Sophie knew how much can change in just three months. What she didn't know was that, when nothing eventful was happening, three months can also pass by in just a blink of an eye.

Sophie sat at the table, eating her breakfast, as she was thinking about how the past few months had been.

And nothing had changed. Biana and Sophie were on good terms, but they hardly talked anymore or spent time together outside of school. It seemed like there was a tension between them ever since they had that fight during study hall, months prior, and it was keeping them apart. Sophie didn't like it, but in a way, staying away from Biana helped her start to move on from Fitz.

"Are you okay?" Edaline asked, taking a bite out of her food.

Sophie nodded, dragging her fork across her food. "Yeah, just thinking."

Edaline was getting bigger and bigger the closer her due date came. She was about seven months along, already. That didn't stop her from helping out in the pastures, however--though it did encourage Grady and Sophie to help her out a lot in order to put less strain on her (she refused to stop working no matter how much her family told her to stop).

"How come you don't hang out with your friends anymore?" she asked, looking at Sophie with knowing eyes.

Sophie looked away from her, not knowing if she should explain everything or gloss over the truth. She decided to go with the latter. "We all have just been focusing on school work."

Edaline sighed, attempting to give Sophie the puppy eyes look, but Sophie didn't give in. Instead, she got up.

"Speaking of, I should probably get headed there now."

Edaline rolled her eyes with a smile. "Okay, Sophie. Have a g—OW!"

Sophie's eyes widened at the sound of Edaline's groan of pain and rushed towards her. "Mom! What's wrong?"

Edaline's eyes were shut tight as she shook her head and let out another groan.

"Grady!" Sophie screamed. "DAD!"

The next few moments were a blur as Grady rushed in and called Elwin.

"What happened?" Grady asked, frantic with wide eyes.

"I—I—I don't know!" Sophie let out, feeling tears prickle her eyes. "We were just talking and then—"

Edaline let out another yelp and Grady picked her up bridal style and took her to the living room. A few seconds later, Elwin arrived and immediately started using his goggles with bright lights to figure out what was wrong.

Eventually, he mumbled, "But it's too early."

"What?" Grady questioned. "What's too early?"

Elwin sighed and gave a quick glance over to Sophie before facing Grady. Quietly, he mumbled something to Grady that Sophie was unable to make out.

"What's going on?" Sophie asked, moving closer to them.

Grady looked over at her and, with the sad expression on his face, Sophie knew something was really wrong. Elwin started giving Edaline elixirs to help but waited until Grady took Sophie out of the room really start doing anything.

"What's going on?" Sophie repeated, desperate.

"You're going to Everglen for tonight," Grady let out, already expecting Sophie's protests.

"What?! No! I could help! I could inflict—"

"Sophie." Grady's hardened eyes and low tone got Sophie to stop. She had never seen him this serious—even with all the times she's disobeyed him and nearly gotten herself killed. "Please."

Sophie stayed silent as Grady light leapt the two of them to Everglen, making a quick call to Alden prior.

As they were waiting at the gates, Grady sighed.

"Sophie . . . these past few months . . . ," Grady didn't know how to continue. He kept looking at the ground, unable to meet her eyes. "Edaline has been feeling very stressed and tired. With the baby . . . she wants to make sure she stays safe and healthy, especially with how she couldn't have stopped Jolie's death."

Sophie felt herself begin to shake and fill with tears. She hadn't noticed Edaline's discomfort at all the past few months. "She?"

Grady managed a small smile. "Yeah, she. You're having a baby sister."

A tear slipped out from Sophie's eyes as she hugged Grady. She hadn't been told if it was a boy or girl yet.

They heard the sound of the gates opening and Sophie stepped away from Grady, wiping her tears. "I'm coming home first thing tomorrow morning—and you can't stop me."

Grady chuckled and gave Sophie one last hug. "Sure thing, Kiddo."

Della greets Sophie and offers her a hug, in which Sophie accepts. Not even two steps later and Sophie's letting out all her emotions through her tears, crying, and Della strokes her hair and tells her everything will be all right, doing her best to comfort her as they walk inside.

* * *

Della had Sophie stay in the guest bedroom—the same one she stayed in during her very first night in the Lost Cities. Sophie sat on the bed with her face in her knees, crying.

Sophie put her head in her hands. How could I not have noticed?

She had been so caught up in her own drama and feelings, she hadn't been paying attention to how her parents had been. To how anything was progressing. She knew she wasn't responsible for this, but there was definitely something she could have done to help Edaline. She could have actually been there and been more supportive and reassuring if she had actually taken her eyes off her own problems and focused on her new baby sister.

Sophie didn't know how long she had been in that position on the bed, but every second she felt the wet spot on the knees of her leggings continue to grow.

"Sophie?"

Sophie recognized that voice, though she hadn't heard it being used with a soft tone very often. She didn't want to look up and show Biana her reddened eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

Sophie heard footsteps walk closer to the bed. "I know this isn't really my place to ask after everything, but . . . do you want to talk?"

Sophie didn't say anything, only occasionally sniffling.

"Okay," Biana whispered and sat down on the bed. "I'll be here if you do."

After a couple of more seconds, Sophie lifted up her head. She wiped her eyes on the sleeves of her shirt and asked, "Why?"

Biana looked shocked with her eyes widening slightly and eyebrows raised. "W—what?"

Sophie choked while trying to talk but tried to play it off as a laugh. "Why are you trying to be here for me? I don't even know if we're still even friends anymore."

"Oh." Biana looked down at the bedsheets, trying to think of what to say. "I know things have been really off between us since we've had that fight but I still am your friend, Sophie. Looking back at it, I don't really even know why I snapped back at you like that."

"Midterms," Sophie answered and Biana smiled.

"Yeah, stress can be really weird sometimes," Biana said.

Sophie almost smiled, but then remembered how Edaline had been stressed out. And now . . . she didn't want to even think about how she was doing.

Biana obviously noticed Sophie retreating back into wanting to cry again and moved closer towards her. "Hey, hey. Don't worry, it'll be alright. Elwin's with her and if he kept you alive for this long, Edaline and the baby will be just fine."

Sophie didn't have a response and started crying anyway. "I should've . . . I should've . . . there had to be . . . I don't know . . . I'm s—so s—scared."

"Come here." Biana placed herself right next to Sophie and made Sophie lean on her. "It'll be okay, I know it."

"I'm so weak," Sophie managed to blubber out. "I can't s—seem to do anything right."

Biana laughed. "You weak? If I had to go through everything you've been through, I would've dug myself up in a hole and stayed there for the rest of my life. You're one of the strongest people I know—and so is Edaline. She'll get through this and everyone, including the baby, will be fine."

They stayed there in silence, leaning on each other for a while.

Eventually, Sophie started to doze off, but she kept waking herself up, not wanting to relax or rest until she knew everything was okay. Biana had fallen asleep a while ago, however, and Sophie realized she didn't mind.

There had been so much tension between Sophie and her friends that she realized was pointless and didn't really matter in the long term. Yes, Sophie and Biana had a fight and they tried hurting each other's feelings, but Biana was here for Sophie to comfort her despite everything. She really was a good friend, and Sophie started to feel angry at herself for not realizing sooner.

Movement at the doorway caught Sophie's eyes and she sat straight up. When she looked at the door, she didn't see anyone or anything there. Sophie brushed it off as her being tired and just seeing things. Her movement caused Biana to stir.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice groggy.

"Nothing," Sophie answered and let Biana rest her head on her shoulder again. "Hey, Biana?"

"Yeah?" Her voice was soft.

Sophie didn't know if she would remember this in the morning or not, but she felt the need to say it regardless. "Thank you for being a good friend."

Biana mumbled, "Anytime."

And Sophie smiled, finally allowing herself to succumb to some sleep after feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Sophie left first thing in the morning, barely dressing herself in a new set of clothes.

She stood there, on the porch, hesitating to open the door even though she wanted to so badly.

What if they're not okay? What if these are my last moments of somewhat-normal?

Before she could get the courage to open the door, it swung open anyway and Sophie was greeted by a smiling Grady.

"Sophie!"

She was going to say something, but screeching sounded from somewhere in the living room. Sophie was worried it might have been Edaline for a second, but it didn't quite sound like her.

Sophie's eyes opened wide in surprise, piecing together why Grady was smiling and who the person screaming and crying was.

"She had the baby?!"

Grady nodded and rushed her inside. "Yes, she did! And they're both healthy and doing great."

Sophie ran to the living room, seeing towels and other items sprawled all over the floor in a mess. But she didn't pay attention to it, her gaze focused solely on what was in Edaline's arms—or, more rather, who.

Edaline smiled when she saw Sophie, and Sophie could see the clear signs of exhaustion she was experiencing.

"Wow," was all Sophie could whisper.

"Do you want to hold her?" Edaline asked, and Sophie shook her head no quickly.

"I–I don't know how to hold a baby and I don't want to hurt her."

Edaline laughed. "It's okay, I'll show you."

Sophie tentatively walked closer and sat down next to Edaline on the couch.

"Hold out your arms," Edaline said and Sophie listened.

Sophie almost gasped when her hands made contact with the baby, too scared to move or say anything.

"Make sure you support the neck," Edaline said and Sophie slowly readjusted the baby so she was holding her whole body and had her neck resting on her elbow.

"She's so tiny," Sophie mumbled and Edaline nodded.

"I put some of light pink elixirs that in your kitchen," Elwin said, coming into the living room. "Oh, hi Sophie."

"Hello," Sophie responded, still looking at the baby.

"Give her half a bottle each day and soon, she should be as strong as a normal-born baby," Elwin continued, talking to Edaline.

"Thank you, Elwin," Edaline said. "I hope that stain will come out."

Elwin looked down at his white cloak where there was a dark green spot and shrugged. "It's all right."

"Thank you for all your help, Elwin," Grady said, and Sophie almost jumped, forgetting he was there. "I really don't know what we would have done without your help."

Elwin smiled. "It's what I'm here for. Besides, I'm hoping this one doesn't cause me nearly as much trouble as Sophie."

Edaline and Grady laughed and Sophie offered a small smile.

"Well, I'll be off now," he said and made his way out.

After a few quiet seconds, Sophie asked, "What's her name?"

"Amoria."

Sophie smiled. "Hello, Amoria."

~*~

I finally finished revising this chapter and wanted to get it out for you all! (I don't think I've published the changes I've made in the past chapters so far yet, so if future chapters don't seem to align with what was previously written, that's why.) 

Song: Jackson Wang - "Oxygen"

Thanks, lovelies! -Nuela <3
Edited by EllenH2006 &