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Being pregnant, as it turned out…wasn't entirely as terrible as W'ynter had assumed it to be. Granted, she was only about halfway along, just beginning to show, but it had proven to be more frustrating than horrible. She'd certainly heard horror stories through her years, and she was more than willing to count it as a blessing that she only spent a week or two in constant disagreement with her breakfast.
Other than that, or the fact that none of her trousers would close properly right now…the only true 'problem' was her husband. Not that he wasn't absolutely perfect in how carefully and devotedly he insisted on taking care of her - he was, and she felt humbled with every small gesture or act - but that he was altogether too prone to fits of panic when she attempted to do much of anything beyond lounge in bed picking up nothing heavier than her fork at meals.
Her crimson eyed partner had fretted almost nonstop since they'd returned from the First, and nearly had an apoplexy when she'd blithely gone off adventuring to Thavnair again. It was only because she understood him so well that she'd been able to bite her tongue and avoid snapping at him that she was pregnant, not an invalid.
Thankfully, a long conversation with Krile had been enough to disseminate much of her ire and she'd been able to sit down with him and have a civil discussion about just what she was still capable of doing and how she understood his worry and would compromise to try and assuage as much of it as she could.
He always worried for her, that had never changed, and she couldn't deny that it made sense that he’d worry even more now that there were two of them to consider. And to that end, she had agreed to at least curtail the more hazardous ventures from her adventuring until the kitten was born.
Giving him free reign to decorate the nursery seemed to help as well, and though she'd laughed and rolled her eyes, she had capitulated to his request that she not see it until he was finished. Whatever surprises he was crafting behind the closed door, she wasn't going to ruin them for the sake of her own curiosity.
Glancing up from her book at the sound of that same door opening and closing, she stretched before tilting her head back to smile at her paint spattered husband with a teasing lilt to her voice. "G'raha Nuun, I do hope you plan to be finished before our kitten has need of his room."
There was no hiding the laughter as his face turned as red as his hair and he sputtered that father or not, he had no intention of starting his own tribe and was perfectly happy to remain G'raha Tia, thank you very much and that she and the rest of their friends should just get that idea out of their heads.
Ironically enough, it had been Y'shtola who seemed to get the most amusement out of the teasing. Insisting on penning any letters or gifts to 'G'raha Nuun and W'ynter' despite his protests to the contrary, and W'ynter always knew when they received word from their friends as the others had caught on and it was a matter of watching Raha's face turn red as he flipped through the mail.
She was still giggling as he stalked around to study her with hands on his hips, any attempt at looking cross ruined both by the smear of blue paint across the bridge of his nose…and by the mirthful glint in his eyes. Which, of course, only fueled her laughter further until he rolled his eyes and gave a sigh of surrender. "When you finally deign to stop laughing at my expense…may I show you something?"
He was too adorable, the way he was trying to pretend to be stern with the corners of his mouth turning up in spite of himself, and W'ynter returned the smile with a nod as she reached for his outstretched hand. "Alright, alright. Show me your surprise, Raha. I can't wait to see."
Delight beamed across his face and he nodded before carefully turning her towards the closed door. Stepping behind her to cover her eyes with a laugh as he carefully directed her to the room he'd been working on so diligently for the past week.
"Alright…just a little further…now."
Pulling his hands away, he stepped back as she blinked her eyes open. Only to stare in awestruck wonder. The overall colour scheme was a soft blue, not unlike the Crystal Tower, with simple wooden furniture painted white with gold accents. But what stood out so much…were the walls. While they had obviously began as the same soft blue, delicately painted murals covered them now. From Coerthas to Limsa, to Mor Dhona and even Ultima Thule he had carefully painted their adventures together.
On one wall she faced a trio of primals. At another corner they ventured into the Crystal Tower together. A group of them and their friends boarded the Ragnarok from another patch of wall. The Crystarium was there, with his hooded figure overseeing the people of Norvrandt. Even the Ancients of Elpis, exactly as she had described them to him, were there amidst the colours. Everywhere she turned, the steps of their journey together were intricately picked out in stylized brush strokes. One hand raised to cover her mouth, she leaned back into his warmth as G'raha stepped up behind her to slip arms around her waist. His palms resting gently on the soft swell of her abdomen.
"Do you like it? I wanted him to know…your adventures…our journeys…the path we've walked together. Every step that brought us here. I hope I did it justice."
All that she could do was nod as her eyes welled up with tears, her voice a choked whisper when she finally found it again. "It's perfect, Raha… Amazing."
She felt him smile against her hair, only for them both to freeze as she felt a flutter against his palm and both sets of eyes shot down to where it rested against her stomach. "Was that…?"
G'raha seemed as entranced as she was, spreading his fingers and sucking in a gasp as that fluttering nudge came again. "I felt him move…"
Her heart swelled at the wonder in his voice and she chuckled as she laid her hand over his. "I think he likes his nursery too. I also think he wants to know whether his Daddy decided on a name yet or not." She shifted just enough in his embrace to steal a quick kiss and run the fingers of her other hand through titian fringe as he chewed his lower lip in thought.
At least Y'shtola had made it easier on them, pointing out that while they couldn't see aether, she could, and that choosing a name would be easier knowing they were having a son rather than a daughter. And while they had picked out a few likely names, W'ynter had wanted to give him the final choice in what they would call their son.
"How about… G'rehn. G'rehn Tia."
She rolled the name over in her mind, said it aloud, before nodding with a smile. "Raha and Rehn. I think it's a wonderful choice."