4 months later

"The Queen's in labour! The Queen's in labour!"

Everyone was running around madly, dashing in and out of rooms carrying towels and bowels of water, different plants and medicines to Jonah who was in labour. Dune, followed by doctors and nurses were running down the halls of the palace ready to perform his C-section. It was scheduled for a later date but Jonah had gone into labour early so everyone was in a panic but still very excited to meet the newly arriving Princess.

Jonah's POV

"Caspian!!" I cried squeezing his hand and trying to do the breathing exercises I was taught.

"Uhhh," Caspian stammered not knowing what to do. "Just try to relax." Caspian said offering his not so very helpful advice.

"It hurts too much to talk." I said quickly concentrating on breathing.

"Dune is coming Kitten, just breathe for me." Caspian smoothed down my hair and pressed a cold cloth to my flushed face. "It will be over soon an-and we'll have our baby girl in our arms."

"Yeah," I breathed. "Just keep telling me about her."

---

40 minutes later with blurry eyes and a nervous Caspian by my side I heard the first cries of our baby.

Wrapped in a towel and being cleaned by Dune, baby Merial lay in my arms. The feeling of completeness and the most joyful, warming feeling I have ever experienced swarmed me when I stared at my child. Her big blue eyes looked back up at me as she wriggled and let out needy cries. Caspian reached down and cupped the back of her head as she looked towards her Father. I didn't move to wipe the tears of happiness that rolled down my face as I watched our darling girl. Her small body was warm in my arms as I rocked her very gently feeling that this was the right thing to do.

"Can I hold her?" Caspian asked softly stoking his thumb across her soft cheek.

"Of course, Casp." He took the warm bundle from me and lay back against the pillows. "Well done Kitten, I'm so proud of you."

"Well we created her together." I smiled utterly exhausted.

"I can't believe we have her here, it doesn't seem real. She's so perfect." We watched our baby now sleeping softy. She had the softest skin to touch and the cutest little lips. As much as I wanted to stay awake with my husband and new born baby, I was so tired. I lay my head against Caspian and put an arm round tiny Merial who was still in Caspian's arms letting my eyes close.

"Sleep Jojo, you must be exhausted. I'll be here when you wake up, I love you."

"I love you." I replied falling asleep in a second. I don't think I have ever been that tired before, or been in that much pain but it was all worth it. I would do it a million times more just to have our baby.

The next time I woke up Dune was in the room talking to Caspian who still held Merial but she was dressed in a baby grow now and wrapped in a soft peach coloured blanket.

"Caspian," I said earning his attention. "Can I hold her?

Caspian helped me sit up and Merial was placed in my arms asleep.

"How are you feeling?" Caspian asked kissing the corner of my mouth before I turned to give him a real kiss.

"The happiest ever. I still can't believe we have her here." I laughed softly stroking my thumb along the small tufts of dark hair she had. "But my body feels sore."

"Dune's working on that now." Caspian said as Dune worked on my lower half and took away most of the pain. "She's all ours to care for, Jojo. The start of our family." He said nuzzling my hair.

"Give me a break before we have another." I joked, picking up her tiny fist and then her foot memorising the feel of her skin. "How long was I asleep for?"

"A few hours, we should have some visitors soon. I've heard Bennett has already cried and he hasn't even seen her yet."

"That's Bennett," I smiled. "I guess him and Leo will be the first to visit."

We sat taking turns to hold and cuddle Merial in our own little world talking quietly to one another before the baby stirred and woke up hungry. I fed her from a bottle Caspian had prepared and rocked her back to sleep loving the first taste of motherhood. Bennett and Leo were of course the first to come through the door followed by Seaton and Coralia. They brought gifts for us and took turns passing her around admiring her beauty. Bennett was even more excited to have his now but they hadn't found out the gender as they both agreed they wanted a surprise.

Even though I had slept lots throughout the day I was exhausted after only an hour of talking to everyone. We said goodbye and now I was lying down with Caspian and Merial tucked in in her Moses basket next to our bed. I was staying here for 3 more nights because Dune just wanted to make sure I was perfectly okay and so was Merial. I didn't mind too much though as long as I had Caspian with me I was fine.

The next few days whilst staying in the Palace everyone came to visit every day to admire the little Princess who was going to grow into a strong Queen one day. I had never seen Caspian so proud; his eyes lit up at every comment about Merial or me congratulating us on such a beautiful baby. Caspian was so devoted to her already, letting me rest when she woke up in the night. He would feed her, change her and then bring her into our bed for cuddles. We lay in bed as Merial slept on my chest and Caspian was pressed up against me. I felt we were closer than ever now we had Merial. She's the cutest, sweetest little baby I could have ever asked for. I smiled as Merial wiggled and squeezed my finger a little tighter that was trapped in her small hand. I ran my palm down her back and over her bottom soothing her back to sleep.

---

"Jojo...Jojo wake up." Caspian whispered placing light kisses along my shoulder. "Someone wants you to wake up."

I rolled over and smiled at Merial lying on her Dad's chest as she stared at me, her mouth open and her cute tiny nose made me want to kiss it.

"Hey baby girl, Muma's here." Merial made a happy noise and stretched out a little bit.

"I think she wants you told hold her." Caspian smiled laying her gently on my chest.

"I love her so much," I whispered. "We're so lucky."

Caspian kissed Merial's head and my cheek as he got out of bed and made her a bottle from the small kitchen area at the side. He walked over and handed me the bottle and I fed her.

"Can we go for a walk today?" I asked. "I need to stretch my legs and start walking again if we're leaving tomorrow."

"Sure Jojo let me get the pram." Caspian said wheeling it out of the spare room. "You carry on feeding her and I'll get everything ready."

"Thanks Casp." I said relaxing into the bed. "Can you help me shower too?"

He flashed me a suggestive smile. "Sure."

"I know what you're thinking and no." I laughed. "Give me some time to recover at least!"

I finished feeding and burping Merial and Caspian put her in the pram to sleep whilst he helped me up. It took time but we got to the bathroom where we both undressed and Caspian helped me shower. Bennett was watching Merial just to make sure she was okay and Leo and was bringing up lunch. Caspian washed me and dried me and even put my clothes on for me. I was grateful for his help and even if I maybe didn't need someone fussing over me that much, I wasn't complaining.

"Thanks for looking after her, Bennett." I said as I walked out. "You look good with a baby."

"I do?! Jojo I can't wait for this little one to arrive." He said laying his palm on his tummy.

"Not long now though," I smiled. "Hey baby!" I cooed reaching down and picking her up.

I swayed with baby Merial in my arms just as Leo walked in with food. The rest of the day was very relaxing. We went for a walk around the palace stopping for everyone who wanted to see our girl. We visited Dune and Mizuko and you could tell from the way Dune gazed longingly at Merial as he held her that he really wanted a baby. Dune did a check up on me just to make sure I was healing fine and to see if there were any problems. He gave me the okay and I could leave tomorrow morning. I missed our house and I couldn't wait to have us all together as it would really start to feel like a family home.

---

"You okay, Kitten?" Caspian asked as he wrapped his arms around my wait.

"I can't wait to go home." I smiled leaning back into Casp.

"Me too, tomorrow morning the Kingdom will be outside to meet Merial and my Father will be performing a blessing. It's a tradition." Caspian explained. "We do it where we went when Leo and I introduced you and Bennett to everyone, on that balcony."

"Can she breathe underwater?" I asked worriedly, I wasn't sure if babies could drink those potions I did.

"Course Jojo, she's a mermaid." Caspian reassured me. "The Kingdom's so excited to meet her."

"She'll never be short of love." I smiled reaching down to stroke her rosy cheek. "Her legs are like peaches."

"Like your ass." Caspian laughed smacking it.

"Hey!" I said pretending to be cross but not succeeding in it.

"You can't resist me Kitten." Caspian growled playfully picking me up and lowering me onto the bed.

"Goodnight Casp." I laughed pushing his face away snuggling into his side. "Just hold me."

"I will Jojo, I love you."

"I love you too." I replied running my hand along his firm chest and down his abs letting his natural relaxing scent and warm body lull me to sleep.

---

I held Merial nervously as we waited outside the doors to the balcony. She was dressed in an adorable long dress like a christening gown that Tamesis gave to us. It had been worn by all the previous royal babies including Caspian. I looked up at him next to me and smiled. I was so lucky to have him. We both were wearing our crowns and Caspian looked stunning and so powerful. I giggled at that making Caspian look down at me.

"What?" He asked smiling.

I just shook my head grinning and kissed his chin as that is the highest I could reach in attempt to reach his lips.

Seaton and Coralia were outside speaking to the Kingdom before our names were called and the doors opened. We walked out together smiling and waving at the cheering Merpeople. Merial looked around with her big eyes as we held her so she could see what was going on. We turned to Seaton who held a bowl of orange chalky stuff.

"Today we welcome the new Princess to the Kingdom. Merial Kahawai, daughter of the King and Queen and next ruler of our Kingdom, I bless you for a happy, healthy and long life." Seaton dipped his fingers in the chalk and spread it over Merial's face covering her cheeks, nose and forehead.

Everyone went up in applause and Merial just looked around curiously. She was so cute!

We had lunch with Seaton, Coralia, Bennett and Leo before we were heading off for home. Our stuff had been packed and Coralia made sure we were sent home with lots of food. We said our goodbyes and made our way out of the palace and into the ocean. We greeted lots of mermen and mermaids on the way and they all stopped to get a look at the Princess as we swam through the Kingdom's grounds. We swam through the familiar corals by our home watching the fish dart about and the sun illuminate the underwater world making it look even more beautiful than usual.

The water got shallower and pretty soon we were walking along the warm sand showing Merial everything we saw, not that she paid any attention, just snuggling into my chest and making cute noises at the sounds of our voices. We sat down under a tree to keep Merial in the shade and gazed at the sea in front of us. Merial lay peacefully between us as we admired her beauty.

"I'm so glad I pulled you off that rock," Caspian smiled. "That seems like years ago now."

"We've both changed so much, for the better. I can't really imagine what I would be doing now, I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Caspian smiled lovingly at me and cupped my cheek pressing our lips together. The kiss was gentle and slow, filled with promises and love we would keep for eternity. Our lips parted and we rested our foreheads together. Caspian held my hand and ran a finger along my wedding ring as I did the same to him.

"I love so much Jonah." He whispered.

"I love you too, very much." I smiled kissing him again.

I couldn't be happier as our daughter lay in my arms and I leaned back against Caspian's chest. We watched the sun start to set and the sea sparkled in the light as the waves rolled onto the sand. I felt a very strong sense of belonging to this island. It was like this was the place I was always supposed to be. Here with my husband and our little daughter ready to start our lives as a family.

The End

Thank you to everyone who has read voted and commented on this book! I'm so happy I wrote this and also sad that it's over. There will be an epilogue next week so it's not goodbye just yet. I also can't seem to let them go completely as I've been working on a 2nd book where it will follow the youngest child of Jonah and Caspian, but more will be revealed on him and the next story next week. I've been planning it out and writing lots of scenes for it and I can't wait to share that with you guys! I've thoroughly enjoyed writing my first story and I'm definitely not going to stop writing. I've found something I love doing and I encourage anyone who is thinking about it to start. Thank you again for your support I really appreciate it and I can't wait to start posting the next book!