Chapter 14: Something about Companions

Lina was bedridden for the next few days while she recovered, but for once she wasn't too upset about it. Being able to finally rest without pain caused by the little parasite...er, Leon, was wonderful, and despite how often he fussed about being hungry, she couldn't help but smile. "He's going to fit in perfectly."

Amelia looked up from tidying. "What was that, Miss Lina?"

Lina chuckled. "Oh, I'm just imagining when this little guy is old enough to hold his own at the dinner table. I might be creating a monster!" She cooed at little Leon, who gave her the biggest grin. "I can't get over how cute you are!"

Amelia smiled. Despite her want to put off a tough exterior to the outside world, Amelia was glad to see Lina softening for the baby. There might be hope for the sorceress yet.

Amelia coughed as she decided to venture down a different mental path. "How are you feeling now, Miss Lina?"

Lina never broke her gaze with little Leon. "Tired, achy, possibly a bit on the cranky side, but otherwise better. It's hard feeling down with this cheery little guy here!" Having said as such, Lina rubbed noses with Leon, eliciting another huge smile.

He was certainly that. Amelia had noticed a dramatic change after little Leon came home. Where there had been tension and more angst than she cared for, now there was a much more joyous atmosphere about the place. She'd not have thought it possible to have more joy in the place, but every evening when Gourry came home, she felt overwhelmed by it! Gourry, like Lina, was smitten with the new little life. To say he took to fatherhood would have been an understatement. Lina had certainly gotten perhaps more than she deserved in Gourry, but Amelia was glad for it.

"How about you?"

Amelia was startled from her thoughts. "I beg your pardon?" She looked over to Lina, who for once had her gaze turned from her baby to stare directly at Amelia.

Lina tsked. "I said, how are you feeling? Any idea when it'll come?"

Amelia shook her head. "No, I feel normal. Well, as normal as can be expected, I guess. Don't worry about me, Miss Lina." Amelia offered a smile.

Lina eyed Amelia's smile for a moment, trying to see if there was anything hidden there. "Okay, just making sure. This little guy certainly came before I was ready. I'd rather not see the same thing happen to you."

Amelia nodded. "Don't worry, I'll let you know the moment I notice anything." She lay her hand over her stomach, feeling for the little life she knew was within. As it had been from the start, Amelia felt nothing out of the norm. She only wished she knew if that was perfectly normal, but without any reason to suspect her quiet baby, Amelia just went along with it.

It took some time, but eventually Lina was recovered enough to leave her bed behind. She then made up for lost time by regaining her previous stamina, namely by bustling about the kitchen. That is, when little Leon allowed for it. It seemed with each new day his appetite grew, as such that Lina was left feeling exhausted trying to keep up with the kid.

After talking it over with Gourry, the two had decided to take little Leon back to the local healer, just to make sure he was doing alright. Lina didn't want to leave Amelia by herself, but Amelia was to the point where she wasn't moving about much herself. Amelia assured them she would be fine for the few hours they would be gone, which appeased Lina enough that she and Gourry, with little Leon in tow, left at first light.

Amelia watched the small family disappear down the path from the doorway. She grimaced, despite herself. She wanted to eat breakfast, but her stomach seemed upset this morning. It would ache terribly, then die off for a time. Amelia wasn't quite sure what to think of it, but she dared not eat anything in case it was another bout of the horrible sickness she'd gone through months ago.

"Water," she thought, "I ought to drink some water at least." Amelia stepped toward the pail they kept water in for cooking, but frowned when she realized it was empty. Amelia sighed, but resigned herself to pick up the pail to get more water from the nearby stream. At least fresh water was close at hand.

The early morning greeted her with the usual birdsong, and a slight breeze both chilled and invigorated her. Amelia smiled. Despite her upbringing, she just found it invigorating being out in the natural world. She walked quietly to the stream, taking in the new day. Once she reached the stream, she knelt down to dip the pail in the water.

The pail never made it.

Amelia suddenly doubled over, feeling extreme pain. Unable to stop herself, she collided with the soft earth below, the pail falling uselessly to the ground nearby. At that moment, all she could hear was her heart beating in her ears, and the sound of her ragged breathing. As she tried to make sense of what had just happened, she was again overwhelmed with intense pain. She gripped the earth with her fingers, her fingernails digging into the dirt as she let out a cry of pain.

Amelia tried to keep calm, panic quickly taking over her senses. She had to get up, she had to get back to the house! She needed...she needed help that wouldn't be there! The panic finally won out, the world spinning about her as Amelia gave in to the intense pain. Time crawled to a stop, the only constant being her racing heart, and the pain that refused to go away.

Amelia tried to calm herself once more, tried to focus on the house she needed to get back to, but all she could see was an ocean of green before her. Even that was being lost to the blackness invading her vision, threatening to take over.

She wasn't aware of it, but her cries of pain had not stopped. She writhed in agony.

"Calm down, you need to calm down. Slow your breathing."

Amelia focused on the voice, doing what she could to obey. Her heart gradually calmed, even though the pain would not. She felt something grip her hand, Amelia responding in kind. Still unable to tell what was going on around her, Amelia did what she could to make the pain stop. With one last sharp stab, the pain finally released her from its grip.

Bleary eyed, Amelia became aware once more of the green ocean around her, before her head fell back to the earth. What happened after only came to her in snatches, but eventually she felt the stiff ground leave as she settled down onto something soft. Something small was tucked under her arms.

"Alexia..."

It was almost a blessing when Amelia felt herself falling into unconsciousness.

Zelgadis looked down at his sleeping companion, still in shock. The object of his shock stared silently back at him, already unnerving in itself, but even more with a look he had seen countless times from his own reflection. He continued to stare down at the baby.

He needed answers.

Pacing about a moment longer, Zelgadis returned to Amelia's side, brushing her hair gently from her face. The baby continued to stare silently. Zelgadis couldn't help but smirk in response.

"Take care of her, Alexia."

With that, he was gone.

To be continued...

Next time: Gourry paused. "Something isn't right,"

Author's notes: This part, and this part alone has vexed me for a long time. For the longest time I wasn't sure how to write Amelia giving birth since I wanted Zelgadis to be there, but I didn't want her to remember him being there since, among other things, she could get him to stay. And yes, I think we'd all want him to stay, but he's not yet finished the role I'm having him play, which will come to light later.

And now, fun with names. I've planned on Amelia giving birth to a little girl for a while now, but I was having a heck of a time with choosing a name. "Alexia" came to me the other day, and I really like the sound of it. Plus, it means "defender," which adds to what Zelgadis said before he left. As to why Zelgadis had a name for the baby? It wasn't my original intent, but when it came time to write his departure, it just seemed right for Zelgadis to name her.

Also, back to the start of the chapter, I've always suspected Lina would be a good mother. Maybe given her penchant for cute animals and the like, it just seemed right she would likewise dote on kids. Lets be thankful little Leon has a sweet disposition, however, as it may help him live to adulthood!