I'm sorry it took so long to get this out! I've had so much trouble with my writing, it's been hard trying to get anything at all finished...
Anyway, I hope that it pleases you, even if it is a bit short! Things will pick up from now on!
Chapter 49
Blue or Blooming
Days turned into weeks, and Head didn't return. Anna was unusually quiet, even for her, and Nuada desperately wished he could break her out of it. He knew that she was scared someone would come to take her away. He also knew that he would never allow it to happen, and, as much as he hated to admit it, the red demon had been right. If the bureau tried anything, he could go public. It would be so easy for him to contact all of his acquaintances, especially since Nuala was not confined to the bureau like he was.
It was only when a few more weeks passed and Anna became sick one morning, that his concern escalated. He had hoped that time would calm her fears of being taken away. She had settled enough for them to continue training, and for her to spend time with the firestarter.
For the week or two after the Washington agent had left, Anna had been too anxious to relax enough to enjoy their lovemaking. When she had begun to enjoy it again, Nuada had been ecstatic. In his long life, 14 small days was nothing, but he had dearly missed being able to feel and hear her come apart in his arms as he lovingly pleasured her.
It was during a morning sojourn that she had fled from him and into the bathroom to vomit. She had tried to assure him that it was nothing, that she might have eaten something that disagreed with her. When she hadn't been sick for the rest of the day, he had considered her explanation to be correct. Until the following morning, when she was sick again.
When it happened for a third morning, he insisted on Nuala taking a look at her. As it was, the blue fishman was with her and they both came to the same conclusion. Anna was pregnant.
"You are sure?" Nuada asked Nuala.
"Certain. I would guess she is around six weeks," Nuala said brightly.
Anna was shocked. She hadn't said a word since Nuala had announced her findings. She had remained quiet while they had walked back to their rooms, and Nuada worried that she was unhappy with being pregnant. He had to admit, he was mildly shocked himself. Procreation was usually a conscious decision for the fey, meaning that they could avoid pregnancies if they were not required at any particular time. It was a bodily control that all of his kind had mastered long ago. Although, he supposed that such a thing might not work so effectively with a human.
He watched her for a long moment as she sat down on the bed and stared at her hands. He'd never given much thought to having children himself, but now that it was happening, he knew that it was the right thing to happen.
"Anna? Are you feeling well?" Nuada asked softly as he sat down next to her.
"Hmm? Oh, yes I'm okay…" she answered, her gaze somewhat guarded.
"Are you not happy about the baby?"
"Oh, I am! I just thought… maybe you wouldn't be that happy…"
"How could I not be happy?"
"I'm… I'm not… Elf…"
"You thought I would be unhappy because you are not an Elf?" he asked.
"I thought maybe you'd want your child to be an Elf. Elf royalty, or something," she explained.
"I am hardly considered royalty these days. And, even if I was, it would not matter. It is still my child, my blood. Nothing is more important than that."
Anna smiled and stroked her stomach. "How come you couldn't tell?"
"My sister was always more gifted at reading such things. It was not an ability I took the time to learn, though I am sure the potential was there. I was… I am… first and foremost, a warrior. I was encouraged to develop my physical skills, not my mental ones. Perhaps I should have learned both. One day I might," he said as he pulled her onto the bed fully and settled against the head board.
"What do you think they will do, when they find out about the baby?"
"They?"
"The Washington people," Anna said, chewing her lip in worry.
"They will do nothing. As I have told you, I will not allow anyone to harm you, and certainly not our child. The red demon is right. We could 'go public', as he said, if they try to do anything underhanded. It is not in their interest to risk exposure. It would negate anything they are trying to achieve, although what that is, I am unsure of," Nuada explained, resting his hand upon stomach.
"I guess not. I guess we can't really know unless they do something."
"I do know this; you will not be going on any missions from now on," Nuada stated.
"Why not?"
"Because it could endanger our child. Even at such a young age. We have no way to know what the growth will do to your body. It may tire you more than it would normally. You need to conserve your strength, and I will have Nuala procure some herbs for you to help with anything you will need."
"I'm going to go stir crazy being stuck in here!"
"Oh, I'm sure we could find something to occupy your thoughts," Nuada said, smirking as he lay her down and slid a hand up her skirt.
Anna feebly tried to protest as he undressed her, weakly claiming that it might harm the baby, but in truth she knew that it wouldn't, and she moaned as he settled between her legs and pleasured her slowly, drawing out every soft cry he could manage.
A/N: I will endeavour to get another chapter out as soon as possible!
