Work Text:
Laughter. So much laughter filled their home as Elain cut her famous chocolate hazelnut babka into thick slices and Tynan snuck a small piece from the kitchen- supposedly on a quest from his father. She doubted that Rhys had been this impatient, but humored the youngest of the High Lord’s children anyway- the platters were piled more than high enough for everyone to get a piece.
Board games scattered across the floor in their large living room- the adult children sprawled out- her baked goods strategically placed by Azriel’s shadows around the room. A hand slipped onto her back and she breathed him in. She would never get enough of his cedar and mist scent. A smile tugged at her lips as Nash, Elowen, and Romy strategized against Rhys and Cassian- her brood intent on using their father’s tactics to the best of their abilities. At this time- it was in a deduction game against the General and the High Lord.
Az dipped his head down towards hers, pressing a kiss to her temple as she settled back against him. Her body felt heavy, tired and she had never been so glad to feel this way, his hands moving dangerously close to revealing their secret. Instead he squeezed her hands and then moved to supervise the game between their children and his brothers. If Rhysand and Cassian won- it would be in an honest manner.
“Auntie E- do you have any more cranberry rolls?”
“Rhi…oh for the love of all that is holy- I’m sorry, Elain. My oldest has, apparently, forgotten that you’re not a slave to all of us when it comes to baked goods.” She smiled over at Nesta before she nodded towards the kitchen and Rhiannon let out a whoop as she and Nyx sprinted away. Elain settled next to Nesta on one of the couches, leaning into her sister’s side, she just wanted to rest for a bit. “You spoil her.”
“I spoil all of them, Nes. Their duties are hard enough- I like for them to know there is a place they can let down their guards for a bit. How’s the game going?”
“Their alliance is good and their information gathering is top notch. I would expect nothing else from the children of our spymaster.” Feyre slid onto the couch next to her, a mug of warm tea in her hand and a knowing smile on her face. Elain quickly glanced at her dress, hastily re-arranging it for what must have been the hundredth time today. Mor and Amren were running late to family game night- a tradition that went back almost as long as game night did.
“Where are Floss and Er…ez. You know- nevermind.”
“Azriel did ward the rooms to keep them from slipping away, right?” Elain nodded her head and let out a laugh. To their utter surprise- Erez and Flossie had discovered they were mates a few months back, being the first of any of their children to be mated. Which now made family gatherings all the more interesting and left both Rhys and Azriel regretting some of their own actions when they were first mated.
She snuggled into Nesta and felt Feyre place a blanket over her. Her sisters had not asked her about the changes to her habits- about the sudden need for afternoon naps and becoming violently ill whenever chicken was served. Instead, they often held her as she slept and made sure chicken was removed from dinners she attended. She faded off to the sounds of their children playing silly games far too seriously and little shadow snuggling in tight to her chest.
*************
She woke with a start and Nesta held her tightly- her eyes searched for the threat and realized it was her own children yelling at Cassian and Rhys for cheating in their game. She forced back a groan as she sat up and stretched. She had not meant to fall asleep, she wanted to play games with their children, but as Nesta and Feyre both ran hands along her back she wondered if they already knew. Azriel wouldn’t tell, but there was always a chance their glamours slipped.
“Chess, Auntie E?” Nyx asked as he stuffed part of a cranberry roll into his mouth and she nodded. She was not sure she’d be able to meet his strategies today, but she’d never turn down playing the game she taught him with him.
He brought out the chess board and put it on the floor, setting up the pieces for the game. She tossed some pillows to the floor and forced herself to move as smoothly as possible as she settled down across from him. Nyx laid down on his stomach and she could not help the smile that spread across her face. Azriel settled down behind her and she sank into his chest, his arms wrapped around her.
“You be white today, Nyx. I want to see what you’ve learned playing your way across Prythian.”
“I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need the advantage to start.”
“I know, but I’m sure you’ve learned new strategies and those strategies are shown off best when you start.”
“Nyx- take what she's offering. She’ll still wipe the floor with you.”
She laughed at the affronted look that appeared on Nyx’s face as he grudgingly turned the white pieces towards him and moved a pawn to E4. She mirrored him and moved her own pawn to E5, his next move was a pawn to E5 and she felt Azriel shake his head behind her. The King’s Gambit. She kept her face neutral and moved her next pawn to D5. Nyx froze for a moment and looked up at her as she smiled at him. This was one of the first gambit’s she had learned as a young girl.
Time slipped away. The game coming into full focus, even as Azriel’s hands settled over their babe’s kicking feet, something she’d normally push away. They had sacrificed much to keep this secret for as long as they had. Nyx gave her a triumphant look and she shook her head.
“Checkmate in 5.”
“No…what….how?”
“You tell me. Look at the board, Nyx. Really look and then show me what I’ll do.”
Nyx glared at her, but for only the briefest of moments as he took the lesson in stride. He stared at the board for several minutes and then let out a sigh. He saw it and now that he did, she knew he felt a bit foolish leaving this opening for her. A glance at the clock let her know she needed to join Haliana in the kitchen, but she also was not sure she could get up by herself anymore. Azriel must have sensed her hesitation as he stood and then pulled her to her feet, giving her a quick kiss before he set up the board and invited Tynan to play. The lordling still learning the game at nearly 60.
“Can I help with dinner, Auntie E?”
“No, but thank you, Nyx. Tonight is going to be a little surprise for everyone.”
**************
Elain pulled on her apron as she settled next to Haliana in the kitchen- the board games continuing a few rooms over. She smiled as they moved in tandem- making a meal that had come to signify a new arrival in their family. It was the first meal they ever made for Erez and with each child they’d adopted- they made it again. Tonight- the only other person that knew they were making it was Azriel and his job was to keep everyone else out of the kitchen.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Tired. She’s getting heavy, but Madja said that…that she should be born…she could be born...”
Arms wrapped around her and she leaned into Haliana as the sobs of relief, fear, and heartbreak ripped through her. Her mother-in-law held her tightly, giving her the comfort her own mother had never afforded her. She shook in her arms as she tried to reign in her emotions- knowing that the plants would give her away if anyone else came close.
Another set of arms wrapped around them and she found herself climbing into Azriel’s body as he gently rocked her against him. She had held herself together remarkably well since their appointment with Madja, but it suddenly was too much to take. He started humming and she found herself humming along with him, the first song he’d ever sung to her. She looked up at him and he gently wiped away the remaining tears with a half smile on his face.
“Hormones?”
“Yeah, yeah- just hormones. They still playing games?”
“Nuala and Cerridwen are keeping an eye on them- making sure they’re none the wiser. I can help cook if-”
“No. I’m fine, Az. Go back to your post for just a little longer, my shadow.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips and gave her one more squeeze before he let go. His eyes said he wanted to stay with her, so she rested his hand against her swollen abdomen and let the kicks and punches soothe his concern. He then nodded and left the kitchen, leaving extra shadows with her to further assuage his nerves. Each day she had stayed pregnant had both relieved and terrified them- but days slipped into weeks and weeks became months until Madja had told her a few days ago that this babe could come anytime now and that she should be healthy and survive the birth. It spoke volumes about hers and Azriel’s glamour abilities that no one in the family had found out before they wanted them to.
“The braised brisket and onion is nearly done, the latke and pirogi are warming, and the dinner roll wreath has only a few minutes left. Haliana- I think…I think we’re ready.”
“Oh- I know you are, sweet girl.”
*************
The table was set. Her family milling around, none of them paying too much attention to what was on the table. It felt like any normal game night to them. Azriel walked over to her, taking the last plate from her hands, a quick kiss. She let out a sigh before she nodded to the bathroom and he gave her a knowing smile and just nodded.
She stared at herself in the mirror as she washed her hands, the glamour fading as both her and Azriel’s protections dissolved away. Normally, she would spend a moment recasting the glamour, but instead she looked at her radiant skin and slightly rounder face and smiled. She pulled the apron off, smoothed her dress over her swollen belly and felt little shadow give her a tiny nudge.
Azriel spotted her first, leaving Cassian and Rhysand to pull her into another hug- his hands roaming her body freely in front of their family for the first time in nearly nine months. Haliana called them to the meal and she heard seats scraping, their family settling- slowly going quiet as they recognized the meal. Azriel’s eyes locked with hers and he waited, his body blocking their view of her. The smile on his face took her breath away.
“Mom…are we…have you…normally we know you’re about to adopt another kid.” Erez’s voice broke the tension and silence in the room as the tears streamed down her cheeks and she laughed into Azriel’s chest as he waddled her around, first gasps and then shrieks of excitement coming from their family.
“We’ve been keeping a bit of a secret…from everyone. I hope you can forgive us.”