Too Big A Commitment

Couple: JuliusxLaelia

Fandom: Night At The Museum

…

Julius gently put his hand on his kneeling cousin's shoulder. "Octavius, are you going to be okay for the night?" he asked gently. "It's just that…I need to speak to Laelia."

Octavius continued staring down at the grave in front of him with hollow eyes and said nothing.

Julius's heart broke for his cousin. Centurion Marcus had been one of Octavius's best friends, most loyal allies, most trusted confidantes…for YEARS. Julius wrinkled his nose in disgust at the mere thought of the man who had taken that away from Octavius: Petronius.

"Octavius, I-."

"Hestia," Octavius said, speaking for the first time since Marcus's funeral.

Julius turned back to his cousin. "What?"

Octavius lifted his gaze slowly and looked in the direction of Athena, who was holding the baby girl in her arms. "Hestia," Octavius repeated. "She has nobody now."

"Why don't-?" Julius stopped himself just before he asked why Octavius couldn't look after Hestia himself. The answer became obvious to him. "You want me and Laelia to raise her?"

"Marcus trusted me with her," Octavius whispered. "But…I will only let him down. Hestia needs parents with a stable relationship to raise her."

"I'll…have to ask Laelia," Julius began. "But I am all for it. I do not wish to leave the poor girl without parents. I am willing to raise her."

Octavius didn't reply, so Julius squeezed the general's shoulder one last time and walked away. He didn't entirely know where Laelia would be, but he decided to start at the bar in which she performed. He thought it was the best bet. And sure enough, that was where he found her. As he hobbled into the bar, he spotted her on the stage, singing a romantic ballad. He felt himself fall in love with her all over again, from her enchanting voice to the beautiful long white dress she was wearing.

He stood at the back of the bar and listened to her entire song, after which she caught sight of Julius and walked off the stage, ignoring all the men who called her name or tried to kiss her hand. That was another thing Julius loved about Laelia: many men desired her, but she never led them on or even glanced at them in a non-casual way.

Julius limped outside to wait for Laelia, so that they could talk more privately. Soon, she emerged from the bar, undoing the pin in her long, blonde hair, so that it was freed from its tight bun and flowed freely. "Hello, Julius." She was smiling sadly. "Was the funeral all right?"

"As all right as a funeral can be," sighed Julius. "Lae…I need to ask you something."

Laelia frowned. "Should I be worried?"

Julius's lack of an immediate reply did worry Laelia. She clasped her hands over her heart. "Julius…?"

"Centurion Marcus had a child," Julius said, deciding to simply get on with it. "Octavius wants to ask us to raise it."

Laelia inhaled sharply. "A…child…?"

"A girl, barely a year old." Julius gazed pleadingly at his wife, the love of his life. "Lae?"

"Julius…" Laelia hesitated. "I…we are not ready."

Julius blinked. "What…?"

"We are newlyweds," Laelia said regretfully. "We only became married two months ago."

"But we can't just leave her," Julius protested pleadingly.

"Julius, I am proud that your heart is kind…" Laelia sighed. "But I fear we are just not ready for a child."

"Laelia, she has no one." Julius was desperate for his wife to understand exactly what position baby Hestia was in. "Marcus is gone. She needs someone to raise her."

"Let Octavius do it," suggested Laelia. "He and Athena want children."

"They cannot, Laelia. Octavius is heartbroken at losing Marcus. Hestia will just give him sad memories."

Laelia exhaled deeply and tilted her head back, looking up at the sky.

"You know it would be cruel to make Hestia live with parents who only see her as a reminder of a deceased friend," Julius pressed.

"I…I just…" Laelia closed her eyes to try and prevent herself from beginning to cry at her predicament. "I just think it is too big a commitment, Julius. I'm sorry."

Julius felt his heart twist. He was failing Octavius already. How could he make Laelia raise a child when she clearly didn't want to? That would be just as harsh as the scenario he himself had painted earlier.

"C-can you at least meet Hestia before you make a final decision?" Julius begged. "Please?"

"Julius, it…it probably won't change anything," Laelia whispered.

"Please humour me," Julius pleaded. "Please come."

Laelia bit her lip. "Julius-."

"You know how you didn't get me a wedding present? Consider this a present from you to me."

Laelia sighed and attempted a smirk. "You said it was fine that I forgot to get you a wedding present."

"And I also said I would use that fact against you at some point in the future," Julius countered, also smirking weakly. "I wasn't joking."

Laelia hesitated for a moment longer, before nodding reluctantly. "Okay. I'll meet Hestia."

Julius leaned in and kissed her gently. "Thank you," he said quietly.

He took his wife's hand and led her over to Marcus's grave. Octavius was still in the exact same spot, but now Athena was beside him, still holding baby Hestia in her arms. Julius tapped her on the shoulder. "Athena."

The medic turned and smiled as she registered who was behind her. "Hello, Julius. Octavius told me you were considering raising Hestia."

Julius glanced at Laelia, hoping she wouldn't be frightened off by this. "For the moment, I am simply introducing Laelia to Hestia."

Athena turned her smile to Laelia and stood up. "Would you like to hold her?"

Laelia looked unsure, but before she could reply, Athena held out baby Hestia to her. Laelia hesitantly reached out and took the child from Athena. Julius went to stand next to his wife, also looking at the baby, but mostly to keep a caring eye on Laelia.

The singer was gazing down at baby Hestia, who looked like she was asleep. As Laelia watched, Hestia slowly opened her eyes and focused on Laelia's face. The baby's face broke into an adorable grin. Laelia felt her heart melt as she gazed upon the small girl in her arms.

"You're gorgeous," she cooed in a whisper.

"Blaba," babbled Hestia, waving her arms.

"She's saying hello," Athena smiled.

"Hello, Hestia," whispered Laelia.

As Laelia stroked Hestia's cheek with her finger, the baby girl reached out and grabbed the finger, sticking it in her mouth. "That's not food, that's my finger," Laelia giggled.

"She really does need a proper mother," Athena said quietly.

Laelia's smile fell as her eyes dropped back down to the innocent baby in her arms. Hestia cooed and reached up with her little hands, patting Laelia's chin, which was the only part of Laelia she could reach. "How can I leave you…?" Laelia whispered. "You need a mother…"

Julius smiled and put his arm over Laelia's shoulder. Observing them, Athena realised something. "You look like a real family," she said kindly. "If that helps make up your mind."

"I am convinced," Julius said, glancing at Laelia. "Lae?"

Laelia paused for a couple of minutes, thinking hard. A baby was a massive commitment, but Laelia really didn't see how she could leave little Hestia alone. Besides, it wasn't as if she was going to raise the baby all on her own. Julius would share equal responsibility, and she held no doubt that Octavius and Athena would help out too.

"Yes," Laelia whispered. "We will raise her."

Octavius immediately pushed himself to his feet and hugged her, being mindful of baby Hestia in her arms. "Thank you," he said hoarsely. "You…don't know what this means to me."

Laelia smiled and glanced at Julius. "Well, I've always wanted to be a mother."

…

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