The Sheikh's Dilemma - completed

Epilogue

The coronation was approaching fast, so was the birth of their first before the coronation that didn't go quite to plan. The months rolled on. Ali and Nadia settled into their new home. Ali took up a position in the palace as an adviser and had his own projects to help free up more of Sayyad's time, as promised, so he could do more things with his wife as ruling heads, unofficially.

As promised, Catherine took her King away and pampered his every need as he had seen of hers. On his private Island in the Caribbean that had been bigger and more luxurious than the other one and more private.

In the middle of nowhere, flown in by helicopter.

They went riding on the surrounding beach, swimming in the crystal blue waters, made love in the sands. His every stroke, every kiss, every caress so gentle, and tender that she had no doubt about his love for her. She saw it every day in his eyes. The way he looked at her. The way he spoke to her. The way he held her in his arms.

Not that they didn't argue, they did, both too stubborn on important matters. However, ever since she told him she was pregnant after their night in the harem. He sidestepped around her to have her really spit it at him. Told him she wasn't some delicate flower that would be trodden into the ground over raised voice or bad words.

He sighed. "I just don't want to upset you," lovingly he placed a hand on her still flat belly. "Let me look after you Catherine and our child."

"But I miss our make-up sex," she smiled. How could she be angry at that?

"None of that until after," he noted because it was always far too passionate.

"Six weeks after the fact," she added. He swore and walked away with rippling laughter dogging his steps. That night they had make-up sex. Catherine fell back onto their bed exhausted. "You could be right."

"Told you so," he gathered her into his arms, holding her as she fell asleep while he laid there for the longest time just watching over her. Blinking back tears at the thought he had nearly lost it all through stupid, dumb pride. He rested his hand possessively on her belly as his eyes closed.

After arriving back it didn't stop, with duties and palace business. The time passed quickly. The coronation kept approaching and with still a lot to organise for such an event. Catherine just grew bigger. All belly, however, refused to slow down. She wanted to do her bit in a small way, helping Sayyad when she could. He gave up arguing with her knowing it would do him no good. Too stubborn for her own good.

Slowly she sank into the bath in the harem sector, Sayyad helping her in. A week late and the coronation tomorrow, she couldn't sleep, relaxing against him as the soothing waters washed over them, placing a hand on her belly that stuck out of the water like a sore thumb.

"It's a boy," she suddenly declared.

"How can you tell?" Sayyad asked, amused.

"Because only you would do this. Come out when you're ready. Not on time."

"I'm always on time," he smiled, eyes twinkling.

"Sayyad," she moaned.

"What did I say?" He asked innocently. He really was a naughty King. "And if you are commenting on stubbornness, then it is a girl going by your reckoning." Also a smart aleck.

Catherine glanced down at her belly to lovingly stroke. She loved being pregnant, carrying his baby. All the backache, swollen ankles, even the kick in the kidneys, none of it mattered, sighing. "Just don't come out tomorrow, you hear me. No coronation, we have been waiting for this day for over a year. It's daddy's day."