Chapter 53: Painful Kicks

It's the third week of November, meaning that May is 36 weeks pregnant.

May is in her room and Drew is in the Throne Room. He's been filling in for May since September. He sometimes comes across problems that both royals need to solve, so he simply goes to May for help. He did promise her that he'd come to her if there's a problem that he can't solve. And he never breaks his promises.

May, on the other hand, has been relaxing during her pregnancy. Drew takes extra good care of her by asking her everyday if she needs anything from him before he gets to work. And Drew checks on her every now and then in the day. He makes sure that she doesn't eat or drink anything that might harm Amaryllis. He doesn't let her leave the castle anywhere without him, and he's been going with May to every one of her appointments at the hospital, which are really often now.

May exhaled. "Drew's been so amazing…" she said to herself. She's laying in bed, staring at the ceiling. "...I should give him something to thank him for everything that he does. He takes care of me, and takes my place, so that I won't have to deal with ruling when I'm expecting a baby." She smiled. "But yet...what do you give someone who has everything?"

Before May could think of an answer to her question, she felt Amaryllis kick. May placed her hands on her stomach. "Are you trying to answer me or something?" May asked her stomach. She just felt more kicks from inside. "Ow. Calm down, Amaryllis. You come out next month."

May could visibly see the baby kicking from inside her stomach and her eyes closed shut. She let out a groan, feeling slight pain from the kicking. "Amaryllis...that hurts."

It soon got to the point when May screamed in pain.

The royal guards in the hallway right outside of May's room all heard the scream. They looked at each other. "Was that Queen May?" One asked.

"You should check if she's okay." A different guard said.

"Okay then…" the first guard slowly entered May's room, because the door was already open. "Your Majesty, is everything okay in here?" He saw May with her hands on her stomach and her eyes shut.

"It hurts." May said. She opened her eyes and looked at the guard. "Get Drew."

The Throne Room doors swung open, alerting Drew. The royal guard that May sent had rushed as fast as he could. "Your Majesty, Queen May needs you."

Drew gasped softly, standing up. He grabbed his sword's grip. "Teleport." Drew disappeared and reappeared in his room.

Drew noticed May and quickly went to the bed, climbing on it. "May, what's wrong?" He asked worriedly.

May looked up at Drew. "D-Drew...it hurts. She's kicking." She shut her eyes again when she felt more pain.

Drew placed a hand on May's stomach. "Shhh...try and calm down, May. I'm right here with you."

May slowly opened her eyes. "Drew…" she said weakly. "...it hurts so much." She shut her eyes again and groaned in pain.

"I know. It's gonna be okay, May." Drew thought for a minute, mentally freaking out. He's never seen May in so much pain before. What should he do?

(This song is "Little Things" by One Direction. There's some changed lyrics.)

Drew decided to sing because he knows that May always calms down when he does that. He took her hand and squeezed it for assurance. "Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me. But bear this in mind, it was meant to be." May slowly opened her eyes. "And I'm joining all the colors with the blush on your cheeks. And it all makes sense to me." May smiled. The baby's kicks slowed down.

"I know you've never loved your past here when you were stuck, no smile." He continued. "You've never loved being forced to marry some guy. You weren't allowed to be with me, so you would cry. And I'll love you endlessly."

"I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth." Drew sang. "But if I do, it's you, oh it's you they add up to. I'm in love with you. And all these little things." Drew smiled. Amaryllis stopped kicking.

Drew released May's hand to place his on her stomach while still staring into her eyes. "You can't go to bed without being next to me." He continued. "And maybe that's the reason that you talk in your sleep. And all those conversations are the secrets that I keep. Though it makes no sense to me." May placed both hands on her stomach. She closed her eyes, smiling.

"I know you've never loved the sound of your voice on tape." He sang. "You never want to know how much you weigh. You still worry about our future. And you're perfect to me."

"I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth." Drew sang. "But if it's true, it's you, it's you they add up to. I'm in love with you. And all these little things."

"You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you." Drew sang. "You'll never treat yourself right darlin' but I want you to. If I let you know I'm here for you, maybe you'll love yourself like I love you, ohh."

"I've just let these little things slip out of my mouth." Drew continued, brushing May's cheek. May opened her eyes. "Cause it's you, oh it's you, it's you they add up to. And I'm in love with you. And all these little things. I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth. But if it's true, it's you, it's you they add up to. I'm in love with you. And all your little things." He sang, finishing the song.

Drew waited a minute before speaking. "...How are you feeling?"

May smiled. "Much better thanks to you."

"That's good." He kissed her forehead and backed away. He felt her stomach again. "...She stopped kicking."

"I think she likes it when you sing."

Drew looked at May. "I'm glad I was able to help. I don't like seeing you in pain."

May placed her hand over Drew's. "You're my hero. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll stay here for a bit, just in case she starts kicking again." He said, laying down next to May.

Drew wrapped his arm around May's shoulders. She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his chest. "You're the best." May said.

Drew smiled. He always loves hearing those words from May. They make him feel so happy inside.

"Hey Drew?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

"If you wanted to give someone a gift, but you know that they already have all they could ever want, what would you give them?"

"...Why are you asking?"

"No reason…"

"Well then...I guess you might just have to ask them what you could get them. Or just give them something that comes from the heart. That always works."

"Something from the heart…" May said quietly to herself.

Drew turned his head to look at the top of May's. "...who did you want to give a gift to?"

May scooted a bit away from Drew and looked at him. "Who said that I'm the one who wanted to give a gift to someone?"

Drew smiled. "I just know. So who is it?"

"Oh. Umm...you."

Drew stared at May in confusion.

May smiled coyly. "You've been so amazing these past months." She explained. "You rule for the both of us...you check in to make sure that I'm doing okay...you get me whatever food I'm craving...you attend my appointments with me…" She paused. "And I want to give you something to thank you for everything you've done to help with my pregnancy."

Drew smiled. "May...you don't have to get me anything."

"But I want to. I want to get you something to show you how thankful I am that you help me all the time. So...is there anything you want?"

"All I want from you is...to know that you're safe. I don't need any gift to know how thankful you are. I just want you to know that the best gift you could give me...is you."

May blushed.

"So...can you not worry about getting me a gift? Like you said, what would you give someone who has everything? Well...for me...just knowing that every day I can see you...is enough. So don't think about getting me a gift, okay?"

After a moment, May smiled. "Okay, Drew." She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his chest. "Thank you...for everything. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me."

Drew smiled. "You already have." He said, holding her close to him.

After a moment of silence, Drew spoke again. "Since Amaryllis has calmed down, I should be going back to the Throne Room."

May lifted her head and looked at Drew. "Okay."

Drew pulled away from May and got off of the bed.

"Have fun." May said.

Drew put his knee on the bed, stretching his body out to May. He kissed May on her lips and got back off of the bed. "I'll try. Call me if you feel pain again."

May nodded. "I will."

"Okay. I'll see you later."