Guilty Pleasures

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched Arthur change their son, and she felt Thomas shift his weight. She wondered how he saw all this, and what he thought about when he laughed at Arthur's story. Children were supposed to be simpler to ready but she found it not so much. "When Thomas learned to run, he used to wait until I had him undressed before jumping up and running off." She told the boys in the room, to keep with the soft feeling.

"I would have to chase him down almost every night. I kept trying to get quick enough to keep him still, but . . . it took me a while to catch him." Thomas laughed and covered his face for a moment before looking at Arthur and Amaren. "Now I can catch him when he runs if you need me too Mama?" She kissed the top of his head, "You know, I just might."

Looking at Arthur over Thomas' head she smiled, and felt her eyes water just a little. Tonight was perfect. "Between you two boys--" Him and Arthur, "--surely one of you can can Amaren." She was speaking of a future. Their future. Their family.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur smiled, giving a bit of a chuckle at the image of an undressed Thomas running about. "It seems Amaren is going to be a quick runner as well," Arthur said, just judging from how fast he crawled about. "I definitely think you will have to chase after him Thomas." Especially if Amaren started walking more in the weeks to come and in Guinevère's condition, she would not be able to run very fast . . . or well, run at all. He was only thankful that Elyan, Merlin and the others would also be here to help. Which was why he would not ask them to join him in this war. Should he fall, he wanted the best men to surround his family.

"And I will try my best to keep up with him too," Arthur stated, not about to speak of what memories he would miss, but rather focus on the hope for the future. When Amaren seemed properly dressed, he lifted him up and held him out for Guinevère and Thomas to see. "Well, how did I do?" He asked them, as if seeking their judgment to see how he was when first changing his son at this age. Amaren was getting stronger and moving more and while Arthur couldn't be happier, the fear of not being here to see more was very strong.

[Guinevère]

Thomas reached his hands up to clap, so Guinevère followed suit when Arthur finished dressing Amaren for bed. "Very well done!" She cheered to follow in the moment. "Now, it is past everyone's bed times, so If you will be so kind as to force this one to bed--" She teased as she playfully pushed Thomas toward Arthur, "--I will begin with this one." Though she knew that Amaren would take longer to sleep.

She would help him begin to ease into sleep and when Arthur was done with Thomas he could hold his son and talk him into a slumber. Reaching out she took Amaren and lifted him into her arms. "Goodnight, Mama!" Thomas hold her with a hug, and then walked toward the door to await Arthur. "Soon night, Thomas, I love you." She called then looked down at her youngest (at least youngest for now).

Once she was alone in the room she smiled down at her baby. "You're making Papa very happy by being this agreeable. Keep it up." She teased, and began walking the floor and telling him the story of the sword in the stone.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur gave a bit of an exaggerated bow when Thomas and then Guinevère started clapping, applauding his efforts. She then playful pushed Thomas forward, as Arthur took his cue to tuck him in. He handed Guinevère Amaren, lightly kissing the top of their son's head, before turning his attention to Thomas as he said good night to his mother. When he was done, Arthur put his hand on Thomas's back as they walked toward his chambers. Once they arrived, Arthur pulled back his blanket so that he could get inside. "I had mentioned to Sir Leon to start teaching you the rules of jousting, and how to hold a lance," Arthur explained. While Thomas would of course not be competing any time soon, he was old enough to start learning the rules, as he had seemed to show an interest in jousting.

Which was also why Arthur had selected a special gift for him that he would give Thomas tomorrow."It'll be some time until you'll be able to compete, but if you start learning now, you'll have a head start." One from this generation anyway. Arthur didn't want to push him too hard, and force such lessons upon him. But jousting was of course more for good sport than anything. And Leon did not seem like he would go too hard on him or give him too much at once.

[Guinevère]

"Really?!" Thomas asked, as he climbed into his bed and stood on it. "When can I start learning? All the other boys cannot start until later! I can't wait to start! Can you tell me some rules now?! I promise I wont forget? Did you win your first joust?" Thomas began asking question after question, with no time for Arthur to answer them between.

While rest might have been what Arthur intended, the excitement gave Thomas a little extra energy. Guinevère could hear them from the other room, but only smiled to herself and shook her head slowly as she carried Amaren to her chambers and laid him on the bed, before joining him. Her feet grew tired easily and resting here helped get Amaren to sleep and her ankles feeling rested.

Amaren played with his hands in the air, seemingly slowing his moments but not falling asleep just yet.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur really needed to learn how to properly put Thomas to bed. He put his index finger to his lips, urging Thomas to keep it down so that Guinevère wouldn't over hear them . . . but of course, he was just teasing. With Thomas standing on the bed, asking question after question -- leaving Arthur unsure where to start -- he decided that it would just be better discussed tomorrow. He put his hands around Thomas' ankles and pulled him forward so that he fell back on the bed and his head fell onto the pillows. "I'll answer all your questions tomorrow," he assured him, putting the blanket over him and purposely tucking him in tightly as if in a cocoon, keeping his own hands on either side of Thomas's shoulders to prevent him from moving. "But for now, you need to get some sleep," he told him, moving his hands and loosening the blanket to make him feel more relaxed and ease the teasing and playfulness of the mood in the hopes that Thomas would calm down.

He sat there for a few more moments as Thomas' talking calmed, and soon began to grow more quiet, and slightly slurred . . . until his eyes closed and his breathing eased. Arthur waited a few more moments to be sure, until he was fully convinced that Thomas was asleep. He gently kissed him on the forehead, before leaving his room, and returning to Amaren's. He didn't see his son or Guinevère there, so went to her chambers where he saw them both lying on the bed. "I got one down," he said in a low voice, just in case Amaren was slowly falling asleep. "Hows this one doing?" He further inquired, moving closer to them as he sat on the edge of the bed.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère was humming softly when she heard Arthur walk in, and ask about how Amaren was doing. "Just like she father," She told him knowing Arthur would know she meant he was being stubborn. "Here," She lifted him up and turned so she could pass him to his father. "Hold your son, and tell him a story." Arthur's deeper and calm voice would sooth anyone into a good sleep.

Once Arthur took his son, Guinevère moved over to the changing screen and dawned a white nightgown, before returning to bed, and slipping under the blankets for warmth while waiting for Arthur to return. Her hands found her belly and she smiled down at it. If the war could end soon, all would be well. Guinevère wished to ask Arthur if he though the war could end soon, but nor did she want him thinking of it while here with her.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He smiled proudly when she said he was just like his father, even if referring to his unwillingness to sleep. He took Amaren in his arms when she held him out, and went behind the screen to change. He began to pace around the room, telling Amaren the story of the evil sorcerer who brought all the gargoyles to life. Of course he kept his voice void of too much enthusiasm whilst telling the story, for he wanted his son to sleep from it, not be awoken. He went on to explain how a woman saved the partly unconscious prince, and then dumped a bucket of water on his head to make sure he stayed awake. He was teasing her of course . . . since Arthur had asked her to do it. But it was a fond memory of his. Just as all of his memories with her were. Fond, and once so bittersweet. Now, they were what kept him going. Amaren's blinks were getting longer and more drawn out, until Arthur noticed him not open his large brown eyes again.

He carefully walked over to the bed and gently set him down on the pillows next to her, in the middle of the bed so that he would not fall over the edge. He looked at him for several moments, just thinking of how everything about him was utterly perfect. He then turned his head, sitting back on the edge of the bed next to her. He softly smiled, looking over her. He moved his hand to rest over her belly as his eyes met hers. "How are you feeling?" He asked, knowing that he'd not inquired as to her health since he came. But that did not mean he wasn't concerned about her. About her fatigue, about other symptoms that accompanied a pregnancy. He would forever worry about her and it made him wish all the more that he could be here to take care of her.

[Guinevère]

Arthur asked her how she felt, and she moved her eyes from where they rested on Amaren to look up into Arthur's blue ones. Her hand covered his own that rested over her belly that was large with his child. Not too large now, but enough that her balance was off. In a few months everything would be worse, and then shortly after she'd have another child. Another gift from him.

"This one will be another boy," She promised him, "For he has done nothing but kick me all day, and if he kicked me like this while outside of me I would have bruises everywhere!" She was joking of course, but the baby was rather active today. "They say boys are more active then girl, and I do think either of my other sons were this way." At least not with how this one was today.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur gave a soft smile when she said that it would be another boy, and then explained why. His gaze went back to her belly, wishing he could feel their baby move but at the same time, hoped he or she was resting so that their mother may rest as well. "I hope he doesn't give you too much of a hard time then," Arthur said, still smiling at how it sounded to refer to their child, in this case a he. "We may have to try again for a daughter," he said jokingly. He didn't know if there would be a next time . . . if she wanted a next time. But he did know that as many children as they had -- if fate was kind to him -- them he would love each and every one the same. Immensely; unconditionally. He knew only a few things about an expecting woman, from his experiences with his wife, but of course it was never this intimate.

He did know that their feet tired, and while he had tended to Amaren and Thomas, he now wanted to take care of her.He slid his hand out from under hers and slightly lifted her legs so that her feet rested on his lap, and as he was seated on the edge of the bed, it was a perfectly comfortable angle. He then began to gently massage her feet, so casually as if this was something he did every day . . . when in actuality, this was his first time. Everything felt so natural with Guinevère, even when they made love for the first time. It had been smooth and rhythmic, rather than clumsy and awkward. Even now, doing something this intimate felt . . . right. Domestic. As if they were truly husband and wife.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère self his hand leave her belly and she thought over his words. "I would love a daughter." She admitted, "I have longed for one since Thomas was just a babe. While I know a son would mean the world to me, and I would love him no less . . . I hope for a girl." Because she had two son's already. Though she knew if she was handed a son after the birth of the babe she would not even feel an once of regret. Only joy. "Someone that could be excited about dresses, rather then jousting." Something sons did not jump for joy on.

She was also teasing Arthur's attempt at getting Thomas to sleep. Though she was distracted when he began to run her feet. "You have no idea how wonderful that feelings." She breathed out and closed her eyes for a moment. Thing ing of the child hey would have and basking under Arthur's touch. "I think if this one is a son, that I do want to try for a daughter . . . yet . . . I would ask to find a way to wait a more then a year."

While she enjoyed feeling her child grow within her, two children so close together was hard on her. "And for you to be my husband." So she could openly enjoy him near her. "Then a daughter, or even more sons would be embraced." She admitted, "As long as you can be there . . . here . . . "

[Arthur Pendragon]

He could understand that want for a daughter. Especially with Guinevère having sons and being surrounded by brothers. But he also knew it would not minimize the love she had for another child, as she said. He thought over the idea, finding himself rather fond of it . . . when she brought up the excitement of jousting, which revealed that she had heard him and Thomas. "Oh, you heard that?" He asked with a bit of a sheepish smile. He really needed to work on his timing for such news. It was a good thing he didn't tease Thomas about the surprise present he had for him tomorrow. He continued to smile when she said his actions were creating a positive result, and planned to continue to give her that ease and good feelings for as long as he could as his hands continued to massage her feet, gently but with just enough pressure to create that effect that he hoped was a soothing one.

These were the things he wished he could be doing: pressing her aching feet and ankles every night, making sure she rested properly, getting her whatever she needed at the time, no matter how obscure. He wanted to be a proper husband to her . . . yet his duties as a king were preventing him from achieving that. "Then we will wait after we are married. Enjoy our newly wedded life, enjoy the company of our three children and then . . . when ready, will try to grace this world with a daughter." He could make no promises of their future for he knew not the outcome of this war. What he could promise was that he would not stop fighting to come home. "Besides, the name Anna is far too beautiful not to use," he added, a praise to her mother for that was whom they were naming their hypothetical, or potential daughter after.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère loved that they could speak of this with hope, rather then with more fighting. "I think that taking time to enjoy my husband and my sons would be wonderful. And then in a year or two after we are wed, a daughter would be the greatest gift he could give me." She would love to have a daughter, and watch her try to keep up with three elder brothers.

Or if they had another son, four older brothers. She just wanted some time for her and Arthur to be together as their lives had been done a bit out of order. Enjoying her husband would be a welcome time indeed. "As wonderful as your hands are, you should lie down with me, and get some sleep." They would both need it for tomorrow. For it would be emotionally and physically hard day. It was his last here, and there were two very hyper boys who would demand his attentions.

[Arthur Pendragon]

A future with her and the children sounded all too perfect. Which was why he feared that something drastic would happen that would compromise everything. For their lives had never been ones where everything worked out for the best. The only thing that had remained in order was the fact that Guinevère was physically healthy, as were the children who were brought into this world with no physical complication. He wanted things to be simpler for them . . . but it always seemed that fate had other plans. Still. He would not stop hoping and praying for a time of peace to come: a time for them. "Then I hope I can give you such a gift, and will not stop trying until I do," he teased. When she told him that he should lie down with her, he knew it was probably for the best. For he had a feeling she would not sleep unless she knew he was resting . . . and tomorrow would be another day. A long day, one filled with excitement and difficulty

Letting his actions linger for a few more moments, he stopped pressing her feet, already planning to do the same tomorrow night. He then removed his boots so not to dirty the bed, and lay down next to her, with their small sleeping son between them. His hand returned to her protruding belly, moving over it. This way, he could be close to everyone. The only one missing was Thomas, yet he was close in Arthur's heart. He looked into Guinevère's eyes, wanting to say so much and yet in moment's like these, words were not needed. "I love you Guinevère," he told her softly, wishing he could say it more. Wishing he could announce it to the world by marrying her right away. Wishing . . . for so many things that were so impossible right now. All he could do in the next day was tell her as many times as he could how much he loved her.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère waited for him to lie down and when he did she turned just slightly so she could face him with ease. He told her he loved her and she smiled brightly at him, "Then I am the riches woman in all of the five kingdoms and beyond." Because she cared not for his coin, only his heart. If she held it, then she could handle everything else that came their way.

Her hand covered his, "I love you, Arthur." She returned his words to her. Guinevère spent her next waking moments (which could have been hours or seconds or years) watching Arthur, and making sure he was getting rest. She drifted off with his hand still on her belly, and still facing him. He was the last face she saw as she closed her eyes, and she prayed he'd he the first one she would see when she opened them.

When she did open them, it was because she felt movement. Arthur's sleeping face was the first thing she saw, but it was Amaren who was using his father as support while he bent his knees in pretend jumps was what had awoken her. She wondered if would hurt Arthur if she spoke of this time last year--when she had been hiding his child from him. Thinking back she recalled how he had not been born until later at night, but she had been feeling him trying to come for the last day. She had been tired, but it had well been worth it.

"Amaren," she whispered, reaching over for him, "Let Papa sleep a little." Pulling him down to rest between them, she watched her son play. "I care not what your Papa says, when I look at you I see so much of him in your face." More so as he grew. "If you keep going, no one shall doubt you are his son." She kept whispering.

[Arthur Pendragon]

The last words that Arthur heard were the best ones he could ever hear. He slept peacefully for the first time in months, and knew it had to do with Guinevère and Amaren's presence, and where they were. In her home. A place filled with love. No nightmares haunted him, nor any dark thoughts plague his mind for the entire night. He just slept, dreamlesslessy for he remembered nothing when he awoke. And even when he was pulled from his slumber, it was in a slow drawn out awakening, rather than an abrupt jolt. He heard his son moving and Guinevère whispering words to him. He slowly and sleepily opened his eyes to see two people that he loved so much, fully awake. Arthur didn't even care what time it was, nor did he know how long he slept for.

He didn't want to waste any more time sleeping, when it was these moments of being awake that he would cherish and miss the most. It would be what gave him the strength to continue to fight this war, for he knew what was waiting for him at home. He spent a few moments, just quietly watching them as he allowed himself to grow more and more conscious, before finally speaking. "Good morning," he greeted with a soft smile, enjoying just watching the woman he loved and their son spend time together.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère heard Arthur speak and her eyes moved from their son to him face. "Arthur," She whispered, enjoying the moment before she could repeat the words to him. "Good morning." He'd spent the night in her bed, and she thought back to her wondering the first time they had been at Eldor de Bors. Did he awaken slowly? Or with a start? Would he awaken with a lazy feeling or roused and with need of her. Then she had not found it, but later . . . later she had.

"You should sleep a while longer." She told him, "I thought I had stopped him before he woke you . . . though thinking back on it . . . he tends to wake you whenever he can." Their first night together as father and son--Amaren banged the spoon. Later when Arthur was injured, Amaren awoken him. Again this morning. "I think he likes it." She teased, knowing that Amaren would not have memory of the other times. "Perhaps it will be a habit when . . . . " The war was over and Arthur was a father before a king again. "When things are more settled."

[Arthur Pendragon]

He smiled when she said that it seemed Amaren liked to wake him. "I don't mind," Arthur said, sitting up more so that his back was rested against the headboard of the bed. He reached over for Amaren, picking him up and holding him so that he was standing on Arthur's lap. "In fact, I hope it does become a habit of his. For there is no sight I would rather wake up to then an image of you and our son." And soon, there would be another baby she would bring into the world that would sleep near them. He only prayed that he lived to see it, or that the war was not so long that he would miss the birth and first moments of their next child's life.

Holding Amaren up, he began to bounce him a little, up and down, for Amaren seemed to have an abundant amount of energy. "Were you able to get enough rest? I can watch him if you would like to sleep more." He could only imagine how exhausting it must be for her; carrying one child, caring for another small infant, and giving enough attention to Thomas. It only proved what he always knew, that Guinevère was the strongest person he knew. Though it made him wish all the more that he was here, taking care of her . . . as it should be. As a husband should care for his wife, and a father should care for his child. Or in this case, children.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt Arthur move, and then take his son. She watched them play for a moment while he asked her if she wished to sleep, but she knew she could not miss a moment of this time with Arthur. Especially when she knew it could be their last day together, for he would leave with the dawn and return to war. "I am fine, I only worry that you have not rested enough. Yet even knowing we might be stealing your sleep . . . I cannot bring myself to tell you to rest."

For she wanted to spend the time with him. Talking with him, playing with the children. Speaking of the child to come. "I have asked the kitchens to prepare an apple pie to come with our supper tonight. I have enough food for a small army." She teased, knowing she really didn't but that he would not go hungry. "Amaren can eat soft apples now. Nothing large but he's learning . . . I think a fondness for apples is something he inherited from his father."

Moving to kiss Amaren's cheek, then down to kiss Arthur's lips she climbed out of bed. "I will however, let you watch him while I dress." And take care of some morning needs of a woman carrying a child.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He smiled when she seemed torn between making sure he received adequate rest, and spending time with him. "You need not worry. This was the most restful sleep that I have had in months." Since the last time he had slept next to her. He could have been asleep for minutes or hours, either way he felt refreshed. Because he had been in a completely serene environment. His smile only grew when she spoke of apple pies and how their son seemed to develop a fondness for it. Even having something as small as this in common with his son, filled him with joy. Physical appearance was one thing, but these sort of preferences were another. "I think so too," he said in full agreement when she determined where he had gained this likeness from. "Which is excellent," he added, lightly lifting him in the air only a few inches before catching him.

"Means we can all enjoy a delicious apple pie to celebrate Amaren's first anniversary of his birth." For while Arthur would miss -- and already missing -- a great deal in Amaren's life, he would not miss this day. Arthur closed his eyes when he felt the softness of her lips on his, the smile immediately returning when she pulled away, his eyes following her as she went to change. Everything felt so wonderful and . . . domestic. Being with Guinevère, with or without the children, made him feel like he was part of a family. He slowly got out of bed, keeping Amaren in his arms as walked around the room to stretch his legs. "So how does it feel Amaren, to be one year old?" Amaren just made little babbling noises that didn't form any coherent words, yet Arthur still loved the sound of them. "Now what does a birthday entail? Lets see, we have food, apple pie, company and . . . hmmm . . . what else am I missing . . . Oh, that's right! And presents!" Even if Amaren didn't quite understand Arthur's words, the enthusiasm in his words were what made Amaren give a sound of excitement.