Soon to be (Rowan/Shianni)

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni stood in the nursery, not because the room needed any additional help, but because standing was slightly more bearable than sitting. For now. As far as she knew it would change in the next few minutes, though with the cushioned rocking chair that was nearby she was unworried about a sudden change in comfort. They had actually needed to buy relatively few things thanks to lavish gifts from family members and friends leaping to support the sudden marriage and child announcements.

The steady stream of material arrivals, which also included things other than nursery items, had turned into an accepted part of life taken care of by their house elf to allow the couple to focus on their lives, and on their relationship. They certainly were nowhere near the level some couples enjoyed, but she had steadily began to feel closer to Rowan as the months passed. It was surreal to sit with him in the living room or stand by him on the balcony and share casual touches and, sometimes, kisses.

She closed her eyes and leaned against the window ledge, willing the pain and discomfort to leave. There was little more than a week left, and she was uncertain if she could bear it. Everything was in order, someone had been taking her classes for her since the beginning of term, and she was ready to have this done with. Well, everything but the child's name was in order. A brief scowl passed over her face. Names were so loaded, there was the chance of offending someone or mistakenly choosing a name that meant something horrid in some place of the world. Why had they not considered it earlier?

[Rowan Trace]

"You look tense," Rowan said, stepping into the room. He crossed the soft carpeting with bare feet and stopped just behind Shianni, raising his hands to settle against her shoulders. He began a light massage to work out whatever tension she was feeling. They'd done this enough times by now that he was sure of his welcome and no longer felt the need to ask.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni sighed softly at the comforting feel of his hands. "I am ready to have this done," she said, though she knew things would be even more stressful with a newborn in the tower. "But we do not even have a name for her, yet, and who knows whether the birth will go smoothly." Her eyebrows creased and she hung her head slightly. The last months has been wearing on her and some days it was difficult to keep her wits about her.

[Rowan Trace]

"The Healers said you've made it past the most difficult part," Rowan reminded her. He smoothed his thumbs into the back of Shianni's neck, then down to her shoulder blades. "Have you thought of names?" he asked. "My father's wife sent a book filled with them."

And yet, he hadn't said anything because he was certain that Shianni would want to name the child herself. He'd flipped through, highlighted some which he thought were nice, but hadn't pressed for a decision. People asked now and then, but it didn't seem like something to rush, and there were far more vital things to be concerned with, like health.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni shook her head. "Every time I consider it all the potential backlash hits me and I decide to put it off another day," she said. "I am named for my noni, my great-grandmother. My father for his father, my mother for an honored aunt. I am nearly certain my mother expects us to use her name, but I just..." She shook her head again and raised a hand to rub the bridge of her nose. She was not close to her mother and, to be honest, did not care enough to honor the woman by naming what was likely to be her only daughter after her.

[Rowan Trace]

"Ah," Rowan said. "I didn't realize it would be so complicated. Well, we'll simply have to make a decision on our own. Perhaps if we avoid using any friends' or family members' names at all, there will be less hurt involved." It did make Rowan wonder about his own mother, a bit. Perhaps he'd send for his birth certificate, just from curiosity.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

"Then there is the chance of offending, but to be honest I don't care about offending my mother, at this point," Shianni said. A heavy sigh escaped and she turned toward him. "She does need a name, though. Should we look through the book?" She reached up to run the fingers of one hand along the fringe of hair along Rowan's eyebrows.

[Rowan Trace]

"It's the best solution we have," Rowan said. He dropped his hands from Shianni, and after a moment, bent ever slightly to press his lips to hers. It all seemed much more natural than it had before. He'd managed something near this level of comfort with the occasional girlfriend in school, but it had always had an element of thought to it which he didn't quite need anymore.

"Wherever you'll be most comfortable," he said, "I'll bring the book."

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni nodded and shifted away from Rowan. "I will go to the living room," she said. It was time to switch off of her feet, anyway. She had little to no idea when it came to what to name the girl, but it desperately needed done. She wondered for a moment if this lack of wanting to come up with a name was a sign of her future relationship with her daughter, but quickly banished that thought from her mind and turned to go to the living room.

[Rowan Trace]

Rowan was only absent a brief time. He knew precisely where he'd set the book, but flipped through it first to deal with any notes he may have made in the margins. He collected a notebook and quill as well, then went to seat himself on the couch.

The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby was a fat little paperback with a photograph of a surprised-looking infant on the cover. He offered this to Shianni, unsure precisely how to begin.

"I suppose we ought to look through, make a list of names we both like," he suggested.

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni nodded and took the book, holding it up to see easily even as she leaned back into the cushions. There were names that were so common, things she would hear down any street. "You know, perhaps families name after family members to avoid having to dig through these," she mused, turning pages. She paused every so often, but nothing caught her eye.

[Rowan Trace]

"Perhaps," Rowan agreed. "I avoided the letters R, S, and T to minimize confusion. If we consider initials that could narrow things down. She sent numerous suggestions, that I search only English names, that I avoid one-syllable names, as they could sound choppy. I nearly owled her back to ask she name the child herself." Why did his father's wives always seem to jump in as though they'd known him all his life?

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni smiled and glanced toward Rowan at that bit of information. "At least she is not wanting to come visit like my mother does," she said. "I would truthfully prefer my mother have a little as possible to do with raising her. I have always liked Adrianna," she added, hovering on a page for a moment before turning to the next.

[Rowan Trace]

Rowan pointed out some of those he'd highlighted as they went through.

Adriana
Allegra
Alessandra
Aria

Carina

Daniella

Elaine
Eliana
Elena
Emma
Eva
Evelyn

Giselle

Isabelle
Isis

Lauren
Liliana

Natalia

Phoebe

Sarina

Valeria
Victoria
Viviana

Willow

[Shianni Veridian Trace]

Shianni quite liked many of the names, but some had to be thrown out simply because they were already owned by friends or family members. She marked through the ones that would not work due to pure dislike or relation to people she knew.

Sept 29, 2012 21:42:38 GMT -5 Rowan Trace said:

Adriana
Aria

Carina

Eliana
Eva
Evelyn

Isis

Liliana

Natalia

Phoebe

Sarina

Valeria
Victoria
Viviana

Willow