"I think we should try for another child."

Santana rolls over to look at her husband, he'd been gone for nearly three months this time. The rebellion had taken both armies to put down but she knew that there would be more to come. She had been surprised at the reports of surprise attacks, but he was back for a few days. "Are you saying this because Isabel thinks of you as a stranger?"

"No. I've always had Lucas." Charlie makes a face at the comment. Isabel was running around the palace like she owned the place, and he knew she would be beautiful like Santana. It would take her sometime to see that he was her father, and she still got confused by Lucas's presence half the time.

"That's unfortunate," Santana interrupts flashing him a small smile.

"Right?" Charlie puffs out his cheeks and scratches the new scar on his cheek. "All I had was Lucas, I think if my parents were able to have more children I would have been very close to them and perhaps I wouldn't have been as lonely. Weren't you lonely?"

Santana closes her eyes for a moment before she nods, "I was. But then again, you disappear quite often and while your father is slowly coming around to the idea of you staying closer to the capital and only riding out when you're needed. The empire is still currently in flux, since your father refuses to move against Al Motta and his ilk. They were friends once, and I think your father has a blind eye to him."

Charlie frowned, "I was using the child as a pretense to have sex with you. Then you mentioned my father and Al Motta. I'm not sure I want to have sex anymore."

Santana swatted his chest, stopping at the deep gouge in the muscle, the weapons that were out there were getting better, and Charlie for whatever reason chose to wear leather armour. She runs her fingers along the wound. They would need to put a stop to it soon, "You need to be more careful."

Charlie rests his hand against her, flashing Santana a smile. "Worried?" He teases.

"For Isabel's sake," Santana said with a roll of her eyes. It's a lie and the truth all wrapped into one. She wouldn't know what to do if he died. "She should not grow up without a father." When he wiggles his eyebrows at her she snorts. "Plus, your father would never give me half of his empire, and it will all go to Lucas."

Charlie placed his hand over his heart dramatically, "You wound me Santana." She had never once said the words he so desperately wanted to hear from her lips, she had never once professed her love to him. He worried about it at times, but Santana wasn't one for such sentimentality. As far as he knew she tolerated his presence and used his position to get what she wanted. "But will you think on it?"

"I don't think Isabel will appreciate an interloper right now," Santana said shaking her head. "She is close with Beth, but I do see your point. I mean it's Beth, she's the child of Lucas and Rachel. She'll probably thank us for it later."

Charlie nodded, and nuzzled Santana. "So?"

Santana leaned back, having another child, a boy would cement Charlie's position. Rachel had been advised that another child might be the death of her, and she seemed content with the one. A son would put Charlie on the path "Very well, get to it."

Charlie blinks, as Santana smirks at him. "Am I to be your concubine again?"

Santana laughed and kissed him, "Yes. You're the one that wants another child," Santana laughs when he pulls her so she's on top of him. It was their favorite position. "But only if you promise to be more careful, you have children to come home to."

"And you," Charlie says leaning up so he could kiss her. "I have you to come too as well."

Santana blinks and smiles down at him resting her hand on his chest as she leans in to kiss him deeply. "I'm supposed to be the death of you, remember?"

"I do," Charlie mumbled against her lips.

~O~

Santana raised a brow at her husband as he sat in his seat with Isabel sitting on his lap. The two of them had jam around their lips and she shakes her head as Charlie feeds her some of his bread before taking a bite. She had always been a bit of a picky eater but she looked so much like her father it was troubling. "You need to stop feeding her sweets."

"I eat sweets all the time," Charlie pointed out about to take a bite of the bread when Isabel places a hand on his arm and lets out an outraged cry. He smiles and brings it down so she can take a bite before taking his own bite.

"Exactly my point." Santana said as she took a seat beside them, watching as Charlie moves so that they're a bit closer. She grabs a napkin and gently dabs at Isabel's cheek ignoring her fussing before she does the same for her husband. "I was just with the midwife," she says absentmindedly.

Charlie turns his attention to her, "And?"

"They're certain it is going to be a boy this time."

"They were certain that Isabel was going to be a boy," Charlie pointed out.

"I imagine that they always say it's going to be a boy, I mean they only get it wrong about half the time. I asked them to keep it quiet right now. I have nothing against your mother but I'd rather wait for a while."

Charlie nodded, "Father says I should be leaving in another month, he's grown tired of this game with Al Motta. Lucas will be leaving with me as well."

Santana was quiet, she didn't' want him to go but throwing a tantrum would not sway Russell at all. "Very well, then we should retire to your palace for a week or two, so you can spend some time checking out the horses. I imagine Isabel would enjoy seeing the baby foals."

Charlie looked up, "Really?"

"Yes, she already knows what a horse is right Isabel. What does a horse say?" She prompts.

"Neigh."

Charlie grinned and rubbed his daughter's back. "Very well I'll make the preparations, it'll be her first trip after all."