I collapse onto him, my head falling to his chest. My emotions stream out of me as I sob into his chest, many I didn’t realize I was having at all. There’s the release of fear—I was sure I was going to lose him. Joy at knowing he’s alive. But there’s something else, too. Anger, I think. Andrew has been so secretive these past months, so closed off. Part of me knows he’s been going through the same things I have—especially the underlying terror of something happening to the baby—and he’s been trying to keep it from me.

But he’s alive, and that’s all that really matters now.

The physician rushes into the room with a nurse, and I’m shooed out of the way as they hover over my husband again.

“Your Highness?” The doctor takes Andrew by the shoulders, giving him a good shake.

Andrew groans in response.

The physician looks over at me, giving me a nod. “This is a good sign. The best we’ve had all night. He should be waking up any moment now.”

I let out a choked sob of relief.

“I’m going to run a few more tests. We’ll have more answers in a few hours.”

I’m barely listening to her. As soon as she leaves the room, I go back over to my husband, sitting beside him again on his bed.

He still hasn’t opened his eyes, but his hand reaches for me.

I take it, curling my fingers around his. “Andrew. Andrew, you need to wake up.”

He groans again, his eyes beginning to flutter.

“Open your eyes, Andrew. Please. Please just look at me.”

He lets out another groan before he does as I ask, his eyes slowly blinking open.

I can’t help but smile. “Don’t do that again.”

He stares at me for a few moments, a smile coming to his lips. He reaches for my belly. “It’s a girl.”

My grin widens. “Did you have a vision or something while you were out?” I shake my head. “What happened?”

“I…I don’t know.” His brow furrows, almost as though he’s in pain. “Everything…everything went white.”

“Are you in pain? Your chest? Is it your heart?”

He doesn’t answer, stroking my belly instead, and the baby kicks his hand in response. Andrew’s gaze snaps to mine. “I think our daughter already likes me.”

“Well, of course she does. You’ve been talking to her for the past seven months.” I blink at him a few times. “It feels strange to call it her. But I guess there’s a fifty-fifty chance—”

He shakes his head. “It’s a one-hundred percent chance. I’m telling you. I already know.” He releases my hand, turning over to lift himself onto his elbow. “And she’s beautiful, just like her mother.”

I shake my head as I cover his hand with mine. “I really hoped it would be a boy. I…I want to give you a son. I know how important it is to you—”

“My family is what’s important to me.” He turns his hand over, lacing his fingers through mine. “That’s the only thing that’s important to me.”

The doctor walks back in, looking between the two of us. “Welcome back, Your Highness.”

Andrew chuckles, turning to lean back onto the pillow. “How long was I out?”

“A few hours.” She glances at me before looking back at him. “I must ask, when was the last time you slept?”

“Slept?” He gives a small shrug. “I slept for a time tonight—”

She interrupts with a shake of her head. “I mean really slept. For more than an hour or two.”

“I have duties. Pressing issues—”

“You realize there is a family history of heart disease, no?” She shakes her head at him. “Your heart rate is irregular. Your blood pressure is through the roof, even though you were unconscious.” She clucks her tongue. “I’m going to guess it’s been months since you’ve slept. Your blood chemistries were mostly normal, so the only explanation for what’s happened is that you are completely sleep deprived.”

He sighs. “Unfortunately, sleep is a luxury I cannot afford at the moment—”

“Sleep is not a luxury, Your Highness. Whether you like it or not.” She glances over at me again, arching her eyebrow before her gaze turns back to my husband. “You have many responsibilities now, no?”

“Very many—”

“And if you’d like to live to take care of your responsibilities, you need sleep. Regularly. I can guarantee you’re going to have a heart attack of your own if you don’t. Just like your father did last year.”

He shakes his head, blinking first at the doctor then sliding his gaze to mine. “I do sleep. When I can—”

“I’m going to give you some medication. You’re going to stay in the hospital until your heart rate and your blood pressure drop to a normal level. And if that means you sleep for three days straight—”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to refuse, Doctor.”

“You better not refuse anything, Andrew.” My gaze narrows. “If you love me—if you love our baby—the way you say you do, you’ll do exactly as she says.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” The doctor smiles at me. “And as for you, you’ll be getting that hydration we tried to give you back at the palace before you tore the IV from your arm.”

“Oh.” I glance down at my arm where there’s still some dried blood caked on my skin. “Happily.”

“Good. I’m glad we’re all in agreement.”

“I haven’t agreed to anything…” Andrew shakes his head, falling fully back onto his pillow. He lets out a long sigh. “Fine. I agree. But if anything should happen to Victoria, I want to be awakened immediately.”

“Of course.” The doctor smiles. “We’ll have another bed brought in the room. And the two of you need to say goodnight.”

“Is that really necessary? Being in separate beds?” Andrew eyes the doctor, then looks over at me with a smile. “I think I would like to share a bed with my wife, if no one would mind.”

The doctor shakes her head, but she still smiles. “You drive a hard bargain, Your Highness.” She looks over at me. “If your wife agrees—”

“I agree.” No one has to ask me twice—I want nothing more than to be held by my husband. I slide into bed with Andrew, and he wraps his arms around me as my back presses to his chest.

The doctor chuckles. “This is highly irregular. But I suppose I’d rather have two happy patients than two miserable ones..”

Andrew pulls me closer, nuzzling into my neck. “I promise, Doctor. Nothing makes me happier than being close to my wife.”

I close my eyes for a moment. Even though this isn’t the way I expected to spend this night, I have to admit that nothing makes me happier than being close to my husband. Nothing.