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Asta just couldn’t put his finger on what Noelle was so jittery about.
They usually take walks like these all the time, simply strolling through the capitol and seeing all the items for sale. But now it just seems like Noelle wasn’t taking in anything he was saying, the only responses he was getting from here were the occasional “Mmhm” and “Uh huh”. What was even weirder, Noelle didn’t seem to be taking in any of the items around her, but only looking around at all the families and people around them. This was weird to Asta, because Noelle usually loves it when he takes her shopping with him. Hand in hand with the royal next to him, Asta sighed, it was going to be a long day.
It took about an hour more for Noelle to actually say something to him, and it wasn’t something he was expecting what-so-ever. They were walking through a part of the shopping center filled with jewelry and necklaces, when Asta heard his girlfriend clear her throat.
“Asta?” The silver-haired girl squeaked out while looking into his eyes.
“Uh.. yes, Noelle?”
“Do you like kids?”
Man, if someone had told him he just got punched in the gut, he would’ve believed them, because now it felt like all the air just expelled from his body. Rubbing at his neck, swallowing down his saliva, Asta fumbled out a quick response.
“I- Umm… yeah.. They’re pretty funny I guess…”
Surprisingly, Asta didn’t get a response from that, none of the usual teasing Noelle would have given him after a response like that. Instead, looking at her again, she seemed to be deep in thought, looking straight ahead at the crowd of shoppers. And after that, it seemed like Noelle was back to having her head in the clouds, with him not getting any response more than three words. He was going to have to find the solution to this issue, so he began to look for the nearest bench around them.
“Noelle, c’mere for a second.” Asta spoke to her directly while grabbing her wrist in a certain direction.
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Sitting down with her and clearing his throat, Asta decided to ask the question that's been burning his mind all day, “Just what has been so distracting to you?”
Noelle quickly looked over to him and almost instantly, a blush exploded onto her face, “What? I- has something been making it seem like i'm distracted?”
Rolling his eyes, Asta responded, “Noelle, i've been trying to talk to you for almost two hours now, im not letting you leave until you tell me the truth .”
Noelle, face as red as a beet, “P-promise you won't laugh?”
“Never.” Asta replied with the most serious tone he could muster.
With a surprisingly audible gulp, Noelle whispered out, “Just… imagining things… that's all…”
Asta, softening his tone, “Can you elaborate?”
Noelle nodded, and pointed to a family that was about 30 feet away, “F-for example, do you see that family over there?”
“...Yes”
Asta swore Noelle got even redder before she said her next sentence, “Well, everytime I see a family like that, I… imagine it's me and you taking care of the kids, and it's so much fun I can’t stop. ”
Now it was Astas turn to go beet red, he and Noelle have been dating for years, and they’ve done everything couples can do with each other. But they have never talked about having kids before, and for some reason that thought gave Asta butterflies.
“Have you been doing this the entire time we were here?” Noelle nodded at this statement, and Asta could tell she didn’t want to continue the conversation.
“Well, we’re going to finish the rest of this conversation later, alright?”
At this sentence, Noelle shot up from the bench, “L-Lets just finish shopping…”
“...Okay”.
/ / /
The walk to the base felt real quiet compared to the others they shared. Carrying a few bags worth of items, Asta was forced to look at Noelles back as she walked a few steps ahead of him. He really couldn’t bear not talking with her though, stopping his steps, Asta called out,
“Noelle.” The name made her stop and turn around to look at him, he used the opportunity to take a few steps closer to her.
Placing down the bags to his side, Asta grabbed her shoulders, causing her to blush slightly, and said to her, “You know you can tell me anything, right Noelle? I won’t judge you or ever even think about laughing at you.”
Noelle simply nodded at this statement, causing him to take a breath in and question, “Then why were you scared to tell me the thoughts you were having in the market?”
The statement caused Noelle’s mouth to drop a little bit, “Im…. just scared…” Noelle began to look to the ground as she muttered the words.
“...Of what, Noelle?”
Noelle began to tear up as she continued to speak, “Just, what if I'm not a good mother, Asta? I'm horrified at the thought, because… if we have a child, what if they don't like me?” The tears that were in her eyes began to fall down, as she started to wipe them, Noelle continued to speak, “I-I never had a mother growing up, I have no idea what a mother is supposed to do for her children. Acier and Nebra never told me anything about her, a-and-” Asta pulled her into a hug once her tears began to turn into sobs, she began to let it all out into the shirt he was wearing.
Asta didn’t care at all though, Noelle could take as much time as she wanted. He would never be able to fully resonate with her struggle, but the least he can do is listen to her.
“Noelle, I'm sure you would be an amazing mother if we ever had a child. I never knew my mom as well, but from what Liebe tells me, you seem very similar to her.”
At these words Noelle looked up at him from his shirt, and through hiccups said, “What do you mean?”
Asta, scratching his head, replied, “Ah, well, you’re always looking out for me, you know that, Noelle? And even though you're always teasing me, I can always tell you that you want the best for me, Noelle. You may not think you’d be the best mother, but isn’t simply just wanting the best for your child is what being a mother is all about? I'd say you knocked it out of the park with it, Noelle, 110 percent.”
Noelle nodded through sniffles of her nose, and brought him into a few pecks on the lips, which Asta gratefully received. Wiping her nose, Asta could tell Noelle was about to say one more thing.
“W-Well, I’d also think you’d make a pretty good father as well, Asta…”
Asta blushed lightly at the statement, but nonetheless, tried to continue the conversation more, “And what would make you say that?”
Noelle, with her face getting closer to Asta’s, “Well…. You always encourage me to do the best I can, Asta. Even when you're not there with me, even just thinking about you can get me to give it my all.”
It was Astas turn to pull her into a kiss after what she said, but after pulling away, there was an unsuspected awkward silence between the two.
“So…” Asta said after rubbing his neck, “If… the feelings are mutual…”
Noelle crossed her fingers behind her and swayed them back and forth, before saying, “Then… do you want to have a child, Asta?”
Asta looked up at the sky when Noelle spoke those words, he knew he was probably blushing right now. But he just had to think for a moment. Noelle was definitely the person he wanted to have a child with, there was no other competition. But, the child definitely couldn’t be raised in the Black Bulls base.
Looking back down, Asta replied, “Of course I do, Noelle, but I don’t think the Black Bulls base is the best place for them…”
Noelle, without skipping a beat, “Then, couldn’t we just move out?”
Astas eyes went wide, he didn’t even think of that idea, and he knew it was going to be hard to say goodbye to his friends. But, he and Noelle were in their early twenties, if there was any time to start a family it would be now, and Asta knew that. It was a hard decision to make, but his future with Noelle was the most appealing thing to him right now.
“Of course, Noelle. But, it might take a while for us to find a house, so we can’t get started on the baby right away.” Noelle chuckled once he said this, something that left him confused.
“What is it?” Noelle giggled harder once he said this before looking up at him, “Nothing, you’re just dirty minded, Asta.”
Asta, shocked, “What?! How? I didn’t do anyth-” Noelle cut him off with a finger to his lips, and whispered in his ear, “All the planning into leaving the base, saying goodbye, finding a house, buying furniture, and the only thing you can think about is making the baby.”
Astas eyes widened once she said this, but before he could respond, she picked up her shopping bag and started to run off towards the base, laughing. He quickly picked up his two bags, and began to chase after her while exchanging their usual banter.
Yeah, everything was going to be alright for them.
/ / /
Noelle appreciated the quietness of her and Asta’s cabin while he was off on missions. She loved simply just sitting down, looking out the window, and knitting clothes for their soon-to-be baby girl. She was about seven months along now, and about a year and a half passed by since the conversation they had at the market.
Hearing the front door handle turn, Noelle’s head shot up as she saw her ashed haired husband walk into the room.
“Noooellleeeeeee~! I'm back!”
Asta basically skipped over to her so he would get his usual peck on the cheek, which he received. He also began to tell her about the things he picked up on the way back, like some more toys and a blanket he thought was ‘just perfect for the baby’. Noelle found it very endearing though, and would happily listen to all the things he had to say to her once he got home every day.
But, there was still one glaring issue that had yet to be resolved between them, a name. For seven months they have been going back and forth, with Asta and Noelle always thinking they had a better name than each other. So, it was no surprise when after Asta explained his mission to her, decided to bring up a new name for the baby.
“Oh?” Noelle said after Asta insisted he tell her, “Well, go on. I want to hear how much my name will be better.”
Asta, chuckling, “Okay, okay… well it should be-”
…
“Wow… Asta, I actually… really like that one.”
Asta, surprised, and now excited, replied, “Really, you promise.”
Rolling her eyes, Noelle responded, “Yes, yes, dork, don’t wet your pants over it now. I think its a perfect name.”
And just about two months later, baby Licita was born into the Clover Kingdom.