You get 3 today. Also, sorry to those who have been complaining about the speed at which this story is going. I will be doing some time skips until big moments. I don't want this story to be more than 30 chapters but who knows, it's my story and I will do what I want with it.
We woke up the next morning and said our goodbyes to Osman and he congratulated us on our "celebratory" reunion, making Helia and I both turn a shade of beet red. Helia packed the carriage and we were soon off, back to London with the final piece of the puzzle that would bring us back to Magix and to our friends. There was still, however, the question of who I was meant to save but I felt that whoever it was, it had to be something important or tragic.
We made our way through the continent, once again looking at the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. Helia took out a sketchbook and began to draw what he saw around him. I leaned against Helia's shoulder, doing my best to find some peace and rest on the bumpy journey back.
We arrived to the docks on the western end of France two days later after a nonstop ride, waiting to take the short boat ride across the channel and back to London. I once hated the grey of the city but now I found relief. It was familiar and filled with allies like Oscar and Alfred. People that understood us and we understood them in a time that most people didn't.
"Welcome back!" Oscar greeted us as we stepped off the boat and onto dry land once again.
I quickly dropped my things and ran into Oscar's arms, overcome with joy to see his happy face. Oscar removed one arm from around me to extend his hand out to Helia's for a welcoming handshake.
"So, did you get what you needed to get?" Oscar asked as he pulled away from the hug and looked at Helia and I whilst taking our bags.
"Yes, we did. It is in Helia's suitcase." I informed Oscar, linking my arm with Helia's as we made our way to the large black carriage.
"Wonderful! You will be back home before you know it. I am going to miss you two." Oscar smiled down at us.
"We will miss you too, Oscar." Helia replied as we entered the carriage.
"I still have my task to complete though and I am not sure that will be happening anytime soon." I sighed, placing my chin in my hand.
"Nonsense. It must happen soon. You were brought to this town on a specific day. The spirits would not make you wait long, hence their urgent request." Oscar waved away my worry with a swat of his hands. "Besides, there is no use worrying about the things that you cannot control."
"I...ugh...I guess." I clenched my stomach, pain contorting onto my face.
"Flora, are you alright?" Helia asked, placing a comforting arm around me.
"Yes, I am fine. I think that it was a cramp or maybe my stomach is readjusting to not being over the water anymore." I looked up smiling at Helia, the pain slowly subsiding.
"Are you sure?" Helia narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, I assure you that it is nothing that a nice lie down wouldn't solve."
"I agree," Oscar said, "you two should rest and have a quiet evening after your travels. Tomorrow you two can wake up, start the potion in one of the spare rooms and then we will organize a grand party for when it will be the time to return home."
"You sound a lot like my friend Stella." I giggled.
"Flora, my dear, the time is always right to have a night of festivities." Oscar smirked.
Yes, definitely like Stella.
I woke up the next morning, wrapped up in the arms of Helia. But there was a throbbing in my head and my stomach felt like it was doing cartwheels inside of me. I rapidly pushed the sleeping Helia off of me and ran to the pot in the middle of the room, emptying all of the contents of my stomach.
"Flora?" Helia groggily called out having woken up from my sudden departure from the bed.
I continued to vomit, it felt like I would never stop. It kept coming up.
I heard Helia's footsteps rapidly approaching behind me. One of his soft hands fell onto my hunched shoulder.
"Don't touch me." I growled through heaves. Helia's hand immediately retracted, hopefully understanding of my request.
It felt like an eternity that I was spent over the pot, but the sunlight still fell in the same spot on the wood floor. I backed away, wiping my mouth with the sleeve of my nightgown and leaned against the cool wall, sweat marking my brow.
Helia stood up and walked to the small vanity to grab a glass of water which I greatly accepted.
"Thank you, Helia." I sighed before taking a sip of the cool water.
"What's wrong, Flora?" Helia asked as he sat down next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
"I don't know. I wasn't feeling great last night but I woke up today and well, you saw what happened. I am feeling a lot better but now I am just tired and my head is killing me." I explained the best that I could. I felt weak and I don't know how I could make the potion today.
I rested my heavy head onto Helia's chest, his heartbeat providing a soothing and rhythmic sound.
"I don't know if I can make the potion today. I feel so weak." I sighed.
"I can always do it, Flora. Let this be my task while you rest and complete whatever it is that you were sent here to do."
"I guess." I stood up with the help of Helia. "Wake me up if you need any help."
"I can handle it." Helia chuckled tucking me under the covers of the bed.
"Just promise you will wake me up if something goes wrong." I softly pleaded, my eyelids becoming heavy.
"Yes, Flora. Now, get some sleep." he bent down and kissed my forehead and I soon fell into a deep slumber.
I woke up and looked out the window to find the setting sun and myself alone. Luckily my head was feeling better and there was no nausea. I stood up from the bed and grabbed the silk robe that was draped over the vanity chair.
I walked out of the room and followed a noise coming from behind a closed door. I opened the door to find Helia reading from the potion recipe book and adding the necessary ingredients. I walked into the room and made my way silently behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"I see that you are awake." Helia chuckled.
"You would be correct." I smiled into his back.
Helia spun around in my arms, "Are you feeling any better?"
"My head no longer hurts and I don't feel like I am going to vomit. But I don't feel 100% yet." I sighed.
"I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. I hated seeing you so sick this morning."
"It might just be something that I caught during our travels." I shrugged. Despite feeling awful this morning, I was not too worried about it. I felt fine now.
I looked over Helia's shoulders and over to the large steaming cauldron in the center of the room.
"How is everything going?" I asked as I walked toward the brewing potion.
"Fine but I have some bad news." Helia sighed.
"What is it?" I hope that it is nothing too bad.
"The potion won't be ready for two months." Helia looked down.
"Two months?!" I exclaimed.
"Well, there is no magic in this world for us to expedite the process and plus, it will give you time to do what you need to do." Helia said comfortingly as he snaked his arms around my waist.
"And what will you do when I am on this quest?" I asked.
"Try to keep you safe," Helia placed a kiss on my neck, "comfortable," another kiss below my jaw, "and happy." He placed a deep kiss on my lips.
"Are you sure that you are up to the task?" I asked, a smirk on my face.
"Definitely." Helia smiled as he brought his lips down to mine once again. However, a smell soon permeated my nose, causing my stomach to tighten in disgust.
"Oh my goodness, what is that smell?" I exclaimed as I quickly broke away from Helia.
"I think that is dinner being cooked. They are making your favorite, steamed vegetables in a curry sauce."
"It smells terrible. I think I am going to vomit again." I clenched my stomach.
"It smells like it always does." Helia replied walking over to the corner of the room and grabbing an empty trash bin.
I snatched the bin from Helia's hand and once again began to throw up. Luckily, I hadn't eaten anything that day so all that was coming up was liquid. I slid my back down the wall and buried my head between my legs, trying to overcome the dizziness.
"Flora, there is something wrong. Please go to the doctor tomorrow. You cannot focus on the mission when you are feeling like this."
"I am sure that I will be fine by tomorrow."
"And if you are not?" Helia raised an eyebrow.
"Then I will go to the doctors."
Helia placed a kiss on the top of my head, "Thank you. Now I think that you should head back to bed."
"But I am so hungry."
"I will bring you up some bread and there is water in our room." Helia smiled as he helped me to my feet for the second time that day. He walked me back to our room and left quickly to get bread from the kitchen, leaving me to take off my robe and climb into bed.
"Here you are, eat up." Helia said as he handed me a piece of bread and some water. I ate the bread and drank the water, savoring the taste and relishing in a full stomach. I never thought bread could taste so good.
"Get some sleep and I will be back up after dinner. I will see you in the morning and I hope that you will feel better by then."
"I hope so too."
"Goodnight, Flora." Helia placed a kiss on my cheek.
"Goodnight, Helia. Thank you for taking care of me today and brewing the potion." I weakly replied.
Helia walked out the room and once again, I was left to drift quickly into a deep slumber.
I awoke the next morning to the sound of chirping birds and Helia close by me. I stretched my arms and once again, I felt my stomach churn.
"Oh no." I sighed as I held my stomach and ran to my trusty pot in the corner of the room to empty the contents of my stomach from the night before. The smell of yeast filling the air and making me gag even more.
"Still sick I see." Helia knelt down beside me as he rubbed my back. "After you are done, wash your face and get dressed, we are going to the doctor's. This is more than a bug."
"I'm so sorry, Helia." I began to cry, my body crumbling under exhaustion.
"What are you sorry for?" Helia asked as he pulled me into a hug.
"I am supposed to be helping us get home and for the past few days all I have been is over emotional or throwing up. My body hurts and I am so exhausted." I sobbed.
"Shh shh shh," Helia rubbed his hand along my hair, "it is alright, you are sick and there is nothing that we could have done to prevent it. We will go to the doctor and do what he or she says to do. I am sure that there is a tea that you can drink to soothe your stomach. Now, we will get ready to go."
I stood up with the help of Helia and walked over to the vanity with the small pitcher and basin to wash my pale face. I looked in the mirror and saw Helia concentrate on getting ready. He looked concerned and I can't help but to feel so lucky that he is in my life.
"Are you going to get dressed or are you going to keep staring?" Helia laughed as he walked over towards me. I guess that I was in too much of a trance to notice that he had seen me watching him.
"Yes, help me with my corset again." I said getting up, trying to hide the blush on my cheeks. I walked over to the wardrobe and grabbed my corset, under slip, and dark purple dress. I took off my nightgown and put on the slip and walked over to Helia with my corset.
"Is this tight enough?" Helia asked as he pulled on the twine.
"Too tight, I feel it on my stomach and I really don't want to throw up...again."
"Whatever you want." Helia replied loosening the corset.
After Helia had laced up the corset, I walked over to the dark purple dress and placed it over my body.
"Why are the fabrics here so heavy?" I groaned. "I am burning up under here."
"Just take off the jacket." Helia gestured to the jacket as he buttoned his high collar.
"I am afraid that Victorian society would have a heart attack." But I unbuttoned the high collar, I don't think that a little neck could hurt anyone.
"Are you ready to go?" Helia asked as he threw his black jacket over his shoulder.
"Ready."
Helia and I walked down the crowded morning streets of London and I did my best not to vomit for the fourth time in two days but the smells were doing nothing to help.
"It is disgusting out here." I groaned.
"That I can agree with you on." Helia chuckled as he tightened his arm around mine.
"Are we almost there?" I asked, feeling my legs becoming weaker by the moment.
"According to the directions that Oscar gave me, we should be getting there right about..now."
We were now standing in front of a small building sandwiched in between two large grey buildings. There was a small plaque by the door 'Dr. Blackwell'.
"Before we enter, Oscar said to wear these." Helia handed me a dainty golden band. "I guess she doesn't take well to men and women together when they are not married. Also, according to the law, for me to be with you in a doctor's office, we have to be married." I took the small ring and placed it on my left ring finger before walking into the small office.
"Welcome, what can I do for you today?" an older woman walked out to greet us.
"Hello, Dr. Blackwell is it?" Helia asked earning a nod from the near elderly woman. "My wife has been under the weather for the past few days and we are hoping that you can look her over, just to make sure that there is nothing wrong."
"Ah yes, of course. Please, take a seat, I will be with you shortly. I have a little one in the back who took a little tumble and dislocated his shoulder."
Helia and I made our way to the empty bench in the office. Dr. Blackwell disappeared behind a pair of curtains and seconds later, there was a blood curdling cream followed by a whimper.
"Hey, this little boy wasn't as bad as the time that we had to pop back in Brandon's knee after training." Helia chuckled. I think that he must have seen my distressed face.
The elderly doctor came out leading the little boy with tear stained cheeks and his mother thanking the woman. After waving goodbye and giving the boy a piece of peppermint, she called back Flora and Helia.
"Now, Mr and Mrs..." Dr Blackwell searched for the words.
"Saladin, but please call me Flora." I answered as I hopped up on an exam table.
"Flora, what a lovely name. What seems to be the problem?"
"Well, for the past few days, I have been throwing up non-stop and when I am not throwing up, I am so tired and I feel so weak." I explained.
"Any tightness in the stomach? Tenderness?" Dr. Blackwell asked as she placed a slender hand on my stomach.
"Not unless I am throwing up."
"Any changes in mood?"
"I have been a little sensitive lately. Helia and I just made up from a stupid fight." I rolled my eyes remembering the fight we had in Istanbul.
"No fight is stupid but I understand." Dr. Blackwell smiled before scrunching her eyebrows. "Have you noticed any food sensitivities?"
"She threw up at the smell of her favorite dish last night." Helia interjeted. I glared at him, I could have answered it myself.
Dr. Blackwell gave a soft hum before reaching to the table of instruments beside her, picking up a device that looked like a solid, metal hourglass. She lifted my dress and placed the device under my corset and placed her ear to the other end. She held up a finger, demanding silence. She stared forward, concentrating on the task. Soon she pulled away and placed the device back where it was originally.
"I am about to ask you a certain question, you may want to send your husband out of the room."
"Helia you can stay. Please stay." I pleaded to him not knowing what the question would be or what the result of my answer would entail.
"Alright." Dr. Blackwell sighed. "Flora, when was the last time that you bled?"
My eyes went wide at the question and the answer that I was about to give. I looked over to Helia and I saw that his face was marred by confusion. Silly boys.
"Not since I got here." I looked at Dr. Blackwell.
"And that was?" She asked.
"Oh, about a month and a half ago."
"I would say that you are around 3 weeks along. Have you two...ahem." She cleared her throat.
Iceland. The Hot Spring. Our first time.
"It was our...honeymoon." I whispered in a state of disbelief.
"Then I will say that is your best bet. I trust that by the look on your husband's face that he has not quite caught on. I will give you two space and run to my storage room to give you something to help with the nausea. I also recommend fresh fruits and vegetables for your vitamins, if you don't eat meat I would suggest during this time to enjoy some fish and chicken, no alcohol and peppermint tea will soothe your stomach. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Saladin." Dr. Blackwell smiled down and stood up to head out of the room.
"Well?" Helia looked down at me.
"Helia, sit down." I said gesturing to the chair Dr. Blackwell was once sitting in.
"What is it?" Helia asked, his eyes widening and his brow furrowing. He grabbed my hand.
"Remember when we thought it was just a little bug?" I sighed.
"Yes."
"Well we were sort of correct." I nervously chuckled.
"Sort of? Is it worse than the flu?" Helia asked.
"Depends what you think about it. About me. About us." I looked down.
Helia placed his finger under my chin and pulled it up so that I was looking at him. Green meeting blue.
"Just tell me what it is." Helia begged, worry lacing his voice.
"I'm pregnant."