I kind of missed writing about these two so the ill-fated friends/lovers are back! (aka Redbrick and Blueberry) This chapter takes place between chapters 5 and 6 of A Red and a Blue (FYI: it will help you understand this story better if you read that one first ) Some other chapters may end up being more movie/sequel scenes but I'll make sure to let you know ahead of time if that happens.
Google the chapter title if you don't know what it means. It may help you figure out what the beginning of this story is about.
Chapter 1: Gravidity x2
"…and I am not arduous!" I shouted through that stupid hole. I plugged it shut and stomped away before my enemy could shoot another insult at me.
I walked across the garden, my staff clinking a rheumatism as I walked, fuming at the encounter. How is it that every time I'm in a semi-decent mood, Lady Blueberry always mangles to ruin it? I wondered as I stocked through the garden, not even sure where I was headed. She knew me far too well for an enemy. But of course, that was my own fault. My heart ached as I remembered our childhood, back when she was just Kat and I Cleon and together, we roamed the Lawrence garden in secret. Angrily, I kicked a small stone, sending it bouncing along the path ahead of me. Those days were gone. All that remained was the ache in my chest whenever I thought of them and the chip in my eyebrow from the day when they had ended. I was really getting into a foul mood now. There was one way to make me feel better. I need to do something to get back at her… Maybe another raid is needed…
I was so busy planning and potting that I knocked into someone coming the opposite way along the path.
"Oh! Oh… hello Cleon." Startled, I looked up into beautiful and familiar green eyes. It was Ophelia, my wife. Usually, just seeing each other made us both a little happier. Not this time apparently. "What are you doing here?" She sounded surprised and was staring at me with wide eyes like she was anxious or scared.
"… I live here…" I growled. If I hadn't been so upset, I would have been a little wary. We'd been married almost a year now; Ophelia knew I was all over the place all the time. This anxiety wasn't like her.
"Hello." I said in a more gentle tone of voice, pulling her into a half-hearted hug. My mind was still so focused on my revenge that I almost didn't notice that she wasn't hugging me back. But I definitely noticed that she was trembling.
I released her and took a half-step back, distracted from my vengeful thoughts. She was staring towards the ground, as if deep in thought. "Darling? Are you okay?" I asked attentively, wondering if I'd offended her with my apparent coldness.
She jumped at my voice. Actually jumped! "What? Oh… oh yes…. Yes I'm fine…" Her statement quickly descended back into that detached voice.
She seemed distant, removed. Almost like she didn't really know where she was. She was twisting her hands together nervously, like she was trying to strangle something between them. All thoughts of revenge fled my mind. This was not like her at all…
"Ophelia? What's wrong?" I was really starting to get concerned now. Why was she acting this way?
She turned away from me, facing the pedestal where we lived, biting her lower lip. A feeling of nerves traveled all over me. What is going on? Ophelia took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Cleon… I'm….. I'm pregnant."
At first I wasn't sure. But now I am positive. I turned away from the hole where I'd just been hurling insults at my former best friend, stroking my stomach anxiously. Oh no… oh no…
When had it started? Oh yes, about four weeks ago, just after Petruchio's and my anniversary. That night could not have been more perfect. I smiled as I remembered. But that smile soon faded back to my fear and uncertainty.
Several other blue gnomes were gathered around me; the shouting match had drawn quite a crowd. I managed to muster a confident smile for them. "That certainly got old Redbrick fired up!" I exclaimed, referring to my choice of words in our most recent argument (which I, of course, had won). This drew a cheer and soon, they all wandered off to their various tasks and responsibilities around our garden. Except for me.
Making sure no one was watching, I slipped behind the bush next to the hole; into my old hiding/thinking spot. It was tighter than it used to be which made me both nostalgic and fearful. I squeezed carefully in between the leaves and branches and sat, hugging my knees to my chest.
It can't be…. I thought, slowly beginning to rock myself the way my mother used to. W…why..?
At first I had thought I was just imagining the symptoms: the dizziness, the pains in my stomach, the mood swings and the crying. These past few days I passed them all off as one thing or another: I was tired, the sun was hot, Redbrick had got to me… and so on.
I trembled. But there's no denying this. I rubbed my hand over my stomach again and felt what I had discovered while yelling at Cleon Redbrick. I looked down at myself, moving my hand out of the way slightly. There it was: a small, round bump of new life growing within me.
I hugged my knees to my chest again and felt tears trickle down my face. A baby… I'm going to have a baby..!
Although it made me happy to know that I would soon have a child of my own, it frightened me too. My mother had only died a few short weeks ago, after she finally unfroze herself and succumbed the injury caused by… by him. Who was I to turn to? I had no siblings, no aunts… I had no idea what to expect from this. All Mother had ever told me was: when you're pregnant, you'll know. What was I supposed to do with that?
Hopelessness overwhelmed me. Would I be a good mother? Would it be happy? Would…?
Calm down Katherine… I started taking long, deep breaths as the anxiety mounted. I closed my eyes and rhythmically stroked my bump to soothe the baby too. Let's just try to stay calm and rational... what's the next step?
Well, I already knew the answer to that question.
Once I had calmed down, I wiped away my tears and carefully crawled out of the bushes, taking care around my stomach which suddenly seemed so delicate.
Once out of the bush, I straightened up and brushed myself off. I placed one hand gently on top of the tiny bump that was barely noticeable when I was standing. A child… our child…
I took a deep breath, than set off to find the father.
Thanks for reading! Please review and watch for more!
I'm completely up for changing the title, honestly I'm not that happy with this one… I'm open to suggestions.
