Race for the Throne

Vincent scratches his chin. "I don't know..." He sticks his tongue out playfully. "Don't worry I will get you some." He makes the tea first and brings it to her. Then he starts to make lunch for the two of them.

Upon finishing he brings a tray into the living room. "I hope you are hungry."

~~~~

Jasmine shrugs. "I don't know, but we will think of something. The room will be our room after we get married. Unless you want to have a different room. Mine is more than big enough for the two of us."

They get downstairs and there is a meal waiting for each of them. It is a simple lunch of a creamy broccoli soup with ham sandwiches. "Thank you so much Tina, this looks delicious."

Serena had moved from the kitchen after getting her tea. She is sitting on the love seat in front of the fire. She sips on her tea. Personally she thought that if she drank some of the tea before she ate that maybe she would be able to keep the food down. “Something smells good, what did you make us?” She asked.

She looks in the tray as Vincent sits it down on the coffee table. “Ohh that looks like the soup Leigh Anne made the other day. It was good.“ She said as she picked up the bowel. “Thank you for lunch Vincent. My stomach feels a lot better than it did.”

~~

Brandon pulls Jasmine’s seat out for her and then pushes it in when she takes a seat. He takes a seat across from her and smiles as he smells their lunch. “Wow this smells really good. Thank you for the meal.” He said looking up at Tina.

"Well the Lane's have always been good to me, and so have your parents. The soup is from Nathaniel's recipe. He gave it to me last time you guys were here." Tina sets out a couple of glasses and a bottle of wine. "Jasmine, is that what I think it is?" She takes Jasmine's hand.

"Yes it is. Please don't tell anyone yet. I want to tell my parents first." Jasmine says.

"Oh don't worry, but I think you guys need to do some shopping before going back to your room." Tina then disappears.

Jasmine raises her eyebrow. "I wonder what she has planned."

~~~~~~

Vincent sits next to Serena. "I am glad that you are feeling better. Because I do want to spend some time with you on our day off." He sneaks a kiss before eating.

Brandon was eating the soup when Tina noticed the ring. He looked at Jasmine as he swallowed his bite. “I hope she isn’t going to do anything big. I mean we wanted to keep this on the down low until we could let Nathaniel and Levi get married.” He said. He then smiled. “I’m not against taking you shopping though.”

~~

Serena smiles after Vincent kisses her. “It would be nice to spend some time together while we are awake.” She said chuckling. “That way we can have some time together.” She said as she started to eat her lunch. “So tell me, what kind of baby names do you like?” She asked as she made herself comfortable.

"Wow, I have not even thought of baby names. I like the name William for a boy. And Corrine for a girl. What about you, have you though of names?"

~~~~~

"This soup is so good. I can tell it is Nathaniel's recipe, but it has her flavor to it." Jasmine takes another bite. "So you want to take me shopping. Ohh what are you going to get me? I already have a pretty ring..."

Serena makes a face at Vincent as he mentions the name Corrine. “I don’t know how much I like that name. I can work with William though. William Watson though?” She said chuckling. “What about Mason, or even Samuel for a boy? For a girl what about Alexia, or Mackenzie? I even like the name Alexia Mackenzie Watson for a little girl.”

~~

Brandon smiles as he dips his sandwich in the soup. “This is really good. I like the extra flavor. It really makes it pop.” He said as he took a bite. “Mmm…Maybe a new necklace to go with that ring, or maybe you will see some new ear rings to go with it.” He said smiling.

"I like Alexia, but how about we shorten MacKenzie to just Kenzie." Vincent suggests. He places his hand on Serena's stomach. "I still cannot believe we are thinking of baby names."

~~~~~~~

"Well I already have a pretty necklace, but I won't turn down earrings or a nice bracelet." Jasmine winks at him.

Soon lunch is done. Brandon helps Jasmine up. She takes his hand and they go to town. "I love the smaller towns. There are lots of unique items here you cannot find anywhere else."

“I think that would be alright.” Serena said. She finishes her soup and puts the bowl down on the tray. She takes a sip of her tea as Vincent puts his hand on her stomach. She smiles softly at him as she puts her empty tea cup down. She then curls up against him as he rubs her stomach. “We have only been married a short time and we won’t even have our one year anniversary before the little one is born. I’m happy and I know our people will be happy.” She said. She bit her lip and looked up at him. “What if we have twins?”

~~

Brandon is holding Jasmine’s hand as they walk through the venders. “The little towns always have a lot of fun with what they have. This is a border town and it’s warmer here than in Rosario, but it’s still cooler than in Moldova. I like the little trinkets and things that they sell.” He said as they look though things.

"If we have twins, it will be double of everything. Double the love, double the hugs, double the mischief. Have you forgotten that two of my best friends are twins?" Vincent jokes. "It is amazing that you are having a baby."

~~~~~~

Jasmine looks around. She also talks to some of the vendors. "There is nothing like Moldova's open air shopping area though." She pauses for a moment and looks at a bracelet. It is a gold bracelet with varigated colored beads in blue, green, and brown. It reminds her of the ocean. "This is beautiful. It reminds me of the ocean."

"You mean that we are having a baby?" Serena asked. "I can't believe it either. I'm happy about it and I couldn't ask for a better man than you to have a child with." She said as she kissed him.

~~

Brandon saw Jasmine looking at a certain bracelet. He had been looking through ear rings and saw a set that looked similar to the bracelet that she found. "That is nice Jasmine. Would you like to have it and these to match?"

Vincent loves the quiet moments with Serena. He continues to cuddle with her. "I also love the fact that we have a house to raise our family. I want you to promise me that you will take time to relax when you need too. You are not a superwoman."

~~~~~~

Jasmine looks at the earrings. "Oh they are perfect. Now you need to find something as well. Maybe a nice chain to wear, or a nice notebook for you to write in. I can't have you buying things for just me."

"I know I'm not a superwoman. Going through this morning sickness has made me realize that." Serena said chuckling. "But I will only do what my body tells me I can do. If that means it says to stop then I stop. How does that sound?"

She was very happy in Vincent's arms. She was happy and she felt better than she had. She is currently content and happy.

~~

Brandon laughed as she said for him to pick out something. "I don't have a lot of jewelry. I didn't know men really did." He said as they looked through the men's jewelry. "I only had that one that I wore with the ring you gave me. Its in my things. Maybe I should get something nice too."

He points to a silver chain that was plain. "What about that?" He asked

"Some men do, some don't. I know in Moldova the do more because they spend more time with no shirts on." Jasmine looks at the chain Brandon is holding up. "I like that one. Don't feel you have to get jewelry though. If you want something different, we can look at other things."

~~~~~~

Vincent continues to pamper Serena. "You know what will be really nice? A long soothing bath, just the two...ugh three... of us. I will be right back." He goes upstairs and starts up a bath. He looks at the oils and is totally clueless, so he skips that. He returns to her. "Are you ready?"

Brandon looks at a few things. “I don’t really know what I want. I know I need a new leather bound book though. I need it for notes and things.” He said as he walked over to the notebooks. He picked up a black one with intricate designs on it. “I really like this.”

~~

Serena smiles and nodded her head to Vincent. She wondered if he would put some oils in the water. He came back down and she gets up off the couch. She takes his hand and they head upstairs together. “It looks nice and hot.” Serena said as she took her night clothes off. “I could use a nice hot bath and you can wash my hair maybe?” she asked.

"I will love to wash your hair. I saw all your girly stuff, but didn't put any of it in. I didn't want to affect your smell. Besides, I cannot smell like some of that." Vincent removes his clothes before going in. He motions Serena to join him.

~~~~~~

Jasmine sees the leather book. "I am getting this for you. And do you like this pen set? I know it is fancier than you are used to, but it will be nice with the book." She show him a fancy pen with refills. "I cannot wait to see what you write about our life together."

Serena smiles as she walks over to the bathtub. She steps in and sits down beside of Vincent. “I forget that this tub is so big. It can hold all of us.” She said with a smile. She kissed him gently as her body because accustomed to the water. “Thank you for not putting the oils in. I will smell them one by one to see if any of them set me off. “ She then dipped her head under the water.

~~

“That is a very fancy pen set. I mean I didn’t people wrote with those. I thought they were used for decoration.” Brandon said as he looked over them. “I think I would like them.” He said as he touched the box.

Jasmine quickly grabs both the box and notebook and goes over to the vendor. She pays for them. "Now is there anything else you want to do? Tomorrow is going to be an early day."

~~~~~~

Vincent begins to wash Serena's hair. It is more of a head massage. "You do that, but keep them to yourself. Remember I deal with the army. I cannot go in smelling like a girl, no offense."

Brandon pays for Jasmine’s jewelry and chuckles. “No, I think we should head on back and maybe an early dinner. I wouldn’t mind resting some tonight sense tomorrow will be bumpy all day.” He said. He holds onto the Jewelry. “Would you like to wear it, or should we put it up and you can wear it tomorrow?” he asked.

~~

Serena sighs as Vincent massages her head. She was beginning to really relax. “That feels good Vincent.” She said. She chuckled as he talked about smelling like a girl. “Oh come on, it wouldn’t hurt you to smell nice every now and again.”

"Smelling nice is one thing, smelling like a girl is another." Vincent's hands move down to her shoulders continuing the massage. He can feel the tension in them He slowly works at removing it.

~~~~~~

"So a night of writing and painting. I will wear them tomorrow so I can show them off. Someday you will have to let me read your other writing." Jasmine takes his arm and they walk back to the hotel.

They get back to the room and the bed is now decorated with flower petals. There is a bucket with champagne chilling and a platter of little desserts. "Oh Goddess is too much."

Serena lets her head hang slightly as Vincent moves down her shoulders. “mmm…” she said. She took a deep sigh. “You are spoiling me.” She said. “I really like it.” She said with a smile.

“I like the way you smell.” She said teasingly.

~~

Brandon looks around the room and his mouth drops. “I mean we are only engaged, it’s not like we are married.” He said. He put his arm around Jasmine. “I cannot believe that they did this for us. It is beautiful.” He said as he walked over to the chilling champagne. “It is cool and just right for drinking. “Would you like to have some?” He asked smiling.

Jasmine grabs the tray. "You know I would. I think it would be safe to sleep in the same bed tonight. What so you think?" Jasmine pops one of the desserts in her mouth. "Oh Goddess this is so good." She goes over and holds one up to Brandon's mouth. "You have got to try this."

~~~~

"It is my job to spoil you especially now." Vincent continues to massage her. He wonder how far he can go with her. He takes out a wash cloth and begins to wash her front.

Brandon opens his mouth and Jasmine puts the dessert in his mouth. He chews it up and swallows it. “Oh wow, that was really delicious.” He said as he licked his lips. “I think it’s safe to say that I can hold you in my arms tonight.” He said with a smile.

~~

Serena smiles as she leans against him as he washes her chest. “You are a naughty, naughty man…I love it.” She said smiling.

"Well then I think I am overdressed for this. I am going to get my pajamas on and I will be right back." Jasmine grabs her bag and disappears briefly

Brandon smiles as he dresses down into his boxers. He puts his clothing where he could find it later and then sits down on the bed. A few minutes later, Jasmine joined him in the room again. “Don’t you look nice in your pajamas?” He said teasingly.

Jasmine is wearing a simple nightgown. Nothing too revealing. She takes the glass of champange and drinks from it. "You would think I was good looking in a sack." She kisses him before taking the dessert tray to the bed. "Are you going to join me? I cannot eat all of this by myself or I will get fat."