CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Nick was holding Adalind's hand, tenderly stroking it with his thumb in an attempt to calm her down. He could sense she was extremely anxious, nervously biting her lower lip as her eyes darted between monitor to her right and the doppler being rubbed on her belly. The medical technician performing the ultrasound was eerily quiet, which only helped intensify Adalind's concern that there was indeed something wrong with the baby. Nick squeezed her hand a little tighter, forcing her to finally turn her head in his direction. He silently mouthed the words 'everything is going to be fine', forcing a faint smile to reassure her as best as he could.

If Nick was being totally honest with himself, he was just as worried, perhaps more. They were ultimately in this predicament because of his family lineage. Adalind would never have been kidnapped had he not been a Grimm, a very dangerous one who possessed a key that could unlock powerful secrets. He felt sick to his stomach, knowing his involvement with her had potentially caused her harm, not to mention their innocent, unborn child. A heavy lump had started to creep up his throat, and his heart was racing inside his chest. He could hear it thumping loudly in his ears, its sound becoming increasingly louder with each passing second… until he realized his heartbeat wasn't the one resounding through the room.

"There's your baby" the medical technician announced, as the thudding sound of its heartbeat reverberated around them.

An audible gasp escaped Adalind's mouth as she turned her head to look at the monitor again. Nick raised his head to do the same, the lump that had threatened to choke him moments before instantly dissipating the second he noticed the tiny form on the screen.

"Say hi to your mommy and daddy, little one" the technician said with a smile.

"Is our baby ok?" Adalind asked, her voice thick with emotion.

"It's still very early, but from what I can see, your baby is developing at a normal pace. I'll have your OBGYN come in shortly to confirm all of this with you, and she'll be able to answer any questions you may have. Congratulations."

She got up from her swivel chair and walked out of the room, leaving the two of them alone to celebrate the wonderful news.

"I told you everything would be ok" Nick said, caressing Adalind's cheek.

"Nick, that was our baby" she whispered, tears of joy filling her bright blue eyes.

"I know. And it's growing just the way it should" he added with a large smile.

Relieved from the confirmation that their baby had not suffered any negative side effects from the sedative she'd been administered by her kidnapper, Adalind released the long sigh she'd been holding in as she leaned back in the examination chair. She closed her eyes, and took long, deep breaths to steady the rhythm of her heart. A huge weight had been lifted off her chest the second she'd heard their baby's heartbeat. And what a beautiful melody it had been; the sound of life growing inside of her. A smile appeared on her lips as the loud fetal heartbeat of their child resonated in her head. This tiny soul depended on her to keep it safe, and she was determined to not let him or her down. She would do everything in her power to protect her child from any harm, no matter what the cost.

"Adalind" she heard Nick say before opening her eyes to look at him. "I know you're convinced it's not safe, but I don't want to leave your side. Will you please reconsider my offer to move in with me?" he asked, his eyes pleading with her. "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you or our baby."

"Nick, it's too dangerous" she responded, knowing full well he'd keep insisting until she'd finally agree to his request.

He sighed, staring deep into her eyes as he grabbed her hand, the one resting on her belly. He gently stroked it, and it made her heart flutter. His gaze softened, and as he briefly took his eyes off her to look at her bare stomach, she heard his breath catch in his throat. When he lifted his eyes back to hers, she noticed they were filled with tears.

"I can't bare to lose either one of you" he whispered. "Please, let me be there to ensure your safety."

"And who's going to protect you?" she replied, a hint of fear in her voice.

"I'm a Grimm, I'll be fine…" he answered, squeezing her hand.

"You have no idea just how far the Royals will go to get their hands on the key your aunt left you" Adalind interrupted him. "They're not afraid to cross lines, they'll stop at nothing. Their wrath will be that much more fierce if they find out you've turned a Hexenbiest over to your side."

"They don't know we're together" Nick said, shaking his head.

"Don't you think Renard already told them about us?"

"Renard's a coward. He's supposed to be your handler. How will it look if he tells the Royals he's failed to keep you in line? They'll kill him on the spot. He craves the power too much, there's no way he'll do anything to jeopardize any chances he's got to ascend to a higher level of reign. Trust me, Adalind. He may hate us both right now, but his hands are tied. His only viable move is to keep quiet."

Adalind pondered Nick's words for a moment, desperately wanting to believe every single one of them. Perhaps he was right about Renard not revealing the truth about their love affair, but the Royal had eyes and ears everywhere. They didn't need Renard to tell them she and Nick were together; they'd find out one way or another. And once they did, they'd destroy everyone in their path to seek revenge. Had it only been the two of them, she wouldn't have hesitated, not even for a fraction of a second, to sacrifice her own life if it meant saving Nick's. But now… their child had changed everything. Adalind could no longer toss her own life aside for the sake of protecting the man she loved above all else. She needed to survive, if only long enough to give birth to this little miracle growing inside of her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she brushed her lower abdomen.

"This baby…" she murmured, glancing back up at Nick. "Our baby" she rectified. "We have to protect his or her life."

"Exactly" Nick agreed. "We stand a better chance of doing that together" he continued, his gaze shifting to her stomach.

"You're right" she finally admitted, lifting her hand to caress the side of his face. "I need you" she said in a whisper as fresh tears spilled from her eyes.

She couldn't possibly face the threat alone; she had to trust that her and Nick's combined powers would be enough to defeat the royal family.

Before her mind could wander to the dark place where her hopes of living a peaceful life were shattered by the extreme violence and cruelty the Royals were capable of, Nick leaned in and kissed her softly, taking away all her greatest fears for at least one brief moment. She surrendered, wrapping both her hands behind his neck, kissing him as though it were the last time.