The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 241. A boy or a girl.

Chapter 241: 241. A boy or a girl.

"Forgive me. If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t have had these scars in the first place. I am—" His lips suddenly stole the words from her mouth, his tongue delved into the deep corners of her mouth and her hands held onto him firmly so the sweet sensations of his kiss would not sweep her off her feet in the water.

He wanted to press her body close to his body as he kissed her just like he used to do but unlike before, he couldn’t do that now because her huge stomach was standing in the way and he feared holding her too tight would make her feel uncomfortable.

"If anyone should be asking for forgiveness," He breathes over her lips, "It should be me." He places a kiss on her left eye, then on her right eye, and one on her head. Then he took her lips again, kissing her with all the tenderness in him. Treating her with the gentleness that she deserved.

"Forgive me Neriah." Barak said and placed a kiss on her left cheek. "For not realizing sooner that you’ve come to love me far too much to ever betray me." He stroked the side of her face with the back of his hand, "Forgive me because even after I told you I believed you, when you suddenly used your powers on me, I once again had thoughts that you were trying to kill me, to betray me once more."

"Oh, no Barak. I understand. It was only normal that you thought that way. After all you’ve been through, I wouldn’t trust me if I—"

"No, it was wrong. I was wrong." He takes both her hands in his own and kisses them. "And I am sorry."

"Will you forgive me?" He asks and Neriah couldn’t catch a break from crying. For months she’s been crying even now tears were flowing down her face again.

"How can I not?" she asks. "When you’ve forgiven me all my transgressions, you’ve accepted me even though you know all my dirty secrets... I can never not forgive you, Barak. Besides, there really is nothing to forgive."

"If you say there is nothing to forgive and I strongly believe I need your forgiveness, what do we do?"

"Then I’ll tell you the words you want to hear. I forgive you Barak, for the wrongs you believe you’ve done me in the past, the wrongs you think you might do to me now, and for even the wrongs you might do in the future. I forgive all." Neriah says with a bright grin on her face one she hasn’t had on for a very long time.

"Thank you." Barak places a kiss on her knuckles.

To her surprise, he was suddenly going down on one knee until his head was at the same level with her protruding tummy.

"I should seek forgiveness from this brave one too." He said and Neriah’s heart skipped as he placed both his hands on her tummy. Deep down she feared he didn’t really believe the child was his. She kept getting anxious within her because he hadn’t reached to touch her big tummy, not even once. But now that both his hands rested on her stomach she felt a sense of peace wash over her.

"Forgive me, my child. This father of yours can be quite strong headed and blind at times." Barak says. "And I’m sorry I did not recognize my own sooner. But I make a vow to you here today, I am not perfect, but I will strive to be a great father to you just as mine has always been to me. So I pray that you hold no further grudge against me."

"Ooh, haha—" Neriah flinched and chuckled as the child inside her seemed to not only hear their father’s words but was showing that they accepted his apology.

"I’ve never felt him kick so hard before. He must really like you."

"Is that so? Does that mean you forgive me?" He asks, staring at her stomach and his eyes widened in bewilderment as he saw the clear movements coming from inside her.

"Ooh it’s almost like he’s dancing." Neriah chuckled delightfully, holding on to her husband’s sturdy shoulders so she could remain on her feet as her child played around in her stomach.

"Thank you, my child." Barak says and places a kiss on her belly and rises to his feet. "But Neriah,"

"Yes?"

"You keep saying he, why?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, you seem certain that our child would be a boy, don’t you think it could be a girl?" Barak asks as he leisurely begins to use his hands to carry water and then pour it on her shoulders. Watching the water trail down the length of her body till it touched the body of water they were standing in.

And Barak thought to himself, damn, she is still the most mesmerizing being I’ve ever seen.

"No. I want a boy who would grow up and look like that portrait you have back at home. A cute little boy that would look exactly like you when you were a child."

"But I want a girl."

"Why?"

"Because I think a little red haired angel like you would be nice to have running around the place calling me daddy. I’ll spoil her rotten."

"Hah, you used to say I was a spoiled brat and now you want to raise your own spoiled pampered brat."

"Well, thinking of how cute you’d be as a child, I have come to understand why your parents pampered you. I see myself doing the same to my daughter."

"Well, I also want a cute little baby Barak to pamper, so it’s definitely going to be a boy."

"Nah, I do not think so. Considering how much she jumped inside you when I knelt down before her, I’m certain she’s a girl. You women like it when men grovel at your feet." He says as his hands pour over her big stomach. Gently caressing her as he did, "In fact I can tell she will be a drama queen just like her mother."

"Well, I must confess it was nice to see you grovel." Neriah mutters with a blush on her face, "But that doesn’t make my baby a girl. I am telling you he—"

And so, deep in an accursed forest, in a cold lake that was being heated by Barak, they continued arguing like any normal couple would about the gender of their unborn child, unaware of the danger that was brewing outside of the forest, waiting for the perfect chance to strike.

However, maybe it was due to the fact that they’d been through a lot together. In a way they even defeated death, worked through betrayals and found each other again. Maybe this was the reason they were calm because as long as they were together, they could face anything.

And by the goddess they were not going to allow anyone to come between their family of two and half.