Bruno clenched into Charles's lap as Charles hung into Thunder as the horse ran to the edge of the cliff, and then jumped clearly, tucking his legs, with Charles doing a combo of screaming and whooping, with the revolutionaries gaping in shock and amazement, their horses crashing into each other as they stared, awed at the guts of the trio.
Practically everyone held their breath as they saw Thunder leap, for a few moments before they all landed right into a pool on the deck that had just opened up at the perfect time: softening the impact for them.
Maurice heaved in relief as he had pushed the button just in time for the pool cover to open up, and Thunder neighed as he surfaced, with Bruno dogpaddling, and they swam to the steps, with Charles panting as he got off, sure that he's going to feel it in the morning, hearing a sobbing, angry cry, "Charles!", scarcely a moment of notice before Ella tackled him, "I don't know if I should throttle you for leaving me like that or be proud of you for that damn impressive yet insane jump!".
"How about neither, alright?", Charles chuckled as he groaned. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that... just... bad timing with most of the escape except for that one moment... if we missed... I don't know what I would've done...".
Ella whispered, "You would have fought to get to Canada...But this, I'm so grateful that you made it on your first impetuous idea when they came...Don't do that again to me...".
Charles whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, stroking her back, "I won't, and I ain't going anywhere from you, my love...", kissing her head tenderly as a hearty laugh came nearby, "I don't know where you got that from, son, but thank god that you're safe! Can we have a party to celebrate?!".
Adam chuckled, "Yes, I agree with you, Uncle Aly.", glancing at Aloysius, and the ex-king gasped in surprise and joy, "Adam?! Oh, my dear boy, look how you've grown!".
"Not so bad yourself, Uncle Aly.", Adam smiled as he glanced around, "Alright, everyone, let's settle the horses into their stalls in the stable barge, and let's go have a party in the ballroom!".
Everybody cheered and laughed as the early morning hours were ignored, spending and interacting with introductions, and after a few hours, within a warm shower to remove the worst of aches and such, Charles looked at Ella while they are going to sleep in like everybody else, with a couple watching the deck with shifts while slightly adjusting the direction of the ship every now and then as they sailed on the Mediterranean Sea.
"I'm sorry, Ella, again, for scaring you like that, but I had to make Adam promise, especially when there's so many lives here if the revolutionaries somehow got abroad...", Charles sighed as he climbed into bed.
"I know...", Ella nodded. "I wouldn't want the risk of one of them hiding and then... well, doing something terrible to any of us in our sleep...", she told him.
Charles sighed deeply, closing his eyes at the terrible thought...Their child wouldn't have a chance to live if that happened...and losing Ella in the midst of that...He would have fought to protect them to the death.
"Charming...There's something else, isn't there?", Ella asked gently, and Charles opened his eyes, looking at Ella, "The other night, before I went up for fresh air and all with Adam, I saw something after Dad left from the dream.".
Ella looked at him curiously, "Oh? What did you see?", and Charles whispered, "The other reason I asked Adam on leaving port quickly on my orders, was for you to be safe, healthy, and I'd be wondering all the same, but I'd be relieved just as well at the same time if I was on the run...", his hand moving to stroke her belly gently and lovingly, knowing that Ella is smart, quick to pick up on things.
"You mean...?", Ella whispered as Charles nodded. "I think I'm sure I saw our child there for a few moments...", he smiled.
Ella smiled tearfully as she enveloped his hand over her belly, "Oh, Charles...You never had lied to me before...I now understand why you did that...You may have dethroned from Silla as of now, but you will always be a prince at heart, and princes protect their people, their families...Did you see anything?", looking at him happily.
"Just that our child has our smile and dimples...", Charles kissed her on the lips warmly, and Ella smiled, "I hope it's a boy like you, Charming...".
Charles chuckled warmly, "Well, we're both biased as I hope it's a girl like you, Ella...", and Ella giggled softly as they stroked together over her belly, "We'd have to wait quite a while before we are able to announce our news.".
"Well, one thing for sure, we'll welcome them home in the New World...A cozy house with a wonderful nursery, and a guesthouse for Dad...After all, going through the Mediterranean at steady speed, if not full speed, would take a couple of weeks, and then the Atlantic, probably two weeks to a month, if the weather is fair and the waves not too much tumultuous.", Charles smiled.
Ella chuckled, "Don't forget that we'd need to enter a bay or a river again into Canada...", as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"We'll find somewhere nice and quiet, I'm sure... one where we can all live quietly for the rest of our lives, no longer troubled by fearful villagers or angry revolutionaries...", Charles told her.
Ella nodded, "Yes, we all need it...And of course, plenty of adventure and exploration for my younger cousins, siblings, and such, and most of all, our child...Oh, gods, they're gonna be the first born in our new home...", with a joyful smile.
Charles smiled, "I think that might be true, but you have to face it...A new life, a new outlook on peace and freedom...I think the staff would look to get married here and such within the ship since they're no longer obligated to serve anybody else, through they're happily working in the ship, and well, most of everyone in the family is still in their prime as it's only been 10 years and so since the birth of Gianna.", with a chuckle.
Ella groaned dramatically, "Gods, you're right...But good thing that Mama and Papa are the oldest of their middle adult ages in the family, next to Grandpa Maurice and your father. I doubt they'd want a kid again after raising me and the twins.".
Charles teased, "You're sure about that? What if they want to equalize the genders? I mean, they have you, Tiana, and Jacques. Two girls, one boy.", and Ella widened her eyes, "Golly, that would be crazy...A baby brother, and a baby of our own...".
Charles chuckled, "It would be a bit crazy, but not completely unheard of; especially with this family after all.".
Ella replied, "At least we'd have community, and within Canada, if we're careful in our sleepy, slightly better village, we'd be great businesspeople to see people buying our stuff, like Anastasia and her baker's business, Maurice's inventing and hobby shop, etc.".
Charles smiled, "That's something I could get behind, alright. Now, let's sleep in, shall we? I deserve it...", kissing Ella on the cheek lovingly. Ella smiled, "Agreed. I love you, Charming, and our child.", as she settled into his arms.
"I love you too, Ella, and our little one, boy or girl eventually.", Charles stroked her back and her belly lovingly as they then closed their eyes, their exhaustion reaching them at last.
Jules hummed as he exited the bathroom, as he's still good and all like Leila as they had slept cleverly for a few hours before the mission came. Leila glanced at Jules from her book, "Hey...You have that thinking face, Jules.".
"Eh, it's not really anything...", Jules said as she gave him a look as he sighed. "Alright, just deep in thought... about a lot of things...", he admitted to her. "Right now, just wondering if we really got away...", he told her as she smiled.
"I think we did... no one else came aboard that wasn't supposed to, and this ship is fast enough to outrun anything the revolution would be able to put to water...", Leila warmly replied.
Jules nodded, "That's an excellent point, my love. Maurice definitely said that this ship is way advanced beyond a steamboat yet similar to one in a perspective of sorts, and Jiminy was right...Everybody on the port sleepy villages, during the stops back on the river, if they noticed, they saw a regular, if slightly old merchant ship or a steamboat blending in like normal, and then of course, our ship looks like a flagship on the Mediterranean ocean right now, warning everyone that it's a naval ship not to be messed with, while we people hide from sight.".
Leila nodded, "Indeed. That's really inventive of Jiminy and Sylvia...We're definitely safe, and of course, traveling the Atlantic Ocean is not something regular for everybody of the world, so, we'd be fine, and if we're needing to do something for necessity, we can always fish for the substitute of red meat, through we're intact with the greenhouses, the machines for making fresh water, and of course, pastries and bread, and then the goats for milk, and chickens for meat or eggs.", not knowing that if it wasn't for the castle configuration, there would be useless space for restaurants, entertainment stages, and casinos, which they don't need.
"Certainly has everything we could ever really need from the sounds of it.", Jules joked as Leila smiled, "True, but I'd rather not live on a ship for the rest of my life... I'd much prefer the ground at my feet.".
Jules chuckled, "I agree. And of course, living out in peace in the New World could be different than France or Italy, but we have plenty of time to learn on that, and we have community within the family and the staff through I think they'd be having their own businesses, through maybe a few of them would remain as butlers and maids, and it's their choice, their life.".
Leila nodded, "Good point. All the same, it'd be a great learning curve for Aloysius, Francois and Prudence, though I think Anastasia wouldn't have too much trouble as she has her fiancé to teach her how to bake and all. I'm relieved yet sad that Tremaine's daughters turned out to be wonderful women under Prudence's guidance and care, and that Drizella died from that flu plague a few years ago.".
"Can't truly be helped in a way there... not that we had any idea that she got sick; we could've helped her if we knew... but that's the sad truth about diseases... they don't discriminate no matter the age.", Jules sighed.
Leila sighed, "Indeed. I pray, pray so much that there's no law there in Canada about forbidding relationships and all between whites and blacks, or two men or two women together, as Evangeline and Ray would be glad to have a business together, Belle and Juliet truly deserves to be married and to be intimate in public, and of course, Carlo and Naveen to be more outgoing and publicly affectionate toward each other, and naturally, for the younger children to explore their crushes as they are barely 10-13 years old as of now.".
Jules chuckled, "It'd be interesting to see how our twins take to that, especially with Tiana on her apprenticeship to Mrs. Potts, and Jacques still figuring out what he'd do for his apprenticeship, though of course, they'd be living with us, until they're 16 or such.".
Leila smiled, "It'd be nice as the castle was big to lose sight of them every day, and then of course, the ship, big as well, but easier in a way. Especially when we are in our mid-30s those days.".
"Well...", Jules chuckled. "We're not too old yet...", he admitted as Leila blushed, "We're getting up there very quickly these days..."
Jules chuckled, "Stress and worry, my love, and that'll go away once we're safe from Europe itself. And you are beautiful no matter how old you are.". Leila blushed even more, "Jules...I swear that my Italian flair is rubbing off me to you all those years...".
"I guess I've just rubbed off of you than you have of me... and I'm glad that's the case.", Jules kissed her cheek as his hands gently rubbed her shoulders.
Leila smiled and whispered, "Since you mentioned it, are we too old to have a final child?", looking at him intently. Jules' eyes widened when he heard her say it, "You mean...?".
"Well, if it's possible...", Leila chuckled as she gave a warm smile. "Surely we might still have enough time for at least one more child...".
Jules whispered, "Are you sure, my love? I know you're strong and all, but what if...", and Leila kisses him on the cheek, "Jules, it's not unheard of those days now, and women has been having children until their early 40s in this century. I know I'm strong and look at what we talked about earlier. The ship will sustain any pregnancy well enough.".
"True... not to mention that we have a few guardian angels that like to check up on us...", Jules chuckled as Leila nodded. "Exactly...", she told him.
Jules murmured softly, "And Mrs. Potts's remedial herbal tea for anti-pregnancy?", and Leila smiled, "I'll be off it in a few hours...".
"Well, then how do you feel about a romantic dinner between us, and a dance on the deck?", Jules asked warmly with a loving smile. Leila chuckled, "Pulling out all the stops, eh, my love? Yes, I'd love to do that with you later tonight...For now, let's sleep in while we can, hmm?".
"After the stress today... I say that we all really need it. Plus... it still is an hour before dawn, actually...", Jules pointed out with a sheepish smile, not blaming Aloysius for wanting a party of celebration for those past few hours after that crazy rescue and then of course, Charles' stunt.
Leila chuckled, "I love you, Jules.", snuggling into his chest as he spooned her, and Jules smiled, "I love you too, Leila.", kissing her on the lips deeply and tenderly, and then they went to sleep.
And so, the new day of their freedom from France was spent of sleeping in and late lunches and just plenty of entertainment for everyone like games, reading and all for the afternoon, and of course, gossip was going around in the family as they were informed by Jules and Leila's date night.
Their romantic dinner up on deck, along with their waltz was easily the most memorable for the couple, and with teasing and such, the couple headed down, soon nude and intent on going gentle and tender in their lovemaking with a hint of passion, with the button on for soundproofing the room.
All of this has gotten to Perla as she is thinking, wrapping a shawl from the slight ocean chill around herself as she stood on the balcony of her and Adam's suite cabin within the helm quarters as the ship is in Adam's name, owning it as it was his castle.
"Perla? Are you alright?", Adam asked in concern as he brought out steaming cups of hot chocolate, and Perla smiled reassuringly, "I'm fine...I'm just thinking...", grabbing one of the cups, sipping it slowly.
Adam glanced at her, "Is it about having kids again? I thought we had finalized on that upon Rosalie's birth...", and Perla chuckled, "Yes and no...I am officially satisfied with our big family, but I'm...I know it may be weird to think about, but well, I want to help Belle and Juliet, especially when Gianna was practically a miracle, and it has been 10 years and so since then...".
Adam took a deep breath at what she was implying, he knew her all too well and remembered when they were parted about what they had suggested with each other.
"I can tell by the look in your eye, you know what I'm thinking.", Perla smiled as Adam nodded. "Well, I still remember the offer that you were willing to accept beforehand... of me being a surrogate sire.", he said.
Perla nodded, "That's right. I know that Juliet is very much used to me, and she helped you out with pleasure time when you were frustrated while we were parted, though she never saw you in your furry glory without clothes...The only one we need to talk with about this is Belle...She met you as a beast, yes, but she never went to ask about it, and then of course, she then came to know you truly as a human being, but never intimately in either form...I knew Juliet mentioned one time to me about using surrogation by asking you or Jiminy, through that was right before Gianna came into their lives miraculously, and ever since, they never got around to it again while raising Gianna all those years.".