Six months after moving to their new home in Africa, Lorali went into labor a few weeks earlier then expected. The birth was long and hard taking several hours but on the thirty first day of the tenth month in the year 988 A.D.  Surrounded by the mid wife, Leo, Hera, James and the rest of the Circle, Lorali gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Before he was blessed or named the other members of the Circle checked for the mark and like before there was no mark to be found. Before all of those who stood around the bed, Lorali blessed her newborn son.

“Spirits of those who came before watch over this new life. Guide him as he walks through his journey of life and wonder. Protect him from all that may do him harm. Bless our little Erik, son of James Ronan.” Lorali spoke softly as she cradled Erik in her arms looking down at him. He opened his bright green eyes for the first time.

“Bless Erik Ronan.” all in the room spoke in unison.

After the blessing everyone gathered for a feast to celebrate the birth. All of them but Lorali as she fell asleep soon after the blessing. While Erik laid in his cradle beside James at the feast since it was in his honor. They laughed, talked, and admired the baby till the late evening when Hera grew to tired as she was nearly eight months along. Since this was her first child it took a lot out of her especially this far along. After everyone had left James spent the next few hours just holding his son not wanting to let go. After what happened to his daughter Lola even though they were all at peace seeing his newborn somehow brought this fear back to him. James just sat in his chair curled up as his son slept in his arms. After awhile he too fell asleep, sleeping until late morning when he was awakened by Lorali picking up their son. At first James refused as he thought she was someone else but when he saw her smiling at him, he let Erik go with his mother. The first few days then weeks were rough as James had many sleepless nights not because of stress or anything rather because he spent those nights watching over his son and wife. As they slept ready at any sound to protect his family and strike down those that would harm them. As he watched over his family and cared for them not a few yards away Hera who was working in their garden most of the day went into labor as blood broke.

Her labor was not as hard as Lorali, but it was long and very lonely at first since Leo was away on business with the Circle nearly four hours away. Hera was able to make it into their home, but her fear was so strong that Leo could feel it and the baby’s impending arrival without any warning Leo dropped everything and ran back home leaving the others in his wake. He got home only several minutes later to find Hera writhing in pain on their bed with blood all down her dress, Leo ran up to Hera holding her in his arms trying to help her through the pain. No one knew that Hera went into labor it wasn’t for many hours later when James and his family showed up to visit.

James saw the pool of blood by their garden and knew that her time had come. It was then they heard her cries of pain and Leo telling her to breath to hold on that help would soon come. Larali told James to get the midwife and the others while she stayed with their son and Hera. Although James protested Lorali won out and he took flight heading towards the nearest walker midwife as their birth needed someone who understood their physiology. Once he had her on the way to Hera, James went to gather the rest of the Circle bringing them back to Leo’s home. When he got back to the house with the others Lorali and the midwife had everything under control with Lorali cooking a feast to celebrate the birth as Leo watched over both Erik and Hera.

James and the Circle watched and waited for the baby to arrive while Lorali cooked. As the birth drew closer Lorali did her duty as both a woman, a mother, and a warrior, she sent all of the men out of the bedroom. So that only she and the midwife remained with Hera. For walkers births was something only women could tend to as the males bond to his wife and baby is so strong that they only get in the way. Leo and the others paced back and forth quite nervously for several hours until they heard the sound of a baby crying. Leo ran into the room to see his child-a daughter. When the Circle heard Leo shouting in joy that he has a daughter they left as they were no longer needed anymore. Though they stayed for the celebration for the birth of Erik not one wanted to stay for Leo’s child. Though the war was long over as well as the hate, but many still saw Leo as a traitor to his own race. Since he sided with James earlier on and killed hundreds of his own kind and Leo knew that is why over the years, he and Hera kept their distance from the others. Even though the other members left, James stayed as did his family. He did not see Leo as a traitor but as a brother and he understood how much this child meant to Leo. May be even more than his child meant to him.

James and Lorali who was holding Erik walked into the bedroom to see the new life that Leo was holding as the midwife helped Hera cleaned up. “Can I hold her, brother?” James asked quietly as he looked at Leo’s daughter. Leo looked down at his daughter and smiled as his bright red eyes looked down at hers just opened. “Okay, just be care full she’s my everything.” Leo softly spoke as he hesitantly handed her to James open arms.

“She’s beautiful, Leo, like her mother.” James sighed as he cradled her in his arms. “Did you decide on a name for this little angel.” he gently laughed as she looked up at him.

Leo looked down at his daughter and gave a slight chuckle. “No not yet?” Hera left it up to me and I want her name to be beautiful and perfect.”

“What ever name you choose I think it will be perfect for this little one.” James joyfully spoke. “So daddy ......I think you deserved a glass.” James joked as he held the baby in one arm whiling placing the other around Leo taking him out to where Lorali set up a feast to celebrate along with fresh blood from the local wildlife. Leo smiled genuinely appreciating all what James had done not just for today but for being his friend, brother and being there for him when all others turned from him and Hera.

“Can I hold my daughter, James.” Leo joked holding out his arms.

“Sure, it’s just she reminds me of my Lola.” James sighed deeply handing the baby into Leo’s arms. “Look since it is just us for the moment I want to give you a toast, my brother.”

“Okay.” Leo replied as he picked up a glass of blood while James picked up a glass of red wine.

“Leo, at first we were enemies but death brought us closer together, it made us brothers and though we are different we are very much the same. You were there for the birth of my son Erik a month ago and now on this day the twenty-ninth of the eleventh month of the year nine hundred eighty-eight I am here to celebrate the birth of your beautiful daughter. I can only hope that our children become friends like we have my brother.”

James toasted Leo raising his glass along with Leo. Both took a drink looking at the little life in Leo’s arms before them.

“Neith-Lola Mya Arden is her name.” Leo smiled looking down at his daughter. “To honor your late wife, my friend Mya and your daughter who died before she was allowed to live.” This surprised and humbled James for Leo to name his daughter after his late family was the greatest honor he could ever receive. In his heart James could feel that they would live on through her.

“Thank you, my friend.” James replied holding back his emotions as he gave a hug in appreciation, afterwards bending down he kissed Neith on her forehead.

“Welcome to the world Neith-Lola Mya Arden” he whispered just as Lorali walked out with Hera.

“It’s a perfect name for her.” Hera spoke exhausted after her long ordeal. “May I hold Neith?” She ask as she slowly and gently she sat down on their cushioned bench beside the table.

“Of course,” Leo spoke softly and gently as he placed Neith in her mother’s arms.

“She is beautiful. Neith, a perfect name for a beautiful girl” Lorali spoke as he held Erik. “Look Erik, this is your new friend Neith.”   As she showed the new baby to a wide-eyed Erik.

“Are you sure you have enough blood to feed this little one and milk to help her grow.” James asked Hera concerned for the baby.

“I think I have enough. Sometimes I wonder why walker women can’t be like you and only produce milk. But then again blood/milk is what we need to grow as babies so that is what we produce. Yes. James, I have enough for the little one.”  As she drifted off in thought for a moment.

“I know that she is just born as is our son but for some reason I want another.” Lorali spoke shocking James who had really given it a second thought.

“What?” James and Leo both said quite loudly.

“You only just had him.” Leo said falling back into his chair in exhaustion and disbelief.

“I know and I remember the pain and just how long it took to conceive but I want another.” Lorali spoke sitting down beside Hera preparing to feed Erik as he started to cry.

“You know I wouldn’t mind having another, Leo. Just not right away.” Hera said shocking Leo even more to the point of speechlessness. “Leo, Hun, are you okay?”

“Yeah....yeah, I am alright just yeah.” Leo replied stammering his words.

“You know I wouldn’t mind having another.” James spoke from behind Leo coming into the candlelight. “After holding Neith, I realized just how much I want a daughter of my own. Not to replace the one I lost because nothing could replace Lola in my heart.”

“James, if you want one the way I wish for more then we will try again in a year.” Lorali replied joyfully as this is what she wanted too.

“You know.” Leo spoke leaning forward into the light. “All this talk about more makes me feel like I would want another but just not right away. I want to enjoy my daughter spending time with her and then maybe in a few years try again.”

“Sounds perfect to me love.” Hera replied happy at Leo’s decision.

The four celebrated till late in the evening enjoying the feast and the new life though the celebration came to an end this night, but this was not the end to their lives. Few years later James had another son whom he named Cahal while no matter how much they tried for another Lorali could not conceive a third time in hopes for a daughter. So, he looked at and treated Neith like the daughter he always wanted. They were not alone in the ability to not conceive as Hera a much as she tried could not hold another child after several miscarriages. They stopped trying for a son as the loss of all the miscarriages took a toll on them. Like James he treated Erik and Cahal like the sons he always wanted. Neither ever told their wives about the prophecy but somehow, they always knew. Both men made sure they discourage any form of romantic relations as their children grew up. But this was never really an issue as the three were raised close together that they felt more like siblings rather than lovers. Even as they reached their teenage years and started to mature in many areas. When they reached their teen years, they truly saw how different they really were and about the prophecy. Yet this didn’t matter as they remained friends and siblings always looking out for each other.