A/N: So, I was able to plug through this chapter a little easier than I expected, which means next chapter will be more difficult. Actually, I had up to chapter 11 finished as I was posting chapters. Making the majority of my fanfiction a movie recap kind of made it easy to type, so now I'm hitting the typing as I go phase... Which means chapters will wind up being posted once finished as opposed to a fairly daily basis. Unless I can type a chapter in one night, which sometimes I can.
I would like to give very special thanks to Disnephiphany who did it right. You can all take a lesson from her. She started at the beginning of my fanfic and reviewed EVERY CHAPTER! I want to cry I'm so happy. You're a super cool chick (and according to your profile, we have a couple things in common).
Also thank you, luvmoony89 for the really sweet review you left me. I'm really glad you're enjoying the fanfiction.
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Elsa paced outside in the courtyard. She had agreed to stay out of the conference room so that Raighne would be able to speak to his father alone. However, she was becoming increasingly concerned by the amount of time that had passed. She wasn't sure if it meant things were going well or if they were going horribly. Even as she tried to force a smile for Bridget, who was giving her reassuring smiles, she failed and sighed as she continued to pace.
"Queen Elsa, please try to relax," Bridget pleaded with her lightly. "I'm sure everything will be just fine..."
"Yes, I hope so," Elsa said softly. She still paced, but stopped when she suddenly felt so light headed. She didn't remember falling, but when she opened her eyes she found herself on the ground. Raighne was running across the courtyard with a couple of Bridget's hand maids in tow. Raighne knelt beside her on the ground, gently running his hand across her forehead before gripping her hand gently.
"Elsa?" he asked softly, his face filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
"I-I think so..." she said, sitting up slowly and putting a hand to her head. "I don't remember how I ended up here..."
"Don't move too much, we'll get you better..." He lifted her up in his arms, carrying her back inside the castle. He took her up to their room, gently laying her in bed and covering her with the blankets. "Just rest easy, now. We're going to call a doctor for you."
"Raighne, this is too much," Elsa protested softly. "Really, all I did was faint..."
"Bridget said you collapsed pretty suddenly..." Raighne said sternly. "You were even unconscious for a couple minutes before she ran to get me. I don't feel it's too much to call for the doctor. I'd feel better safe than sorry. I'd rather know nothing is wrong with you than guess."
"Alright, alright," she said softly, sitting up to kiss him gently. "Thank you, Raighne. I love you."
"I love you too, Elsa." He happily returned her kiss before leaving the room. Elsa sighed softly, laying back on the bed. She rolled onto her side, closing her eyes. She found her brain choosing this time to go a mile a minute with too many terrifying ideas of what had caused her fainting spell. Again, she didn't realize she had lost consciousness until a knock on the door awoke her. Elsa sat up, lightly rubbing her face.
"Yes?" she called softly. Raighne let himself in with an older man behind him who had salt-and-pepper hair and brown eyes.
"Elsa, this is Dr. McCormick," he said, gently sitting on the bed beside her and holding her hand. She looked between her husband and the doctor, still trying to wake up completely. She returned the doctor's kind smile and nodded to him politely. He lightly pressed his fingertips along her jaw and down her throat before checking her heart rate and breathing. He had her lay back so he could check her stomach.
"Your majesty, have you experienced any other symptoms beside your fainting spell earlier today?" Dr. McCormick asked gently. "Perhaps some nausea? Some minor weight gain? If not something that is happening, anything that is not happening?"
"Well, I have been feeling nauseous the past week," Elsa said softly. "I excused myself to the restroom after breakfast because I couldn't keep it down. But I didn't think anything of it. I've been nauseous by food in the past. I'm not a very heavy eater."
"Ah," the doctor said with a soft chuckle. "Well, congratulations, Queen Elsa and King Raighne. I would estimate you have 5 months left before you have your heir. You have probably just pushed yourself a little too far. Get plenty of rest and please try to keep your stress level very low." He clicked his bag closed and left the room with a smile, leaving the couple to process this new information. Elsa stared at Raighne, mouth slightly open. Raighne's eyes were wide.
"Uh, what?" Elsa squeaked finally.
"We're going to be parents," Raighne confirmed, awkwardly running his hands through his hair with a sigh.
"Oh," Elsa sighed as she watched Raighne. "Oh, we never talked about this. I shouldn't have assumed you'd be alright with this... I don't even know if I'm alright with this... Do you even want children?"
"I had thought about it." Raighne rubbed his face with a soft sigh. "Every time, all I could imagine was this little chubby cherub sneezing snowflakes and creating a blizzard with every tantrum..." Elsa couldn't help but giggle at the mental image Raighne had created for her.
"What should we do?" Elsa whispered softly, leaning to rest her head on Raighne's shoulder and lightly wrapping her arms around her stomach. She wasn't exactly ready for the idea of having a child either. She couldn't help but feel frightened. She barely felt adult enough herself. If their child turned out to have cryokinesis like them, how would they handle it?
"Well, we'll just have to take it one step at a time." Raighne offered her a reassuring smile. This child was coming whether or not they wanted it to or if they were ready. It just meant they had to do their best to be ready by the time it arrived.
"We need to make plans to return home... We'll have to baby-proof the whole castle, and Anna and Hans need to know they're going to be an aunt and uncle... How did things go with your father? He should know he's going to be a grandfather... And Bridget is going to be an aunt... Oh and that means invitations for a baby shower!" Elsa put her face in her hands.
"We can go home, Elsa, just calm down..." Raighne gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Remember what the doctor told you about your stress level... Things went fine with my father. We have established peace between Arendelle and Ireland just as we had hoped to. We'll let them know about the baby before we leave, alright?"
"Yes, alright, I'm sorry..." Elsa said softly, reaching forward and wrapping her arms around Raighne's neck as she closed her eyes. She was feeling a little emotional. Small ice crystals littered his lap and it took a few moments for him to realize they were her tears. Raighne lightly kissed her cheek and neck in an attempt to comfort her. He held her close against his chest.
"I don't see any reason for you to apologize. I don't believe either of us are ready, but I also refuse to believe there's anything wrong with that. We'll figure it out as we go along, beloved. Just like anyone else does. There is no reason to be afraid or upset. We'll make it through this together. That's what we agreed to when we said 'I do', right?" Raighne smiled at Elsa lovingly, and she returned the smile sweetly.
"How was it that I became lucky enough to find such a sweet, patient man?" Elsa shifted herself into his lap. "I somehow found myself with the best husband any woman could ask for." She kissed him lovingly. He returned her affection, chuckling softly.
