"Baby?"
Gabel immediately pulled out and lowered her to the floor.
Once her feet hit the ground she steadied herself before smoothing out her dress.
"Elara..!?"
She glanced down and bit her lower lip, a flush spreading across her face.
"I....I am going to have another baby."
Gabel grabbed her waist, running his eyes over her small belly.
"Why have you not told me this before!? You do not look pregnant... Are you sure?"
She smiled, seeming to hold back a laugh.
"The baby is small yet Gabel. I will most likely not show for another couple months. And yes... I am sure."
"Where?...Put my hands where our baby is."
Elara put her hand over his and moved it lower on her belly.
"Our baby is here?"
She nodded with a soft smile.
Gabel slowly sank to his knees before pulling up her dress.
"Show me again where."
She flinched, the moment his hands touched her soft skin.
"Gabel!"
"Elara...Show me again." He repeated, stroking her stomach.
She moved his hand again.
Gabel gently rubbed the area with his hand then rested his cheek against it.
"Hello...my little one."
Elara giggled as he playfully pecked her belly with kisses.
Then lowering her dress, he picked her up, moving to sit on a wooden bench in the corner.
"Why have you not told me this earlier? I wish you would have told me as soon as you knew.
I wouldn't have been so rough the last couple of times.."
Trailing off he grabbed one of her hands and began moving it over her stomach with his.
"I hope I did not harm our child."
Elara smiled, "You did not. Do you remember the time at the village near Dristan's border?...I was pregnant with Cassian then and you were....not gentle."
Gabel shifted his gaze, trailing back to the beautiful memory that had once caused him great pain.
"I..can not believe my wife and child left me that day."
She pushed on his chest, "I did not know what to do...please let us not revisit this."
Gabel brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.
"This is the greatest news. Just when I thought today couldn't get any better. You are everything to me...do you know that? I can not believe I am lucky enough to have you as my wife and the mother of my children."
He glanced back down to her stomach and continued, "I am very excited to see you grow our baby this time."
Elara closed her eyes, "I just hope I do not get as big as I was with Cassian."
Kissing her palm once more he chuckled,
"Hmm...I know you looked so cute. I hope you get even bigger with this child then, so that way I can get a glimpse of how you looked with Cassian."
Elara blushed and tried pulling her hand away from his grasp.
"Now...my beautiful pregnant wife, what is it you wish to do. We have some time before the celebration."
