King and Queen

Chapter 7: Growing Pains

As the next five and a half months passed, things were rather uneventful in the palace. My daily routine has become so familiar I can do it in my sleep. But thankfully, my sisters are coming to visit today, and it will be a nice change compared to what I’ve gotten used to.

    “Your Majesty, your sisters are downstairs. Do you want to go meet them, or should I bring them up here?” Lucy asked me.

    “I’ll go down,” I said. As I stood up from my desk chair, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.

    “Ugh,” I groaned, my hand automatically reaching down to rest on my belly.

    “You alright?” Lucy asked as she hurried over to where I stood.

    “Yeah, I’m okay. They’re kicking really hard,” I said to her, waving off her hovering hand.

    We then walked downstairs where May and Kenna where waiting. When May saw me, she rushed over and gave me a bone crushing hug.

    “Easy there, May,” I breathed, gently pulling her off of me.

    “Why?” she asked, looking hurt that I had pushed her away.

    “You’re hurting me, that’s all,” I said to her, turning to the side a little so she could see my growing belly.

    “Oh, right, I kinda forgot you were pregnant,” she said and laughed.

    “How far along are you now?” Kenna asked me as she stepped up to hug me.

    “Eight and a half months,” I told her.

    “You’re huge!” she said.

    “I know! But there are two babies in there, don’t forget,” I said to her.

    “Right,” Kenna laughed.

    “Have they been kicking at all?” May asked me.

    “Oh yeah,” I laughed. “Actually, they’re kicking right now if you want to feel them,” I said to her.

    “Where should I put my hand?” she asked.

    “Right here,” I said, guiding her hand so it was right over top of where I’d felt them kick.

    When she did feel it, the smile on her face got bigger. “That’s crazy,” she said, taking her hand away in awe.

    “Does it hurt at all?” May asked me.

    “Sometimes more than others, but yes, it hurts,” I said and laughed.

    “America, do you want to go sit down somewhere?” Kenna asked me, noticing my discomfort.

    “Can we? My feet are killing me,” I said.

    As I walked with them to the library, May looked over at me and asked, “Where’s Maxon?”

    “He’s sleeping off a hangover,” I chuckled.

    “Why was he drunk?” she asked, a laugh escaping her mouth.

    “We went to a party last night,” I said, leaving it at that.

    Just then, Lucy walked into the library and smiled timidly at me.

“Your Majesty, Maxon’s awake, and ill. He wants to see you,” she said, coming over to help me stand up.

    “Okay. How sick is he?” I asked her.

    “He was in the bathroom vomiting when I went in to check on him,” she said.

“Oh, lovely. I told him that he shouldn’t drink so much,” I said, walking with Lucy to our room.