I've lost track of how many times I've worked and reworked this one. First draft was quite bawdy, if I'm honest. But that wasn't really the tone I wanted for this one so I had to get all that naughtiness out of my head and redo it, several times. I do hope you enjoy the results.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone is safe from the virus and all the other bad stuff that seems to be overtaking our lives right now. At least our little Andith ship gives us a bit of an escape and some happier thoughts.


Anthony's touches were filled with reverence and veneration, his amazement and gratitude that she would choose to be here with him, to be his wife, flowing through him into his fingertips. And while he might have wanted things to go slowly, giving him time to adore every bit of her, Anthony's new wife had other ideas. It seemed he was to be allowed only a moment of adulation before she began her own exploration of him, beginning the process by undoing every button or fastener on his clothing.

As much as he wanted to take his time in these moments, Anthony was amused by Edith's haste in divesting him of his jacket and waistcoat and was now working at his shirt. She huffed in frustration when she discovered there was yet another layer underneath all that. Giving up that pursuit momentarily, she began working at his trousers. And almost before he knew it was happening, he was down to his underthings, which were not nearly as interesting as hers.

Anthony found her little bit of underclothes fascinating. Peach seemed to be the predominant color of her small bits of fabric, with a very pretty lace trimming the top of the fabric that barely covered her bosom. It gathered just beneath her breasts and then the fabric fell down, over her hips to hang freely just below the curve of her bum. Some days later, Anthony would discover that while the loose looking fabric seemed to be a petticoat of some kind, it actually formed pants legs of sort with a slit between her legs for access. That bit of information would be filed away in his mind for quick trysts in unusual places and at unusual times of the day. But that was later. Right now, Anthony was simply intrigued with how her bits were somewhat decently covered and yet so outrageously scandalous. Except, he was her husband and the only person she cared to impress with her attire and between them there could be nothing scandalous, only loving. Even so, Anthony was duly fascinated.

He let his fingers skim over her lacy parts and was contemplating removing a strap when she teased at his drawers. And then she tugged at the tail of his undershirt and quickly had him out of it. Mortification washed through him but quickly dissipated as she merely glanced at his horrible scars and then turned her attention to some of what she deemed his more interesting bits, running her hands over the planes of his chest. And by god, he couldn't remember ever having felt quite so… masculine. She moaned softly, or was it a purr, as she glanced down at his now prominent appreciation of what she was doing to him. Looking back up and into his eyes, the woman further quickened him with a deep, throaty, "make me yours, Anthony."

While Anthony may have had his doubts from time to time, they were the farthest from his mind in these moments. If he was certain of one thing, it was that she wanted him as much as he wanted her and this was right for them both. And so, he succumbed to all of his basic instincts and led his wife to bed, where he proceeded to love her and worship her, with his words and with his body. There was a momentary delay, almost a derailment, when he suddenly realized that there was no way he would be able to hold himself over her in the usual fashion. In fact, he worried that any attempt to do so would end in disaster with him collapsing on top of her. His instincts, however, drove him to find a different manner and he found himself flat on his back, his hand on her hip, with her straddling him. There was an advantage to this position, he decided as he looked up, intending to look into her eyes but his gaze settling on het two perky breasts that were so tantalizingly on display. After the hell he'd been through and still lived at night in his dreams, his present situation felt like he'd found heaven. It wasn't long before the two truly became one in every sense of the word and while he had made Edith his, he knew he had also been made hers. Closing his eyes and letting the sensation of her, everything from the smell of her to the sound of her breathing, to the exquisite feel of her wondrous sheath around his sword, Anthony knew there would be no other moment in his life quite like this one. And then the heat of their union overtook him and he was lost the combination of desire and ecstasy as his entire existence was reduced to the sounds and sensations of their bodies working in harmony to achieve the ultimate goal.

In the coming days Anthony would learn just how much she enjoyed playing with him, having her way at odd times. He would also learn that he minded not one bit. He also learned that her little bits of undergarment came in other colors, but as much as he enjoyed helping her out of her green one and her blue one and the one she said was lavender, the peach would forever be his favorite, because it was the original, the one that led them to this divine moment before they crashed back to earth.

Anthony was tired after their first time. His fatigue wasn't unexpected since he was still recovering from his wounds and hadn't yet regained his full strength. As they snuggled together in the bed, his arm around Edith, she yawned, indicating that she also might need a little respite. "My thoughts exactly, my sweet," he whispered quietly.

"Might need a nap after that glorious exercise," she murmured back as she snuggled deeper into him. "But it will be lovely to awaken with you just like this."

Taking stock of the situation, Anthony grinned. They were both quite natural in their state of dress, or perhaps undress would be a better term. Traces of their recent activities were still on both of them. Neither had moved after their exercise, as she'd called it, and he certainly did not mind a prolonged cuddling like this. After all moments like this, with her nestled against him and her breathing settling into a soft rhythm, were too valuable to disturb. And as Edith drifted into an easy slumber, so did he.

It couldn't have been very long before he was awakened by her shifting away from him. He heard a small gasp and forced his eyes open to see her leaning up, staring down at the bed and then at him. "You alright, my darling?" he asked, somehow knowing what her problem was.

"Yes… no, the bed… I think…. Well… I felt cold and there's…"

Anthony chuckled. "Yes dearest, you are experiencing the aftermath of our little adventure earlier. "

"All this is from… you?" Edith looked shocked as she stared at the bed and at him and then down at herself. "I never realized…"

Shifting to get out of the bed and the pad across the room to the wash stand to retrieve a towel, Anthony replied. "Yes, well, well… you were quite exciting. And what goes in, must come out eventually."

"But… but…."

"But what?" He asked as he sat next to her one the bed and took the matter in hand, using the towel to tidy things up a bit.

"I thought that … well, that that's how babies are made… from your contribution to my …insides."

"Well, that is true. Something remains, I suppose."

Suddenly she broke into a broad smile. "Oh, this is wonderful."

Her sudden happiness with the situation confused Anthony. She must, after all, be feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sticky, well… mess "Wonderful?"

"Yes, don't you see? Just think how much remains if what escapes is… so much. Why, I'll be pregnant in no time!" Anthony could only stare as she dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"Pregnant? You want to be pregnant?"

"Oh yes, I do." Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him.

"So soon? I mean… we hadn't really discussed children and I know it is always a possibility but I am surprised that you are so eager to begin."

"Of course I am my darling. I want your babies, lots of them. And all with your eyes."

"Oh," was all he could think to reply. His mind seemed to freeze at the thought of lots of babies. He wasn't even sure he could care for himself and Edith, not in the manner that most men did, and now she was wanting to make babies. It wasn't that he thought it a bad idea; he rather liked the idea of giving her children and then having them underfoot. But sometime later, not so soon. Not until he… well, Dr. Rivers had better be right about helping him. He would need to be at his best for this family Edith was planning. As she got up to freshen up a bit more, Anthony was left to ponder her plans. He couldn't quite decide if what he was feeling was elation or fear.


Oh, and by the way, just in case you missed it... Edith's bit of peach and lace was inspired by the scene in the movie where she is changing to get ready for bed. I did a little research and adjusted the outfit to be more inline with the style a decade earlier, but that's where the inspiration came from. And I haven't let go the idea of an adjustment in her movie story line either. Sir Anthony will make an appearance, once I get finished with my all my fanfic obligations so far.