[IC] The Ties that Bind

[Nephriel]

Anna hugged Serena and smiled softly, "I'm sorry, I'll try to stick close as soon as we find these kids... I'm worried what might happen if they stay there much longer." She sighed, "I wish I didn't have to be gone so much... I want to be there when you pop. Hopefully, this will all be over soon."

As Gunner finished the map she turned and looked it over before nodding, "I should get this to the other Elites..." She looked between he and Serena and shook her head, "I'll call them. They can come here and get it... It's not a long walk."

She sat down beside Gunner and slipped her hand into his, twining her fingers between his... "I missed you... I wish it hadn't taken me so long to find you."

She ran a hand through her hair, she knew she'd said that already but she meant it... She felt like maybe if she'd found him sooner then she'd have saved him from some of the guilt. She glanced at Serena, "How has my adopted niece been doing?"

~*~

Seb fed and as soon as he was done and felt like he could manage it he stood and joined the others, slipping his arms around Serena as he came up behind her. He heard Anna's question and smiled, his hands straying to Serena's belly as he rested his head on her shoulder.... He was happy to have everyone back together again.

[tsubasa]

Gunner looked down at his hand when Anna wrapped her fingers around his and apologized. He shook his head, "It's my fault that you did... One good thing that came out of this though... My mother is dead," He had wanted her dead for so long and when she presented him the chance as a Strigoi, his humanity didn't hold him back. He wouldn't tell any of them but he was relived that Anna changed her mind to stay and instead call the Elites. Something in him didn't want to be away from her. Whether that was love or the fact that she was the first person he saw when he woke, he couldn't bare being away from her and he wasn't going to lie he was much to tired right now to follow. He moved and rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes as she talked to Serena about the baby. It was still weird thinking that Sebastian was going to be a father.

Serena's eyes drifted to her shoulder when Sebastian rested his chin on it, already looking better. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before led him over to the chair to sit him down, "Good, the doctor says that she looks healthy so far and that everything is on track."

She took a seat on Sebastian's lap and kissed his cheek, making sure that most of her weight was more in the gap between his leg and the arm of the chair than on him, "And I had... spoke to Mrs. Lazar at Sebastian's ceremony... I don't think she'll be... speaking with me anymore."

Serena leaned against Sebastian and rested her hands on her stomach before she gasped, "Oh, I mean to tell you earlier!" She sat back up and pressed her hands on Sebastian's chest, grinning, "I felt the baby kick... I was going to tell you but your mother... And the yelling at her and the frustration... I kind of forgot. "

Gunner watched as his friends talked about the baby and tried to at least look happy for them. He was glad that they were happy and he was happy to be apart of that again. He was even happier that his friends seemed to be letting him forget, at least for now, what he had been hours prior. He continued to rest there against Anna as they all spoke and allowed their simple conversation sing him to sleep.

[Nephriel]

Anna smiled, "I'm happy for you both... though I hope I get to feel her kick soon. I bet it's amazing..." She noticed Gunner falling asleep and smiled somewhat. She was glad he was getting rest... it hadn't been easy being shifted from strigoi back to yourself again. Not just emotionally and mentally but physically it was draining. As they all laughed and talked Anna slowly started to feel at home again. When the Guardians came to get the map, Seb was nice enough to take it to them and afterwards Anna urged Gunner up and into the bedroom. She couldn't leave him alone, not with all those monsters lingering in his head, so she curled up with him on the bed. She didn't talk to him about his time as a strigoi, instead she hummed quietly to fill the silence and played with his hair with her free hand...

~*~

Seb grinned great big and leaned down and planted a kiss on her tummy, "About time..." He straightened up and noticed Gunner falling asleep and after the elites took the map he followed Anna's suit and urged Serena to bed. He let her get comfortable and then ran his fingers up and down along her side gently. "Maybe things will get better now... We've faced my parents, Gunner is back, Anna seems better..."

He kissed her shoulder and neck gently, "I love you, Serena."

~*~

Another month passed as Anna allowed Gunner the time he needed to recoop but she couldn't put off going after the kids forever and the Elite's numbers were thin as it was. She knew the Queen would urge for Moroi help again even though it wasn't a popular move since most of the children taken had been Dhampir and not Moroi. Still, there were those willing to help on the simple knowledge that trained Dhampir Strigoi would be a force to be reckoned with once they were old enough to turn.

Anna frowned as she hung up her phone, it was the second time in a week the Elite's had called for her assistance and she couldn't keep saying no. With a sigh she bit at her lip before going to find Gunner. She had to go, even if he couldn't... which she would understand... she had to go. Those kids were probably terrified and they'd waited too long already. That wasn't Gunner's fault, they'd needed a month to build up the forces they'd need to take out the Strigoi in those caves, but now they were ready to go and despite her need to stay at Gunner's side right now... She HAD to be part of fixing this... part of her still blamed herself for Gunner being turned Strigoi to begin with.

[tsubasa]

Gunner groaned a little when Anna pulled him out of his sleep and told him that he had to move to a bed. Sure, leaning against a far smaller person wasn't exactly comfortable but he was tired as hell and he'd be okay with anything that didn't require moving. However, she managed, against his will, to get him up of the couch and into his old bedroom. He practically collapsed onto the bed and drifted off to sleep the moment his head hit the pillow. He only remained awake long enough to wrap his arm around Anna. He could feel her playing with his hair and humming as she lulled him deeper and deeper into his dreams.
~
Serena laughed at Sebastian's remark. That was the one thing she had been worried about because it was usually quite normal to feel the baby moving by now. The doctor explained that it might just be due to their baby being small or that the most movement happened at night or just went unnoticed by the mother. However, it was nice to have finally felt it and knowing that she was actually in there.

She let him take her into the bedroom when it seemed like they were all calling it a night and following Gunner suit and falling asleep. She laid down on the bed and curled up against him as he ran his hands up and down her side. She smiled and closed her eyes, "I'm sure it is... Two more months and then a baby... I'm going to kind of miss carrying her around like this I think..."

~*~
Serena was done with being pregnant. She supposed now that she could see the light at the end of the tunnel she wanted to put her foot on the gas and hurry out. It didn't help that they were all still at court, not that she really thought that the Academy was going to be any better. In fact, all she wanted right now was to be lying in a bed in a house that she and Sebastian owned somewhere.... Somewhere that wasn't open to the public so that she didn't have to get scrutinized every time she decided to venture outside. Not that she was going outside right now. She was on bedrest after a small scare a few days ago when they all thought she was going into early labour.

This, of course, meant that Sebastian was waiting on her hand and foot and now, as she felt like a bloated whale, she really did appreciate it. She winced as the baby kicked in her the ribs, an activity she did a lot more since the first kick a month back. Serena took a deep breath, it was just one more month after all... One more month and then they would have their little baby girl in their arms and then she and Sebastian would get married and find that secluded little house and buy it with his inheritance. Yes, soon everything would be perfect.
~
Gunner was sitting on the couch rubbing his hands. He had been trying to spend sometime away from Anna everyday for the last couple weeks. It wasn't because of her but because he knew that she would need to go and help take down the army he created. Which meant he needed to be able to let her go. The doctors that he had been seeing since the change refused to allow him to go on any missions until further notice. Apparently, the trauma of it all would distract him and get him or some body else killed. Not to mention, they didn't think that returning to the caves that he had been in when he was Strigoi while there were still Strigoi in them was a good idea.

Overall, it was a big sign that Gunner wasn't the man he once was. Even with a month to start recouping he still broke down or had nightmares or terrors. In fact, he had had one to two day terrors in the last month. He was shakey and just all around broken still... It was going to take him some time to build himself back up... Anna was helping though. She had been through so much with him and she knew, even if it was only a little, what it was like to want to hurt the people you loved because you were a Strigoi. He'd get better.... He'd make sure of it... If there was anything that Gunner did best, it was being the best and he was going to be the best again... The best him, at least.

[Nephriel]

Anna found Gunner talking to the doctors again and a small wave of guilt struck her at the thought of having to leave him. He'd do better and get worse and repeat but mostly he was just as shaken up as that first day she'd brought him back. She wished there was something she could do, some way she could help him feel like himself... She knew what it was like to feel weak and broken. It's what she'd had to get past in order to go after him because feeling helpless wasn't something you wanted to go at Strigoi facing. She nibbled at her lip and moved to his side, her hands slipping into her pockets after tucking a stray strand of hair from her pony-tail behind her ear.

"Hey Gun..." she gave him a small tired smile. "Everything okay?"

She knew about the day terrors, knew what PTSD could be like and honestly she'd considered suggesting that Gun be put on the same anti-anxiety meds she'd been on a while back... but she knew he might not agree with taking meds. She shook her head, "The Elites called..." She sighed, "They need me... They're finally doing the raid on the caves and the Queen is calling for every able bodied Dhampir in the area... I have to go."

~*~

Seb knew Serena was frustrated, he imagined being stuck in bed and having a little person kick and punch and do summersaults inside you wasn't exactly pleasant. He'd been trying his hardest to make her comfortable. He'd been opening the window to let the air in, he'd been helping her set up so she could watch tv, he'd brought her books, he'd made her breakfast himself, he'd even gotten desperate once when she'd gotten depressed and had turned on the radio and danced around the room half naked and singing into a hair brush just to make her laugh. All in all he was just about as worn out as she was but he kept it very carefully hidden because he didn't want her feeling guilty.

He'd made runs to the cafeteria late at night for odd cravings and he'd brought her flowers and Anna and Gunner had come and played cards with her whenever possible. Still, he was pretty sure that she was about to scream. Their bond was dampened but he could see her aura well enough and he knew she was antsy... She wanted up and he wished he could let her but after that last scare he nearly had a heart attack every time she rolled over.... He hid that too.

He entered the room, carefully balancing a stack of movies. "So, romantic comedy, action thriller, fantasy adventure...?"

[tsubasa]

Gunner sighed when Anna explained to him that they had finally gotten the resources that had been savaging for and were being called to action. He rubbed his hands together as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, "Every able bodied Dhampir," He ran his hand over the back of his head, "Never been... disabled before," His words came out quietly. He didn't want her to leave but he knew that she had to. Those kids needed to get out of there and they needed people like Anna to do it.

He looked at her, "Go... I'll be fine, promise," Of course, that wasn't exactly something he could promise... But he was because he knew it would make her feel better about leaving him, if he seemed better about her leaving. Really, he was screaming on the inside. He wanted to cling to her leg and beg her not to go but those kids needed her more than he did... Besides, she didn't have much choice.

He ran his hand through his hair again, "Just come back quick, okay?... For Serena, who knows when that kids coming," He said, quickly covering for his words. He forced a small smile, "You should probably head out... I'll give the Strigoi a call... Make something up, put their guard down... At least that'll be something."
~
Serena looked at Sebastian when he entered the room with a pile of movies and held out her hands to take a few. She looked over the titles and smirked, "I'd much prefer watching your little jig from the other night," She teased. She looked up at him, "When I'm off bed rest and once the baby's come, I'm really going to have to make up for all of this... You really are the best husband a girl could ask for."

She picked out a movie and handed it to him, "The Princess Bride," She informed him, "I watched it the other night when I couldn't sleep. The little didn't move as much, I think she was enraptured by the romantic tale," She joked before placing the other movies on the bed side table. She rubbed her hands over her stomach, which she had pulled her shirt up and off of, as the cool air hitting it was nice. Not to mention, the baby moved less when she wasn't over heating.

She patted the space next to her on the bed and smiled, "Now, come rest..." She pursed her lips, "But maybe you should be lovely and grab some snacks," She looked at him for a moment, "You know I would if you would let me!"

[Nephriel]

It was nearly a week before Anna returned... The weather was dreary and the skys were full of rain the day she finally got back. With Gunner's help from the map and his call they'd decimated the strigoi army in the caves but their numbers when they returned were significantly reduced. Quite a few had died in the battle but in the end they were victorious. Anna stepped out of the vehicle and pulled the blanket around the bundle in her arms tighter, pulling it up against her chest to shield it from the rain. She knew she'd have to face the Queen in a day or two but they'd been given a reprieve so that they could recoop from the fight they'd just been in.

As Anna dashed inside she glanced down again at the tiny bundle in her arms and felt both sorrow and an unknown warmth swell in her chest, one that had been growing since she'd discovered the little thing and had taken her in. She moved up the steps and towards the door of their apartment like rooms before taking a breath and knocking. She wasn't sure what her friend's reactions would be, what Gunner's reaction would be. She knew she didn't have to knock but she felt like she shouldn't just drop this on everyone all at once...

The tiny bundle squirmed and made a soft complaint at the noise before Anna bounced it up and down and hummed softly to it, shifting nervously on her feet.

~*~

In the week that Anna had been gone Seb had managed to talk the nurses into a wheelchair for Serena so she didn't have to be completely bed ridden all the time. He made it a point to take her out and about whenever possible and their tests and check-ups had gotten closer and closer together. Seb had asked that he not know the gender of the baby till it was born, he wanted it to be a surprise and was positive he'd be happy no matter what. As far as Gunner went, he'd been trying to spend as much time as possible with his friend also and what had made it easier was telling Airen she wasn't needed anymore and placing Gunner as his temporary Guardian despite his protests. As he'd told him, they were at court and in little to no danger from strigoi while on the grounds and with Serena in her current state that wasn't a problem. Also, Seb needed someone with Serena when he couldn't be there... someone he trusted and despite Airen's seemingly mellow attitude toward Serena something told him it was an act.

The day that Anna came back Seb had been disappointed that he wouldn't be able to take Serena outside so he'd called up a nice meal for them and was about to go get her to help her into the wheel chair when a knock came at the door. "Serena, Gunner! I think Anna's back!"

He went to the door and opened it and for a moment was extremely confused....

[tsubasa]

Serena, despite supposed to be on bed rest, climbed out of bed when she heard Sebastian call to her and Gunner about Anna being back. After all, she had been in bed or in a wheelchair for over a week, surely her walking for the short period to the door was fine. Besides, getting into the chair and rolling herself into the living room was probably more work anyways. She smiled when she saw Anna on the other side of the door. She noticed something in the woman's arms and quickly walked over, moving Sebastian aside. She pulled the blanket away from the little one's face and looked down at the little baby in Anna's arms. She gasped, "Oh... Hello there..."

She then turned her gaze to look at her friend. She didn't need to ask, she knew exactly what Anna was planning. It was going to be hard for her, just as things were for Sebastian and herself. She reached out and hugged the woman, careful of both the children (in the womb and out), before she looked over her friend again. Tears started to well up in her eyes, seeing the baby in Anna's arms made her think of her own baby that was going to be coming in a few weeks time. Then, of course, there were thoughts of this little one, if Anna really did plan on keeping it, and her own child being friends. Being a mother at the same time as Anna, being moms together. Complaining about long sleepless nights and sharing sweet little tales about their babies' firsts. She gave Anna a kiss on the cheek before she wiped away a few of her tears, "I should sit... Come, bring her to the couch... I want to see her."
~
Gunner stood back to let his friends greet Anna, no matter how much he wanted to push the two of them aside and pick her off the ground. There had been a lot of worries over the last week... Sebastian forcing him to be his guardian for the time being, which was stressful in itself. He knew his friend was doing what he thought was best but Gunner didn't know if he could handle a day terror and looking like a professional guardian... Sebastian didn't care though, he just wanted to give his friend a purpose and for that he was kind of grateful. He watched as Serena said hello to something in Anna's arms that his friend's bodies had been hiding from him. It wasn't until Serena said that she needed to sit down and Gunner moved to bring her to the couch, as a good guardian would that he noticed the blanket...

He had chosen the children that stayed alive after their raids.... A horrible picking process. Those that showed potential lived, the rest were thrown to the Strigoi. His hands tightened around Serena's arm a little but the small girl made no outward show of it beyond placing her hand on top of his. The moment he felt her hand, he loosened his grip and sat her down before releasing her entirely. He looked at the blanket again, there had been a baby... and a mother. She begged as a Moroi for him to spare her because she was a child. She stood against him, protecting her. For that show of courage, he awakened the mother and promised the child would live until she was old enough to be changed.

He tried to ignore all the bad that he did to those kids... The ones that were traumatized after spending those months in a cave with Strigoi... He had to think that they were alive because of him. It wasn't a whole lot but it was something... This baby was alive because he made the decision to keep her alive. He balled his hands in fists, his knuckles turning white as he looked at Anna, "Are you keeping her?"

[Nephriel]

Anna smiled somewhat at the other girl, the truth was that though she wanted to keep her she didn't know if the Queen would allow it. A Dhampir raising a Moroi was something that was likely to upset quite a few people. She took another breath as she stepped into the room and Gunner saw the baby. This was the other thing that she'd been afraid of facing, she wasn't sure how Gunner would react. As she watched his fists clench and his jaw work she shifted on her feet uneasily.

"I don't know... She doesn't have a family anymore, we didn't have spirit users with us and I'm not even sure which was her mother... but I doubt the Queen will let me raise her." She glanced at Seb, "She's Moroi." She glanced down at the baby as she squirmed again and yawned hugely, Anna smiled... that warm flutter taking over her heart again at the sight. "I want to..." She looked up at Gunner nervously before she moved to set beside Serena, anxious to try and keep Gunner from melting down.

"The best I can tell... she's maybe almost two months old..." She glanced at Serena and pulled the blanket down away from the baby's face and sighed softly, "I don't even know her name..." She leaned on her friend's shoulder, emotionally worn out.

Seb was busy watching both Anna's and Gunner's auras, trying to gauge the situation as best he could in case he had to get Gunner out of there to breathe for a minute. when his friend's hands went into fists and he seemed to pale a bit Seb moved to his side. "Let's take a walk. I need to visit the feeders anyway," Seb offered. He was trying to give Gunner a chance to escape for a moment if he needed to and Anna a chance to steady herself.

He could see how much she wanted to keep the baby, it was all over her aura... she was glowing like the sun but underneath that was worry and sorrow all mingled up together. She didn't want to hurt Gunner, was scared he would make her choose between he and the child... was scared the Queen wouldn't even bother to give them that choice. Seb knew what he could do for them.... how he could help them keep her but it all rode on how things worked out with Gunner. There was no possible way Anna would be allowed to raise the child on her own.

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension in the room fizzle. He glanced at Serena, "We'll give you girls some time on your own... unless Gunner wants to stay?"

[tsubasa]

Gunner was trying to remain calm, he knew how much Anna would want this kid and he knew how much her wanted and needed her. He listened to Anna as she spoke with Serena, who was happily cooing to the little baby. He couldn't blame her, after how else would a pregnant woman react to a baby. He looked at Sebastian as the man seemed to be trying to get him out of the room. His eyes flickered to under Sebastian's eyes, noting that the circles weren't that dark, meaning that he didn't really need to see the feeders.

He looked back to Anna and the baby, caves were coming back. The red head Moroi that had begged him to save her baby girl. The red head that he awakened because he thought that that was obviously the best choice because he sure as hell wasn't going to raise the girl... Funny how things worked out this way. Maybe this baby could kind of be a way for him to pay for his sins... Show that he isn't that thing anymore because he can and will raise this child unlike he intended to as a Strigoi. He cleared his throat, "She's two months... I don't know her birthday but her mother.... She was about a month when I took them."

He took a deep breath and loosened his fists before wiggling his fingers to let some blood back into them. He looked at Anna, "Can I... speak to you?" He glanced at the baby in her arms, "Alone for a second?"

Serena looked over her shoulder at Gunner, who seemed like her wanted to stay. Which she supposed was a good sign, he was trying to stay for Anna and that was probably taking a lot considering. Serena held out her arms to the woman, "Go... I can hold the little one for a while... Good practice," She smiled and looked to Sebastian before beckoning him over. Their baby was due in three weeks but at this point could truly be coming any day, maybe it'd be good for the both of them to be with a quiet sleep baby before their's came into the world and did neither. She looked back at Anna and spoke quietly just for the two of them, "Go... Gunner is still here, that's a good thing," She gave her friend a reassuring squeezed on her hand before she took the baby into her arms and smiled down at her, wiggling her finger in front of her face.

[Nephriel]

Seb let out a breath as Gunner's fists slowly unclenched and he gained some color back to his face. Anna glanced up at Gunner as he spoke and nodded, she knew this would probably be hard for him... As Serena encouraged her to go Anna looked down at the child one more time, longingly, and then passed her gently to Serena before standing. "I'll be right back..." She moved to Gunner's side and rubbed the back of her neck, "Let's go..."

She guided Gunner into her tiny room and shut the door before seating herself on the bed with a sigh. "It's good to be back..."

She glanced at Gunner, "They probably won't let me keep her anyway..."

~*~

Seb watched the two of them go and looked at the tiny baby in Serena's arms... It was like a sneak preview into their future and Serena was glowing too. He kissed her cheek and as he sat with her he leaned against her shoulder to look down at the tiny little one. Her eyes opened just slightly and she yawned toothlessly...

"She's so tiny..."

Sure, he had a younger sister but to be honest he hadn't spent much time around her when she'd been this little. It was basically all new to him. She squirmed and fussed a little before making a face... Seb promptly made a face shortly after, "Did she just... go potty?"

((Couldn't resist. :P))

[tsubasa]

Gunner walked into the room with Anna and stuffed his hands into his pockets as he looked at her. He sighed and looked to the ground, "We'll figure something out."

He took a seat next to her on the bed, "I did... A lot of bad when I.... was what I was. Maybe... this is my way to redeem myself. Those kids... they don't have parents now because of me... Taking one in, even if she's a Moroi, might be good."

He moved his hand to cover her own, "I know this isn't going to make up for everything I did.... it isn't going to bring anyone back but protecting her from the thing the orphaned her.... might be a good start."

He leaned over and kissed her temple, "We'll... we'll figure something out."
~
Serena held the little baby in her arms and could feel her excitement for the little one growing. She had been starting to want have the baby just to stop being pregnant. This was really what she needed to get excited for their own little one. She laughed when she made a face and Seb asked if she had gone to the washroom.

Holding her little head, Serena held her out to him, "Perfect time for you to practice," she grinned at him, "There are some diapers in the closet. I had some sent up after the little scare," She kissed his head, "I would but the doctors said I should rest," she teased.

[Nephriel]

Seb grimaced but rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, I have to get used to it..." He carefully picked her up, as if he were afraid he might break her, and carried her into the bedroom to change her on the bed. A few minutes, some crying, and an accident with the powder later Seb came out looking proud of himself. "It wasn't that bad..." As he moved back to her side and sat down he wiggled his fingers at the little one who was now wide awake. "Hello..."

She made a sound somewhere between a gurgle and a coo and Seb glanced at Serena in confusion, "Is that good or bad?"

~*~

As Gunner spoke Anna smiled shakily and wiped a few tears away, "I'm glad... I was afraid you wouldn't want her..."

She took his hands in her own, she couldn't tell him that all the bad things were in the past... it wouldn't help. She couldn't tell him that not all the death was his fault because he wouldn't see it that way and her words wouldn't be a comfort... She could however, be honest.

"I love you Gunner... Nothing will change that. When you're strigoi you're not yourself... not really. I remember how it twists everything... any desires you had become obsessions... Love becomes a need to possess... Ambition becomes all consuming. You're a passenger in your own body. We can't hold everything Sebastian does when the darkness takes over against him... and it's the same Gun just maybe not to the same extent. You did some horrible things, I can't take that away or tell you that you didn't... Just like I can't tell Sebastian he didn't do the things he did when he lost it and the crazy took over... but you have options."

She kissed his cheek, "You have people who love you... people who need you... People who know that that wasn't who you are Gun. You're the most protective, kind, loving man I know. You'd fight and give your life if it meant protecting the people you love and you did... you lost more than just your life that night... you lost yourself." She squeezed his hand, "And just like I had to... you have to find who you are again."

She slipped an arm around him, rested her head on his chest for a moment before she heard the baby crying. She glanced at him and gave him a small smile, "I should get back out there... I have an audience with the Queen tomorrow and I have yet to get any formula, diapers, or clothes for the little one..."

She grimaced, "I hope I have enough money saved..."

[tsubasa]

Serena smiled at Sebastian when he came back with the baby. She watched him, filled with pride, as he celebrated his success with the diaper and laughed, "I'm proud of you."

When he sat back down, she leaned against him and looked at the baby who was now wide awake. She giggled at confusion with the little noise she made. She reached out and ran her hand over the top of the baby's head, "It's fine, she's just talking."

She placed her hand on Sebastian's chest, "Soon this will be our baby," she whispered before she leaned in and gave him a kiss. She rested back against him and watched as the baby watched them, "We should eat when Anna and Gunner are done talking."
~
Gunner sighed and ran his hands over his face and through his hair before he looked at her. Whatever the reason was that he felt most at ease around Anna, he was glad it was her. She knew him and she knew what would make him feel better. He nodded his head, "Maybe he'll be less of a jerk.... or a robot."

He took a deep breath when Anna pulled away and stated she should go back out. He nodded and put his hands into his pockets, "I have a fair amount saved if you need. Didn't do much spending in the last two years."

He followed her back out of the room to find the two lovebirds sitting on the couch. He looked between the three of them, "Oy, your baby is going to get jealous if you two keep this up."

[Nephriel]

Seb nodded, "I'm starved..." He looked down at the baby and smiled again just as Gunner and Anna came back out.

Seb laughed, "You two are going to have your hands full... When did you say your audience with the Queen was?"

Anna moved to Serena's side and sat down on the other side of her, tickling the baby's toes when one foot stuck out of the blanket. "Tomorrow morning... Gunner and I have to go out though... I need to get a few things for the baby."

She hesitated, glancing at Serena. "Will you two be okay without us for a bit?"

She didn't like the idea of leaving Serena here without someone to help Seb just in case she went into labor again. Seb shrugged, "It'll be fine... I'll ask one of the court guard to fill in till you two are back. Serena and I are just going to eat this huge meal that you two are abandoning."

Anna chuckled, "Alright... Um... Do you mind watching the baby? The Queen is refusing to let Moroi off the grounds till we give our report tomorrow and I doubt she'd be happy if we took one of the survivors back out into potential danger..."

Seb glanced at Serena, normally he'd ask her before offering but he knew she'd want to help her friends and Seb wasn't quite ready to risk them both again even if the biggest risks were gone... "How about we eat as a family? Serena and I have gotten some formula and diapers already and we can always get more... I know money is tight and we could really use having you both here for the first time in forever... Besides, the restrictions should be lifted tomorrow and you can shop then."

Anna nodded, "If that's alright with Serena..."

[tsubasa]

Serena adjusted the baby in her arms and smiled down at her as Anna joined her on the couch. She looked at her friend as she spoke about leaving to go and buy the essentials that they would be needing to raise the baby. She gave her a small smile and nod but she couldn't help but feel bad, Anna had just gotten back and already had to leave again. The girl didn't have a chance to stop. She touched her friend's knee, "Of course. It'll be practice for us," She showed off Sebastian's handy work with the diaper and laughed a little, "I'll be fine and Sebastian can call you if anything happens."

When Sebastian offered up their diapers and formula to allow the other two to leave later in the day, Serena nodded her head, "Of course I'm okay with it, Anna," She placed one hand on her stomach, "You could probably take the formula as well.... I can and will breastfeed after all, it was just for a back up if the baby was being a bit difficult."

With a bit of effort she got herself onto her feet, "Now, let's eat."

She waddled over to the table with the baby and Gunner came to her side to pull out a chair for her. He watched her as she sat down before his eyes moved to the little girl in her arms. He didn't want to touch her... not after all the harm he had caused her. He had been the one to cause her world to crumble around her.

Serena looked up at him, "You aren't going to hurt her, Gunner..."

Gunner nodded his head but said nothing before he took a seat at the table.