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It was as if she stood at the edge of a precipice, the black void at her feet a life without Ewen, as if choosing to leave him would s her into that vast emptiness Lily knew then she would never leave him Could never leave him, if she wanted to be whole

She took those hands in hers and whispered, "Yes" Emotion clutched at her throat and joy overwhelmed her as it became clear to Lily, perfect and uncomplicated, that her place was at Ewen’s side That Ewen too would have it no other way "Destroy it " She smiled

"Then I ’ve a question for you," Ewen said, hoarse with emotion "Marry me, Lil’? Behed, and joy softened his features, the handsoh his usual warrior’s ," he said with mock severity "A laird’s wife has certain duties, aye?"

"Really now?"

Suddenly serious, his voice thick with desire, Ewen replied,

"Oh, aye " He took Lily into his arlinting like dark blue steel as they devoured her "You’re to give yourself to your laird "

"Oh, aye ", Lily ue

She ain Lily shifted her weight The plush furs on Ewen ’s bed had been divine before she becaet co her belly, tugging her even closer to hi asleep only to wake the next day with Lily by his side was heaven on earth But to wrap his hand around and feel the movement of his babe inside her was more than a man could dreaet why this kid is such a night owl "

Ewen ’s drowsy laugh was a husky, languid sound that never ceased to shoot a tres, into her core

"Go on, ha ha " Lily playfully kicked her feet against his hard- a tap dance on his insides "

"He ’ll give you a run for it, as wee John has "

"John isn ’t so wee anymore, by the way, and have you noticed how excited he is about the baby?"

"Aye, " he laughed proudly, "I ’ll have to sell a parcel of land to keep that boy in paper "

"I know, I ’ve created a monster, haven ’t I? There ’s no more space left on the nursery walls from all of his artworks "

"Not a monster at all, Lil’ " Ewen ’ s tone was suddenly serious "You’ve done a fine job with the lad He ’ll be laird some day, and mark me, he ’ll make Clan Cameron proud "

"Oh! " Lily startled, as Finn leapt onto the bed, turned in circles by her feet, and plopped doith a loud groan

"The gang’s all here now" Despite Lily’s gruhter in her voice

Ewen caressed Lily’s side, trying to soothe her restlessness They had been married a mere handful of months when the bairn had quickened in her belly Now her stoht under her swollen breasts She had never lookedcereht away Initially they’d wanted to wait until Donald made a full recovery, but the old reed they should exchange vows irievous wounds of their best ly ribald excla to do with Ewen yoking hi ‘he, ’ but he could be a she There is a fifty-fifty chance, you know "

"Aye " Ewen patted her stomach possessively "And a bonny lass she ’d be Wee bonny Roberta"

"Yes " Lily grinned at what sounded to her ears as a very adult na Master Robert "

They lay in silence for a while, letting thein the rooers in her hair "I can feel you thinking"