Chapter 54

"How is it that I spent my whole life feeling completely unsure of everything, but then I find you and everything seems to come together. Whenever I feel unsure or doubt anything, you make me realize just what I'm capable of?" whispered Meggie as she looked at him, a special appreciation in her eyes that Capricorn didn't answer, for there wasn't a need to as he kissed her with a tender touch of the lips.

"How is it I am blessed with a beautiful wife, a woman who willingly chooses to carry my child, and yet I choose to leave her to go riding off into adventure, danger, and strife…and yet this same woman supports that decision. How did I ever become so blessed as to deserve you?" whispered Capricorn in return his lips gliding sweetly over hers as his breath washed over her making gooseflesh crawl over her skin.

It was all building up around them. The separation which had pained them so, the knowledge that a child would soon be joining them in this life, and the mounting question of whether his quest would succeed. It made everything, so unsure, and yet in that moment it made their time more special. Neither of them knew when it would end and as he lifted her to lay beneath him, Meggie only wanted to savor whatever time they had. She felt her back pressed back against the cold cement of the bench, her breathing slow, for this was a moment meant to celebrate the many wins they had received in their lives, and yet Meggie was only grateful to have him there as he pressed kisses to her throat. She let her eyes close as her hands fell away from him then to grip the cement. His hands were at her waist then, until they moved under her dress to spread her legs, and as Meggie's eyes opened, Capricorn drew away to look down at her.

"You're having my baby…when I see you next there might be a baby in your arms or a child grown…I have no idea when this will all come to an end, but as long as I see you and our child before my life ends, I will be happy" said Capricorn his voice was gentle then as his hands stroked her thighs as his body settled between her legs.

Meggie barely registered the tearing of her dress; her eyes were only on him as he started at the hem of her dress ripping the fabric into a blanket of taffeta. He continued until the dress was ripped down the middle, his hands reaching out to touch her bare flesh.

"The next time you see me might be far sooner then you're letting yourself think. I might be much fatter. I hope you'll still look at me the same way" whispered Meggie smiling as he splayed the dress out further beneath her, so that it cushioned her against the hard cement beneath her.

"No matter what you look like when we meet again, Meggie, I could only see you as the beautiful woman that you are. I am madly in love with you, and I will be until I draw my last breath" whispered Capricorn gently kissing her lips now as a hand reached out to squeeze her breast, her legs secure around his waist.

She knew their time could end soon, so she didn't wait for him to undress too.

"Don't waste time undressing, I want you inside of me. Make love to me before your gone and I must count the days until I see you again" whispered Meggie the need for him to sink inside her making every part of her pound her hands reaching for him until they were splayed out across his chest.

The fabric seemed to ball easily in between her fingers as she used it to bring him closer. Their lips so easily slanted over one another's, her tongue slipping free to touch his own, and as his hand remained on her breast, Meggie's left his chest as they kissed to easily open his pants and take him in her hand. He was hot for her, heavy in her hand and throbbing, and as their kiss deepened more, Meggie let her hand run along the length of him.

"You are the most desirable woman on this earth, you know that don't you? You're unbelievable" exclaimed Capricorn in that moment letting his lips slip away from hers as he brought his hand to hers demanding that she release him, their eyes meeting.

He hitched her legs around his waist then, his cock flush with her core, but he was not yet inside her. Instead, Capricorn took the time to look at her, at the exquisite beauty of her, and Meggie couldn't deny the wicked seduction that he caused in her. No one had ever made her feel this way and she sensed he felt the same, in fact, she knew it as he looked at her with such love. Love that she knew he'd only ever felt for her.

"I've missed you" whispered Capricorn letting a hand run up her leg as it curled around his waist.

"I've missed you" whispered Meggie, taking a breath then as he sank into her until she was filled.

Her head fell back against the cement, her eyes always watching him, but then she couldn't deny herself the chance to kiss him as he moved inside of her.

"Capricorn" gasped Meggie her hands gripping his shirt as her body arched into him.

"Meggie, my love, how I've missed you. How I've longed for you these long weeks and months. I've missed the feel of you, the smell of you, and just being able to touch you whenever I pleased. I am so deeply in love with you" whispered Capricorn the words spoken into her skin.

Meggie found they made her cling to him. They were breathing heavily together, her hands on him as his own held her close as he moved inside her without stopping. It wasn't until Meggie took his face in her hands, bringing him to kiss her, and even then, he somehow kept moving at his pace inside of her. The knowledge that a child grew within her then somehow made this moment more then it was. Meggie just wanted to keep him there with her. She wanted to be selfish and tell all those waiting for him in the Inkworld that they couldn't have him back this time, but she knew that she couldn't do that. That she had to support her king, but she could have this moment. And so, she did, they did, with neither of them thinking of anything else in that moment. He knew as Meggie's breathing became heavy that she was close but drawing away all he wanted to do was look at her. In his mind, Meggie had never looked more beautiful. Everything about her seemed to shine, her eyes were bewitching as they looked on him with such love, her hair flowing around her shoulders like a thousand golden feathers, and her skin which had always glowed, now seemed to be on fire. He couldn't help looking at her stomach pondering the life that was yet to be from within. Capricorn found himself looking into her eyes then and they shared a smile as he brought his lips down to kiss her. Nothing between them had ever been, so beautiful.

After their lips parted, even as he stayed inside of her, Capricorn could only look at her, and she looked right back. She smiled at him after a moment and Capricorn knew what was going through her mind. They were having a baby, a baby that neither of them had ever dared to consider especially after they had lost their last one, but nonetheless this moment was here. Meggie seemed to beam with the knowledge of it as he made love to her. They were building a legacy, she was giving him an heir to take his place, and Capricorn had never wanted any of that. Not until she came along to show him the things he'd never thought to want before. Just seeing her like that made him kiss her, his body moving over hers only a few more times before they were lost to their pleasure.

"You've made me, so happy" whispered Capricorn afterward, his forehead falling to touch hers as his hand came to touch the stomach where their future grew.

"I love you, so much" said Capricorn, loving the way the words made her smile, so much so that he was loathe to leave her.

Meggie sat up, still naked, but as she curled close to him all the emotions from before seemed to return.

"I'm having your baby" whispered Meggie, as she said it, she crawled into his lap, straddling him as she moved to kiss him with passion.

"I love you; I don't think I truly understood how much until I found out I was carrying your child" exclaimed Meggie breaking their kiss to look at him with eyes that were soft.

"I know, my queen, being away from you has proven my love more then I ever thought. So many times, I've been tempted to simply come home to you, but I will not return to you a failure. I will be your champion, more so now that a child is in our future" exclaimed Capricorn their eyes meeting in that moment to recount the true story of the circumstances as they were living them.

They were separate in every way they could be he didn't know when that would change, and if it took him too long, he knew he wouldn't see their child born. What was more, as he sat there with her, Capricorn could only think of the future that might await them after this moment was over. This child could be born, and Meggie would be alone. Capricorn didn't want that for her, he wanted to be there to hear her screams, to hold her hand, and hear any curses she decided to rain down on him. What was worse was that it could be years before he saw his child. Capricorn had never been a sentimental person, but in that moment, he was especially as he considered her future raising their child without him there to stand beside her. All these visions of the future had him drawing her closer, his head in her chest as he suddenly regretted ever leaving her. Capricorn found he wanted to stay with her, to experience this journey with her, but it was already too late. Soon, he would be pulled away, and he didn't know when he'd see her again.

"Are you going to be alright?" said Capricorn wanting to return to her then but knowing that he couldn't.

"I'm going to be fine, my love…I can't tell you I'm not scared, but I'm going to do what I've always done. As your queen, I have always stood by and supported you and I will continue to do that. I will wait here, for you, until you can come back to me or until we're together again. I only hope that happens before our child is born" said Meggie, her voice was small, a smile trying to come, but in that moment, she couldn't manage it.

She was trying to be strong for him, to keep him from seeing the pain that dwelled within her, but Capricorn saw it, nonetheless. He saw her truth in the tears that brimmed her eyes. All Meggie wanted for to be with him, to share her life with him, and they had already been separated so long. In front of her hung a future where she was his wife, his queen, his love even, but she was not with him. That future seemed so unhappy to her, so painful, and she didn't want that future. Neither of them did as they held each other close in that moment.

"I'm sorry, Meggie, I wish I could say for sure when we'll be reunited for good, but I can't promise anything. I have no answers" whispered Capricorn, Meggie took him in her arms then holding him close.

The truth was Meggie didn't want any answers or promises. She just wanted him to do what he could to come back to her all the sooner, but she didn't tell him that either. She didn't want him taking any chances, taking any risks that would mean that he wouldn't come back to her at all. In that moment, she just let herself hold him as their time together waned away, and it was as if they could hear each second as it ticked away from them.

"I know you can't…just come back soon" said Meggie wrapping her arms around him and holding him as close as she could.

She was so caught up in the moment with him, in wanting to share this moment with him that Meggie hadn't thought of anything else. It wasn't until she was sitting there with him that something other then her need to be with him entered her mind. With no warning, Meggie felt her stomach churn as a kick of something akin to nausea filled her throat. It made her draw away from him to stare at her stomach a sickening thought suddenly overwhelming her.

She only wanted to hold him like this until she opened her eyes to find the potion had faded, but as if sensing her worry, Capricorn stroked her back.

"Meggie, what is it?" whispered Capricorn feeling as everything about her seemed to shake.

"I had to ask this of you. I had to do this, Capricorn, I had to give you this news in person, but it occurs to me the danger I've put our child in. I, we…there no way to know the effects the potion will have. You don't think I've harmed our child, do you?" exclaimed Meggie, her voice suddenly heavy with emotion.

Capricorn didn't know what to say to her in that moment because he didn't have an answer for her, but he could get one. He didn't get to tell her that though, for suddenly it all faded, and they were opening their eyes. Once again, they were apart.