I apologize for the hiatus! I wasn't feeling very well and unstable (mentally) these past few weeks, and I felt like I needed a break. I know it was totally unprofessional of me to do that. Don't worry, I'm a lot better now, and back to normal! (hopefully)

And also, Wattpad is a complete MESS. I tried to update for more than a week, but I just couldn't. And it keeps failing to save my drafts. I had a 4000 word chapter written up, and It got deleted! I'm so mad.

[ a l i n a ]

On that very moment, as she spoke those words, it was as if my brain had shut itself down, and my body was reacting in another way.

My mouth was slightly open, and my ears ringed. The nurse continued talking, although I didn't hear, couldn't hear any word she was uttering.

Beast Boy stood beside me, his hands patting my shoulders, giving me support. I couldn't quite see what his reaction was. At this moment, the only thing I could hear was my own ragged breathing.

Pregnant. Pregnant. You're pregnant. I'm pregnant. What?

Snapping back into reality, I sat straight and interrupted the nurse, who was talking about something I didn't pay attention about.

"Are you sure?" I asked, and she nodded. "Yes, your Majesty, we tested it twice, to make sure. You are pregnant." She smiled softly, the wrinkles appearing beside her squinted eyes.

Oh dear lord, I was carrying a baby.

Smiling, she opened her mouth again, reaching for the door,
"All right then, I'll leave you two alone-"

She stopped in her steps as I held out my hand, spinning her body around to face me. Her eyes flashed a shade of amber as she stood, almost lifeless, gaping at me.

I hate this, but the situation leaves me no choice.

"You will forget of what has occurred. The Princess's results was merely a slight wound on her left leg, which left a scar. Nothing more." I stood up, my hands still controlling her from afar.

Letting her go, she fell down to the ground, gasping for air. Slowly, she stood up again, collecting herself. I could practically sense Beast Boy's confusion.

"Oh dear, it seems that I have stumbled. Pardon me, your Grace." She smiled, composing herself.

"It's quite all right. Tell me, what were my results again?" I asked, noticing Beast Boy's stare.

"Oh, your results? You only have a small scar, on your leg. I'll take a healing cream for you dear." She smiled yet again, leaving the both of us in the room.

"You.. have mind controlling powers?" Beast Boy mutters, a frown on his face.

"Yes. To say the least. But I don't like using my abilities, they're the reason my whole life fell apart." I mumbled, taking my shoes and my coat.

"Where do you think you're going?" He exclaims, running past the bed, towards me. Putting my coat on, I glare at him. "Going home. I have a business to run."

"Are you serious right now?" He exclaims, blocking my way. "You just found out about your pregnancy and the first thing you do is.. go back to your business?" He asks, as I fixed my hair, tying it up.

Working is the only thing that can keep me calm right now.

"Yes. Now step aside, unless you want me to erase your memory too."

"This isn't good for you, Alina." He pleaded, a look of pity in his eyes.

"I know what's good for me and what's not. I've lived too long by myself and I've suffered too much to know that."

[ e n d   o f   p o v ]
~

- 13 years ago -

"Have you taken your night bath, Adelina?" Helen, Alina's caretaker asks, brushing the little princess's hair, applying perfume to it. "Yes, I did." She responds, her little chubby fingers playing with her dolls.

"What a good girl you are." Helen coos, styling the girl's hair up in a french braid; while she was busy with her bunny doll. The princess couldn't help but feel excited about her upcoming birthday.

"My birthday's in a month! I'll be nine years old, can you believe it?" The little princess laughed excitedly. The middle aged lady smiled lovingly, nodding as she walked towards Alina's tremendously huge closet, and picked a light blue gown.

"What's with the formal outfit? Will there be an event tonight?" The little girl asks, jumping off the bed, walking towards Helen.

"Yes, darling. There will be a family dinner. Now come, put this on, dearie."

-

Alina stood quietly next to her eleven year old brother, Nathan, who wore a clean black suit, and stood proudly next to their Grandmama, and cousin Ariana, who had her hair braided too. Beside their grandmother, there was the King's brother, and his wife, Ariana's mother.

Alina sent a playful smile towards her cousin, which was returned by a giggle. Their Grandmama Esther did not like it, and glared at the girls.

"Silence, girls. You are both royals, and you should act like it." She snapped. Both of the girls hung their heads low, and answered. "Yes Grandmama."

The door opened, and the King and Queen entered, side by side. Alina's little heart warmed up at the sight of her father, who smiled warmly towards her.

The King walked towards his daughter, picking her up, and kissed her forehead. "My little princess. You smell of roses." He laughed, staring at her bright eyes, full of life.

"Helen did it." She smiled back. He chuckled, kissing her cheeks, putting her down.

"Let's eat." The Queen Leila smiled warmly at Nathan, as they all walked towards the dining area. Not a single glance towards Alina.

Dinner was quite bland for Alina, for she did not enjoy the lobster and caviar. She did, however, take a good portion of blueberry cake and beef stroganoff.

"We have an announcement." The Queen announced once they were done eating, as she lovingly gazed into her husband's eyes, who sat across of the table.

Everyone stilled, and stopped talking as she spoke those words. Ariana's mum, who sat next to Grandmama, put her glass down and listened.

"I'm pregnant." Leila smiled. Grandmama Esther clapped her hands in delight, Nathan smiled, Ariana sat still, busy looking at her own chubby hands. Alina frowned.

"That's amazing! Another addition to our family. Congratulations, Leila, and Thomas." Ariana's mother smiled delightedly, her beautiful lips curled into a heartwarming smile.

-

"Darling, are you quite all right?" Helen murmured, taking the girl into her arms, as the girl cried softly. "They won't love me anymore! I'll have a new sibling and Dad will forget about me!" She sobbed, holding her bunny close to her chest.

Helen laughed silently, chuckling as she grasped Alina's little chubby cheeks.

"I'll still love you. I'll still be here. Always." She smiled, brushing a strand of hair that was sticking to Alina's wet cheeks.

"And one day, you'll feel the happiness that your mom is experiencing right now. You'll have a child of your own, a loving partner, and you'll be the happiest princess alive."

"That's disgusting! I don't want that!" Alina exclaimed shaking her head. Laughing, Helen tucked her in, kissing her forehead.

"Sleep, love. At least, for now, I'm still here. And I won't ever leave you, okay?"

~

-present-

[ a l i n a ]

Breathing out, I chased away my childhood memories.

Helen died in a car crash, along with her daughter. I still remember her face, her voice, her lullabies. She had made my childhood a little bearable.

"Alina?" Marcus popped in, walking into my office, holding a stack of folders. Great. More paperwork.

"I miss her. Helen." I spoke suddenly, breathing out, quickly realizing I had said it out loud.

Dang it. I shouldn't have said that.

"Oh God, Marcus, I'm so sorr-"
"It's all right, dear." Marcus spoke, quietly, his face an emotion I've rarely seen before. He gazed into nowhere, his eyes a forlorn look.

"She was so beautiful. And smart. I could say I had the best wife in the world. Maybe I married an angel." He chuckled, reminiscing the memories of his late wife.

"And she gave me the most beautiful daughter ever. Evangeline. Ah, how I miss them so much." He looked upwards, as I saw a single tear roll down his cheek.

It hurts my heart to see him like this. In such pain.

"Marcus?" I asked softly, as he fixed my eyes, wiping his tears.

"Yeah?" He answered, clearing his throat.

"I'm pregnant." I breathed out, hands on my hips, as I leaned against the glass window, which overlooked the city. It was a sight I'd never get tired of.

Marcus stayed still, his mouth open, as his folders fell onto the floor, scattering all around. "What?!" He barked, a panicked expression on his face.

After a long moment of silence, he spoke again. "Does he know?"

"No."

"Do you plan on telling him?" He asked again, walking towards the sitting area, taking a seat onto one of the couches.

Standing still, I crossed my arms. This was something I was thinking about this past few hours. I should tell him, obviously, but why am I so reluctant?

Maybe because I failed to see that Damian Wayne is a fatherly figure. Does he even want a child?

"I don't know." I answered truthfully, as he watched me with glimmering eyes.

"Sit down, child. It's time I tell you something." He murmured, motioning for me to sit down. I did so, sitting next to him on the couch.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke up.

"Your parents first met in a bookstore." He started, his gaze leaving mine. "It was love at first sight. They started dating, and soon enough, your mother was pregnant with your elder brother."

My mother, Leila Vanderbilt, was the daughter of a businessman. She was amongst the rich people in Valencia.

"Your Grandmama Esther strongly disapproved. She wanted the baby gone before the public knew, fearing that a bastard child will destroy the Royal Family's reputation."

"Your mother wanted to abort it. Your father didn't."

"And then they got married." I continued, a sadness laced in my voice. My mother didn't completely love my father, while he was head over heels for her.

And then the question came.

Did I.. love Damian?

Ever since I was a child, until now, I couldn't even understand my own feelings. But with him, it became a bit clearer. I could slowly understand.

But love? I didn't even fully know what it was. And I felt as if it was too big of a step.

"Are you happy?" He asked out of nowhere, taking me by surprise.

"What?" I asked, laughing. He looked serious, which scared me. "Are you happy?"

"Yes. Well, I think I am. Let's change the topic, Marcus, this isn't working out for me. How's Nathan?"

"All right then." He muttered, smiling softly.

"Our Kingdom is at bay, Alina. The ministers thinks that your brother is young, and inexperienced. They are demanding another leader, someone who knows our history, someone who has the people's hearts."

"That's disastrous. Who do they have in mind?" I said, a bit of anger laced in my voice.

If what he's saying is true.. If they want to dethrone Nathan.. This cannot be good. At all.

"They want you on the throne."

"What?!" I exclaimed, bewildered. "How could they possibly think that I have the means to lead a kingdom?! This is bonkers! Does Nathan knows?" I asked, and Marcus stands up.

"They believe you're able to lead because you are the only one in the Royal Family who is able to connect with the people. And as for your leading knowledge, I'm sure it won't be a problem, seeing how you replaced Nathan after your parents deaths, and did all the work for him."

"This is incredibly serious, Marcus. Dethroning a King, it has never happened in more than hundreds of years!" I exclaimed loudly, a few staffs peeking as they passed my office.

Snapping my fingers, the curtains closed immediately as soon as they were out of sight. I did not need anyone eavesdropping right now.

"I know. And Nathan knows. Trust me, he's not happy at all with this. He actually thought that you had agreed with the ministers to dethrone him, but I had to convince him that you hadn't even heard about this."

"Does he realize what he's saying? Me? On the throne? This is absolutely madness, Marcus. All I've wanted was to get away from it. He can't possibly think that way, can he?" I spoke again, a headache starting to form.

"He trusts you, Alina. I know he does. But I don't trust the people. They think that this Royal Bloodline is cursed. Your parents deaths, your aunt's suicide.."

"It's not the family, Marcus. Everything happened because of me. Because I have this god forsaken abilities."

Because of Thalia.

~

Slipping under the blanket, the warmth of the satin spread enveloping me, I let out a content sigh, staring at the wall.

Marcus's question had left me in deep thoughts ever since he had asked me. Could I.. lead Valencia?

No, that's insane. I don't want anything to do with the throne. Anything.

And the baby. There was a small human being growing up inside of me. I had felt an overwhelming amount love ever since I had found out.

I wanted a family of my own, ever since I could remember. But not like this. Not now. This would only attract chaos.

Shifting, I grumbled once again, unable to find a comfortable spot. My ears perked up, hearing a loud thunder cracking outside, followed by the familiar sound of rain.

Breathing in and out, I tried to compose myself. And that's when the tears fell out.

I hated myself for being so emotional these past few weeks. I'd cry over the littlest discomfort. What is wrong with me? I've literally went to hell and back, and I'm crying over something as idiotic as this?

Suddenly, I felt a heavy body next to me. Panicking, I tried to reach for my pocket knife, which I always keep under a pillow, but I felt a sense of relief when I felt two hands sliding against my waist, pulling me closer to a warm chest.

Damian.

"You scared me." I mumbled, as he plants a kiss on my cheek. "And I miss you." He replied, his lips moving to my neck.

I didn't reply. All I wanted right now was two things: kick his ass, and sleep.

"I know you're mad at me, and I know why." He whispered huskily into my ear, sending shivers through my spine. God, why did he have to be so.. irresistible? And annoying, too.

"I should be screaming at you right now." I mutter hoarsely. It was true, but I wasn't that type of person. Screaming only makes things worse.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes, you limp lout." I mutter bitterly, as he let out a laugh.

"Okay, I do owe you an explanation." He breathed in, his fingers caressing my hair. My back still facing him, I stayed quiet, letting him explain himself.

"She was the one who kissed me." He mutters. "Oh really?" I asked, taunting him.

"I'm not like my father, Vanderbilt." His lips pecked my neck once again, as his fingers lacing with mine.

"Besides, she had explained the reason behind it. She wanted a reaction out of Beast Boy, she wanted him to be jealous." He explained shortly, as I pondered. It did make sense. Turning around, facing him; I avoided his eyes as I buried my face into his chest.

"There's.. something I need to tell you." I mumbled softly.

"What is it?" He asked, concern laced in his voice.

"Damian, I-.."

Before I could continue, he placed a finger onto my lip, shutting me up.

"Shh. I know."

"How?"

"I'm Batman." He replied smugly, and I slapped his chest.

"We need to talk about this." I mumbled, as he continued caressing my hair.

"Not now. You need to rest." He mumbled into my hair.

"Okay. Promise me you'll be there when I wake up."

"I promise."

__________________________

Don't worry, I'm back to normal! Next update is next week, or even sooner. It depends on the chapter.

And I'm sorry if this chapter was bland. Next chapters will be a lot better though.

Thank you so much for reading, and please don't forget to vote! And thank you for 32k!!

-Soph(ia)