"Are you coming to wave the Arridians off?" Emmy asked Aarah. She shook her head.

"I'm alright. I've seen all the Arridians I want for a life time." She said. Emmy smiled.

"Alright. I think Tristan is staying behind also, I'll have him come give you company." Aarah thanked her with a nod of the head and Emmy continued out the door. Once the Arridians caught whiff that Tristan had killed their Wakir they retreated, making plans to head back to Arridia. Before they left however, Erak forced them to sign a peace treaty, stating they'd never return. They left in peace, and the Skandias waved them off from the shore line.

   Aarah laid on her bed, staring at the roof when she heard the door open. Lynn and MJ had both gone with the other Skandians, so she was curious to see who would be at the door. Tristan stepped through the threshold, giving her a small smile, that showed the dimples in his cheeks.

"Emmy mentioned you in need of company." He said shyly. She smiled.

"It would be nice." She admitted. His smile grew, and he sat down on Lynn's cot.

"Are you planning on living in Hallasholm?" He asked. She could hear the sense of hope in his tone.

"Yes. Willy's mother has offered to care for me until I find a place of my own." She stated.

"So you'd like to make a permanent residence here?" He asked. She nodded happily.

"Yes. I just hope people can accept me." She mumbled.

"Well why wouldn't they? We have plenty of people who live here who aren't Skandian. Willy's mam, for instance." He said. She smiled. It wasn't exactly what she meant. She wasn't worried about her ancestry, more of her future with her child.

"Thank you, Tristan." She smiled at him. Maybe things would be alright.

***

(Four months later)

"Aarah, please open the door." She heard Tristan ask. His voice was so sincere she couldn't resist opening the door. The wood was fresh since Jepser and Willy had finished building their new house merely two months before. They added on an extra room for Aarah since she would need it for when the baby came.

"Tristan, just leave me alone, please." She begged. His blonde hair was swept to the side, and his cheeks were flushed from running.

"No. I've already told you to quit hiding, Aarah. Some people may look at you differently because you're pregnant, but I don't." He said. She dropped her gaze to her large impregnated belly. Edvin told her the baby could come any day. When Hallasholm discovered her pregnancy, she hid for days, and only come back out into the public by the coaxing of her friends, but mainly Tristan. Aarah hated how he was looked at differently around the town for being around her. She didn't want to ruin his life because she enjoyed his company.

"Tristan, just forget about me. We can't be friends, because my baby will be here soon, and I don't like the way people talk about you." She said. He rolled his eyes.

"Aarah, I don't care what other people say. I'm not leaving you. I've spent the past four months getting to know you because I want to, not because I'm being kind." He took his hand in hers, and she once again dropped her gaze, avoiding his as much as possible. "I told you I love you, Aarah, and I mean it. No people in Hallasholm can tell me otherwise. And I don't care that you are going to be a single mother. I will love your baby like my own." He promised. She felt tears well up in her eyes at his words. The first time he told her he loved her was only a few hours before, and she couldn't say the same back. She was too scared that she'd ruin his life.

"Tristan..." He placed his index finger over her lips to stop her from speaking.

"If you say one more thing about you ruining my life, I'll go get Aunt Abby." He threatened. She grinned slightly.

"Why me? Why would you love me when I'm not Skandian, and I'm pregnant?" She asked, her in barely a whisper.

"Because I do. Now shut up." Before she could say anything else, he pressed his lips to hers.

***

   That evening, Tristan was awoken by a sudden pounding on the door. He trudged to the door and opened the latch to reveal Willy, his hair tousled from sleep.

"Aarah went into Labour several hours ago. Uncle Edvin said the baby is really close. Aarah is asking for you." He explained quickly. Tristan didn't even think a moment longer. He grabbed her boots and her jerkin and followed Willy to their house. It took all of his might not to run to the door. The house was brightly lit, and Aarah's door was the only door shut. Jesper, Emmy, MJ, Lynn, Hal, and Lydia all stood anxiously awaiting for Abby and Edvin to come out and tell them any news.

"How is she?" Willy asked Emmy.

"Any minute now." She said nervously. Tristans heart ached as he heard Aarah let out a cry of pain. She didn't deserve that much pain. After five more gruelling minutes, the shrieks of a new born baby could be heard, penetrating through the wooden door. Another five minutes later, Abby opened the door, coming into the room with a wide grin, holding a little bundle of blanket.

"It's a boy." She said. Before everyone could crowd around her to get a good look at the newest member of their family, Abby carefully placed the new born in Tristans arms. "Aarah may have mentioned how you want to treat him like he's your own. Might as well start off right. Congratulations, Tristan. You're a father." Everyone else in the room looked confused, But Tristan didn't care. He was too mesmerized by the infant in his arms. His hair was a dark black, just like his mother, and his skin was already showing the signs of a dark skin tone.

"He's beautiful." Emmy and Lynn hovered over his shoulder, trying to get a good glimpse at him.

"Can I speak with Aarah?" He asked Abby. She nodded and Tristan stepped through the door. Aarah laid on her bed with some of her hair covered in sweat. She looked exhausted. She gave him a feint smile as he came over to her and knelt beside her bed, so she could see the baby.

"You're not mad?" Aarah asked. He smiled.

"Aarah, I am his father now. I want to be. Just like Jackson never existed. And for everyone's sake, let's keep it that way." She nodded gratefully. "What do you want to name him?" She thought for a moment, staring at her baby's face for the longest time.

"Shaz. It was my father's name." She said.

"That's perfect. Shaz it is." Tristan grinned. He leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. It was the most perfect moment in his entire life.

***

Okay, so I thought a chapter of Tristan and Aarah would be adorable! I always planned on the two of them together, just needed to think of a way to get there, like usual. I hoped you liked it. Personally, this is one of my favourite chapters so far! Please comment and vote!

~Avis