Epilogue
Six months later
“Can’t we just wait a few more months?” Libby rubbed her ever growing belly in the palace flower garden, flashing a pleading look at her very real fiancée, his mother and father and her grandpa.
“Libby honey,” Malika began in that placating tone meant for crazy people. She wasn’t crazy, she was just six thousand months pregnant. It felt like it anyway. “It would be a huge scandal to have a royal child born on the wrong side of the bed.”
Libby burst out laughing, but quickly covered her mouth. She and Malika had grown close over the past few months and she didn’t want to offend her. “I’m sorry, that’s just a very old fashioned saying. But I do understand what you’re saying, it’s just I’m so fat and uncomfortable and I really would like to be beautiful on my wedding day.”
Amir was at her side, holding one of her hands in both of his. “Honey, you will be a gorgeous bride, no matter what. And you’re not fat, our baby is growing in there.”
She smiled at him, her eyes so full of love she thought she might cry, but really it was pregnancy hormones. Shortly after they left the yoga retreat—after eight days of making up and roasting marshmallows—she’d fainted while they were sightseeing on Market Street and Amir freaked out and took her to the hospital. After a series of tests the doctors had shocked the hell out of her when they said she was eight weeks pregnant. “Thank you for saying so sweetie but seriously, we have a month to go, maybe sooner if what they say about first babies are true.”
“Libby tomorrow is our wedding day and you want to postpone it?”
She knew it was completely unreasonable, but she couldn’t help how she felt. “No, but I don’t want to be fat for all of eternity in my wedding photos. The whole country will see it!”
Amir sighed and brushed a kiss against her knuckles. “If you really want to postpone then we will. No problem.” He glanced around. “Right, everyone?”
They all nodded, tossing wary smiles her way. “Of course.”
And now she felt like a pregnant tyrant because they were all trying to make her feel better. She looked at the people surrounding her. These people loved and appreciated her, and now they were willing to undo months of hard work just to satisfy her. “No, it’s fine. We’ll get married tomorrow.”
Amir’s face spread into a beaming smile. “I’m glad to hear that Libby. I’ve been waiting a long time to marry you.”
“And I can’t wait to be your wife Amir. Maybe I can just suck my stomach in all day?”
He laughed and stood, pulling her up into his arms. “I’ll feed you two slices of cake if you don’t.”
Her grin widened. “You really do love me.”
“Don’t you ever forget it.” He winked and hugged her, dropping a kiss on her forehead.
She would never forget, for as long as she lived, just how good it felt to love Amir and to be loved by him. “I guess we’re getting married tomorrow!”
* * *
“I can’t believe we’re married!”
Amir smiled at his now wife who positively glowed as she waited for his kiss to land. “Believe it,” he told her and kissed the hell out of her. It should have been chaste since every person in his nation was now watching, never mind the international media who’d picked up the story of the prince and the bohemian bakery, but he couldn’t help it. His tongue delved deeper and his hands held her head, devouring it until his father cleared his throat. “I love you Libby.”
“And I love you, Amir. So much.” She pulled him back for another kiss but, as instructed, she’d kept it chaste.
“Come on wife let’s get you out of that dress.”
“Now you’re talking my language!”
Amir laughed and pulled her up the aisle, happy Libby and his mother had compromised to combine Kadrishan and American wedding traditions, especially as rose petals fell down over their head. A year ago when his parents had broached the topic of marriage, specifically marriage to Nissa, he never would have imagined that he would have willingly walked down the aisle. But he’d been the one to chase after Libby and get her to marry him. It was him who’d poked and prodded until she set a wedding date.
Back inside the palace she spotted her new in-laws huddled in a circle with Grandpa Nate and his main squeeze, Lola. “Oh look at them all getting along.” She started walking towards them but Amir pulled her back.
“Oh no my love, we’re going upstairs to change and get a little frisky.”
She laughed. “You want to get frisky with all of this?” She rubbed eight months worth of baby with a grin.
“More than you could possibly know Libby.” He pulled her upstairs and behind the doors he wrapped his arms around her. “I promise to spend my life making sure you feel happy and loved.”
“Oh Amir, I promise the same. And I’m going to throw in regular sex because I’m the best.”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “You are unequivocally the best.”
“Good now that we’re in agreement I’m giving us fifteen minutes to fool around and then we have to join our guests.”
She looked so fierce in her white princess gown, lips a dramatic shade of red with her hands on her hips. “I can have a ton of fun in just fifteen minutes,” he told her and tugged on the zipper hidden on her side.
“I’m counting on it,” she purred and stepped out of the dress.
Amir stood in shock as he took in the deep red strapless bra and silk French knickers. “You look splendid, my wife. Trust me on that.” She looked like one of those lush porcelain skinned paintings of naked women frolicking in the forest. “I could look at you all day.”
“Maybe not all day, time’s a ticking husband.”
He laughed and they spent the next thirteen and a half minutes enjoying their first married orgasms. “I don’t want to go back downstairs. It’s my wedding day,” he groaned.
“You? Now I have to take a shower and get all this into yet another dress.” She slid off the bed, hair a rumpled mess and makeup smeared.
“You’re very pregnant Libby, I’m going to insist I go in with you. In case you feel unsteady on your feet.”
She bit back a laugh and shook her head before turning her back to him and stepping inside the bathroom they shared when they were at the palace. “If it’ll put your mind at ease,” she said and smiled over her shoulder.
He scrambled off the bed and joined her in the bathroom, happily running his soapy hands all over her lush pregnant body. “You are incredibly addictive,” he told her as she rinsed off under the spray.
“Amir,” she groaned while his hands continued to roam all over her body. “Amir,” she said again and gripped his forearm.
“What is it?”
“Don’t be alarmed, but there’s a strong possibility that I’m in labor.”
“What? But it’s too soon. It’s too soon!” He felt himself start to freak out and stepped out of the shower, grabbing towels for both of them. “We need to get you to the bed.”
She shot him a narrow eyed look. “That’s how we got here in the first place.”
He grinned. “Never heard you complain once.”
“Smart ass,” she grumbled. “No wait! What are you doing?”
“I’m calling for help.” He frowned, trying to figure out what the problem is.
“Can you help me put some clothes on? I can’t have everyone seeing me wet and naked, knowing that your,” her gaze fell to his own naked crotch and grinned, “is the reason I’m in labor.”
Amir looked down and doubled over with laughter. “We’re married Libby. They know what married people do and that belly tells the world that I’m the reason,” he thrust his hips, making her laugh just as she bent over in pain.
“Stop that right this minute Amir and put some clothes on me!”
He laughed and pulled out one of her favorite flowing dresses and a pair of panties. “When was the last time you yelled at me to dress you? Marriage has changed you.”
She laughed and gasped, smiling at him with love in her eyes. “Oh, I am so going to squeeze your hand while I push this baby out of me.”
“I look forward to it,” he told her and kissed her forehead. “But for now let’s get you decent so I can get us some help.” The next few hours were chaotic but exciting as Amir and Libby prepared to welcome their first child, who’s gender would be a surprise for the parents and the rest of the world.
“Okay parents are we ready,” the doctor asked as he breezed into the room with a welcoming smile.
“As ready as I can be, Doc.” He gave Libby and indulgent smile. “Let’s do this!”
Amir held her hand and, as promised, she squeezed all the life from his left hand and let her because all pain was forgotten when he held his beautiful baby girl in his arms. “She’s perfect, just like her mother.” He looked over at Libby, red hair stuck to her face and neck from the exertion of childbirth. “You did great, my love.”
She flashed a small smile as he sat beside her. “She really is amazing, isn’t she?”
“The most beautiful baby I have ever seen,” he agreed.
“You’re biased,” she said on a yawn.
“Perhaps a little but I also have very discerning taste,” he laughed and when she didn’t join in he saw that she had fallen asleep already. “Mommy worked hard to get you here so for now you’re stuck with me, sweetheart.” He sat like that for a long time, transfixed by the little bundle of baby in his arms and the warm woman leaning on his shoulder. This year had been the best of his life and it was all because of Libby. “I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us.”
The End.