Anything Could Happen

Chapter Twenty: The Newest Royal

"What's going on?" Briana asked stepping out of her bedroom, the phone had been ringing all morning and it had woken her up; she had just stepped out of the shower when it had rung again. 

Lionel looked up at Briana and smiled at her, he couldn't believe that it had been over eight months since things had begun for him and Briana; they were doing so well and he couldn't believe they were to be married next month. 

It all seemed to be happening so quickly and Lionel was a little nervous about the speed in which their wedding day was approaching; he didn't want Briana to start worrying about this just yet. 

"Ariana's gone into labour," Lionel revealed softly, he wasn't sure how Briana was going to take this news especially considering they were so close to their wedding; they would soon be expected to have a child of their own. 

Briana blinked a little surprised about how quick Ariana's pregnancy had come to an end, she couldn't believe that her friend was going to have a baby today. 

"She went into labour early this morning... they think the baby will be born in the next hour or so," Lionel continued feeling a little nervous, he remembered how crazy things had been when Leila and Lana had been born. 

Cristiano was doing his best to keep things calm but there was so much expected from their third child, he didn't care what they had as long as their baby was healthy like their older sisters had been. 

Leila had recently turned four and Lana had just passed her first birthday, something that meant their parents were going to have their hands full with three children under five. 

Briana nodded her head moving to sit down, she guessed the next baby that would be born into the royal family would be her own; she doubted that anyone else would fall pregnant before she would.

***

It was another few hours before the announcement came that Ariana had delivered her first son, the entire world was celebrating the news and everyone was desperate to see the little boy. 

There had been no announcement of his name and it would be a little while before the name would be revealed; Ariana was apparently doing well and her daughters had been to meet their new baby brother. 

That was how Briana found herself being driven towards the hospital with Lionel, the royal family would visit the newborn and his parents to meet him.

King Jorge and Queen Celia had already been to meet the newest member of their family along with both sets of parents; this allowed everyone else to come along and met the little boy. 

"Are you sure about this?" Lionel asked peeking at Briana, he would understand if she didn't wish to deal with the media presence outside of the hospital. 

They were likely to play close attention to the royal couple and starting questioning when Lionel and Briana would welcome their own bundle of joy into the world. 

Lionel didn't think that they would be ready to take that step for a long time; he didn't see the need to rush and he was sure his parents would understand if they didn't have a baby right away. 

"I'm sure," Brianna reassured him, she understood why he was giving her a way out but she wouldn't forgive herself if she continued to hide away from all of this. 

This was her life now and while Briana was taking her time with things, she knew just how much was expected of her; she was going to be Lionel's wife in a few weeks' time. 

Arriving at the hospital, Briana couldn't help but be surprised at the sight of the building; it looked like something out of Doctor Who and she couldn't help but smile at that.

***

"Congratulations," Lionel said moving to shake Cristiano's hand, he was happy for his friend and he couldn't imagine how he had felt at the moment of birth; he was a little jealous at how easy his friend had it. 

Cristiano nodded his head, he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before but it had been worth it; he was just glad that his son hadn't kept them waiting as long as Lana had. 

Ariana had been in labour for nearly two whole days with their second child, she had taken her time and the doctors had thought it would be best to allow the little girl to arrive in her own time. 

"Ariana's been asking for you," Cristiano said smiling at Briana, he was surprised how taken his wife was with the earth woman and he guessed that it was a good thing. 

Being an only child meant that she had only her cousins to spend time with, it had never been safe for Ariana to make friends with the common people especially after attacks had happened on the royal family. 

Lionel smiled reassuringly at Briana, he had a feeling that he knew what his cousin was asking for Briana for; he didn't blame her since they had become fast friends ever since Briana had come into his life. 

Nodding her head, Briana stepped away from Lionel and Cristiano before she entered the hospital room; she paused as she stepped inside taking in the sight of Ariana and her newborn son.

Looking up from where she was nursing the newborn, Ariana smiled when she realised that it was Briana; she had been worried that the other women might not come. 

Briana moved to sit down next to the bed, she was entirely unsure what to do and she was a little worried that she would do something wrong and upset everyone.

"Would you like to hold him?" Ariana questioned once her son was finished feeding, it had been a long day and so many people had come to see him; she had been waiting for the right person to come along to hold him apart from her and Cristiano. 

Slowly nodding her head, Briana was careful as Ariana gently passed over the newborn; she was a little surprised that her friend was so willing to be parted from her son. 

"What did you call him?" Briana asked curiously looking down at the newborn in her arms, he was adorable and she couldn't deny that he looked so much like his father; she was sure Cristiano was proud. 

Shifting the newborn in her arms, Briana couldn't help but imagine what it would be like when she gave Lionel a child; she had no doubts that he would be the proudest father in Aulea when that happened. 

"Luca," Ariana replied with a fond smile, it had taken them ages to find a name that they both liked and she wanted to keep the tradition of giving her children names that began with L. 

Leila and Lana had been thrilled at the sight of their baby brother and they had been a little disappointed that they would have to wait a couple of days until their parents came home. 

Admiring Luca with curiosity, Briana had no idea how she was going to cope when it came to delivering her own child; the idea of a long birth scared the crap out of her. 

Ariana closely watched Briana wondering how her friend would take the question that she was about to ask her; she had talked about it with Cristiano and he had agreed. 

"We'd like you to be Luca's God-Mother," Ariana revealed smiling, there was no one better that she wanted for her son's God-Mother and she hoped it would prepare Briana for the birth of her own child when she was ready.