Back in Kratos' POV… (sighs) I can't seem to get any inspiration…all of my ideas are either about something completely unrelated, or my 'original-ideas' fics. A Kranna fic is not an original idea!
I don't own Tales of Symphonia.
Eight months had passed since we fled Palamacosta. We'd stayed in the cave almost all the time – I had emerged periodically to hunt; I wasn't sure that the supplies we had would last by themselves. We were happy, living a simple life with no one but each other. Until, that day.
"Kratos," Anna gasped, clutching the large bump on her stomach.
I knew instantly – the baby was coming. And, ashamed though I am to admit it, I was terrified.
"But, it's too early, what if-"
"Kratos. If you want to…just go."
"What?"
"I know that people don't always mean what they when they're giving birth. And…you don't like blood, do you?" Anna's speech was littered with inadvertent gasps.
"I can't leave you on your own – no matter what."
"Well…be useful." Anna didn't have time or the patience to be polite – I knew that, and didn't mind.
I set up a maternity bed as we'd planned and practiced, then lowered Anna down onto it gently.
Anna: lying down, obviously in pain. Me: holding her hand, whispering words of comfort, and feeling utterly helpless.
"However painful you're feeling; just squeeze my hand that much." I told her. Apparently it helped; according to one of the books Yuan had given us.
The result was that my hand got crushed.
"There is no way I'm taking hours of this!" Anna panted, a fierce glint in her eyes.
Before I knew what she was doing, she'd staggered to her feet, bending her knees slightly and clinging to me for support. Then with one last push…
A small, blood-covered baby came, wailing, into the world.
Anna looked at the baby, relief and worry on her face.
"It's a boy." I whispered reverently.
"Will he be alright?" She asked weakly.
"He seems fine. I'll look after him."
"Thank you." Anna fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
I cleaned the baby gently with the towel, during which he stopped wailing his head off, and fell peacefully asleep.
I lay gingerly down next to Anna, and kept the baby – our baby – warm between us. The scene was just perfect, the sunset casting it's last rays of amber light over the two sleeping forms.
I knew: anything I could ever ask for was right here, laying beside me.
This chapter is dedicated to Andy, for reviewing unexpectedly, and getting me off my butt and writing something.
And if anyone's wondering about Shining Tears – I have most of the chapter written down, but I need to find it. It'll be up ASAP, promise!