As the Daughter walked off towards Kanat, the group stood silent.
Soldiers and Metamorphs passed looking their way, but none said a word as they walked off the paved path through fields of grass toward the Metamorph's campsite.
Celine wanted to say something, solve this issue if she could, but she held her tongue, knowing Blanc and how his mind worked.
Kael and Lune stood silent as well, watching their brother or their sisters-in-law with curiosity.
For them, it was a joyous moment, one worth celebrating for days on end, if things were as they used to be in the past, that is.
Now, they watched to see how things would evolve.
Blanc was the first to break the silence, "Since when, my love?"
"Just found out yesterday," Miyanna replied, building the courage despite the pit carved in her stomach.
Silence retook their hearts, as metal, torches, and words passed them and entered the field.
The monologue in Blanc's head wanted to speak, but he pushed it aside, knowing what was required of him.
"Hubby, I-" Miyanna muttered, wanting to apologize, but a sudden tackle removed any words from her chest as she felt the ground slip past her feet.
She rose in the air, hands tied around her waist, pulling her up under the embrace of her husband, who had tears in his eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered, his head buried in her belly as she spun her around.
As if the air changed flavors, Celine and the twins exhaled heavily, realizing that for a few seconds, they had held their breath, just so they could hear better.
Miyanna smiled warmly, a tear leaving her eyes as she dragged her fingers through Blanc's gray hair.
"I was afraid you would leave the Gardens if you knew," Miyanna said, a light giggle in her voice, not able to contain the happiness she was feeling.
"Damn right I would have," Blanc replied, raising his head to look into her eyes, though difficult because of what stood in the way, "But it does not matter anymore. All that matters is that you and Celine get the care you need and deserve."
That was the perfect moment for Celine to enter the conversation, so she took a confident step forward, an uncontrollable grin on her face, placing a hand on each of the two.
"Though not as we planned, sister, it was a good time to tell him," Celine said.
"You knew?" Blanc asked, surprised.
"Minutes after it happened," Celine taunted, grin still on her lips as she approached and kissed him, "Jealous?"
"Utter nonsense," Blanc sighed, kneeling on the paved path, as people walked around them towards the field.
For him, all that mattered in this moment were the four people around him and the two yet to come.
He placed his hands on his wives' stomachs before kissing them.
Time froze for Blanc.
In those seconds, that was all the world was about.
No ambitions, no defeat, no gain, no loss, no tears of joy, nor tears of sadness.
No yesterday, no tomorrow.
Only that suspended moment in time, where all that mattered, all that he felt, was unconditional love.
He prayed in that short eternity.
He prayed for health, not for his own, but for his family.
He prayed for joy, not of his own, but of those he loved.
He prayed for life, for hope, for strength.
He prayed for those present, surrounding him, and those outside his reach.
He prayed for those who passed, never to forget their names.
And lastly, as a tear rolled down his face, as men and women passed them, not batting an eye at what was happening, and as time seemed to regain its speed, he prayed for those who are yet to come into this world, their names yet unknown to him. His children.
Words from the twins pulled time back on its track.
"Congratulations, sister Miyanna," Lune jumped up, not able to hold her joy back any longer.
She ran, hugging her from the side, unable to hug her properly because of the still kneeling Blanc.
"Make me some room, brother," Kael said, tapping Blanc with his foot.
"Ah, yes, yes," muttered Blanc, jumping to his feet as he wiped away the tear from his cheek, and making way for Kael.
"Congratulations, Miyanna, may both you and Celine's pregnancies be free of any danger," Kael bowed lightly before hugging the two.
"Oh my," said Celine, amazed by Kael's wish.
"Thanks, Lune, Kael," Miyanna giggled, sniffing in between as she patted their backs, "We are family more and more by each passing day."
"And we will be family," Celine added, placing her hand around Miyanna's shoulder, "Until the end of time."
A few more words, kisses, jokes, chuckles, and giggles were shared between the group before deciding to start walking again, trying to catch up with Allegra and the Metamorphs they knew.
It did not take long for the campsite, now filled to the brim with soldiers and Metamorphs, to come into view, as it lit the night sky by hundreds of burning torches.
The campsite was primitive at best, with Blanc fully confident that a strong enough wind would flatten half the makeshift tents the Metamorphs used.
But that was not important now, as the soldiers began freeing the captured Metamorphs one by one, just as Blanc and his family entered the campsite.
The tensions were heavy, with both Metamorphs and soldiers alike on the edge, doing what was ordered on one side, and ready for combat if the Metamorphs tried something on the other.
But the presence of Allegra on the Metamorphs' side, and Blanc and his family on the humans' side, gave both parties the confidence they needed to finish this part of the deal, with the soldiers turning on their heels and walking towards Kanat as soon as they were done freeing the captives, leaving almost seven hundred Metamorphs staring at the five humans left.
"What's for dinner?" Blanc asked, unbothered by the eyes that were on him.