Zella gave him a weird look. Why was he so dang excited? "We're?"
"You're-you're." Zeph quickly corrected himself. "You're having twins? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He gestured out to her. "That's great news."
"Yeah, I'm having twins. One boy and one girl, in a freaking one night stand." Zella's brow furrowed. "It's obvious the guy had pure lineage. Chances of twins without pure lineage is about a third." She stopped eating and felt water works threaten to release from her eyes. "Iri and Muin's wrong, the guy obviously knows, there's no doubt in my mind."
I should have known that, I'm supposed to know everything about females. Zeph cleared his throat, feeling out of his league. In all his training, he should have been able to remember such a minor fact. How did Zella remember that when he couldn't? "Are you positive?"
"Yes, it was hiding last time when they checked in," Zella said softly.
"Well, what about names then? Carressela and what?" Zeph had to ask.
"Well, before I knew it was a girl, Xiam and Muin recommended some." Zella began eating again. "Oogi of course you knew. Igella, Lenvopovic, and Jimbia. What's with that look?"
"No way, there's no way it's going to be Igella or Jimbovich. You can't give him a name like that." Zeph was beside himself. "Come on, the kid is going to get picked on for the rest of time if you do that. Trust me, you need a yr at the end."
Zella shrugged her shoulders. "I think they're good names, except maybe Jimbovich. Igoma instead of Igella might be nice. Or Enigovich? I don't mind those so much. What do you want, Jimbavich?"
Zeph tapped his foot on the ground. "Jimbavich?" This can't be happenin'. My kid is going to be called Jimbavich? I don't think so. "Isn't there anything else you like?"
"I don't know," Zella confessed. "I like Tigyr too, but it might not fit."
"Are you kidding? It'll be a perfect fit." Zeph held up his hands. "Carress, Tigyr. They go together, don't they?"
Zella shrugged her shoulders. "Jimba, Carress. Carress, Jimba." She stuck out her tongue. "That doesn't sound so good," She poked at her food. "Enig. Carress. Carress. Enig." She took another bite. "That doesn't sound so bad."
"That doesn't sound so good either," Zeph huffed his opinion.
Zella groaned, "Zeph, I said you could recommend names. Anyone can recommend names, all right? I never said I would obey any names."
Zeph looked down at his plate and poked at his own food. "Jimba or Enig is stupid." He grumbled. "It won't fit him."
"Who says something like Tigyr will?" Zella rolled her eyes. "I haven't knocked any names out, but stop it," she said as she stood up. Right before leaving, she left some parting words. "Like Muin said, they aren't your jurisdiction."
Zeph picked at his food again. Not my jurisdiction. He bitterly ate his food. To her he may be going overboard, but he had every right to choose too. They were his. He stood up and went to the living room where Zella was watching TV "What are your highest options then?"
Zella groaned. "I don't know. Jimbovich or Enigovich I guess."
"You're not even considering Tigyr?" Zeph frowned, "all because of what Xiam said?"
Zella stared at the TV "I don't know if Tigyr will fit and I don't think I like it."
"How come?" Zeph continued.
"Why won't you drop it?" Zella groaned. "They aren't yours, they are mine. After they are born you're out of here, I'm the one who will be mothering them."
Oh great, I knew it was coming. Zeph ignored it for now. "You didn't answer the question though."
"I don't want to name it Tigyr because…it will fit." Zella finally admitted it. "His father was not a pushover, and he even deceived me into thinking he was a Guard. He knew the game, he knew how to prowl, be adventurous and dangerous. I don't want to be reminded of my mistake every time I call his name."
Zeph could see the shiny specks of tears she was trying to hold back in her eyes. He looked down at the ground, he couldn't win this one. "You can do better than Jimba or Enig." He finally spoke. "Come up with a list of a hundred names and choose something you want then."
Zella slowly looked back over at him. "You'll stop pursuing the name then?"
"Sure, I didn't come up with it to make you upset," Zeph said softly. "Heck, I wasn't even thinking about the situation, I just…"
"Just what?" Zella pressed. "Zeph?"
Zeph took a deep breath. Great, he was stuck. "It's...if I ever had a kid, that's probably what I would name it."
Zella looked at him in surprise. "If you had one?"
"Most likely I never will," Zeph added with haste. "I mean heck, I'll probably be a Guard until the day I die, but even I'm not immune to thoughts of family or anything."
Zella slowly began to grin. "I think I understand." She smiled brightly and gave a light chuckle. "Tigyr. Carress. Carress. Tigyr. You're right, it sounds like a great pairing."
"Huh?" Zeph looked over at Zella. "But I thought-"
"Oh, every time I call his name, I won't think about that anymore." Zella looked over at Zeph. "I'll remember the Guard who helped pull me through instead." She looked down at her hands. "I couldn't imagine having to go through this all alone. You've always been there every step of the way." She rubbed her tummy affectionately. "Having a name you picked will really be helpful when times get rough and you're not here anymore."
A pang of his conscience hit him again, but he tried to ignore it. "Well, I'm here now so don't fret." He tried to laugh to sound happy but felt even lonelier inside. Having a name he picked out, helpful for the rough times? He couldn't help but picture a gloomy future he was not a part of.
To tell or not to tell, his time was coming closer...