He was happy because she would be the mother of his child and that nothing in this world would ever be more important to him than his family. He had a family of his own as of now.

But in between his family and whichever feeling he had about them, stood his title and position. He did not want to think about it right now. He had to partially hide his emotions and conflicting thoughts to be able to be there for the woman he loved and that was now carrying his child. Their child.

He turned around and saw her, crying and a bit disheveled.

“Darling...” he started.

“I’m sorry, Harry.” she begged. “I’m so so sorry.” she hiccuped mid-sentence.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” he answered sincerely and approached her. He caressed her face and embraced her, making sure that he was even more loving than usual. He couldn’t even start and try to imagine what was going through her mind right now. “Shhh… please don’t cry my darling,” he said while fighting his own urge to cry, both from happiness and worry. He couldn't lose her. Not after all the battles he had fought.

“I have messed up.” she said into his chest.

“Carol… you did not make this child by yourself,” he answered calmly. “This is a blessing.”

“What are we going to do? We just started dating, I still have to finish my master's… you are not a  common man, Harry. You are a prince and this child will be called a bastard for the rest of his or her life.” she cried even harder after this.

That thought had not crossed his mind until she mentioned it. It was so easy for him to forget who he was whenever he was around her, that just now the seriousness of this situation started to make its space into his mind. He would need to deal with his father and grandmother – to whom he had promised to treat Carol respectfully and accordingly – but worst than them, he would have to deal with the press. And by experience, there wasn’t much of what he could do. He would not be able to keep his girl and his baby safe from the media’s nasty words.

Gently he started to guide her to his bedroom and sat her on his bed. He kneeled in front of her, holding both of her hands between his and she gasped.

“Please don’t do what I think you are going to do.” she said sharply.

“I’m not going to propose.” he said a bit hurt. Both that she thought he would propose in the middle of his bedroom and that she was going to say no if he did it now. “I just want you to look at me and listen to me carefully. Ok?”

She nodded.

“Words cannot describe the mix of feelings I have right now. It will take me a while to understand most of it but I am beyond happy that we are going to have a child. I want you to know and be certain that I want this child. I am not thinking of the hardships and troubles we are going to have… For me, there is no other way than for us to have this baby. But I will support you on any decision you make.” he took a long breath. “I am thrilled that you are going to be the mother of my baby and… please, not for a moment think this is going to be a burden. I have no idea what we are going to do from now on, but I will be by your side every step of this way and we will find out together.”

Her heart broke into a million pieces when she saw the thin tear roll down his cheeks. She noticed that he also wanted to cry, as she was doing since the first test came out positive.

She kneeled in front of him and hugged him tightly. Her mind had taken the best of her and she had imagined lots of things of how he would react and in all scenarios, he would react badly. She took a mental note to stop underestimating Harry. He proved her wrong all the time.

“We didn’t even have the talk about children.” she whispered.

“You know I always wanted to be a father.” he whispered back. “Don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. But this soon?” she said.

“I don’t regret it… could it happen in the future, with us married and after enjoying a bit more of our lives? Yes… but if God sent us this blessing now… it might as well be what we are needing at the moment.” He never thought he would be this faithful, but he was. Nothing happens without a reason. And they would figure out what this unplanned pregnancy would mean to them.

She pecked his lips and got up. She laid on his bed and he soon was with her. He caressed her face, her eyes and her lips. His hands knew every inch of her body, and slowly it was placed upon where their child was growing. He smiled big and caressed it for a long time her still a non-existent bump.

“You didn’t tell me you were having pregnancy symptoms.” he said.

“I wasn’t. I mean.. the symptoms were sleepiness, heartburn, headache.”

“Our child is already special… giving you unusual symptoms.” they both laughed at that.

“When do you think this child was conceived?” she asked.

“I don’t recall…” He tried to remember when he had failed to use a condom. “Oh my God.”

“What?” she said startled.

“The beach… that was the only time where we were unprotected. He or she was made under the stars.”

“That is romantic… if we don’t consider all the other facts.”

“That was the night you accepted to be my girlfriend.” he smiled and she soon followed. Her smile still not reaching her eyes. “Guess I won’t have you only to myself for so long then.”

“Yeah… we got a souvenir from that night, huh?” he felt a bit more relieved that she was already making jokes about it. That meant that she was still with him. And that her mind wasn’t taking her to places where he wasn’t sure he would be able to rescue her from… and save their relationship at the same time.

“If you weren’t feeling any symptoms… how come you decided to take a test?” he asked.

“Sofia pointed it out.” Carol said and told him the conversation she had with the princess.

Flashback

“Carol… don’t get me wrong, please. But are you sure these heartburns are normal?” Sofia asked her when Carol was putting on her coat to leave and go to her hotel. Her friend had a thin line of sweat on her forehead, was a bit pale and out of breath.

“Well… Normal is not feeling anything, but I guess its just stress. I am working and traveling a lot, studying for a master's degree and dating a prince.” Carol said.

“Well… you do have a crazy lifestyle, don’t you?” they both laughed. “But aren’t you pregnant?”

Carol stared at Sofia as if she was the craziest person on the face of earth.

“Are you out of your mind, Sofia?” Carol laughed at that. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Are you sure?”  Sofia crossed her arms and stared at Carol’s bump. Defying her friend to say otherwise.

“Well… I’m not late, it is expected in a couple of days. And I’ve only had headaches and heartburns. I’m sleepy all the time because I barely have much time to sleep anyways. There aren’t any pregnancy symptoms. Chill.”

“Ok... sorry to mention it, but I saw when you got a bit dizzy while carrying Alex… and we’ve been friends for a while and you never mentioned you suffered from heartburns ever… and you always had this kind of lifestyle of overworking, barely sleeping...” Sofia said the concern on her friend’s face. “I guess this won’t be the time I will become “aunt Sofia” then.”

End of flashback

“That was when I noticed that I miscalculated my period. It was two weeks late and not too week to come… The rest, you know...” Carol said.

“How do you want things to go?” Harry asked after she said.

“Can it be a secret for a while?” Carol nervously bit her lip.

“Of course… I mean we need to go to a doctor and make sure everything’s ok… But we can tell people whenever you feel ready for it.”

“I am going to ask Agnes for an appointment. Do you want to come?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” he pecked her lips.

“For now… let’s just the three of us know. I am probably around week 5 or 6, still too soon to spill the beans, right?”

“Right.” he agreed and did not understand why she was counting the time in weeks.

“Then we need to know how to tell your grandma… Never thought next time I would meet the Queen would be to tell her that I am carrying a child who is likely to be born out of wedlock.”

“One day at a time, darling.” Harry said. “One day at a time.”

“I want to speak Portuguese with the baby.” she said. “I miss speaking Portuguese every day and he or she not knowing the language would break my heart.”

“You can speak whichever language you prefer, darling. It will need to communicate with grandma.” he said.

“Yes...” she started crying again and he wondered why. “She will be so disappointed. How come I get pregnant at a young age, not married… We are going to disappoint lots of important people.”

“But that’s their problem, not ours. We love each other. And we are together. And we will raise this child together. That’s what really matters.”

She pretended she didn’t hear the L-word. She wasn’t ready for that. Yet.

“What about press and media?” she asked.

“Carol… let’s not fret over things beyond our control. We shall deal with that when we come to it, ok?”

“Ok.”

They stared at each other for a few minutes.

“Harry?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For staying… for reacting the way you did. It really helped.” she whispered. “I thought you would freak out, yell, end things…”

“You should really try to control that creative mind of yours. It does wonders on work and school… but in your personal life, you always try to expect the worst from everyone. And not everyone is like that...”

He just kissed her to show and reassure her that he was not going to go anywhere. And that they would face this together.

(…)

When she was asleep, he got out of bed and went downstairs to pour himself a glass of scotch, making sure to have a double dose. His mind was running but he wouldn’t dare to let her notice it, as he knew how she would get. He was immensely happy and thrilled to know that he was going to be a father. He finally would have a family of his own and accomplish one of his greatest dreams, but everything that came together with it was going to give them a hard time. He knew Carol would oppose moving into Nottingham Cottage and he wouldn’t be able to live with her at her flat. He wasn’t even sure that she could if she wanted to, move in with him.

He knew his grandmother would be happy for him, but at the same time she would be disappointed at him for doing things the wrong way. She was a ninety-two-year-old lady after all. She would tell him that this situation wasn’t how he was groomed to have his family starting.

His father would give him hell for the whole pregnancy, might even stop talking to him. He was afraid of how his father would look at Carol. Would he be able to see how fantastic, hardworking and trustable woman she was? Or he would simply look at their slip and take her as a gold digger?

And he didn’t even want to know what Maria and Flavio would say. He didn’t know them that well, but he knew that Maria had big dreams for Carol and that she wasn’t one to encourage skipping steps of life. She had, after all, worked her ass off to be able to keep her daughter in college. She herself had carefully gone through all the right steps in her own life. He had started to see Maria as a mom and he would not want her disappointment either.

The press would be ruthless and he wouldn’t be able to protect them from it. If Carol ever accepted to live somewhere else, somewhere private, where they could be away from media even in another country, they still would be searched upon, photographed whenever they needed to run some errands, people would say things and…. - He just poured himself another glass. All the thinking was giving him a headache.

He was starting to consider renouncing his title, getting a job of his own and providing for his family. That seemed the easiest route. But even though if he did it, he had already lived for so long in the public eye… it was no guarantee that they would be left alone. They could move back to Brazil, get a house near Maria and he would have to learn how was it like to go to work every day and wait for payroll… He could also not work every day and wait for payroll like a commoner and live by his inheritance... No matter what the course of action, he wanted this child more than everything in his life and he wanted his girl to be with him. He did not consider abortion and it would definitely break his heart if that was to be what Carol wanted. He didn’t think that she would do that, but that would be something that she could do if she wanted… and he had promised to be by her side no matter what she chose.

He didn’t notice time slipping by and even startled when he heard Carol’s footsteps on the stairs and her sleepy voice calling him. He looked at her, messy hair and a t-shirt of his. He smiled, drank the last sip of scotch and went to her.

“I missed you in bed. Everything alright?” she asked when he approached her and kissed her shoulder.

“Of course, darling. I just needed a drink. Let’s get back to bed. Shall we?” he whispered.

“Are you sure?” she pressed.

“I am sure, my love. I did not want to wake you up.”

“Ok then…” he carried her to his bedroom and carefully placed her on his bed. He soon was by her side, hugging and trying to give her the reassurance that he did not have at the moment. He kissed her whole face before lovingly kissing her. He loved how their bodies were eager to be in each other.

“I love you, Carolina.” he said after their kiss ended.

She felt her heart pounding in her chest when she heard that word again. She only looked him in the eyes and knew that he understood that she wasn’t ready to say those words. She also got that he wasn’t going to not say that to her. He wasn’t afraid of his feelings.

She pecked his lips and made herself comfortable on his arms, soon falling asleep again. He simply held her in his arms, taking care of her, of them, before sleepiness finally took over him.

(…)

It was a Thursday night of the next week when Carol entered Agnes’ office. She had asked for an urgent appointment, at night and preferably not letting anyone – not even the secretary – know that it was for her. Carol arrived together with Harry who was driving, parked nearby the back door and called Agnes. She opened the door and before she left the car, one of Harry’s RPO entered her office and did a fast sweep. After giving the couple the green light, Harry and Carol left the car as fast as they could and holding hands, taking the steps together for the first appointment of their baby.

The RPO stayed in the waiting room. Agnes had a feeling of what was happening but she respected their time and waited for them to start talking after the pleasantries and introductions were done.

“What can I do for you, Carol?” Agnes said, always so professional.

“Agnes… You might imagine, after all the demands that I requested – and I am sorry for this – why we’re here, right? I kindly ask you to not tell anyone about what happened here. Not Hailey, not Flavio and my mom. I still need some time to process everything.” Carol said, holding Harry’s hands as if her life depended on it.

“Carol… You are scaring me. You can trust we are under secrecy inside this room… I started to see you as a daughter. I promise not to say a word if you promise to take care of whatever it is that you need my work on.” Agnes said trying to ignore the fact that Prince Harry was inside her office together with her daughter’s stepsister.

“I’m pregnant.” Carol blurted out for the first time. She couldn’t help the uneasy feeling that she had when she said it out loud.

“Congratulations!” Agnes' suspicions were right after all. “When did you find out?”

“Last week… Saturday, to be exact. We’re… we’re dating. I don’t know if Hailey told you this... but… It’s soon and obviously unplanned...” Carol said and Harry held her hand tightly.

“You don’t need to give me any explanations, Carol. You are a very responsible adult and I trust you both will do the right thing.” Agnes said and started filling a form, changing the main information that would lead anyone to discover who the patient was.

“When was your last period?” She asked.

“I believe it was March 31st, don’t remember exactly.” Carol answered.

“We’ll then have to find out how far along you are with an ultrasound.”

“We know the date.” Harry said.

“You do?” Agnes was looking at them with an eyebrow raised.

“That was the only time we were unprotected. April 14th”

“The wedding, then?” Agnes smiled.

“Yes… Our souvenir was better and different from the other guests.” Carol joked.

“Let’s take a look at your weight and blood pressure. Ok?” Agnes asked getting up and Carol soon following.

“Everything’s looking perfect right now,” Agnes said after she took notes of Carol’s blood pressure, weight and measurements of chest and waist.

Thankfully for the new parents, there was an ultrasound machine in her office. They were dying to see if everything was ok. Carol changed clothes to a disposable hospital dress and laid on the bed while Agnes was putting on gloves. She first examined Carol’s breasts – after she found out she started to complain that they were sore all the time – saying that it was a normal thing, it would become a bit larger and darker, she then carefully examined Carol to see if everything was as it was supposed to be. It was. She was professional, gentle and caring and responding all questions Harry and Carol had.

“Based on the conception date, you must be around 7 weeks and 4 days pregnant, Carol. That means, Harry, two months.”

“This baby was quiet enough… if it weren’t from Sofia’s tip and the heartburns we might as well have found out when she was ready to pop...” The girls laughed hard at Harry’s joke.

“It’s better when moms discover not right at the beginning, I see.” Agnes said preparing the equipment. “Because we all want to hear something, that only after week six we are able to. Let’s try and see this baby of yours.”

She carefully inserted the ultrasound machine – the only way for this week of the pregnancy – and they saw a small thing on the monitor. There wasn’t much shape to it, but they knew that it was their baby.

It was so small, so defenseless. But at the same time, it meant so much. It was asking them to love him or her. It was asking them to become a family.

“Look Carol… that’s our baby.” Harry said when the screen changed, holding her hand and kissing her forehead, with a teary eye.

“Oh my God… it’s so small” Carol said between tears.

“Looks like everything’s alright here… It’s well placed inside the womb, the placenta is in the right place… let’s see if we can catch any sounds…”

TUM-TUM-TUM-TUM

That sound was the most amazing music they had ever heard in life. It was their child, showing them that everything was OK… that they could rest. Neither would ever forget how that sounded and what it meant for them at that moment.

Agnes let them hear for more minutes than an average appointment before she helped Carol to clean up and get up.

“I am going to ask you for a urine test, blood tests and to take some pills. I will give you a box that I have here… and after your blood test, if you need more vitamins, I will prescribe others, ok?” she said handing Carol a box of folic acid pills.

“Agnes, I can’t thank you enough!” Carol said after getting the prenatal pills she would need to take daily.

“You don’t have to mention it, ok? Please let me know when you intend to go to the lab to get the other tests done, I can arrange your privacy.” She said hugging Carol and then Harry and congratulating them again.

“Will do. How much do we owe you?” Harry asked getting his wallet.

“This one is on the house.” Agnes refused politely. “Please do let me know when you intend to let people know. I can’t wait to buy cute little outfits for the baby!”

“We will do. Thank you, doctor.” Harry said.

He and Carol were on cloud nine after the appointment, both holding the photos of their baby that Agnes had given them.

“See… we made a super baby.” Harry said.

“Don’t be cocky about it...” Carol replied pecking his lips.

“I am so fucking happy, Carolina.” he said and her heart warmed.

(…)

“Are you sure you have to go?” Harry asked her.

“Yes, Harry. I am.” she said finishing packing.

“Isn’t there anyone else to cover for you?” He insisted.

“No… It’s my project after all.” she rolled her eyes.

“I don’t feel comfortable with you flying so early in the pregnancy.” He stated.

“Harry… We just left the appointment, Agnes said everything is just fine. She did not oppose it. And I am already one day delayed. I have to go.”

“Promise me you will take care. Work reasonable hours, eat well and take your pills.” He said looking at her and she went to him, holding his face between her hands.

“I am fine… I feel fine and I will take care of our baby. I can’t tell my boss that I am pregnant yet and this trip to Johannesburg was scheduled months ago. I have to be there. Four days only and we will be back.” she said lovingly.

“I wish I could go with you.” He whispered.

“But you can’t.” she said firmly. “We will be fine, Harry. I promise I will take good care of us.”

“Ok… But I don’t like my family away from me.” He said and saw her tearing up. “What did I say?”

“You’re the sweetest man in this world, Henry.” she smiled. “Damn hormones.”

“Using that card already, are you?” they laughed and after a goodbye kiss – he couldn’t drive her to the airport – he carried her luggage to the car and kissed her a few times more before she left.

Carol did not want to go on this work trip, but she had to as it was scheduled beforehand. She was flying business and it made things a little less uncomfortable for her. Her bump was starting to appear if anyone knew her body well and looked very closely, and she was starting to feel some not so nice symptoms. She had to go, it was her career… the career that she fought so hard to have and build… and she hadn’t thought about what she was going to do with it after the baby was born. Would she be a working mom? Stay at home mom? Why had she fought so hard to study if she was going to put it aside? At the same time, she wanted to be a hands-on mom. It was her dream. She just didn’t know how she would do both. Or if she wanted to do both.

Her trip was like any other work trip she had taken since moving to London. Endless meetings and workshops, taking shifts to train everyone, answering questions from all sorts while keeping up with her e-mails and being aware of what was happening in the London office while she was away. Video conferences and a small chat with colleagues. She did try to slow things down a little bit but wasn’t able to, she had made her team used to her workaholic habits of doing a thousand things in a day, so they prepared her schedule based on this. She took her pills religiously and made sure that no matter where she was, she was snacking on healthy food and having proper meals – which was a first. At the end of the day, at the hotel, she only wanted to sleep and sleep and sleep some more. She was tired as if she’d ran a marathon, and wondered how much of it was pregnancy-related.

Harry was either calling or texting her all the time to know if she was alright and although she did appreciate all the concern and care, she was getting fed up. She knew how to take care of herself and her baby. He did not have to ask her a thousand times if she had drunk enough water or eaten a healthy and balanced meal. She was keeping her thoughts to herself and thanking God that this was going to be a four day only trip as if it had lasted longer, she surely would snap at him.

(…)

He was waiting for her with flowers at her apartment when she came back to London. She had been miserable for the whole flight, with nausea, her breasts too sore and she wanted to pee every 10 minutes. The last thing that she wanted was to be close to him, she just wanted to be left alone, but she did not have the heart to send him away. He probably asked someone to clean her flat, do her laundry and bought her favorite take out at an Italian restaurant near her place.

“I missed you.” was the first thing he said when she opened the door. “How are you?”

“Tired,” she answered, side hugging him. “Flowers?”

“Yes. I have also prepared a bath for you as well… and I can give you a massage later.” Harry offered, clearly noting that she wasn’t in a good mood. “You need to rest and eat and I am here to make sure of that.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.” she said above a whisper and left her luggage nearby the door, going straight to the bathroom, where she cried alone for being such an idiot to him. He was trying to make nice things for her and she was a total bitch to him. She took a quick bath and went to her bedroom in her bathrobes to fetch some moisturizer to apply to her body. He was sitting on her bed, waiting for her.

He noticed that she had cried, but said nothing.

“Carol, wait...” Harry said when she took off the bathrobe and was about to apply the cream.

“What now?” she asked impatiently.

“Your bump… its… bigger.” he was in awe.

She took a few steps to be able to look herself in the mirror and saw that her bump was indeed bigger. She hadn’t noticed it in Johannesburg, but now there was a small bump in her body where their baby was growing.

He got up and touched it lightly. He then kissed it and that was enough for all hormones come crashing and for her to start to sob. He didn’t pay much attention to that, because his child was already showing.

“Daddy missed you.” he whispered to her bump. “Missed you and mamãe.” [Mamãe = mommy]

Carol was crying for everything and nothing at the same time. Harry was speaking to their 8-week baby and she had worked so hard that she did not notice her bump growing and she was a horrible mother and girlfriend for that. He took the cream and applied carefully in all her body, and helped her to dress in her favorite pajamas.

“Do you want to have dinner now?” he asked after finishing.

“Yes, please.” she answered, still crying and wanting to stop, and not being able to.

“Why all the waterworks?” he asked.

“I don’t know! I want it to stop but I can’t!” she said.

“Let’s see after I feed you if that will stop...” he had set the table for them. “Don’t you think it’s best for you to share it with someone who’s been through it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… you’re clearly in a mood… And I don’t know what to do about that. If you talked to someone who’s been pregnant before, maybe it’d help. Why don’t you call your mom?”

“I still don’t want her to know...” she said eating.

“Then Agnes?”

“We’re not that close, I guess.”

“Sofia? She was the one who found out anyways… She will keep our secret.” Harry said, eating and taking a sip of soda.

“I will call her later.” Carol said after giving it some thought.

(….)

Harry stayed in the living room while Carol called Sofia in the bedroom. He kissed her before she left, and she had said she was sorry for the way she was treating him.

Carol tried to rehearse a way of spilling the beans, but decided against all tries. She would go without a script. She sent a message first, asking if they could video call in 10 minutes and the princess said yes.

When Carol called, she was sitting on her bed and beside her was the pictures of her baby that Agnes had printed for them.

“Hi Carol...” Sofia said cheerfully. “How was South Africa?”

“I did not have time to explore… I barely saw it, to be honest. How are you? And the little cherub?”

“I am great, thanks. Alex is sleeping over at Victoria’s today. And Carl Philip is out with some friends. All by myself tonight, thank God.” they both laughed at that. “Where’s Harry?”

“Watching soccer in the living room...” Carol answered.

“I thought you both would be glued right now...” Sofia said laughing.

“We’re not 15, you know? We can keep our hands off each other.” she laughed.

“What’s the matter, Carol?”

“What do you mean? That was a joke...”

“I know that was a joke. But I’ve come to know you and I know something is troubling your thoughts… spill it.” Sofia crossed her arms.

“Firstly I need you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone. Not even Carl Philip.”

“Pinky promise.” the brunette said.

“There’s something I need your help in taking care of...” Carol started, grabbing the photo.

“What is it? Have you guys been spotted?” Sofia was concerned about her new friend.

“Nope… Not yet.” Carol said.

“Then, what is it? Stop stalking and tell me.”

“This. We need your help to take care of this...” Carol said and then showed the pictures to the camera of her laptop.

At first Sofia didn’t see it as the camera took a while to focus. Then she saw it was an ultrasound still and saw the little baby in there.

“I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I’M GOING TO BE AUNT SOFIA!!!” The princess said with joy. “How far along are you? When did you find out? You better have found out after you left Sweden otherwise I will kill you for lying to my face.”

“I am 8 weeks along and yes, I found out after I left. The first stop was Boots to buy the tests.” Carol answered.

“I’m so happy for you, Carol. How are you feeling?”

“I am happy and confused and overwhelmed and tired. It’s so many feelings. Never thought someone could feel that much in so little time….” Carol took a breath. “Physically, I’m alright. Have not gained any weight, the headaches and heartburn stopped. But my breasts are larger and darker and sorer, I have a tiny bump and sometimes I feel nauseous. And sleepy and I need to pee every 10 minutes. This child measures what? A grape, perhaps and is already giving me bathroom trips imagine when it’s fully grown.”

Sofia laughed at her friend, remembering that she went through most of what she was describing herself when she was pregnant.

“The second trimester is the best one, trust me. You will feel more like yourself again.” she advised.

“And the hormones are awful… Harry did a very nice gesture to me today and I couldn’t help but be a bitch to him. That’s why he told me to call you.” Carol stated.

“So you’d bitch me instead? Nice exchange….” they laughed.

“What are you guys going to do?” Sofia asked.

“We have not talked about it yet… I want it to be a secret at least through the first 12 weeks and then we will tell our family and the courtiers and try to decide what’s the best route for us. Hopefully, the press won’t spot me until then.” Carol said.

“That’s wise.” she pointed. “Thank you for trusting me with this. I’m so thrilled for you.”

“Thank you for tipping me off, and for being there when I need the most.” Carol said, already starting to cry. “I needed to talk to someone who’s been through it, you know?”

“I do. I do know… Next time I’m in London I want a girls night and we can talk endlessly about pregnancy and dreams for our children.”

“It still feels like I’m dreaming.”

“You’re accomplishing a dream… I’d say you are dreaming.”

“Would you be a godmother to him or her?” Carol asked. “I’m not sure if you can, but, would you?”

“I am honored. And, of course, I will be godmother. And help you both find your pace and settle on whichever path you decided to follow with Harry. You are becoming a family and family is the most important thing in life. Don’t worry about anyone else. Take care of yourself and my godchild, ok?” Carol nodded. “I think Carl Philip has arrived.” they saw him opening the door behind Sofia and cheering on them.

“Oh, Hi Carol… back from Africa already?” he said sitting beside his wife.

“Yeah...” she said discreetly drying her tears. “Four days only, barely saw anything. So much work to be done, and little time to do it.”

“I thought you and Harry would be glued to each other by now...”

Carol and Sofia burst out laughing.

“We’re not 15, Carl Philip… he’s watching soccer.”

“I'll tell you… that ginger has gone soft.”

______________________