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The hospital room was bathed in the soft light of late afternoon. The rays of sunlight streamed through the large windows, settling gently on the white walls.
Aerion was resting against the pillows of his bed, a light blanket covering his legs. The exhaustion was still there, his body carried the marks of childbirth, of those long hours during which he had given everything he had to bring their little girl into the world, but his face was peaceful.
He had never felt happiness like this before, a few steps away from him, Duncan stood beside the transparent little crib, unable to tear his eyes away from their beautiful daughter. The great alpha who had always seemed so confident, so calm in the face of the entire world, looked completely helpless before a being still so fragile.
Dyanna.
Simply thinking of her name still made Aerion smile, they had kept it a secret for nine months. Even their family, despite being used to knowing everything before everyone else, had not managed to get a single piece of information out of them. Duncan had said that they wanted to keep something that belonged only to the two of them for a few more months, until the birth and Aerion had agreed.
Now, their daughter was here, Dyanna Pennytree-Targaryen.
Their little girl, their miracle, the new father gently placed a finger against the baby’s tiny hand and the little girl instinctively wrapped her miniature fingers around his and a tender smile appeared on the alpha’s face.
« She already knows she has to keep her father close to her », he murmured.
Aerion let out a faint laugh at his husband’s remark and replied :
« She’s already figured out how to manipulate you. »
« She’s your daughter, of course she has. »
Duncan’s falsely serious tone brought another smile to Aerion’s face, the bond between them was almost tangible. The young Pennytree’s pheromones drifted softly through the room, reassuring and protective, never overwhelming. Since the birth, his alpha instinct seemed to be constantly searching for reassurance that his omega and their child were safe.
Aerion, meanwhile, still carried that sweet scent Duncan loved so much. It was slightly different after childbirth, more fragile, a little milky but it still carried the feeling of home.
Then Duncan Pennytree approached the bed and placed a hand against his husband’s cheek.
« How are you feeling ? »
The question had already been asked several times since the birth. Yet Duncan’s concern did not lessen. He had always been protective of Aerion throughout his pregnancy, but since the arrival of their daughter, his instinct seemed even stronger.
« Exhausted », the silver-haired man answered honestly. « But happy. »
He turned his eyes toward Dyanna.
« Very happy. »
Duncan leaned down to kiss him tenderly.
« Me too. »
A soft noise coming from the hallway interrupted them and they exchanged an amused glance, recognizing the voices through the door of the hospital room.
The Targaryen family had arrived.
And judging by the number of people waiting behind the door, Aerion already knew he was going to have to share his daughter for a few minutes. The door finally opened, Daeron entered first, followed by Baelor, Valarr, Kiera, Aegon, and finally Maekar and for a moment, the entire room seemed to fill with the presence of family.
Daeron was the first to smile.
« So… so where is my favorite little niece ? »
The new father raised an eyebrow.
« She’s your only niece. »
« For now ! But she will always be my favorite. »
Aegon, meanwhile, did not even seem to be listening to the conversation. His eyes were fixed on the crib.
« She’s so tiny… »
His awed expression made Aerion smile.
« You were that small when you were born too, Aegon. »
A soft laugh spread through the room as Baelor then stepped closer to the crib, his gaze becoming gentle.
« Congratulations, my boy. »
The new father looked up at him with a smile.
« Thank you, Uncle Baelor. »
The head of the Targaryen family then placed a hand on Duncan’s shoulder affectionately and continued :
« And congratulations to you as well, Duncan. »
« Thank you, sir, but… Aerion did all the work… »
That remark made several people in the hospital room laugh, Valarr and Kiera then came over to greet the new parents. Kiera, an omega herself, looked at Dyanna with a tender smile.
« She’s simply beautiful. »
« She’s especially very calm for now, which is reassuring », Aerion replied.
As if to confirm his words, Dyanna slept peacefully, soothed by the familiar scents of her parents, while Baelor’s eldest son smiled.
« Enjoy these moments. The first few days, when they sleep a lot, are precious. »
Kiera gave him a small nudge with her shoulder.
« Stop, you’re going to scare the new parents. »
« It’s just advice. I eventually learned after making plenty of mistakes. »
Daeron then turned toward Duncan and said :
« I suppose I have to officially congratulate you now… so congratulations, you are officially doomed to stop sleeping properly for several years. »
« I’ll take the risk », the new father replied with a soft laugh.
Aerion watched the scene with tenderness. But despite all the smiles, despite all the attention focused on his daughter, the young silver-haired omega noticed something.
His father still had not approached the crib, he had remained near the door and then he finally crossed the room without looking at the baby surrounded by her loving family.
He came directly to see his son.
« Aerion… »
His voice was low, and the young omega immediately sensed the emotion behind that simple name.
« Father… »
Maekar then placed a hand against his cheek and his fingers remained there for a few seconds, as if making sure that he was truly there, that he was alright, then he leaned down and kissed his forehead.
« How are you, my boy ? »
Aerion felt his heart tighten because, even after all these years, even after his marriage, even after becoming a father himself… he was still his son.
« I’m fine, Father. »
The older silver-haired man studied his son’s face carefully.
« Really ? »
Aerion smiled softly and took his father’s hand.
« Really. »
Only then did Maekar seem to accept the answer, he eventually turned his eyes toward the crib, and Aerion took a breath.
« Let me introduce you to our daughter, Dyanna. »
The change in his father’s expression was subtle.
« Dyanna ? »
And the young Targaryen, still sitting on the hospital bed, gently nodded.
« In honor of Mother. »
For a few seconds, no words were spoken, Maekar’s gaze rested on the sleeping child, and he felt his eyes sting, but he managed to hold back his tears before answering in a whisper :
« It’s a beautiful name… »
He finally approached the crib. His hand, the hand of a man who had led a vast family, who had always seemed capable of enduring anything, trembled slightly as he brushed his granddaughter’s blanket and Dyanna moved gently, as if she recognized a new familiar scent, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
All the adults present almost held their breath, the little girl with violet eyes, like her mother’s, looked around her and then her gaze seemed to settle, one after another, on Aerion and Duncan. Her parents, her anchors, and a small sound escaped from her lips.
A coo.
Aegon brought a hand to his mouth, as if trying to stop himself from shouting with joy.
« She spoke. »
Daeron burst out laughing.
« Aegon, she only just made a sound. »
Even Maekar allowed a small smile as Aerion watched his father look at his daughter. He wished he could keep that image forever. Maekar, who had always seemed so strong, so serious, holding a baby’s hand with infinite gentleness.
But a few minutes later, Dyanna began moving more, her little face scrunching slightly before a small cry filled the room and all the adults immediately stopped, while the new parents reacted quickly. Duncan stepped closer to the crib as Aerion reached out his arms to take her.
« She’s hungry », Aerion murmured in a very soft voice.
The family exchanged tender looks, and Baelor was the first to understand.
« We should leave you. »
And no one objected, even though Maekar remained still for a few seconds longe, his gaze moved from his son to his granddaughter, as if he wanted to engrave every detail into his memory and Aerion noticed.
« Father… Thank you for coming », he said with a slight smile while gently stroking his daughter’s cheek.
The man’s expression softened, and he replied :
« Of course I came, my boy. »
Maekar placed one last hand on his shoulder, gently brushing little Dyanna’s arm with his index finger, and kissed his son’s forehead, then he turned toward his son-in-law and addressed him for the first time that day :
« Take good care of them, Duncan. »
« As always, Mr. Targaryen. »
« I know », the little girl’s grandfather finished with a smile.
And the Targaryen family quietly left the room, closing the door behind them, finally, only three people remained.
Aerion, Duncan, and Dyanna, their daughter.
Duncan approached the bed, wrapped an arm around Aerion and watched their daughter with him. Dyanna was nestled against her father, peacefully feeding, her tiny sounds of contentment gently filling the room.
Aerion winced slightly at the discomfort that was still present, but his expression remained tender as he brushed his daughter’s cheek with the tip of his finger. Despite the exhaustion and the unfamiliar sensations in his body, he couldn’t bring himself to look away from her.
« Our little girl is a little too energetic when it comes to feeding », he murmured with a smile.
Duncan caressed his husband’s arm while kissing his omega’s forehead.
« Don’t worry, my love. The pain is mostly there the first few times, then your body will adjust. »
The two new parents looked at their daughter with love, while the only sound in the room was that of a baby feeding.
Little Dyanna was only a few hours old, yet she had already understood how to rule this family, simply through her presence. And Aerion knew he would never forget this day.
The day Dyanna had arrived.
The day he had become a father.
And the day when, once again, his own father had reminded him that he would always be his little boy.