Epilogue

epilogue

REBECCA

" O h God," Rebecca whispered. It wasn't a sexy ‘Oh God', but ‘Oh my fucking God, I can't believe what I'm seeing' type of Oh God.

Positive.

The nine pregnancy tests in her hand were all positive.

"Oh God."

The last time she'd had a positive test, it had led to a miscarriage and heartbreak. Could she even trust what she saw? Were her eyes playing a trick on her? Had she simply wanted this so fucking much that she'd turned negative tests into a positive ones?

Only one thing to do. "Alex?"

She gestured to the tests on the counter, and he stepped forward. He picked up each one carefully, preciously, and looked at them. His face relaxed into disbelief, his mouth slightly open, then his features transformed into a beaming smile. "Darling."

He pulled her into his arms. God, how she loved these arms. Loved the warmth of them, the strength of them, the comfort of them, and even the possessive way they held her now.

She spoke so low that it was nearly a whisper. "They're positive, right? I'm not imagining it? It's really true?"

He chuckled. "Yes, my doubting darling. They're positive."

"We should still have the doctor check. Just to be sure."

"All right." He hugged her tighter for a moment, then pulled back slightly and glanced at her face. "Try to believe it though."

"I'm afraid to," she whispered, the sound seeming louder in their expansive bathroom. Marble countertops, heated floors, gilding and light gold accents here and there, adding to the splendor. Yet being a royal—or a non-royal turned royal by marriage like her—didn't help her be any less terrified and hopeful and anxious and loving than anyone else in this situation.

"If I am…you know."

"Pregnant. Say it."

She rubbed her lips together for a moment, then spoke, her breath hitching slightly. "If I-I am…pregnant. Oh." She let out a loud breath, as if she'd just put down a large weight she carried. "That could affect everything. You have so many trips planned and?—"

He cupped her cheek. "We'll figure it out. I'm not worried in the least."

She shook her head. "But you can't. You're the king now. It's different. You need?—"

"I need to take care of my wife and our child. Our people will understand. My parents and siblings will also understand, and be happy to help in any way they can. There are several ways to do this, so you needn't stress about it."

She nodded but still wasn't convinced. Maybe she couldn't be happy about it until the doctor confirmed and they made it past the first trimester. Maybe even then she would worry. She hoped this pregnancy would last, though she knew there were no guarantees.

"What if it all goes wrong again?" she whispered, her voice even lower now so she was basically mouthing it .

"Don't think like that."

"I can't help it." She put her hands over her womb, her brows furrowed in distress. It should be a happy time, and she was happy, but she still couldn't stop worrying about ‘what ifs' and how she'd cope if they came true.

"Let's take things one step at a time, one day at a time, one minute at a time. Let's not think any further than that for right now. Okay?"

She nodded and took a deep breath in and slowly let it out, and her anxiety eased a little.

"You know what I'm wondering," he said, as if trying to distract her from dark thoughts. "When it happened."

"Wh-what?"

"I wonder which time I fucked you caused this little miracle."

She blushed even though they were alone. "Alex!"

He shifted his hands to her back and rubbed gently. "Was it during the coronation weekend? Maybe our honeymoon?"

Though they hadn't gotten to take the vacation he'd planned right after the U.S. state visit, he'd arranged another vacation prior to the coronation.

"I'm not sure. Maybe the doctor can tell us." She paused. "Alex?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Is it real? Really, real?"

"Yes, my darling." He shifted a hand to rest just below her belly button. "It's real."

He kissed her long and slow on her tear-stained lips. "I love you, darling."

"I love you, Alex."

Standing in their decadent bathroom, in their own little world, they remained wrapped in each other's arms, letting the moment sink in forever.

THE END

Want to read a bonus scene featuring Alex & Rebecca telling the rest of the royals their news over a chaotic family dinner? Get it here: https://geni.us/CrownedBonus

Alexander & Rebecca will appear in more stories in the future! In the meantime, check out their initial love story in Royals #1 , their wedding in Royally Ever After , or their early married life in Permanently Princess .