Halt woke the next morning in a warm comfortable bed he didn't know where he was at first then he remembered last night and reached out for his pregnant girlfriend but found the bed empty. He lifted his head and looked around the room just in time to see Pauline walking in with a tray. He quickly turned to take it from her sitting her down next to him she looked pale. "Are you alright?" He asked. She smiled softly "morning sickness... I'm ok now... I wanted to collect us something to eat." Halt pulled her back into bed tucking her in next to him and kissed her temple "you should be resting not bringing me breakfast again." She smiled "but I enjoy my days of bringing you breakfast... And you can't keep me confined to bed for 6 more months" she said and reached up to stroke his cheek softly. "I suppose not" he said laying down beside her. She rested her head on his chest a thoughtful look on her face "Halt?" She said gently. "Hmm" "what will we do once I cant hide my pregnancy anymore?" She asked softly "or when the baby is born even." Halt frowned they had been so excited about the child they hadn't thought of the implications of an unmarried pregnant woman on their lives. "Well we can't hide it forever I suppose... They will find out you are pregnant but they don't have to know who the father is if you don't want," he said. "I want you with me... I don't think I can handle something like this on my own..." She said rubbing the small bump at her stomach. He kissed her temple "Pauline I can't marry... It's against the corps I'll lose my job" he said softly nuzzling her cheek. She nodded "I know... I hate that for our child..." She paused "do you think we can do this? Do you want to keep the baby?" Halt looked at her surprised "you wouldn't-" "no Halt I wouldn't harm our child... I meant do you think we should put him or her up for adoption?" She said. He actually looked hurt at the thought "is that what you want?" He asked. "I'll admit I thought about it a lot over the past few weeks since I found out... But every time I did I couldn't bear the thought of giving up our child. We made this baby together out of love I want to raise him or her together the same way" she said. Halt nuzzled her softly and kissed her temple "then that is exactly what we will do. We will find a way." She smiled at him and snuggled close to him her arms wrapping around him to hug him tight.
They spent the day together quietly and in private and spent that night together once more in his room this time so as not to attract attention. They lay together in bed the blankets wrapped around their waist her head resting on his chest. She toyed with the blankets near his side. "I have to leave the castle tomorrow" he said softly. She sighed "I know" she said softly "I heard the King mention it... I'll miss you, when will you be back?" He frowned "another few months..." He reached over and caressed her stomach resting his hand on their child "I'm going to miss watching him or her grow" he said gently. "You will also miss watching me grow... I can't say I blame you for that" she said resting her hand on his. "I wish I could be there more than anything," he said nuzzling her temple. "You will be there for the birth?" She asked. "No matter what?" He promised nuzzling her softly. She smiled and nodded if nothing else she would have him for that and she had his love again, she rested her head back on his chest and breathed in his scent memorizing him he smiled of the forest and coffee. She let her eyes drift shut happily she would enjoy one more night in his arms.