Victoria was a little taken aback when Lauta had mentioned that Addison had been her boyfriend. It made her really question how much she knew about that man who she would soon be raising a child with. She fell silent after that, lost in her own thoughts. When the noon sun started falling behind the horizon Victoria mentioned that it might be a good time to start heading back and Lauta didn't argue.

They rode back to Lauta's house in silence but this time it was less awkward. More of a comfortable silence that two friends shared, or at least she thought so. The driver pulled up to Lauta's house and helped Lauta out of the car. Victoria said her good bye and told her to give Teddy her well wishes.

"Would you like to go home Miss. Rynolds." Her driver asked as they pulled away from the house.

Victoria thought about it for a minute. "No take me to The Grande Hotel. There's someone I need to talk to."

Once at the hotel she went straight up to Addison's room, after all he had told her to stop by whenever she needed to. She had her fist raised and was about to knock when she heard voices on the other side. Naturally she pressed her ear to the door to listen.

"Addison we can't sneak around anymore. I'm tired of lying to my family and you have a child on the way. This isn't right!"

"What are we supposed to do Izzy?" Izzy? As in Teddy's sister Izzy? "We both agreed Teddy wouldn't take the idea of us well and you know Victoria was a drunken mistake but I can't just let her do this alone. It's my child too."

"I know that Addison but I'm not going to sit on the sidelines and help you raise someone else's child. It's over Addison. I'm done."

"Izzy you can't do this to me."

"I can and I am." There was shuffling on the side of the door and foot steps. Victoria barely had time to duck around the corner before Izzy was throwing the door open. Addison followed her out of the room.

"Izzy come back!"

This was when Victoria had decided to come out from behind the corner. "Addison," she said softly. Since his back was turned Victoria couldn't see his face but she watched as the muscles of his back tensed up. Slowly he turned around to face her and he looked horrified.

"Victoria. What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. But its apparent that was as big of a mistake as I was to you."

"Victoria." He said taking a stepping towards her.

Victoria took a step back for each step he took towards her. "Don't you dare come near me. I want absolutely nothing to do with you."

"Just let me explain."

"No. You have nothing to explain to me. I'm done with you."

Victoria turned to leave but she hadn't realized how far back she had gotten and when she turned she found she was a lot closer to the stairs then she had thought and the step she took was going over the edge and before she could catch her balance she falling down the stairs.

Parliament had been boring. There was a time or two where the Duke of Westminster had to shake him awake because he had found himself dozing off. He could not wait for this day to be over so he could go home, get out of his suit and relax.

About six o'clock they were finally released for the day. Teddy rode home with his father and grandfather who tried talking politics with him the whole way. But his mind was in his bedroom with his wife. When the car came to a stop in front of his house he all but jumped from the car.

Sitting in the driveway was a new sporty SUV that his mother must have gotten but he didn't pay no mind to it. He was already starting to take off his suit as he made his way to the house. He laid his jacket and tie on the table next to the door along with his briefcase. Then he kicked his shoes off and started searching for his wife.

He found her in the kitchen cooking something that smelled divine. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "That smells wonderful. I'm going to go change while you finish this up."

Teddy gave her a kiss on the cheek then released her and went up stairs. He took off the rest of his suit and put it in the hamper. He decided to take a quick shower and when he got out he pulled on jean and t-shirt and went back down to the kitchen. he was just sitting down at the table when his phone started ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it.

A frantic Addison was on the other line talking about a mile a minute. Teddy couldn't even understand what he was saying.

"Addison slow down mate. I can't understand you."

Teddy heard Addison catching his breath on the other end before he began to speak again. Teddy listened intently as he told him about how he was at the hospital right now because Victoria had stumbled down the stairs. Teddy was shocked and started asking a million questions. Which hospital was she at, was she okay, was the baby okay? Addison had to cut him off, and asked him to come down to the hospital.

"Yes we'll be there soon." They said their goodbyes and Teddy hung up the phone and went to grab his shoes. He slipped them on before coming back to Lauta who was staring at him. "Victoria fell down the stairs at Addison's hotel. He's pretty shaken up and wants us to go down there."

Lauta actually seemed to enjoy the time she spent walking around with Victoria, looking at items. Sure, she had no plan on buying anything but some of the items were just so darn adorable. Lauta couldn't wait to force Teddy to go baby shopping with her and look at the adorable booties and tiny sized shirts. She really couldn't wait.

But just thinking of Teddy made the poor girl miss her husband. She hoped he wasn't too bored wherever he was at, Lauta hated to think that she was putting him within some kind of pain when she was gone and he was off doing prince work.

Lauta jumped when Victoria grabbed her hand and forced her to touch her stomach. Lauta blushed slightly, she still hated being touched by people. Sure, Teddy and her family was okay, but she wanted to get back to being strict about the no touching rule she had lived by since after freshmen year. But the look on Victoria's face melted Lauta like ice cream in July. She just couldn't bring herself to be mean to the woman.

And then her question on Addison totally threw poor Lauta off.

What was she suppose to say? Truthfully, Lauta thought Addison was a good for nothing liar who's dick needed to be chopped off and fed to ferocious dogs. But she couldn't say that to the woman carrying his child. Lauta just didn't have that kind of heart-- No matter what she thought of people within her head. But Lauta couldn't lie and say she thought he really was being serious, because she wasn't sure.

So, Lauta took her hand back, and turned away from Victoria.

At first she didn't say anything, she just fiddled around with some of the clothes. But she finally mustered the courage to speak. "I'm the last person you want to ask. He's my ex boyfriend, and he had hurt me really bad in high school. So I have nothing good to say about him. Ask Teddy or Richard, anyone but me or my sister alright?" Lauta hadn't meant to sound so rude when she said it, but she didn't want to say something that could ruin things for Addison.

No matter how badly she wanted Addison to suffer the way she had those years after he'd just left her there, wondering where the hell he and all his promises had gone.

Victoria sighed in relief when she agreed to come with and waited as she went to gather up her things. Victoria's driver held the door open and helped the two girls into the car. She told him take them down to the market street and he dutifully obeyed. The car ride there was silent and awkward. Victoria honestly had no clue what to talk about with this girl and was beginning to think that making friends with her would be futile.

The driver pulled up to a stop in front of one of the baby boutique stores and she thanked him. He had been with Victoria's family for ages and he always seemed to know exactly where she wanted to go without her even telling him. He held open the door for them as they got out and then went to park the car as the two girls entered the store.

Victoria had hardly bought a thing for the baby and hadn't even started planning for him. Her time was running out considering she was already over half way done with her pregnancy. Her and Lauta looked at clothes, occasionally making a comment about how tiny or cute they were. Then they moved onto furniture. Most of it just seemed so girly, nothing really appropriate for a little boy. There was a nice brown one but the color didn't seem like one she wanted in a nursery of hers.

It was when they were examining changing tables that Henry started to move and hand flew to Victoria's stomach as he moved around. A tender smile came to her lips and she reached over and pulled Lauta's hand to her stomach. "Fell this," she said as she let the hand rest there. "Henry is moving." Victoria loved the feeling of her child moving inside her but her smile fell.

It was really happening, she was really going to be a mother, and a man she barely knew was going to be her child's father. This whole thing just seemed so surreal. Like a dream she couldn't wake up from. "Do you think Addison was being serious when he said that he wanted to be there for me and Henry?" She asked. "Or do you think he was just saying what he thought I wanted to hear?"

The next morning when Lauta reached out, her hand met the cool touch of bedsheets and a pillow. Teddy was already gone, off doing Prince things and she would have to sit around at home and watch T.V. or something like that. Lauta wished she could call Shura but she had told her at the wedding reception that she and Richard were looking for a house and she could only assume that Dean was in his hotel room with Jill.

Lauta wished she could just sleep the day away.

Sadly, Lauta couldn't. So she rolled out of bed and headed over to the closet, getting dressed into the usual before heading downstairs to the kitchen and fixing herself something to eat. No, she didn't have breakfast food, she made herself some noodles with pork drenched in soy sauce to eat. She had just sat down in front of the T.V. after eating when she heard someone at the door. Really? If it was one of Teddy's sisters or his mother coming to bug her she would have some kind of rage on them.

Lauta got up from where she sat and turned off the T.V., then she pulled a hoodie on despite the fact that it was summer and warm outside. Lauta opened up the door, and the person she saw there almost startled her, she actually jumped a bit when she saw Victoria standing there with her bump looking as if she was going to fall apart.

'Please don't start crying, please don't start crying...' Lauta mentally begged, her eyes fixed on Victoria's face as she tried to not look at her bump. How had Lauta not noticed that at the wedding? Maybe she'd been too focused on keeping away from Noah.

Victoria's offer only made Lauta's shock worsen as she stood there and stared blankly at the blonde like an idiot. She was going to say no, but figured that Victoria was only being nice. And Lauta wasn't one to look at a gift and shove it right back into the arms of the person who gave it to her.

"Sure, let me grab my things."

Alright, so technically Lauta couldn't shop. She didn't like shopping, and she had no money at all what-so-ever. She'd spent it all in Rome and all her wedding money had been spent on the wedding. But that couldn't stand in the way of just looking around with Victoria. Lauta grabbed a small bag and headed back out the door-- Closing it behind her. "Alright, let's go." She said, trying to put a bit of a friendly tone within her voice.

Lauta hated shopping, she wasn't too fond of Victoria, but Teddy's absence had driven her to this.

Teddy shook his head. He had eaten enough at the dinner. More then enough actually. He felt overly stuffed and lethargic. All he wanted to do was fall asleep on that couch and sleep forever. But for some reason he figured his bed would be more comfortable.

Teddy shook his head as he sat up on the edge of the couch next to her. He stood up and held a hand out to her. "Let's just to go to bed Love." Teddy helped her off the floor and held her hand as they went up to their room. He stripped off his suit and put it in the laundry basket before he climbed into bed with Lauta. He pulled her close to against him and kissed her before falling asleep.

The next morning came all too soon. The alarm begin to blare and Teddy reached over and quickly shut it off before it could wake Lauta. He untangled himself from her and went to hop in the shower and shave. He got dressed in another suit since that is what he would have to wear to Parliament. Before he left he kissed Lauta on top of her head and whispered a good bye. He met up with his father and grandfather at the palace and together the three of them made their way to the House of Lords together.



Victoria was nervous as the car she was in pulled up into Theodore's drive way. She wasn't sure what had spurred her into doing this but she was. The one and only time Lauta had met her she had been absolutely horrible to her. But that was when Victoria had been a selfish bitch. She had grown so much in the months since Christmas thanks to the little boy growing inside her. She had been cruel and self-centered. Her only worry was herself and she was willing to hurt anyone to get to the top. Now though she had her little Henry to worry about and all focus on herself had gone out the window when she had discovered that she had another life growing inside her.

The car came to a stop in front of the house and the driver went around to open the door for her. He also helped her out because since she had started growing moving around without hitting herself had become a near impossible task. She thanked him and climbed the steps to the house and rang the bell, waiting for her to answer.

When she did she looked shocked to see Victoria standing on the door and that didn't help to calm her nerves. "Ello," she said before she lost her nerve. "Would you like to go shopping with me today? I figured you might need something to do while Teddy is out playing prince."

Lauta hadn't really enjoyed the dinner all that much, all she really did was sit there by Teddy and try to keep her eyes open at first. When her sister in laws struck up conversation with her about baby nurseries and such like so she somehow had the strength to keep her eyes open and discuss baby topics with her. She also had to keep casting glares Noah's way because he kept making inappropriate gestures with his mouth.

It was torture, she was the victim. No one else, only she.

Lauta was glad when she and Teddy got home. She smiled when he just plopped onto the couch, Lauta slipped off her own shoes and picked up Teddy's. She made a quick trip up to their room to drop off the items before going back downstairs-- She had grown rather fond of wearing her dress so she hadn't bothered changing.

Lauta rounded the couch and sat on the floor by the part of the couch where Teddy's head lay, her arms propped up on what was left of the cushion and her chin rested on her arms. She watched Teddy, who looked like he was tired, and answered the question he had asked only a minuet or two before.

"Other than the gestures from your cousin and the random baby talk, yes, it was rather boring. I'm sorry hon."

Really she wasn't, she wasn't the one who had to pay attention to the guy who sounded like he was speaking a different language-- Teddy had. Maybe his torture had been as bad as her own, it must've been hard. What if the ruler had said something important to Teddy? Eh, he probably hadn't, from what she could understand, he was saying something about his wife. [Or was it wives?]

Lauta's eyes had glanced at Teddy's neck for a moment, it looked as if his Hickey was almost fully faded out, Lauta knew hers was already gone. Shura had used the bottle cap treatment to get it off, thank God for Shura knowing how to get rid of hickeys. [She had to whenever Richard stayed over-- So his business partners wouldn't ask any questions that he wouldn't answer anyways.]

"I can make us a snack or something if you want." Lauta offered, wanting to make Teddy feel better.

Teddy let Lauta have the shower while he washed up his face and shaved at the sink. His face was starting to get scruffy and his mother would have fit if Teddy went there with anything less then a clean shave face. Teddy settled for a normal looking suit, black tie and all.

He was tying up the tie as he stepped out of his closet and caught sight of Lauta slipping her heels. He wasn't too sure if he should let her go out of the house showing that much leg. But then again it was just supposed to be a small dinner with his family and some stuffy old royal from only God knows where.

After the tie was tied he walked over to her, even in her heels the top of her head barely reached his chin. Her petiteness was one thing he loved about her. Teddy kissed the top of her head before offering her his arm to lead her over to his parents.

It was just as boring as he had expected it to be. The guys accent was so heavy that most time his English was hard to follow. But he watched his dad and just reacted the way that he did. His cousin Noah had tried to nab a seat next to Lauta but at the last minute Teddy had her take his seat and he toke hers, sitting next to his cousin and keeping the two at a safe distance from each other.

Ari was on the other side of Lauta and she struck up a conversation with her about painting the nurseries. Ari had a passion for painting and offered up her services and Izzy was yammering adamantly about baby shopping and how fun it would be buying the children new clothes.

It was obvious that the two were making an effort to be polite to Lauta now that they were sister-in-laws.

After dinner Teddy took Lauta home, keeping an arm around her as they walked. When they finally got to their house he kicked his shoes off by the door and made his way to the couch where he collapsed. Since he was so tall his feet hung off one end and his head rested on a throw pillow at the other. "That had to of been the longest and most boring dinner ever."

Lauta smiled when she saw Teddy blushing. She wasn't sure when the last time she saw him blush was, he'd always seemed so determained to make her blush. It was a nice thing to see. But when he said what he had, Lauta rose an eyebrow. Now he was just making all of this weird, was he trying to make her blush aswell? Because it definetly wasn't working. There was no way she was going to blush at something that was going to happen for him.

Lauta fell asleep only a little bit after Teddy did, and it felt like she'd been asleep for at least two hours when Teddy shook her awake telling her to get ready for a dinner party. She certainly didn't want to go-- Couldn't he go without her? Course not, everyone would want to see the happy couple. What happened to getting a couple days of alone time after getting married anyways? She felt as if she and Teddy were being put to work right off the bat!

Lauta rolled off of Teddy, walking across the room to her closet. She didn't care that she was naked, it happened quite a bit with Lauta anyways. She dug around for a bit before pulling out a dress, then she headed over to her drawers and pulled out a couple more items then disappeared into the bathroom.

Once in there, Lauta took a quit ten minuet shower, dried off, got dressed into her undergarments and nice dress, then piled her hair up so it looked formal enough to actually go out to some kind of dinner party.

It'd been about thirty minuets when Lauta came back out, and she was ready to go to something she didn't want to go to. She knew the two of them being up all night was a bad idea. She had just known it from the moment he suggested it!

Lauta headed to the closet once more to get a pair of shoes, she picked out a pair of black heels that shone her legs-- Surprisingly. Lauta knew he legs looked good in heels, she just didn't like to show it off too much. Well, now she did get to show it off. And she headed down into the living room to Wait for Teddy to get his butt in there already.

Teddy felt himself blush. He knew he shouldn't have been embarrassed but yet he slightly was. What he was supposed to say to that? Thank you? That would be weird. He had to think of some fast so she wouldn't be able to tell he was caught off guard.

"And to think I'm only going to get better." Teddy mentally slapped himself for that one. He glanced out the window and noticed that the sun was coming up. Had they really been at it that long? Teddy shook his head. "But now it's time to go to sleep." Teddy gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before cuddling up and falling asleep.

It ha felt like he had just gotten to sleep when his phone started going off. Feeling around on the nightstand he picked it up an answered without looking to see who it was. That was always a mistake.

"Hello?" He said groggily into the phone.

"Mom said to remind you about the dinner party tonight. That one couple from that one place that we're supposed to know about is coming and she doesn't want anyone to be late. She said she thinks Grandpa will strangle us if we are."

A dinner party? The day after his wedding? His parents wasted no time when it came to putting him to work.

"Alright when is it?"

"In about an hour."

Teddy shot up, well as best he could with Lauta still sleeping on him. "Why are you just now calling me to remind me!?"

"I've been calling you for the last three hours. You just now answered."

Oh. His bad! Teddy hung up the phone and gently shook Lauta awake. "I know it's short notice Love but we need to get ready for a party and quiet quickly. We need to be at Grandpas in an hour."