Sorry for the slight delay! Had a few issues with the chapter. Now, I have a story that is as of now, exclusive to Archive of Our Own. It is called La Regne and it's about Francis, written from his perspective. He is crowned king at aged 16 in modern 21st century following his father's shock abdication. I hope you'll enjoy that story if you read it on there which you can as a guest. Now, enjoy the next chapter.
"I thought we weren't telling everyone?"
"I know," Mary says, hunched over the toilet. "God, I feel awful."
"That's morning sickness for you," Francis replies when his phone continues blowing up with texts from various family members and friends. "At least they kept it to themselves for two weeks..."
Mary chuckles before glaring up at him. "Aren't you going to help me?"
Looking down at her, Francis purses his lips before shaking his head. "No, you're good," he teases her.
Scoffing, she pulls his trousers down, making him yelp. They may be a couple but he sometimes acts as if they're friends, being so cheekily unhelpful at times but he always makes it up to her and now, he puts his phone away and helps her up.
"Let's get your teeth brushed otherwise I'm never kissing you again," he says, kissing her neck repeatedly as she giggles.
"You just did-"
"On your mouth, silly," he says into her ear as she grabs her toothbrush and toothpaste. He wraps his arms around her waist and nuzzles his face into her neck, rocking her side to side slightly.
Before she sticks her toothbrush into her mouth, she says, "I think Dr Diaz will tell us off for letting everyone know so soon."
Francis chuckles, sighing wistfully as he presses a hand on her belly. "I'm sure it will be okay. Have you booked your midwife appointment?" He asks before she nods. "I still can't believe you're pregnant with our baby..."
Mary smiles as she brushes her teeth, feeling his hands roam her tummy. It's been six weeks since she's been carrying this little bundle of joy and she's excited for the months to come. Each week is a new surprise, morning sickness, backache, body pains but she will bear it all in order to get her baby at the end of it.
"I love you so much," Francis whispers. "Both of you."
Continuing to brush her teeth, Mary taps his hand in reply. I love you both so much too.
...
"Are you eating?" Her mother worries, checking Mary over once she answers the door. "Dear God." The woman leaves the door for her daughter to enter as she enters her kitchen, her robe flowing behind her as she searches her cupboards. "Mary, darling, the baby will starve in you!"
"Mum, I'm only six weeks preg-"
"You need to feed your child."
"I don't even think they're the size of a tennis ball, Mother," Mary says, taking a seat as her mother rushes from side to side, searching for food.
Marie halts. "Bran flakes? They are healthy and I've bought some fresh grapes for you. Oh, you adored strawberries and grapes when I was pregnant with you. I still can't believe my baby's pregnant!"
Mary blushes but smiles widely. Everyone's treating her like the Holy Grail. They mustn't stress her out or give her the wrong foods and drinks and always ask if she needs something so they'll fetch it for her as she sits and basks it all in. She may not even lift a damn finger throughout this whole pregnancy.
"I'm so happy for you," Marie continues on. "I wanted to tell everyone at Church. Oh, you know the vicar's wife, Mrs Dibley? I bumped into her at the supermarket and told her. I'm sure she'll be adding your name to the list of testimonials on Sunday."
"Oh, God, Mum," Mary mumbles, surprised.
"And I've told my Book Club."
"Your Wine Club," Mary corrects her. "So all of your friends know that I'm pregnant? Including the congregation at your church?"
Marie beams. "Of course!" She says. "Well, not the rest of the congregation but soon enough." She shuffles towards the fridge and retrieves the pitcher of water. "Little Harold is going to be a big cousin!"
Mary laughs softly and that's when her phone rings. "Speak of the Devil," she mutters. "Jim."
"Answer it! We must have everyone over to celebrate your news on Saturday. I will prepare your favourite," Marie says, starting to mumble to herself of how she'll plan this small gathering as Mary answers the call.
"Jimmy."
"Don't call me that."
"Hey, what's up?" Mary chuckles.
"Now that you're expecting, I trust you to look after my son," Jim says. "The wife and I need to see her grandfather in the hospital. He's... passing away so she needs to say her final 'goodbyes'."
Mary's sort of an expert now. She babysat for Kenna and Bash the other week so her nephew is no different. She's ready for this and it's great practice. It's just a shame that it's taking her brother's grandfather-in-law's passing away to allow her to look after her nephew.
"It will be just for the afternoon. Tomorrow."
"Yes, of course," Mary replies. "Tell her how sorry I am for her..." It's not exactly a loss right now but it will be, she thinks. "That her grandad's dying."
Jim sighs. "I'll let her know. Thanks, sis."
"No worries," Mary says. "Oh, and I'm sure Mum will call you later on but we're doing a small celebration party on Saturday."
Her mother grins and gives her a thumbs-up before grabbing her own phone to call a cake company much to Mary's disbelief. A whole cake to celebrate good news? Well, sign her up, she guesses.
"To celebrate your baby news? We'll be there," Jim says. "I have to go but love you."
"Love you too, and give the family my love," she replies.
"Will do, bye."
"Bye," Mary replies, hanging up and turning to her mother. "Just a small cake, Maman. Nothing too spectacular, I wasn't even meant to spill the beans before I was thirteen weeks."
Her mother tuts, redoing her order. "You're no fun..." She mutters under her breath. "Yes, a simple Victoria Sponge..."
...
That Saturday, Mary is let into her mother's home to see banners plastered on the walls, congratulating her. She sends her mother a glare who only grins back and shoves a present into Mary's hands as Francis laughs at her expense.
"Free stuff, Mary. Don't reject it!" He tells her, accepting another present.
"Just things for the baby," Marie says, wrapping her arm behind her husband's back.
Mary opens the first present and sees a photo album. "Oh."
"When you were born, I documented every single moment that I could," Marie says, gesturing for Francis to open the next gift box. When he retrieves the item, he pulls out a similar album to the one Mary holds. "A timeline of your life and now..." Marie tears up. "You can do the same for your own baby."
Tearfully, Mary hugs her mother. "It's wonderful, Mama. Thank you so much," she breathes out, sniffling as she wipes tears from the corners of her eyes. "Oh, God..." She opens up the empty album before checking her own and sharing smiles with Francis every time he pops up as they flick through the pages.
"That one," Francis says into her ear, pointing at a photo of them picking flowers in the garden and Francis staring at Mary as she attempts to make hers into a chain. "That is when I realised I loved you."
Mary turns to him and kisses his cheek before flicking to one on her sixteenth birthday. The photo shows her beaming by her large birthday cake as everyone sings 'Happy Birthday' and then she turns to Francis, pointing at her younger self looking at something away from the camera.
"My eyes always searched for you only," she replies.
They share a kiss before their love bubble is disturbed by the doorbell ringing. Her brother, sister-in-law and nephew.
Laughing as they blush and step away with knowing smiles from her mother and stepfather, Marie goes to answer the door.
"And you've brought the cake," Marie gushes, seeing the delivery van behind the young family. "Enter. We have many things to celebrate today!"
By the time dinner rolls around, Mary almost chokes when her mother attempts to be subtle in her bringing up about a particular part of Mary and Francis's relationship. Marriage.
"Well?"
"Maman, we've barely been togeth-"
"You've known each other for decades," her mother drawls with a roll of her eyes. "You are having a baby. In some people's eyes, that may be thought to be marriage itself. Sharing a child."
Francis takes Mary's hand in his and places it on top of the table. "When the time is right, we'll get married."
"I hope so. We have all been waiting for years," Jim mutters. "And I'd like to see a ring around my sister's finger before I die."
Mary scoffs. "Jim, someone would have eventually married me!"
"Little Sister, nobody but Francis would have been a right fit," Jim replies, tutting. "You're like yin and yang. You work in perfect sync."
"That's so sweet, thank you," Mary says. "And... you're right."
"Knew it," Francis says under his breath which receives a kiss on his cheek before he grunts at her kicking him.
"Don't get so cocky, Mr I-Loved-You-Since-We-Were-Five."
Francis chuckles, pressing a kiss on the back of her hand. "Forgive me?"
"Always," Mary whispers happily.