Chapter 33 - Epilogue.

One Year Later.


Raven bounced in her high chair like she was dancing to music only she could hear. Her head and arms went up and down while her face was a picture of concentration. The flavours in her mouth seemed to be causing her so much pleasure she couldn't be still, but at the same time lunch time was clearly a serious business.

She watched as her Daddy went about in the kitchen clearing the mess she had made while she finished with her peas. She had cleared the bowl in her intense way until finally it was empty.

Her face would become dismayed and with diminutive hands she'd clasp the bowl, banging it and squealing till Daddy gave her dessert. After dessert she did it all over again, before being lifted out of the high chair by her father.

"I think you've been properly fed, now let's put you down for your nap. If you would let me."

Xavier murmured and she grabbed his face and squealed happily.

Then she planted cherry-pie kisses on her father and he kissed her in return.

He took her to her playroom and set her down while he prepared her nap area.

Raven toddled off for a book...always the same book..."The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.

With each cardboard page she pointed to the food, learning to count, learning to speak even though they were only strange sounds and she was only a year old. So long as they got her into bed before she was overtired life was peaceful.

Xavier watched her as she pointed at the paintings and rambled on, her little face squeezed in concentration. He smiled as he decided to join her.

He could remember vividly when she was born, just a month later after the issue with Daphne.

After the trouble with Daphne, Amelia and Xavier had taken her to court for attempted murder, but she had pleaded insanity.
During the trial hearing she had frequent outbursts which made everyone in court agree that truly there was something wrong with her mentally.

Her defence lawyer had raised the issue of her having a mental and underlying problem and severe trauma, the court subjected her to medical evaluation and it was proven. She was confined to a psychiatric hospital where she would stay until she had received full psychiatric treatment.

The stress from the trial and everything that was happening was what made Amelia go into early labour, she had their daughter while she was just eight months pregnant with one extra month before her due date.

But their little girl Raven Sylvania Black was born strong and healthy. She was given her grandmother's middle name, Sylvania because Xavier and Amelia wanted to always remember Nana through their daughter.

She stayed in the hospital for about two weeks before she was finally fit to go home.

Xavier and Amelia would often describe their baby as frenetic and fractious. 'She was born with a hurricane for a soul, that one,' Amelia's mother would say. Xavier and Amelia agreed, it was true.

But they said it in a loving way with that soft glow in their eyes that only parents could have for such difficult offspring.

Raven swept though the house like a whirlwind, upending their lives. Her cries were sharp like a wounded animal and she seemed to only sleep for half an hour at a time. She fed, she screamed, she napped, then she fed again. Amelia and Xavier were zombie for the first few months before they decided to hire professional nannies to ease the stress.

Raven resembled her mother in not only looks but also in personality, in fact she was even more wild and uncontrollable than her mother. She had a strong will and she was also very vocal despite learning just a few words already. She had the determination of an adult and her tantrums sent evert adult flying around like headless chickens. But all in all, she was a sweet baby when she wanted to be. And she was kind and generous to a fault.

Xavier remembered when he would rock her in the dead of night when it was his turn to feed the baby.

Raven found it almost impossible to sleep without body to body contact and Xavier had to rock her for hours on end before finally settling her in for a nap in her cot.

He would soothe her with lullaby's and stroke her tiny back and soft hair. He would whisper sweet things in her ears and cover her with kisses.
He loved the hurricane right out of her and replaced it with a sweet summer breeze because above all, she was their baby, and they loved her with a power mightier than the wind.

He watched her slowly crawl to him as she rubbed her sleep filled eyes, she was still dragging her book in her hand and Xavier was smiling.
He opened his arms wide and scooped her up, she loved to sleep on his chest.

Raven was already fast asleep in her father's arms when Xavier looked at her. He stroked her head full of black hair. She was more of a daddy's girl and Amelia often said it was because Raven had her daddy's heart wrapped around her little pinky. Amelia rarely condoned her excesses.

Xavier yawned, he was already getting sleepy. He had spent all day taking care of Raven since Amelia had a meeting at her new art foundation, it was only a few days to the grand opening and she was getting busier than ever.
He gently laid on the mat as he let Raven continue sleeping on his chest. He had a protective arm around her.

A few minutes later, both father and daughter have fallen asleep on the play mat.




Amelia headed straight for the playroom as she walked back into the house. She had a really long day and she couldn't wait to sleep on her bed but she had to see Xavier and Raven first. She found Xavier's phone in the kitchen and groaned, no wonder the calls were not going through, she thought as she started removing her heels. She also took off the tie band keeping her hair in a ponytail and she massaged her tired scalp.

Patricia and another maid walked towards her and she smiled at them.

"Welcome back Mrs Black."

"Thanks. Where's Raven and Xavier?"

She asked and Patricia gave Amelia a knowing look.

"In the playroom as always ma'am. They've been there a while."

"Oh wow. I hope she hasn't been too much trouble today."

She asked as she handed the maid her bag and her heels.

"No, on the contrary she has been very well behaved."

Amelia raised her eyebrow.

"That was new."

She thought as she headed to the playroom barefoot and shrugging off her suit jacket.

She gently opened the door to the room and found Xavier and Raven sleeping peacefully on the play mat. Her heart melted at the sight of the two of them. Raven looked so peaceful while she was asleep, like a little angel which was far from what she was when she was awake.

Xavier on the other hand looked tired and stressed out. He was even drooling a bit. He had been on baby duty the past couple of days since Amelia's Art opening drew closer and closer. He had even taken time off to take care and spend more time with Raven. He seemed to be enjoying it. The other day he had gone to a park and he joined a father's club and he seemed really excited about it.

Amelia walked around the room as she studied the large room that had been converted into a playroom for Raven. She had personally chosen the colours and painted it herself. There was an entire wall filled with pictures of Xavier, Amelia and Raven and all her baby moments, there was a new one every month and the wall wasn't halfway done yet.

She walked towards Xavier and Amelia and lied next to them, intertwining her fingers with her husband's.

She did it slowly and carefully, determined not to wake Raven up, she was content with watching them for a while.

She felt grateful looking at them.

Xavier squeezed her hands softly with his eyes closed and Amelia smiled at him.

He was awake.