"Hal!" Vivi felt her face heat with embarrassment.
Leana beamed. "Magnus would be so pleased if he knew. Do you remember what you used to call it?"
"Her name is Maggie." Vivi ducked her head. "I don't think there is an original stitch of fabric left on her. Hal has had to do so many repairs over the centuries, she's more a patchwork pony now."
Leana nodd
ed. "Maggie. You could not say Magnus as a baby."
Vivi felt her mouth drop open. "My stuffy is named after Prince Magnus?"
"Unlike your father, Magnus would spoil you with his time. He knew when your naps were. He was there for your first steps and your first word."
Etain leaned in. "What was her first word?"
Leana's mouth twitched. "Maggie."
Vivi covered her mouth with both hands. "No!"
"Your father was furious, especially since your second word was 'Mama'."
Vivi sat back stunned as Hal piled her plate high with waffles. "Prince Magnus is my athair."
Sebastian practically danced around the table. "He is going to burst his buttons with pride when he wakes up. A godsdaughter!"
Leana sighed as she took a bite and chewed daintily. "This is amazing. Simon will be jealous when he hears Sebastian was serving waffles. I invited him to come along, but Gavriel made quite the impression last night. Simon and Javier have been walking through our levels personally answering questions and speaking to the citizens. Everyone was thrilled to hear that the three previously lost royal houses had been restored. They are singing Magnus' praises saying he has led us into a 'Golden Era'." She cut up her waffle. "Will you moving into the DuSang or DuCoeur quarters?" she asked.
Vivi dropped her fork. "What?"
"Oh dear. Please tell me I did not upset you." Leana asked looking worried.
Vivi waved her hands. "No, no you didn't. But what?" She looked up at Hal who shrugged. "I figured that would come next," he admitted.
"What next? I don't understand." Vivi asked feeling lost.
Etain gently turned her in her chair. "My love, you have reclaimed your heritage. Both royal families of DuSang and DuCoeur have established quarters here on Level One along with family vaults." He rubbed up and down her arms. "I did not assume prior to your announcement that you would stay here simply because I was a unit warrior for the city. Had you wanted to leave, that's what we would have done. But things are different now," he explained.
"We're moving here?" Vivi asked looking around the room for confirmation.
Everyone was nodding including Hal. "Vivi darlin' you belong here. I have never seen you happier, and we don't have to worry about you getting burned all the time." He shrugged. "Just choose which set of quarters you want, and I'll get Ryuu and Sebastian to help me in getting it cleaned and set up for use."
Beth turned to Gavriel, her eyes a bit frantic. "Do we have to move?"
Gavriel shook his head. "We will clean up the Ambrosios quarters, but I imagine Adriel will be the primary resident along with Eva." Beth looked like she was two seconds away from hyperventilating. Gavriel rubbed her back. "Look at it this way zain'ka moya, Magnus will not have to worry about running out of guest quarters now. Everyone will have their own living space down here on Level One."
"But this is my home. I grew up here," Beth protested.
"And we will be just a few hundred yards away. We can easily walk over here for breakfast," Gavriel said before leaning in to kiss her forehead.
Sebastian ran a hand over her hair. "We can turn your room into a nursery! That way, you do not have to worry about carrying around things for the little one."
Vivi concentrated on Etain's hands because Beth was simply echoing her own panic.
"Vivi." Etain lifted her chin with his finger. "If you do not want to stay here we do not have to. If you tell me you want to leave here when this virus is cured, I will follow you anywhere you want to go." His handsome face was filled with worry.
Vivi took a deep breath. She looked over at Hal. "It's not as if we can go to Éire Danu, I'd end up a crispy critter." She turned back to Etain. "What if you had never come here? We could never have found one another."
Etain blinked then smiled slowly. "Maybe you are my reward for all of the long centuries I spent serving here."