The morning sun seeped into the bay windows of Prince Manor, brightening up the joined bed chambers of the Duke and Duchess of Glastonbury.
Emilia fluttered her eyes open when she felt soft sucking kisses at the nape of her neck. The corners of her lips lifted to form a sated smile.
"My Lord," she murmured.
"Yes, my love?" Severus hummed softly from behind, his fingers playing with the thin strap of her nightdress before pulling it down. He pressed his nose against her warm skin, breathing in the familiar scent of lavender. A hand trailed up to cup her breast, giving it a firm squeeze earning a low hiss from his Duchess.
"Is something wrong?" Severus whispered into her ear.
Emilia breathed a soft laugh. "I am a little sore and sensitive there."
"Sensitive?" Severus repeated, a little confused before realisation hit him. The Duke carefully turned his wife's body to face him.
His eyes widened with hopeful expectation.
"Are you with child, My Duchess?"
Emilia nodded and took his hand, placing it on her lower belly.
"Exactly seven weeks, My Lord."
Severus breathed out a chuckle. He cupped his wife's face, bringing their lips together in a chaste kiss. He nudged his nose against hers, his dark eyes gazed into her honeyed ones with a tenderness that touched Emilia's heart.
"Thank you, Emilia," he whispered against her lips, fingers gently carding through her brown locks.
"I love you, Severus," Emilia murmured.
"And I you."
Just then, their door burst open.
"Mama! Sienna is atrociously messy!" Alistair Prince muttered in an annoyed tone as he climbed up to his parents' bed.
Emilia snickered a laugh, seeing her husband roll his eyes to the heavens.
"Papa!" Sienna Prince came running into the room. "Alistair is mean!"
The couple sat against the headboard, each with a child in their arms, listening to their early morning complaints on why the other sibling was particularly 'terrible' or 'astonishingly grubby.'
Alistair Prince was the Duke and Duchess' firstborn, with eyes like his mother, hair and nose like his father's. He was only five years old but is eloquent due to his parents' strong involvement in his education. Sienna Prince was the spitting image of her mother, with the same charming smile and curls that easily won her father's heart. It was no secret that she was the apple of Severus' eyes, almost always getting whatever she wanted with just a pout and two kisses on her father's cheeks.
"Mama," Alistair called.
"Yes, love?"
"Is Miss Sophie coming over for afternoon tea?" The boy asked with a hint of blush colouring his cheeks.
"Alistair likes Sophie!" Sienna chimed in, earning a glare from her brother.
"I do not! I'm simply asking Mama if Miss Granger and Miss Sophie are coming for their weekly afternoon tea! Who is to know if they could be sick?" Alistair muttered indignantly with his arms crossed.
Severus and Emilia exchanged a look, a smile threatening to form on their lips.
Emilia kissed her son's temple and ran her fingers through his black hair. "Well, my dear. Bibby will have to check with the Grangers. But, I'm certain Miss Sophie will be attending. She loves our garden far too much to miss today's afternoon tea."
Alistair had a shy smile, similar to his father's. "Thank you, Mama."
"You're welcome, dearest."
Sienna bopped a finger against her father's nose with a sheepish smile. "Papa?"
Severus did not like the little mischievous look on his daughter's face. He narrowed his eyes. "Yes?"
"Could we invite Lord and Lady Potter for afternoon tea?"
"That's not possible. Today is for the Grangers, Sienna," Severus replied, kissing her forehead.
A pout formed on her pink lips. "Could we just invite Harry then?"
Severus scowled. "It's only Harry now?"
"Hehe!" Sienna giggled. She buried her reddened face into her father's chest.
Severus turned to Emilia with a disapproving gaze, appalled that their daughter might be infatuated with a Potter.
The Duchess resisted a smile. "Perhaps we should host a soirée. We could send invitations to Lord and Lady Weasley and their children, Lord and Lady Potter with little Harry and the Grangers. What do you think, My Lord?"
Severus hardened his stare, eyes narrowed.
Sienna looked up to her father, twirling a strand of his hair around her finger. "Please, Papa!"
Emilia intertwined their hands. "Please, Sev," she murmured in a teasing tone.
The Duke turned to his son who had similar hopeful eyes as his mother and sister. Severus sighed deeply in resignation. "I suppose the Princes are due to host a soirée," he mumbled.
The children cheered.
"I told you Papa will say yes!" Sienna laughed.
"Only because Mama suggested it!" Alistair retorted.
Emilia planted a kiss on her husband's cheek.
"Thank you, My Duke."
Severus smiled softly, kissing his wife's temples.
"You're welcome, My Duchess."
Fin