Author's note: So I slipped into third person as I was writing this. But I fixed it. Obviously it's a struggle for me to do first person. But it's still fun! Please feel free to let me know what you think of the events of this chapter.

Happy reading!

Chapter Seven

I sat forward as Marti and Josh stepped into the middle of the ring. Sydney rubbed my back. I could feel her hands trembling. I put a hand on her knee and squeezed. "They'll be okay." I assured her.

She nodded and placed a hand unconsciously on her stomach.

Eddie smiled and reminded them of the rules. Then he stepped back and called them to begin.

They circled for a long time, trying to find an opening. Josh made the first move, but Marti easily dodged it and struck back.

As the match intensified, Sydney gathered up my shirt in her fist and pressed her eyes into my shoulder. She started whispering something that I realized was a prayer.

I sat back and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You know it's not real, baby." I murmured.

"I know. It's just more real here." She turned her eyes toward the arena.

All the children were gathered at the edge of the ring and cheered on their favorite. Lissa and Christian had arrived with their brood as well. Reggie and Chris were also in training, but none of their other children were interested in any physical training beyond learning to use their elements. The younger two seemed interested, but not nearly as much as her their brother and Reggie.

"Marti has good form." Christian commented as our daughter got her brother on the ground.

"Thank you. She's one of the best in her class." I said.

Sydney chimed in, "She's also one of the youngest in her group and can take down boys bigger than Josh."

"But Josh knows how to hold his own." I added.

Sydney finally watched with a more critical eye. "He's gotten better."

"He has. He might actually beat Marti this time."

A short time later, the match ended with Josh triumphant.

"That's my boy!" I yelled. "Good job, son."

Sydney pinched my thigh hard.

"Ow!"

"Marti!" She said with clenched teeth.

"Way to make him work, Marti." I called.

She beamed up at me. No harm done to her ego. She was as cocky as me for the most part.

"Better." My wife stood and made her way closer to the ring. She pushed the hair out of Josh's eyes. "You should get that trimmed."

"He's trying to grow it out like Dimitri." Ashley teased.

"Shut up, Ash." He snapped.

"Joshua." Jill scolded quietly.

Ashley didn't seem too upset and started chanting, "Josh is in love with Dimitri." He continued with the chant until Nikolai grabbed him in a headlock and rubbed a knuckle hard into his scalp.

"Ow! Mom, make him stop!" Ashley yelled.

Eddie stepped over and placed a hand on his oldest son's arm. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Nikolai let go and stepped back with a mumbled apology.

"I still don't understand how you can do that." I said in awe.

He chuckled. "I guess it helps that I'm trained to inflict pain with the snap of my fingers."

"Should have been a guardian." I said whistfully.

"You wouldn't have made it." Rose teased. "Your kids are good though. When are you coming to train, Marti?"

"Never." She said adamantly. "No offense, but I'm not the guardian type."

"Not everyone's made for it." Rose told her kindly. "At least you know and can make the choice so early."

"Thank you." Sydney said softly.

Rose shrugged. "I think your Josh is good enough to look after a high ranking Royal one day."

"They're usually the snootiest ones." Josh said, making a face.

"When can we see you and Eddie spar?" Marti asked Rose.

"I don't know." She looked to her friend. "What do you say, Castile?"

"I say let's go, Hathaway."

Rose jumped into the ring.

"I think Rose is going down." I heard Ashley say.

"Come off it, Ash. Just because he's our dad doesn't make him the best." Ivanna commented. "Rose is amazing. Aren't you paying any attention in your training sessions?"

"Not gonna get you any extra points, Ladybug." Jill said with a smile. "Both are really good. This will be a close one."

And it was. Rose barely scraped by. She held out her hand to help him off the floor. "Good match."

"You too." Eddie turned to the crowd. "Who's next?"

Rose leaned on the barrier as the smaller children ran into the ring and started chasing after each other. She smiled as she watched all the children, many of whom called, "Aunt Rose, watch me!" as they ran past her.

"I'm watching." She assured them.

"So you and Dimitri gave up on the idea?" Sydney asked gently.

"It was just too much work. I didn't want to be off the job. And, as you can see, there are plenty of children that adore us."

Kennedy reached through the barrier and tugged on my shirt. "Uncle Adrian, will you come play with us?"

How could I say no to that? "Of course, sweetheart." I climbed in and hefted the girl onto my shoulders. I ran after the others. "Attack of the flying Kennedy!"

She laughed happily. I swung her down and scooped up the child closest to me, it was Eliza, Christian and Lissa's youngest. She screeched as I threw her into the air and caught her.

"Again!" She demanded.

I heard Sydney laugh and looked over my shoulder. She was feeling much better today which made me feel better. I had left her talking with Rose and Eddie. When I turned at her laughter, I found Josh leaning on the fence, teasing his mother. He patted her stomach and she waved him off.

I gave the girl in my arms a quick squeeze and then sat her down. I rejoined my family. I draped an arm over Josh's shoulders. "Are you giving your mom a hard time?"

"Don't worry about it, Pop." He grinned. "Just pointing out that she's so tiny. I was asking if she was just making an excuse to try to keep you."

Marti piped up then, "I heard the heartbeat. It's real."

Her brother laughed. "I was joking, kid."

Sydney put a hand on my arm. "I need to lie down."

"Of course." I jumped back over the barrier and wrapped my arm around her waist. "I'll walk her back. The rest of you take your time."

Sydney leaned on me as we walked out into the night. "I don't think I could ever get used to this schedule."

"I thought the same thing about human time." I slipped my hand into hers and kissed it.

"You still stay up half the night." She teased.

"Only when I have an idea that captures my attention." I pulled her into an alley and pressed her into the wall. "Or you."

She rested her hands on my waist. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I really do need to lie down. I don't feel well at all."

I pressed a kiss to her lips and then stepped back. I took her hand once again and we walked along at a leisurely pace.

After a few silent moments, she smiled and said, "If I felt any better, I would pay you back for all the frustration you just gave me."

"What do you mean?"

She looked sideways at me and her smile turned into a seductive grin. "When you were playing with all the kids. It reminded me of all the times you played with our kids. It makes you so much more attractive. I mean, you're already handsome, but even more when you have a child in your arms."

"So what would you do to me if you felt better?" I said low, pressing my mouth to her neck.

She giggled as she thought about it. She answered, "Lock a door."

I laughed. "And then what?"

"Remove all your clothes. Run my tongue over every inch of your torso. Then take you into my hand…"

I gave a frustrated sigh. "Are you sure you're still feeling bad?"

She laughed again. "We'll see what happens when we're locked in the guest room."

"Good. Because there are plenty of things I want to do in return."

"Tell me."

"In detail?"

"Sure."

I grinned. "First, I'm going to lock the door."

She giggled.

"Then I'm going to kiss you until you can't breathe. I'm going to slowly remove every layer of your clothes. I'll kiss you from head to toe while you writhe beneath me and beg me to just get on with it. Then I'm going to pin your hands above your head—"

"I think that's enough. My goodness. I'm about to push you into the next alley we come to and have my way with you."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Feeling better then?"

"You can tell me when we get back to the penthouse." She tugged on my hand and started moving faster.

We let ourselves into the apartment. I pressed Sydney against a wall and kissed her hard. "I love you."

She smiled and moved away. She dragged me into the guest room. I locked the door as I kissed her. Our clothes quickly went away. I led her to the bed, admiring her lovely curves and the way her stomach protruded a little more than before. I dropped down onto my knees and placed my hands on her waist.

"I need to apologize to you in there, baby. This won't be the last time this happens." I kissed her stomach and then stood again.

"I told everyone I needed to lie down." She said as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"So lie down." I kissed her neck. "I can do all the work." I reclined her on the bed.

She giggled. "I wouldn't make you do all that. But maybe we should hurry. We don't know when they will be back."

"Then stop talking." I smiled and covered her mouth with mine as my hand slid down her body. I slipped my hand between her legs.

She purred and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. She rocked her hips up to my touch.

"What do you want?" I asked against her lips.

"You said you'd kiss me everywhere." She responded, scratching her nails over my back.

I moaned. "Do you think we have time for that?"

"Probably not."

"So…" I dropped a soft kiss to her neck and then lower, trailing kisses down her torso. I nipped at her hip before pressing a kiss there. I looked up and smirked. I lowered my head between her thighs. "Here?"

She groaned. "Stop talking and get going. We don't have long."

I laughed and flicked my tongue over her. She moaned and tangled her fingers in my hair.

The door slammed open and there sound of children floated down the hall.

"Damn." She whispered, panting heavily.

"Just relax, baby." I assured her and pressed my mouth into her again.

She rocked into me. I heard the moans she suppressed. Her grip tightened on my head and that was it. She was gone. I gripped her hips and held her close as I finished bringing her through her orgasm. She relaxed with a heavy sigh into the mattress.

I rested my head on her hip and stared at her stomach.

"Where are they?" We heard Marti say in the other room.

"Resting." Jill said.

Josh snorted. "Sure, go ahead and call it that."

I kissed Sydney's stomach. "I better get out there." I trailed kisses back up her body and then lazily kissed her mouth. "You can nap if you want. You should probably get dressed, though." I kissed her again and then rolled out of the bed.

"We can revisit this later." She promised as she pulled on her underpants and one of my shirts.

I grinned. "I look forward to it." I finished dressing and then leaned over her. "You're amazing. Just so you know."

"I do what I can, baby." She smirked.

I chuckled. "I'll come get you for supper."

"I'm feeling much better. I may come out in a few minutes."

I kissed her again. "No rush."

She caught my hand. "You've made me feel better."

I sat back down on the bed. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now. Just know that I love you."

I kissed her hand. "Rest, baby."

She nodded and rolled over. "I'll be fine in a little while."