The Shepherd
Chapter 03B
I shall not want
Addendum une
Guy rolled over and immediately woke up.
No Genevieve.
Thinking she was in the bathroom, he started to nod back into sleep, before realizing he was hearing nothing from there.
"Genevieve?"
Silence.
He looked at the clock.
3:13
And that would be in the A.M.
Guy kicked the covers back and swung long legs from the bed. Leaving the bedroom, he stepped into the hallway and heard talking from the family room.
She is watching television at this hour?
Their first babe was due in four weeks and still extremely active. Genevieve's obstetrician was threatening to send her home and put her on bed rest for the duration if the swelling in her feet didn't go down. Guy decided that if the doctor didn't send her home, he himself, as her husband and her Dom, was going to do so. He had no problem invoking and enforcing Master privilege, even if she refused to refer to him as such! Her next appointment was in two days and Guy made sure his calendar was open so he could go with her and ensure his voice was heard and heard clearly. She was uncomfortable and not sleeping well and was now wandering the floors at all hours of the night.
He went down the stairs and into the family room, where yes, Genevieve was on the couch, very swollen ankles propped up on the ottoman and she was watching...
"What is this?"
"Kung Fu Theater." She blew her nose and dabbed her eyes. "This is so sad."
Guy stood behind her, arms crossed, watching the screen. "Of course it is sad. It's dubbed and dubbed badly!"
"NO!" Genevieve gestured to the television, where several men and a woman with a scarred face were flying through the air, kicking, flipping and landing karate chops. "It's like a Chinese Romeo and Juliet!" She pointed to someone in slow-motion. "He is heir to a big family and was attacked by a rival family and left for dead on the road. She-" she was now using the remote to point to the only woman on the screen, who was giving better than she was getting, "rescued him. She lives in the woods and took him to her place when she found him on the road all beat up. While tending his injuries, she discovered who he is. She's in love with him, but won't tell him because she's from the rival family and she was their family assassin before she chucked it and moved into the woods to hide. Besides, he's contracted to marry her sister to bring peace to the families and he's too honorable to break the contract, so she's not very nice to him." Genevieve pulled a tissue from the box. "She doesn't know he's in love with her and he thinks she hates him. He has no idea who she is."
Guy pinched his nose. "Sounds confusing."
Guy stood behind her, behind the couch. From his view point, he could see her belly, bouncing in the glow of the television. He leaned over and placed his hands firmly to the sides, the babe immediately sensing his father's presence. "Roger William, you are to cease this playing immediately, so your mother may rest. She will need all of her strength to bring you into this world."
The babe responded with a single hard kick.
"I cannot sleep without her by my side, so if you do not mind-" The babe responded with a hard elbow against Guy's other hand. "My Lady, your son is as stubborn as you are."
"I think he or she gets it from you, my lord." It was quiet for a few moments, Guy's hands on his wife's protruding stomach, and her hands covering his, the two of them marveling at the life held within. "Does this ever get old for you?" She looked up to see his puzzled expression. "Babies. You've fathered how many over the centuries? Does it ever get old?" Guy continued to stare at her. "I mean, I would think this would be boring or old hat."
"No," he shook his head. "It is never boring or... old hat." Truth was he loved seeing his progeny running around, getting in other people's way. But he could not stand their ill-bred brats!
"Oh crap." She pointed to the television, remote in hand, where the credits were rolling in Chinese. "I missed the end."
"He leaves and returns to his family and she is left crying in the doorway." Guy leaned over and took the remote from her, turning off the television. "Come to bed."
"I can't," she whined. "Obviously, there is a disco ball in the top of my uterus and this child is listening to the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever!"
"BeeGees abound. Stayin' alive, stayin' alive," he smirked.
"And," her hand was on her left side, massaging, "he has his foot in my ribs and using my bladder as a trampoline!" Before he could help her, she rolled over and off the couch, and waddled towards the bathroom. "And I'm hungry."
Guy studied the floor, the pattern in the carpet. "Should I whip up a batch of 'Eggs ala Gisborne? Pancakes?"
"NO!" Her voice echoed from the bathroom. "I want donuts!" There was silence in the bathroom. "Ah, baby, sweetie, please! Mama needs to pee!"
"Genevieve," Guy's voice was cajoling. "It is 3:30 in the morning..."
"Krispy Kremes! Not Dunkin' Donuts!"
"Genevieve-"
"Fine!" She waddled from the bathroom and limped up the stairs. "I'll just starve." She disappeared around the corner.
Guy rolled his eyes. His wife was a drama queen and under normal circumstances, such an attitude would result in discipline.
But compared to Millisande, who was probably bi-polar or some 21st century psycho-babble, Genevieve was simply...
pregnant.
Guy trudged up the stairs, finding Gen on her side of the bed, on her back, with her hands folded demurely on her belly and staring angrily at the ceiling. Snatching the extra pillows, he tucked them under her feet and kissed her. "I'll be right back."
He grabbed his jeans and sliding into them, headed barefoot to the garage, wallet and keys in hand.
"Not! Dunkin' Donuts!"
He opened the garage door and stepped onto the concrete. It was frigid cold.
He stepped back into the warm home, snarling. Pulling out his phone, he clicked the information center. "Krispy. Kreme." It took three phone calls, Guy not paying attention to the locale, before one answered.
"Krispy Kreme!" The girl sounded to be around the age of twelve.
"Yes. I would like to order a dozen glazed donuts, fresh from the oven, and two powdered whipped cream filled donuts and a pint of low-fat milk."
"Alright! We have those! Just pulled the glazed out of the fryer! "
"Good. They are fresh! I would like them delivered to-"
"Delivered?" There was a nervous giggle. "Sir, we don't deliver."
"I will pay you one thousand of your American dollars to deliver those donuts to my home."
"Sir?" She was laughing out loud. "I'll bet you're my boss, fakin' an accent. Y'all have a nice night."
And there was the obvious 'click' where the girl hung up, Guy staring at his phone in anger and disbelief.
Note to self: Buy the Krispy Kreme. Fire the-
He suddenly remembered his brother was supposed to fly into town at 2:45 AM and Frederick was at the airport, waiting for him with the family limo.
He dialed the preset on his phone, waiting for his brother to pick up.
"Up late to see if I made it in safely, brother?" Guy could hear Archer smirking on the other line. "By the way, thank your lovely wife for the use of the condo while I'm working on this new system for my employers and thank you for the fancy ride." Archer was tweaking the Georgia State Capitol's, as well as several Federal Buildings security systems. They were antiquated and would require a lot of tender care, according to his brother. It would take a long time, so Archer planned to be at the hospital when his nephew arrived.
"You may thank her yourself. Where are you?"
"I am... Frederick, where are we?" Guy heard talking in the background, "We are leaving Hartsfield International. Getting on I-85."
"I am sending Frederick the coordinates and address for a 24 hour Krispy Kreme. Pick up a dozen fresh out of the oven glazed, not cake donuts, two powdered whipped crème-filled and a pint of 2% milk and bring them to the house. There is a bed in the third bedroom you may use tonight, if you wish."
There was a low whistle over the phone. "Brother mine, you're going to lose your fine, trim waistline, and that lovely arse your wife loves so much will become as wide as a draft horse, if you eat like that all the time. So what if I say, no?"
Guy rolled his eyes. "It is not for me. Genevieve has a craving. If you say no, I'll have Frederick make a stop anyway to get them, and then have him change the locks on the condo." Guy slowly started up the stairs.
"Ah, for the lovely Genevieve!" Archer was quite jovial and perky. "I think I can swing by the donut shop for her."
"Pipe Frederick in." He waited for the audible click into the sound system. "Put the fear of God into the chit at the shoppe. I offered her $1000.00 to deliver and she refused. What better thing does she have to do at four in the morning?"
"Yes, my lord." Frederick was all business and stoniness. "We will arrive in half an hour."
"Tell me you did not wake up Frederick! You don't pay him enough to run around for my cravings!"
"Oh, I heard that!" Archer adored his sister-in-law and thought she kept his irascible brother in line. "Tell her her knight in shining armor is on his way!" There was then an audible click in Guy's ear.
Guy came around the corner, into their bedroom. "No. I remembered Archer arrived at the airport about forty-five minutes ago and he will stop by Krispy Kreme for you." Genevieve now lay on her side, a contour tummy pillow supporting her baby bump. Getting comfortable was not happening for his wife tonight. "No need for me to freeze my balls off if he is already out in it. He will spend the night in the third bedroom."
"But you would have called Frederick, wouldn't you?"
Guy slid onto the bed behind her. "Yes. I pay him well and he knows that he will be called at all hours if necessary. It is part of the job requirement."
"But still-"
"But still nothing. His family has served my family since Roland FitzGisborne and loyalty has been bred into him. If I call him at 3:30 in the morning and tell him to get donuts for my wife, he will get up and get donuts for my wife. Besides, he is driving Archer, so he was already awake and there. What part of your back is hurting?"
"Here." She pointed to the small of her back. "It never stops hurting anymore." As Guy splayed his long fingers across her back, he could feel the tightness, weary pull in the muscles. "I'm sorry I'm whiny."
"You are a brat. But you are my brat and I understand." It was quiet for some time as Guy ministered to his wife's aching muscles.
"Guy?"
"Hmm?"
"I think I'm going to start cutting back to half days next week."
"I know you are going to stop working next week."
"I think you're being a Neanderthal."
"I know I am being a concerned and loving husband and Master."
"I know you're being a complete Neanderthal."
"That, my lady, is why you married me."
Headlights splayed across the wall, as someone pulled into the driveway. Guy kissed her shoulder. "Stay put. Archer is here."
"Couldn't move if I wanted to. Yay. Krispy Kremes!"
It was a quick trip down the stairs, greeting his brother. Both Archer and Frederick were in black business suits and sunglasses.
"You are cruel," Archer muttered, handing the bag over to a rather under-dressed Guy. "She thought we were with British Intelligence and these donuts were for the Queen."
"I believe she or someone will deliver, next time you call and ask." Frederick responded coolly.
"Good." Guy began to dig and grabbed one creme-filled and one glazed donut, along with the pint of milk.
"What's for breakfast in the morning, boss?" Frederick smiled. For all of the formality, Frederick was considered a good friend to both of the FitzGisborne brothers.
"Donuts! Or there is an International House of Pancakes between here and downtown." He then returned back up the stairs, leaving his Archer and Frederick in his wake. He strode into the master bedroom, like a conquering swain.
Only to find his wife asleep.
tbc
From this point (or I should say, the previous chapter/segment) this fic follows no specific time table. It will bounce around (until the last chapter) as the Muse (and chapter title) sees fit.