Chapter Text
On the eve of Vesper’s tenth birthday, Vex lay awake, not with worry, but with a content heart. In the cribs next to the lord and lady of Whitestone’s shared bed, lay two little swaddled babies, cooing and mewling in their sleep.
It was with both shock and elation that their next babies were twins. Apt, really, considering both their lineages. Only, these two menaces took their time to get here. Nearly nine years did it take for more De Rolo children to grace the halls once more, and for a good chunk of those, Vex was almost sure it would never happen again. As Vesper reached her six, seventh and eighth birthday and still no sign of siblings, Vex had been ready to pack it in. It seemed the gods were keen on giving her one, and she would have to find it in her to be content with that.
(Content she was, really. Percy had made it clear that he was happy with the family they had. “Dear, I’m floored you decided to give me a child, at all, never mind multiple!”
“But wouldn’t you love another set of tiny feet running around these halls again?”
“My love, if I wanted that I could call Scanlan to do that for us. More often than not I get his footsteps confused with that of a child's.”)
And in a way, that’s how they found themselves pregnant once more, when the stress of trying had left their mind. A trip to Pike’s temple and a very embarrassing moment of emptying her stomach contents into a flower pot, had confirmed what Vex had wanted for the last five years.
Now, here they were. With twins of their own, a boy and girl.
Their son had entered the world first, only four minutes before their second daughter. Their daughters name had come pretty quickly. They wanted a break from naming their children after close relatives. To give their children the ability to come into their own, without the burden of living up to their namesake’s. So when Leona was born, her name was the first thing out of Vex’s mouth. However, as much as they racked their brains for a name for their son, he was still just baby De Rolo.
It was common, apparently. Cassandra wasn’t named for a good few weeks before their parents were committed to one. Percy said there was no timer to these things, and when it came to them, it would be the perfect name for him.
So, here Vex’ahlia was, content, but mind whirring as she thought of her son’s name.
Percy had woken up at some point, when he realised that his wife wasn’t asleep beside him. He turned around, collecting her form in his arms and snuggling her to his chest. Vex smiled as she felt the stubble on his chin against her shoulder. The newborn phase in her husband was kicked up to ten this time, now that they had two babies to take care off, instead of one. The Lord of Whitestone was more dishevelled than usual, and Vex was not complaining one bit.
“You’re not sleeping.” he said plainly.
“Astute observation, husband.” she patted his hands that were resting under her breasts. “I’m simply admiring our son.”
Percy snorted, looking into the crib their second child resided in. “Yes, he is quite the spectacle.”
A few moments of silence ruminated between them. “I’ve been looking through your family tree, you know.” Vex said, offhand. “Your ancestors have some odd names.”
He kissed the skin between her neck and shoulder and made a humming noise. “I am quite aware. You do know my name, correct?”
Vex turned to face him then, wanting to see him in all his sleepy, open glory. “Did you know that your great grandfather’s first born son’s name was Johannes? Did they want him to be bullied?”
Percy laughed out loud this time, although quiet enough to not wake their babies. “My own brothers name was Ludwig.”
“Yes, and last I checked we would not be naming our son after him.” she cupped his cheek, scratching her nails through the spiky hair there. “Who knew naming a child would be so hard?”
“We named Leona after one of my ancestors by coincidence. Perhaps our son should be named after someone you call family?”
Percy knew asking to name their son after a man from Vex’s life was tricky. Her father would never get that honour, and naming him after Vax was too…soon. Leona was simply Leona, regardless of a Von Musel lady with the same name from generations ago. Men hadn’t always been kind to Vex, and the thought of naming their child for someone, it wasn’t right.
Yet, Vex chuckled to herself. “Then I’ll name him after Trinket. He’ll be honoured.” she felt Percy shake his head fondly at her neck.
“And Vesper. She’d love another Trinket.”
As their son wiggled in his sleep, a small sigh escaping his small mouth, Vex turned to him again, gazing at him with adoration. He was so little, so carefree. He even had started to make this sound in his sleep. A little whine that sounded like that of a wolf pup.
“Well, naming him after an animal wouldn’t be such a bad idea. After all, Leona means lioness.” She commented with a little tilt of her head, thinking.
Percy nodded, peering over their sons crib now, his back turned to their daughters crib. “True. But I do not like how Bear De Rolo sounds.”
Vex hummed. “No, it doesn’t sound too appealing.” she placed a hand on the railing of his crib. “What do you think, darling? Does Bear sound good?”
A huff in his sleep. He didn’t approve.
“Hawk?”
Even Percy’s face scrunched in disapproval at that. “Heavens, no. Do you want our son to be referenced to a bird his whole life.”
Vex went silent for another while. All that could be heard was her children’s breath, synchronised. Leona and What?
Then her son did it again, the sound that echoed throughout the master bedroom. A whine that resembled a…
“What about Wolfe?”
At that, Percy perked up, smiling down at their son. “Wolfe? Wolfe De Rolo.”
“Leona and Wolfe.” Vex finished. And it sounded complete. Lion and Wolf.
As if on cue, both children began to whimper, first Leona, than Wolfe, as if in tandem. It was coming close to their feeding time, and were prepared to let their mother and father know.
Their loud, ferocious cubs.