Chapter 125 Three Names
Chapter 125 Three Names
The hum of the air conditioner was a constant, steady presence in the recovery room, which felt significantly more peaceful now. The sharp, biting scent of antiseptic had been replaced by the fresh fragrance of floor cleaner. Agatha leaned back against a stack of pillows. Her face remained pale, but the light had finally returned to her eyes. Two nurses moved with practiced efficiency, smoothing her blankets and ensuring that the medical monitors attached to her hands were positioned correctly.
"Your condition is stable, Ma'am. We will bring the babies in now," one of the nurses said with a smile.
Agatha nodded slowly. "Thank you."
The sliding door glided open. Three transparent bassinets were wheeled in one by one. Behind them, Pierre walked with his hands tucked into the pockets of his white lab coat. He looked exhausted, yet a clear sense of satisfaction lined his face. Heavy footsteps followed from the hallway. Xavier appeared, his shirt still rumpled and messy. He did not go to Agatha immediately. Instead, he stopped in front of the three bassinets. His eyes welled with tears as he looked at the three tiny beings now wrapped in clean, soft blankets.
"Can they come in?" Xavier asked, gesturing toward the hall.
"Who?" Agatha asked.
"Your mother, Frans, and Grandfather Cardios. They look like they are about to tear the door down," Xavier said as he finally walked to Agatha’s side.
He sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for Agatha’s hand to press a long, lingering kiss to her knuckles. "Thank you, Agatha. Thank you for staying with me."
"I did not exactly have a choice after you slapped me so many times, Xavier," Agatha joked, her voice still a bit hoarse.
Xavier let out a short, breathy chuckle. "I am so sorry for that."
"Come in!" Xavier called out toward the door.
The door swung wide with a heavy thud. Melynda hurried in, heading straight for the bassinets without a second glance at Xavier. Frans followed closely behind, carrying several baskets of fruit and an overwhelming amount of baby supplies. Cardios brought up the rear. His footsteps were steady and rhythmic, punctuated by the firm tap of his mahogany cane against the floor.
"Oh, good heavens! Look at them! They are absolutely beautiful!" Melynda exclaimed. She pressed both hands over her mouth as tears of joy tracked down her face.
"Melynda, do not be so loud. You will wake them," Cardios cautioned in his deep, gravelly voice.
"I cannot help it, Don! Look at these tiny fingers!" Melynda reached out to touch the hand of one of the baby boys with just the tip of her finger. "Xavier, this one looks exactly like you did when you were born. Look at the shape of his nose."
Frans leaned over another bassinet. "Wow, this one looks like he is going to be a fighter. Look at how he is gripping my finger. Ugh, he is strong!"
"Do not go teaching my children anything strange, Frans," Xavier warned.
"I am only admiring them, my friend. Incredible. Three at once. You really are quite the fertile man, Xavier," Frans teased, clapping Xavier firmly on the shoulder.
Agatha laughed softly at their antics. The lingering ache in her abdomen seemed to fade as she watched the joy filling the room. She felt complete. Cardios approached the bedside, looking down at his granddaughter with an intense, meaningful gaze. He reached out and stroked Agatha’s hair gently.
"You passed through the gates of death with your head held high, my granddaughter. I am proud of you," Cardios said.
"Thank you, Grandfather. It was all because of the support from all of you," Agatha replied.
Cardios turned his attention to his three great-grandchildren. He observed each of them with clinical focus. "Two boys and one girl. The blood of Volskey and Valois runs thick here. So, do these three have names yet? I do not wish to refer to them by birth order forever."
Melynda and Frans immediately went quiet. Everyone turned toward Agatha and Xavier. The room grew still with anticipation.
"He is right. What are their names? I need to know what to have embroidered on the little jackets I ordered," Frans asked excitedly.
Agatha looked at Xavier. With a small nod, Xavier signaled for her to do the honors. Agatha took a deep breath. She directed a sweet, loving smile toward her three infants.
"We have been thinking about it for a long time," Agatha said.
She pointed to the baby boy in the bassinet on the far right, the one who had been born first. "The eldest is Arkanza Alistian Valskey."
"Arkanza. A grand name. I like the meaning," Cardios murmured, nodding in approval.
Agatha then pointed to the baby girl in the middle, the one whose position had caused so much panic during the delivery. "Our little princess is Althea Liora Valskey."
"Althea. The healer. A very fitting name for a girl who survived such a difficult beginning," Melynda said, her voice trembling with emotion.
"And the last one? The little champion who required Xavier to strike you just to keep you awake?" Frans asked, pointing to the baby boy in the leftmost bassinet.
Agatha’s smile widened. She watched the infant squirm slightly. "Mmh. Akh." A tiny, soft whimper escaped the baby’s lips.
"His name is Archeron Xalias Valskey. Alistian and Xalias were taken from Xavier’s name, while Liora comes from mine. Valskey is a blend of Valois and Volskey," Agatha explained.
"Arkanza, Althea, and Archeron. They sound perfect together," Melynda praised.
"Those are beautiful names," Frans added with enthusiastic energy.