THE NEXT MORNING, Kenna was awake before Gunnar. This was such a strange phenomenon that she decided to surprise him with breakfast. Arriving downstairs, she put on a pot of coffee and pulled out everything she’d need for omelets. If she’d thought the kitchen in Reykjavík was a dream, then this one was a waking fantasy. For a man who didn’t cook, he certainly knew how to outfit a kitchen.

Elskan, where are you?

Kenna smiled as she cracked eggs into a bowl. Serving my man.

You should be resting.

Come and taste my omelets and then tell me that.

Gunnar walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, glorious in his pajama bottoms that sat low on his hips and a white singlet. Kenna stopped her whisking for a second to admire him. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

He smiled, walking around the island to kiss her. “Good morning.” He hunkered down in front of her and kissed her belly. “How’s our son?”

“He’s doing cartwheels right now because he knows you’re talking to hm.”

“Sit down, elskan.”

“I’m fine, love. I feel great.” She stroked his cheek. “Why don’t you pour the coffee? I’ve brewed a pot.”

“Then you’ll sit down?”

She giggled. “I’ll sit down when I’m done and leave the dishes to you.”

He rose to his feet and kissed her again. “I can live with that.”

“Good.”

Kenna hummed as she prepared omelets and bacon, along with fresh fruit she’d found in the fridge. Whoever had done the shopping had done a thorough job of stocking up on whatever they would need.

As soon as she’d slid Gunnar’s omelet onto his plate, he grabbed both plates. “You sit down. I’ll do the rest,” he ordered.

Kenna picked up the coffee mugs and smiled. “Thank you.”

He followed her to the large kitchen table and set a plate in front of her before gathering utensils and joining her. Kenna sipped her coffee as Gunnar took a bite and swallowed. “Ljúffengur, elskan.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Seconds later, Kenna felt pain in her abdomen and took a deep breath.

“Kenna?” Gunnar reached for her, but she shook her head.

“I’m okay, love. He’s just moving around.”

Gunnar stood and picked her up out of her seat. “What are you doing?” she squeaked, barely saving her coffee mug from shattering on the ground.

“You are going to rest and there will be no more making breakfast until after you have the baby.”

“Gunnar,” she admonished as he continued up the stairs with her. “This is all normal. I’m healthy, the baby’s healthy. You can’t lock me away because I feel like a beached whale right now.”

“I’m going to have Samantha come and check on you.”

“Gillian will be here in less than two hours, don’t bug Sam.”

He set her on the bed and frowned. “On your side, sweetheart. Like Sam said.”

She stretched out, reaching for his hand. “I’m okay, love.”

He linked his fingers with hers at the same time he pulled his phone out and put it to his ear. “Kaz, já, Kenna líður ekki vel. Gætirðu beðið Sam að koma, vinsamlegast? Fylgdu henni beint upp í svefnherbergið okkar? Já, þakka þér.” (Kenna’s not feeling well. Could you ask Sam to come please? Escort her straight to our bedroom? Yes. Thank you.)

Kenna closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. I really am okay, Gunnar.

“Humor me,” he said, and grabbed clothes to change into.

More pain rolled through her, but she tried not to react, however, that didn’t go so well for her.

“Ansans,” Gunnar hissed.

“I’m okay, I’m okay.”

“You’re not okay,” he accused, sitting beside her and laying his hand on her belly. “I can feel your pain.”

“That helps,” Kenna said, and licked her lips. “Keep doing that.”

A knock at the door brought Kade and Samantha.

“You’re not well, Kenna?” Samantha asked as she stepped to the bed.

“I’m fine. Just a little pain.”

“Okay, honey, let’s have you roll on your back,” Samantha directed. “Gunnar, can you move to the other side, please. Keep contact with her... it’ll help.”

Gunnar climbed over Kenna and helped her onto her back. The pain shot through her legs and back and she couldn’t stop a whimper.

“I’ve got you,” Gunnar whispered, kissing her fingers.

Samantha felt Kenna’s belly, then pulled out her stethoscope and listened before turning to Kade. “The baby’s heartbeat is slowing.”

“What does that mean?” Kenna demanded.

“It means if we can’t get him regulated, we’re going to need to get him out.”

“I’ll get supplies,” Kade said. “Be right back.”

“Thanks, baby,” Samantha said, and squeezed Kenna’s arm. “We’re going to get you undressed, okay? I think you’re going to have your baby today.”

“I can’t,” Kenna argued. “Everyone’s coming.”

“Kaspar will take care of your family, sweetheart,” Gunnar assured her as he helped her undress. “You focus on you and the baby.”

Kenna felt a rush of wet and cried out.

“It’s okay, honey,” Samantha crooned. “Your water broke. You’re definitely having this baby today. Gunnar, Kade is bringing ice sheets, so why don’t you lift her into the chair for a bit while I get this bedding off.”

Gunnar nodded and gently lifted Kenna off the bed, wrapping a blanket around her and carrying her to the chair by the bed. He settled her on his lap and she buried her face in his neck, trying to take deep breaths as the pain overtook her body.

“You’re having our baby, elskan,” he whispered, stroking her hair.

He’s early.

“I know, baby, but it’s going to be fine.”

She shook her head. He’s too early.

No, he’s right on time.

Kenna forced back tears as she focused on her breathing. “Everything hurts.”

“We’ll get you comfortable in just a minute,” Samantha promised. “Kade, grab that side, will you please?”

“Aye,” he answered.

Kenna hadn’t even heard the king return. She suddenly felt it difficult to breathe and gripped Gunnar’s arm as another wave of pain rocked her. “I can’t,” she rasped.

“Gunnar, let’s get her on the ice,” Samantha said. “She’ll feel better.”

Gunnar lifted her and gently laid her on the bed. Kenna felt the pain leave as the cold wrapped around her. “Thank you.”

“Let’s hear that baby.” Samantha laid the stethoscope diaphragm over Kenna’s belly and smiled. “Much better, Kenna. He’s way more comfortable. If you want to roll on your side, you might feel better.”

Kenna nodded and did as she suggested, sliding her hand into Gunnar’s. He faced her, laying his head on the pillow opposite hers. Sam pulled the top sheet over her for modesty and then she and Kade moved around the room, quietly prepping for the imminent arrival of the baby.

“I think his name has much more significance now,” Kenna whispered.

Gunnar chuckled. “Já. Styrr is most definitely a little warrior.”

Kenna smiled, closing her eyes. “I’m so tired.”

“Sleep, hon,” Samantha said, and laid her hand on Kenna’s arm. “He’ll wake you when he’s ready to come.”

* * *

Gunnar waited for Kenna to fall asleep before sitting up. “Is she okay? Is the baby?”

“Yes, Gunnar.” Samantha smiled. “She’s much better now that she’s cooler.” She checked her watch. “Gillian will be here in less than half an hour, so you’ve got one kickass OB and two other not so bad doctors on your side.”

“Speak for yourself,” Kade retorted.

Samantha giggled. “Okay, one kickass OB, a kickass general practitioner, and me.”

Kade frowned, but Samantha just patted his chest and smiled up at him. “You’re ridiculous,” she whispered.

He nodded. “So, you keep telling me.”

Gunnar watched his mate as she slept, his worry somewhat eased as Kade and Samantha prepped the room a little more. Gillian breezed in twenty minutes later, concern etched in the tightness of her features as she walked to the bed.

“Oh, she’s asleep. Good,” she said with a sigh. “That’s a good sign. Did one of you check her?”

Samantha shook her head. “Her water broke and shortly after she fell asleep, so we decided to wait.”

“I should check her now.”

“Can we let her sleep?” Gunnar asked.

Before Gillian could answer, Kenna came awake with a scream, grabbing for Gunnar as she cried out in pain.

“Kenna, love, it’s Gillie. Listen to my voice.” Gillian took her sister’s hand. “I need you to roll over. I’m going to check you, love.”

Kenna grasped Gunnar’s arm. “No, I can’t.”

“You can, elskan,” Gunnar crooned. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

Gillian pulled on gloves as Gunnar helped Kenna onto her back. He tried not to panic when he felt her pain seconds before she cried out again.

“Something’s wrong,” Kenna rasped.

Gillian laid one hand on her belly and checked her with the other. “The baby’s turned himself around, Kenna. We’re going to have to turn him the right way so he can come.” She glanced up at Samantha. “She’s fully dilated and effaced, we need to do this quickly.”

“We’re ready,” Samantha said.

The women turned the baby as gently as they could, but Gunnar thought he might lose his mind at the depths of Kenna’s pain. It knocked the wind out of him as he tried to take it from her.

“Ansans,” he hissed out as they pressed on Kenna’s stomach.

Kenna screamed, but then just as quickly as they’d started, they stopped, and Gillian nodded, smiling at her sister. “He’s good, love. He’s ready to come, so when a contraction hits, push.”

“Drugs. I want drugs.”

“It’s too late for drugs, sis. I’m sorry.”

“I hate you!” Kenna screamed as a contraction hit and she grabbed her knees for leverage to push.

“Gunnar, get behind her so you can support her,” Gillian ordered.

Gunnar did as he was told, settling Kenna’s back to his chest and kissing her temple. “Use me to anchor you, elskan.”

Kenna dropped her head back onto his shoulder. “I can’t do this...” She cried out and gripped Gunnar’s hands as she pushed again.

“That’s it, love,” Gillian encouraged. “We can see the head. One more big push, Kenna. You can do it.”

It took ten minutes and three more strong pushes for Styrr Gunnarsson to make his entrance into the world. He was one week early and still weighed nine pounds, six ounces, and was twenty-one inches long.

“Well done, Kenna,” Gillian crooned as she held the baby for Gunnar to cut the cord. She set Styrr on Kenna’s chest and helped clean Kenna up.

“Och, he’s perfect,” Kenna whispered. “Our little prince.”

“Já, baby, he is.” Gunnar kissed his wife’s temple as he stroked the baby’s back.

“Kade and I will check him out, Kenna, okay? Then you can have him back.”

Kenna handed the baby off to Samantha and Gillian tapped her leg. “You’re starting to heal, love. You’ll feel a little euphoric in a minute, then you’ll crash a bit. While you’re feeling up to it, we’re going to change the sheets, okay?”

Kenna nodded and relaxed against Gunnar. Gunnar felt her body change and lifted her off the bed. “She’s good,” he said.

Gillian made quick work of changing the bedding and Gunnar had Kenna back under the covers within minutes, just as he felt her mood shift. Samantha settled a swaddled Styrr in Kenna’s arms and helped to get him latched onto her breast. “Well, look at him go,” Samantha crooned. “He’s obviously a prince and a genius.”

“Thanks, Sam,” Kenna said as she smiled down at her son.

“We’ll get out of your hair now. We’ll fill your family in on everything and you guys can have some private time.”

“Thank you,” Gunnar said. “Both of you.”

Kade smiled with a nod and followed Samantha out of the room.

“Right, love.” Gillian smiled. “I’ll sort out the family so you can bond a little, eh?”

“I wrote down room options,” Kenna said.

“It’s all good, Kenna, we’ll find our way.” Gillian rose to her feet and leaned over to kiss her sister and nephew. “Bless you and your new family. I’ll be back in a little while to check on you.”

“Thanks, sis.”

Gillian left the room and Gunnar focused on the beauty and miracle that was his family. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too.”

* * *

Three days later, the family were all together at Kaspar’s enormous dining room table. Kenna had just fed a sleepy Styrr and settled him in the bassinet between her and Gunnar. Niall and Charlotte had surprised everyone by arriving along with Gillian, Angus, and Fiona. Nevin and his family had arrived the day before.

Max and Grace now had two children and were in the States with her family, and although Charlotte and Niall had been invited as well, Charlotte wanted to be with her sisters this holiday, especially to show off their new wee son, Taran.

“Since it is the twelfth of December, tonight is the night Stekkjarstaur is scheduled to arrive. He will be the first Yule lad to come,” Ari said, and turned to his daughter. “So, elskan, you must put a shoe in the window.”

Ari had long, blond hair that he’d pulled away from his face, looking much like a Viking warrior and less like the brooding artist he was deep down.

“Papa, I’m not a baby,” Sophia argued.

“Já, but you don’t want a potato, so you’ll put a shoe in the window.”

“Humor him, sweetpea,” Megan instructed. “It’s his first Christmas with you and your sisters in one place. He’s making up for lost time.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “But I need all my shoes, Mom. And what if he... I mean, this dude Stek-whatever does put a potato in my shoe? I’m gonna be kind of annoyed.” She shuddered. “Gross.”

Chuckles pittered around the table.

“You can avoid potatoes by doing what your Papa tells you,” Ari said.

“I’m not six.”

Ari raised an eyebrow. “You’re still my baby.”

Sophia stared at her father and then gave him a beaming smile. “Papa?”

“Já, elskan.”

“If you put a potato in my shoe—”

“If Stekkjarstaur puts—”

“Yeah, whatever. If Stekkjarstaur puts a potato in my shoe, I’m going to put glue in yours. Capisce?”

Kenna covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Good lord, the girl was funny.

Ari did laugh, leaning down to kiss his daughter’s head. “I’m still your father, little one, remember that.”

“Um, Dad?” Pepper pointed to him with her knife. “The three of us together can nail you to the wall... literally, so how about you remember that. Right, Charlotte?”

Charlotte raised her hands in surrender. “Leave me out of this one, darling sisters. I am Switzerland.”

“Chicken,” Pepper accused.

“How many of these little devils do we have to contend with?” Megan asked.

“Tomorrow, Giljagaur comes,” Ari said. “Then there’s Stúfur, Þvörusleikir, Pottaskefill, Askasleikir, Hurðaskellir, Skyrgámur, Bjúgnakrækir, Gluggagægir, Gáttaþefur, Kertasníkir, and finally, Ketkrókur.”

“Swap those,” Kaspar corrected. “Ketkrókur, then, Kertasníkir.”

Ari smiled. “Right.”

“So basically, one each night until Christmas?” Sophia asked. “Which means, several chances for potatoes to be put in our shoes?”

“Já, elskan.”

“It’s like Elf on a Shelf,” Megan said.

“Didn’t Uncle Cameron murder that little elf?” Sophia asked.

“That was my fault,” Megan admitted. “The book came out and I loved the idea of it, so I attempted to try it with you, which meant Cameron had to play along.”

“But I was like, seven.”

“I know, honey. Cameron also used that argument.” She giggled. “In the end it was a bust, but maybe we can try with the wee ones.”

“We’ll do the boot and the elf,” Jesska suggested.

“This is child abuse,” Sophia grumbled. “Or at the very least, manipulation.”

Megan laughed. “Hey, whatever works, my little imp.”

“What? I was a perfect angel.”

Jesska choked on her water. “We’re going with that?” she asked, once she caught her breath.

Sophia rolled her eyes.

“Soph, how about you help Moira put one of her shoes in the window?” Charlotte suggested.

Sophia grinned at Moira. “Do you want auntie Sophia to help you?”

“’K,” Moira said. “Now?”

“After dinner, baby,” Niall said.

“But Taran’s the baby.”

He grinned. “Aye, lass, but you’ll always be my baby.”

Her cheeks pinkened and she leaned against him. “’K, Da.”

All the women let out a collective sigh. There was nothing sweeter than a man who adored his daughter, and the hero worship in her face was evident.

“I love the little Scottish accent she’s got going on,” Megan said.

Charlotte nodded. “I do too.”

The rest of the evening was spent gathering the children’s shoes and finding enough windowsill space to fit them all on.