It took Willow by surprise since all her other pregnancies never lasted beyond a month even, thou she discovered her condition by the second month she did not, could not tell Erik until she was sure. When her third month came by and she could no longer cover her growing belly, Willow waited for Erik to come home from his work in the village as he was a blacksmith by trade. As well as a highly regarded sword maker. When he came home on the night of January 19, 1391, Willow was waiting for him by the front door.

“Evening Will.” Erik spoke as he entered the house. Walking to her and kissing her lips as she stood wrapped up in her soft flowing robe.

“Erik, I have something to tell you.” Willow spoke as their kiss broke.

“What’s wrong?” Erik said concerned for his wife.

“Nothing is wrong.” Willow laughed slightly, “In fact everything is right after so long everything is just right.” Willow spoke as she took Erik’s hand and placed it on her swollen belly.

At first Erik was unsure of what he felt until it dawned on him that Willow was carrying a child. “Oh my god is it real?” he said in utter disbelief as he fell to his knees.

Willow laughed slightly as she touched Erik’s head. “Yes, its real. I’ve known for a month, but I just waited to make sure that it would last before I told you.”

“How far are you along.” Erik asked as he put his head to her belly.

“About three months.”  Willow told him.

Erik smiled as he rested his head on her belly. “This time I know it will last. It is just meant to be this time.” Erik sighed.

Erik and Willow stood there for the next few minutes until Willow had to get Erik his meal, but he had her sit down while he tended to their meal. He didn’t want to lose this one. As they ate both discussed things about the baby from names to the nursery. Both agreed should it be a boy; he would be called Aohe and if it be a girl Aurora-Dawn. By the time they went to bed he had the nursery all figured out as they both agreed to have Dorian build it for them. Since Erik was not handy in that area and being sentimentalist, they decided to use both of their baby blankets and clothes for their child. This way it would know and feel its history.

When the morning came, Erik left early to tell his friends and family, all were excited more then they were for Neith, but this was long hidden in the past. By midday both his parents and hers the Quinlan’s and the Ardens all arrived to celebrate since this was long overdue. Everyone brought gifts for them to help nothing was new but that of things well used though still in perfect shape. Of all of the gifts the one they treasured the most was the cradle Dorian, and his family gave them. It wasn’t new rather the same one they used for Domink. When they saw the cradle Willow was over come with joy for the cradle was beautiful as it was covered in hand carved rosettes. From the first time she saw it ten years ago Willow had always wanted to have it for her child when the time came. The Quinlan’s were all to proud to give it to her since they were not able to have any more children. Willow and Erik were grateful to everyone for the gifts and for their coming to celebrate this long-awaited child. By late evening their guest returned to their homes as the evenings grew late for some and early for a few, but it was also the right time to leave since Willow had already turned in for the night.

The following day Dorian and Domink came over to begin building the nursery he brought his son along so that he could help with the nursery. This was not the only reason, he wanted his son to spend time with Erik so that he could know that there was others that thought like he did. Each day Dorian would come over and worked on the nursery for a few hours. Some days he would bring his son over while other days he left him home to tend to the animals and to train.

While Dorian worked over the next two and a half months Willow grew bigger and by her fifth month, she had a hard time keeping up with the household chores as the pregnancy was taking all her energy. She got to the point where she needed help being close friends Neith came over each day to help until the day she delivered. While Willow was being taken care of Dorian put the finishing touches on the nursery after nearly two and a half months he was finished making it. To bring everything together in the room he carved a rosette design on the wood trim around the window and ceiling.  He even put the design onto the rocking chair he built for them. By the time he finished building and setting up the blankets and toys the room was fit for royalty just like he had done for Domink. When Erik came home that night Dorian brought both into the room with eyes covered until it was time to reveal.

When they removed their blindfolds, both were awestruck at the design and detail he had put in having it so that their child would forever have this room. Dorian had thought ahead for them even building a daybed under the window for when it gets older. Willow was so wrapped up in her emotions that she became speechless and wrought with tears of joy. That all she could do was hug Dorian while Erik didn’t have any tears but had the biggest smile on his face that was never there before. Neith and Domink stood in the doorway staying out of the way this moment belonged to the three of them. When they finally broke their embrace and started to walk around the room Neith came in to take her husband’s hand. This family moment was not shared by everyone as Domink hung back in the doorway to staying out of everyone’s way. No one noticed this as they were all to wrapped up in their emotions yet he didn’t hang back for selfish or noble reasons rather hanging back because he didn’t quite understood why everyone was acting so strange about the room. To him it was just a room.

As they walked home, he asked his parents about what happened with the Ronan’s and why they were so upset at the room. Neith tried to explain that Willow and Erik weren’t upset rather elated at the gift and that their tears were not of sorrow but of joy. Still, he didn’t fully understand because to him the emotions didn’t add up. Neith seeing and hearing that he still didn’t understand told him that one day everything would make sense. They got home that night he wanted to ask more questions, but Neith and Dorian were exhausted from all their work at the Ronan’s. They went straight to bed leaving him to finish the chores and figure things out for himself. Domink figured out what his mother explained on the way home yet it still didn’t make sense to him but the day was coming when he would.

Time seemed to slow down again staying slow for the rest of her month and a half left of her pregnancy. Willow spent much of time preparing for the birth while Erik worked on both their farm and in the village getting all his orders done so that when the time came, he could close for awhile. Erik closed one week before her time but on her due date nothing happened, and it stayed that way for a week when her water finally broke one afternoon in April.

Erik had planned everything right down to a tee but on that afternoon, nothing went as planned for Erik fell apart. Lucky for him Neith was there and took control of the situation from keeping Willow calm to getting Dorian who was there to get the midwife. Once everything was going well Neith worked on getting Erik out of the house and to get his parents who were still in Africa at their home. With how fast angels fly this great distance did not matter as they would be there inside of half an hour. Willow’s labor was not long or painful as her mothers were at first but as her contractions got closer together the pain escalated by the time the midwife and Erik’s parents got there. Neith helped the midwife while everyone apart from Domink (who was outside as this was not a place for children) waited in the kitchen as Willow, Neith and the midwife were all upstairs in her bedroom aiding in the delivery.

After many hours Willow finally gave birth to a daughter. At first, she did not cry which worried both Neith and Willow but after the midwife slapped her butt the girl baby started to cry. This cry was heard throughout the house and those in the kitchen all began to laugh and shake each others’ hands while Erik got many slaps on the back. While everyone downstairs celebrated upstairs Neith cleaned up the baby while the midwife cleaned up Willow. Once all were cleaned up Willow walked carefully down the stairs while Neith carried her daughter who was wrapped in a soft blanket. By the time they got downstairs Erik, their friends and family were all waiting rather impatiently in the family room.

“Willow.” Erik shouted as he ran to her taking her into his arms.

“Erik, you have to let me go.” Willow said with a small amount of pain in her voice.

He slowly let her go helping her to the lounge as Neith came into the room with their daughter. “Do you want to hold her, Erik? Looking into the baby girls bright green eyes.

“Do you have to ask.” Erik said mildly sarcastically as he carefully took his daughter from her. “She is beautiful. I don’t know why but I always wanted a daughter.” Sighing with content as James and Lorali surrounded them.

“I had a daughter once, Erik and I always wished for another, but I never did. Yet fate has given me a granddaughter to love. Cherish her Erik because one day she will be grown and gone from under your roof.” James smiled as he stroked his granddaughter’s cheek.

“What is her name?” Lorali asked as she walked over and sat down beside Willow.

“Aurora.” Erik sigh with joyful glee.

“Aurora?” Willow thought for a moment. “It’s perfect Aurora Laree Ronan.”

“Laree?” Erik questioned her.

“I had a friend called that, but she died, and I always said to myself should I have a daughter I would give this name to her. Honoring my friend.” Willow explained as to the whereabouts of the name. This realization brought tears to most of everyone faces.

“Welcome to the world Aurora Laree Ronan.” Leo spoke raising his goblet followed by every one else. “Where’s Domink?” which stopped the celebration for awhile.

“Oh, shit I forgot he was outside.” Neith shouted as she put her goblet down and raced to get him who was no longer there but asleep in the barn on top of a pile of hay.

“Dorian, I need to ask you something?” Leo said before everyone and especially before Neith came back.

“What’s wrong?” Erik asked concerned for his friends.

“I don’t want to spoil this occasion for everyone so Dorian and I will talk outside just for a quick moment.” Leo said putting his goblet down.

“It’s okay, Leo, I know what you are going to ask and it’s alright to say it here among friends. But please ask before she comes back.” Dorian said sitting down beside Lorali with his head falling to his chest.  “It’s okay.” as he reassured Leo that it would not ruin the day.

“Alright. Dorian, Neith’s bond with Domink...” Leo began to say.