Chapter 15: The Morning After
821 Words
Ava woke in Alexander's arms.
The sun was streaming through the curtains. The room was warm. His chest was rising and falling beneath her cheek.
She didn't move. Didn't want to wake him.
She just listened. Breathed. Felt.
This was her life now. This man. This love. This peace.
"You're staring," he murmured.
"You're not even awake."
"I can feel you watching me."
She smiled. "Go back to sleep."
"Can't. You're too loud."
"I'm not making any noise."
"Your heart is pounding."
She laughed. "You're impossible."
"You love it."
"I love you."
---
He opened his eyes. Gray. Soft. Warm.
"I love you too."
They lay there for a while. Not talking. Just being.
"What do you want to do today?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"We can't do nothing."
"Why not?"
"Because there's a world out there."
"The world can wait."
She kissed his chest. "You're lazy."
"I'm in love. There's a difference."
"Same thing."
He pulled her closer. "Don't ever leave."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
---
They finally got up at noon.
Ava made coffee. Alexander made toast.
They ate in the garden. The roses were blooming.
"Your mother would have loved this," Ava said.
"What?"
"Us. The garden. The peace."
Alexander looked at the roses. "She would have liked you."
"Would she?"
"She would have said you're good for me."
"Am I?"
He took her hand. "You're everything."
---
After breakfast, Claire arrived with news.
"The magazine wants a follow-up. A home tour. Readers are obsessed with you."
Alexander frowned. "No."
Ava touched his arm. "It could be fun."
"Invading our privacy is not fun."
"Showing our home is not invading. It's sharing."
He sighed. "Fine. One hour. No bedrooms."
Claire smiled. "I'll tell them."
---
The photographer arrived at 2 PM.
A different one. A woman. Older. Professional.
"Mrs. King, you look radiant."
"Thank you."
"Mr. King, you look... less intimidating than last time."
"I'm practicing."
The photographer laughed. "Let's start in the living room."
---
The photos were natural.
Ava and Alexander on the couch. In the kitchen. On the balcony.
No poses. No scripts.
Just them.
"This is nice," Ava whispered.
"It's tolerable."
"High praise."
He almost smiled.
---
The final photo was in the garden.
Ava stood by the roses. Alexander stood behind her. His hand on her waist.
The photographer lowered her camera.
"Perfect."
Ava leaned against him.
She felt beautiful. Loved. Home.
---
The magazine came out the next week.
The headline: "Billionaire's Bride: Happily Ever After?"
Inside were photos of their home. Their garden. Their love.
Ava read the article aloud.
"They say we're the most unlikely couple."
"We are."
"They say our love story is unconventional."
"Also true."
"They say we look happy."
"We are happy."
He kissed her forehead. "Then the article is accurate."
---
Ava's father called.
"I saw the magazine. You look beautiful."
"Thank you, Papa."
"He looks... softer."
"He's practicing."
Her father laughed. "I like him."
"I like him too."
"More than like?"
"Much more."
---
That night, Alexander cooked dinner.
Pasta. Salad. Wine.
"Our thing," Ava said.
"Our thing."
They ate on the balcony. The city sparkled below them.
"Alexander?"
"Yes."
"Do you ever think about the future?"
"Always."
"Like what?"
"Children. A bigger house. More time."
"Children?"
He set down his fork. "Does that scare you?"
"No. It surprises me."
"I never wanted children. Before you."
"And now?"
"Now I want everything. With you."
---
Ava's heart pounded.
"I want that too."
"Good."
"When?"
He reached across the table. Took her hand.
"When the time is right."
---
The next morning, Ava called her doctor.
"Dr. Evans, I need to ask you something."
"Of course."
"If I wanted to have children... is there anything I should know?"
Dr. Evans was quiet for a moment. "You're healthy. You're young. There's no reason you can't."
"Thank you."
"Are you and Mr. King trying?"
"Not yet. But soon."
"I'm happy for you."
---
After the call, Ava walked to Alexander's office.
"We should talk."
"About?"
"Babies."
He looked up. "Already?"
"You said you wanted children. I want to be ready."
He stood. Walked to her.
"I meant what I said. When the time is right."
"How will we know?"
"We'll know."
She touched his face. "I love you."
"I love you too."
---
That night, they lay in bed.
Ava's hand rested on her stomach.
"What are you thinking?" Alexander asked.
"About our future. Our children. Their names."
"What names?"
"Alexander Jr. if it's a boy."
He laughed. "No."
"Why not?"
"It's pretentious."
"You're pretentious."
"I'm confident. There's a difference."
"Same thing."
---
She kissed him.
"Alexander Jr. is growing on me."
"Over my dead body."
"That can be arranged."
He pulled her close. "You're impossible."
"You love it."
"I love you."
They slept in each other's arms.
The future was unwritten. But they would write it together.
One day. One moment. One breath at a time.
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