Bastian
Chapter Side Story 26 - Flowers of Spring

✧Flowers of Spring✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The pair lounged together in the large bathtub, Odette sat with her back to Bastian and leaned back into his arms. Bastian wrapped himself around Odette, his hands resting gently on her belly and nuzzled into her neck. It was the most comfortable way they could share a bath. Forcing herself to stay awake for this long was worth it.

   “How was the New Year’s dinner?” Odette asked dreamily with her eyes full of anticipation.

   “It was alright.”

   “I hear they are looking to you to fill the Deputy Commander of Operations.”

   “Seems like the Naval wives like to gossip a little too much,” Bastian said with a smirk, adjusting his position so Odette could lean more comfortably against him.

   He had indeed only just received the news that day. The navy was undergoing a massive restructuring and although the Emperor’s approval was still pending, the Chief of Staff had reason to believe that it was all but official, the Emperor won’t refused his niece’s husband. Bastian had planned to surprise Odette with the news, but it seems the wives of the naval officers spoilt that for him.

   “Spring will be a season of some significance for this family,” Odette said, radiating happiness. Her eyes, brimming with his presence, and her cheeks, aglow with joy, sparkled under the gentle light.

 Bastian held her closer. A strength welled up inside Bastian and he felt he could finally understand the simple little word that Odette had put so much stock in. Family. My wife, my child, my family. He had found a world he would give everything and anything for. He used to think that having more only meant there was more to lose, that it was a weakness, but at this moment, Bastian felt stronger than ever before.

He openly recognized his shortcomings, shaped by a life largely absent of father’s presence. The unfamiliar role sometimes seemed overwhelming and frightening. But he chose to lean into the love that surrounded him. Just as he cherished the woman beside him and the new life she had given him, he resolved to embrace their forthcoming child with the same boundless love.

   Bastian’s hands enveloped Odette’s belly, as though conveying his vow under the full moon of the night sky. The child was still, perhaps asleep. His hand moved lower, Odette noticed it and smiled softly. 

   “Here, Bastian.” Odette said, picking up on what Bastian was doing. She rested her hand on his and guided him slightly lower and to the right side, where Coco rested. His caress was exceptionally gentle, a surprisingly soft touch from a man of his robust build. Odette began to hum softly. It was her way of expressing her overwhelming happiness and love that words could not convey.

As the night grew darker, the city’s lights faded away one after another. Bastian looked how the Ferris wheel’s illumination grew more distinct against the encroaching night, all while he was serenaded by the captivating melody of his beloved, whom he affectionately called his beautiful siren. 

The construction of the amusement park in Ardenne was nearing completion. Many of Odette’s favorite attractions, especially the Ferris wheel, were almost ready. With the winter’s ice melting and the landscaping efforts wrapping up, they aimed to inaugurate the park by summer’s latest. It would become a place of joy for their child. Lost in visions of such idyllic days, the melody softly concluded.

   A smile crept along Bastian’s face as he looked down at his wife and she looked up at him. Their eyes locked and Odette reached up to caress Bastian’s cheek with the palm of her hand. Their lips met at an awkward angle.

Bastian wrapped his arms gently around Odette as she settled onto his lap. A sigh, filled with unspoken desire, escaped him, yet his hands remained steady and careful. Their kiss, softer and more measured than before, was interspersed with gentle touches. Carefully they exchanged cautious caresses, but Bastian generally kept his distance. His caution grew with her belly.

   As the heat between them rose sharply, Bastian paused in his kisses and his habitual massage of her chest. A dry laugh escaped his lips. His hand, previously tracing gentle paths along her slender back and shoulders, eventually gathered her hair. Droplets from her damp hair trickled down his knuckles.

   “This is the limit,” he thought.

Bastian moved his hand away, but at the same time a rough moan escaped his lips. He felt a soft hand grabbed his throbbing lower part tightly. Bastian squinted at Odette. She, having watched him in silence, answered with a slow caress. Bastian, who at first stopped her motion, was now laid his hand gently atop hers.

   The calm waters of the bath quickly turned into a torrent of splashing and chaotic eddies, mingled with their heavy breathing, moaning and sweet nothings.

   Though Odette felt a rise of embarrassment from her exposed foreplay, she fought hard to maintain her eye contact with the man she loved. She relished in the sight of his enjoyment at the expense of her touch, uncontrolled and fervent as it was. The expression on his face made her shudder with pleasure, exacerbated by his fingers massaging her most sensitive parts.

   Odette let herself openly enjoy the pleasure as she kissed Bastian deeply and Bastian became even more intense. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head back sharply so that he could get at her neck, where he kissed and sucked her breast with unchecked passion.

   A sharp pain pulsed through her, but she was not afraid. She knew this man would not harm her and Bastian responded to this trust by pouring all his love onto Odette. Their hot lips wondered over one another, taking in turns to kiss and suck at each others necks, even as they pleasured one another in the mutual act of love.

With a soft moan, Odette encouraged Bastian, her eyes gleaming with ecstatic fulfillment as she witnessed the peak of their shared pleasure.

   “You are my most favourite person in the whole world,” Odette said between kisses and moans. Even if a new love, their child, was born, this fact would never change.  She pressed kisses to his damp forehead, the corners of his eyes, and cheeks warmed by the soft light, each one a seal of her affection, until the fervor in his blue eyes softened. Time and again she did this.

Odette mused silently as her fingers brushed through his lustrous platinum blonde hair, “I hope our child inherits this trait from your father.” She whispered her secret hope, “Since she’s joining us in the brightest of seasons, may she shine as brilliantly as the summer sun.”

With another kiss, she anchored her wish. Bastian’s hold, as enveloping and comforting as the warmth of a summer’s evening, drew her close.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The clock struck midnight not long after Odette opened up the catalogue to the first page. She felt a wash of sleepiness come over her, but she did her best to hide it. She was driven by a stubbornness she couldn’t understand herself, and so, sat next to the man she loved, they browsed the catalogue for furnitures and baby items to fill up the nursery.

   They looked at cradles first. Odette pointed to an illustration of a cute baby sound asleep in an ornately carved cradle with white lace, tenderly watched over by a loving couple.

   “What about this one? I like this one,” Odette said. Bastian simply nodded, without word or argument.

   So it was with the next item, and the item after that.  Whenever Odette highlighted an item she fancied, Bastian was quick to agree. Their choices were met without a single contention. It was only after nearly everything had been selected Odette realised quickly that Bastian had not even looked at the magazine, his eyes remained completely transfixed on her.

   “You know, you have to participate too, we agreed to choose together,” Odette said, more than a little put out.

   “I’m doing my absolute best to co-operate,” Bastian said with a cocked smile.

   Sensing that she was going to get herself involved in a losing battle, Odette sighed. She felt embarrassed by her foolishness, but she didn’t allow herself to get upset.

   “Okay then, from now on, you choose,” she said, turning the page to a display of baby mobiles.

   After a minute of calmly studying the page, Bastian slapped a finger down, choosing a cloud-shaped at the centre.

   “That’s pretty, but don’t you think this ones nicer?” Odette said, pointing to a different mobile with stars on it. The material was noticeably more luxurious, and crucially, its vibrant colors seemed destined to captivate a child’s delight.

   “Of course, if that’s the one you like, we will get that one.”

   Realising her mistake too late, Odette tried to counter her own decision.

 “Whatever you want.” Bastian said, with a triumphant smile on his lips. “See, its much more efficient if you choose directly, rather than wasting time debating when we will only end up getting what you want in the first place.”

   Bastian relinquished his decision making to Odette, who pretended as if she was contemplating, but took back her throne with a shrug, marking her territory by picking out some bibs and rattles. After another couple pages, Odette let out a rather large yawn as she felt her eyelids become heavier.

It was already past 1 a.m. Bastian carefully got up and smiled at the amusing sight of Odette desperately trying to keep her eyes open. He gently picked her up off the couch and Odette wrapped her arms around his neck and leant against his chest. By the time he laid her on the bed just a few short paces away, she was already dreaming.

After tucking Odette into bed, Bastian went to check the fireplace, then moved to the window table to organize the catalogue and switch off the lamp. Odette watched him on the verge of sleep. It was only when Bastian settled beside her that she felt the full comfort for rest.

   “Good night, my love,” Odette said.

 “You too, and Coco too. May you both have sweet dreams.” Bastian’s reply was a gentle goodbye, his voice intertwined with laughter. It was only after her eyelids had completely shut that she wondered if he might have spoken in Felia. Impossible, she thought. Dismissing the fleeting speculation, Odette drifted into sleep. That night, she dreamt of the songs she had sung to Bastian reverberating back to her, a hopeful tune of everlasting love, secretly wishing he wasn’t fluent in Felia.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Spring saw many new arrivals, not only of flowers and the babes of wild animals, but also a child to the Klauswitz household. The news was spread throughout the land quickly, first to the closest relatives and when it reached the Naval HQ, there was no stopping the news.

   Bastian got the news while mid-banquet at the ministry. A pale faced aide whispered that Odette had gone into labour discreetly. For a moment, he was too stunned to say or do anything. He had been told that labour should be another ten days away. Doctor Kramer even said that the first birth usually carries beyond the due date.

   There had been no issues during the pregnancy, Odette had been in good health. Although she had not felt well enough to attend today’s banquet, there had been no other concerns—and it consistently affirmed by the doctor’s regular visits.

“The labor is moving fast. You should go now, Admiral!” the aide said, snapping Bastian back to reality.

   “Admiral Klauswitz?” the Emperor’s anxious voice called out from across the table. The other officers, seeing Bastian’s pale complexion started to murmur.

   “I’m sorry, your majesty, I must leave immediately.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “My child…my child is about to be born

   The Emperors eyes went wide. “A child, You mean yours and Odette’s baby?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I believe I need to be by my wife’s side at this moment. I kindly ask for your permission to leave.” Despite the gravity of the situation, Bastian kept his poise as he requested the emperor’s understanding. To his relief, the emperor welcomed the news of his grandniece’s arrival with a robust laugh and a round of applause, giving his blessing.

“Yes, certainly, you must go. My sincerest congratulations to you, Admiral Klaubitz. Witnessing your radiance on this auspicious day, I am confident the child is destined for greatness.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Bastian said with a bow. He left the banquet hall to much cheer and well wishing from the other officers, but he did not spare them a single moment.

   Bastian flew out of the HQ building and into the waiting staff car. He had a mind to drive the car himself, but didn’t want to waste a single moment arguing with the driver. The second the door slammed shut, the solemn driver took off. No one barred his path at the gate, but barely a mile down the road their passage became blocked.

   “I’m sorry sir, their seems to have been an accident up ahead,” the driver said sorrowfully, pity in his eyes as he surveyed the congested Preve Road. A derailed tram obstructed the road ahead, rendering passage through this route seemingly impossible. The queue of cars and carriages that had accumulated behind left no room to turn back.

   Bastian didn’t wait. As soon as the driver said accident, he was already out the door and running with all his might. “Ad, Admiral!” The driver called after him, but Bastian was well out of earshot.

The street from which the admiral had disappeared was awash with the pink hues of spring blossoms, rippling like clouds across the skyline.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*