Chapter 457

"We have to tell them," Erik said as he moved his hand along Pearl's tummy. They hadn't been back to the palace long before they were tangled in each other's arms, Erik desperate to take her and make love to her after the stunt she pulled with the press.

"We will. We have to get through Christian's wedding and how we are going to handle that announcement before we can worry about ourselves." Pearl moved underneath his body, curling into him.

"I understand that. I am just excited beyond belief to be having this second chance, this child. I want to shout it from the rooftops!" Erik raised his hands up as he said it. Pearl laughed.

"I mean it. I am so fucking happy and proud and madly in love I can't even stand myself." He kissed her and twirled her hair around his fingers.

"I have to get ready for this stupid movie premier ball. I don't want to go but I must. Fi will kill me if I don't go and after the press posts the photos of us, I'll be back in the news again, in a bad way. I need some good press."

Erik shook his head. "I would say I told you so but you already know that." He shrugged. She hit him with a pillow and stood up from the bed.

"I can see a little bump now," she said as she rubbed her belly while looking in the mirror.

"Yes," Erik said with a huge smile.

"The physician says you're healthy and doing well, even more than he expected. I think you are breaking all the medical theories of women having children at your age."

She smiled, "Women have babies all the time at my "new" age. Just a few months ago that one actress had twins at 49! Anyway, I am just happy it's going well. The first few months are the scariest. Then the last few."

He nodded.

"I want you to spend the end of your pregnancy and the first few months of the child's life secluded, with me. Away from all of this, just us so that we may enjoy it. We can employ a physician and who or what ever else is needed." Erik stood up and held her from behind, rubbing her belly and kissing her cheek.

"Where would we do that?"

"Tuscany," he said. She turned to face him. A big smile came across her face.

"Yes! I want to go back there, with you. I want to have our baby there. It's like a dream come true. You're here, back with me, and you're better. You're the man I fell in love with. The demons are gone." She began to sob.

"Fuck these pregnancy hormones, anyway." She wiped her face.

Erik let out a hearty chuckle and pulled her into his arms.

"It's never too late for fairy tales, my love. Now is our time."

She nodded and then laid out the dress she was planning to wear. Erik began to get dressed.

"I'm going to rest and take a bath, catch up on some work." He pulled on his sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Pearl had a mischievous thought.

"No. No I think you should put on a tux and meet me downstairs in an hour."

Erik looked at her like she was crazy. "You want me to go with you, to a public event?"

"Yes."

"As your attorney?" Erik was trying to figure out how to spin this in the media.

"No. As my date." She smiled at him.

"Pearl. Please tell me you aren't allowing the pregnancy hormones to make insane decisions for you."

"I want the world to know I love you. I don't need to make any announcement or follow anyone's shitty rules. I've served my country. You're what I want. You're mine. For me. It's time, you're right. It's OUR time."

Erik shook his head. He knew the media storm this would cause. But as he watched the woman he had known and ardently loved and prayed to have again for twenty years glowing and smiling at him, openly loving him once more, he didn't give even one little tiny fuck at all.