It still took me some time to truly get comfortable with the idea of being pregnant. Certainly I had thought about being a mother as a child and even those lonely nights when my feelings for Clara had just started to emerge...but it was never anything definite. But now here I was, feeling the defined and firm hump on my belly as I was prepared to slip into my dressing gown. Clara and I agreed to tell my father after our wedding, with the simple hope tha the would be more at ease with it when we were officially partners. My dress was probably not the best for someone showing, such as myself, and the bust had to be taken out numerous times for my increasing chest size but fortunately my stomach didn't show enough for people that didn't know about it to notice.

Lace traveled down the arms, looping around my middle fingers and leaving my hands bare with layers of white silk laying in curtains in my skirt, a small train trailing behind me as my father escorted me from the castle to the beautiful gardens. It was full of people, both from the village as well as villages and kingdoms beyond wishing to see the surprising return of the Lourrain-Guise name to the world. My hair dripped down the open back of the dress as I looked up into the light to Clara at the end of the walk. People gasped and whispered but I found my eyes focused on my more beautiful wife. Dressed in the finest of fabrics, a golden corwn comfortably placed on the top of her curcle hair. I was sure the taylor had a fit with Clara about refusing to let her lady attend her wedding in trousers...but it fit her beautiful frame. She wore much of what she wore during our own private ball with a few more wedding-appropriate accents.

My father handed me off, his eyes teared up as he gave me a kiss on the cheek and graciously placed my hand in Clara's as the ceremony began. Above us was a massive arch of roses, seemingly grown out of nothing from years before but giving a beautiful addition to our ceremony as the priest joined us. Without much concern for the world around us, Clara embraced me and we kissed, my arms looping around her neck and holding her close. To think...my whole life I had lived with the idea that my 'perfect fit' would be the poorest man in the country. And yet here I was, marrying royalty.

The announcement of my pregnancy came about a month after our marriage when I could no longer hide my growing belly under looser and looser hanging fabric. I'm not sure how the village truly thought about the news but they gave a brilliant celebration of excitement for the knew prince or princess. In the end I refused to let it affect what I desried to do as queen. Clara was still learning the importance of being a diplomat due to her lack of teachings as a child so she allowed me to attend meetings with her. I'd read numerous novels and journals from fellow scholars and seemingly impressed fellow male nobles on my opinions and my points of interest.

As a couple we created a strong kingdom...and on the birth of our child, only grew stronger.

I had been sitting in the library. The doctor had forced me into bed rest but I refused for the simple reason that I would not have access to the library. In order to get around this, Clara had moved the sofas that sat in my normal spot and placed a bed, servants assigned to fetch whichever book I chose. For a while I found myself being a little stubborn about it and would try to sneak off for my own book, but it was a little difficult to sneak while carrying a human being. So after Clara insisted that I remain off my feet I chose to trade the servants help for me reading the books allowed, to teach them the joyous art of reading and in turn allowing them to read to me. I'd barely noticed my water had broken.

"Your majesty," the servant stuttered out, gesturing to the soaked covers. I blinked and then felt the first wave of contractions, whimpering and gripping the sheets.

"Get...Clara...and the doctor," I hissed through gritted teeth as Ms. Potts - who had fortunately been bringing in my evening tray of tea and cookies - set to work preparing the library.

In seconds Clara was skidding across the door way and into the massive room, the doctor not far after only for her to stop dead about a foot from the bed. She was frightened, I could see it in her features...a fear that was justified. Her mother had died giving birth to her and I attempted to give her a gentle smile. "It will be fine," I remarked before giving a grunt as another contraction slammed against my body. The doctor was quick to arrange his station, shifting my legs to expose myself to him as he ducked under the sheets, examining. I couldn't tell if he was poking or prodding, the waves of pain as I stretched making the area numb.

Hours passed of pain, of waves of contractions and then nothing. The doctor had even begun his evenings cup of tea as Clara had finally settled herself on a chair next to me, gripping my hand and taking the pain every time I squeezed. But then...after he looked at me once more, he informed me it was time. Ms. Potts stood to his side with a towel and some water, a crib not much further than that as I was instructed to push. I wondered if this could have been the same sort of pain Clara had experienced during her transformations. Twice for one day...every year. The pain was more than i could have prepared for as my body screamed as I pushed, life times seeming to pass till finally there was an explosion of cries and the doctor told me I had done it.

I collapsed on the bed, sweat soaked in my hair as I closed my eyes. Clara had stood, watching as the doctor cut the last connection between me and the child before Ms. Potts cleaned it and handed the crying child to Clara. Almost immediately it fell silent as I cracked open one eye, smiling as Clara looked down at the baby, a finger pulling at the small fingers as they gently curled around her appendage. "Do I get to see?" I breathed as Clara looked up, falling out of the trance and quickly lowering herself to my level to expose the baby boy.

A rush of emotions seemed to explode from my chest as I started to cry, taking him from Clara and holding him close, finally able to feel the soft breathing. "He's beautiful," I breathed, Clara settling herself just next to my head.

"Because he has a beautiful mother," Clara remarked casually, gently pulling the few hairs stucked to my face away as I caressed his small cheek. "What shall we call this great prince?"

"Adam."

THE END

COMMENTS: And there you have it, fitting end in my opinion if you're aware of the whole "Adam" situation with the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. I'm much more pleased with the ending of this, figured there were some small stories that needed to be played out. I had considered putting even more but I think this is the best place to cap it off. Thank you everyone for reading and sticking with me during that unfortunate massive break.

On another note I have two other stories (one finished and one in the works) that will be coming up next. I've mentioned the one that's still in the works (mass effect) and the one I've finished due to work is a AU Percy Jackson story, I've even started on a second involving the same collection of characters that connects them somewhat with the Heroes of Olympus storyline. I'm pretty excited. I'll start posting the finished story after this weekend when I have a chance to transfer my cover art to a digital version.

Enjoy! 3