My Darling Daughter

[hrhlavender]

Who: Lavender and Azkadellia, possibly Jeb later.
What: Being a mother
When: February Seventh, 7:30pm
Where: Azkadellia's rooms.

Comments

[az_of_the_oz]

The embroidery in Az's hands had been sadly neglected as of yet. Although she was still not quite sure what she was going to do with a length of gorgeous white silk decorated with fine silk thread. Creatures and nature dancing across the edges of the fabric, even the Princess's own puppy was frolicking among high grass

[hrhlavender]

Well, her daughter had pale skin. But a mother knows a daughter. So she caught the slight whitening of Azkadellia's skin regardless. Lavender's hand went to her stomach. "...Pregnant." She smiled. She moved to her daughter, subtly guiding her to sit.

"I'm afraid, you might have to comfort Jeb this evening. I think he's somewhat overwhelmed about becoming a lord. I finally told him and Wyatt. Oh, and he has to go to classes."

Lavender let out a small laugh at that. "I wonder, if you might talk to Jeb about his father. I'm afraid since... his ego has taken something of a knocking. He fears that he is not good enough. I tell him that I have complete faith..."

She shook her head. "Sometimes, one needs a better perspective. And Jeb has had lives in his hands and even, failed to live upto his own standards of leadership from time to time. Lost lives.

"Perhaps an understanding ear is all Wyatt needs."

[az_of_the_oz]

The smile the Princess bore warmed a bit more, "I didn't ask you yet, but how are you feeling? I don't really remember anything of when you carried DG." She had been just a toddler at the time, and there were just lingering feelings of happiness and being loved, from before solid memories had formed. Az sat gracefully back down on the soft couch at her mother's small gesture, content to have her sit beside her

[hrhlavender]

"Slightly nauseous, darling, but nothing I can't handle. How are you?" she searched her daughter's eyes. "How are you sleeping?"

[az_of_the_oz]

"C-can you stay?" As a general rule, Az did not like being alone, really. It was true she had attempted to retreat into seclusion after both the Double Eclipse and after she had been rescued from the Realm. But both times, someone had come and pulled her immediately back out of her self imposed isolation. The punishment she had attempted to give herself both times for not fighting hard enough, even if she had never classified it as such at the time

[hrhlavender]

"I'd love to. Well, I'm not sure. I have lovely daughters already. I suppose a son. I'll wait to find out." She smiled. "Of course. I'd love a grandchild. After the wedding. It was a close call with you," she winked.

[az_of_the_oz]

A little brother, that could certainly be interesting, "Cain suggested that either way the baby would be bound to be riding Sugar or Karma," the sleeping puppy, as she lay under the couch, gave a little snuffling sound at the thought. "I suggested a padded saddle." The smile that teased the ends of her mouth was a flicker of lightheartedness that had been sorely lacking from the rest of the conversation.

Amusement spiked at the comment that it had been 'a close call' with her. "Mother! Really?" That had not been a story she had been told before, although she had not actually ever looked at the dates of the Royal Wedding and the Royal Birth. "You were pregnant when you married Father?" Remembering something, she tilted her head. "And fit into that dress

[hrhlavender]

"We'll see," Lavender smiled. "If I've learned anything from being a parent is that your child will do whatever they want to do. You're absolute refusal to eat anything but strawberries when you were two, for example."

Lavender laughed. "Well, your grandmother altered the pictures. Little coverup."

Lavender jumped forward when Azkadellia reeled. "Azkadee! Are you all right?"

[az_of_the_oz]

Her mother's hand moved to her stomach, and Az's gaze followed the movement in confusion. What was she- Only for her eyes to widen at the light and the words spoken. Oh, dear sweet Ozma.

Shock was clear on her face for a few seconds. This was not anything they had planned, Jeb and her. While her mind stalled for a second, oddly, on the amused sigh of realizing that she really did lose the pool on who would end up pregnant first. That she had laid her bets on it being DG.

But the more important part was the fact that panic swelled for an instant, the timing was just all kinds of off. They still had not even signed the papers to adopt Eliza yet, adopt an eight year old ball of energy in pixie form. Not to mention the fact that the engagement ring around her finger was desperately new.

So much for taking things slow.

[hrhlavender]

Lavender resisted the tempation to laugh at the look on Azkadellia's face. "I believe we should summon Jeb," she smiled.

Rising, she moved to the door, instructing Turnbull to fetch Jeb, concerning interesting developments. Cryptic, but hopefully not frightening.

[spiffeh_jeb]

Concerning interesting developments? And Turnbull fetching him? Interesting, certainly. Jeb was just on his way back to Azkadellia's room as it was and nearly crashed with the other man in the hall, surprised that it was him he'd been looking for.

He didn't so much follow Turnbull up to Az's room as walk alongside him, tempted to question the other man. He didn't. It wasn't that long of a walk anyway.

"Hey, sorry I took a while, was just coming back up myself... and uhh.. Hello," how did one address the queen? Maybe if he looked awkward for a moment, she'd let it go.

[hrhlavender]

"Thank you, Turnbull. Jeb! Good. I think you should sit down." Gods knew that she didn't want him to faint or something. Ahamo didn't, but Ambrose did. Despite it not being his baby.

"Azkadellia has something to say."

[az_of_the_oz]

The original plan, what little and vague one that there had been, had been to talk to Jeb about Eliza. About the papers they needed to sign. As the issue had never been exactly addressed, and they had procrastinated nearly too long.

Now was not the time any longer, however. If he was half as surprised and knocked off his axis as she, and he looked it, then they needed to at least sleep on this unexpected revelation.

The Princess's attention was on Jeb's expression more than anything else, feeling the need to be aware of how he was feeling/thinking on the subject. It was a relief to see happiness there, although by the same hand, she had not exactly expected him to go bolting in the other direction. Well, not literally at least. She smiled, "Yes, definitely 'wow.'"

Her mother's words reminded her of the fact that she had been thinking about a spring wedding, or handfasting, before. But April or so was two months away. How fast did women show, again? Because she could not remember.

[hrhlavender]

"Before we make any plans, we need to tell your father, Jeb. I'm sure that any jealousy he might have for you beating him to the punch will be overwhelmed by his joy.

"A gentle soul as you will make a wonderful father, just as Azkadellia will make a incredible mother. And, I'm certain, Eliza will be delighted to have a sister."

[spiffeh_jeb]

Telling father? Right, that might be a good idea. He wasn't sure how dad would react. He wasn't sure how he would go about telling dad. Maybe someone else could do it for him and he could just stand around in a corner and nod? That would work well.

"And the upstairs maid owes one of the cooks a few silver coins... Not that anyone was making bets." He learned things from Kat when she hung around the maids, watching Eliza eat as many pastries as possible. "No doubt 'Liza will be overjoyed when we tell her too."

Did they ever officially adopt that girl? There were papers but he didn't remember signing anything yet.

[az_of_the_oz]

"Perhaps," Az began, seeing the small reaction to the idea of telling his father right away flit across Jeb's face. "Perhaps we could wait a few days Mother? Just to," a small smile flitted over her lips as she shrugged her shoulders lightly. "Get used to the idea first?" They just needed some time before they went and revealed that new piece of information to everyone else. First that fact had to settle.

They were going to be parents. Oh goddesss.

Adopting Eliza had not seemed as overwhelming of a concept, not as much as a baby was. Perhaps because she was already eight, she was nowhere fully grown, but the little girl had already passed through the stage where she was unable to ask in detail for what she needed or wanted. Not to mention the diapering and middle of the night feeding stages.

Eliza would be excited, Az already knew. She had nearly bounced herself out of her seat when they announced they were getting married. "Or brother," came the correction. There was no need to pin a sexuality on a baby that they just discovered