Affections
The spell is cast and hope lingers. To love is to choose. Blood is meant to be thicker than water – the choice is meant to be clear. However, when blood is water there is nothing to differentiate.
"I want cherries…" Ponyo sighs dreamily.
Her hand rubs her pregnant stomach softly. An insipid smile covers her face. Sōsuke rolls his eyes. This is the fifteenth time she's wanted cherries in the last few days. He obliges her and sits on the opposite couch.
He's very lucky and he knows it. Most women send their husbands out for the queerest of food. He, however, is able to enjoy relaxing in his house. None of her requests have been far-fetched but he's been prepared just in case.
She yanks the stem from the fruit. A dreamy smile comes over her face. She sinks further into the couch. Sōsuke resists the stupid grin that begins to form on his face. She hasn't been particularly angry during her time. She hasn't burst into tears randomly either. He doesn't expect his expression to cause her much grievance. The risk is not one that he's willing to take.
Sōsuke leans forward. He rests his arms across his knees lazily. Ponyo happily munches through more of three quarters of the bowl before she realises that she's being watched. She sets the bowl down. A small sound of discomfort rumbles in the back of her throat. Her cheeks are bulging with the food.
The juice stains her mouth of chin. The lower half of her face is almost entirely pink-red. Small spots of juice can be found on the remainder of her face. She blinks at him in confusion as she attempts to swallow the mass of fruit in her mouth.
The urge to laugh nearly breaks through Sōsuke's defences. He makes do with widening his smile even more. Even at her worst he's still entranced. He often, to himself, likens it to the spell-binding moments of their first encounter. Human, fish and now as wide as the doughnut shop doors she's still lovely to him.
Ponyo grimaces. Her fisted hands, also covered in red, pat her cheeks. Her legs swing back and forth as she finally swallows the last of it. She squeaks in relief. Her eyes gleam with mirth and satisfaction. Like a child she's easily pleased.
She inches forwards. Her legs settle. Her heels press against the couch. She leans forward, elbows on her knees. Her hands cup her face. She stares at him endearingly. The urge to laugh strikes him again. He only barely manages to keep his composure.
"Yes," she beams.
"Yes? I haven't asked you anything," he can't frown for the hilarious scene before his eyes.
"I'm happy that you think I'm nice. I'm fat and wide and lazy. My eyes have black circles below them," she lists. Sōsuke struggles from commenting that below her eyes are also reddish. "My feet are huge. You do all the work around the house as well as work for money… and I made the right choice."
She giggles and falls back. At once she's enveloped by pillows. The urge to clap her hands is easily ignored. Sōsuke's expression is far more amusing.
As he returns to reality he grins. He chuckles and rises from his chair. Sōsuke crosses over to her couch. He produces a moist cloth.
"Come here, Ponyo," he laughs louder. "You've got cherry stains on your ears."
Author's Note: The only thing that I really know about pregnancy is that not all women get a baby bump / symptoms. I looked it up for another fanfiction of mine. If I've gotten something wrong then please excuse me. I'm happy to have written this. I think this story is sweet. I haven't seen the end of the movie yet. If I've defiled canon then please also excuse me for that. Thank you for reading my work. I hope that you enjoyed this piece. Please accept my apologies if you are dissatisfied.
Part of the Revival Collection.