Part One: The Baby Plan

She had been sitting on her balcony, attempting to read. Lately there had been too many hints at her age and the fact that she wasn't even engaged. Amelia had spoken to her grandfather about how she was actually waiting for someone. Though in a frail state, he managed to convince the council to give her another year before they would start trying to arrange a marriage. She was now less than a month away from that deadline. Amelia rose and stretched. It was then she caught a slight movement. "Who's there?" she asked.

"It's me."

Amelia hesitated, then said, "Meet me in the library, Zelgadis-san. You remember the way, right?"

"Yes. I'll be there shortly."

She sat at the large table and gestured for him to do the same. "Tell me why you're here, but keep it down."

"This." He pulled a small book from his bag and opened it to a marked page. "I've been in the outer world for nearly the entire time. When I found this it made me realize that I purposely cut you out of my life." Zel pushed the book towards her. "I thought you would move on-"

"That isn't true."

After he thought for a moment and shook his head. "I wanted to think that. I hoped you wouldn't, but I couldn't believe you would wait." Zel tapped the passage halfway down the even-numbered page. "And this made it even more unlikely."

Amelia took the book and scanned the passage. A faint blush rose to her cheeks. "Are you serious? Zelgadis, when did you find this?"

"A year ago. It took me that long to get back here."

"You could have gotten someone else to give you an heir. Why would you waste a whole year?"

"It wasn't a waste. There's a chance that this spell won't work. I know that if we have a child, even if this fails, it will be ours and loved regardless."

"No, just stop." She shook her head, letting her dark hair fall across her face. Zelgadis hadn't expected this to be easy, but her reaction had been quite harsh. After a few minutes of silence, she said quietly, "If we do this, it will have to be like a business deal."

"We can do that." He sighed. "What are your terms?"

"First, we have to do this the right way. I can't just…we'll have to get married and stay that way until the baby is born. Then we can decide what happens next."

"I don't think your father or-"

"As long as you ask him and are sure I'll say 'yes' to you, it won't be a problem." She reached across the table, letting her fingers brush his hand and closed the spell book. "After we get the engagement underway we can work on the baby."

"Amelia, are you really alright with this?" She smiled a little as she nodded. He took her hand and kissed it. "So, princess, will you marry me?"

"Yes." She blushed a little as she retrieved her hand. "Just make sure you get a ring before you ask Daddy, okay?"

"Okay."

The previous night had passed with very little sleep between fits of joy and fear. The former was because it was a culmination of her deep infatuation for Zelgadis. The latter was due to how she wasn't sure about how he really felt about her.

Now, however, she was focused on the engagement party that was in full swing. Zelgadis was sitting beside her uncomfortably, occasionally whispering offhand comments in her ear. They were mostly true and Amelia had to suppress laughter from bursting out. She would squeeze his hand as she would whisper pleas for him to stop making jokes.

She finally got him to stop by sliding her hand on his thigh. He tensed at her touch with his face tinting red. Without removing her hand she leaned close and whispered, "You're going to be my husband. We need to get used to touching each other." Amelia brushed her lips against his before moving away from him.

The princess steadfastly kept her gaze away from him and engaged in light conversation with the people around them. He only regained her attention by using her tactics. She gave a little gasp. "Is something wrong?"

"No, Zelgadis-san."

He turned to face her, his hand sliding up so his fingers were brushing her panties. "Princess?"

"Zelgadis, we need to stop until we're alone. Otherwise…"

He placed his other hand on her cheek and kissed her lightly. "I'll behave if you do."

"Alright."

Amelia had dressed in a sheer nightgown for their honeymoon and waited in the bed for him. Excitement, arousal, and apprehension filled her in equal amounts. He slipped in next to her. "Mel," he breathed as he touched her.

"Zel, I…" She gasped as his hand moved up her thigh to her sex. It was their wedding night, but he still hesitated. "Please don't tease me." Even in the relative darkness he could see her face redden.

"No, I won't." He positioned himself above her and whispered, "Are you ready?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. He let her end it before he pushed into her. Amelia gasped, gripping his back as he began to move. "Mel, are you-"

"Don't stop."

He didn't. When he finally came he collapsed onto his back, pulling his bride on top of him. "Amelia?"

"That was amazing." She kissed him lightly and rested her head on his chest.