"Go on through," Emma encouraged, as she turned away from the front door to find Killian lingering awkwardly in the middle of her hall. She'd always thought of her house as being fairly modest in size, perfect for a single, working woman. But with Prince Killian standing in her lounge, his eyes assessing the pictures decorating her walls, it felt suffocatingly small.

"Can I uh… can I get you anything?" she offered.

Killian shook his head no but still wouldn't say anything. Emma was pretty sure he was in shock, so she didn't want to do anything to startle him.

"You have a cat," were the first words to leave his mouth, when he eventually spoke again. She wasn't sure for how long they had been standing awkwardly, but she noticed the television show that was airing had come to an end, and another had begun in that time.

"Yeah, his name's Sherlock," she explained. "He's not a terribly affectionate cat but he has his moments."

Killian dropped down into the seat beside the animal and reached out to scratch the top of Sherlock's head with his free hand. He kept the results from the DNA test held firmly in his other.

"You know I uh… I've never had a pet before," he mumbled quietly. "I'm glad our baby will get to grow up with Sherlock around." He finally lifted his head to meet Emma's gaze, but the emotion behind his eyes almost floored her. Emma had never seen someone look that awestruck before. And given her career, that was certainly saying something.

"I knew," he whispered. "Deep down, I knew. I could feel it in my gut. I knew you weren't lying to me. But… having it written there, in black and white… I didn't expect it to feel so real."

"I get that." Emma picked up the sleeping cat and deposited him into the armchair along the back wall of her small lounge, before taking a seat beside the prince. "My period's been regular for well over a decade now, so even though I told myself that I couldn't be pregnant - that we had used a condom - I knew what was happening the moment that first day came and went without a sign of it. But actually seeing the word 'pregnant' displayed on the test was a whole other level of understanding. And then at my first scan, seeing little Mango inside of me…" She turned her attention down to her rounded stomach and rubbed a gentle hand over the space where she'd last felt her baby move. "That was what made it feel real to me."

Killian nodded his understanding but kept his eyes focused on the small movement of Emma's hand. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to reach out and feel it for himself, but he didn't. And it took Emma a lot longer than it should have to realise that it was his gentlemanly nature holding him back, not his doubts about their child's paternity. He wasn't going to do anything until she told him that it was okay to do so.

"You can touch me. The bump, I mean. You can touch the bump," she chuckled. "It's okay to do so. This baby's just as much yours as it is mine."

"I don't want to do something that makes you uncomfortable."

"You won't," she assured him, as she reached for his hand and placed it over the centre of her tummy.

For a moment, the two of them sat in silence as Killian slid his hand gently over the bump that his child was growing inside of. But when he finally met her eyes once more, Emma gasped at the look of wonderment filling them.

"It's firm," he stated. "I wasn't expecting it to be so firm."

"Sometimes it's not," she explained patiently. "I guess it depends on how I'm sitting or where the baby's resting. But it changes a lot."

"And that's normal?"

Emma could hear the concern behind Killian's words so she softened her expression as best she could. It was easy to forget that the prince was completely out of his comfort zone right now, and she wanted him to be at ease with every stage of her pregnancy. "It's perfectly normal. Every woman's different and so is every pregnancy. I learned pretty early into my job that no two women are ever alike in this area."

"I'll try and keep that in mind." He kept his hand on her bump for a moment longer, gently rubbing the area reverently before he added, "I can't wait until I can feel her kicking in there."

"Her?"

"Oh, um… most of the sites I've been reading tend to use 'she' when they talk about babies. I guess it rubbed off on me," he chuckled, finally pulling his hand away. "And before you ask, as long as the baby's happy and healthy, I don't have a preference for gender. Now, uh… Do you um… do you need anything at all? For the baby, I mean? I want to help. I want to contribute equally here."

"Not just yet. I'm only twenty-four weeks, so I'm just coming to the end of my second trimester. But maybe we could uh… maybe we could shop together for the big stuff – Online? I did get a few things today when I went shopping, but it was only a pack of nappies and a onesie that made me think of you."

"It did?"

Emma pushed herself back to her feet and made her way through to the kitchen. She grabbed the bag with her newest purchase from the countertop she'd set it on, and then turned to head back to the lounge. But before she could take more than two steps, the pictures on her fridge caught her eye. She quickly snatched them up and cut off the bottom two before sliding them into a blank envelope, and then made her way back to where the prince was waiting for her.

"I know it's for a little boy, but I thought with you being the baby's dad, it would be just as cute on a little girl," she explained, as she placed the bag into his lap.

Killian pulled open the plastic and then tugged the cotton garment free. His eyes lit up at the tiny blue sailboats and the silver anchors stitched onto it, but he was holding the onesie back-to-front.

"Turn it around," Emma instructed.

When he did, she could have sworn that she saw tears form at the corners of his eyes as he whispered the words, "I love my daddy."

"Is it too soon?"

"No. No, not at all. It's… it's perfect, Emma. Thank you."

Killian took a moment just to allow the knowledge that he was going to be a dad to fill him once more. It was still such a surreal concept that sometimes he woke in the middle of the night worrying that he'd dreamed the entire thing. When he finally had his emotions back under control, he turned to face the mother of his child once more as he laid the onesie over his thighs. "It's so small. Are babies really this small?"

"Some are even smaller. Some are born bigger. But yeah, the average is about that size."

"Wow. I can't believe I'm going to be partially responsible for someone this tiny in a few months' time. That just… does it ever get easier to believe?"

"I don't think it ever really sinks in until someone puts your child into your arms. But it will get easier. Maybe uh… maybe these will help?" She offered the small envelope to him and Killian took it from her curiously. When he opened it up and pulled out the ultrasound pictures that had been tucked inside, those tears were back once more as he stroked a tender finger over the clear image of his child.

"You can keep those. I have more."

Emma wasn't sure if Killian could hear her at that moment. He looked just as amazed with the pictures as he had been when he'd joined her for the tests, and had been given the chance to see the ultrasound in action.

"Thank you," he eventually croaked out, pulling his wallet from his pocket to tuck the images safely inside before he slid it away once more. "Thank you, Emma. I uh… I know this probably wasn't how either of us thought we'd have our first child but… I'm glad I'm doing this with you."

"Me too. I um… I still can't believe you want to be there for the birth. I thought royal men were never present for that kind of thing."

"Ha. That used to be true," he agreed, reaching up to scratch behind his right ear. "My grandfather was actually the first to break that tradition when my aunt was born. But that was an accident. He didn't realise my grandmother was in labour, so when he walked into the bedroom after a game of squash, she grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go."

"Seriously? That's an incredible story," Emma chuckled. She shifted a little on the sofa until her back was resting against the arm so that she could see Killian more clearly.

"Yeah. She used to love telling that story when she was alive. But since then, every expectant father has joined his wife for the birth of their children. And I certainly don't want to be the first to buck this new tradition."

"At least Nottingham's not too far from London for you."

"London would be even closer," he suggested carefully. "You could come and stay with me before the baby's born and have your pick of hospitals to deliver in. We have the best medical teams working for us, so you'd be in safe hands. Both of you would be," he added, as he reached out to rest his palm over her bump once more.

"Thank you, but I kind of had my heart set on this new water birthing centre we have."

"You wanna give birth underwater?" Killian looked a little horrified at the idea.

"Not underwater," she chuckled. "In the water. There's a big difference."

"I'm probably gonna sound really stupid right now but won't the baby drown in that situation?"

"No." Emma's chuckles had become full-blown giggles, and Killian was certain that it was the most beautiful sound in the world. "As long as the baby's still connected to the placenta it'll get all of the oxygen it needs from me. That's the way our little Mango's currently breathing inside of me. While the baby stays under the water, his or her breathing reflex won't trigger, so it'll be a calmer birth for everyone involved. And the warm water itself will help me to feel more comfortable during the delivery. Did someone not explain all of this to you when you came to open the unit?"

"Uh…" Killian licked at the back of his teeth as he considered whether he should lie to Emma about what had happened, or tell her the truth. In the end, he settled on the truth, given how open and honest she'd been with him so far. "I was a little distracted that day. When I was handed the assignment, all I could think about was this beautiful blonde I'd met the last time I'd been in the city. And then when I finally saw you again, I was just too stunned to really process anything else happening around me."

Emma blushed a little under his compliment. She wasn't feeling particularly beautiful at that moment. She hadn't bothered doing anything with her hair and she wasn't wearing any makeup. And while she loved her little baby bump, she was starting to feel like she'd swallowed a beachball that was inflating more with every day that passed. "I'm sorry you didn't get to see that beautiful blonde tonight."

Killian took a chance and reached out to tilt Emma's face up so that her eyes would meet his. He wanted her to see the truth behind the words he was about to speak, because he wanted her to believe them too. "Emma, you're even more beautiful to me today, carrying our child, than you were when I first met you."

Emma wasn't really sure how to process his sweet words, so she did the only thing that felt natural at that moment and leaned forward to press her lips to his.

Much like the first night they'd spent together, there was no soft and sweet to ease them into things. They'd been apart for far too long, aching to be in each other's arms. Soft and sweet was never going to cut it. Killian's hands were running over her thighs and up the sides of her body, gently grazing the curve of her bump before he brought them up to tangle his fingers in her hair. Emma's own hands were clutching at the prince's shoulders, pulling his body as close to hers as they could get, so that she could deepen their kiss.

"Bed," Killian gasped out, when Emma's hands slipped down his chest to begin pulling his shirt free from the jeans he was wearing, so that she could slide her hands up and over the muscles in his back. "Let's do this in a bed, where you'll be more comfortable." His eyes dropped down to her rounded tummy and it didn't take him long to realise that a few of the positions they'd used before certainly weren't going to work for them now.

Emma was reluctant to let go of him now that she had permission to fully explore his body once more. Her hormones seemed to be in overdrive because she'd never felt as aroused as she did at that moment. But her back was already beginning to twinge at the way she'd had to contort herself to reach the prince, and she didn't want to have to end things early. So with a reluctant sigh, she pressed another sucking kiss to his collarbone before standing and reaching for the remote to flick off the television.

The moment the screen went dark, Killian pulled the device from her hand and tossed it onto the cushion she'd just been sitting on. He slid his hand into hers and gently tugged her over to the lounge door. Even though it wasn't his house, he knew he'd be able to find Emma's bedroom easily enough, and she was more than happy to let him lead.

Killian had barely crossed the threshold to the room when he turned around to pull her back into his arms, his lips dropping down to cover hers. He forced himself to slow his kisses when his hands skimmed down Emma's sides, brushing lightly over the swell of her breasts and then the curve of her bump. He wanted to take his time with her, to show Emma that the night they'd spent together had been real, and wasn't just an alcohol-fuelled fuck. He wanted to show her that he still felt that connection to her now, and that he believed there could be something special between them. Something incredible.

But the last thing he wanted to do was hurt either her or their child.

With slightly trembling hands, Killian pushed the t-shirt Emma was wearing up the new curves of her body before pulling it over her head. Her hair tumbled down her back in a wave of golden curls and he briefly wondered if their daughter would inherit those from her mother.

God he hoped she would.

Killian reached behind him to pull the sweater he was wearing over his head before his hands fell to her hips. Between soft kisses, he walked Emma back until her legs met the edge of the bed, and then reached down to gently lift her onto the mattress.

"Take your jeans off," he told her, as his own hands fell to the belt around his waist. In an ideal world, he'd take his time stripping Emma bare, making the most of every opportunity it presented to him. But she was pregnant with his child, and the last thing he wanted to do was pull her around in a haze of lust and passion.

Emma complied with his command instantly, wiggling the tight denim over her bump and down to her knees, before he helped tug the garment free of her legs. When she was left in nothing but her underwear, she pulled herself up the bed until she could slide under the duvet. Killian took a moment just to commit that image of her to his mind before he joined her.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered. One of his hands came up to cup her cheek as he leaned down to brush her lips with his. "I don't wanna hurt either of you. So tell me if I do."

"You won't," Emma promised him, covering his hand with her own. "We uh… we just might have to get a little creative. That's all."

Killian hummed as she turned to kiss the inside of his wrist. But when his eyes met hers once more, they were bright with mischief. "I do like the sound of that," he teased, pulling her in closer to kiss her more deeply.

Even with Emma's leg hitched over his hip, the bump between the two of them made things a little awkward. Killian didn't want to lean into it and end up hurting his baby, but he wanted to kiss the mother of his child the way he'd dreamed of doing since he'd last fallen asleep with her in his arms.

When her hand slipped between their bodies to grip him tightly through the thin cotton of his boxers, Killian had to fight hard to keep hold of his composure. He'd forgotten how bold Emma could be, and he'd also forgotten just how much he loved that about her.

As she worked her magic through his underwear, Killian busied himself with removing hers. The more she touched him the more he ached to be inside of her, and he knew they were playing a dangerous game with his restraint.

The moment she was fully bared to him, Emma tugged the last of his clothing down his legs, allowing Killian to kick them off as she pushed on his shoulder to get him to lay back against the pillows.

"Is this okay?" she asked, swinging a leg over his hips to sit astride him. His cock brushed against her rounded stomach with the movement and Killian groaned at how incredible that one small touch felt after so long without it.

"God, yes. But I uh… I don't have any condoms on me," he suddenly realised, as he screwed his eyes shut in defeat. Of course they'd get that far only to realise they were unprepared for the moment.

"It's okay. As long as you're clean we'll be fine," she assured him, rocking gently to try and ease some of the tension curling in her belly.

Killian shot her a confused look and it took Emma longer than it should have to work out what he was asking.

"It's standard practice to give all pregnant women STD tests. I'm clean. I haven't been with anyone since you. And in case you missed it, I'm already pregnant. So it's not like we need to worry about that."

Killian chuckled as he lifted a hand to rub softly over her tummy before sliding it up to cup one of her breasts. "I'm clean. I haven't been with anyone since that night either." He was too busy staring at Emma's ample assets to notice the look of disbelief that crossed her features at his words. "Are these bigger?"

"Pregnancy," she sighed.

Killian began to massage the slightly larger swell of her breasts with his long fingers, drawing sighs of contentment from the woman above him. But when he reached up to brush his thumbs over her nipples, instead of the gasp of pleasure he was expecting, the one that fell from Emma's lips sounded pained.

"Sorry. They're uh… they're just a little sensitive right now."

"It's okay. I'll avoid them," he promised, as he pushed himself up to press a kiss over the soft flesh just above her nipple.

Emma hummed in satisfaction at the feel of his wonderful fingers massaging over her body, finding all of the new curves that pregnancy had given to her. But with every move he made, she found herself grinding down on his lap until she was almost dizzy with her need for him.

"Lift up for me, Darling?" he asked sweetly. One of his hands moved to the swell of her arse to help steady her moves, while the other wrapped around his cock.

As Emma pushed up onto her knees, Killian brushed himself over her wet flesh, teasing them both for as long as they could stand before he guided himself inside of her. He didn't thrust up or pull her down onto him, though. Instead, Killian's hands settled on her waist as he waited for Emma to adjust to his size, allowing her to slowly drop her body down over his with a long moan of satisfaction.

"God… You feel just as good as I remember," he whispered harshly.

Emma seemed to be beyond the capacity for speech at that moment. All that fell from her lips were soft gasps and breathy moans as she rolled her hips into his, taking her pleasure from his body.

Their time together that evening was much softer and sweeter than it had been the night they'd conceived their child, but the connection they felt to each other seemed to burn hotter and brighter as the two lovers lost themselves in each other's eyes.

Emma was the first to come, her warmth tightening around him as her movements faltered and her head fell back on her shoulders. The soft cry of, "Killian. Yes," that fell from her lips was one of the most beautiful sounds the prince had ever heard, and it only took two more thrusts before he was spilling inside of her as he held tightly to Emma's hips, keeping himself anchored to the moment.

When their breathing slowed a little, Emma lifted herself off the prince and cringed at the wet, sticky mess already doing its best to escape her body. She'd just changed her sheets and now she'd need to change them again.

"Stay here," Killian told her, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he slipped out of the bed and padded from the room. He returned a few moments later with a small towel in his hands and gently used it to clean her down, before throwing it into the laundry basket in the corner of the room.

"I need to use the bathroom," Emma grumbled, struggling to push herself up into a sitting position while her muscles were so relaxed and loose. "I'll be right back. Make yourself comfortable."

When she returned a few moments later, feeling fresher and looking thoroughly exhausted, she found the prince sitting against her headboard with his phone in his hands.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. I uh…" Killian lifted his head to meet her eyes and the prince looked suddenly vulnerable as he explained, "I told my security detail I'd be spending the night here. I hope I didn't overstep or anything."

"No. No, of course not," she assured him. Emma pulled herself back onto the bed and didn't hesitate to curl into his side. Well, as best as she could with her bump in the way.

Killian chuckled a little at how she struggled to get comfortable before he set the phone down on his bedside table and reached out to flick off the light. When the room was shrouded in darkness, he gently rolled Emma until she had her back to him and then curled his body in behind hers, wrapping an arm around both her and their child.

"You'll still be here when I wake up in the morning, right?" he asked, as he pressed a soft kiss behind her ear.

"It's my house. Where would I go?"

"I dunno. I just… I just don't wanna wake up without you again, Emma."

"I'll be here," she whispered into the darkness, bringing her hand down to run softly over the strong lines of his arm. "I promise."

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

I hope you're all staying safe and well. X