Destiny set Henry down in her old crib, stroking his forehead. Lyanna and James sat in front of the fire again, and Destiny looked up to where her mother was speaking with Amory.
Her friend was pale and shaking, having just woken up. Destiny herself felt like crying, feeling as if something had pierced her when Dawn sprinted into their mother’s home with Henry in her arms, telling them Amory had collapsed.
When they got there, Selena was holding him off the ground, humming as she tried to get him to wake back up. It took everything she had to keep from screaming in terror at how ashen grey he was.
The only thing that stopped her was Lyanna and James, the two sitting behind their uncle asking why.
Now the children sat by the fire, having seemingly forgotten about Amory collapsing, looking through the pages of their book.
—-----
“What happened, child?” Seera asked gently, “Dawn said you left the building then passed out when she took Henry from you.”
“I’m not sure what happened,” he looked over the railing, watching as Destiny tended to his family, “It felt like everything was closing in on me. The only thing I could feel was Henry, then that was gone.”
“She was scared you were going to drop him.”
“I don’t blame her. With everything spinning the way it was it wouldn’t surprise me if I was close to dropping him.”
“Tell me what you were doing.”
“We were helping Dawn. We went to the kitchen to drop everything off and…” Amory took a deep breath, “It reminded me of the kitchen back home. But I don’t think that’s what happened.”
Seera’s eyes widened and she sighed softly, “Oh child. That’s the exact reason.”
“Why?”
“Because it was a reminder of home. You’ve been so stressed that the first reminder of home upset you,” Seera pulled the shaking child into her arms, “You need to rest. Let my daughter stay here with you tomorrow, get everything in order here. Then you can go back to working if you feel up to it.”
Amory nodded and looked back downstairs, locking eyes with Destiny. His friend curtsied, then stood with a sad smile. He smiled back, leaning on the railing as he made his way downstairs.
Lyanna looked up when Amory and Seera came downstairs, raising her hands up, “Amor! Up!” Her red eyes looked up at him, and he couldn’t stop himself from leaning down to pick her up.
“Hello, Lya. Are you and James looking through the picture book?”
“Amor tired.”
“Only a little honey,” Amory kissed his niece’s brown hair, “Only a little, but I can sit with you two right now.”
Lyanna nodded and wiggled out of his arms, standing by her brother before climbing into Amory’s lap. James leaned into him, pointing at all the different colors with a laugh.
Amory looked up at Destiny while trying to smile. Destiny nodded her head, sweeping into a deep curtsy, then walked to her mother.
He couldn’t hear their words, but their soft murmurs in the background reassured him, allowing him to believe that everything was okay for a short while.
—---------
Dawn placed a hand on her stomach, taking a deep breath as she went back to weaving the basket. Her home was dark currently, with only the fire casting a light on her living room.
She had shuttered the windows long ago and thanked the goddess that Alun never told her otherwise.
She laughed to herself when the door opened, turning around, “Of course when I think about you, is when you come home.”
Her husband smiled, sinking to his knees and kissing her neck, “How are you, love? Everything still alright? I heard you had quite a shock today.”
“The prince began to panic today,” Dawn turned to lean on him, finishing off the basket, “I think everything that’s happened to him finally sank in.”
Alun hummed, his hand traveling to cover hers, “But are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”
“If you tell them about the baby they’ll let you stay home, or do something easier,” his kind brown eyes searched hers, “I don’t mind them knowing.”
“I’m not ready yet. You know if my brother finds out he will be angry, and I don’t think I can handle him being angry at you. I’m surprised he hasn’t figured out about us.”
“And your mother? Maybe just tell her, and see if she’ll let you help her. Destiny could help Amory. Perhaps it’ll make it easier for him if she’s there.”
“Are you just trying to lock me away until this baby is born?”
Alun stared at her in shock before he realized she was laughing, “Do not scare me like that. I just worry about you,” he kissed her, “Back in my old home, pregnant women were not supposed to work.”
“I know. But sitting around for days and doing nothing is worse for the baby. Me picking cherries and berries will not be too dangerous, I promise.”
“Alright, if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
She stood and placed the basket next to the ones she had already finished. Next to the baskets were some blankets and one basket with some food.
“Is someone ill?”
“No. Destiny asked if we had some extra baskets for Amory. The poor boy is determined to do everything himself, but Destiny’s getting worried. Especially since he has three little ones with him.”
“He’s from Atlantis, is he not?”
“Aye, he is,” Dawn watched as her husband rose from the floor, “According to Destiny, his lover and his elder niece and nephew traveled here as well. They are the ones my papa and brother are looking for.”
“Hm. Well, I’ll be out back with my wood.”
“What are you making? And please be done by dinner, I want to walk in with you.”
“I will be done by dinner,” Alun kissed her head, “And I’m making some bed stands for Amory. If he needs as much help as Destiny thinks then I may as well contribute.”
Dawn smiled softly, curtsying all the way down to the floor, “Heart of gold husband.”
“Only because of you. Now get off the floor.”
Laughing, she rose and watched him walk out the back door, turning to gather up her pile.
—----------
Nina sighed, wincing a bit as her ankle went into another hole. Anya, who was holding onto Michaelson, looked at her, “Are you alright Aunt?”
“I’m fine, and no calling me Aunt,” her voice was short and clipped, “I ain’t your Aunt.”
“But you plan to marry Uncle Amory,” this time it was the younger of the siblings that spoke, “Doesn’t that make you our Aunt?”
“Michealson, just because me and your uncle have talked about marriage does not mean I’m your Aunt. Just call me Nina.”
The two nodded, looking ahead to where Adam was. The man had Anya’s trunk on her shoulder and was leading them to where Amory was.
Some part of her, the rational part deep down, knew she shouldn’t hate him. Knew he had only done what he and King Adrian had thought was best to protect them.
But the larger, still child part of her, hated him with all she had. Hated the fact she had been separated from Amory, hated the fact their ship had gotten lost in the storm.
Some of the sailors could sense her mood, she knew that because they had been extra careful. They were always careful talking about Atlantis, stopping when they realized she was in earshot.
Nina thought that pissed her off the most.
—-------
He nearly panicked again when Dawn came over with more food and news of her husband building things for them. The only thing that kept him calm was Dawn telling him it was a good thing.
“He needs to build things, Amory, It’s how he stays calm. Him making you some bed stands is good.”
He had stared at her, an unspoken question in his eyes. Dawn seemed to understand it, quickly leading him to the kitchen, showing him how to set it up for winter.
He watched as she tied some of the baskets to some hook in the ceiling where rodents couldn’t get them and leaned against the cabinet.
Two hours passed since she left, and Amory looked down at Henry as he slept in Destiny’s old crib. Lyanna and James were asleep in their room down the hall, and Destiny was sitting on the makeshift bed behind him.
“Talk to me Amory.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just speak about what’s on your mind. You need to talk and not bottle it all up.”
Amory turned from his nephew and sat down next to Destiny, leaning into her, “I don’t know what’s on my mind. One minute I’m thinking about how to set things up and the next I can’t get my mind off what happened.”
“Well, how about we talk about setting things up right now Get that done,” Destiny ran her fingers through his hair, “Alun is making the beds. I can help make blankets, baskets, and teach you and Nina how to do it as well.”
“Okay. I can make most of what we need tomorrow, then I need to go through what we have and organize. As long as you don’t mind helping me with the little ones we should get it done soon.”
“I do not mind,” Destiny smiled at him, opening her mouth to speak when they heard a knock coming from their front door. They looked at each other before slowly standing.
“You stay up here with Henry.”
Destiny nodded and moved to the door, watching as Amory went downstairs. Once he looked through a slant in their windows he froze for a split moment, unable to believe what he was seeing.
In a split second he opened the door, tears coming to his eyes, “Nina!”
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