"I'm glad I got to see you today." I told Paul.

The two of us were sitting outside on one of the balconies, seated on a bench. Our afternoon passed rather quickly, much faster than I had hoped. I felt as though I barely had enough time to truly enjoy the company of my friends and family before I had to leave.

Seeing my dad lifted a weight I didn't know I was carrying. I think I felt a lot of guilt for leaving him here on Arrakis without me for the first time in our lives, but seeing him happy and enjoying his work reassured me that he didn't need me to be there all of the time for him to be happy. 

The Duke and Lady Jessica were lovely to see again. We all ate a late lunch together, the five of us, just like old times. They asked a few questions about Feyd and I answered them, but I could see the topic visibly made Paul uncomfortable so we dropped it.

"I'm glad I got to see you, too." Paul responded. I could sense his gaze on me.

I sighed as I stared at the setting sunset, knowing my day was coming to an end. "I should go soon."

He stared at me sadly and reached for my hand. "I don't want you to leave."

I frowned and looked down at our intertwined fingers. "I don't want to leave either."

"Then don't." He argued. "Don't go back. Stay here."

I shook my head and looked away, letting go of his hand. "I have to go back. You know that. I've already agreed to marry Feyd-Rautha."

He took hold of my hand again and held it between his two palms, bringing my fingertips to his lips as he rested his elbows on his thighs. "You can't leave, Lia. It's about more than marrying that Harkonnen. I need you near me, I can't explain it but... Something is telling us to stay together. I know you feel it too."

He was right, I felt it too. I didn't have the right words to describe the feeling, but somehow I knew the universe needed me to stay. The moment I stepped onto Arrakis and felt the comfort of Paul's arms... It felt as though something inside me was drawn to Paul. I was being pulled towards him and I had to fight this force every time I stepped away from his touch.

"You know I can't stay." I whispered and leaned my head into his shoulder.

He sighed and shook his head. "I think it has something to do with... Prajna-"

"Bene Gesserit training?" I interrupted and shot him a look as if the suggestion were ridiculous. "You're trying to suggest there's a greater purpose behind these feelings?" I shook my head. "Paul, what we feel is... natural. Of course we want to be around each other all the time."

He stared at me for a moment before looking back down at our hands.

"Lia," He looked up to meet my eyes again. "I'm in love with you."

My eyes widened and I sat there in shock, not knowing what to say. His revelation came to me as a surprise. I never expected Paul to say such a thing to me, but now that he had, I wasn't sure how to feel.

"You don't have to say anything back," He added hastily. "I don't expect you to. I just had to tell you this before you left me again because I have no idea when I'll see you next."

I didn't speak. Paul went quiet and bit his bottom lip. "Just answer me this, please. Is he good to you? Does he treat you well?"

I blinked, feeling my eyes moisten. "Yes." I muttered. "Yes," I repeated a bit louder. "He's wonderful to me. He treats me very well."

He nodded, but his eyes looked him to be in pain. "Good. Good. That's all I want for you. To have someone take care of you."

That's what I want for you too, I thought to myself. That's who I wish I could have been for you.

***

I checked his waiting chambers expecting to find Feyd but the room was empty. Still wanting to see him before I went to bed, I decided it would be worth checking in his bedroom. It was late, so it would make sense for him to be there.

Paul's words played over in my head.

I'm in love with you

It's the only thing I could hear since I left Arrakis. I couldn't get him out of my head. What did this mean for me? How does it change things?

It changes nothing, I thought. I have my destiny and he has his. Sadly, our paths just aren't meant to intertwine. I have a man to marry.

I peaked my head through his door and my eyes immediately found him sitting up against his head board. He looked up from the book in his hand at the sound of the door opening.

"Hey," He said to me. "Do you want to come in?"

I nodded and let myself in, closing the door behind me. He moved to the side and made space for me on his bed so I slipped in beside him.

"How was your day?" He asked me as he set his book aside. "Tell me about it."

It didn't take me long to get into my adventures while back on Arrakis. I dove into detail, recounting my every minute with my friend friend and family. It was the kind of excitement I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Are you glad you got to see Paul?" He asked me innocently.

I nodded with a small smile. "I'm really happy I got to see him. Paul just... I enjoy his company so much."

"Do you enjoy my company just as much as you enjoy his?" Feyd asked with a sad smile.

"What?" I frowned. "Feyd, that's not fair. You know what Paul means to me and how close we are."

Feyd pursed his lips and looked down sadly. "Because you'd pick him, wouldn't you."

His words didn't feel like a question, they felt like a statement. It was a statement I didn't feel I could refute, because was he wrong? Truly? In my heart I knew that of course Paul was and always would be the person I pick for me. But I was marrying Feyd, and that meant I had to pick him from now on.

"I'd pick you." Feyd spoke again before I could respond. "There isn't even anyone else to choose from," He smiled softly and looked away. "It's odd. Every single woman I've ever met has looked, felt, even sounded the same. But God, not you. No one can compete." His eyes met mine and I could see the passion behind them. The desire. "Everything about you... You're incredible and you don't even know it."

I blushed and looked away, unable to handle his compliment. My chest was burning with an intense fire and the butterflies were doing flips. I felt his hand grip my chin and force me to meet his gaze where he stared at me intently.

"I mean it, Ophelia." He told me firmly. "You're the most interesting person I've ever met."

I wasn't sure what possessed me to act so impulsively but I found myself leaning into Feyd's arms and kissing him fiercely. He responded to my touch instantly, wrapping his arms around me to pull me in.

He pushed me down so that my back pressed against his bed. His lips move against mine in a beautiful pattern that made my heart spin. His touch, his voice, every part of him seemed to drive me crazy. 

The two of us kissed for a long time. I kissed him until my lips couldn't anymore. Instead, he let me rest in his bed with him. I stayed with him until I fell asleep in the comfort of his arms.

The world is a beautiful beige and orange. I'm standing in the middle of the desert with nothing but sand for miles. The sky is blue, my back aches.

I look down and nearly jump at the sight. I can no longer see my shoes over the sight of my protruding stomach. I had gotten so large that my body felt heavy, weak. This inexplicable pain suddenly appeared from no where and made it difficult for me to  move my torso.

But my stomach disappears just as fast as it came. I'm no longer out in the open but I'm now hiding in the shade of the rocks in the desert.  I look over to my side, Paul is there.

He's smiling at me. I smile back. He holds something in his arms . My eyes look down at it curiously, he lifts it for me to see.

My eyes stare at the swaddle in his arms. It's olive skin and soft laughs make it obvious its mine.

A baby.

***

hi guys! hope you're all good, what are we thinking!! thoughts?

also i hate to say this but i'm going to be dropping from daily updates to maybe twice a week. i just can't handle the volume of all the writing especially with finals coming up, i hope you can understand! after finals ill try to go back to updating daily. i just cant keep going to bed at 3am to upload these lol

as always lmk what you think! sorry for typos, super tired!!

with love,
via <33