(Baelon's POV)
"You are looking much better, Baelon." Helaena said as she kissed my forehead, "You are not drinking much, right?"
I shook my head, "No...." I said as I rubbed my eye, "It is strange...I felt restless the more and more I drank from the barrels I was gifted...."
We were in my quarters, I was sitting on my couch when Helaena walked inside to see me. It had been a couple of days since I began to take turns sleeping with both Heleana and Rhaenyra in their beds respectively. My rest has been much better than usual and as I had said, I had stopped drinking from the barrels I was given back at King's Landing.
She sat next to me, "Gifted?"
I nodded, "Yes. Lord Caswell gifted me several barrels." I said, "The more and more I drank from that wine, the worse I felt....it is strange. The wine I drink while eating is from the bottles here in Dragonstone."
"That is strange..." She said softly, "You no longer have those bags under your eyes. I am glad, though. I hated seeing you like that."
"I am sorry, love." I told her, "I had a lot going on in my mind, that is all. Please forgive me."
She leaned closer to me, "There is nothing to forgive." She said, "Take care of yourself, it is all I ask. Did you have those dreams again?"
I nodded, "Yes..." I said, "I do not understand.....despite being able to sleep, I am having those strange dreams..."
"Hm..." she said, "It is strange indeed. You are not a Dreamer, which I find odd that you would have the same repetitive dreams..."
"Have you had any Dreams?" I asked her
"Not new ones." She said with a smile, "The same one, over and over....it is a pleasant one."
"Oh, that is good to hear." I said, "Is the one with all of us together?"
She nodded as she tucked hair behind her ear, "Yes." She blushed, "All of us.....happy....watching our children grow."
"Our?" I asked
She looked at me, "Yes..." She said, "Our children....."
"Mine and yours....?" I asked
"I will not answer that." She said as she leaned into me, kissing me briefly on the lips, "It is not a topic I wish to concern with you just yet."
"I see...." I said as I looked into her eyes, "I grow anxious and excited by the day, Helaena. I cannot wait to see our son come into this world."
"I know, Baelon." She said, "I know....but we must be patient. In the meantime, do not do anything foolish."
"Right..." I said with a chuckle
"Am I interrupting?" I heard Rhaenyra call out
I looked up to see her standing in the doorway, "Uh, not necessarily..." I said, "What do you need?"
She walked up to us, holding a letter, "Well..." She said as she reached us, "Aemma wants to come and visit. If that is okay with you."
"I do not see why not." Helaena said, "Right, Baelon?"
"Yea, it is fine." I said
"But on dragonback." Rhaenyra said, "I worry for her if she makes the flight."
"Oh." I said, "Well....it is not that long of a flight, Rhaenyra...."
"But still..." She said, "She is still young."
I chuckled, "I made that flight many times when I was younger than her."
"I know that." She said, "And I always hated that you were by yourself."
"It should be fine." I said, "Write back to her, tell her to come."
"But....." She said before sighing, "Fine.....will Aemond be okay with it?"
"I don't think he would care." I said
She turned around and began to mutter under her breath, "That girl is getting too much confidence with a dragon.." She said before walking away
"Wait, Sister." Helaena said, "Come."
She stopped and looked at us, "Hm?"
"Sit..." Helaena said
Rhaenyra then slowly walked over and sat down next to me, "What is it?"
"Has Baelon looked better?" Helaena asked her, "He looks less tired as of late, no?"
Rhaenyra looked at me, "Yes." She said, "He does. It is good, Baelon."
"Right...." I said
"He sleeps well." Helaena said, "Like a babe when he is with me."
"Same when he is with me." Rhaenyra chuckled, "He is simply adorable."
I frowned, "The two of you love to tease me, hm?"
"Yes." Helaena kissed me on the cheek, "Say it, Baelon."
"What?" I asked her
"That you promise to take care of yourself." She said, "In front of the both of us, make us that promise...."
I looked at Helaena, she had a firm look in her eye. After a few seconds, I glanced at Rhaenyra, who was giving me the same look.
The two of them were dead serious about this.
I sighed, "I promise." I said, "I will take care of myself."
"Good." Rhaenyra said as she patted my lap, "You can be more than reckless sometimes."
"Indeed." Helaena said,
"Bold too, haha..."
**************
I opened my eyes drowsily, "Hm?" I said as I stared at Rhaenyra staring at me as we laid together, "R-Rhaenyra?"
She was looking at me, tears in her eyes as her lips quivered; she had been crying.
"O-Oh...." She said, "You woke up...."
"What is wrong?" I asked her, "Are you okay?"
Tonight was Rhaenyra's turn to have me in her bed. We have done nothing but sleep, which is all I am comfortable to do with her. When Helaena has her turn, we make love but finish earlier than usual.
She sniffed, "I am okay...."
"Are you sure?" I asked as I placed my hand on her waist
"Y-Yes..." She said, "I am sorry for waking you.....please go to sleep..."
"No, speak to me. What is wrong?" I said
"I miss them....." She said as tears rolled down and stained the sheets below her face, "I miss my boys...."
"Oh..." I said as I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her in closer to me, "Rhaenyra.....I am so sorry...."
She began to sob softly, "Baelon...." She said, "I finally have you.....you sleep in my arms every night....I....am yours.....but at what cost? At what cost, Baelon? They are gone...my boys....I miss them every single day....."
"I know, Rhaenyra..." I said as I kissed her head, "I know....I am so sorry...."
"I cannot bring them back....." She said, "Gods, I wish they were with me now...."
"I wish that too...." I said as I embraced her tightly, "I am here for you...."
"Hold me like this...." She said as she sobbed, "Please, do not let me go..."
"Of course." I said, "I will not...."
"I love you." She said, "I have to remind myself of that....that I love you so much...."
"Right..." I said
"Because if I don't....the guilt.....the sorrow....it will be too much.." She said softly, "I hate him, Baelon....I hate him so much.....I wish he is rotting where he is now.....why did I make a mistake?"
"Do not think of him." I said seriously, "It will be better for you if you do not...just go to sleep. I will be here, Rhaenyra..."
"Thank you...." She said
"For what?" I asked
She sniffed,
"For not hating me."