Chapter 6

"What's wrong, Edward?"

"My father and James were killed during a peace negotiation with the revolutionaries. They were ambushed as they left the meeting."

"James was with you? And your father is dead."

"Yes, we went to pick James up from the military training and took him with us."

"But why are you standing here?"

"Because I masquerade as a guard and they attacked their carriage."

"Could they have been taken prisoner?"

"No, once they were dead, they left the bodies knowing our guards would check."

"Edward, you are now the King of France."

"Yes and you are my pregnant Queen of France, Bella." and with that I fainted into his arms.

EPOV

"Charlotte, please come in here. Peter, get the doctor first and then get Bella's parents." Charlotte and I got Bella comfortable in our bed and Bella slowly came back around in ten minutes. The doctor came in two minutes later. I was holding her in my arms while she cried. The doctor got Bella laying down on the bed and started checking me out. I then just held Bella's hand.

She turned and looked at me and said, "Edward, I'm sorry. It was just a very large shock to my system. The death, your family and us becoming King and Queen."

"I agree; I have had the last two hours for it to sink in. You, Bella, are also pregnant, as well."

"Your majesties, Bella and the baby appear to be fine. I suggest that Bella stay in bed and rest as much as possible for a few days."

"Thank you, doctor for checking on Bella."

"What do you mean?" my parents said as they came in.

"Mr. Swan, please come with me. Bella, please explain to your mother while you put on your best black gown. Charlotte and Mrs. Swan please assist Bella and make sure that she does not fall or collapse again."

"What for?" Mrs. Swan asked.

"We're about to be crowned the King and Queen of France within the hour. Peter, will you get out my clothes please?"

"I can't do this," Bella said.

"Yes, you can, Bella," and I walked back up to her pulled her in close. I lifted her chin up so that I could see her face. "You don't have to do this with a smile; but you do have to do it. Just get us both through the funeral and we can hide for awhile. I promise, two weeks with no commitments for you to plan."

"OK."

"Mrs. Swan, does she have an all black dress?"

"Yes, she does."

"Help Bella get ready. Your husband and I will be back with the crowns."

Within two hours, we were in the castle chapel taking our oaths and having our crowns placed on our heads all through tears from both of us. Next I escorted her to the castle balcony, where we were announced to all as the new King and Queen of France. I announced that the funerals would be the following Saturday. I then turned and escorted Bella off the balcony and headed towards our suites.

"Bella."

"Yes, your highness. I'm sorry I guess now I should call you, your majesty."

"That's okay, I like how you sat your highness. Bella, we will be going all through Paris next Saturday in our carriage but we will have guards all around us."

"Edward, can I fiend pregnancy and stay here?"

"Bella, I want to keep the guards altogether. Please try and come with me."

"Edward, I am seventeen, pregnant and queen of your country."

"Yes, you are. But yesterday you were still seventeen, pregnant and Princess doing the same things as today."

"Okay, I'll keep it together."

"Good and after next Saturday, I promise you nothing for two weeks to plan and work on."

"Edward, may I please go to our room?"

"By all means, I will check on you shortly. Your mother and Charlotte will come with you."

"Thank you, Edward." I kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you and will always protect you."

BPOV

When Edward returned to our room two hours later, he found my mother holding me while I was laying in them in her arms in my dressing gown. Edward looked at my mother and mouthed, "Sorry."

"Your royal majesty. She's asleep; but when I try to move, she clings even tighter. I would tell you to call the doctor; but with her pregnancy, I wouldn't. I think part of her reaction is because of her pregnancy."

"I agree," he said. "But how do we move her from you to me?"

"Once you take over, your royal majesty, she will not let you go."

"That's fine; I promised to take care of her. Mrs. Swan, she's going to need all black for a year."

"I know."

"There will be black fabric delivered tomorrow. Hire as many seamstresses, as necessary."

"The bigger problem is how much her body will change in the next twelve months."

"Don't worry about it, I understand. Now Mrs. Swan, I will have Peter help me into my dressing gown and robe. Do you mind seeing me like that so that we can trade places?"

"No, just please return with Peter and Charlotte."

"Thank you."

"Your royal majesty, when do you need to leave the suite tomorrow, so that I can be back by then."

"10:00 am. You are going to be our savior through all of this, Mrs. Swan. Thank you, again."

When I returned, I sat on the opposite side of her from her mother. I took Bella's hands from her mother and whispered, "I am here, my queen." Bella was fighting me, but I gently pulled her towards me and after she heard my whisper; she loosened her hold and rolled into my arms. Her hands were immediately clinging to my chest. Charlotte then helped Mrs. Swan off the bed and she left us to let us try and sleep. Peter helped me move to the headboard while I was holding Bella where our pillows were waiting for us. Charlotte and Peter covered us with blankets. Once all the rustling calmed down, Bella curled into a tighter ball into my arms. She continued sobbing on and off all night long, but I just held her and comforted her all night. At 10:00 am, Charlotte knocked and said, "Your royal majesty, Mrs. Swan is here."

"Please show her in and bring Peter in here, as well."

"Edward."

"Yes Bella. Just a minute, Charlotte. Have her mother wait in the sitting room."

"I'm awake."

"Are you ready to get up?"

"Not quite," and I pulled her in close to me and said, "Go ahead and stay in bed for awhile."

"Your mother will be in shortly. I'll try to join you for lunch; but I'll definitely meet you for dinner. I'm so sorry, Bella; but please remember that the doctor to told you to rest for the next couple days, too."

"Thank you for your patience with me, your highness. I love you and I promise to work from our sitting room and try to take a nap, today."

I kissed her fore head and said, "I love you and we will be okay, I promise." But I need to get to work. I got out of bed and went to get ready for the day with the assistance of Peter.

BPOV

My mother and Charlotte came into my room and sat with me while I ate. My husband, the King of France, left and went to work. I couldn't believe he was now the ruler of the country. I finally put my robe on and my mother and I went into my sitting room. By noon, I was dressed and my mother was working on more clothes for me. My new secretary, the King's old secretary and I were working on funeral plans when Edward came in at 5:00 PM to our suite. The staff curtsied to him and said, "We are sorry, your royal majesties."

"Thank you. Thank you for helping Bella with the funeral and dinner on Saturday. Now if you'll excuse us, I would like to have an early dinner with my wife."

"Yes, your royal majesty. Your majesty will 10:00 AM work for you tomorrow."

"Yes, good night."

Edward walked us back to bedroom and asked me, "Do you have a black traveling dress?"

"Yes."

"Have Charlotte help you put it on?"

"Okay." As I left my dressing closet, Edward met me with a picnic basket, "Where are we going?" I asked.

I realize where he was leading me and as I started to speak Edward said, "Sshhhhh." Ten minutes later, we were in the rowboat in the water passages. Edward rowed us into the tunnels for a while. He finally pulled the paddles in, and we floated, cuddled in each other's arms, ate and talked for a long while.

"Thank you, Edward, I needed this quietness."

"Your welcome, I needed this time with you, just as much. Maybe over the next two weeks, we can come down here some more."

"Sounds lovely. Edward, I am so sorry about last night."

"Bella, you have nothing to be sorry for. You were in need and your mother and I were there for you."

"Thank you, your highness. Shall we go back to the castle?"

"Can we sit by the fire in our room?"

"Of course."

An hour later, we were sitting down by our fire in our bedroom. Charlotte helped me with my dressing gown and robe. She was brushing out my hair when Edward came in. He sent Charlotte away and continued brushing my hair. Once he sat my brush down, he walked us to bed and we laid down together. "Edward?"

"Yes."

I rolled to him, "How are you doing in all of this?"

"As best as I can. There is so much for a king to do, especially an eighteen year old."

"Is there anything I can do to help you; since there is so much you are helping me with?"

"Bella, just you being here at night and being my balance point is what I need right now. And you are already taking great care of our castle and property."

"Let's just take everything one day, one week and one month at a time."

"I agree, your highness." Edward leaned over and kissed my neck; his hand was draped over my breasts. Our personal needs and sadness brought us together quickly that night after Edward whispered in my ear, "I need to feel you closer to you, Bella. May I?" I just kissed him in response to his question. So that is what we did, Edward again held me all night on the night of the funeral.