The Crown

Chapter Sixty Four

Tris Smith.

Beatrice gasped at the name, one she hadn't used since the first attack. She looked at Tobias, who stood and took the folder from her hands. He threw it on the counter, running a hand through his hair and leaning against the counter. He rested his head in his hand, taking a moment to himself to breathe.

She walked over to comfort him when a knock interrupted her steps. Beatrice retracted her hand and walked over to the door instead. Just like he had chosen to give her some space, she had to do the same; he had killed his father in cold blood and forced to move to a lower life because his family was in danger.

Beatrice opened the door and furrowed her brows when she saw a woman on the other side, smiling happily at her. The woman waved and introduced herself, "I'm Abby, I live in the house next door," She looked down at Beatrice's swollen stomach. "I'm a midwife, and since we live next door, I won't have to stay with you and your husband. Just know I'm here to be your friend!"

"Um," Beatrice drawled out, surprised by the amount of information this stranger had poored out.

Abby smiled and shook her head. "Sorry, I have the tendency to ramble. Allow me to introduce myself better. I have a husband too, and a son - his name is Cain - and I have a two-month-old daughter, Eve. They're really great kids, I'd love to have dinner with you sometime. How does tomorrow night sound?"

When Beatrice looked back at Tobias, he was still leaning against the corner. She sighed and turned back to Abby. Meeting new people could help him, Beatrice pondered. "Sure, we'd love to -" She stopped speaking when a sharp pain hit her stomach, and she cried slightly in pain.

Tobias was instantly at her side, sweeping her off her feet and into his arms. He glanced worriedly at Abby, even though he had no idea who that woman was. Without closing the door, Tobias ran up the stairs and pushed open the master bedroom - a room he hadn't even entered yet. He set her down on the bed, grateful there was furniture placed already. Abby took the open door as an invitation to walk in as she followed Tobias into the bedroom. She sat next to Beatrice, who was clutching the bottom of her stomach.

"How far along are you?" Abby asked, placing her hand on Beatrice's stomach.

"Seven months." Tobias answered.

Abby looked at Tobias. "Twins?"

"It's a possibility." He said quietly.

"Does she get pain like this commonly?"

"She got one like this two nights ago, and a faint one yesterday. Is this a sign of labor?"

"She's going to give birth very soon," Abby said, standing up and looking at Beatrice. "I want you stay in bed, and I'll check on you tomorrow morning. Your body temperature is a little hot, so I would put a wet cloth on your forehead and change it every hour."

Tobias extended his hand for her to shake. "Thank you, miss."

Abby smiled and exited the bedroom, leaving the house. Tobias walked to his wife's side, stroking the blonde hair out of her face. He took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her fingertips, then the back of her hand. He stroked her wedding band as she tossed and turned in discomfort, holding onto her stomach.

"I'm so sorry, Beatrice." He whispered, laying his head against her stomach. Tobias had never felt more guilty in his entire life.

He had pushed her into their relationship because he couldn't contain his feelings; he switched her teams during the attack so they could be together, and even though he saved her from the explosion of the gates, she had to watch Al die, be attacked, and slip into a coma; he pressured her into confronting her parents about their relationship, which only made her hate herself; she was attacked by his mother; she was kidnapped by his father; she was left to suffer PTSD and create imaginary people to cope; she learned that the only man she loved was with another woman the night of her funeral; she has to endure a difficult pregnancy with twins and an elevated chance of death.

In that moment, Tobias couldn't think of any happy moments, only the horrible ones that he was the root of.

~

Beatrice had fallen asleep, so Tobias placed a wet cloth on her forehead and went downstairs. He entered the kitchen and got out a couple of ingredients to cook dinner for her. He placed a cutting board on the counter and stared at the items in front of him.

He had no idea how to cook.

He didn't even know what he was cooking.

Tobias left the food and picked up his folder to read more about his artificial backstory. He grimaced at the information, snickering at how precise the detail was. Toby, he repeated in his mind.

When he concluded that enough time had been wasted, Tobias retreated back into the kitchen. He was about to pick up the cutting knife when Beatrice appeared on the staircase. He quickly dropped it and went to help her down.

"You should have called me if you wanted to go down."

"I'm not helpless, Tobias. Besides, I was hungry."

"I'm making dinner tonight."

Beatrice looked at her husband and laughed. "Sure ... You don't even know how to cook."

"I'm self-taught ... ?"

She shook her head smiling and went behind the counter. Beatrice took the knife and began cutting the ingredients, ordering Tobias to come and learn. As she dumped the food in a bowl, he wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands over hers. She rested her head against his chest, enjoying the warmth he radiated.

Tobias took the knife from her hand and set it down before turning her around so her back was leaning against the counter. He stroked her cheek, loving the feel of how soft her skin was, before slowly pressing his lips to hers. He placed his hands on her waist, pulling her close to him and moving his face to lean against her shoulder blade.

They shared an intimate embrace, holding each other. It was only a matter of time before they both started to cry because it didn't matter that they were safe for now - there were so many reasons to break down and cry.

And soon enough, they were going to bring a child into this world, and neither of them were ready for the challenges of parenthood.