Chapter Twelve
"Ugh, how many floors does this place have?" Aerith asked as she climbed a never ending staircase.
"About thirteen and then there are thirteen more down in the basement." Xaldin answered.
"Can I sit down?"
"Yeah." He said with a laugh.
She sat down on a step and he sat down on the one above her.
"Are you feeling okay?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine." He lied.
"No one could ever be 'fine' after they just lost their father…you can tell me if you're scared. Vexen and Xigbar aren't around it's just us." She stated as she turned to face him.
"I'm just so stressed and depressed and I just don't know what to do." He informed. "I mean I'm only seventeen and I'm a King. I don't know how to do this; I don't know how to run a fucking Kingdom!" He exclaimed.
"That makes two of us." She said softly. "We'll learn…won't we?"
"I dunno…I can't think about the future right now. I can't think about anything." He said.
"Am I a Queen?" She asked.
"Not yet, we have to get married first." He informed.
"Do you want to?" She asked.
"What? Get married?"
She nodded.
"Yes." He answered. "How about you?"
"Yes…for two reasons." She informed.
"And what are they?" He asked as he pulled her in his lap.
"Well…" She began as she buried her face in his hair. "One, because I love you."
"And two?" He asked.
"I'm pregnant."
"What?!?" He exclaimed as he pulled away.
"I'm pregnant." She said again.
He put his hand over his face and took a deep breath. She took this as a sign of frustration.
"Look…I didn't ask for this to happen okay and I'm sorry that it came at a…" She began, but was cut short when Xaldin grabbed her and pulled her into a deep kiss.
"I love you." He said as she he broke the kiss.
"So you're not mad?"
"Why would I be? I love you." He stated.
She smiled as she hugged him tightly.
"I guess we just have to get married a little sooner then."