Alina is lying in bed, in the royal chambers, surrounded by an unnecessary amount of elaborately colourful pillows, relishing in the rare serenity. Ever since she became Queen of Ravka, there's hardly any room for such tranquillity. Whatwith the stress and long hours of ruling a country, keeping borders secure, and the people safe.
Next to her, her husband's body is wrapped around her, holding her close. The room is dimly lit with only a few candles burning around them, and the royal chamber's red and gold embroidered curtains drawn shut. Both Alina and Aleksander keep their eyes closed, relishing in the calmness that's wrapped around them. Just like the way the soft silky bedding is wrapped around them. The only sound in the room comes from the Grisha children playing outside in the royal gardens, giggling, and screeching in delight, celebrating merrily the end of classes for the day.
Ever since Alina and Aleksander became the King and Queen of Ravka, they had to expand the Little Palace, a school and safe place for all Grisha, as their numbers increased significantly after they ascended the throne. They also allow children and any other Grisha access to the royal gardens, the Grand Palace Library, which is twice as large as the one at the Little Palace, and anywhere else they wish to go to for that matter. Something that the former king would never have agreed to.
Alina continued listening to the children's merry sounds when she felt Aleksander stirring at her back. He was slowly waking up from his well-deserved nap as his arms lazily tightened around Alina and moved to kiss her lightly on the temple.
"Hey," he rumbled.
"Hi." Alina smiled slightly, snuggling deeper into her husband's embrace. "This is nice."
"It is." He took a deep breath and began tracing the side of her face with kisses, slowly reaching her shoulder.
"Do you think Ravka would be fine if we hid here for a few days?" Alina asked, only half-joking.
"I highly doubt it," he responded, "This is Ravka after all."
This made Alina laugh a little. He was right, of course. This was Ravka and there was hardly ever a moment of peace here, even though, they weren't actively at war for the moment. Based on Ravka's track record, this would doubtfully last much longer. However, there have hardly been any issues between Ravka and her neighbouring countries, Shu Han and Fjerda, since Alina and Aleksander were crowned.
This was something else that has improved since the old King forcefully abdicated the throne, with the help of the former Prince Nikolai now Captain Strumhold or Lord Nikolai depending on where you find him, and promptly exiled, far away from Ravka. Both Alina and Aleksander wished to have him executed for his incompetence in ruling the country all these years and his continuous abuse of power, especially when it came to the Palace servant, but were subtly talked out of that by the golden-throated Prince.
"Well, we can stay here a little while longer, right?" Alina asks as she turns around, still under the covers, to face her husband.
Aleksander tangled a hand in Alina's snow-white hair. "Yes, I suppose we can," Aleksander responds, a small smile grazing his lips. "For a little longer."
Alina stretches up towards him, moving her face closer to his, and gives him a small kiss. "Good."
After a moment's pause Aleksander asks, "So, are you finally going to tell me what you've been trying to tell me for days?"
Alina stills. "What do you mean?"
"Alina, I can tell you want to tell me something, he replayed, quietly. "I keep catching you looking at me, ready to say something but you always stop yourself from doing so. What's going on?"
Alina lets out a long breath. "Okay, fine. I've been trying to find a special way to tell you this but kept coming up empty." She tilted her head up slightly and looked into his eyes. "I'm pregnant."
She held her breath waiting for the reaction she knew was coming, but for a long moment there was nothing. His face was completely devoid of emotion. Then his mouth split into a giant smile, his unusual, grey eyes shined as bright as the sun, which was a little funny given that he was a man made of darkness, and he said, "You are? Truly?"
Alina grinned, "Yes. Yes I am."
He let out a breathy laugh and dropped kisses all over her face, "That's amazing, Alina. I can't believe you waited this long to tell me."
"I know." Alina wined, clutching on the front of his shirt. "I wanted to turn it into a special occasion but kept coming up with nothing. Not to mention that we hardly had any time on our own like this in longer than a week."
Aleksander laughed again, "Okay, fine. That's true. Do you know how far along you are?"
Alina kisses the side of his mouth. "The Healer said a little over a month."
"Any symptoms, yet?"
"No, not really. Except that I'm always sleepy and hungry."
"Well, that could apply to any other given day," he joked, laughing softly.
"Hey!" Alina shoved him slightly, which only made him laugh louder.
"What? I'm not lying, am I?" It was hard to stay mad at him. Especially, with all that joy written all over his face.
In all honesty, Alina would never have guessed that he wanted or even liked children. But she would often catch him looking at the young Grisha playing together in the royal garden with a soft almost wistful smile on his face. She also noticed he visited the children at the Little Palace more often than he had to, always bringing them presents and making sure they felt safe and comfortable, and that their lessons weren't too much, too tiring for them. That was when Alina figured it out. He wanted children of his own. That was the moment she decided that they should have a talk about it. That was why, just a few months ago, on another quiet night after their dinner, she sat him down and told him of what she realised and that she, too, wanted the same thing. It was that same night they decided to start trying, right away, much to both their delight.
"I almost can't believe this is happening for us so quickly," Alina said after a few moments of silence.
"I know. I can't believe it either. I certainly expected us to keep trying for longer than this."
Alina giggled, "I bet you did. We could still try for fun, you know."
"Well, I would definitely like that," Aleksander responded while pulling Alina under him, placing his hand on her abdomen for a short moment. Then, he bent down and kissed her deeply on the lips.
The End