fold quicker than ever. 

“He’s so small!!” Leona observed, her eyes wide as she peered at the baby in her father’s arms, “And so wrinkly!”

“That’s how babies are, Leo,” Vex chuckled softly, brushing a kiss against Wolfe’s messy curls, laughing at how her daughter’s bright blue eyes seemed to take in every single detail of her baby brother, “You were that small when you were born.”

“And wrinkly,” Vesper added with a small laugh, “You and Wolfe looked like old men for that first week.”

“Oh, so that’s normal then,” Wolfe nodded, accepting it as fact right away, choosing not to be offended by the elderly comment. 

“Very normal,” Vex chuckled. 

“And he’s got so much hair!” Leona went on, “Did we have that much hair when we were babies?”

“Well, you definitely had a lot of it,” Percy murmured, keeping his voice quiet so as not to jostle the baby he was holding, “You probably had more than Wolfe and Vesper combined. Maybe not as dark as his, but a lot more.”

Leona giggled, her tiny hands (ink and paint-stained from her various artistic endeavors) going to her curly braids. Only just the day before, she’d proclaimed she never wanted to cut her curly mop, proclaiming love for the messy waves that already cascaded down her back. 

“Do you think he’ll need glasses like Leo and Daddy do?” Wolfe asked, looking between his parents with concerned eyes.

“It’s too early to say, buddy,” Percy murmured, smiling at their eldest son, “Everyone’s different. I needed glasses by the time I was your age, but Leona needed them even earlier. It just depends.”

“That’s so cool,” Wolfe whispered in amazement, “That we can be brothers and sisters and still be so different!”

Vex could have started crying at how earnest the comment was. At how her children were already so accepting of their differences earlier on. It was a point of pride and joy for her that the three of them already seemed to love their new brother with all of their hearts, a loyalty and sibling bond that would never be broken. 

She glanced at where Vesper was smiling at her new baby brother, her eyes soft and joyful. 

“Vesper,” she breathed, “Would you like to hold him?”

At the question, her daughter’s eyes lit up like a star exploding to life. For a moment, Vex could have sworn that sunlight and starlight were dancing off of her daughter’s skin with the way the pure joy seemed to fill her. 

She nodded eagerly, “Yes…Yes, please!”

She needed no further prompting to get into a position that would be more comfortable for her, her arms outstretched for her baby brother as Percy leaned forward, passing the newborn into their eldest child’s arms effortlessly. 

Their eldest was a seasoned professional as she took the baby in her arms, tears filling her dark eyes as she peered down at him. 

“Mummy…” she whispered, meeting Vex’s eyes after a while, “He’s incredible.”

“He’s amazing!” Leona confirmed, scrambling from Percy’s side to be beside Vesper, Wolfe following suit, “I shall teach him how to draw and paint and hunt!”

“And I’ll teach him how to wrestle with Trinket,” Wolfe nodded determinedly.

Vesper laughed, looking between the twins on either side of her, “I think he’s a little too small for bear wrestling right now.”

“Yes, but he’ll grow, Vesper,” Leona rolled her eyes with a teasing smile, “Then, we can show him everything we know!”

Vex laughed as their children cuddled together, staring in awe at their new baby brother as she curled into Percy’s side. Her husband simply hummed in delight, wrapping an arm around her and brushing a kiss against her forehead while he squeezed her hand. It was a silent message, but one that she understood well. 

I love you. 

I love our children

I love this life we’ve built.

And it was a sentiment she felt wholeheartedly. 

She glanced up at her husband to find that he was staring at her with so much love in his eyes. He looked at her like she’d hung the stars in the sky, and every breath she took was permission enough for the world to be perfect in his eyes. For a moment, as she stared into her husband’s eyes, their children laughing and whispering at the edge of their bed, she felt as if everything was perfect in the world. 

Percy leaned down and met her lips in a soft and gentle kiss that had her humming into his mouth in delight, savoring the warmth of his arms holding her. When they pulled back, the love in his eyes had only grown; those silent million ways of saying ‘I love you’ communicated without a single syllable. 

“What’s his name?”

Vesper’s soft voice caught their attention, and they turned to see that the twins were still peering down at their newborn brother with curious and adoring eyes. At the sound of their elder sister’s question, however, they both looked up with wide eyes.

“Yes!” Wolfe nodded seriously, as if they were discussing matters of international security, “What are we going to call him?”

“You have picked a name, right?” Leona inquired curiously, “If not, I have many suggestions.”

“You’re not naming our baby brother Leona the second,” Vesper sighed heavily, “We’ve discussed this.”

“C’mon!” the girl protested, “It’s a great name!”

Percy laughed—the soft and gentle laugh that he shared only with her or their children, “As a matter of fact, dear ones, your baby brother does have a name.”

“He does?” Wolfe’s grin only grew, “What is it?”

“Tell us!” Leona practically squealed in delight before dropping her tone as her little brother flinched in Vesper’s arms. She instantly quieted and whispered something softly to her brother before he woke, her eyes immediately gentle. 

Percy squeezed her softly, looking at her with that same adoration in his eyes, as if silently urging her to do the honors of giving their children the name of the beautiful new member of their family. 

She swallowed hard, but couldn’t keep the smile from growing on her face as she looked at her three older children, and then at the bundle Vesper held so carefully. 

“His name,” she whispered softly, her face practically aching from how her smile remained unfading, her eyes settling on the baby her eldest daughter cradled, “Is…Vax’ildan.”

All three of her children’s eyes widened at the sound of the name, emotion like grief and love mixing with surprise as they stared at her. 

Her smile only widened, even as tears stung at the back of her eyes, the ache of half of her soul missing not forgotten, but joy in the chance and possibility that he’d given her and Percy remaining.

“Vax’ildan Frederick de Rolo,” she smiled, resting her head against Percy’s shoulder, “After your Uncle and Grandfather.”

There was a beat of silence where the children processed it, before watery smiles appeared on their faces. 

“It suits him,” Leona whispered, “He looks like a Vax’ildan Frederick. Very distinguished. Even for a baby.”

Both she and Percy laughed at their daughter’s precocious statement.

“But Vax’ildan Frederick is a mouthful,” Wolfe observed, “He shall need a nickname. Something we can call him.”

“I think that’s a marvelous idea, my boy,” Percy smiled gently, “Any suggestions?”

“Well…” Vesper chuckled nervously, sniffling and wiping a stray tear from her cheek before handing the baby carefully back to Vex. Leona and Wolfe were too distracted by their pursuit of a nickname to notice, “We can’t go with Vax…for obvious reasons.”

“Well, obviously,” Leona nodded, her eyes earnest, “We don’t want to confuse him for Uncle Vax!”

Vex chuckled softly, looking at the baby on her chest, watching as his face scrunched up slightly with a small whimper.

“Shh, shh,” she whispered to her baby, kissing his forehead, “You’re alright, my darling. I have you.”

Her son– Vax’ildan Frederick de Rolo– stopped crying at the sound of her voice, his tiny hands flexing as they grappled against her skin, before he settled, and his tiny eyes opened. 

Like all babies, his eyes didn’t necessarily have a distinctive color, but already looking at the strange blue-grey shade of them, she immediately had a feeling his eyes would be like the twins’ blue-green. The thought of it sent warmth through her heart as Wolfe’s comment about their similarities and differences replayed in her mind. 

“Hi there,” she breathed, “Hello, my darling. I’m your Mummy.”

The baby just stared at her, but for a brief moment, she could have sworn there was that same quirk of a smile at the corner of his mouth. The sight had her laughing softly as she brushed a finger against his slightly pointed ears.

Percy let out a small gasp at the sight of their son’s open eyes, and curled in closer, “Oh…Oh, hello there, my boy.”

The baby stared at them through half-lidded eyes, almost as if in contemplation about whether or not he would go back to sleep. 

“Is he awake?”

Immediately, the twins picked up on the fact that the baby was no longer asleep and scrambled to Vex’s side, careful not to jostle her or their baby brother. 

“Oh, hi!” Leona whispered, her eyes massive as she peered lovingly at her baby brother, “Hi! I’m your sister! Leona!”

“And I’m your brother,” Wolfe whispered gently, his smile a portrait of brotherly love, “I’m your big brother Wolfe.”

The baby blinked at his siblings, clearly not understanding a word they were saying, but somehow registering that whoever they were, they were not a threat. A moment passed, and Vesper was curling around the twins, cramming for room so that she might see her baby brother as well. 

After a moment, her eldest daughter sighed in delight, “Gods…he’s so cute.”

“What can I say,” Vex chuckled, “Your father and I make adorable babies.”

Vesper’s face immediately scrunched up in mock disgust, but the barely-audible sound of the baby yawning had captured everyone’s attention again. Everyone was captivated as little Vax’ildan stretched, his mouth open in a yawn, a single fist escaping his blue swaddle as he leaned back into Vex, immediately falling back into sleep.

“Aww…” Leona breathed, her arms curling gently around one of Vex’s arms, hugging her softly, “He must be so tired.”

“Well, think about it,” Vex pressed a kiss against her daughter’s head,  “He’s had a big day today. It’s his first day on the Material Plane. That takes a lot out of you.”

And out of me, too, for that matter, she thought, trying to push the soreness and residual pain to the back of her mind as she shifted in bed.

“Vesper said that babies have to sleep all day, because they have to grow so much,” Wolfe nodded, looking at Vex with big eyes, “Is that true?”

“Yes, darling,” Vex smiled, “You and Leona slept quite a bit when you were that little.”

“And were sure to let everyone know when you were awake,” Vesper laughed softly, a hand gently ruffling Wolfe’s hair, “Gods, I’m sure they heard you in Vasselheim, you were so loud.”

“Every baby is different,” Vex nodded, “There’s no telling what your little brother will be like as he grows…but it’s very important that we’re here for him, love him, and protect him every step of the way.”

The twins nodded, their faces falling as the seriousness of what she’d said settled into their eyes. For children who were only four-years-old, the precocious twins seemed to hold onto every word she’d said as if it were some sacred vow. 

“I understand,” Wolfe nodded before looking back at the sleeping baby, his voice lowering into a solemn whisper, “I will protect you as long as I live, little brother.”

“Me too,” Leona nodded solemnly, “We’re here for you.”

“You’re one of us now,” Vesper nodded, her arms wrapped around her younger siblings as she peered down at her baby brother, “We’ve got you, Vax’ildan Frederick.”

Vex felt as if she could have started crying all over again as she watched the love in her children’s eyes bloom as they remained there, whispering soft promises to their new baby brother. It was the same love and devotion she and Vax had once had for one another. The promise that they would never go far without the other. 

She could see that same love and devotion between her children, and she found herself adoring every second of it. 

Do not go far from me.

“I’ve got it.”

Percy’s voice was quiet, but strained, as if he were fighting back tears. She glanced up at her husband to find that, though tears were blooming in his eyes, there was a small, sad smile on his face. It took her a second before she realized that her husband was referring to a potential nickname for their baby. Rather than saying anything, she just nodded, brushing a kiss against his shoulder, asking him to speak whenever he was ready.

He inhaled softly, trying to strengthen his words before he finally spoke.

“Freddie.”

The sound of the nickname sent something that was both happy and sad over her bones as memories of her brother’s voice filled her mind. 

“Oi! Freddie!”

“Watch yourself, Freddie!”

“You okay, Freddie?”

Freddie. 

Vax’s nickname for Percy all those years ago. 

Back then, Percy had pretended to hate being called Freddie, claiming it was an unnecessary shortening of secondary name, but after Vax had left them, she knew that somewhere, her husband longed to hear it again. 

In bestowing that nickname upon their son, it was as if they were still paying homage to Vax, and to Percy’s father, even, in a sense. But this would make their son have his own name. His own alias. His own nickname to go by. He wouldn’t be a second Vax’ildan. He would be Vax’ildan Frederick…or Freddie. 

And he would be so loved. 

Gods…he would be so loved. 

She smiled, fighting back the tears that welled in her eyes, just nodding at her husband in agreement. 

“I like it.”

Leona was the first to break the silence, her smile growing gentle as she looked at the baby on Vex’s chest. 

“Do you hear that?” Leona whispered to her brother, “We’re going to call you Freddie? Do you like that?”

The baby let out another yawn, trying to stretch despite the confines of his swaddle. His face scrunched up again before he relaxed. 

Somehow, that was all the answer that his siblings needed. 

“He agrees,” Wolfe nodded like it was obvious, “I can tell.”

“Freddie it is,” Vesper whispered, her hand gently going to her little brother’s back. 

As her elder children whispered to the baby on her chest, all of their eyes and words full of love, Vex couldn’t stop herself from both crying and smiling, reveling in the fact that this was her family. After years of pain and tears and toil, she had been blessed with respect, a home, and a family that she’d never thought she’d have. 

Somehow, despite feeling as though she would never deserve it, she’d found love in all of the places she’d never expected. 

And it was given to her in every small thing of every day. 

Including the remarkable love of her life, and the four beautiful souls they’d brought into the world. 

Somewhere in the night, she could hear the distant calling of a raven, and she smiled, knowing full well that it was a message meant only for her. 

I’m never far. 

I love you.

And she leaned into her husband’s side, reveling in the warmth and joy of the children around her, knowing just how loved she was and how much love she had to give.