"Sapphire!" The excitement could be clearly heard in Isabella's voice as she rushed towards Sapphire, meeting her half way. Isabella looked beautiful, radiant.

She hugged Sapphire tightly before turning towards Tristan, her demeanor turning hostile immediately.

"Tristan." Isabella said crossly, she was still upset at him and his men from the last time she had stayed. If he apologized for his rude behavior, then she would consider forgiving him. Perhaps. That matter was still up for debate.

His retort was on the tip of his tongue, but he thought better of it. He wouldn't signify her with a response, instead, he ignored her and turned towards lord Rivers and lord Mannings.

"My lord, Xavier." Tristan acknowledged.

Lord Rivers chuckled at Tristan's scowl, his temper seemed to be more foul than normal. Tristan cut a dark glare towards the older lord's grinning person. He didn't find the situation amusing what so ever.

"Tristan, how are you?"

"With guests coming at this hour? Wonderful." Tristan said sarcastically.

Xavier smirked, already accustomed to Tristan's retorts, Isabella was a different matter entirely.

"We're not guests, we are family." Isabella snapped.

Tristan acted as if she hadn't spoken, instead he kept his attention on Xavier.

"Are you hungry?"

"Something to eat would be nice." Xavier said as he smiled at Tristan. He missed his friend, he wasn't able to see him as often as he liked. Tristan gave one of his rare smiles and motioned towards the kitchens.

"Cook most likely has something put aside. My lord, are you not coming?" Tristan asked of lord Rivers.

"Of course I am, I had to come earlier than I anticipated."

"Your pupils await you." Tristan said with a ghost of a smile.

The men headed towards the kitchen while Sapphire and Isabella sat by the hearth.

"Aunt Kat didn't come with you?"

"Mother is residing with Xavier and I for the time being." Isabella said as she took a sip of her tea.

Concern covered Sapphires features as she watched her friend. She seemed fine but.....

"Is everything alright, Isabella?"

The smile which lightened Isabella's face was radiant and full of love. She took Sapphires hand and placed it atop the small, barely visible bump on her stomach. Sapphire let out a small gasp.

"You're...."

Isabella nodded while unshed tears glistened in her eyes.

"I am to be a mother, Sapphire. Can you believe it, a child is forming inside me." The wonder and awe was clear in her voice, as well as her actions as she softly caressed her stomach.

A mother! She were to be a mother! Isabella was ecstatic. She told Sapphire when she first learnt the news, how afraid she had been. She didn't know the first step of being a mother, how could she raise a child? When she had told Xavier the joy on his face had given her strength. Everything would be alright.

Since Xavier had learned she was expecting, he had been sweeter than usual. He was an amazing husband. Her vanity had her in tears. Isabella had thought after her child, she would have marks on her body, marking her ugly. Xavier held her until her tears had subsided, her snot on his clothes had left her mortified, Xavier payed it no mind. When there were no more tears left to waste, only then did he gently tell her he didn't care about the marks. All he cared about was the survival of his wife and babe.

"Almost every night before we go to bed, he always runs a finger along my stomach, and calls me beautiful. I was so naive and asinine to think he would have left me if I was with child." Isabella said, the sadness and wonder clear in her voice. She was lucky to have Xavier as a husband.

"Life isn't a always about beauty, Izzy. Beauty is only skin deep, what matters is the beauty of the heart." Sapphire said as she ran her hand along Isabella's stomach before glancing towards her friend.

"I know that now, I truly do." Isabella said while wiping away a tear.

"I guess I was just afraid." Isabella said softly.

"Afraid of what, Izzy? You have parents that have always loved you. They put your happiness before their own. And now you have a husband who would move mountains for your happiness."

"I suppose you're right, Xavier does love me." Isabella said in conceit, her good mood returning.

Sapphire huffed.

"I knew those friends of yours were bad news." Sapphire said while recalling the girls who had resided with them for a short period when they were younger. Sapphire had tried, and succeeded, in staying away from them. Isabella was another matter entirely. The girls, even though they were no more than twelve or thirteen summers, had been the most ill mannered, conceited people Sapphire had the pleasure of meeting. They considered everyone the grime beneath their slipper clad feet. It had infuriated Sapphire to no end. Thank fully lord Rivers had been equally infuriated. The two of them together would look for vermin's or other rodents to place under their pillows. Their shrieks of horror would be worth aunt Kats lectures. Sapphire might have left unscathed from the girls, but not Isabella. She had hung on their every word, always trying to be like them or please them. The change in Isabella had angered lord Rivers a great deal. Through the years Isabella had forgotten about them, but some things had stayed with her.

"That they were. Thankfully, I have come to my senses. And my taste has improved." Isabella said with a quirk of her lips.

Sapphire grinned at her friend.

"Better later than not at all."

"Aren't you ever so modest." Isabella laughed.

Sapphire was so very happy for Isabella. Although she couldn't imagine her as a mother, but she knew she would succeed. Speaking of motherhood, Sapphire wanted to know if Isabella was having a rough time.

"Have you had any symptoms?"

"Oh Sapphire, they're just awful! Every morning I have to empty my stomach. The thought of food alone has me reaching." Isabella moaned.

"There, there." Sapphire said while she patted Isabella's back, the sarcasm clear in her voice.

"Well, thank you for your support." Isabella said snippily.

Sapphire laughed. "The perks of motherhood, darling."

Isabella joined in the laughter, she couldn't stay upset with Sapphire. They continued to talk about everything and anything, not noticing when someone had brought them a tray of biscuits, but grateful nevertheless.

"If it's a girl I want to name her Isabelle."

Sapphire choked on her biscuit, the strawberry filling covering her chin.

"Aren't we a tad bit conceited, Izzy.

Isabelle, really? What does Xavier have to say about it."

"He said I can name the babe what ever I wish, as long as it is not Olga. As if I would choose that name." Isabella said with a shudder. Sapphire rolled her eyes. She already felt sorry for the poor child.

"And if it's a boy?"

"I haven't given that matter much thought. Xavier wanted to name the child Angus or Anthony. I haven't decided yet." Isabella said with a shrug.

"If it's a girl, it's your choice and if it's a boy, it's lord Mannings choice." Sapphire said with a nod. Xavier was very sweet to give Isabella free reign.

"Why aren't you with child yet?" Isabella asked as if she were talking of the weather.

"I ... I... Beg your pardon?" Sapphires cheeks were covered with a red hue.

"Must I repeat myself?" Isabella said dramatically, twisting a lock of her fair hair in the process.

"No need, Izzy. I heard you." Sapphire said warily.

"What do you want me to say? I will have a child when the time is right. It is not in my hands."

Isabella made a noise at the back of her throat in response.

"True I suppose. I wish you could come see the adorable clothes Xavier's mother has made for the babe." Isabella gushed.

"You think I could bribe your cook into working for me?" Xavier asked as he shoved another cake into his mouth. So far he had eaten at least three platters piled high with food. Currently he was munching on sweets.

"You're free to try, I doubt you will succeed."

"Your arrogance knows no bounds, my friend." Xavier said with a wolfish grin, his brown orbs staring at Tristan with brotherly love.

"The truth, mate, not arrogance. Cook seems to be verra fond of Sapphire. He will not be leaving anytime soon."

Tristan said with a shrug.

Lord Rivers chuckled. "I see Sapphire has been successful taking over the kitchens."

"Aye. Cook does not let anyone enter the kitchen, but she may cook when ever she wishes. What's more is, he refuses to let her clean up after herself." Tristan said with a shake if his head.

Xavier smiled at Tristan. Tristan arched a brow in response. Xavier was acting.... strange, to put it mildly.

Xavier's smile grew more pronounced at Tristan's perplexed expression.

"You're beginning to scare me, Xavier." Tristan said as he watched Xavier over the rim of his cup of water.

"I'm to be a father."

Tristan stared at Xavier, his mind not registering the words he had spoken. When his mind finally processed what he had been told, a wide, genuine grin formed on Tristan's face. He was thrilled for his friend. Tristan moved forward and pulled Xavier against him for a hug, something he had never done before, but knew how much it would mean to his friend. Xavier had always wanted a babe, especially since....

"I am so happy for you." Tristan said, holding him an arms length away.

"Thank you, mate." Tristan's show of physical comfort did not go unnoticed by him. The fact he could put aside his own issues for his sake..... He was a wonderful friend.

"I think all this love between the two of you is making me retch, should I call the ladies?"

Tristan landed a punch on lord Rivers upper arm for his remark, a scowl marring his beautiful features.

"My lord, was that necessary?" Xavier said, a scowl covering his features as well.

"Aye, it was necessary. Tristan was showing more emotion than I am accustomed to. I'm afraid he may be ailing." Lord Rivers said with faux concern.

Xavier snickered. Tristan cut them a dark glare.

"Aren't you amusing." Tristan said sarcastically.

Lord Rivers chuckled in response. He thanked God every day for Tristan. The boy was changing and for the better. And for that, he was grateful.

Tristan decided to take the attention away from himself.

"Have you decided what you want to name the babe?"

"If it's a girl, Isabella wants to name her Isabelle, and if it's a lad, I want Anthony or Angus."

"Your wife is conceited."

Xavier shrugged. Conceited or humble. His wife was his, he wouldn't change a hair on her pretty little head, even if she were to be the death of him.

Tristan nodded his head. "After your father, correct?"

Xavier nodded his head. He had lost his father at a young age, but even then, at times the wounds were still fresh. Nevertheless, he was happy.

The men continued to speak about various things, lord Rivers occasionally making comments which would have Tristan scowling.

Sapphire stretched her arms while letting out a slight yawn.

"I'm surprised your brute of a husband did not come for you."

"You need to stop calling my husband names, Izzy. It is late, are you tired?"

"A little." Isabella nodded.

"I suppose we should call it a night." Sapphire said as she stood up.

Sapphire walked Isabella to her room before walking towards her own, rubbing her eyes along the way. She was exhausted, her eyes felt as though they had sand inside of them.

Sapphire quietly opened her chamber door as to not wake Tristan. It was very late into the night, with him having to wake up at dawn, she doubted he would be awake. She closed the door just as quietly.

"The way you're entering the room is as if this is not your room."

The deep timber of Tristan's voice had Sapphire jumping in surprise.

"I thought you were asleep." Sapphire said as she walked behind the screen to change. After changing to one of Tristan's tunics, Sapphire went to lay besides him.

Tristan shrugged a shoulder. " I couldn't fall asleep."

"Have I kept you waiting long?" Sapphire asked as she rested her head on his chest, his arm going around her waist.

"Not at all, my love."

Sapphire leaned up and gave Tristan a sweet, chaste kiss on his lips." Pulling back, she whispered to him.

"Thank you."

"For what, my love."

"For letting me spend time with Isabella."

"For what ever reason, that conceited friend of yours makes you happy." Tristan said while wrapping his arms around her.

"Besides, I didn't want her alone with you because she can't control her mouth. With her babe coming, I doubt she could talk about anything else."

Sapphire chuckled lightly before yawning slightly.

"Sleep, my love. You're tired." Tristan said as he placed a kiss in the crook of her neck.

The sun peeked in the horizon. Tristan looked towards the magnificent view. Another day was in the making. He looked down at the beauty which lay in his arms. He ran a finger along her lips, her cheeks.

"Good morn, my love." Tristan whispered before placing a soft kiss on her forehead and getting up to prepare for the day to come.