The First Year – Part D
The Khoji requested that each day the agents provide at least five of their team members to help with the harvest now. Coulson and the others felt that was more than fair given how much the Khoji had done for them. And it left seven adult members of their team to work on their new projects as well as their regular chores. They had to rotate who went to the Khoji farms since, of course, everyone preferred to stay at their campsite and work on the team's projects.
Fitz was scheduled to work for the Khoji that day, and he and the others were in the fields. He was tasked with harvesting peas. He looked for pods that were swollen and plump. As repetitive as the work was, he reminded himself of a conversation that he and Jemma had had not long after they had arrived here. The days might be boring and they missed the lab, but never before had they ever had so much uninterrupted time together. It felt like a fair trade to both of them – not that fate would really care what they thought of it all, as Fitz had added.
And besides, all the new projects the team was undertaking gave Jemma and Fitz plenty of opportunities to use their brainpower. They had some good ideas on how they could can vegetables even without the traditional supplies used for it.
As he picked another few pods, he smiled to himself thinking that he and Jemma always were the proverbial "two peas in a pod." He took one of the pods and opened it, popping the peas into his mouth. They were permitted to sample what they harvested; pretty much everyone did it unless it was something they didn't want.
"Hello!"
Fitz startled and turned around as he finished chewing. Standing before him was the young midwife, the second midwife who had helped bring Rory into the world.
"Hello!" Fitz returned the greeting, feeling awkward that he couldn't address her by name. He opened his mouth to thank her again for everything she had done, but she spoke first.
"How is the baby?" she asked, continuing to speak English.
"The baby is doing very well. So is Jemma," Fitz answered straightforwardly. "You speak our language very well. Far better than I speak yours."
"I know. I did not find it too hard to learn."
She took a step closer to Fitz. For a second, Fitz wanted to take a step backwards. During his previous interactions with the Khoji, they seemed to have the same sense of personal space as the agents did. The Khoji never stepped too close and they avoided physical contact, so the midwife's movement was unusual.
"You are a very good husband," the midwife said. "Very patient and calm."
Fitz let out a laugh. "I didn't feel calm at all – I was extremely nervous. But I am happy it all turned out well."
"You are very smart too – you had ideas on how we can improve the farming. And you are bold – because you said those ideas to us."
"Thank you," Fitz said. A strange sensation began in the pit of his stomach. This interaction was so unlike any other Khoji interaction; they rarely if ever complimented the agents or made any sort of personal observations about them.
"Would you come to my tent with me? I don't know how to say it in your language, but I'd like to act as your wife with you now. And I know that she can't do that with you for a while."
The midwife then placed her hand on Fitz's chest.
Fitz took a step back and instinctively raised his hands over his chest. "I don't understand exactly what you mean…" he began, his voice trailing off. He, of course, had an idea of what she meant.
The midwife made a gesture with her hands and took a pointed look at Fitz's groin area. "Understand now?"
"Yes. But no! No, I'm sorry but no. It's just not something I do with anyone other than my wife." Although he was blushing, Fitz quickly regained his composure. "What about Davis? Or Deke? They – uh – might like for you to….'act as their wife'," he said, using her terminology.
"No," she replied. "Not them. Just you." And with that she turned around and walked away.
As Fitz worked the rest of the day, he tried to make sense of the interaction. They had been here a year, but the agents still knew so little about the Khoji because they never shared personal information. Until today, no member of the Khoji had propositioned one of the agents. (Given the close quarters they lived in, Fitz was 100% certain that everyone would've known sooner or later had someone else been propositioned). The team knew that the Khoji culture had the institution of marriage – the vast majority of cultures throughout time certainly had too – and that the women here seemed to have the same rights as men. Beyond that, they knew almost nothing else. Is this expected behavior when one's wife had recently given birth? Fitz wondered. Or is what she just suggested considered shocking in her culture too? He wasn't sure he'd ever get an answer; there really wasn't anyone he could ask.
He wished the day would pass quickly so he could get home to Jemma.
"Well, she certainly has impeccable taste," Jemma whispered to Fitz, as she squeezed his hand. Night had fallen, and they were back inside their tent. Rory had been fed, changed, and now slept soundly. He was a good sleeper, usually only waking once during the night.
Jemma, of course, remembered that the midwife was young and attractive. Nubile, she told herself, was the word. Her skin was smooth and unmarked by freckles or blemishes, her hair thick and glossy.
Fitz had been eager to talk about the incident, but he didn't want tongues wagging over it so he knew that meant waiting until he could get Jemma alone. Her task list for the day had been extensive; in addition to her work to find a solution to the canning problem, she had had laundry duty. Doing laundry for 12 adults and two babies took most of the day, despite Jemma completing the task in the most efficient way possible.
"I'm just so shocked, you know?" Fitz said, shaking his head and not going in on Jemma's playful tone. "They never talk to us about anything personal – let alone ask us to do something like that!"
"Could it be the fact that we've been here a year now?" Jemma wondered. "Maybe individual members of their society will start to open up to us. Although that was certainly a strange way to start it." She paused and then asked, "So she didn't seem angry or upset? She just walked away, right?"
"Right. Although it's anyone's guess if I interpreted her facial expressions correctly." He paused and added, "I wonder if we will start to see other surprises from them soon."
"It may be. I also wonder why she didn't seem to like your idea of going for Davis or Deke. I'm sure either one wouldn't mind some….companionship." Daisy had made it clear to Deke that she still did not want a boyfriend at this point in her life.
"Oh well. I just hope she keeps her distance." Fitz paused and then turned towards Jemma. "Until we need her again." That thought was a bit chilling to him. What if she refused to help next time she was needed?
"Well, we don't know how many midwives they have," Jemma said. She kept her voice steady, having picked up on the almost-undetectable quiver in Fitz's voice and knowing where his thoughts must have gone. "There was the older one. And – although I certainly respected their experience and their calm presence – now that Bobbi and I have each been through it….we might not need them as much."
"Very true."
They settled down into the bed, getting into their usual position with Jemma's head on Fitz's shoulder. "Not that her offer has anything to do with my saying this but….the soreness is mostly gone. I was just thinking this morning that I feel much better. I think we'll be able to have sex again soon."
Fitz was silent for a few moments, and then said, "I can't decide whether to say 'I can't wait!" or to calmly say, 'You just tell me when, wife.'"
"Hmmm….I like both replies!"
Just a few days later, Jemma told Fitz that she was ready. She had come to the decision herself, and she felt like she knew her body well enough. But earlier that day, she had the opportunity to talk to someone in a similar position whose input she wanted: Bobbi.
The two were taking a break from planting fruit trees. They left the area that would someday be an orchard, walked into the dense forest surrounding it, and sat under a tree for shade, each resting her back against the trunk. The water in their canteens was still slightly cool.
Bobbi started asking Jemma how she felt the work was going, and they both mused at how odd it was to be planting fruit trees which would take years to mature. Either the team would be here for years and someday reap the orchard's benefits, or they wouldn't be here when the trees bore fruit – and either thought was a bit disquieting.
"And speaking of mixed feelings," Bobbi continued, "I'm both enjoying having an hour away from the baby and missing him like crazy."
Both babies were back at the campsite with their fathers.
"Me too!" Jemma exclaimed. "It's odd to feel both emotions at once."
"We'll have to head back there soon though. Another hour and my tits will start aching if I don't feed him." Bobbi reflexively placed her forearm across her chest.
Jemma nodded at that reality too. "I really like the sensation of feeding the baby," she added.
"I like it okay but my nipples get sore sometimes." Bobbi took another swig of her water and then added, conspiratorially, "I've got to tell you this though. When Hunter and I started having sex again, sometimes my tits would squirt out a bit of breast milk."
"Oh!" Jemma remarked. She was understandably eager to hear more about the general topic of resuming marital relations. "Was – um, was it awkward or anything?" She wasn't sure what to ask but wanted Bobbi to keep talking.
Bobbi laughed. "First time it happened, Hunter got so turned on that he put his mouth on one nipple and just sucked. And he drank! I almost yelled at him 'That's our son's breakfast!' But I didn't. I actually thought what he did was kind of hot." She shook her head and muttered, "Sometimes he suggests or does things that I don't like at first and then end up getting turned on by."
Bobbi's voice returned to normal and she added, "But overall, no, nothing awkward. I think our sex life's gone back to normal pretty much, other than the times the baby wakes up during it." Bobbi paused, "What about you? Is it too soon or no?"
"I feel like I'm ready to start again. Still sore down there sometimes but it's less and less each day. And I'm back to feeling arousal at times." Jemma turned her head towards Bobbi and added, "The first few weeks after Rory arrived, the last thing my body felt was any sort of sexual arousal. But it has been gradually returning."
Bobbi silently noted that Jemma sounded almost like she was reading a report – but she figured that might be what was making Jemma feel comfortable enough to discuss the subject. "Are you worried or concerned about anything?" Bobbi asked.
Jemma shrugged, "Not really. We have pain relievers for any soreness. I have slightly more body fat now but I don't think Fitz will notice or mind. And, well, he loves the breasts, and given that he's a scientist I don't think he'll be put off if any milk leaks out."
Jemma sounded now as if she were reading off a checklist, but again Bobbi silently noted the fact and assumed it helped keep her comfortable with the topic.
"And as for birth control," Jemma continued, "given what the hormones do when a woman is breastfeeding, that should keep us from getting pregnant again. Although we'll combine it with the withdrawal method too. Neither method is anywhere near 100% effective but we have to hope it will be enough." She then asked, "I assume you're doing the same?"
"Yes," Bobbi said. She then smiled, "I love how both of you scientists plan and prepare everything."
Jemma tilted her head, "It's just how our brains work"
Later that day, Jemma and Fitz were being ruled more by their bodies than their brains. She had encouraged him to get on top of her, as she missed that position. As her pregnancy had progressed, the missionary position hadn't been possible so it had been a while. She always felt there was something very enjoyable about lying on her back with Fitz on top of her, and her arms grasping his back.
Fitz kissed her mouth as he thrust in and out. He had already used his tongue and lips on her to bring her to fulfillment. At this point though, with him inside of her, Jemma realized that the soreness was worse than she had anticipated. She closed her eyes. She knew that she could either tell him that they needed to stop or just endure the discomfort, and she felt a strong sense of warmth and comfort knowing that either way, neither his feelings nor his ego would be upset.
Well, she corrected herself, that wasn't entirely true: he would be sad if he knew that this was causing her discomfort. She had just resolved to tell him when he whispered, "Are you okay?"
Fitz had, indeed, detected that something was off. Before Jemma could answer, he continued, "You're a bit sore still, maybe?"
She nodded. "I shouldn't have rushed this. I wanted it really badly, you know?"
They stumbled a bit with their words after that.
"Here, should I – ?" he started to withdraw.
"Just slowly."
"Oh yes, sorry." His initial reaction had been to get out as soon as he realized she was hurting, but he had moved a bit too fast at first – he was so eager to ease her discomfort.
Moments later, they lay side by side. Jemma reached her hand to him and raised her eyebrows, and he nodded. As she stroked him, it seemed to Jemma that Fitz wasn't quite sure what to do with his hands. "You can still touch me," she encouraged. "Just not the area that's sore."
With that permission, Fitz's hands roamed around her body. But psychologically the thought that he had caused her pain – even though it was unintentional – was too much. He slowly softened in her hands.
"Oh," Jemma said gently. "I'm sorry you're not getting the release you gave me today."
"It's okay," he whispered. "We have plenty of time. No need to rush anything. I was thinking today in the fields – again – how strange it is to just have this abundance of time."
"Yes," she murmured and brought her lips to his for another kiss. She silently resolved that she would surprise him with a blowjob the next morning. If they were lucky, they could fit it in before Rory woke.
Fitz then said, "We're together and able to touch each other. And our son is doing well; I can't ask for anything more. I went six months without touching you when I was in that prison – that was hell."
The team still often had their discussions around the campfire. Everyone seemed to perceive some benefit from them, which is why they continued to have them. For Fitz, both the Framework and his six months in prison continued to come up. So Jemma wasn't surprised to hear him mention the prison time just now.
Well, Coulson had once said that it might take the team as many years to work through their traumas as it had taken them to live their traumas. That had sounded reasonable to both Jemma and Fitz.
"Do you want to talk about it tonight?" Jemma whispered.
He shook his head and instead kissed her once again.
TO BE CONTINUED
