Several months later Aurora is truly feeling the babies growing in her and wishing that they could come out soon. It was beginning to get very difficult just moving around. Even turning on the bed, that she's been confined to for her and the children's safety, is hard. She's bored and so when Marcus comes in that night she makes conversation with him.

"You know, Marcus, I think that Korban is more than a little smitten with Felicia. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes to you asking that you release Felicia from her duties as your personal servant so that he can marry her."

Marcus stops getting undressed at her words. He has no doubt they are right, he's found that Aurora has a very good understanding of people and of relationships. He restarts taking his clothes off once more as he thinks about her words. "Does she reciprocate the feelings?"

"I'm not sure. She keeps herself closed off pretty good. What happened to her mother has made her rather man shy. I'm not sure if she will ever get over it without help. I believe that some of the females that were on that ship were mental therapists. I think it would be a good idea for all females that have suffered any sexual abuse to get counseling.

"Hell, it wouldn't hurt all of you to get some counseling. Your father was just as sick with you all as he was with me. It might help Korban be a little better at expressing himself to Felicia and if they ever get to the level of a relationship that it becomes sexual. I think they look good together and I think he will treat her right."

Marcus snorts out at her words. "Yeah, we could all do with some counseling that's for sure. I'll wait to see if he comes to me about it. It would be ideal if they came to me together, but I'd want to talk to her separate before I'd give my answer. I don't want her to feel pressured by him in any way."

Aurora smirks at him with those words as he climbs in bed next to her. "Oh, please, you are thrilled with the thought of him and her getting together. I think mother would be pleased by that as well. He's still of your line but not direct ruling. I think it will be fine all way around if they decide to be together."

Marcus grins at her, "You are of course right. I would love for them to get together. I'm just relieved that I'm not the one forced to take her. She's a lovely person, but I just didn't feel anything for her. I likely wouldn't have done any thing but have her artificially inseminated no matter what."

"You would have pissed off mother had you done that." Aurora laughs at his words and the face that he's making.

Marcus shrugs as he snuggles up to his wife. He gently kisses her giant sized belly. "You aren't even a little attracted to her? I know that I look like a bloated animal left for dead. She's a lovely female."

"You and Margaret are the only females to get my attention. You are the only ones that I want." Marcus tells her and then kisses her gently. That kiss turns from gentle to heated rather quickly.

"If we continue, Marcus we might end up needing to have the children tonight. They are far enough along that they will survive although they will need time in the hospital. The female doctor that specializes in obstetrics already told me that."

Marcus looks at his wife and says the very last thing she thought he would say. "Do you want them out now? I heard what she said as well. I also know that they've been prepping the babies so that they have a better chance. I know that you are miserable being forced to stay in bed and unable to even move on your own.

"Emmett and Dr. Lord have given me the okay for when you are ready. They already have the operating room ready for when you and Margaret are ready for our babies to join us."

Aurora stares at him in shock. "Are you serious? I don't want anything to happen to the babies just because I'm being selfish."

Marcus smiles gently at her and reassures her, "It's not all that selfish to want to breath and move. Yes, both doctors have said that it will be up to you for when you decide you can't handle it any more. They are growing at an incredible rate and there just isn't any more room inside of you. They will be taking them out at the very latest in two weeks if you don't go to them sooner."

"We can have the children tonight and it won't be selfish of me?" Aurora is more than a little dazed at the thought then she smiles brightly. "Let's do it. Hopefully it won't take me too long to recover and I'll be able to help out in the nursery by the time they are out of the hospital."

They call the hospital and Emmett to make arrangements. Marcus goes over to Margaret's room and lets her know what was decided. She found out what was said and wants to have hers that night after her mother is finished.

Marcus calls Emmett to find out what he says and when he gets the okay he has Margaret helped to where she'll be prepped as he goes back to Aurora and escorts her. Once Aurora is finished he'll be changed into clean clothes and allowed to remain for Margaret's babies being born.

Once it was all said and done nine healthy squalling royal children were born before the morning light. Week long celebrations were held to welcome the nine healthy heirs.

Aurora couldn't believe that she had two healthy daughters and three overly healthy sons. Not having known what they were having they didn't really have any names picked out and so they took their turn finding names for them all.

Margaret and Marcus ended up having two males and two females. All healthy and their lungs were definitely working quite nicely. 

Margaret had a few names that she liked and Marcus was fine with them and so their babies were named before the Crowned Princess and siblings were named.

In time all the babies were named. The nursery personnel were kept busy and were for the most part happy with the chance to help raise the royal children. They were also very thankful that their children were allowed to be there as well and so they had the same education as the royals.

Shortly after the babies were brought home from the hospital Marcus and Aurora were resting after finishing for the day and Korban knocks on their door. He sheepishly comes in after getting permission.

"Marcus, I'd like to ask you to release Felicia from her duties as your personal servant."

Marcus having gotten the heads up from Aurora some time ago had been waiting. He'd also been watching and had been satisfied as he watched the two grow closer together. But he wanted to have some fun before giving an answer to his little brother.

"Why would I want to do that? The children all love her. She's the only one that can settle them all down and remain calm afterwards." Aurora had figured out what he was doing and keeps silent and raises an eyebrow. 

Korban gets a little antsy and nervous with their expectant looks. He knows how protective they are of their children and if he doesn't make a good case they are likely to deny him.

"I love her and want to marry her." Korban finally manages to spit it all out.

"You do?" Marcus makes it sound skeptical and happy at the same time.

Korban gives him another sheepish smile and nods. "Well, who am I to get in the way of love. I will, but only contingent on her telling me the same thing. If she says that she loves you then I'll not only release her, but I'll have you reassigned if you'd like."

Korban shakes his head. "No, Marcus, I would like to remain as Margaret's guard. I'll have Felicia come and talk to you." Then before either of them can move Korban was out of the room with the door banging so hard that it bounced off the wall before finally being shut by their guards. The guards checking to make sure that all was well before carefully shutting the door.

Marcus and Aurora start peeling out in laughter.

It doesn't take long for there to be a knock once more on the door. The two wipe the tears from laughing so hard from their faces before giving the okay for whoever was out there to come in.

Shortly after that Felicia comes in with Korban. Marcus excuses Korban from the room. Korban reluctantly leaves the room.

Aurora makes sure that Felicia understands that there will be no pressure to answer any question a certain way. They just want her honest feelings and then they can move on from there.

When the time comes to call in Marcus they could see the guards faces as Korban was called in and there was only one word to describe it and that was relieved.

"Marcus? Aurora?" Korban asks nearly begging them for the answer he wishes more than anything.

"After talking to Felicia and then talking to each other we have decided that we can't really afford to have Felicia leave the nursery." Marcus says and he watches as Korban starts to fall apart. "We have come to the idea of releasing her as my personal servant and hiring her as a full time nursery worker. So she will be earning more money and be free to marry you if that is what you wish. 

"She will also be allowed to have her children come to work with her and be raised alongside ours if she so wishes when the time comes for children." Marcus finishes and the joy that comes over Korban's face makes Marcus feel better than almost any other time in his life.

"Congratulations, Marcus and Felicia," Aurora says warmly and gives them both hugs. "I hope that we will be invited to the wedding when the time comes?"

"Of course!" Korbin answers brightly and Felicia blushing nods shyly. Soon after that the couple leaves to spread the good news to their friends and other family members.

"Now if we could just find someone for Monica." Marcus says falling into bed.

Aurora snorts, "You truly are blind sometimes. Dallas has a major crush on her, but I think he's to worried that she'll not want anything to do with him because of her experiences with men on the way here. That and he knows that she really loved her first husband."

"What do you think we should do?" Marcus leans up on one arm and watches Aurora get ready for bed. This is his favorite time of day. He loves watching her get ready for bed.

"Leave it to me. I've already sounded Monica out about dating once more. She told me that there weren't very many men that she would trust, but after pressing her she gave me a very short list of men she would consider dating."

"Is Dallas one of them?" Marcus asks getting a smirk on his face that matches his wife's.

"Yes, and I didn't even have to prompt her to put his name down. As a matter of fact it was the first one she mentioned. Then yours, but she knows that you are off limits." Aurora laughs at Marcus's outraged look.

"What are you most upset about Marcus? That she put your name on the list at all or that your name was second and not first?" Aurora giggles as she watches Marcus deflate at her accurate reading of his reaction. 

He gives her a sheepish look before going up to her and kissing her. After that there was no more talking.