The last two welcome the new one.

[palace-craig.livejournal.com]

Craig sat down with a sigh. "Okay, I'll admit I had fun. And yeah maybe I should get out of Palace some more. But don't be coming to me whenever you have the urge to. I got a job to do. You get Jared for that if you have to."

Anna rolled her eyes. "Not like we're going off joining the circus, Craig. Just a mini vacation once in a while." She snorted. "And nice about the job. I'm working on getting one too."

"I didn't mean it like that, sweetheart and you know it. And for that, you're paying for brunch."

Marton paused in the doorway, conscious of the glances he was getting from the patrons, but not caring in the slightest. He spotted his children and with a nod in their direction to Vin, headed toward them. Stopping behind Anna's chair he bend over and kissed the top of her head, shifting the sleeping bundle he was carrying out of the way. "Morning, sunshine." he grinned, sparing another smile for Craig. "Couldn't persuade cook to do a second round, huh?"

"I knew better than to even try. We just came straight here. Join us?" Craig started to move his things out of one of the chairs, than frowned as he looked back up.

"Love to." He shifted sideways so Anna could see him and grinned down at her in a cheeky fashion. "Here." he said. "Hold your sister while I help Craig move this stuff."

Anna's mouth fell open as she looked at Marton, her eyes getting big as the bundle was handed to her. "Sister? SISTER?"

"When the hell did that happen? A girl? How...I mean I know how, but how....what!" Craig was dumbfounded.

"Close your mouth, honey." Marton advised, although she was not gaping. He put Ariene into Anna's unresisting arms, made sure she had hold of her properly and took the seat which Craig had just finished cleaning. He gave his son a meaningful look. "Glad to hear it." he told him seriously. "I'd hate to think your education, which I paid so much for, was so sadly lacking." Then his face softened and he smiled at both of them. "Ariene made her appearance late yesterday afternoon." he said.

Mark and Michael looked over from their table as they heard their charges's voices raise. The shared look of surprise changed to smiles as they clinked their glasses in salute.

"Ariene." Anna smiled as she looked down at the baby. "I like that." She lightly touched her face. "Is it wrong to say I think she's prettier than Gwyn's girls?"

"Ariene. That's Grandmother's name, isn't it?" Craig moved his chair closer to Anna to look over her shoulder. "She's beautiful, Father." He turned with his hand stretched out. "So, does the littlest one have the longest name? And god how long as it been since Calera had its own born princess?"

"Of course not." Marton's grin got even wider, if that were even possible. "We're biased, it's completely excusable." Reaching over to pick up Anna's hand, he took her forefinger and offered it for Ariene's grip, the tiny fingers seizing on fiercely. He sat back and looked at Craig. "Ariene Angelina Sinclair Csokas." he said. "And it's been a good thousand years or more. We tend toward boys, it seems."

Anna giggled as she moved her finger, watching how Ariene kept tight hold of it. "Angelina? Where's that from? And Sin-" She looked up at Marton in surprise. “Sinclair Sinclair?"

"Our own Sinclair?" Craig chuckled. "Can this family handle two of them? You have to tell us what his face looked like when you told him."

"It was a picture." he admitted. "I chose Angelina after her mother and Harry's name because, well, believe it or not, he delivered her." Laughing at their astonished looks, he went on to explain what had happened.

"Ooohhhh, the fun I get to have with him now." Anna laughed, than froze as Ariene started and showed signs of starting to cry. "Here, Craig. Your turn." She quickly passed her off.

"That I would have loved to have seen. He'll have nightmares I-hey." Craig glared at his sister as he gently bounced the baby. "You can hold a baby and that's it?"

"That's all they let me do. And then only til someone else's hands were free." Anna shrugged as she leaned over. "Gwyn didn't want me to rub off on the twins."

"Well, don't think you'll be getting off that easy here. Big sis is going to help out a lot more than auntie did."

"She'll have to fight her way to the front." Marton said dryly. "I woke up last night and there was Christian, Johnny, and Harry! I should install a ticket machine." he offered, calling out, "Next!" And then laughing.

As they passed by the table on their way to order their food, Mark and Michael stopped to look at the newest Royal. With a smile and a nod to Marton, they placed their order and sat back down.

"So there. Only sometimes." Anna batted her eyes at Craig. She looked back at Ariene. "You tell Mother and Gwyn yet? And who's the lucky shadow getting her?" She giggled. "Assuming you let her out of your sight long enough to need one."

"And when's the official announcement going to be? And we have to have a party."

"Heavens!" Marton held up his hands for a halt to the flow. "So many questions." He took a look at the baby and decided he had maybe a minute or so more before she started to get stroppy. "I called Catherine last night. She was delighted. Thought the bit about Harry in the back of the cab delivering the baby was hilarious. Gwyn, maybe not so much." He pulled a face. "And Angel's B.G. will transfer to Ariene." Marton frowned, trying to remember what else he'd been asked. "Oh yes. I'm having a birth announcement put in the paper tomorrow. Just in the regular list." He winked at both of them. "Feeling cheeky. Not in the mood for anything 'official', but if you want a party . . .” he let the idea settle and then grinned. "Then you have to buy presents!"

"Oh, I don't think you have anything to worry about there." Craig smiled. "I think this one is going to get more presents than she'll know what to do with."

Anna suddenly sat up, than turned to Marton. "You're not going to make her into another Gwyn, are you Father? I can have fun with her? Teach her how to get dirty and stuff?"

"Are you serious?" Marton exclaimed! "Of course she'll get dirty! She's already been booked for riding lessons and . . .” Ariene chose that moment to let her patience wear out and she let out a yell of indignation and hunger. "Umm, think that's our cue." Marton grinned, holding out his arms. "I didn't expect to be down here this long. Madame needs a feed and change."

Craig kissed his new sister, holding her out to Anna to do the same before handing her back to their father. "Congratulations, Father." He stood up to kiss Marton as well.

"Congratulations, Father." Anna copied her brother.

"I’ll see you both at dinner, yes?" Marton lay the squalling infant against his shoulder. "Assuming I get there, I'll see you both then." With Vin in tow, he left the cafe, a tiny indignantly-red face visible on his shoulder.