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A Week Later

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Lying in this hospital bed, finally not pregnant anymore, with Kai to my right, holding our baby girl, and not being hounded by photographers or the media, or anything else is like heaven. Since the wedding a week ago, we spent two nights in Bath, but the media found out and photos of our holiday are all over the internet. We had to go out via the backstreets and in disguises to do anything. Right now, we're in a private room in the local Windsor hospital. It's like a whole bloody studio apartment in here. There's a whole en-suite with bath, shower, toilet and vanity. The room itself has two sofas, comfortable leather armchairs, and a movable cot, and the hospital I'm in is actually comfortable. This is a far cry from the NHS wards, for sure.

Right now, it's our little bubble and I'm perfectly okay with it. The press was alerted when I went into labour around twelve hours ago. We haven't yet made an official announcement, but I know any second now, the palace will put it out, and within three hours, I'll have to be dressed up, with makeup, and heels on and go out to show the world our little baby girl.

But for now, it's just the three of us in this little room, and as she yawns and goes back to sleep on Kai, I relish this little bit of peace.

"She's so perfect, Peach," Kai says. The smile hasn't come off his face since she came out, loud crying and everything. The silver of his wedding ring glints in the light and I realise that I can't be happier than in this exact moment.

"We should name her Peach," I joke.

He raises his eyebrows. "No, that's your name only."

I chuckle as my phone buzzes. My dad, letting me know the three of them are at the cottage, getting everything ready for when we come home. The three of them are making use of the small cottage the king and queen have basically gifted them now for when they stay. Dad and Annie are staying for a week or two so they can both spend time with us and also help with settling in with a baby. Patrick is still finishing up his degree, so he'll be in and out, but he has the next day or two off to meet his niece.

Kai's phone goes off. He nods at me, so I pick it up and show him. "The palace put the notice up. Cue the entire world going nuts. We'll have to get ready and go and meet the people soon, too."

I groan. "Kai, I'm still bleeding, and my stomach and... I feel gross."

He smiles sympathetically. "I know. It's the rules. What we'll do is give you a shower, and get you feeling a bit fresher. If you really feel rough, I will go out myself, all right? But it's sort of expected, so if you can, the people would love it, you know?"

There's nothing more to be said. He's being fair. It is the rule, but Kai will always bend over backwards to make sure I feel comfortable or if I need a way around the rule.

"It's fine, I'll be fine. Thank you," I whisper. "I just don't believe we've had to use burner phones until this moment. How ridiculous."

Kai shrugs. "Comes with the territory. Some press will go to any lengths to be the first, including tapping phones. It's fine now, though."

"Can you not get longer than two weeks off for paternity leave?" I ask.

He stands up and slowly, quietly and carefully puts the baby back in her cot. I slowly get up from the bed and move carefully to the sofa.

The baby stays asleep, so we relax a little.

"Law and employment rules say we get two weeks each. You're allowed the year, just like any other woman employed. You're just employed by your in-laws, so you get flexibility," Kai says. "Mum and Dad have said as long as I do a minimum of three engagements a week for the first six months, they'll be fine with it. But I get the full two weeks off."

I giggle. "Full pay I'm hoping."

Kai smiles. "Better be. Anyway, I can imagine when we finally choose a nanny, we can do more and more until we can take him to an engagement, you know? Usually, the thing is a royal tour. I think Dad mentioned something about New Zealand, so we can see how we go. But we don't have to worry yet. She's not even a day old."

I nod. "I know we had a few names floating around, but I think I've come up with the name."

He threads his hand with mine and looks at me in question.

I take a breath. "Emma Lucy Abbott."

"Your mum's name and my sister's." It's not a question, because he's right.

"Princess Emma Lucy Abbott," I add. "My mum's name, your sister's name. Both are strong names, princess-sounding, you know? She's third in line to the throne with the law about women being able to ascend, so she needs a good name, right?"

"Peach, you're amazing. That's the name."

I laugh. "I didn't expect such a warm reception!"

"That's the magic about you, Princess of Wales. You don't realise the good you do—"

"To be honest, I can see the good I do in the people and the way they love us. Seeing what people were like before me and now after me, with you? Yeah, I can see it. I'm doing good for this monarchy and I know it."

He grins. "And that confidence is another reason people love you, including me."

I roll my eyes. "This little bubble is amazing. I don't want to leave. Do we have to?"

"This hospital isn't cheap, so yeah, we have to leave." He laughs. "But I'm sure we can create our own little bubble back at home. We just have to get through this little bit with seeing the people."

"Who'd have thought we'd come this far, huh? I was imagining doing this on my own and then going back to my old flat, or staying at my dad's. Now I'm going to be helping you when you become king."

His hand traces my face. "I told you, that night in the club? You were sitting on the bar stool, waiting to be served, and there was just this pull. It was strange, but I knew I had to approach you. Then when we were dancing, I realised I didn't want to let you go. It was when we kissed that I realised I loved you." He sighs. "Then you never phoned back, and I convinced myself it was a good thing because why would you want this life. When you told me you were pregnant, it was this weird moment of oh shit and yet this amazing thing because you were back in my life."

"You don't need to charm me anymore, Kai. We're married now."

He laughs. "Noted, but I will never stop charming you. I love you too much." When he stops, we both kiss. "You should get some sleep."

I nod. "I'm exhausted. Wake me up when I have to get ready."

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We start a slow walk down the hospital corridor towards the entrance. An hour ago, a team of stylists walked in with a dark blue and white dress for me to wear that shows off the small bump that's still there. I've got black wedge heels, and they did my hair and makeup for the baby's debut. It felt like I'd walked onto a movie set or something when all I want to do is sit and bask in this little new family of mine. 

Apparently, once this is done, I can go in and have lunch and be discharged home with the baby. We've put her in a baby grow with tiny bears on it, but protocol says she then has to be wrapped in a white blanket and hat for the cameras. Annie and Patrick sent one in my hospital bag that Annie had knitted – I didn't even know she'd taken up knitting, to be honest – so she's wrapped in that.

"We don't have to take long. I can take her if you want. We can answer a few questions, don't mention the name because we have to legally get my parents' permission—"

"You didn't tell me that!"

Kai shrugs. "They'll agree, but we don't tell the press before my parents. So as far as anyone but us knows, she doesn't have a name and we'll take just a couple of questions. I can lead if you want, I can see how exhausted you are."

I nod and rock Emma while she sleeps. "That would be great. Thank you."

He kisses my temple. "You don't need to thank me."

"Ready, Your Highnesses? Everyone is out there, ready." The security gestures to the door. He means that a few midwives and nurses are lined outside along with the press, people and security. Jamie is behind us, as per, and it's weird. He wasn't around for the birth, but he stayed outside to watch over us. He even shed a tear when he let him meet her.

Kai nods. "Let's go."

They open the front doors and the cheers start. I put my Princess smile on as we stand on the front step of the hospital wing, posing for photos. Emma stays asleep in my arms, weirdly, as the cameras click, people cheer and call for us.

"You're doing good, Peach," Kai whispers.

One of these days, a media person or someone on social media will absolutely lip-read him calling me Peach, and people will pick up on it. Or maybe someone will overhear him one day and it'll be everywhere. I'd hate that, it's a name just for us, but I guess nothing we have is sacred in a way. Hopefully, this will be, if we can keep her out of the spotlight.

"Come on. There are two sides to this. We'll answer a couple on each side. Won't take long," Kai whispers. He's really trying his best to support me within the confines of his – our – duty and it makes me melt. "Hand her to me so you can focus, all right?"

I nod and carefully hand Emma to him. Though she's only been in the world for less than a day, my arms already feel empty. Kai holds his daughter with finesse, though, and the cameras come to life again as he walks slowly towards the media.

"Is she healthy?"

Kai nods and looks at the journalist. "Very healthy. Came out quite heavy, too. She's also got a brilliant set of lungs for so young."

"Have you both thought of a name yet?" one journalist yells.

"Not yet, we're working on it. As soon as we have one, we'll announce it for everyone to know," Kai says.

"Congratulations, Your Highnesses!"

"Thank you!" I call.

Kai gestures me over to the second set of journalists. He really is taking this just a couple seriously. He's always so relaxed with the people, but I suppose this is impeding on his family now.

"How are you doing, Princess Mila?"

Kai looks at me to answer.

I smile and move my hair out of my eyes. "Very tired! But doing well, thank you. It's certainly an adjustment, as I'm sure every parent will know. But we're all doing very well, thank you for asking."

"It was a long labour, wasn't it?"

Kai laughs. "The midwives joked with us that it was quite quick, but it definitely must have felt long for you guys out here. We'll be sure to remind her she kept people waiting when she's older!"

"Thank you all for your support and love, we really felt it, and still do. You guys must be so tired of us by now! The wedding last week and now this. You're patient!" I joke.

The journalists laugh.

"Thank you guys." Kai nods at me and leads us back into the hospital.

"That was... insane," I say with a sigh when the doors are closed.

"That's it now, we're done for two weeks minimum, okay? You did amazing, Peach." Kai kisses my forehead. "Come on, they said they'll discharge you, but I'm sure they won't mind if you take a nap."

I smile and inhale the weird scent of new baby and typical Kai aftershave before nodding. "I need one."

"Hey, Peach?" Kai asks. He pauses in the corridor, so I turn and look at him. "I'm proud of you. You did this all. You're amazing."

I smile. "Nah, I didn't do much."

"You did. Don't play coy with me. You know you're amazing. Just take the compliment."

I chuckle. "Fine, I did a bit. Growing a baby for nine months is exhausting. Plus becoming a royal, plus planning the biggest wedding of the year, and falling in love with you. Kinda tired now."

He winks at me. "I'm the easiest part of that. Let's get you to bed. Our little family is the best, you know. We did good. You did the best."

I just take his compliment; life is way too tiring to argue right now, even if it's light-hearted. But he's not wrong; I suppose I did do an amazing thing. My whole life has changed in just nine months, and I've completely gone from nothing to everything. It's crazy to look back on, especially because it happened over one night.

They say fairy tales are just fictional tales that don't exist, but in a way, I don't quite believe that because in Kai I found my own, and I would never look back. 

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