XXXIII

Endymion was sitting in the garden, reading his last book, he was prepared to head out soon, his window of opportunity was slowly closing in on him and he couldn't make excuses soon. He'd received a letter only this morning telling him from Malachite the deeds were done and not to worry anymore and they'd be coming home soon.

The gardens were kind of bare this time of year, the trees still held their majestic branches high to the sky but were weighed down by fresh snow powder.

He heard light footsteps coming near and he turned with a smile, knowing exactly whose those were. He wasn't disappointed as Serenity's head weaved in through the barren bushes and she shook it when she was in view, displacing the snow clinging to her hair. She was in a purple sweater and a male pair of breeches but she was cute enough to pull it off, and she also had on a long frock around her shoulders to protect her from the cold.

"Morning sunshine." He greeted, he'd pulled out of bed this morning and let her sleep. He'd been pushing her hard these last few weeks since Rei's return and announcement of pregnancy. Serenity smiled in response. She'd been taking her queen duties rather well, Endymion thought proudly.

She was caring for Rei to make sure she had everything she needed when Rei was having difficulty even standing up. Ami predicted Rei was going to have twins, which would explain why she'd grown so big so soon.

"Would you like to join me?" Endymion questioned lightly, he didn't know what was going on, but he was slightly concerned when Serenity had seen Ami in private the day before and when he'd asked, she complained that it was because of a headache. She'd been sick the last few days as well, he'd spotted her hunched over the toilet after an exceptionally decadent meal made by Lita. He was worried at first it was the food, then he learned from Adam that she usually got really sick and had been surprised she hadn't been in the entire time they'd known each other.

Serenity bit her lip and then nodded, coming over to sit with Endymion. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him…

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, but she pulled it away and held his hand instead on her lap and her fingers drifted lazily over his palm and the back of it. "What's wrong, love?" He asked putting his book into the wet snow and lifting his other hand to brush back her bangs which had grown unruly long and tilted her face towards his. "I've never seen you so quiet."

"I have to tell you something." She started, her voice but a whisper as she gazed upon his strong features.

"Anything, but please don't tell me you're going to die, I would die before the words even left those precious lips."

"Endy." Her voice held on that whisper and he traced her lips with his thumb. She gulped. "It's good news actually, I guess, I'm still not sure how I feel about it or how I'm going to take it or how you are for that matter. But here goes, Ami and I were talking, there were a few weird signs that I had to figure out and she checked me out. I'm pregnant."

"What?" Endymion asked incredulously, he displayed no emotion, just waited for her response.

"I thought the same way myself." Serenity closed her eyes. "But it's true, she confirmed it last night, I'm pregnant."

Endymion dropped to his knees in front of her and took both of her hands in his. "Please tell me you're not joking." He whispered and Serenity barely caught it.

"I'm not joking." She replied hesitantly.

"Oh…" He moaned and dropped his head to her knees.

"What are your feelings, regret? What?" She really needed to know how he felt before it could sink in herself. She had thought she wasn't ready just a few months ago, and now this...? She didn't know if she was not ready, she had no idea what she thought about it, but she was, and there was nothing they could do to change it.

"How'd this happen?"

Serenity's lips pressed together to keep the giggle at bay. Seriously, if he needed to ask!

"I mean... how did things change for you? Why now?" Endymion needed to wrap his mind around all of this, he was as giddy as a school boy who'd entered the candy shop, but Serenity seemed apprehensive, and he needed to remain calm and think these things through so he could best help her accept it. She was happy for others always, but not for herself. She'd lost both her parents, so had he, but she wasn't sure if she could be a fit mother, especially with her love for sleep.

"Ami thought it was because the pressure and worry for a heir had been taken off of my mind now that Rei's pregnant that the eggs managed to drop and the sperm could reach them." Serenity explained.

"What do you think?"

"I'm not quite sure, Ami is the expert on all of that."

"I meant about the baby." He really just wanted to take her into his arms, spin her around while shouting on the top of his lungs that he was going to be a father and then take her on the snow bank, but he needed to be emotionally supportive to her.

"I'm thinking I'm... ok with it." Serenity decided.

"Would you be utterly unhappy if I said I was completely ecstatic about this?"

"No, that's your right." Serenity responded, and wasn't prepared to be scooped up and spun around with such a blatant display of good cheer. It spread to her and she started laughing. Endymion changed his mind, he didn't want to take her here, he wanted her in the stables, it had been their special place, often enough, he was sure she conceived there only last month.

His book lay forgotten as he had his way with her, and although he couldn't hear, Damon saw the interaction between the two of them and glowered until they were out of sight.

Endymion had been very gentle with her the whole time and Serenity pulled him to her. "You're not going to break me or the baby." She told him before kissing him square on the lips.

Endymion took her advice to heart and wasn't quite as gentle, but still a gentleman. Serenity laughed as they lay in the warm straw afterwards and watched a slow powder come to the earth. It really was quite beautiful here.

Serenity however did miss her brothers and sister, and her homeland; she wished she could go see it again, especially before travel became too difficult. She told Endymion of her wishes and he agreed to take her before she hit five months.

The day couldn't have been any more perfect.

EAN: This is slightly funny: After writing 20 pages more or less for a different story per chapter after having shorter chapters in the beginning, I look at this update and think its tiny. However it is a different writing style and different story and the timelines are completely different and what I want for the stories are different. There is different points for why I wrote each. To me it is just interesting to note, to you, this is probably a pointless AN. Oh well... :)