Again, my thanks go to all my readers and especially pallysdeeks!
Tauriel asked herself why they called it mornig sickness when she experienced it almost all day long.
It was her lunch break and she was emptying her stomach into the toilet pan. Again. She already had had to vomit after getting up this morning and then, after she had arrived at school.
She was now about eight weeks pregnant and this afternoon she would have her first ultrasound! Of course, when she made the appointment, she totally forgot about the staff meeting after classes, but since the doctor advised her to do the first ultrasound between week six and eight (after the positive pregnancy test she already went to her gynaecologist for a blood test which confirmed that she was indeed pregnant), she was glad that it was possible for her to get this appointment on short notice.
Some of her colleagues, however, were not. When she told the headmaster about her dilemma, he was very understanding, reassuring her (after congratulating her) that her and her baby's health were the first priority. So, she was allowed to not go to the staff meeting but to her doctor's appointment.
But she didn't want her colleagues to know about her pregnancy this early and some of them openly wondered why she didn't have to attend the meeting whereas they had to.
Tauriel didn't care.
She would meet Fíli and Kíli at the gynaecologist since they wanted to be there as well. But before she could go to her car, she had to visit the bathroom again, retching dryly since her stomach was still empty (she hadn't tried to eat again since breakfast, only drinking some herbal tea, fearing that she wouldn't be able to keep any food down).
And then, when she left the building, a surprise was in store for her. Kíli!
He was waiting in front of the building, his hands behind his back, grinning like a Cheshire Cat when he spotted her. "Hey, Tauriel!" he called for her. She hadn't been expecting him. "Hi, what are you doing here?" she asked. Kíli simply shrugged his shoulders, then kissed her tenderly, before pressing something into her hands. It was a small yellow box with a blue ribbon tied around it. Astonished, she smiled at him, raising an eyebrow. "For me? Why?" Kíli shrugged again, simply saying, "Open it. Then you'll know!" So, with shaking hands Tauriel untied the ribbon, lifting the top of the box. Inside, there was a small, light blue plush bunny. "Oh, Kíli, that's so sweet," she whispered, embracing him tightly. Kíli giggled. "I'm glad you like it! But actually it's for the little one. I asked in the toy shop whether they had something for newborns. They showed me several plushies. I liked the bunny best," he explained.
She broke the embrace, again looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "But why is it blue?" she asked. He smiled smugly at her. "Remember my dream? I'm sure it's a boy!" Tauriel smiled back, before kissing him. "Well, we'll see about that... Fíli and I feel that it's a girl... by the way, where is he?" Kíli shrugged. "Maybe already waiting for us at the gynaecologist, or in front of the building. I asked him to drop me here so that I can surprise you!" Tauriel closed the box again, then she used her free hand to let her fingers run through his blackish-brown, wavy hair, untangling a few strands.
"That you accomplished indeed! But let's go now, I don't want to be late for my appointment. After all, it will be the first time we can see our baby!" Kíli kissed her one last time before taking her hand into his, leading her over to her car. Luckily, it was only a ten-minute drive and they immediately found free parking space.
Fíli was indeed waiting for them in front of the building. "Finally! Do you know how many women sent me suspicious or angry glances before going inside or after coming out because I'm standing here? They surely think I'm a creep and have bad intentions!" Kíli rolled his eyes, but Tauriel smiled sympathetically at him. "I'm sorry. But you could have just waited with Kíli..." Fíli shook his head. "Nay, I felt that it was something he had to do alone, being his idea to buy something and all, and besides, I don't have anything for you, so..." He just shrugged.
Tauriel embraced him as well. "It's okay. Though a pink counterpart to support our assumption would have been nice!" Fíli chuckeld before kissing her. "Shall we go inside now?" he asked. Tauriel nodded. Fíli wrapped his arm around her shoulders while Kíli took her hand. They entered the surgery like this, heading straight for the reception.
The receptionist was on the phone, so they had to wait until Tauriel could announce that she was here for her appointment. Of course, they had to go to the waiting room first. And, of course, Fíli and Kíli were the only men there. When they sat down, Fíli on her right, Kíli on her left, Tauriel noticed that the other women (a young mother with a toddler on her lap and a pale, pregnant teenager) sent them curious glances.
Tauriel didn't care.
She was so excited! Smiling to herself, she absentmindedly placed a hand on her still flat belly. Soon it would be as round as the teenager's. "How far?" the young mother suddenly asked. Tauriel looked up. "Excuse me?" The woman smiled. "How far into the pregnancy are you?" she asked again. Tauriel was surprised. "How do you know..." The woman pointed to Tauriel's hand, still placed on her lower abdomen. "The gesture, it's typical. And you have that certain glow about you..." Tauriel smiled back. "Oh, well, it must be about eight weeks." The woman just nodded, saying "Congratulations, then!" Tauriel thanked the woman, happy about the fact that she didn't ask her about her relationship to Fíli (whose arm was still wrapped around her shoulders) and Kíli (who was still holding her hand).
Then, the teenager was called by a nurse and led to one of the different surgeries. Ten minutes later, the young mother was also called by the same nurse and was told to leave her child in the waiting room to play with the toys in one corner of the room, but looked unsure about this arrangement. "We'll have an eye on him," Tauriel promised and the woman smiled thankfully at her. "See? That's another omen for our little one being a boy!" Kíli said triumphantly. Fíli and Tauriel exchanged a look. "Didn't know you were supersticious, little brother," Fíli commented. Kíli stuck out his tongue, but didn't respond.
Tauriel ignored their banter, watching the toddler. He was a sweet little thing, about two years old with dark-blond curls and grey-blue eyes, wearing a white shirt and blue dungarees, building a small tower from toy blocks. Every time the tower reached a certain height, it collapsed, causing the little boy to make a frustrated sound. Tauriel smiled. Soon they could watch their own child building towers with toy blocks, no matter whether it would be a boy or a girl. Finally, Kíli took pity on him, helping him to build the tower (and this time it didn't collapse on its own, only when the boy destroyed it on purpose laughing happily).
Then the mother came back, thanking them for watching over Benny (that was the boy's name) and it was Tauriel's turn to be led to the surgery. The nurse looked confused when both Fíli and Kíli followed Tauriel, but remained quiet.
Tauriel was thankful for that.