Page 60 of Olivia

He pulled her around, pressing his lips to her forehead, her eyelids, and her cheeks.

“I will do all I can to ensure you stay that way,” he told her, his voice husky with emotion. “Every single day.”

She clung to him, letting the joy wash over her. But her stomach growled loudly, ruining the moment.

Stark only laughed.

“Let’s get you a meal,” he told her. “My son needs food.”

“Or your daughter,” she reminded him.

“We’ll see,” he said, winking.

“We have to clean all this up first,” she told him, looking around the room and feeling mortified.

“Nah,” he told her, pointing to the window. “If Oberon can handle that, he can handle this.”

She looked and was amazed to see that the beautiful balcony and the enormous waterfall were back, with lush woods behind them, as if nothing had ever happened.

“Incredible,” she murmured.

“You’re incredible,” he whispered, his hands sliding down between her shoulder blades. “Let’s get you fed before we start the frenzy all over again.”

Her body was already humming with need, but she managed to nod and let him lead her out to the hallway.

“Just a heads up that we’ve got a big breakfast for you down here,” Dr. Pan’s voice drifted up to them, along with the scents of eggs, toast, and something delicious with plenty of cinnamon baking.

“Give us a second to get dressed,” Stark called back.

“There are robes on the hook by the door,” Dr. Pan told him.

Sure enough, two deliciously fluffy bathrobes were waiting for them. Stark helped Olivia on with hers, which was mercifully large enough to contain her swollen body.

As they came down the stairs there was light applause.

Olivia realized that this wasn’t just breakfast, it was a sort of party.

Dr. Pan and Dr. Oppyx were there, along with one or two of the staff from the winter fair, and a handful of soldiers.

A glistening tray of fruit was on the counter with a dish of cream beside it, and Dr. Pan was pouring out mugs of steaming coffee.

One of the soldiers bent to take something out of the oven and Olivia couldn’t help moaning in appreciation.

“Come on in,” Dr. Pan laughed. “You need to eat as much as you can, Olivia. I’ll do your health check while Stark fixes your plate.”

Olivia submitted meekly, watching ravenously as Stark piled her plate with much more than she would have dared to take for herself.

“You’re very healthy and the baby is thriving,” Dr. Pan said. “I’d expect the little one to arrive at some point tonight or tomorrow.”

Olivia nearly gasped in surprise. She had waited and wished for so long to be pregnant, and now it was going to be over so quickly.

I’ll get to meet our baby…

“Incredible,” Stark said, putting a dollop of cream onher fruit and then another on a thick slice of the coffee cake that had just come out of the oven.

“Rest and eat, Olivia,” Dr. Pan said, pointing to the big, fluffy sectional sofa. “We’ll all fix a plate and come to you. After you eat, we have a few presents for you - just little things for the baby and to congratulate you and Stark on your bond.”

Olivia headed to the sofa and sat, trying not to cry again with gratitude. Stark handed her the overflowing plate and then sat by her feet, pulling them into his lap to rub them.

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