The ninja stood anxiously outside with Reika, Hanabusa, and Kaname. The rest of Aria's guards were also around watching the other doors. Kai tapped his foot impatiently as the doors at the end of the hall opened and in ran Svern.
"Any news yet?" He asks as he pants
"We're still waiting," Zane informs him "nothing yet,"
"It's been hours," Kai sighs "do you think something's wrong?"
"It can take hours for labor to actually start, doesn't mean something is wrong." Nya tells him "We just have to be patient."
"Oh how can we be patient," Jay whines "Our Nephews are being born and we can't even go in!"
"Yeah the doctors won't even let me in and I'm her wife," Reika crosses her arms
Svern stares at her before turning to the ninja "Who is inside with her?"
"Wu and Lloyd," Cole replies "but they'll let us in after the kids are born."
"Oh it's killing me," Jay whines "I have no patience."
"It'll be ok Jay," Nya put her hand on his shoulder "I'm sure everything is fine."
"But what if it's not," Hanabusa whines
"Here he goes," Kaname mutters "thanks Jay."
Suddenly, the light above the door turns off and the group turns their attention to it. The door soon opens, there stood Wu with a big smile.
"Come meet your nephew's!" Wu announces excitedly
The ninja cheer before rushing in the room where Aria sat in the hospital bed holding one of her sons. Lloyd sat in a chair beside Aria, holding her hand while holding onto their other son.
"They're so little," Nya says as the group approached
The ninja and Reika gathered around the two as Kaname and Hanabusa guarded the door. Svern stood in the back, watching the scene with a small smile.
"Have you decided on names?" Kai asks
"This one here, is Len." Lloyd says gesturing to the boy in his arm
"And this one, is Ren." Aria says as she kisses the boy in her arms
"Why Ren and Len?" Jay questions
"In the first realm, Ren comes from the meaning of lotus," Lloyd explains "it's a myth that the name will inspire the baby to bloom and blossom every day while still being reminded of their roots."
Len holds his little hands out to his mother, Aria reaches over and allows him to grab onto her finger.
"Len comes from the meaning of lion strength," Aria explains "As the baby grows into their claws and strengthens their roar, the name Len is sure to remind them to maintain their pride in all forms."
"That's cute," Nya smiles "I like it."
"With names like that, they're sure to follow after their parents," Cole adds
"Oh hell no," Aria shakes her head "I would die before I allow my babies to be anywhere close to as reckless and Lloyd and I."
The ninja all laugh as Aria turned her attention to her father.
"Daddy," Aria calls out
"Yes dear?" Svern asks looking surprised
"Do you wanna hold your grandson?" Aria asks with a smile "I'm a little tired."
"I- no.. the others should hold him." Svern looks away "I shouldn't.. be near them."
"Get over there old man," Wu says as he pushes him to the bedside
"No really-"
Svern was cut off by Aria handing Ren to him. Svern gently took him in his arms and stared at him. The baby laughed and smiled up at him.
"Purple eyes," Svern mutters
"Just like you daddy," Aria says before she yawned.
Jay leaned over and whispered to Nya "should we really allow him to hold the baby?"
"It's fine," Nya pushes him away "If Aria trusts him so should we."
Wu pushes the ninja and Reika out of the room so Aria could rest. Leaving Lloyd, Svern, and Aria alone in the room. Lloyd was trying to find a better position to hold his son but was having a hard time.
"Here," Svern walked over and adjusted Lloyd so he was holding Len more comfortably "just make sure his head doesn't drop."
"Thanks," Lloyd says awkwardly
The two sat in silence with the children as Aria slept in the hospital bed.
"Look," Lloyd broke the silence "I know it's weird cause.. we tried to kill each other when you were.. the Overlord. I don't want to make this awkward though. You're Aria's father and I would like to get along.."
"I know, I.." Svern sighs "I just don't know exactly how I should interact with people. I haven't felt this free in a long time. Being in that darkness was.. hard. I don't want to overstep my boundaries and act like everything I did, didn't happen."
"I understand, and the ninja do too." Lloyd turns to him "I don't know what you were like back before you were the Overlord, but be comfortable to be yourself around us. And don't distance yourself from Aria, it'll only upset her."
"I want to be here for my daughter," Svern says "I'm just afraid that she doesn't want me here."
"You wouldn't be in this room right now if she didn't," Lloyd tells him "just, takes some time getting use to I guess. That one of our greatest enemies, is now a friend."
"I hope to be one," Svern says as he looks down at Ren, who was asleep in his arms.
-
A month had passed since the twins were born, the palace was holding a celebration of their birth. Lloyd and the ninja stood together talking beside the baby cribs where the young princes were. Len was leaning over the rail, holding onto his father's cape as Ren was sitting beside his brother watching everyone dance.
Svern was once against standing in the corner, watching over everything. Reika was standing beside him, drinking.
"You don't have to watch me you know," Svern comments looking over at her "I'm not going to do anything."
"Oh I know," Reika replies with a smile "I'm just waiting for my wife. She always enters the party last."
"I'm not always last Reika," Aria comments as she descended the stairs
"Yes you are dear," Reika replies as she ran to meets her at the end of the stairs "but we always forgive you cause you're so pretty."
"No," Kaname pushes Reika "we forgive her because she's the Empress. Which also means you need to be 5 feet from her at all times."
"No fair," Reika whines
Aria laughs before walking over to the ninja.
"It looks like you have a mini me darling," Aria comments seeing Len holding onto Lloyd's robe
"He never lets go," Lloyd says "I don't know what he wants."
"ma!" Ren immediately stood up and reached towards Aria when he saw her
Len turned his head and let go of Lloyd, to also reach over towards Aria.
"Wha- now you let go?" Lloyd questions
"Looks like they're a couple of mommy's boys Lloyd," Kai snickers "You better watch out"
Aria reached into the crib and picked up both of her boys. The boys laughed happily and held onto her.
"Yeah they're momma's boys alright," Lloyd says as he stood next to his wife and kissed her on the cheek. "But she's also my wife, they better remember that."
"Don't be jealous Lloyd," Aria giggles
The ninjas laughed as Aria placed her sons back in their crib. Nya then pulled Jay off to dance while the others stood together talking.
"Well, this has been fun guys." Cole waves to them "But I see my girlfriend."
The group paused their discussion and stared at Cole as he ran off into the crowd.
"Girlfriend?" Kai questions
"Dad watch the kids!" Aria shouts to her father "I gotta see this."
"Me too!" Reika agrees
The ninja all ran off to find Cole as Svern approached the children looking confused.
"Do you two have any idea what just happened?" Svern questions as the kids looked up at him, "And you two aren't able to talk yet.. right.."
The ninja stopped and peered behind a corner at Cole who was with a brown haired girl.
"Ooo, she's pretty." Reika comments
"But when did Cole get a girlfriend?" Lloyd questions
Jay and Nya stopped dancing, seeing them all clustered together.
"What are we all looking at?" Nya asks as they approach
"Cole's girlfriend," Zane tells them
"When did he get a girlfriend?" Jay questions
"That's what we're wondering." Kai says
Jay looks over and shouts "That's my sister!"
"You have a sister?!" the ninja all look at him
"And this party keeps getting more interesting," Reika comments
"Your sister is Captain Milly?" Aria asks, turning to Jay.
"You know his sister?" Lloyd questions
"Didn't know she was his sister," Aria shrugs "Milly is a pirate captain, she's brought most of those jewels and artifacts in the vault. In return I fund her and her crew."
"How many secret task forces do you have?" Lloyd questions in utter confusion.
"A lot, it'll hurt your head." Aria replies
With Cole, the couple was looking at the very obvious group spying on them.
"Those your friends dear?" his girlfriend, Milly, asks
"Yes," Cole sighs "they're not very good ninja.. in the slightest."
Milly giggles.
"Did you wanna meet them?" Cole asks "They seem to want to meet you."
"Why not," Milly smiles
Cole takes her hand and leads her over to the group, who all shout.
"We were spotted!" Kai shouts
"You're all terrible ninja," Cole tells them as he stops in front of them. "Since you're all so interested in my personal business, this is Milly, my girlfriend. Milly these are my friends, the ninja, and the Empress."
"Yes I know," Milly smiles "Thank you for inviting me Empress Aria."
"A pleasure to have you and your crew as always," Aria returns the smile
"You seem to be in good health big brother," Milly turns to Jay "Haven't laid off the sweets yet."
"Ah-" Cole seemed shocked "What?!"
"Warm greeting as always little sister," Jay replies before turning to Cole "When the heck did you start dating Milly?!"
"You're serious?!" Cole questions "You're siblings?"
"Yes," Milly and Jay reply
"Elemental masters of Thunder and Lightning Cole," Aria comments "Did it ever occur to you they're related?"
"You're an elemental master?!" Cole turns to Milly
"And the plot thickens," Reika comments and Lloyd hits her over the head
"Yes," Milly nods with a smile
"I knew you were a pirate, but an elemental master too," Cole shakes his head before smiling "My girlfriend is totally awesome."
Milly giggles as Jay stands there in shock. Nya taps him before turning to the others.
"I think we lost him," Nya tells them
"My- my sister.." Jay mutters before grabbing Cole by the collar "You're dating my sister!"
"Yes Jay," Nya says as she grabs Jay and pulls him off Cole "he's dating your sister."
"She's 20!" Jay shouts
"And?" Milly puts her hands on her hips
"That's a young pirate," Milly mutters
"I'm only 24!" Cole defends
"How long have you been dating?!" Jay questions
"2 years," Milly replies
"You're making it worse dear," Cole mutters
"She was still legal," Reika comments
Aria pulls Reika away from them "Shush, you're not helping either."
"I love her Jay," Cole says "I didn't know she was your sister."
"And you wouldn't have loved her if she was?!" Jay questions
"That's not what I'm saying," Cole sighs "come on Jay. Why does this have to be a big deal?"
"It's just.. my baby sister.." Jay whines "Ah this is terrible."
"He's fine," Milly turns to Cole "he's just in shock."
"I can see that," Cole says
After that, Nya dragged Jay away so Cole could spend time with Milly without Jay's freak outs. Aria and Lloyd headed back to where Svern stood holding Ren while Len was watching everyone dance happily.
"Sorry," Svern says as he saw them approach "Ren wouldn't stop crying until I picked him up."
"That's ok daddy," Aria smiles "You don't have to be sorry, you're allow to hold your grandsons."
"Ah I.." Svern looks away
"Remember what I said the other day," Lloyd says gently "you don't have to worry about it. You're apart of the family, you have no reason to be uncomfortable around us."
"Thank you," Svern says with a small smile
"You know," Aria looks out at the party "I think I can get use to this. The family's growing."
"Eventually the ninja will have their own kids as well," Lloyd wraps his arms around her "so it'll only get bigger dear."
So after this chapter, there may be a few of in between now and Dragon's Rising, but i have not finished watching the new season. So unfortunately, this will be on hold until I am able to finish it. I do not know which book I will be making in the meantime. The options for the next book is Enchated which is a story about Lloyd and Aria being separated as children during the fall of Aria's kingdom. Another is Partners in Crime which is an AU where Reika is the Green Ninja while Aria and Lloyd are the bad guys and Lloyd uses his Oni powers. I also have Romancing the Emperor's Daughter where the Overlord never becomes the Overlord and Layla instead assumes his role, and Lloyd falls in love with Aria as a child. Where the Overlord, aka Svern, is Emperor and is overprotective of Aria. There is also the Overlord's Daughter is a Popstar.. I don't think there's a need for an explanation there.. and there is more I have so yeah. We got a few options to decide from.