7 Months Later

The evening breeze was cool on India's face as she walked slowly, with a protective hand against her pregnant belly, across the lush green field of Drake's family ranch. The couple had been staying in Texas for a month, after a brief stop-off in New York for India to visit all of her old friends. They were joined by Savannah and Bartie, and briefly Bertrand, before he had to return to Cordonia to manage the Beaumont estate. Drake rode his horse skillfully around the field before catching up with India, dismounting and walking in step with her.

"I still can't believe we're in Texas. I can't believe you're in Texas with me." Drake grinned at his girlfriend.

"We've been here for a whole month!" She laughed.

"I know, I just... Being here with you makes me feel right," He attached his horse's long tether to a post and smiled as she began to happily eat the grass beneath her. "I don't have to worry about court, or plots against us, or damn cutlery etiquette. It's just you, me, our baby, and the ranch." He kissed India's forehead lovingly and took her hand in his.

"I know you never felt yourself at court. It almost makes me wish we didn't have to go back, seeing how happy you are here."

"I'm happiest wherever you are, Waters. But making the trip out here every once in a while doesn't hurt."

"No objections here," India smiled as she looked around at the endless fields of green and orange sky, "And to think I grew up in a concrete jungle while you got to hang out here."

"I want our baby to experience this. The real world, you know? Not just servants and luxury and pomp."

"Don't worry, our baby won't be spoiled. Not with you as their father." India kissed Drake sweetly on the cheek, "We should probably be getting inside for dinner."

"Wait a sec', Waters..." He tugged on her hand so that she was following him across the field and toward the small garden outside the house.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

After a minute of walking they arrived in the garden, that had been newly decorated with strings of fairy lights and a sprinkling of rose petals on the ground. India walked to the center of the garden and turned to look at Drake, who was already behind her, holding a small velvet box in his hands and sinking down to one knee.

"Drake..." She gasped knowingly.

"Waters. When I got shot at the palace all those months ago... I told you that if I lived through it then I'd marry you. We've been through a lifetime of challenges in the couple of years that we've known each other, and for every bad thing that's happened I can think of a million reasons why I wouldn't change any of it. All of these things that have happened have led me to you, the literal most perfect woman I've ever met, the mother of my child, and hopefully... my wife. India Waters, will you marry me?"

"Yes! Of course I will!" India said through her tears. Drake immediately shot to his feet and wrapped her in a hug, kissing her excitedly.

"I am so relieved you said yes." He laughed as he slid the simple yet elegant ring onto her finger.

"Was there any doubt about that?" She grinned, admiring her new engagement ring.

"Well, no. Doesn't mean proposing isn't scary!"

"Congratulations, you guys!"

India spun around and screamed with excitement at the sight of her friends standing on the porch of Drake's house. Hana, Liam and Bertrand stood with Savannah and Bianca, opening champagne and cheering in celebration.

"Oh my God! You're all here, in Texas!" India ran up the stairs of the porch to greet her friends.

"We're here for your engagement party!" Hana beamed.

"Which would've been awkward if you'd said no." Savannah said, laughing jovially as Drake shot her an unamused look, "Not that you'd ever say no to marrying my big brother."

India hugged each of them one by one as Drake joined the group on the porch.

"Look at your bump! Last time I saw you, you were what, four months pregnant? And now you look about ready to pop!" Hana grinned at the sight of India's pregnant belly.

"I still have about a month to go, but I feel like I've been pregnant forever." India laughed. Drake placed a gentle hand on the side of her bump and smiled.
"I think you look amazing."

India thanked her fiancé and kissed him sweetly on the cheek before turning to the rest of her friends.

"I remember hearing something about a party?"

"Yes, yes! Everyone follow me into the house, and let's get Drake and India's engagement party started!" Bianca grinned as she motioned for the group to follow her.

The large living room was decorated with colourful balloons and streamers, adorned with banners that read 'Congratulations!', and laden with a wide variety of buffet food and drinks. It was far more modest than any party India had attended back at the palace, but the personal touches and sincere effort that Drake's mother and sister had made meant more to the couple than any fancy party.

"I hope this is okay. Funnily enough, I've never had a King visit before." Bianca said, laughing nervously.

"It's truly wonderful." Liam said, "Besides, tonight isn't about me, it's about these two." The King raised his glass of champagne toward Drake and India. Savannah handed Drake a glass of whiskey, and India a virgin daiquiri.

"To the happy couple!" The rest of the room echoed as they joined in the toast.

"Now, who's for karaoke?" Bianca asked with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, Maxwell loves kara-" Bertrand stopped before he could finish, a sadness crossing over him as the room went quiet. Savannah placed her hand reassuringly on his shoulder.

"Maxwell was the best at karaoke. We should do a duet for him." Hana grinned at Bertrand and held out a microphone for him. He reluctantly took it from her, gazing up at the ceiling, as if he was looking right through it and up into heaven, and quickly downed the rest of his drink.

"If we must."

Several hours later, the party was just beginning to wind down when there was a heavy knock at the front door. A tipsy Savannah looked around the room, clearly confused, before getting up to answer it.

"Oh my God! Everyone, look who's here!" Savannah made her way back into the living room, and following behind her...

"Olivia!" India gasped and jumped up to hug her friend. "What are you doing here?"

"Charming. I was invited, actually, but the damned airline sent my luggage to Florida! So much for first class treatment." Olivia sighed dramatically and dropped her bags on the floor, "No matter, I'm here now. India...?"

India stared blankly ahead, a look of shock and panic crossing her face.

"Earth to India? I know you weren't expecting me, but could we hold off on the dramatics?"

India keeled over and gripped Olivia by the shoulders for support, her face contorting with pain.

"I think... I think my water just broke!"

India lay upstairs on Drake's bed, sweating all over as she faced yet another contraction. The party guests ran around the house, collecting towels and water and pillows for India to rest on.

"I'm not due for a month! It's too early!" India cried as she held Drake's hand in an iron grip.

"It's going to be okay, India. I'm here for you," Drake reassured her before turning to Bianca, "Are we not going to the hospital?"

"Hospital's over an hour away, and this baby is coming faster than anyone expected. I'm sorry, but India's giving birth right here."

India pulled Drake closer and rested her forehead against his. The couple stared intensely into each other's eyes, each of them filled with an immense fear at what was to come.

"Drake... I can't do this. I'm not ready."

"You're the strongest person I've ever met, Waters. This is terrifying, I know, but if anyone can do this... it's you."

"Come on, India! Release your inner Nevrakis. Fight through the pain!" Olivia said passionately.

India nodded as she leaned back and let the pain wash over her once again. Bianca looked in between India's legs, doing her best to remember the medical training she had received when she was younger.

"She's ready to push! Everyone except Drake needs to leave!"

The rest of the group filed quickly out of the bedroom, wishing India good luck as they left. After a few moments it was just India, Drake and Bianca, preparing to welcome the baby into the world.

"This is going to hurt, but I can tell you're a tough cookie. Just push with everything you've got when I tell you to, and your baby will be here before you know it."

Drake smiled gratefully at his mother, before wrapping his arm around India and helping to relax her breathing. From outside the bedroom, Bertrand, Liam, Hana, Savannah and Olivia sat nervously waiting for an update. They could hear India's pained screams, and Drake and Bianca trying to console her. The screams got louder and louder with every passing minute, until suddenly, after a while, they stopped. Everyone was on the edge of their seats as time began to pass in complete silence, until a baby's cry echoed through the halls. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"The baby's here," Drake grinned, fresh tears glistening in his eyes, as he opened the bedroom door several minutes later. Everyone cheered and clapped, rising to their feet and stepping toward the bedroom door.

"Actually, we'd like Bertrand to come in alone for a minute... if that's okay." Drake said, looking directly at Bertrand and no-one else.

"Me? Are you sure?"

Drake nodded, and Bertrand followed him into the room. India sat in the bed, propped up by several pillows, holding a small bundle gently in her arms. She was sweaty and dishevelled, but she was smiling wider than Bertrand had ever seen. Bianca sat on a chair next to India, her cheeks wet with tears as she glanced lovingly at her grandchild.

"My sincerest congratulations, both of you." Bertrand bowed respectfully.

"Bertrand... we wanted you to be the first of our friends to meet our son," India glanced up at Drake, and he nodded his head with a warm smile.

"His name is George... George Maxwell Walker."

Bertrand's eyes went wide, and immediately they were filled with tears. His words failed him as Drake gently lifted George from India's arms, and carried him slowly over to Bertrand. He took the baby carefully from Drake, and couldn't help but sob as he looked down at the sleeping newborn. He didn't get to hold his own son until he was a year old, but holding India and Drake's son, named after his little brother, was a very close second.

"I don't... I can't... I can't thank you enough. You honour me, and you honour Maxwell."

"We miss him so much, Bertrand. Not a day goes by that we don't think about him. Naming our son after Maxwell felt like the only logical thing to do. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him." India said.

Bertrand handed George back to Drake and plucked a handkerchief from his jacket pocket to wipe his tears.

"My brother would be so proud. Asking you to come to Cordonia was the best thing he ever did. And Drake..." Bertrand glanced over at Drake, holding his newborn son protectively in his arms. Drake looked terrified, as you would expect from a new father, but more content than ever. "Fatherhood suits you already. You're... you're going to be a wonderful parent."

"Thanks, Bertrand. That means a lot." Drake said sincerely.

Drake and India invited the rest of their friends into the room, proudly showing off their son for the first time.

"Where's my nephew? Oh, just look at him! Is that not the sight of perfection?" Savannah wiped away happy tears as she held her nephew and kissed him on the forehead.

"He's absolutely gorgeous! He even has Drake's nose!" Hana cooed.

"And he does! Poor little fella', he gets India as his mother and inherits all of Drake's features." Olivia smirked before glancing warmly at Drake, "Of course I'm kidding. You know I never much cared for you, but today I'll make an exception. George is beautiful."

"Thanks, Olivia." Drake smirked.

"Of course he's perfect, with these two as his parents." Liam smiled and shook Drake's hand enthusiastically, before clapping him on the back, "Drake, you've been my best friend my entire life, and I'm so honoured to be here for the birth of your first child. India, every single one of us here is better from knowing you, and I have no doubts that you'll be the best mother George could hope for."

"Thank you Liam. Thanks to all of you, we love you all so much, and we want all of you to be big parts of George's life." India smiled.

"I would be more than happy to teach him some classic Nevrakis combat skills." Olivia smirked devilishly from the corner of the room.

"Yeah, maybe hold off on that for a few years at least." Drake laughed.

"Alright, I think it's time we give these two some privacy with their son." Bianca smiled as she stood up, ushering everyone out of the room, leaving just Drake, India and George.

Drake walked to the balcony doors on the far side of the room and pushed them open, letting a cool breeze into the room and giving India a perfect view of the moon and stars outside. He kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed with his fiancée and son. They took turns holding him, each of them more overwhelmed by his delicacy and beauty as the minutes went on. Drake wrapped an arm around India as she held George to her chest, and kissed the top of her head lovingly.

"Do you remember the night Tariq tried to kiss you at Applewood Manor, and I stopped him?" He asked her suddenly.

"Of course... why do you ask?"

"I think that was the night that I first really, truly realised how I felt about you. I'd suspected it for a while, but I was never really sure until that night. I just remember sitting there, shirtless, with you checking me over... all I could think was how stupid I was for letting myself fall for you, and how this would never amount to anything because you were way too good for me."

India smirked up at Drake as he blushed.

"My point, Waters, is... look how lucky I got!" He laughed in disbelief and squeezed her lovingly.

"I just can't believe that the grumpy guy at the back of the ballroom turned out to be the love of my life."

"Hey! I wasn't always grumpy... was I?" Drake's face fell as he protested.

"Hate to break it to you, but yes, you were. Except for when we snuck away and had some alone time in secret, then you revealed yourself to be the total marshmallow you are."

"Those nights with you are what kept me going most of the time. I'd sit in my room, or my car on the train, and wonder when I'd get to steal more time with you. No matter how guilty or conflicted I felt, all you had to do was smile at me and nothing else mattered."

India smiled and kissed Drake passionately, but they were quickly interrupted by the soft cries of their son in her arms. They both looked down with immediate concern, but George was sleeping again in an instant.

"You know we could live out here, if you wanted." India said after a moment.

"What? Waters, you're a duchess. And when we get married I'll be a duke." Drake shuddered at the thought of himself becoming a duke, but it was true all the same. They would both have titles, and responsibility to the people of their duchy.

"Not permanently, just a few months out of the year. I know it'd make you happy to spend time out here, away from court. George can have the best of both worlds, and we can even visit New York every once in a while!"

Drake studied India's excited expression for a few moments before replying.

"Are you sure about this, Waters? Like, really sure?"

"I am. I want us to have the life we always dreamed of together, and I think that definitely includes being somewhere like this."

"I think that sounds perfect. We can look for somewhere close by so we can be near to my mom."

"I think she'd love that." She grinned.

The two of them sat together for a little while longer, gazing out at the hundreds of stars gathered around the full moon that shone in the sky. Neither of them could quite believe how far they had come together.

"Should we see where our guests have gotten to?" India asked eventually.

"Nah, not yet. Let them occupy themselves for tonight; we have the rest of our lives to entertain guests. Right now I want to curl up with my fiancée and my son." Drake grinned as the words left his mouth, and he gently took George from India's arms to cuddle him.

"I love you, Drake Walker."

Drake looked India in the eyes, with as much longing and passion as if it were the first time. He leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.

"I love you, Waters. Always have, always will."

The End

Thanks so much for reading! I've really enjoyed writing this so I hope you enjoyed reading. I love TRR and I especially love my character India and her romance with Drake, so I couldn't help but write about them. I'm so glad that they get to have a happy ending!