SIXMONTHSAFTERthey’d eloped, Jenna patted her barely protruding tummy and smiled to herself.
It had taken only one round of IVF, since her uterus was entirely viable, for her to get pregnant with Dima’s baby. Having a tubal ligation had not impacted her other otherwise healthy reproductive system. They had decided to use donated eggs from a donor who shared Jenna’s physical characteristics, but not her genes.
The donors at the clinic were all screened for genetic diseases, and Jenna could be confident she wasn’t passing anything on to the next generation that would devastate a family like hers had been.
It still felt like a miracle.
She’d never thought to be pregnant, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to carry another child.
This one had come with aching pain in her back and hips as well as nausea every day, all day long for the first four months. She had finally stopped throwing up, and now she could be around her BFF again, who was pregnant with her fourth child.
Nataliya had given birth to a healthy baby a couple of months before Dima and Jenna decided that they would elope rather than deal with the rigmarole of a royal wedding. Jenna knew it was more for her sake than his and loved him for it.
Nataliya’s fourth pregnancy had come as a shock to everyone. Their baby was only a few months old, but other than the nausea, Nataliya’s pregnancy was progressing fine.
Unfortunately, she and Jenna had set each other off with their nausea and had to settle for texts for weeks.
Now they were getting together on Mirrus to celebrate Prince Evengi’s birthday.
The former king was delighted all of his sons were happily married, but even more happy with his own lovely wife. Nataliya’s mother had blossomed here on Mirrus, and Jenna loved seeing that.
She remembered the woman from when Jenna and Nataliya had first become friends. There had always been a sad look in Princess Solomia’s eyes when she thought her daughter wasn’t looking.
That sadness was gone. Being a grandmother suited the woman to the bone, and had done since the birth of Anna Yelena. Being married to her own arrogant prince had done wonders as well.
Nikolai and Nataliya were still sickeningly in love and the happy proud parents of three children, with a fourth on the way. Nataliya had finally determined four might be enough.
Emma and Konstantin were here with their boys for the birthday celebration as well. Jenna and Konstantin had finally made up, after sufficient groveling on the prince’s part.
Konstantin’s idea of matchmaking left a lot to be desired and she’d told him so.
Strong arms slid around her from behind, Dima’s hands coming to rest against her stomach. “How is she doing today?”
“Active. Can you feel her?”
The baby kicked, and Dima made a sound of wonder as he always did. “I can. To think in only a few months’ time we will be able to hold her.”
“Can you believe Nataliya is having her fourth baby?”
“I can, but I admit I like our plan of adopting our next child.”
“I do too.” Jenna had this deep feeling that they were supposed to adopt their next child, and not a baby.
Dima had been all for it.
“We have a good life, Jenna.”
“The best,” she agreed with a happy hum.
“My brother is doing another study on the feasibility of shifting to a constitutional monarchy.”
Jenna spun in her husband’s arms. “Are you serious?”
He smiled down at her. “How can you doubt it? You, Nataliya and Emma make very persuasive advocates.”
“Oh, I’m so happy.”
“There is no guarantee he will shift our government in that direction.”