Epilogue I--Split Chapter

(Nerina's P.O.V)

1 year later

After returning home from vacation, I called my mother to tell her that I had a surprise for her and that she was going to have to cancel my date with Athan. Which she did, albeit begrudgingly. It took a few weeks for John to move here because I also had to find a bigger place for us, since I was just living in just about the smallest one bedroom one bathroom apartment you could find in Virginia near headquarters. We eventually settled on a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom house, making sure that I took John on a virtual tour when I was given the tour by the real estate agent. It reminded us of the villa we stayed in in Bermuda, and that was all we needed to know that it was the right house for us. So, after we bought the house, John FINALLY moved his ass to Virginia, and we have been living in our home happily now for the last year.

Meeting my parents was a whole different story. That was NOT smooth sailing, particularly on my father's part. He was upset that John didn't ask for his blessing to ask me to marry him and he REALLY didn't like the fact that we had only been together for two weeks before he proposed. If nagging were an Olympic sport, my mother would win the gold medal a hundred times over with how much she nagged me about getting married. So, obviously, she was absolutely delighted when I told her that not only was I seeing someone, but that we got engaged. She, of course, convinced my father that everything was fine because, in her words, the man may be the head of the house, but the woman is the neck. This means that she can turn the head any way she wants.

John got his GED a few months after he moved to Virginia since he didn't have an education by today's standards. Once he earned that, he decided to go to college for criminal justice to become a lawyer. Why? I honestly have no idea; I think it's because he's competitive and loves being right as well as arguing. That's where he currently is while I'm at home waiting for the test to finish up. We had been careful when it came to protection, besides the time in Bermuda, but I didn't need to worry I was on birth control, and he showed me papers that he was clean. I had been feeling out of sorts the last few weeks and when I was a few days late for my period, I decided it was time. I swear I keep looking at the test every 5 seconds wishing it would be done. I hear the front door open and someone walking up the stairs. I hurriedly close and lock the bathroom door so that way John can't get in and see.

"Siren? You in here?" He asks, knocking on the bathroom door.

"Yeah babe, I'm just using the bathroom. Be out in a sec." I say, trying to keep my voice even and the nervousness out.

"Okay. I have some big news for you when you are done, okay?" He says excitedly.

I don't respond because the test is finally finished and there, on the little screen, is the word I didn't think I would see— "pregnant". I fainted.

(John's P.O.V)

I hear something heavy thudding to the floor in the bathroom, and when I called out to Nerina, she didn't answer. That made my suspicion accurate. She had fainted, but why? I run to grab the key in the nightstand that opens the bathroom door. I carefully open it since I don't know where she is in relation to the door, and the first thing I see is my fiancé lying unconscious on the floor. I check her pulse and breathing, which were fine, so I picked her up and carried her to our bed, taking off her shoes after I set her down. I go back into the bathroom to figure out what could have caused her to faint when I see a little white stick on the counter. I knew what it was instantly, when I saw that the screen said "pregnant", I couldn't help the sob of happiness that passed through my lips. A child. Our child. Something of me and her, a perfect mix of us together.

I couldn't wait to tell William, even though he was in the Lunar Realm, we were still able to communicate with him through a mirror that the Moon Goddess had gifted to Nerina on the promise that she wouldn't disclose any information about what had happened in Bermuda. She and I both readily agreed with the condition, I would miss my friend, but it was nice to know that I could still communicate with him in some fashion. After walking back into our bedroom, I couldn't help but stare in wonder at the woman spread out on the bed, carrying my child, our child. I kicked off my shoes and took off my coat, laying it on the chair in our sitting area and crawled into bed next to her.

Laying a hand on her stomach, I whispered, "I will always protect you and I will always love you."

9 months later

"You can do this Nerina, just one more push baby!" I coach her.

"I can't it hurts too much!" She whimpers out.

She had been pushing for the last half an hour, after being in labor for two days, I could see the energy draining from her. After Nerina woke up from her fainting spell, I told her that I saw the test and that I was happy that we were going to be having a baby. We immediately told her parents and brother William the news and her father made it crystal clear that she would not give birth out of wedlock. So, we went down to the local courthouse a few days after the revelation and got married. We never wanted a big wedding, despite her mother's best efforts to get us to agree to one. All of her friends came to celebrate at a reception, along with Harry, Edward, and Arthur. Nikita and Edward recently became engaged, while Harry and Corie had a double wedding with Kailani and Arthur. Both Corie and Kailani are expecting babies any day now.

We got into our first real argument when it came time for the anatomy scan. She wanted to know what we were having but I wanted it to be a surprise. Least to say she cried, and I gave in. We found out that we were having a baby girl who we decided to name Doris, after the Greek sea nymph in honor of Charlotte's hybrid status.

"Mrs. Drummond, I really need you to push. Just one more nice big one, okay?" The doctor says.

Nerina grabs my hand and pushes, screaming in pain. She decided to forgo an epidural for Goddess only knows what reason. Oh yeah, the girls got me into the habit of saying "Goddess" instead of "God" just like they do. Fucking psychos. Suddenly, we hear the cries of our baby, our daughter, our Doris. The doctor immediately places her on Nerina's chest while she delivers the placenta.

"Dad, you want to cut the cord?" The doctor asks.

All I can do at this point is nod my head in wonder. I had a daughter. It was one thing to know that while Nerina was pregnant and growing our beautiful baby, but it hit me completely the moment I heard her cries. Nerina is cooing at our girl, and she's calmed down now that she's with her mom.

"My girls, my Sirens, my Queen and Princess." I whisper into Nerina's hair as I look down at our daughter.

"Doris Ophelia Drummond, our Princess." Nerina whispers, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.