Red Queen One-Shots

Strained Bonds

A/N Y'all may wonder why I wrote and posted this as it only reveals my Farley fangirling. But I imagined this scene, found nice enough words, and deemed it fit for posting.

After chapter 22

It was late afternoon before the colonel knocked on the door. He'd waited for the Barrows to leave, had avoided to get involved in a conversation but now, he didn't have to wait for a "come in" from inside the room; as it took mere seconds for the door to be slammed open. Diana stood on the threshold, upright and frowning, as if it was a day like any other.

Of course, he thought, she had Silver healers and a strong constitution allowing her to be up and about just hours after giving birth. He needn't have worried.

Her expression softened. "Oh, finally you're showing up too?" she said sarcastically. Before he could answer, she beckoned him to be quiet. "Come in," she prompted.

He followed her over to the cot with the newborn where Diana remained standing. Slowly, gently, she started to caress the sleeping baby's small arm, as if drawn to it.

"It's a healthy girl," she said to break the silence.

"I've heard," the colonel answered, thus earning himself Diana's glare.

"Then you've heard her name's Clara, too?" she sneered, but calmed in a flash. She glanced at the baby to see if she was still asleep, then lowered her blushing head while he had to stop himself from gaping.

"Oh." He didn't know what to say but realized she expected a reaction from him. He moved closer, overcoming his hesitation, and touched his daughter's shoulder. "It's a good choice of name. And congratulations, General."

She stared at him, full of disbelief, and she sat down on her own bed.

She's probably more exhausted than she lets on. He gave her a moment and turned to his grandchild. She was a chubby one which reminded him both of Madeline and Diana as babies. Yet he wondered what Diana saw when she looked at her. Most likely the child's deceased father. Loss wouldn't stop hurting, as past grieves adhered to both of them.

He pondered on telling her how Clara resembled her mother and her aunt when Diana spoke herself. "Thank you." She meant it. Despite taking almost a minute to reply, her gratitude was truly honest. Maybe that was why it was so difficult to express.

Before the silence settled down again, Diana jumped up as the baby woke up. She didn't cry and only grapped her mother's fingers stroking her. It was a beautiful sight. Diana's usually scowling face changed profoundly, displaying besottedness and a certain nervous insecurity.

He cleared his throat. "Maybe you should have someone else take care of her the first night. You might need one more time of restful sleep."

She merely sighed deeply. "As you bring it up, I have to inform you I'll be absent from our councils, I assume for about a week." She shrugged and picked up Clara, still awake, from the cot. She struggled a few seconds to get the right hold on the moving baby, then started rocking her and sat down again. "I need some time for the two of us."

"I see." He considered adding, "yes ma'am", but figured he couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice which would only anger her. It was too much to ask to cross the distance between them which had been built up for years. Diana's recent promotion to outrank him didn't make it easier to get along either. Not even when they stood here like a family.

She laid the baby back in the cot, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Are you happy?" he asked, and rued it, even before Diana turned to him, the softness gone from her face.

"That's a loaded question."

"I apologize." He knew, quickly as he'd said it, there had been an uncalled for mocking tone in his words. It was hopeless, they couldn't pretend to get along privately.

Yet Diana's focus was elsewhere, again on the child and far away. "She's the only good, beautiful, and pure thing in my life," she murmered. "I love her."

He swallowed. Maybe it was merely this special day, but sometimes, she did show the chinks in her armour. That didn't make her weaker, not really. And she wouldn't let the relationship to her own daughter deteriorate like the one to him. He patted her shoulder once more. "Take care of yourself too. Don't forget to rest."

Of course she frowned again, but not without amusement. "And you might have a good drink with the Barrows and try to be a pleasant person for once?"

He snorted, as laughing was lost to him for a long time. "Is that an order, General?"

"Just an advice."

He shrugged. "Not a bad one, I admit. They certainly deserve a fine liquor to celebrate the new family member." He dared trying to smile and saw it mirrored on Diana.

"Don't worry about me, I know how to ask people for help, or I wouldn't be a good officer," she declared.

"Then I wish you a nice evening as well."

When he was on the corridor outside of her room, he finally heard the baby cry. She'll be as commanding as any of us, he thought. As his wife had been too.