Hyde park, Saturday

Freddie was standing at the edge of the playground, arms crossed and pouting as he watched Monica climbing up a rusty structure.

"Come on!" She signalled him over.

He looked around and scoffed, annoyed that Monica had dragged him to a place for children.

He didn't want to go to any galleries, he didn't want to go to any museums, he didn't want to go to a beach. He didn't know what he wanted.

"If you think my hand is going on that... that bloody pole you are mistaken!" He spat. "And what about the baby?!"

"Why?" She stopped, holding onto the pole. "The baby is the size of an almond. It'll be fine!"

He turned away and sighed, deciding to tell the truth, "darling, think about all the bottoms and crotches and whatnot that it has touched."

"Freddie," she shook her head and chuckled. "For a start, those bottoms are fully clothed in dungarees and skirts or whatever. And you're going to have to touch an actual bare one anyway because I'm not doing the nappy-changing on my own every time! Got it?"

He pouted, arms crossed.

"Oh gosh." She rolled her eyes and walked to the swings. "You'll be like a baby having a baby if you don't grow up."

He scrambled back down the climbing frame and followed, "But you're the baby! You're only 19!"

She sighed and slumped on the seat, "age-wise, but not mentally."

"Soon you will be too big for these swings, and I don't mean mentally." He giggled, but Monica shook her head and smacked his arm, causing him to let out a yelp.

"You're not the one who will have to do the hard bit" she said.

"I know, but I will try to help." he got up and went over to her, rubbing his upper arm.

"You better man-up then." she giggled as she swung gently so that her feet grazed the ground.

"Get up." He said firmly.

She stopped swinging and turned to him, hoping she hadn't annoyed him.

"...why?" She asked; she didn't want a repeat of 'the other night'.

"Just trust me..." he said a bit more gently, and she got up.

He caught hold of the seat to stop it swinging and sat down.

"What are you doing?" She giggled, and he patted his lap.

"Now you can sit." He said, and she gently made herself comfortable, her hands clasping back around the ropes.

He slung his arms around her waist like a seatbelt and rested his chin on her shoulder, "this is much nicer, isn't it?"

"So, you'll sit on a swing but you won't go down a fireman pole?"

He scoffed as she just giggled, and he shook his head.

"You clearly weren't here in the late '60s." He said.

"What, this playpark?"

"Kensington." He sighed. "It was a crazy time. Women were using it as a stripper pole during midnight rides."

She giggled, "I love it here. It'll always be crazy."

"I sometimes wish you came into my life earlier." He kissed her shoulder.

"But you needed time to explore and learn first." She said.

"Oh?"

"You know, find out more about yourself."

"Ohhh, yes." He nodded, and as Monica's eyes panned across the park and she caught a glimpse of the iron gates, reminding her of something.

"Hey! Remember when we got the Royce and when we went out for a drive we got locked in here?"

"Ohhh yes..." he smiled. "That time I had to run out after the keeper and scream at him to come back with the keys... I looked like a tosser sprinting up the path like that!"

"And your fly was undone the whole time!" She giggled.

"What? Oh bollocks!!" He muttered as his cheeks reddened. "I had to get there! I didn't want to sleep in the back of the bloody car!"

"Oh you're being very cranky... were you awake earlier?"

Freddie stiffened out of nervousness, his grip on her locking a bit, and he felt his heart race.

"Now is the time to ask her," instinct told him. "The ring is in your pocket. Just do it!"

"Well," He murmured, slipping a hand into his pocket to feel for the small box. "Yes... because something was keeping me awake."

"What was keeping you awake?" She giggled again as they swung softly. "Another song idea?"

"Not quite," he kissed her cheek as he fumbled in his pocket to get the box out of its Tiffany packaging. "Would you mind getting up again for me please?"

"Do you need the toilet?" She obliged and scanned for public restrooms as he brushed the back of his trousers.

"Oh no. I need you." He made his way in front of her and inhaled deeply; he'd been waiting all week for this.

"Freddie," she blushed as he chuckled gently. "What was keeping you up last night then?!"

"This moment." He sunk to one knee and opened his palm, to reveal a small dark velvet box.

Monica stood still, ignoring the seat of the swing hitting the back of her thighs, her throat tightening as she began to register what was happening.

"Monica..." he opened the little box, and its contents a small sparkle in the sunlight.

She struggled to say his name as she processed what was in his hand, his pleading brown eyes looking back at her in desperation for a response.

The tears began to spill as her hand flew up to her mouth.

"This week has been full of so many ups and downs..." She managed to let out.

"Will you-Will you marry me?" He asked.

"Yes, yes I will!" She nodded violently as her blue eyes twinkled happily, and with a smile he took her left hand and slipped the silver diamond onto her ring finger.

"You make me so happy." He got back onto his feet and whisked her into his arms.

"I love you." She snivelled happily against his neck as he held her closer than ever.

"I love you too... my baby" He purred, pecking the side of her head and smiled in blissful and tight embrace.

She smiled and examined the harmony band on her finger, her chin perched on his shoulder, adjusting her wrist so that the diamond and its smaller set gems all got caught in the sun rays.

"It's so beautiful," she kissed his shoulder. "It must've cost you a fortune."

"Oh, but it's worth it," he lifted her chin. "... and maybe it's preciousness will never amount to yours."

"Freddie," she blinked her tears away. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"I am asking myself the same thing." He smiled and kissed her lips gently.

Her hand reached up to his face, her thumb caressing his cheekbone mid lip-lock, lost in the moment. Nothing else mattered; this was where she belonged.

He slipped down to her stomach and held onto her waist, nuzzling her stomach before kissing it. She giggled and ran a hand through his hair, "that baby is going to be very lucky to have you."

"I just can't wait," he smiled and took her hand. "Now come on. Let's go back... I'm bloody freezing!!"

She nodded as slipped his arm around her, and they made their way back towards the path leading to the nearest park gate.

*****

"Would you please grab the post on the doormat? I have some telephone calls to make while I still remember!" Freddie fumbled through his pocket for the keys as they climbed up the front steps.

"Of course, my love." She unzipped her coat as he unlocked the door.

"Thank you." He rushed in, and she bent down to pick the envelopes lying on the floor as he headed for the nearest telephone.

She started shifting through the post, trying to spot anything of interest (Freddie was the one getting most of the mail, not her). Freddie picked up the phone and went to dial Mary's number; he thought it was fair that she knew, but then he started getting second thoughts.

Monica found an envelope addressed to her parent's house in Belfast that was forwarded to her with a familiar crest stamped on it, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Oh! I have a letter... and it's from the art school!!" She called from the hall.

"Oh yes?" He set the phone down and turned to the doorway as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Can you please pass me the letter opener? My hands are shaking." She pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Here..." he passed it over and joined her, and she frantically sliced it open.

He watched as she unfolded the letter, staring at it in her hands.

He got concerned as the moment passed and her facial expression changed from confusion to anguish.

"What does it say?" He asked, and Monica threw it down and rushed to the sink, her back to him.

He picked the paper up, and read it...

We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected as you do not qualify for a place within our foundation course.

"Awww, shit..." He murmured, and glanced over to her at the sink, and could see her shoulders heave as she began to sob.

"Oh Monica..." Freddie got up and went to comfort her, but she brushed his arms away and rushed out of the room.

He stood there in remorse, listening to the door slam upstairs.

He told himself to give her some time. He had a teenage sister; he knew what girls were like, wanting time to be alone and reflect.

"Worst timing for a fucking result letter to arrive!" He ripped it up and put it in the bin before huffing to his piano. He endlessly played all the tunes he knew that she'd liked on it, hoping she'd emerge...

An hour had passed, and he realised that whether she liked it or not he had to be there for her. He decided to make a pot of tea and bring it upstairs, and he knocked on the door...

...No reply.

He sighed and pushed it open with his foot, and he found her lying awake on top of the covers on her side, eyes red from weeping.

"I'm sorry..." he set the tray down gently and sat on the side of the bed.

She lifted her head a little and glanced at him over her shoulder, then looked away.

"What-What am I going to do?" She snivelled. "This whole time I've been locked in my head... euphoric, of course, but I didn't think about my future, or create a backup plan... I've thrown it away..."

"But those bastards couldn't see your potential." he said, placing a hand on her side. "And if you think about it, the baby is your backup plan."

"What makes you say that?" She asked, knowing that for his age he was already a success.

He giggled "come on, Monica, you've been drawing longer than I was when I was growing up. Art is very much your thing, music was mine. And anyway, you're crying. It means you care, and that you're still driven." He climbed on and rubbed her head. "Remember that you have the next five or ten years of your life already planned out. You can just re-enter into university anyway... and maybe you will be into something entirely different over time! You just don't know."

She wiped her eyes and sat up a little.

"...you went to art school, didn't you?"

"I did... Keep in mind that I had to complete a B tech first just to get to fourth level... I never completed high school..." he held her hand. "It was tough, and even though it's not what I had my heart set on in the end my skills ended up having a purpose. Anyway, isn't this what you wanted? A baby?"

"...I am excited for this baby, don't get me wrong. But I'm going to be so tied down for the next 20 years... what if I end up nowhere?"

He lifted her chin, "You will keep doing the things you love regardless, you'll see... and while you're at it you're going to find something inside yourself that you never knew you had, and some way or another those things have to be expressed. So Monica, my sweet girl, please don't think that it's the end, and don't let anyone put pressure on you. What you're doing already is very wonderful and I couldn't be more proud of you."

She smiled a bit through her tears, and he opened his arms.

"Don't let some bloody piece of paper tell you that you aren't good enough. If you tell yourself that now then it'll affect everything." He held her against him. "Keep doing what you love."

She nodded and grabbed a tissue from the box, "thank you. Thank you for being here."

"Wasn't it my promise that I'd made the morning after our first night together that I'd assure you I'll always be here for you?" He smiled warmly and took her hands in his.

"...I remember." She gulped and nodded, and he gently pulled her hair away from her face.

She looked back up at his kind brown eyes, pulling his hands to her abdomen.

"Right now, our priority is in here... and also, here." He briefly touched it and then gestured to the area where his heart was in his chest.

"Thank you." She wiped her eyes, and sat up gently. "I think I'm ready to go downstairs again now."

He nodded and smiled, "That's my girl.."

The 'We Are The Champions' promotional video after-party, a few days later...

"Quickly! It's starting!" John Reid ushered Freddie up the metal steps and into the bar.

"I'm here, I'm here..." he followed his manager and financial head Mary through the crowd which were all crowded around the small television set overhead, waiting for tonight's episode of Top of the Pops to begin and see if Queen's latest hit had made it to the top of the charts or not.

"Alright, Fred?" Roger turned to him as he approached, a waiter offering him a glass of champagne.

"Not bad, traffic was awful," he took one and looked around for any familiar faces. "How are you?"

"I'm doin' good. Just got here 15 minutes earlier, Brian is in the toilet, John and Veronica had issues getting a babysitter," Roger sipped, and Freddie nodded and looked at the monitor nervously. "Where's Monica?"

"Oh, she had a shift but she should be along soon." Freddie said, hoping that wherever she was she was on her way.

"So, John told me the big news on the phone earlier." Roger put a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations are in order."

"Oh? Yes, thank you." He smiled, and Mary was suddenly tensed up and all ears, wondering what this 'big news' was.

But before she could ask the commentator announced the Number 1 chart hit, and Roger passed Fred a grin as he looked back at the television set nervously, taking another sip.

The room erupted into cheer as everyone near him, journalists, roadies, executives all nudged Freddie as the start of We are the Champions begun to play on the television.

...

"You did it! Success at the snap of a finger!!" John Reid patted his back when the song ended, and Freddie just turned to him and nodded in approval; of course he was flattered, and there was a lot to take in, but he wished Monica was there to share this proud moment with him.

He was thankful for his fans, namely young people... his sweet Monica being both.

"Pardon me..." he downed the glass and departed from the team as the program on the television ended, disappearing as he weaved his way through the beaming crowd and to the bar to look at the clock, stopping to shake hands with guests here and there and being polite when necessary when really he just wanted to be alone.

...9:30pm, and Monica was meant to be here several minutes before.

"So," Mary appeared next to him immediately, pulling out a bar stool. "Tell me this 'big news' that Roger speaks of."

Freddie froze, his eyes hovering to her as his lips were pressed against his knuckles.

He sighed, "Alright, just before I tell you that at the time I would have rung, but then Monica received a letter from one of the universities that she applied for-"

"Freddie!" Ratty tapped his shoulder, and he turned around irritably.

"What?" he looked at him.

"Monica's just arrived." His roadie pointed towards the crowd. 

There was his future wife in conversation with Roger and Brian, changed out of her work outfit.

"Oh at last!" He smiled and sprung off the bar stool, and quickly kissed Mary's cheek. "Excuse me."

She watched as her former lover rushed to the small group standing across the room, Ratty in tow. She observed the gentle smile appearing on the girl's face at the sight of him.

They embraced, and as Monica's arms fell instinctively around his neck, she caught a moving sparkle on one of the girl's hands as it ran through his ebony hair.

She squinted, and slowly got up and went towards them for a closer look. Monica rested her left hand on his shoulder as they kissed, enabling Mary to see the it a bit better.

"A ring..." she said to herself.

As much as she didn't want to, she watched the happy couple share a kiss, unable to eavesdrop on them from the loud Muzak and chattering in the background.

The four were engrossed in conversation, and Roger pulled Monica's hand from her side to examine the wedding band.

"Jesus! That is one hell of a nice rock!" Roger rasped, eyes widened.

"Well, She's earned it since the day she was born." Freddie planted a kiss on Monica's cheek, and she giggled bashfully.

"I was honestly expecting you to have gotten her a whole mines-worth." Brian chuckled.

"That would take her down to the bottom of the sea and we can't have that! I have to marry her first!!" Freddie argued back playfully, and the group laughed.

Mary was close enough to hear them now. She took a gulp of her drink, feeling a heavy weight slowly crush on her. Much to her dismay it looked so natural to see them together; her Freddie was slipping away quickly.

"No nausea today?" Freddie asked Monica, placing a hand on her stomach, and she shook her head in reply.

As Mary got up to leave, she noticed Fred's hand circling Monica's abdomen, and Monica was holding a glass of orange juice, not alcohol. The other two were smiling and nodding as they gave him a pat on the back in such a way that they were congratulating him.

The penny had dropped. Mary's hands flew up to her mouth when it added up.

 She stood there frozen as reality was beginning to set in.

"First it's Deaky, now you! Congrats again!" Brian said, and Roger nodded and lifted his glass up for a toast.

Roger slinked off to the lounge with an interviewer, and Freddie felt Monica shaking his arm gently, and he turned to her and listened.

"I am really sorry I couldn't get here sooner." Monica stared at her feet in shame. "The traffic was building up... luckily I met Ratty having a smoke at the entrance."

"It's alright dear, you're here now," he rubbed her cheek. "Better late than never."

She put her hand over his, "I'm so proud of you... I love you."

"I love you too... you make me so happy." He smiled and pulled her closer.

"I'm so glad he's mine" she smiled as their noses touched.

"Who?" He giggled.

"The Great Freddie Mercury, of course!"

He blushed a little, and then smiled and kissed her once more.

Mary moved a little closer, wanting to subtly catch his attention and so that she could ask him what was happening.

Freddie went to nuzzle the side of her cheek, only to notice Mary standing off in the distance watching.

Monica noticed his grip on her waist and the back of her head had hardened.

"What's wrong?" Monica asked as she lifted her head, and found that his eyes were focused on something behind her.

She pried him off her gently and turned around to see what or who it was that he was looking at.

Mary stared at them both, eyes cold and flat, stiff upper lip twitching.

"Mary..." Freddie awkwardly rushed to her, his hand still in Monica's. "I was going to phone you, but then something happened to Monica... the letter, yes. I told you about the university letter a moment ago... and I had to be there for her. She's my... she's my priority now."

Monica watched, lagging behind a little. She wanted him to let go; she didn't feel it was her place.

"I-I thought that you said you weren't ready for marriage or children!" Mary gulped.

None of this surprised Monica. Freddie had told it all to her before, and she understood why he'd made those decisions. You must apologise for letting her down like that, she'd told him at the time, but whether he'd done that or not she didn't know. She knew that the reason he still kept Mary around was his way of compensating his guilt out of losing interest in marrying her.

Freddie sighed "Oh Mary... I wasn't settled..l was in the wrong place at the wrong time-"

"After all I have done for you!" Her lower lip trembled slightly.

"Look, I know, you're my friend, and I intend to keep you on my payroll for as long as I can." He explained calmly. "But I have moved on, and it's about time you did too. You'll only make yourself worse if you keep looking at me for answers in everything."

Monica stood behind him, awkward and helpless as his ex stood in front of him still, eyes glistening with tears. She could see the truth sinking in just by the length of time it took before Mary turned around and rushed away.

All she could do was look down at her feet, knowing that her fiancé wasn't going to be in a jolly mood for the rest of the evening. But she was wrong.

He turned back to her after a moment of hesitation, and lifted her chin.

"I'm sorry." She murmured, feeling embarrassed.

"Don't you dare apologise," He said firmly. "You aren't to blame for any of this. The truth had to come out somehow."

She met his eyes, "well, then I'm sorry it ruined your evening."

"What are you on about?" He scoffed. "I'm not letting something from the past ruin my evening!"

"Then what are you going to do?" She asked.

A smirk appeared on Freddie's face, for suddenly he realised Move on up by Curtis Mayfield was playing throughout the bar.

He started bobbing his head to the beat.

"What are you-Freddie?!" Monica giggled as he stepped back and began swinging his hips to the rhythm.

"Hush mah child..." he sang, grabbing her hands and immediately pulling her further onto the floor. "And don't you cry...your folks might understand yah, by and by"

(Author's note: random, but I reckon Freddie's voice would make that song sound dreamy, especially that verse ;D )

She laughed as he swung her around in his arms, "Baby?"

"Just move on up!!" Roger joined in with Freddie, slinging his arm around his shoulder and singing in his falsetto pitch.

She did a twirl for him, and John and Brian appeared next to them with their spouses, joining in the boogie as Freddie spun her off her feet. Veronica and John grooved across from one another and Brian pulled Chrissie into an energetic waltz.

All eyes were on the band now, clapping to the beat. This was their night.

"I have a family..." Monica thought, smiling back at her lover and the father of her child as she held onto him.

Once again everything was euphoric for the two; the world around them slowing, the music fading as they kissed.

Just like the night they met.

Later that night...

"I am absolutely pooped." Freddie dragged himself into the bedroom after Monica, pulling his shirt off.

"It was a good night though, wasn't it?" She asked, sitting herself down on her side of the bed and removing her earrings and shoes.

"Of course it was." He flopped down next to her and exhaled.

She rolled to him, gently turning his head to face her, "you did pretty well, you know. I hope you're proud."

"Mmm" he sounded tiredly, looking back up at her through half-closed eyes and puckering his lips.

She giggled and kissed him gently, "okay mister."

He closed his eyes and smiled happily, and she reached over and turned the lamp down before getting settled under the covers.

Once it was dark he leaned his head in her neck and reclined against her body, "you know, I never thought that I'd feel so ready for this."

"Really?" She rubbed his head and patted his back.

"Mmhm. I have the perfect companion." He smiled into her skin.

"Our baby..." she played with his hand.

"What about our baby?" He kissed her cheek.

"He or she is going to be so beautiful." She murmured as she planted a kiss on his shoulder.

He smiled, "I don't think I ever felt a love so strong until you came along."

"Well imagine how it's going to feel when our baby arrives into the world." She sat up a little, and he found himself absentmindedly slipping his hand down to her stomach as it had done a lot for the past couple of days. "Can you imagine it?"

"No... but I guess we are going to find out." He moved down to her waist and planted a kiss on her tummy.

He laid back down and exhaustedly pulled her up against his bare chest, and soon the two were asleep.

A few hours later...

BRIIINNNGGGGG!!!!!

Monica's eyes flew open as the sound in her ear suddenly shook her out of her sleep, her head flying off her pillow and looking around frantically for the telephone.

Freddie murmured and furrowed his brows in his sleep. She rubbed his head to soothe him and picked up the phone, not wanting him to wake up.

She brought it up to her ear...

"Freddie, it's Mary..." the woman's voice said.

"Shit" Monica thought.

She glanced back at Freddie. 

He looked too peaceful to be disturbed, lips pursed, body still.

"I... well, I can't sleep because I feel so guilty for my behaviour at the after-party earlier. I-I telephoned to apologise." Mary continued, voice emotionless.

She didn't know whether she should put the phone down or not. She didn't want to be rude but this conversation definitely wasn't for her.

"I hope you enjoyed your night, and I give you my congratulations... for the chart spot, that is..." Mary continued, voice beginning to break on the other side.

It was getting hard for Monica to hear. Mary continued:

 "... please don't hurt Monica. I hope she makes you happy. Just... well, she seems like she is the one... It's a shame that it couldn't be me."

"Poor woman." Monica thought. 

Even  though she could tell that Mary was holding the tears back on the other end and had trouble moving on with her life, she felt she had to put the phone down for now.

"Take care of her ...and, if you ever need me to discuss you mortgage or bank matters, please don't hesitate to contact me-"

"Thank you, I'll let him know, Mary. Every word." Monica interrupted, in all honesty, in the kindest tone she could muster. "He will appreciate your message very much. Please get some sleep."

"Oh..." was all that sounded, but rather disappointment than bitterness.

Silence, then the click and the dial tone.

Monica sighed, and put the receiver back on the cradle.

She sat up, staring into space, then smiled after a minute.

"I'll never be her." She thought, then looked at the man she so trusted sleeping next to her, and spoke aloud...

"And she will never  get his heart back."

She settled back down onto her side and watched the street light filter through the crack of the curtains. She could just about see the time on her beside clock and groaned. 6:30am was too early to get up after the night that was had.

Then, she heard Freddie exhale behind her as she felt the duvet tug off a bit.

"He's hogging the blankets again." She thought, a smile appearing on her face.

But suddenly, two strong arms slipped around her as his body warmth radiated onto the exposed skin on her upper back. A smile formed on her face as his hands held her close to him, and she felt his lips plant the most gentle of kisses on the back of her shoulder before he sighed in content, his face pressed into her chocolate tousled hair.

That was enough to lull her back to sleep within minutes.