After the children were in bed that night, Ella and James sat on the couch in front of a dimming fire. They were both in their nightclothes, but it felt too early to go to sleep just yet. He had his hand on Ella's stomach, wondering about the child that would soon be growing inside of the woman who was in every way but one was his wife.
"James, what are we supposed to do? The whole town will be calling me a harlot and you… what will they think of us? Living together, raising children that aren't are own, and now… I'm going to have a baby, that isn't my husband's. We're not married James."
He sighed, rubbing her belly with an arm around her. What were people going to think? They'd know, based on time, that the baby wasn't her husband's. In James' eyes, they were married, before God at least. Of course, a ceremony was what the townsfolk needed. If they got married quickly, then they might claim the child to be theirs out of marriage. If they didn't, it would mean disgrace, not only to James and Ella, but to Jack, Holly, and the new baby. Matthew would be spared, though, since he was a legitimate child, and the whole village knew that.
"I know, dearest. But don't worry, everything will be okay. We can make this right, somehow. Ella?"
She looked at him, "Yes?"
He slid down to the floor on one knee, opening a ring box he had in his pocket. "Will you marry me?" He opened the box, and there was a shiny gold ring in the velveteen box.
"Oh…my... Yes, yes of course I'll marry you!" She threw her arms around his neck, tears in her eyes. All she could say, over and over again, was "Yes, yes…"
He lifted her into his lap and kissed her as he slipped the ring on her finger. "Now, my lovely betrothed, you can wear that pretty wedding dress you've been fixing up, 'for Holly'."
She laughed and kissed his cheek, amazed at how it gleamed in the firelight. She remembered the diamond ring her Prince had given her; how it sparkled so on her finger. Somehow, she preferred this.
"I know it's no jeweled ring fit for a Princess, but, it's the best I could do."
She leaned in a kissed him again, sweetly. "James, this is a thousand times better than any ring a prince could give."
Two Months and Lots of Planning Later…
"I'm so nervous." She was pacing the hall of the small chapel. They only had a small room, but it was big enough for her and her one bridesmaid, Holly.
"Mother, you look beautiful, don't be worried. Father and you belong together." Holly wore a pretty lavender dress and carried a small bouquet of Queen Anne's lace, with some braided through her bun.
Ella's own hair was curled, and she had a sprig of the delicate blossom tucked behind her ear. The dress was lovely, with a thin lavender ribbon that match Holly's dress.
They began to play the Brides March, and she sucked in a breath and walked down the aisle with Holly a little in front of her. The flower girl was a child that Holly would look after sometimes and a great playmate for Matthew, who was the ring bearer.
James was waiting at the end of the small aisle of the chapel. He wore the suit they had found in the trunk, and the chapel was filled with the townsfolk (it was a very small village indeed)
The ceremony was simple and beautiful. Ella's pregnancy wasn't showing yet, and they took their vows with love, hope, and a smile. The whole place clapped when they kissed, and the children linked arms and danced in a circle.
They had a big meal with friends at the house, and everyone was laughing and talking. Children ran around with sweets, and the adults talked over chicken and greens.
"James, Ella, we want you to know how happy we all are for you. It hasn't been an easy year for any of us, especially you. It's so good to you moving on with your life. When are you going to think about children? Well, you have a big enough family as it is…"
One of their closest friends, Arianna, congratulated them. They smiled, wondering exactly how to answer. Ella spoke.
"We love Jack, Holly, and Matthew so much, but we defiantly want a baby of our own very soon. I just hope I don't start showing quickly once I am pregnant."
Arianna laughed and took her hand, "With your small waistline, you'll probably start showing at two months, and you'll like four! Don't worry; we all know that you two wouldn't dream of being so scandalous before the wedding."
Everyone laughed and continued to converse, but Ella and James glanced at each other before joining back in with the merriment. Hopefully, they'd believe Ella's story, and the child, the illegitimate child, would be claimed as theirs, a product of the wedding night, not before.
It was late that evening when everyone left. Arianna had taken the children to give them privacy, and they were almost finished cleaning up when James made his first move.
"Ella darling, is it safe to have relations while you're pregnant?"
She put the last dish in the sink and turned around. "As far as I know, why?"
He kissed her hard, pressing her back into the counter. That was the only way you could tell she was pregnant, was if you pressed up against her, and he felt it now, not that he cared. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. They stumbled their way to the bedroom, remembering that the first time they had done this, she had been in the exact same dress. Though they had spent a few blissful nights together, this one would be the best of them all.
The sun was high in the sky when they both stirred the next morn. Ella blinked at the sunlight, and she felt James shift next to her.
"Honey, are you awake?" He flipped onto his side and stared at his new wife. She let out a sigh and opened her eyes, only to be met by his dark ones.
"I hope you slept well, my lovely wife." They both grinned at this. He leaned down and gently kissed her before moving out of the bed. She lay there a little longer, still warm and happy, although slightly in a daze from sleep. Yesterday had been one of the best days of her life, and she wished it could have stayed yesterday for forever.
However, she had to wake up today, and pulled herself from the bed. James raised an eyebrow at her, remembering the time she refused to get out of bed because she'd been without clothes. Now, although she felt bare, she didn't voice her concerns. They were married now, this was part of the deal. She shook her head at him and pulled some clothes on, anxious to get the children home.
It was then that she suddenly got a terrible, sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, and ran to the window before throwing up whatever was left in her stomach. James came over and rubbed her back as she slid to the floor, arms around her waist.
"Honey, are you alright? Do you want something to drink?"
She sat on the floor and pushed the hair out of her face. "No honey, I'm fine. I guess it's just morning sickness."
He helped her up, and they kept on getting ready. The house seemed so silent, so empty without the children in it. Although they would usually be asleep right now, it was still so shocking. They had both gotten used to the presence of the children, even when they couldn't see or hear them. Now, without them there, it was so… different.
After breakfast, a small, silent one without children bustling about, they went into town to get them.
When they knocked on Arianna's door, Holly threw open the door. Jack stood behind her, with Matthew blinking in Arianna's arms.
"Yay, we can go home! Not that your house isn't nice Arianna, but home is home." She laughed and handed Matthew to his father. Before they left, Arianna pulled on Ella's sleeve and motioned for her to come inside. She smiled at the children.
"We're going to talk for a moment, you can go without me." James shot her a look, but turned and left, with Holly skipping ahead of him.
Once they were gone, her friend began talking. "How close are Holly and Jack?" She stared at her, thinking.
"He annoys her, but they're siblings. Did something happen?"
She nodded, glancing around. "I saw them in the garden together."
Why was that a problem? Maybe Jack was torturing her, which defiantly wouldn't be good. She'd have a talk with him at home, about being kinder toward his sister. The times he'd taken her cloak were numerous, but maybe he'd done something worse this time- he wouldn't lay a hand on her, would he? Perhaps they had gotten in a fight, and had been fist fighting.
"He…um, they… they were kissing."
Her eyes almost popped out of her head. Kissing? They were siblings! Well, not by blood, but they had been living with each other for over a year. When had their relationship turned amours? He was only five- and ten, her only four-and ten. How could they have had…this, and not told either of them? She scanned her memory for anything that might suggest a relationship like the one they were discussing. The times they had held hands, which had been very few, could that have been a clue? When they were outside together, could this very thing have happened, but with no witness? Her head was spinning by the thoughts of this.
"Did you talk to them?"
She shook her head, "No, I didn't know what to say. I didn't know the situation. But, you didn't know? Oh no, I should have said something."
"No Arianna, its good you told me. Thank you, for everything. Now, I should get going." They hugged and she left, walking through the woods. She remembered the times she alone had gone through the woods. How Aden… No, she shouldn't think of him now. She was happily married, with a child on the way and three more at home.
Home was wonderful when she got there. Jack had a fire going, and Matthew was asleep in Holly's arms. She pulled James aside when they were settled.
"James, Jack and Holly were kissing in the garden at Arianna's." His eyes got larger than hers had been, but he didn't stop and think. He went into the other room and stood with arms crossed in front of them, and determined, almost angrey look on his face.
"What happened at Arianna's?"
They looked at him, surprised, shocked, and looking caught. Jack stood up.
"We…um…you know what happened. We're not little children, you should know that." He was trying to be a man, to stand up for his first love.
James rubbed his temples. "How long has this been going on?"
He shrugged, "A month, maybe two. Don't worry it's nothing too serious. We just don't feel like brother and sister anymore, and not friends either. Like…something."
Ella nodded and James sighed. "Don't let it get too serious. You're still too young for any sort of permanent relationship, understand? But…just be careful, and cautious. Okay? Don't hide it from us."
They nodded, and Jack slid on the floor to sit next to Holly, who fixed him with a sweet, innocent grin. He leaned in and flicked her nose with his finger and she giggled, looking at her parents. They just grinned, going into the bedroom.
Ella stopped with a gasp, putting a hand to her belly. It was just starting to get round. James stopped next to her, putting a hand behind her back.
"Ella darling, is everything okay?"
She was grinning when she looked up, and she took his hand and put it to her belly with a smile. "The baby just kicked. Come on honey, kick again, kick for Papa." And sure enough, he felt a small movement against his hand. He looked down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Their family was getting closer and closer to complete.