Love That Grows in War

It was a full moon shining down on a small town. Its inhabitants are mostly retired for the night. However, at a small clinic, a special occasion is happening. In one of the rooms, a few people are gathering around a couple. A woman who looks to be in her early 20s is laying on a bed, gripping the sides. She is sweating and panting hard, appearing to be trying to catch her breath. Her fiery red hair is messy and all over the place. Her eyes closed shut. Standing by her side, a man, who appears to be in his mid to late 20s, is taking her hand in his. An expression of worry and stress is etched on his face. Even though his blackish brown eyes appear sharp, they still hold a soft undertone. He is barely holding it together, but he's staying strong for his beloved. The doctor is kneeling in front of the bed, holding his hands out to her crotch area. He's wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves. His eyes have slits and are green. Two nurses are by his sides, holding some blankets and a basin. The doctor speaks with a lisp. "Come on, Miss Mobius. Push. You gotta keep pushing. I can see the head." The struggling woman grunts and grit her teeth. Her enlarged incisors are piercing her lip, blood flowing. "I ..... I can't....... I don't have the strength." She starts to tear up and cry. The pain is terribly excruciating. The man holding her hand speaks up. "Come on, Cassidy. I know you can do this. You can't give up. You always tell me you wanted to have a family of our own. A child to love and care for. I know you can do it. I'm right here, baby." He gripped her hand even tighter. With her husband's encouragement, she groans out hard and pushes with all her might. It feels like an eternity. She keeps pushing. Then, the cries of a newborn fills the silence. The doctor picks up the soaked and crying newborn in his arms and takes her to a different part of the room. The two nurses quickly follow behind. The man was trying to hold back tears, hearing the sounds of his child. The woman let out a sigh and finally opened her eyes, revealing golden crimson irises. She smiled weakly, feeling her strength drained. "Did you hear that, love? You did it. Our child is finally here." "Did you see our baby?" The woman ask softly, breathing heavily. The man shakes his head. "No, I didn't. I hope our child has your eyes." The woman chuckle at her husband. "I prefer our baby to have your hair and eyes. Also, I really want to see our child." Before the man could say anything, The doctor has come back with a pink bundle that's still crying. He smiles at the couple. "Congratulations, you two. It's a beautiful baby girl. Would you like to hold your daughter, Marik?" The man named Marik look up and his eyes lit up. He smile and stands up. He hold out his arms to the doctor. "I would love to hold her. Please, let me see her." The doctor nod and carefully hands the crying newborn to her father. Once Marik holds her close, her cries calm down to a puppy like whimper. He smile at the whimpering baby. Cassidy speaks up softly. "Please, Marik. Let me see her. I want to see what she looks like." At her command, he goes back to her side and sat down and lean close to Cassidy to show her their daughter. Cassidy tears up at the sight of their daughter. She can see the girl has small wisps of fiery red strands of hair, brighter than her mother's. Cassidy smiles and reaches out with a finger and graze the little one's cheek. The baby's whimpering stops as she appears to rub her face against her mother's finger, as if she instantly recognizes her touch. Cassidy's smile grew even more. She looks at her husband, her eyes also glassy with tears. "She is gorgeous, dear. Our precious baby girl." "Mr and Mrs. Mobius, have you both decided on a name for your daughter?" The two look at each other and smile, understand what they want. Marik look to the doctor. "She will be Snow......... Snow Mobius." The doctor smile under his mask and turn to the incubator of the baby and write down the baby's unique name on the side. He turn back to them. "We already taken her measurements. She is a healthy baby girl. However, there's something you two need to know." Cassidy turns to the doctor, catching her attention. Marik follow suit, concern is written on his face. "We notice that her wolf ears and tail are fully visible. Both are fully functional. Also, we believe she possesses the claws and perhaps, the teeth of a vampire. However, we also believe she has the strengths of both without their weaknesses. It's rare for a child of a Lycan and a vampire to have these noticeable traits at once. As for her ears and tail, they will always be visible, regardless if she learns to transform. That is something you both need to be aware of if you want your daughter to live a decent life. I know a child of both Lycan and Vampire is seen as forbidden and dangerous, especially during such a perilous time. I want to leave you my personal contact if you both have any questions or concerns. Our clinic will always be open to you." Marik smile with that reassurance. Relief wash over him. "Thank you so much, doctor. You don't know how much you helped. We will keep that in mind." The doctor nod to both of them and turn to leave the couple with their baby, the nurses follow closely. Once the door close, Cassidy's face crumple to worry. She draw back the baby's blanket that's covering her head and reveal floppy ears. They twitch at the feel of her finger. She look to her husband. "Marik, what should we do? We can't show up at your family's estate. If they already disapprove of me being married to you as your mate, what would they do if they found out about Snow?" Her face has fear written all over her face. She watches her daughter doze off in her father's arms. Her heart aching at the thought of something happening to Snow. Then, she feels her husband's hand under her chin and makes her look up at him. Marik presses his lips to her forehead and kisses her to reassure her. "You don't have to worry, my beloved ember. We don't have to tell them about our daughter. We can find our own home. I told you before when we got married in secret. I don't care about what my family thought about you. They may have given me the ultimatum of choosing you or them, but I chose us. I love you, Cassy. Nothing will change that. And now we have our beautiful daughter, that just strengthens my resolve. I swore to protect you both with my life." Cassidy frowned at the last statement. She reaches up to place her hand on his cheek. "Please, love. I can't bear to think what would happen if I lose you. I need you. Our daughter needs her father. And don't forget. Even when you turn your back on them for me, You're still a member of one of the three most powerful clans of the Lycans. I am just a lowly vampire." "Don't say that, Cassy. You're my chosen mate, my beloved wife. The goddess chose you to be my other half, my reason to fight. Believe me, the goddess makes no mistake. I can feel it. Only she knows what she has in store for us and our daughter. I have a feeling she is brought to us as her parents for a reason." Cassidy makes a small smile, feeling her fears being pushed away by her husband's words. All this time, she fears she is not enough to be her husband's mate, but his words push away her doubts. That's what she loves about her husband and why she also chose to marry him. "Let me hold her. I don't care if I'm in pain. I had waited for so long for this moment." Marik chuckle. "Alright, Love. Just be careful." He handed over their daughter. Cassidy takes her in her arms and looks down at her newborn daughter. "Hi, sweetie. It's mommy." Snow's ears twitch at the sound of her mother's voice. Then, she slowly opens her eyes and looks up at her mommy, revealing to have golden crimson eyes like her. Her eyes are wide with curiosity. Cassidy can feel tears running down her cheeks, the feeling of pure joy is bursting in her chest. "Oh, Marik. I don't care what anyone will say about her. She is perfect. Our little Snow." Both parents return back to their daughter, who is staring at them with wide eyes, trying to figure out who they are. They coddle her and make cooing sounds. All of their attention is on their baby. Elsewhere, in a mansion far away, a celebration is taking place, a child's birthday. A small boy with black hair and pale skin is sitting in the head of the large dining table. Many people are seen, sitting around the table. Behind the boy, a woman with long, raven black hair is seen, holding a pink bundle. A tiny hand is seen, holding a small lock of her mother's hair. An older man is by his side, kneeling and smiling big. His hair appears gray, but his eyes are still sharp and full of intelligence. The boy's smile grew and revealed two sharp incisors. A man in a suit comes in with a rather large cake. He also has black hair and has a stubbled beard. He placed the large cake in front of the boy. the number 3 candle is lit. It was a birthday celebration, a celebration for the grandson of the vampires' most powerful, former clan leader and the son of the current head. Both children are being celebrated for different reasons. However, unbeknownst to both families, fate has something in stores for them.