Nadine

22. Lost In Thought

All the guys are sitting in front of the desk on the floor. They are all leaned back on it. Frode is between my dad and Dracul. Dipak is sitting by my dad and Tre is by his dad. Gunner is by Dipak. They all watch me walk back with a sword covered in blood. Mary, Elkie, and Dorseti are all sitting behind the desk knitting. Frode is still crying.

I kneel down in front of Frode. "You're a daddy. Go meet your daughter."

He jumps up and gives me the biggest hug. Then he cries even harder. "Thora?"

"She's fine." He hugs me again. "Sore but fine. They're both fine." I yell, "BE EASY." As he's running to the room. Then I rub my eyes. "What are you 3 knitting so much for?"

"I'm making the baby a little hat." Elkie shows me a little yellow hat that's almost done.

Dorseti laughs. "I'm making little gloves for her."

Mary smiles. "Little booties." She sits them down and stares at me. "Why and how are you always covered in goo miss?"

I check myself and start laughing. "Well, at least this time it isn't as bad."

She takes the sword with 2 fingers. "I don't know how to clean this."

Dipak stands up and takes it. "I'll get it."

She grabs me by the arm and pulls me away. "I do know how to clean this."

After I get clean, I go back out and they are taking turns meeting the baby. Dracul and his family are in now. My dad, Dipak, and Gunner are still sitting on the floor. My mom is gushing over the baby items with the girls. Dipak cleaned himself up. Other than a messed up shirt with some blood on it, he's fine.

I decide to try to get my round done quickly before it's our turn to hold the baby. I go in the first room unnoticed. The blood is good but when I push on the man's stomach there is a large knot. I need to open him up and see what that is. I get into the cupboard and get everything I need.

I slice across his stomach and reach my hand in. It's a rock. I must have missed it before. I'm trying to wiggle it through his intestines without destroying them. All of a sudden "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" He wakes up.

He scares me and I scream. "AAAAAAHHHHHHH"

The door flies in and there stand my dad, Gunner, and Dipak. Vitchen and Elkie come in right behind them.

Vitchen checks the papers. "Yes princess, he was scheduled to wake up about now."

Oops. My bad. "I forgot to check that." They all watch me as Vitchen makes him unconscious again. "I'm sorry everyone. I was trying to get rounds done before it's my turn to see the baby. I guess I was to rushed. I felt the rock and thought I could just get it out quick."

Dipak smiles. "It'll be alright. I do think you need some more sleep though. After we see the baby, I will help Vitchen and Elkie do the round. You need to go sleep in your bed for a night. Ok?"

"Yea I am sleepy. Thank you."

He gives my dad a look that says, wasn't that easy?

Vitchen works on getting the rock the rest of the way out. The rest of us go back to the desk.

Now my mom is knitting a pink blanket. "Everything ok?"

"Yea, someone's just tired. Can I have my sword back now?"

"It's currently stuck in the king's desk. You'll have to go get it later."

Dad shakes his head. "I just got that desk."

"I'm going to go change my gloves and wash my hands before I hold the baby. Be right back."

I get back and my mom is still there. The guys are gone.

"Dracul and his family went home. Gunner went home. Your dad and Dipak are in there now. Let's go hold that baby." My mom jumps up and gets all excited.

"Have you held her yet, mom?"

"Only for 1 minute before Frode got there."

"I haven't held her at all."

My mom laughs. "You were the first to hold her."

I forgot about that part.

Dipak is holding her when we go in. I nearly trip over my own feet when I see him standing there with a baby. That is a sight I like a lot. I'm half staring but I make it to a chair.

Mom kind of pushes me down in it. "You are tired child." Then she gets the baby from Dipak and brings her to me.

I touch her little fingers. "Oh my. You are so tiny. You have such bright eyes. What is her name?"

Thora and Frode both smile at me. Frode says, "Hypatia Analeizie."

Thora sits up a bit more. "Ana is what we will call her. Hypatia is, of course, after you. The princess who delivered her with a sword."

I snuggle her.. "You are beautiful Ana and you really know how to make an entrance. I may have to call you Hypatia though." I kiss her little head. "You are so perfect."

I see mom nudge dad out of the corner of my eye. They are both smiling and watching Dipak.

I glance at him and he is staring at me with the baby. His eyes are dark and he has a little smile.

Frode chuckles. "Well, someone is ready for a family of his own."

Dipak suddenly realizes we're all looking at him. He glances around and puts his head down. "Sorry. I'm sorry. Lost in thought." He starts rubbing his eyes.

Momma laughs. "We could tell."

I feel myself starting to fall asleep. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer. I am really sleepy. I'll be back to see Hypatia again in the morning."

"Good night princess. Thank you for everything."

I nod at Thora and momma takes the baby.

Dipak stands up and walks to me in front of everyone.

I check for injuries to his face. He seems a bit concerned. "Are you ok Dipak?"

He moves a hair out of my face and looks into my eyes. "I'm fine Nadine."

Warm strong arms around me again.

I hear him say, "I am going to kill that f*****g idiot."