I've spent the day re-reading all the book marked Amelie and Oliver scenes I have… this is going to be interesting… but it won't get any more supernatural than it is.

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There was no ocean in Morganville to sit on the beach and watch waves roll in and out. There was no high-end theater to take a date to see a film. There was no peace that ever lasted in the town because pacification was worse than the chaos.

There was a Queen though; a lovely royal Queen. She was icy, cold, ruthless. She was also patient, caring, and equal. She has many skills that helped her obtained her position, and she also had a lot of charm.

At this moment, Oliver, the Queen's second in command, could not remember any of those skills nor charms.

Amelie, the Queen, had called a meeting to be held at the Town Square so she could give a speech involving new law changes for equality.

Oliver rolled is eyes in exasperation as her voice carried through the wind to her subject's ears.

At this moment, Amelie was behind a thick wooden podium that had the Founder's emblem on the front. It was old and a bit tattered, but it still glinted in the sun. She was wearing a pale pink pantsuit, sporting the beginning bump of her pregnancy.

I guess, Oliver thought, I can think of one charm.

The pure happy radiance that was flowing from her had to be the cause of the being forming inside her, and Oliver found it absolutely attractive. He was happy for her. Curious he may be of the child's father, but nevertheless happy.

That had a settling arrangement going on where he was able to see her in private to keep an eye on her health. She was starting to trust him more, open up to him just a little.

Oliver might not know nearly equal to Amelie, but he knew enough to see that this was going to end badly for all.

-0-0-

Her pale fingers drummed on the edge of the podium like a metronome would for a musician. She was still standing there, in the middle of Founder's Square, hands braced on the podium, long after she had finished her address. The humans were starting to have a sway in this town, and equality was starting to almost be palpable.

Amelie smiled as she felt a flutter in her abdomen. She bowed her head as she turned to face the Town Hall at the end of the Square. She nodded to her bodyguards as she made her way back to her office. Amelie's palms were unconsciously holding her protruding belly.

She kicked her heels off upon sitting in her office chair and rubbed her feet. She leaned back with a sigh, her toes barely brushing the floor. Amelie had unbuttoned her silk suit jacket to be able to firmly place her hands on her stomach.

For the past twelve weeks she had enjoyed the luxury of never feeling alone. She was living for this child, even if in the end it killed her.

Myrnin has been looking at her like a science experiment, curious to know every little detail. She thinks he had ever started her pregnancy book for her.

"May I come in?" Oliver asked as he peered through the crack of the big wooden doors to Amelie's office.

"Of course," she said with a genuine smile. She started to slip her heels back on but Oliver spoke.

"Don't get put back together on my account."

Amelia smiled and leaned back into her chair. Oliver took a seat in the one across from her desk and crossed his legs. "How are you feeling?"

Amelie rolled her eyes, and her smiled stayed, "If you keep asking me this…"

Oliver smiled too, glad to see her good mood was keeping. Amelie was staring blankly over his right shoulder. She seemed lost in thought.

"You are taking care of yourself though?"

Amelie nodded, turning her attention back to Oliver. "Yes. Dr. Goldman has been as awestruck by this as we all are. He says he can't be certain wether it will be born vampire or human so for now he has me drinking twice the amount of blood and eating many human foods that I haven't had in ages." She soothingly ran a had over her stomach. It was still too early for there to be any real kicks, but Amelie swore the flutters she felt were the beginnings.

"Can I…?" Oliver asked pointing to her stomach. Amelie hesitated a moment before nodding. Oliver walked around her desk and gently knelt by her side. His hand tentatively reached out to rest on her abdomen.

He could feel no movement below his palm, but he did feel the round firmness her flat stomach had taken on. Oliver was truly speechless. He let his thumb start to lightly brush at the silk material of her blouse. Amelie took this moment to study him. He seemed calm in his tie-dyed Common Grounds shirt and jeans that had seen better days. His salt and pepper hair was pulled back into a loose pony tail at the base of his neck. There was a determined but safe look in his eyes as he stared at her growing child. Amelie thought she could almost see the smile pulling at his lips.

"You will tell me of any changes," Oliver said more than asked as he looked up at her. There was a strange easiness in their intimate moment, one they both would treasure for centuries to come.

"As you wish," Amelie said lightly as she forced herself not to shiver pleasantly under his gaze. She didn't know how much longer they had stayed like this, but she held on to every second.

-0-0-

With the walls of the town being finished off, Amelie could only smile. Her town was paying off. Humans and vampires have been living in close quarters for a few weeks now and not many complaints have arisen. It's almost as if it didn't matter. In a way they were all the same: all wanting to live. Except most had heartbeats, and the others needed heartbeats. She had formed many houses with her own brandish and hoped to see them occupied soon. It was all she could have ever wanted. But after this, if there is an after, she feared she wouldn't have the will or determination to try again. She could only hope that Morganville worked a first time.

-0-0-

Amelie stood on her balcony in her night dress, brushing out her pale locks as the stars slowly started to appear.

"Need I recite Shakespeare?" Oliver asked from below. Amelie smiled to herself and shifted a little to give Oliver more room to jump up next to her.

They stood in companionable silence, watching the stars, listening to the strokes of Amelie's brush through her hair.

"I've been thinking," Amelie started, breaking the silence as she set her brush down on then chaise behind her. "That I shouldn't be seen with a child. Enemies could see it as my weakness— the humans could exploit this. Only you, Myrnin, and Dr. Goldman know of my pregnancy and I would like to keep it at that. At any rate, Myrnin is too insane and preoccupied with studies to stay focused on me. Dr. Goldman is bound by Hippocrates himself to do no harm and to also tell no soul about patients conditions. And you. You I put my faith in to tell no one." I believe I've just handed him the dagger to put in my back, Amelie thought as she tightened her grip on the iron railing.

Oliver nodded slowly, sneaking a glance in her direction. Amelie rocked back on her heels as a little breeze swept through the night.

"I have thought to give Claire the child in the end. She is about on the same track as I and could easily pass having twins."

"You won't raise the child?"

Amelie shook her head sadly, "If this were a different time, or a different place the whole scenario would be different. After little Claire… I do not really know how to explain it other than a shift in me. I see I was never- am never and will never- be fit in the role of a mother." She paused a moment before continuing. "Samuel would have made a great father a second time around."

Oliver didn't say anything, her just inclined his head slightly.

"I suppose it is too late for… other options," Amelie said.

Abortion, Oliver thought. "You enjoy this too much." Amelie smiled at that. She moved her hairbrush down the chaise as she sat down and swung her legs up elegantly. She twisted onto her back and rest her hands just under her belly. Her movements tugged her nightgown firmly across her torso — like an artist tightening the clamps to his canvas. Oliver sat near Amelie's feet as he continued to stare at the peaceful sky.

"Do you wish for a different place often?" Oliver asked, turning his gaze back to her. He watched her thumbs stroking the nightgown soothingly as she thought.

"I suppose. Maybe a beach area where the waves would never falter to kiss the shoreline. Or a jungle where all animals would go through the circle of life with no laws. Possibly even a farmland where cattle would roam and plants would grow by the fields." Amelie held his gaze before asking, "Do you?"

Oliver opened his mouth to start something, but he closed it. He thought for a moment before saying, "I would have liked a palace that overlooked rolling green hills and acres of farmland."

"A palace? All for just yourself?"

"No," Oliver said, "I would have shared it with a wife and our dozen kids. The children would grow and marry but live with us."

Amelie had a faint smile at her lips, "I never knew you could be so sentimental."

"I am not sentimental. Just old and tired of outliving people. After a while it just seems a bit repetitive, does it not?"

Amelie hummed in agreement. She closed her eyes briefly and sighed. Oliver noted the very tired look in her eye. Her porcelain skin wouldn't show the bags of sleepless nights, but the grey, not so human eyes, would.

"I'll take my leave, my Liege," Oliver said, starting to stand. Amelie shook her head.

"I won't sleep. I can't anymore. I worry too much now," Amelie stated.

"You must try, it's good for the child and for your own health," Oliver reasoned.

Amelie closed her eyes again, "I'll do my best." Oliver focused on the moon. Had this been another place, another time, he might be howling on the ledge of mountain somewhere with shaggy hair and four paws.

He chuckled to himself silently and turned to share with Amelie his thoughts. He dared not speak though, seeing as she was finally resting peacefully. Her thumbs had stopped brushing her stomach and her head was tilted to rest comfortably on her shoulder. Her long thin neck was exposed and under the moonlight Oliver could make out very faded silver prong marks. He figured it was where Bishop had bitten her all those lifetimes ago before he had killed Amelie's child.

Oliver swore to himself nothing would happen to this child of hers.

He patted her shins lightly as he stood slowly, trying his best not to disturb her.

Although weird, his gesture was meant to simply display the words he couldn't say.

He cared more than he thought was possibly after all these years. But he supposes he always knew he would.

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