Have this fanfic I handwrote in a madness at work the other day. I'm on mobile so I can't do Read More, I'm sorry! You can check out the fic on my AO3 here!
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Keyleth should've known that something was wrong when Trinket didn't budge from his spot beside Vex's chair to greet her as she walked into the dining room. As much as Trinket loved Vex, he always greeted everyone, expecting a scratch or a pat, but all he did was turn his head towards Keyleth.
"Good morning, everyone." Keyleth greeted warmly, finding a spot next to Percy. There was an empty chair shoved in the corner of the room where it had been for months no one had used it or moved it. And it made the druid sad to look, so she just didn't.
"Morning Key," Percy said, sparing a second for a smile before going back to whatever he was sketching.
But no one else spoke. Vex smiled at Keyleth over Percy's hunched over form and then went immediately back to petting the bear who seemed like he'd rather sit in her lap. Pike was poking at eggs with a fork, looking miserable with a very confused Scanlan holding her hand on one side and Grog sending her concerned side-long glances at her from the other.
When Keyleth met Scanlan's eyes, all he did was shrug.
"What's wrong, Pike?" Keyleth asked.
"Migraine, I think," Pike replied as rare as it was for their Healer to be under the weather, it happened on occasion. Everyone was being quiet out of respect for Pike, it seemed.
"Have you managed to eat anything at all, dear?" Vex asked Pike, who only shook her head in response.
Vex was about to continue, but Scanlan spoke first "That's rich coming from you, Vex."
"Shush," Vex replied, standing carefully and walking around the table to Pike. She did so with as much grace as she could considering her current state, Trinket was just behind. Vex hadn't been able to eat properly for months due to her pregnancy, which made Percy fuss over her something fierce.
"Go back to bed, Pike." Vex said soothingly, gently touching the gnome's forehead to check for a fever.
"But I-"
"Nothing is going to happen today, dear. Go get some rest."
Pike sighed.
"Scanlan-" Vex started.
"On it," he interrupted helping Pike out of the room.
Despite living close by, the gnomes and Grog had been staying in the manor for the last week as Vex was nearing the end of her pregnancy and wanted to be close, so Pike could help out, and they could all support their friends. Keyleth had come to support as well.
Keyleth watched Vex carefully and just barely caught her friend's grimace, putting her on high alert. Vex's eyes darted around the table, as if checking to see if anyone saw, and when she saw Keyleth's concerned expression, mouthed a very firm "no".
Keyleth raised an eyebrow and made a move to grab a glass of juice from in front of her when Vex suddenly gasped and grabbed at Trinket with one hand and the table with the other.
Percy, as doting and worried about his wife as he was, didn't notice at the moment, and neither did Grog, who was eating, but Keyleth did.
"Don't you dare," Vex mouthed Keyleth in a very frightening way.
Keyleth ignored her "Percy," she said.
Nothing.
"Percival!"
Percy, startled, accidentally drew a squiggle on his paper. "Gods, Keyleth, what?"
The redhead only pointed at a stormy-looking vex with Trinket's nose pressed against her stomach.
"I'm fine" Vex lied, using her bear to hold herself steady.
"Vex'ahlia, you are so obviously lying right now. I know you better than that." Percy said, fully abandoning his work to scramble beside her. "Is it-?"
"Gods, I hope not." Vex muttered. "If it hurts this much now, I don't want to experience it later."
Percy looked around the room. "Where's Pike?"
"Scanlan took her back to bed. She's not feeling well," Keyleth said, standing up as well.
"Which is why I didn't say anything. I didn't want to upset her." Vex said, leaning against Percy, who had wrapped his arms around her.
"You cannot put off labor until it's convenient, Vex." Percy said, exasperated. "Come on, love, we'll find someone else. Trinket, help me get her back to the room."
Trinked made a noise of agreement and helped Percy take Vex from the room, leaving Keyleth standing there.
Grog looked then. "Where'd Vex and Percy go?"
Keyleth smiled a bit and chuckled. "Vex is going to have the baby soon."
"Have it do what?"
Keyleth laughed and sat down. "Oh Grog"
***
Surprisingly, the rest of the day was extremely boring. Keyleth had spent most of the day bouncing between helping Grog and Scanlan worry over Pike and helping Vex keep Percy from pacing a hole in the floor.
The worst that had happened was when Vex admitted that they had to tell the others, and that poor Pike would be devastated.
Vex had sent Percy to go break the news and Keyleth took his spot holding her hand, talking about anything they could think of. The midwife was unbothered by Vex's slow progression, citing it a first child commonality.
Percy had returned, looking sad. "Pike is still miserable, poor thing. According to Scanlan, she's been sick twice since this morning. She didn't even try to get up when I told her. She just cried. It's bad. I feel awful."
"Percival has a heart," Vex teased, though sad herself. "Poor dear. Today of all days."
Percy sighed, pointedly ignoring his wife. "Scanlan is genuinely worried over her. It is... oddly sweet." He said, sitting back beside Vex.
Vex dropped her head to his shoulder and he looped his arm around her and started trading circles on her upper arm. And it was only then that Keyleth had realized how tired Vex was, and she politely excused herself to allow her to rest as much as she could.
The rest of the day, Keyleth stayed to herself for the most part, only checking on her friends a few times.
And then after checking on the expecting parents and Vex telling her to try to get some sleep sometime after 10 at night, Keyleth found herself in her room unable to sleep.
It wasn't fair.
He should be here. He should be fussing over his sister. He should be.
But he wasn't.
And the very thought made Keyleth's eyes sting. It just wasn't fair.
Her hands tangled in her hair and she pulled a little, closing her eyes, trying to feel anything but that cold, empty sadness that had settled in her chest.
"Don't pull on your hair, love I quite like it on your head," said a too familiar voice. "Let me help you." Familiar hands carefully untwisted auburn strands from fingers. "There's nothing to worry about KiKi. They're safe. Get some rest."
A soft kiss to her forehead and then Keyleth sat up with a start. She had been dreaming.
But she felt oddly comforted.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked to the window.
Still black as ink. Still night.
She was preparing to lay back down when a few sharp knocks sounded from her door.
She nearly tripped over herself running for it. Who was in trouble? Her heart raced as she opened the door.
"Percy! Oh my Gods, what's
Wrong? Is Vex-?"
Percy looked exhausted and teary, but waved his hand dismissively. "She's fine. She asked me to wake you. She wanted you to be the first to meet your niece."
"Niece?" Keyleth breathed. A girl.
Percy nodded.
"My niece?"
"Of course," Percy replied softly.
Keyleth couldn't hold back her tears as she pulled Percy into a hug, which he returned.
"She's perfect." Percy whispered. "And Vex did so well, and… and the baby is absolutely perfect."
"I can't wait to meet her." Keyleth replied, pulling away. "Now, are you going to introduce me to your daughter?"
Percy smiled so brightly, the hallway glowed. He led her toVex and the baby.
***
Trinket was standing guard right inside the door and greeted Keyleth with a happy chuff.
"Good boy, Trinket." Keyleth cooed, scratching his head. Keyleth knew that bear hadn't left his girl's side.
"Sorry to wake you, darling." said an absolutely exhausted Vex from where she was sitting on her bed.
"No, no. Don't be. I was… awake actually." Keyleth replied, hesitating just inside the doorway as Percy returned to his previously held spot beside Vex on the bed.
Vex laughed. "It's alright, Keyleth. Come closer."
And so she did.
She walked right up to Vex's side, where her friend was cradling an impossibly small bundle of blankets and peered inside. Keyleth took one look at the baby and burst into tears.
"She's beautiful," Keyleth gushed. "Congratulations."
Vex and Percy could only smile, as they were teary as well.
When the tears slowed, Keyleth asked if they had chosen a name.
Vex held the bundle out to Keyleth.
"I can hold her?" Keyleth squeaked nervously.
"Of course," the new parents said in unison.
With shaky hands, Keyleth took the infant from Vex.
"Vesper Elaina, meet your Auntie Keyleth." Vex whispered.
Keyleth could only stare at the baby. She was perfect, truly. And it was such an honor to be the first to meet her. To be her aunt.
The baby stirred a bit and opened her eyes.
"Hi little one," Keyleth whispered. "It's so nice to meet you. I… promise I'll... I'll help keep you safe always. I love you so much already."
Vesper's eyes drifted closed again and Keyleth rocked her a bit.
Vesper would likely be the closest thing to a child of her own she would ever have. She had accepted that months ago. The only person she could ever see herself starting a family with was gone. It hurt.
Being Vesper's Auntie Keyleth was just as important of a job as being a mother. And it certainly wouldn't help anyone by being sad about never being a mother herself when she could simply love little Vesper twice as much.
It takes a village to raise a child, after all, and Keyleth was ready to be a part of Vex and Percy's village.
And she knew he'd be proud of her, of them. All of them.
And somehow, that made it okay.
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