the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Evenings, it must be said, are far less quiet as of late. There's no popping out to the bar for drinks. No late-night rides or sword practice. Whereas once chapters might be read, now Alanna and Adam are lucky to get through one.

They aren't complaining. Much. The lack of sleep is starting to get to them both, but it's part of the job.

Babies are fed and diapers changed routinely. Tonight, Alanna is watching the triplets, while finalizing details on the new stables to be built by the ruins.

She could probably use a break.

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There's a quiet knock at the door. One might say it was hesitant, but only if one wanted to be smacked after.

The door opens and Jon's head pokes around.
"Alanna?"

Alanna has no wish to be smacked, so she will say no such thing. Although she would like to point out it's almost too light to hear.

"I was wondering when you would brave your newest subjects," she says.

Smiling shyly, she rises from her seat by the table and pushes the chair back into position. The triplets' baskets are all around her, leaving little room for papers, it seems.

Jon would make a comment about how brave has nothing to do with it, but his mouth is suddenly dry. He moves awkwardly into the room, standing about three feet from the baskets, not sure what he should do.

In a similar state, Alanna chews on her lip and wonders what to say. For reasons unknown to her at this particular moment, introducing Jon to the triplets is more terrifying than telling him that she was pregnant.

"I-" She swallows and finishes lamely, "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too," Jon replies, his hands clasping each other in front of him.

"There's a lot less of you," he says lamely and flushes slightly.

Alanna snorts.

"You always did know what to say to the ladies," she manages around a laugh. "This is stupid."

With that, she launches herself at him, burying her face in his shoulder.

Jon lets out an "oompf" as Alanna hits him. He laughs as he hugs her fiercely. "We have been known to act stupid in our time."

He lets her go and peers around her at the tiny shapes in their baskets.

"You have, at any rate."

Wearing a sheepish smile, she pulls back and waves a hand at the triplets.

"Your Majesty, may I present Thom Alan, Grace Thea and James Brian? Children, this is your king. You have my permission to spit up on him at least once."

Jon makes a face at her, then turns back to the triplets, stepping nearer to their baskets.

"They're so tiny," he says softly, looking up at her. He then raises an eyebrow. "And why is there no Jonathan? It would be a great honor to name a child after your king."

Even as he is making fun of her, he's smiling down at the babies.

Alanna slides him a wry look.

"Yes. Perhaps if you were just my king."

Not to mention that they would then have to name the others after George and Liam.

And now Jon's blushing. Well done, Alanna.

"Ahem. So which one is which?" In his defense, they are triplets and they are tiny. Not being experienced with babies, they all look alike to Jon.

He's cute when he blushes. Alanna may be married, but it's Jon; she can't be expected not to notice.

"Grace," she grins, "is here. Thom is the other redhead, which leaves Jamie as the lone blonde."

It's really not that easy to tell. Baby hair is fine and often hard to see.

Jon kneels down to get a closer look. He's closest to Grace and he finds himself being stared at by wide baby eyes. He meets her gaze, his eyes at least as wide as hers.

The stare lasts until the tiny hand he hasn't noticed has curled around the finger on the edge of the basket and squeezes hard. He starts, looking up at Alanna. He's clearly afraid to disturb Grace.

"You can hold her," Alanna suggests softly "if you like."

One hand on Jon's shoulder, she leans forward and pulls a plush animal from between Grace and Jamie. It's an alligator. An alligator with big, soft white teeth.

Moving teeth.

"Or you can give her this," she adds, full of mischief.

Jon looks at the alligator with horror. "Wouldn't that terrify her? That just seems cruel."

He looks down at Grace, then back up at Alanna, the panic in his eyes evident. "I guess I'll hold her, then." Nice way of sounding self-assured, Jon.

"Actually, she quite likes it. It's a gift from Raven and Lilly."

And that likely explains a lot.

"You should. After all, you need to practice."

It does explain a lot. "I'm surprised it's not something covered in glitter."

He makes a face at her, then steels himself to hold the baby. There may be grinding of teeth occuring.

The alligator is busy gnawing on Alanna's fingers. She pays it no notice, rolling her eyes and poking Jon in the side.

"Honestly. She's not made of glass."

Tossing the stuffed animal aside, she scoops the baby out of her basket and deposits her in Jon's arms.

Isn't it convenient how thoroughly she has forgotten how much holding babies used to terrify her?

Jon makes a face at her, then stiffens as Grace is suddenly in his arms. She looks consternated for a moment, squirming a bit, shifting to make herself comfy in these very different arms. She lets out a few whimpers as body twists, then settles her head into the crook of Jon's arm, calming down. Her mouth works a few times, then she relaxes back into sleep.

Jon is standing stockstill, gazing down at her. He looks from Grace back to Alanna, unsure of what he should do now.

Alanna shakes her head and smiles. Jon and Grace present quite a picture, even if he is stiff, and she wishes Thayet could see him.

"You'll get the hang of it," she promises. "And how is the queen?"

She makes no move to take her daughter back.

Jon looks up at Alanna, not noticing his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"She's good. She misses you, and she is as worried as we are about that red star, but good. As beautiful as ever." He grins.

And then there is a yelp as he feels something wet on his hand. Grace's mouth has found the closest finger and she's sucking on it with apparent gusto.

"Thayet the Peerless, they are already saying," Alanna sighs. "Please, tell her hello for me. I'll come to visit soon."

Glancing down, she smooths her hand over Grace's head.

"We are going to move home within the month, I think."

Jon tries not to let a satisfied grin spread across his face at that news.
"Really?" he says casually. "I knew you were planning on settling in Tortall, I just wasn't sure when."

"Maybe two months," she amends, at that. "We are going to build a small stables and caretaker's cottage by the ruins. It will help us travel back and forth." A small smile, and she adds, "Olau to Corus within a half-hour, with a stop off at the end of the universe. Hard to believe."

Sighing heavily, she sinks into a chair and stares at a spot on the floor, arms resting on her knees, hands laced together.

Jon looks down at her with some alarm. He can't go to her, since he's terrified of moving with the baby in his arms, but he edges slowly closer to her.

"What is it? Are you that unhappy about returning home?"