Katharina

 

“This doesn’t fit!” I whined loudly. “None of my clothes fit!”

 

Jace laughed. “You look great, baby,” he said, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “You look stunning.”

 

My eyes welled up with tears of frustration as I tried to yank the zipper up my last—and most forgiving—dress. Jace and I were on honeymoon in Spain, and I was pregnant. Six months, to be precise.

 

“Second trimester is an excellent time for a honeymoon,” the doctor had praised me. “You’re past feeling tired all the time and your energy should be close to normal levels. Plus, you won’t have a giant belly yet!”

 

Stupid me. I’d believed her, and then we’d booked this trip. When we first got to the airport, they didn’t even want to let me on the plane because the gate agent thought I was a few more months pregnant than I actually was. Jace had to get my doctor on the phone, much to my embarrassment. After that, I thought it would be smooth sailing all the way. But my clothes weren’t fitting, and we had tickets to the opera.

 

“Jace, I’m so upset,” I whined, sniffling hard. “This sucks! And everything makes me want to cry!”

 

Jace pulled me into his arms and nuzzled my neck tenderly. “You’re beautiful,” he said slowly. “And I won’t ever let you forget it.”

 

I blushed hotly. “You’d better let me forget it when I’m on the delivery table and pooping because I’m trying to push so hard,” I said softly, glancing down.

 

Jace laughed out loud and I blushed even harder. “I won’t look,” Jace promised. “And you’ll be just as beautiful as ever. I know you will.”

 

Frowning, I tried once more to tug the zipper up my back. It wouldn’t bulge—the fabric split away from my sides like I’d grown a mountain in only a few months.

 

“I hate this,” I muttered, flopping down on the bed. “Our last night in Spain and I can’t even get my dress on! What am I supposed to wear to the airport?”

 

Jace chuckled. “Baby, we’ll find you some new clothes,” he said tenderly. “I promise.”

 

I sighed and stared out the window. We had a gorgeous view of the heart of historic Seville and I felt my breath catch and my heart jump every time we looked outdoors. In the year since the incident, things had finally calmed down to a normal that didn’t include bloodshed and stalking.

 

Jace, Kenny, and the other guys opened a garage run by The Silent Havoc. It was only a matter of time before they had a ton of loyal customers, and Jace was doing better financially than ever before.

 

I’d tried to insist on getting a job but Jace wouldn’t allow me to, especially not in my condition. “It’s unseemly,” Jace had said when I was starting to show. “I don’t want people thinking that my wife is struggling and has to work for her own money.”

 

Part of me loved how protective Jace was. Now that I was used to living with him and we were happy, I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever chafed under him. But that was back when things were different, when I was unhappy and scared all the time.

 

I’d come to terms with Troy’s death. After a few months, the nightmares subsided and I started dreaming again like normal. I believed Jace had truly done the right thing—if he hadn’t killed Troy, Troy would abuse other women for sure. It was in his blood, his DNA, like something that he couldn’t ever get away from. Part of me still felt sad. I would have liked for Troy to be able to turn his life around, but I wasn’t sure it ever would have happened.

 

Margot was in a federal prison. She’d been sentenced to life for killing my father. I hadn’t gone to the trial; fortunately, I hadn’t had to testify against her. Jace had, though, and I knew it had been one of the hardest days of his life. When he’d gotten home, I’d cooked dinner and given him the most intense blowjob he’d ever had in his life. That was the first night that I really felt like everything was going to be okay for us. I didn’t like to think about the possibility of her getting parole—what if she came after me, or worse, our baby? But Jace promised he would always protect me, and I knew he was telling the truth.

 

“Baby, I hate to rush you,” Jace began. “But we’re running late if we want to make that show.”

 

I pouted and tugged my dress off. “It won’t fit,” I said softly. “I can’t go. The only thing that fits me right now are these,” I added, pointing towards my jeans.

 

Jace laughed. “I have another idea,” he said. “What about we just stay in the room and get tons of room service? Wouldn’t you like that?”

 

I nodded happily. “Yeah,” I admitted. My stomach rumbled. “I’m starving.”

 

Jace grinned. “It’s because you’re eating for two,” he said happily. A proud light shone in his eyes. “I can’t wait to be a father,” he added. “You’re going to be a great mom.”

 

“There’s one thing I wanted to run by you,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around Jace’s waist and pulling him close. “I want to name the baby Matthias if it’s a boy, and Kristina if it’s a girl.”

 

Jace grinned. “I love it,” he said. “And I love you.”

 

I melted. “I love you, too,” I replied. Finally, I was home.

 

 

THE END

 

 

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