The sun rose just over the horizon and I was already awake to greet it from the balcony. Phtia was so beautiful in the morning light. The soft pink and purple colors danced off the sea near the palace. This had always been my favorite part of the day because it meant new life was beginning. For me, my new life had already begun as I had been in Phtia for almost two months time. Achilles had been right, I had fallen in love with the city and the gardens here as well as in Troy. I also met his mother, Thetis, and instantly bonded with her as well. She was pleased to find that a woman had finally stolen her son's heart. I had written to my cousins of my happiness here, to which they replied with their joy that I was happy in my new home and life. As I stared out over the city and the sea, I felt Achilles's strong arms wrap around my waist and his lips kiss my neck.

"Good morning, my darling." I turned to face him.

He smiled at me and kissed my lips. "How are you this morning?"

"I am well."

"I am pleased to hear that." He paused for a moment. "You're up early this morning."

"I love the sunrise here. It's very beautiful." I gazed into his loving eyes.

"So you are happy here?"

"More than any woman in the world." I stood on my toes and kissed his lips softly.

In one motion, he sweeped me off my feet into his strong arms and carried me back inside to our bed. He layed beside me and planted tender kisses on my cheek and down to my neck and shoulders. It had been a few weeks since he had been this affectionate with me. Upon our arrival to Phtia, he had to negotiate peace with the rest of Greece and let it be known of the alliance between Phtia and Troy. Many nights I lay in our bed alone, frightened and unsure of this new place. However, by the morning light, he would come and hold me close to reassure me that everything was alright. Now all this attention was so wonderful. Our kisses soon led to love making and I was reminded of Achilles's promise to me. I hoped and prayed to the gods that we would be granted a child of our own to love.

A year later, the gods still had not granted us a child. Every month I bled and became even more disappointed in myself for not giving my husband a child. Achilles insisted that our time would come and that he could never be angry with me. While his words were comforting, I still felt the pangs of guilt wrack through me each month when I bled. Through each disappointment, I would curl up and cry in our bed and he would hold me until I stopped. I would recompose myself within a few hours and resign to trying again.

Also during the year, things rapidly deteriorated throughout Greece and war broke out among some of the smaller countries. Odysseus sent word to Achilles that he needed aid in defeating an enemy. Much to my dismay, he agreed to help. I became angry with him for his choice to leave me and go to war once more. We had several arguements about it a few nights before he was to leave. Our last night together, I spent in tears mostly because he was angry at me for being irrational. I layed in our bed alone, curled up in a tight ball, sobbing. A while later, I felt him pull the covers back and climb into the bed with me. Slowly, he pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arms around me. I turned over to face him and saw his face full or remorse.

"Briseis." His voice was soft and loving. "I am sorry for how I reacted earlier. I should not have shouted at you."

"And I'm sorry for being so irrational." My lip quivered from crying. "I know that you cannot help going to war because of alliances and treaties. But, is it so wrong that I want you for myself?"

"No, it is not. I am your husband and my heart only belongs to you, but I am also a warrior so my body is sometimes demanded to be elsewhere." He intertwined his fingers with my curls and carressed my cheek.

"Promise me something."

"Anything."

"That you'll always come back to me." I moved my body closer to his.

He kissed my forehead. "Always. That is my promise to you."

"I love you." I put my head on his shoulder and found the comfort I needed.

"I love you." He whispered into my ear.

I fell asleep in his arms. The morning came and it was hard for me to say goodbye to him as he had to board the ship with his men. He held me for a long time before he had to go. It was hard for me to let go and watch him sail away from Phtia. When I returned to the palace, I went to our bedroom and layed across our bed. His scent still lingered in the blankets and I clung to them. Separation from him was not going to be easy, but I knew I had to stay strong for when he did come home.

Achilles did not come home for nearly six months. As I stood on the docks at sunset, waiting for their ship to arrive, I felt small jerks from my stomach. I placed my hand on my belly, now slightly protruding beneath my dress, and felt my child. Two months in a row after Achilles had left, I did not bleed. Upon learning I was finally with child, I was overjoyed. Immediately, I sent word to Achilles of my condition so that he would not be shocked when he returned home. His reply came with the news that the war had ended victoriously and he was coming home. Such excitement filled my heart that he would be here for the birth of our first child. Now I was waiting as I saw a ship with black sails come over the horizon. The ship drew closer and as it did, my heart sped with anticipation of being in his arms once again. It had been a beautiful day and Poeidon had blessed their voyage home. For that, I was thankful.

As the ship pulled into the port, the gangplank was let down and Achilles was the first man off the ship. He ran down to me and pulled me into his arms, swinging me in a circle before putting my feet on the ground again. I laughed and cried at the same time to have him home again. His lips found mine in an array of sweet kisses as his hands also found my stomach and our child. The baby kicked to make its presence known to Achilles, causing me to laugh and break our kisses. Achilles smiled and bent down to kiss my stomach. Our child kicked a few more times when Achiles touched my stomach. It was the perfect moment I had been dreaming of since I learned I was with child.

We walked back to the palace together and to the privacy of our bedroom. I led him to the balcony where we sat on the couch and I allowed him more time to bond with our child inside of me. He kept kissing my stomach and looking at it with awe and wonder. Neither of us could believe that we had finally been granted our wish.

"Would you like a son or a daughter?" I asked, bringing his focus from my stomach to my eyes.

"As long as our child is healthy, it does not matter to me. A son or daughter would bring joy to this house." He kissed my lips.

"And what about names?" I playfully bit my lip.

"We have a while to discuss those things. For now, I am content to just be with you." He motioned for me to sit up for a moment and he slipped behind me, wrapping his arms around me and resting them on my stomach.

I layed my head back on his shoulder and found comfort. "I have missed you so."

"And I have missed you."

"Nights were torture to endure alone, especially during the first few months I've been with child. I was so terrified of losing this baby." A few tears escaped through the corners of my eyes and down my cheeks.

He kissed my tears away. "I am sorry you have gone through this alone. I never meant to leave when you were with child, especially because I wanted to be here with you to share moments like this."

"I know it wasn't your fault and I hold no blame for you there. Now you're home with me and our child and that is all that really matters."

I snuggled against his body, falling asleep to the rhythm of the baby's movements inside me. When I woke a few hours later, night had fallen and I was in our bed with Achilles's arms wrapped around me. I knew he carried me to our bed when it had turned colder outside, not wanting to wake me. His body was warm and comforting, a presence I had truly missed the last six months. The baby was resting, so I was able to fall back asleep without any trouble. My dreams were filled with images of our child and how precious it was. For the first time in my life, my dreams were beginning to become reality.

The next few days were spent with just myself and Achilles. During those days, I discovered that Achilles loved to touch my stomach, just to feel our child move within me.We went for walks along the beach and even found a private area for the two of us to swim in. The water hitting my bare skin was the most wonderful thing and sent shivers down my spine. Even the baby enjoyed it as I felt it dance and squirm beneath my skin. As I laughed, Achilles came closer to me and I put his hand on my bare stomach to feel the baby moving. He smiled and kissed me tenderly, bringing his body closer to mine in the water. These were moments when I enjoyed being a wife most, especially Achilles's wife.

We got out and redressed before walking back to the palace. Upon our return, we learned that Thetis had come to visit. We quickly made our way to the Great Hall where she was waiting for us. As soon as we entered the room, she smiled and walked towards us, bringing us both close for an embrace, being mindful of my stomach for the baby's sake. She kissed Achilles's cheeks in happiness to see her son alive and safe once again. After, we all sat down together and she placed her hand on my stomach, feeling the baby move and kick all around.

She smiled. "Very much like my Achilles. Always moving about and never resting."

I placed my hand on Achilles's and the other on my stomach. "I cannot wait to meet this child."

"Enjoy this time while you can too. It is one of the most precious times shared in a marriage before your child enters the world." Thetis's voice was warm and motherly. "Achilles, make sure you take care of Briseis. She is giving you one of the most sacred gifts in the world out of love and devotion to you."

Achilles looked at me with an adoring gaze, one I had not seen in a long time. "I always will."

The rest of the evening was spent in conversations about when the baby would arrive and who would deliver the child. I decided that Thetis would be my midwife, which she was delighted at the thought of helping her first grandchild come into the world. Achilles was pleased with my choice, but also protested that he would be in the room with me when I gave birth, a thing that generally was not allowed for men. Thetis conceded on the condition that he not interfere when she was helping me birth the baby, which he agreed to. After dinner, Thetis decided that it was time for her to return to her home. Achilles sent Eudorus to escort her home so that he could see to my well-being. Once Thetis and Eudorus were out of sight, Achilles and I retired for the evening to our room.

Alone, in the privacy of our room, Achilles resumed his soft kisses on my neck and along my jawline, just behind my ear. I truly felt like a goddess as he payed special attention to my needs. He swept me into his arms and placed me in our bed. The baby became more active from all the motion, kicking and fluttering across my belly. Achilles must have felt it because he moved toward my stomach and kissed it. Once the baby calmed down once again, he returned to my side and lay next to me.

"Things are going to change once the baby comes." He placed one hand on my belly.

"I know, but it could never change what is between us."

"Yes it does." He paused. "You becoming the mother of my child only makes me love you that much more. You have given me everything without my asking: your virtue, your hand in marriage, your life in Troy to be here with me, and now a child."

"You have given me a life beyond what I ever could have dreamed." I took his hand with my own. "I've never been so happy as when I'm with you."

"It was so much easier when I was alone, when I was just a warrior. Then I met you and suddenly, nothing made sense anymore. I found that fighting no longer gave me a sense of completeness."

"Do you feel complete now?"

He reached up and carressed my cheek softly. "Yes, now that I have you in my life and our child on the way."

I felt myself smiling and feeling content. Now that Achilles was home, I could rest easily knowing he would be here when our child came into the world. In the back of my mind, I harbored the small fear of giving birth, but did not make in known for the time being because I was just happy to have my husband home and be in his arms again. I snuggled into his arms, feeling warm and protected. He kissed the back of my neck.

"I love you and our child more than you could ever know," he whispered in my ear.

I slightly nudged against him, pressing my back into his stomach. He rested his hand on my belly, just above our baby's heartbeat. Soon, I drifted into a deep sleep. The past six months had not been easy, but now that Achilles was here to help me, I felt more at ease with being with child. As I slept, my body relaxed and melted into my husband's. Together we slept through the night and deep into the morning.

A/N: I do hope that you are enjoying this story. Please review! Thank you so much!!!