"Did you take your pills?" Anton asked as he entered the room wearing his sweat pants only.

The words that he'd just uttered didn't register in my mind, I was busy ogling my husband's perfect body. His chest was glistening with sweat making him look like a sports illustrated model. He's so hot I thought as ideas started flooding my brain.

"....coz I....." he broke off, "Blair, are you even listening to me?"

"Huh?" I finally looked up at him with a dazed expression. "What were you saying?"

"I asked if you took your pills."

"Oh yeah I have," I answered feeling embarrassed of my thread of thoughts.

"You seemed so deep in thought," Anton gave me a suspicious look, "were you thinking of ways to jump me....again?"

My cheeks heated with indignation, embarrassment and humiliation. "No, of course not, I...."

"Shh," he placed a finger on my lips as he sat beside me on the bed, "I saw it in your eyes Blair, no need to lie."

"Its the hormones!" I burst out trying to justify my errant emotions, "they're making me horny."

"Is that so," he looked doubtful, "so you're telling me that the hormones are what is making you want me?"

"Ah...well I. Anton! Stop teasing me like that, I'm your wife who is pregnant with your children, you're supposed to...."

He cut me off with a kiss that I gladly returned with fervor. I rested my hands on his chest and leaned closer as he laced his hands through my hair and angled my head properly.

We were so engrossed that it took moments for us to the kick.

"Oh," Anton said as he pulled back and stared at my protruding belly, "they're already protective of their ma huh?"

I giggled, "they're just reminding me that Camil needs to go to school and I'm going shopping with Annabelle today."

"But the bodyguards and Madeline can take Camil to school and you can also reschedule a shopping spree with Annabelle."

"Really Anton," I gave him a long look. "Is that how to show love to our son, by sending him off to school with the employees?"

"Its just for today besides....."

I intervened, "you've got to go to work."

He frowned like a petulant child, "can't a man have a full day with his wife alone?"

I stood up and adjusted the jacket I wore over my blue maternity dress then picked up my bag, "now who's the horny one amongst us?" I smirked then walked out of our room.

"Camil baby, time to go to school," I said as I entered the sitting room where he was with Madeline.

"Yay!" He raced to me and held his arms up so I could carry him, "I wuv school."

I was about to pick him up when Anton's voice said from behind me, "now Camil, you know mommy can't pick you up because she might hurt her stomach and you know who're in her belly."

He dropped his hands to his side, "oh yeah, the babies will be hurt. But you can pick me up daddy," he turned to look at Anton earnestly.

"Yes of course Camil."

****

"This onsie is so cute!" Annabelle squealed, "too bad its for boys, I can't buy it for my little Aubrey."

"Then I'll take it," I said, "since I'm having a boy and a girl."

Annabelle glared at me jokingly as we moved on to the next aisle, "I'm so jealous of you."

"You won't be if you knew the havoc these little terrors wreak, I'm always so tried, they're always kicking, I have these weird cravings and I'm already so huge!"

"Well thank God I've about a month left," Annabelle smiled as she held up a pink bib, "do you like this?"

Later, we were in a restaurant eating and talking about trivial issues when a figure loomed over us, I looked up expecting to see one of the bodyguards with an order form Anton only to see the least person I expected in front of me.

"Carmen?"

She smiled slightly, "hi."

I stood up and said quietly not wanting to cause a scene, "what are you doing here?"

"Please do sit down," she said as she took in my appearance, "I came here to talk to you." She sat on an empty chair.

"What to you want?"

"Yeah," Annabelle put in, "what more problems do you want to cause Carmen?"

She shifted uncomfortably obviously intimidated by our hostile behaviour, "I entered the restaurant and saw you so I decided to tell you what I've been meaning to say to you. I don't want to cause any trouble."

"Okay I'm all ears."

"I really loved Anton, I still do and I can't apologize for that. I knew from the beginning of our affair that Anton will never leave you for me, I knew that I would forever be the other woman. I hated you so much then because you are Anton's wife, you share his name and home but I was jealous too, I was jealous of the fact that you seemed so unaffected and that my role in your husband's life didn't hurt you. I was so scared of the inevitable; Anton falling in love with you that when it happened it took me some time to come to terms with it. But I have now, and that's why I'm here, to make peace. I hope you want to make peace too."

"I was hurt by your affair with Anton because even though I tried to deny it then, I love my husband very much. But its all over now and I won't say sorry for your lost love but I will agree to make peace. I wish you happiness in your life Carmen, like mine and I have forgiven you."

"Thank you, and congratulations, are the news channels correct, are you expecting twins?"

****

Anton smiled broadly as he entered the sitting room. He was holding a box of chocolates and a teddy bear.

"Hey there princess McKenzie Blair," he said as he proceeded further into the room and sat beside me, "how are you feeling mon amour, how're the babies?"

"We're fine."

"Are you feeling nauseous?"

"No, I told you I stopped feeling nauseaous a long time ago."

"Okay, look what I got you," he held up the box of chocolates and teddy bear, "chocolates for my princess and a teddy for daddy's children."

"Aw..Anton," I ruffled his hair as if he were a kid, "thank you, but why did you get one teddy bear, there are two babies in my belly."

"Well they'll have to learn to share," he patted my swollen tummy, caressing it gently, "afterall they are sharing a womb."

"I want you guys to be fine, I can't wait for them to come."

Even though he was smiling, I saw sadness in his eyes, "what's the matter Anton, what's wrong?"

"I went to the hospital today."

"Are you ill, what happened?" I asked alarmed.

"I'm feeling okay."

"Then who's ill then?"

"No one."

I was getting frustrated, "why did you go to the hospital then?"

"I went for a checkup," he looked right into my eyes, his brown ones shining with despair, "I'm sick Blair."

"But I just asked you if you're alright and you said you are."

"I am alright, I feel okay right now. What I have is a terminal illness."

My heart fell, "no no no that can't be....is it cancer?"

He looked away from me, "that's what the doctor said."

"W..w....but..." I couldn't form a coherent sentence.

"Its brain cancer," he continued, "it can't be cured, the doctor says I've got about six months to live, give or take."

"No," now tears were falling freely from my eyes, "that can't be possible Anton, you can't die, I haven't seen you show any symptoms."

"I have been experiencing symptoms. I just didn't want to tell you. I've been having dizzy spells and backouts, my heads been hurting so much, mostly in the office."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you to worry, I thought it was something minor."

"So now," I sniffed, "you'll be gone in six months or so?"

He nodded, "yes, that's why I decided to hand over my position as CEO to Louis so I can stay home to be with you, the babies and Camil before my time ends."

"Anton, no that can't be," I hugged him, "this cannot be it. There has to be another way."

"I'm sorry Blair, but there's no other way. I'm going to die in six months time."

I cried even harder as I pulled him closer to me. He wrapped his hands tightly around me and soothed me.

Why I wondered, why is it that when it seems there will be no problems things so south? Anton couldn't die, he couldn't.

"Blair," he said as he pulled back and laid both hands on my cheeks wiping my tears away, "you have to stay strong. When I die, I want you to find new love."

"No," I shook my head immediately, "I will never love anyone but you Anton, so don't ask me to find new love."

"I love you Blair, j'aitme."

"I love you too Anton."

"Please forgive me, forgive me for all the wrong I did to you."

"I forgive you Anton, I do even though there's not much to forgive."

"So you mean to say you've already forgiven me for this?"

"What?" I asked confused.

"The joke I just played."

"J-joke?"

Anton laughed, "yeah, you played a prank on me once some months ago I vowed to pay back. This is my pay back."

"So you're not dying. You don't have cancer?"

"No," he kept on laughing, "I don't."

I hugged him, "I'm so happy that you're okay. I was so scared Anton."

"Its okay Blair it was all a...."

I hit him on the back, really hard and then started raining punches on him, "how dare you play such a trick on me?!"

"Hey, hey," he held my hands captive, "you started playing the trick on me, I just retaliated."

"With a worse joke!"

"Okay okay, no more we're now at peace. No more jokes and tricks."

"Yeah no more, I'm happy that you're well, as fit as fiddle."

He pulled me closer to him, "I'm happy about that too," and then he kissed me with all the love in the world.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

One chapter left and then an epiloge!

Book recommendation: Arabian Nights

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