a/n: So I was thinking that you guys should start to comment baby names for Ashla and Fitz's baby. (yes, baby. No surprise twins. I'm sorry.) Just post a name that sounds really cool and that isn't a normal human name (per say). Like. . . Not a name that you hear everyday. You don't have to look up the name meaning, just post the name. When the time comes I'll look up all the name meanings an

Okay, chapter question: What's the name you want to choose?

I like the name Callia for a girl, Davion for a boy. I haven't seen their meanings but I love the names. Also, you guys will probably have better ideas so don't think I'm just going to automatically use my own. 

dedicated to my little sister, Lisa, who sat through a Taylor Swift video with me and let me write this chapter in between little pauses in it even though all she wanted to do was watch that Katy Perry documentary from a few years ago...

not reread or edited

"So, when are you guys going to start thinking about baby names?" Sophie asked, sitting back in her seat.

"Uh, probably not for another two months. We still have a month after they're born name it," Ashla answered, smiling. 

"But we already agreed not to wait that long," Fitz continued, looking at Ashla with a smile. "We don't want our baby to spend it's first month as Baby Vacker."

Sophie nodded while she rested her head on Keefe's shoulder. "I bet the baby is going to be so adorable." She grinned while thinking. "I can just picture it in my head. Aww, that baby is going to be so spoiled."

Ashla grinned. "All Vacker babies are," she agreed. 

"So, have you guys started planning anything for it?" She asked, smiling. 

"Well, we're going to wait until we have everything to set up the nursery, but we have the room the nursery is in picked out. We actually already put a crib in there." A grin lit up on Fitz's face. 

"Don't you guys just wish the baby would come out already?" Sophie asked.

"I don't know. I feel pretty connected to it when it's in here," Ashla said, patting her stomach. "I'm going to miss having it right here when it comes out." She looked out a window and her eyes widened. "Crap, it's already dark! We should get going."

Fitz nodded. "Yeah, we should. Bye guys." They got up to leave after they both hugged Sophie and Ashla hugged Keefe. 

"Bye guys," Sophie called after them.

"So. . . " Keefe trailed off. 

"So. . . " She followed, frowning. "What?"

"We still haven't had our future talk, you know. What we plan to do in the future," he pointed out. "Even Dex and Biana had theirs and they're not even married yet."

Sophie sighed. "Probably because I've been dreading it," she mentioned. "Okay, so let's talk." They sat on opposite sides of the same couch and faced each other. She raised her eyebrows. "So, future talk. . . What's in the future. . ." She frowned. 

He chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. I've been dreading this talk too."

"It's just really awkward, you know?" She shrugged. "It's weird because I talked to Alden about this already and not you."

"You talked to Alden about our future?" Keefe's eyes widened. 

"He asked and I basically told him we hadn't talked about it yet but I told him my take on our future. I just haven't heard yours and I think we should compromise on our future and not just do it my way. So, what do you want for our future?" She stared at him with a raised eyebrow. 

He shrugged. "I never really thought about it. I was more of a in-the-moment kind of thing. Like, I only thought of the step after what we were doing. When we were friends I thought of dating, when we were dating I thought of being engaged. . . Now that we're married there's not much to think about." He frowned. 

She nodded. "Yeah. . ." She took a deep breath. "Okay, one of us has to say it. What do you think of kids?" She let out a sigh. 

He smiled. "Thank gosh you said it." He sighed. "I don't really know."

She nodded. "Well, I told Alden I don't want any kids right now. I mean, we just got married. Plus, Ashla and Fitz having a kid would be enough for right now."

 Keefe nodded. "Yeah, I agree." He crossed his arms over his chest. "But we would have one eventually? Like, maybe in a year?"

She nodded. "Yeah. That sounds nice. How many kids do you want in the future?"

"One or two. Not a lot," he said. "I mean, I heard one is hard to handle. Imagine having the whole von Trapp family in our house." He let out a small laugh and she joined in. 

"Yeah, that doesn't really sound appealing. So, one or two. I was going to say three so maybe two is the compromise?" 

They both nodded and looked away from each other. 

___

"So, how's the married life going for you two?" Edaline asked while taking out some Mallowmelt. 

Sophie shrugged in response. "It's not that different, really."

"Well, in the future it will be. Are you guys planning to start a family?" Edaline handed her a piece of Mallowmelt and she took a quick bite.

She shook her head after swallowing. "Not right now. We decided to wait at least a year."

"Wow, everyone thought you'd start your family right away like Fitz and Ashla did," Edaline responded, surprised.

Sophie shook her head while smiling. "No, we're going to wait. We have forever to have kids. I mean, we just got married. Right now we should focus on us before we actually start anything else," she said.

"That's really responsible. Then again, you always have been. It's amazing how much you guys have grown. Feels like just yesterday you showed up at our house with Alden. Now you're all married and talking about having a family in the future. . . " She let out a loud sigh.

Sophie shook her head. "It's not that big of a deal, Edaline. I mean, you were the same once upon a time."

"Not the same, but I was young once," she said. 

Sophie grinned. "Come on, you were young and in love. Isn't that the exact same as me?" Edaline shrugged. "Well, I want to be like you when I'm older."

Edaline turned to her in shock. "Really?"

Sophie nodded. "Of course. You're my role model. I want to be just like you when I'm older than I am right now." She grinned and hugged Edaline who's arms were already wrapped tightly around her. 

"You know I love you so much, right?" Edaline whispered in her ear.

Sophie nodded and pulled back.  "I love you too and I'm serious. How have you and Grady made it together for so long?"

"The same way all couples in our world make it so long: We love each other. But it takes more than just love to make a relationship last. You can love someone but not be able to stay with them," Edaline advised. "You've got to have the friendship with it. You've also got to have the life outside of the relationship. Your entire life cannot surround you two being together. It will come to bite you in the butt."

Sophie nodded. "Okay, so you're basically telling me to get a life."

Edaline nodded. "Go out and do stuff. For me and your father, the two of us have the animals. It's separate yet together and we bond over it."

"Well, I might become a councilor soon. Does that count?" She raised an eyebrow. 

Edaline's eyes widened. "What? But, that's impossible now that you're married!" 

Sophie bit her lip. "I'm not really allowed to tell anyone until it's certain and they can but there's a new law coming out. They're changing a lot of things. Within the next five years it's going to be a really different world."

"Well, when they do wouldn't you have to wait until a councilor leaves?"

"There is a councilor planning to leave and. . . I can't tell you who. He's only told me and a few others, including the rest of the council. The only reason I know is because I'm the person taking his place if it works out."

Edaline nodded. "Have you told Keefe?"

Sophie nodded. "Yeah, he knows of the possibility. A few of my friends found out too." 

"I can't help but wonder what life would be like if you never came here. We wouldn't have all these little discoveries and new possibilities. With you as a councilor imagine how much more personal the council could be with the people they are in charge of." Edaline started to grin to herself and took a plate of Mallowmelt from Sophie's grasp.

"Hey, I was eating that," Sophie said, trying to grab for it back.

"Have you had your bottle of youth?" Edaline asked. Sophie shook her head. "No Mallowmelt until you drink your bottle."

Sophie nodded and took a bottle from Edaline's kitchen. "You know, you grow up, move out, and get married, but your parents still tell you what to do," Sophie remarked, smiling. 

"You're my responsibility grown up or not. I didn't just adopt you for you to go running off the second you got out of my care," Edaline scolded.

Sophie grinned at her. "Aww, you know I love you Mom."

"And I love you too. Now, when are you going back home?"

Sophie gasped mockingly. "Are you kicking me out?"

"Just asking if you're staying for dinner, honey," she cheered. "And if so, would Keefe be here too?"

Sophie shrugged. "I don't know. I actually have no idea where he is right now."

Edaline looked at her in alarm. "You don't know where your husband is?"

Sophie frowned. "Am I supposed to? I mean, do you know where Dad is?"

"He's outside working with the animals. If not, he's with Alden," Edaline answered immediately.

"That was quick," Sophie said, eyes wide. "Well. . . Speaking from past experience he's either with Dex and Biana or Fitz and Ashla. Actually, there was this one time that he was with Jensi. . ." She shrugged. "I don't know. I just guess I don't need to know where he is twenty-four seven. I just trust him."

Edaline smiled. "Yeah, that's true. A lot of the time I don't know where Grady is. He goes on a lot of assignments with Alden now that he doesn't hate the council and the Black Swan and anything really that has to do with Elves. Sometimes he doesn't come home until really late but I trust him."

Sophie nodded. "Yeah. Besides, it's obvious Dad is in love with you."

Edaline nodded. "As Keefe is in love with you."