Chapter Twenty one.

I've nearly finished writing it all now!! I feel sad, have enjoyed this story, hope you guys have too!!

Enjoy xx

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Esma couldn’t believe the contented bliss of knowing she was carrying Albus’ child, it was like a story no one could possibly be this happy. Albus twisted his head and kissed her stomach again, they’d been spending more time together and it showed to anyone with eyes how much she loved him, it had to.

Blandus had pretty much left her alone, stating his duty done. Nothing remained of the friendship they’d formed while at Hadrian’s; it must have been the Scottish air influencing him. But that’s not what was niggling at the back of her mind.

Her stomach was pretty large, she’d been asked multiple times if there was more than one in there and now panic was starting to set in; she was a twin why the hell couldn’t she have twins too?

“Al, can you feel anything in there?” she asked, his head was resting in the valley between her breasts and her stomach.

He opened an eye and looked from her to her stomach, “Want me to feel you up like I would the dog?”

“Please.” She giggled as he heaved himself from comfort and straddled her knees. “God that feels weird.”

“Well, he’s either got a huge head and bum… or we’re having twins.” His face still straight with concentration, “Come on, let’s go and check.”

Esma grinned as he swept her up in his arms and kissed her before she landed on her feet and he fell back into centurion mode as he escorted her through Deva. His hand burned where it rested against her back, she noticed people staring as they passed and she dropped her head down and hurried forwards.

“Watch yourself there Al, pregnant women love a man who talks to them.” Someone shouted from the crowds, Esma’s eyes darted up to see the smirk on Albus’ face.

“Could be worse.” He called back. “Could be your wife.”

With that Esma dissolved into peals of laughter, slowing her down even further till Albus swept her into his arms once more and stalked through the crowds. “Oh god!” she gasped making him start, laughing so hard tears started to fall, “I’m gonna pee! Albus put me down I’m gonna pee!”

Some older women nodded knowingly as he dropped her to her feet and she waddled down an alleyway, “Oh Octavius, she’s a gem; such a shame she’s Blandus’ wife and so beautiful.”

“She’s a good friend to me.” He stated keeping the love and affection from his eyes as he kept his face straight. “I’d do anything to help her.”

“Good, she needs a strong man in her life.” The second woman stated patting his arm, “Is she having twins?”

“That’s where we were heading, I checked but I’m no doctor.” He shrugged and they both grinned back.

“Two babies, oh how precious.”

“I’m so sorry.” Esma gasped still laughing, “I didn’t mean to go, I couldn’t stop it.”

“They sit on your bladder sometimes.” The first woman stated nodding, “Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh good, Al should we carry on?” she asked putting her hands beneath her stomach as if to carry it. “I’m starting to get hungry.”

“Come on.” He smirked, “We’ll stop by Daisy’s on the way.”

“Oh!” she gasped excitedly, “I love Daisy.”

“I know.” He grinned, “But you love me more.”

“I couldn’t love anyone more.” She laughed but then shook her head slowly, “Actually, there are two people I love more than you.”

“Well I suppose I can handle that.” He grinned as she blushed and patted her stomach, “I love them more than anything else.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not jealous.” She teased, “Else I’d have to beat them up.”

Esma grabbed his arm as she pretended to wobble on her feet, stealing the strength from his arm she managed to keep the tears at bay. This whole pregnancy was getting to her today; peeing in public, getting weepy over the slightest thing and feeling fat.

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“Two?” Juan asked mouth in an open grin. “Well, I think you win.”

“Much more manly than both of you.” He shrugged with a grin, as Felix shrugged. “When are you finally going to marry her anyway?”

“As soon as her mother lets me.” He laughed, “Apparently she needs another few months.”

“The mother or Hazel?” Juan smirked as the three men fell into laughter again.

“What are you going to do when the babies come?” Felix asked seriously, “You cannot be their father in actuality.”

“Be as close as I can; Blandus isn’t going to be there is he, can barely keep an eye on his wife let alone two children.” He shrugged taking a gulp of his beer. “Esma’s dreading the birth, worried they’ll both be girls.”

“Me too!” Felix stated slamming his tankard down, “I want to look after the little Esma’s and he’ll kill them.”

“Do you think he’ll go that far?” Albus frowned as both of his friends nodded.

“He’s a proper Roman, they’re not like us.” Juan stated, “And Blandus is even less like us than the next roman.”

“What should we do if it’s a girl then?” Felix asked and Albus couldn’t help but smile with relief.

Felix had said we, he wasn’t alone in all of this and knew that if he wasn’t there then they sure as hell would be. “We’ll take her to Esma’s family.” He whispered.

“Where better than with family?” Juan stated softly, “At least she’ll be loved.”

“And know where she stands.” Felix stated, “Nothing worse than not knowing who you are.”

“If its boy’s we’ll take them under our wing make sure they’re nothing like Blandus.” Albus stated, “I couldn’t bear him to be like Blandus.”

“Easy.” Juan smirked, “And my boy will be right by his side.”

“We can do this.” Felix promised looking over and winking towards the bar, “Excuse me while I ask my wife how many sons she wants.”

Albus grinned as Felix flirted easily with Hazel; Juan shook his head with laughter. “Who would have thought our precious little women could fix him up so quickly?”

“I think they’re smarter than they let on.” Albus stated, “They never seem surprised by what we do or say.”

“True, and we’ve found out some unusual stuff.” He mused, “Like they knew about the influx of wine before we did.”

“Probably smelt in on the breeze.”