And so, the coronation day went pretty well, and their lives resumed back to normal-ish, with now duties to help people and figure out problems.
A couple of months passed to a day where the indication that Ariel was truly pregnant started with first kicks while she and Eric is relaxing and bathing in the luxury bath together.
Ariel was resting with her eyes closed when she first felt it. She honestly almost didn't feel that first one with how light it had been. "Something the matter?", Eric asked.
Ariel blinked as she looked over her shoulder at Eric who was soaping her back, having paused when he saw Ariel tense up, sitting on the step of the luxury bath.
"I don't know. I must have imagined it when I was closing my eyes to daydre-Oh!", Ariel gasped in surprise when a harder kick came.
"What?", Eric started to get a bit worried as Ariel chuckled, "Easy... easy, Eric, it's okay. That... that was our little one... they're kicking...".
Eric widened his eyes, gasping in surprise, whispering, "They're kicking?", and Ariel nodded, turning around, rubbing her belly that is truly swelling up, and gently grabbed his hand to rest on her belly, "Come on, little one, kick for Daddy.", and soon, not one, but two kicks came at almost the same time.
"I guess the baby is using both of its feet to kick.", Ariel chuckled, seeing Eric tearfully smile with a sob. "It's... it's really happening...", Eric started to tear up a bit.
"It is... we're going to have an heir... a child of our own.", Ariel was doing the same as well as she was finding it somewhat hard to hold the tears of joy back. Eric smiled tenderly, "Oh, Ariel, we're going to be parents.", tearing up happily.
Ariel nodded excitedly, "Yes.", feeling the kicks light and hard, and smiled at Eric, "I think it's time to see the doctor, and after telling Grimsby and Carlotta, we can send a fish to Daddy and the girls...maybe Daddy can check for himself just to believe with his eyes.".
"Do..do you think it's possible to find out the gender with his help?", Eric asked curiously yet happily. "Maybe... after all, if the trident can be able to tell my sister that I'm pregnant, surely by now we should hopefully know if it's a boy or a girl.", Ariel smiled as Eric nodded.
"Might be a bit of a challenge though, do you think it's wise for you to change into a mermaid right now?" Eric asked. Ariel smiled gently, "That's why I suggested sending a fish to inform Daddy and the girls that we have news. We can wait on the ocean steps, and Daddy can check no matter whichever way I am.".
"I see. Very smart. And of course, we wouldn't want to do anything to risk the little one, after all.", Eric kissed her cheek as Ariel slowly stood up with Eric giving her a hand.
"If there's one complaint that I have about being human... it's that I hate wrinkling up when in the water for too long.", Ariel said with a huff.
Eric laughed, "I'll give you that, but you look so gorgeous, carrying our child right now.", taking her in his arms and kissed her on the lips passionately.
Ariel moaned contentedly, wringing her hands in his hair, and after the kiss finished, she slyly chuckled, "Easy, big boy, wait until tonight, and then you will ravish me all you want.", with a finger bopping his nose teasingly.
"You know, if the priest found out...", Eric chuckled. "I don't see anything wrong with a man making his wife happy.", Ariel teased back as Eric nodded.
"True; doubt he would complain too much considering it's still between us.", Eric said as the two of them quickly started to dry off.
Ariel smiled, "That's for sure.", feeling the kicks, "I think we got a water enthusiast here. He or she wants to go back in the water.".
Eric chuckled warmly, "I don't blame them as they have your heritage as part of them. Gosh, we can teach them how to swim, to sail, to respect the sea.", with an excited smile.
Ariel kissed his cheek, "That will all come in time, my love. Now, it's time to enjoy the peace while we can.", with a chuckle as they finished drying off, putting themselves in simple clothes as today's a casual day in the palace, no meetings or duties.
"Agreed, this one certainly won't give us a break... I know Carlotta and some of the other maids will want to try and take our hands off and help raise the child themselves like how much of the continent does...", Eric said.
"No.", Ariel sternly and sharply said. "No, we'll raise this child as our own, like so many other humans do with theirs. Despite their nobility, they'll be raised like they're a commoner... with loving parents that will try to spend as much time with them.".
Eric chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "That's the mother side coming out. You're going to be a splendid mother.", kissing her temple, "And yes, I agree. We will try our best.", rubbing her belly lovingly for a moment before heading out of the luxury bathing room, and seeking the royal doctor, and yeah, with a stethoscope and such, Ariel is definitely pregnant, and soon, the palace knew the news as it came and went like a zipping bird.
They then headed to the ocean steps, with Ariel calling for a moment before a dolphin came in, thrilling and chirping, and she asked him to head to Atlantica to inform the king and sisters that she and Eric has good news.
"Probably not exactly how he'd expect to hear that news.", Ariel chuckled as Eric nodded, "Too bad we won't see the look on his face when he gets that news for sure."
True that Ariel and Eric couldn't see the look on Triton's face, but Ariel's sisters indeed did. In Atlantica, in the palace, in the dining hall, the family is having lunch, conversation all over the place, with Triton happily listening.
"It honestly feels so much quieter these days with Ariel gone...", Arista admitted. "You're noticing this now?", Adella teased.
Aquata chuckled, "Ariel was the best one to cause drama, but she wasn't dramatic compared to me." Andrina snorted, "Oh, really? If I recall, she was dramatic when she hit that rude prince on the nose.", subtly hinting to that night in the girls' dorm under Triton's ears.
Triton raised an eyebrow as the girls all blushed. "Uh, Andrina... you want to say that louder in front of Daddy?", Attina gave her a look.
Andrina blinked and redirected, "I mean, if you think about it, if it was me, or any of you guys, would you hit that rude prince if we weren't already having soulmates and all?".
Alana replied, "Ariel had a point when she talked about that guy nagging on her even when she was being polite in hosting him and his family. And yeah, I suppose I'd have hit him if he was rude in his attitude if he had talked about any of us inappropriately.".
The other girls nodded in agreement as family is most important to them, and Triton replied, "I suppose I was rash that day, but I was wanting to give Ariel security and all...I have to admit that Eric is a better man than that prince...I only hope his parents have cooled off to attempt a trade agreement again...", with a sigh.
"I'm sure it'll all work out.", Attina assured him. "Just again, maybe give it a bit more time before trying anything again. And certainly, they might be a bit more understanding when they know about Ariel's marriage.".
"How do you think we'll explain that?", Aquata smirked. "That Ariel's human now and already married and a Queen of a surface kingdom?"
Arista whistled, "That's a tough one...", nodding lightly, and Adella replied, "I know it's honest to tell the whole truth, but couldn't you do a little bit of truth? I mean, every kingdom knows by now that Ariel was stranded on an island, and came home safely, but they don't know the specifics of what happened, really. So, maybe say that you gave permission to Ariel to get married to a nomad ex-prince merman who was at the island and traveling the seas with him hence why she's not here.".
"And it's technically true as Eric is a sailor, and he's a king, not a prince anymore, so there would be times he would be needed to travel to other kingdoms to have trade agreements and meetings and such.", Attina hummed as she glanced at Triton.
'I suppose we'll think of something there.", Triton admitted. "That's not a bad idea.", with an approving nod. "Well, I am going to be Queen one of these days. I usually should be the one thinking of good ideas.", Attina smiled.
Triton smiled warmly, "Your mother would be so proud of you, all of you.", gazing over each of his daughters as Ariel had told them of her experience of seeing Athena in limbo.
All the girls smiled happily, and the sound of Sebastian was then heard, "Your Majesty, princesses, I have a messenger here to inform you something from Ariel and Eric.", as Sebastian came in, with the dolphin at his side.
Thankfully, Atlantica's magic somehow aids dolphins to breathe without needing to go to the surface when they normally could only hold their breath for 8-10 minutes, and with the fact that Atlantica is on the ocean floor, deep from the surface.
Attina was smirking as she could already tell what the news was about and was just waiting for the response from the rest of the family.
"Your Majesty...", the dolphin began. "I come with news from King Eric and Queen Ariel themselves... the Queen is expecting a child.". The messenger got pretty much straight to it; since there wasn't too much that Ariel told him other than to inform the Atlantica royals that she was pregnant.
"Say what?! Oh, my Poseidon! She's first in getting married, and now she's first in being pregnant?! We're gonna be aunts! Already?!", the sisters' voices clamored in shock, surprise, and joy. Attina glanced at Triton to see his expression.
Triton was certainly speechless at the news; part of him obviously was trying to make the connection which Attina chuckled, "Don't worry, Daddy, it was the wedding night when that happened. Don't think Ariel and Eric tried anything before then.".
Aquata squealed happily, "We got a baby niece or nephew to spoil! Oh, Daddy, breathe, you're a grandfather...", and Triton exhaled slowly, a smile slowly appearing when he heard that...He's going to have a grandson or granddaughter...His baby girl is a mother...
He looked at the dolphin, "Anything else?", and the dolphin messenger nodded, "Yes, your majesty, they're waiting on the ocean steps, wanting to see you and the princesses, but couldn't come down because of the baby since they want to be careful.".
Attina nodded. "Smart decision at this point in time. She was maybe risking it even then when she first came here; I don't think the baby can take being shifted from a human mother to a mermaid at this point in time."
Arista grinned, "What are we waiting for, then? Let's go!", and Triton glanced at Sebastian who nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take care of any remaining duties today, sire. Go on and congratulate them for me.", with a warm smile.
Triton nodded appreciatively, "Thank you, Sebastian. Thank you, messenger.", and the dolphin nodded before leaving with a thrill, and smiled at his daughters, "We have family to visit.", and the girls cheered, leaving the dining table as Triton swam quickly to grab the trident out of the stand, and joined the girls, heading out of the palace, out of Atlantica, to the surface, to their youngest sister and son-in-law.
"How long does it take for a dolphin to send a message?", Eric asked as he and Ariel mostly were relaxing on the shore; shaded by a nearby cliff as they waited for the rest of the family to show up.
"Not too long; Daddy more than likely would want to take care of some business first, I would think.", Ariel said. Eric smiled softly, "Well, didn't you say that family is important? I think your sisters would be too excited to allow your father to take care of duties, and besides, Sebastian knows Atlantica almost as well as your father, right?".
Ariel giggled softly, "You have a very good point, my love.", leaning her head on his shoulder, "I still can't believe that we are expecting...", rubbing her belly gently as she felt kicks.
"Our little one certainly does a lot of moving.", Eric chuckled as Ariel nodded. "Certainly feels that way for sure. It's going to get worse though, I'm sure... I'll probably not getting that much sleep...", Ariel laughed.
Eric laughed warmly, "And I will be there to help calm this bundle of mischief to sleep, my little mermaid.", kissing her on the temple with a smile as he joined into the rubbing of her belly, and Ariel sighed happily, "Yes, that would be so nice.".
Soon, they heard bubbles and splashes, and they looked over to see Ariel's sisters and Triton appearing, and Eric smiled, helping Ariel up, grateful that they aren't wearing their bracelets as they got to a flat boulder, sitting down as Ariel was soon crowded, being hugged by her sisters excitedly, with exclamations of joy and happiness as they felt the kicks with their hands.
"You are nervous, aren't you, Eric?", Triton asked softly with a knowing smile, and Eric exhaled, "More than you know, sire, but I love her, and our child, and I won't leave them ever as they are part of my family, my life, and my heart.".
"I'm glad to hear that... I had my doubts, I'll admit.", Triton told him. "I know, most of Europe's monarchs and nobility does leave the care of their children to the servants.", Eric informed. "I intend to do different there and actually be in the life of my children.".
Triton smiled, "Good.", as he then turned his attention to Ariel who hugged him happily, "Oh, Daddy! You're going to be a grandfather!".
"I'm so happy for you, Ariel...I intend to help support this child as much as you two will.", Triton nodded warmly, and Ariel smiled widely, "I know...Can you do something for us? We are hoping that the trident could find out the gender...".
Triton gave them a somewhat curious look as Attina swam up and put her hands on the trident, "Allow me, Daddy. I already used this to help find out she was already carrying; I think now it can check to see if she's having a boy or girl.".
Triton chuckled, "I should have known...You didn't react similarly like your sisters. Very well.", giving the trident to Attina, who immediately tipped it on the surface of the water, focusing directly as she laid her hand on Ariel's belly, and everybody watched with anticipation and amazement as a golden transparent orb appeared like a bubble of sorts above the trident, a large sized bubble, and then everyone gasped in shock as they saw not one, but two babies, curled up with occasional kicks.
"So... I guess that wasn't both feet kicking then...", Eric was the first to say something as he didn't really know what else to say. Having one was something special, but twins? "I'm... two... I'm having two...", Ariel was just as stunned.
Adella replied, "Wow...This is incredible...Daddy, did you say that our grandmother on your side was one of twin girls?", and Triton nodded numbly, amazed and stunned that he's a grandfather to two...
Attina focused on something, and the babies subtly glowed different auras of color, and then laughed shortly in amazement, "It's a boy and a girl.".
Ariel chuckled for a moment as she rubbed her belly, "Well, that settles that male heir issue then." Eric rolled his eyes hearing that. "I wouldn't have had an issue if all we had was girls. Your father obviously doesn't mind.", Eric looked back at Triton.
Triton chuckled warmly, "My father had changed one of the laws that Atlantica can be ruled by either a male or a female heir as long as they're fair to everyone, kind, strict, and quite acknowledgeable on royalty traditions and such, and I am glad I have chosen well in Attina, and I am sure Athena would have been quite proud as well.".
Eric looked thoughtful, "You may have a point...After all, who knows if our son doesn't want to rule?", and Ariel asked, "Wait, you...you changed the law, didn't you?".
With a smile, "It took some convincing with the court and such, but yes, I changed the law last month...Surprise.", Eric chuckled.
Ariel gave him a look as Eric held his hands up. "I was sort of preparing for perhaps a worst case... that being we might have only one child and it would be a girl.", with a smile. "Well, sound thinking then.", Ariel leaned over to kiss his cheek.