In the past year a lot had changed. Cora stopped working at 'Levinson and Son'. She had started a Photography program at 'Royal College of Art'. It was a full-time study for one year. In the evening she had taken guitar lessons and learned to play some tunes already. It was more strumming than real playing, but her teacher said she was a fast learner.

Everywhere she went, she brought her camera, the study was intense and took a lot of her time, but she was really enjoying it. Her favourite subject? People asked her that a lot: Robert of course. His broad shoulders, great jawline and his length were amazing to take photos of. She had many portrait photos of him already.

She was feeling so lucky to have him as her husband, he made her feel loved every day. Regularly he brought her flowers or chocolates or had taken her on a short weekend trip. Although she had to admit, those trips were usually combined with work for him, but she didn't mind.

Cora was humming with the beat of the song coming out of the radio. She was making dinner; Robert was sitting at the kitchen table buried in his work. He had started to finish work at home a few weeks earlier, this way he was home during dinner.

For him there had also changed a lot. Abbey Advertisements had gone international. He just opened an office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and was working on one in Köln, Germany. He needed to go there regularly, but he brought Cora with him when possible.

Robert closed his laptop and looked at Cora, she was swaying with her hips and dancing on her place, while stirring in the pots and pans. She was starting to show already. This morning he had heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. She was 12 weeks pregnant and was glowing.

He got up, wrapped his arms around her belly and started moving on the beat with her, she put her head backwards and was leaning into him.

"Darling, dinner is almost finished, can you set the table?" Cora asked and kissed his neck.

Robert tightened his grip on her. He started to move more with her close to his body. Cora moved with him, turning the heat down, and she let him carry her away. They twirled around the kitchen, living room and back. She loved dancing with Robert, their body's moving in sync with each other.

"Robert, I love you and I love this, but I don't want our dinner to get ruined." Relented Robert let her go and set the table.

It was the morning of their anniversary, Robert had woken Cora up with soft kisses on her shoulder, and they played around a bit. With her belly growing, Robert was ever so gentle with her. But her being pregnant made him even be more attracted to her. Her small breasts were growing, and he liked playing with them, although Cora was sometimes complaining he needed to be softer, because he was hurting her.

He laid his hand on her belly and felt the slight movements of the baby, Cora had covered his hand with hers and was looking at him. "Just a few more months and we will see this little one."

Robert got up a little and kissed her lips. "Cora, I have a surprise for you today." Her eyes grew, he loved her facial expressions so much. "You remember that painting we saw when we were in The Netherlands?"

"That abstract painting symbolising a windmill with cows in front, you mean?" "That was a lovely painting," Cora reminisced, "it would look lovely in the baby's room."

"I got hold of it, we can pick it up today, but it turns out it is from Teun Postma." He felt Cora's body tense up.

"You mean you are going to buy it from…." Cora couldn't say his name, even after all these years she still felt scared thinking about Mr. Bricker.

Robert tightened his grip on Cora's waist. "Darling, don't worry, I can go pick it up alone, you don't have to see that art dealer. Normally he will bring it to the new owners, but he is not stepping foot in here."

Cora tried to relax her body again. "You know what, I am coming with you, Simon will not have any effect on me anymore."

Robert was surprised to hear her say his name but was glad she found her strength again.

Robert opened the door for Cora and immediately grabbed her hand before walking further. In the middle of the room was Simon standing, he opened and closed his mouth in shock. Robert hadn't told him his real name when he made this appointment.

"Welcome, in my gallery." Simon started, he stared at Cora and his eyes went to her belly. "I see, I have to congratulate you two?"

Cora laid her hand protective on her bump and gave Simon a little smile.

Robert had done the talking, he kept Cora close all the time they were in there. Not leaving her, even when she needed to go to the bathroom, he waited in front of the door. Simon had insisted on bringing the painting to their apartment, but Robert wasn't having it. He was allowed to bring it to his front door, but he wasn't stepping inside.

It was the evening of Cora's graduation; she had finished the program with straight A's. There wasn't a big ceremony for just one-year courses, but Robert had made dinner reservations at 'Le Gavroche' he had made an early reservation because Cora was really tired the last month, she was almost full-term. She had gotten her certificate during the day, in a small ceremony.

Cora stepped out of the bedroom in a beautiful light blue dress, a ribbon accentuated her belly even more. The fabric was loose and flowing around her body. How did she manage to still look this wonderful, heavily pregnant? One hand rested on her belly, the other one on her back and she took a deep breath. "I am happy when we are back home, so I can go lay down." Cora said.

Robert dropped his book and rushed over, guiding her to the nearest chair. "Darling, we can cancel our dinner reservation and just stay home?"

"No, no, I will be fine." Cora smiled and brushed her hand against his cheek. "Changing clothes is just hard work these days." She sighed and leaned back into the chair for a moment "Can you help me put on my shoes? I left them in the bedroom."

Dinner had been delicious, but Robert had told the waiter, without Cora hearing it, not to delay it too much, he didn't want an evening long dinner. Cora had shown signs of discomfort during the taxi ride to the restaurant, and Robert wasn't sure it was a good idea to be there.

He had helped her out of the car when they got home. Took of her shoes and dress and supported her with getting into their bed. He bent over, kissed her forehead: "Try to sleep darling, your body needs rest." He walked to the kitchen to get her a glass of water.

Walking back, he was thinking about how she could still walk on high heels, she balanced her body perfectly, but it must be hard on her feet.

Cora was still awake and was reading a magazine. "I can't sleep, the baby is restless she said, and my feet and legs are hurting." She said breathing in deeply.

"I can massage your feet; do you think it will help you?"

Cora sighed, "I definitely know it will help, maybe you can also try to rub my back, it is killing me today."

Robert started on her feet and legs, rubbing in the massage oil deep into her skin. Cora had turned on her side, so he could reach her back. While he was massaging her, he felt her body tense and she grabbed the sheets. Inhaled deeply and moaned softly. "Cora, Cora are you alright?"

"I, don't know, I think… no, I don't know. The pain is slipping aside, please don't stop." Cora said sighing. But before she could relax, her body tensed up again. She moaned: "I think it has started."

It took Robert a moment to realise what had started, the baby was coming. It was a month early and her contractions where close to each other.