It was midnight in Crocus, and thick fog oozed between the monuments. The moon was invisible behind the clouds, great walls of darkness closed in on every side. The dim light from the candles slashed the gloom revealing the marble angels and granite nymphs. All was silent, and even their breathing were muffled. Only the small cry from the newborn was breaking the air.

"It's a girl!" Maarten cried, as he held his newborn child close to his chest, "Did you hear me Jaci? It's a beautiful girl!"

Jaci gulped the air as she grinned at her husband, "Let me hold her you hog." She croaked in between her breaths. Maarten took slow steps with his child to his wife side. He knelt down and placed the baby gently in her arms, carefully caressing his daughters head. "She's beautiful."

"Aurora right? That's what we decided on?" Jaci nodded and rubbed her cheek against her crying baby's face. Maarten left his wife side and jogged over to the doctor who had his nose deep in clip board scribbling down details of the newborn, "Thanks for everything." Maarten smiled, grabbing the mans hand and giving it a good shake.

"Not a problem. It's an honor to help create such a miracle, and even more of an honor that it is yours, sire."

Maarten shrugged, "I'm not anymore different than your other patients."

"Of course sir. Just you're a king, and they're not." The doctor slightly smiled before turning away to enter the palace.

Jaci handed her baby to her trusted maid, "Make sure nobody flashes a picture of her. Maarten once to be the first."

"Of course your majesty. Would you like me to send in the other maids to help you?"

Jaci shook her head then glanced over to Maarten who slowly walked her way, "I think I'll be well taken care of." Maarten smiled down at Jaci. He brushed one of her brown locks from her forehead and gently pressed her lips against her template, "You did good." He whispered.

Jaci ran her fingers through Maarten's hair, "Thank you." She huffed, "Now help me to the bath."

Maarten smiled before tucking one arm under his wife's legs and the other behind her upper back. He lifted her up into his arms with ease then carried her to their home where everyone waited.