Before...

The morning that Cahir was set to leave, before all of this happened. Gretchen had straddled his skinny hips, having mounted his erect penis, and was currently slowly lifting herself up and down on his swollen shaft. Completely naked, Gretchen no longer cared about her scars, or naked body. Cahir and herself had been making love nonstop, and the things she had been feeling building up within her body she didn't even think was possible. Working up a good frantic rhythm, she had both hands planted firmly on his chest. His own hands firmly holding onto her hips as she continued swaying, feeling the same exploding feeling overcome her. Back arching, she shuddered as she began to cry out. Hair hanging down in strands, she continued shaking before the same numbing tingling feeling built from her loins, all the way up into her stomach. Gasping, she felt light headed, as she stared down at him, and saw himself ready to finish. Staring up, his blue eyes glazed over with passion, he firmly held her sides before his mouth opened in a breathless gasp. Suddenly she felt his manhood empty up inside of her. She felt the warmth spurt up inside of her, as it had several times last night, and earlier this morning. She had seen his penis close up less than an hour before, curious as she looked it over, resting in a tangled bush of dirty blond hair. When she touched it, she was reminded of the soft underbelly of of a pig. He had taken steady breaths, watching her as she stroked it, feeling him tense and draw in his breath. Now was sunlight started drifting in through the curtains. She closely watched his face, as his eyes were snapped shut, completely spent. Smiling, she leaned down, before gently laughing as she kissed his bare skin, trailing little kisses, all the way down to his stomach. Feeling his arm around her, his fingers gently stroked her two large scars going down her back. Tired, she worked her way off him, feeling the emptiness of him slipping out of her as well as the warmth spread on her inner thighs. Nuzzling up against him, she curled against his arm as he drew her in close. Lifting her head, she stared at him, closely studying his face, his high cheekbones, his strong jawline, the little mole near his chin, the bump near his temple, his eyebrows, his smooth skin. Everything about him was perfect.

"Do you really have to leave?"

Cahir sighed, staring down at her.

"I wish I didn't have to, but the faster I deal with our camps being set up throughout the North. Then we shall be together."

Gretchen sighed drumming her fingers against his flat stomach.

"You return safe to me."

Cahir leaned down kissing her head.

"That my darling is a promise. When I return, I plan on filling you with my seed and making the most beautiful child that's ever existed."

The thought of becoming a mother actually absolutely terrified her. To Gretchen, she still felt like a child herself. The very idea of carrying, let alone giving birth frightened her. Still, after having these past few hours, having Cahir show her there was nothing to be ashamed of when it came to her body, and taught her that making love wasn't this filthy thing like she believed it had been after living at the whore house. Here was a man who treated her like a real woman...a lady in fact. Staring at him with complete wonder, she could see herself having a child with Cahir, mostly if It had it's father's good looks. In fact, the very idea of carrying Cahir's child absolutely excited her. Maybe she would make a good mother, love her child the way she always wanted to be love. She knew if Cahir was even remotely was good of a father as he had so far been as a husband, she would have a family only people would dream of. Staring across the room, she saw her beautiful glittering back wedding gown, hung up on the back of the wardrobe. Staring at it, she knew the ceremony would continue to repeat over and over in her mind. Cahir dressed in armor, looking handsome, kneeling beside her, promising to stand by her side throughout it all...

Little did both of them know that in just a few hours this "perfect" so called life would become shattered. She would first say goodbye to her husband, and in less than ten minutes later she would be screaming in pain as her eyes turned red, and she felt her body begin to ache, and be torn apart as she started to transform. In less than a few days, everything was flipped upside down. She was forced out of what she believed would be her new home and family. She was forced on the run, before becoming face to face with Geralt of Rivia. She knew his concern, and protection was fake. All part of a spell, a stupid spell that accidentally happened all because of a foolish elf, a mixed up bottle, and some blood due to a broken bottle. She knew he was different, not like those terrible stories she had heard about other Witchers. He had saved her, much like she had saved him, and he had been kind enough to rescue her and take her to the sorcerer. Her she was informed about her condition, and how the next few months remaining of her life would be lonely and painful ones. All because her poor mother, whoever she was had been raped by some creature, her life was cursed, and no mater what potions she used to slow the process, and dull the pain, nothing would stop what was happening. She would fully transform, and finally those aches, scars, and blood feathers would take hold. She would transform into a raven, trapped inside an animal's form.

But she wouldn't allow that to happen.

No, she wouldn't. She would end it before it came to that. As for Geralt, she appreciated everything he had done, but she knew this would only be extra baggage. A Witcher's life was a lonely was dangerous one. Even though he seemed different, she knew the faster she fell, the faster the spell would break and he would be on his way. Still, there was so much pain behind those glowing eyes. She saw the pity in them when the sorcerer explained that her time wasn't long. She would stay by his side, and maybe he would help her when the time came. When they made love, it had been intense, and completely different than it had been with Cahir. She didn't want to believe her husband had joined his family in trying to hunt her down, but all signs pointed to it being true. The sex had been amazing, yet she felt guilty and empty at the end. Even though her ring was now gone, she still missed Cahir so badly she didn't think it was even possible. The very thought of never seeing him again broke her heart, but she knew Geralt was right. It was better to just leave it be. It was bad enough that Cahir had recused this plain little servant girl, knowing absolutely anything about her. He had brought this half-breed creature into his kingdom and family, nothing but shame and horror. She saw the hate in his father's face, and figured it was just as well. If she saw him again, and he attacked her, calling her a beast, it would break her heart. Why come back to him knowing what the ending had to be? He deserved a healthy normal wife and to simply forget about her. He deserved a normal wife, a happy marriage, and to make a healthy heir with a normal woman.

Little did she know, that durning that morning before he left her, when they made love for the last time, when he emptied his seed deeply inside of her...he had in fact made a child.

A child that was cursed much like herself...

Present...

Gretchen gagged on the side of the dirt road, unable to believe how badly her stomach hurt. She knelt there, feeling the burning sensation bubble from her throat as she spit, and felt the muscles in her stomach to arch as she continued to vomit again, feeling it splatter into the tall grass. Geralt had stopped, and tied Roach up who was chewing on some tasty grass across the dirt road. Sighing, he looked over at her concerned. Crossing the way, he sighed before grabbing the water canteen, before reaching her and kneeling down beside her. Spitting, Gretchen took a second before staring up at him embarrassed. Geralt smirked, before reaching and gently picking a long stand of her hair that had fallen in her face and tucked it behind her ear. Handing her the canteen, Gretchen nodded gratefully before tilting it back, swishing the water in her mouth before leaning over and spitting. After another second, she took after gulp, this time swallowing. Sighing, she stared at him.

"Thanks..."

Geralt sighed before staring at her.

It had nearly been a week since they were traveling. Gretchen had kept up, and proved herself even though Geralt absolutely refused for her to help if he took any minor jobs while passing through. He told her even though they had made a good distance out of the Nilfgaardian areas. He had accepted two small jobs, killing trolls, and a creature he informed Gretchen didn't have a name but had been slaughtering cattle near some farmland. Both times he had strictly ordered her to stay away watching Roach by the campfire as he killed the creatures. Each time he returned, eyes still back from his potion, which he had explained to Gretchen one night as they huddled together staring up at the star lit sky were elements that Witchers used. He showed her several of them, all of which he knew by heart on how to make. Gretchen listened as he explained the effects of them, and how they only worked for his kind and his kind only. The dark liquid had healing properties as well as gave him strength whenever he needed it.

Gretchen had raised an eyebrow at this and gave one of his large muscular arms which were laying beside her a squeeze.

"More strength than you all ready have?"

Geralt chuckled lightly and shook his head.

"Sometimes even for Witchers you need a little something extra."

"Can't talk you into...perhaps letting me help."

Geralt shook his head.

"You need to save your potions, beside...when I drink those it doesn't hurt. When you transform, even a little...I can see the pain even if you try to tell me he doesn't."

Gretchen had stared at her normal hand, her slim fingers and sighed before Geralt reached up, taking her hand with his own, his massive hand swallowing hers as he laced the fingers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Slowly he brought it over to his lips and gave her hand a small kiss. Smiling, she turned over towards him, snuggling in for warmth and fell asleep listening to his slow beating heart. Days later when he returned with a dead creature, his eyes were dead black, as he threw the dead corpse of the creature that looked to be a cross between a wolf and a horse. Throwing it down, he let out a deep breath, before Gretchen stood up surprised grabbing an old tarp that Geralt rolled up on the back of Roach to drape over the body. Geralt watched her, before he smiled.

"You aren't frightened of my eyes?"

Gretchen looked up, having just been squatting staring at the dead creature before finishing covering it and standing up. Walking over she cocked her head before shrugging and reaching and rubbing his chest with her hands over his leather shirt.

"I've seen worse."

Laughing, Geralt scooped her up spinning her around causing her to laugh. That night they made love again by the fire. Geralt roughly thrusted into her as she clung onto him, legs wrapped around his bare ass as she moaned with pleasure, clutching onto him and running her hands through his long white hair. Afterwards, Geralt showed her something that she had begun to explore with Cahir durning their wedding night. Geralt stood up, his leather pants pooled around his ankles and boots. He had instructed Gretchen to kneel, and take his penis into her mouth. At first Gretchen didn't think she could. Geralt was much larger than Cahir. By the time they had finished making love, Gretchen was exhausted with pleasure, sweating despite the cold weather outside. Turning over, she hiked herself up on an elbow she smiled at him, happy to see his beautiful amber eyes had returned back to normal. Smiling, she traced some of his cars with her finger.

"That was amazing..."

"Humm..."

Geralt said in a lazy satisfied voice. Laughing, Gretchen stared at him.

"What can I do? I want...to make you feel pleasure."

Geralt raised an eyebrow, and less than ten minutes later he had stood and told her what to do. When his penis first entered her mouth, she nearly gagged not thinking she could take his length as it touched the back of her throat. Eyes widening in panic, her hands fluttered like birds against his hips, when he stared down, his long white hair hanging down.

"Breathe through your nose, easy..."

He said in a low voice. Gretchen nodded slightly, before trying to relax her throat as she took the full length of him in her mouth. Really having no idea what she was doing, she took a second before she started running her tongue up and down his shaft. Geralt grunted, closing his eyes and instantly she knew it was working. Hearing herself slurp, she licked and sucked, before remembering those few nights and mornings of passion with Cahir. She missed him so badly, but after that night with his father, she hated to believe that maybe he was disgusted with her, hunting her like an animal. As hard as it was, she rather remember him before everything came crashing down. He had recused her, and treated her like a real lady. For however long she would be alive, she would be grateful to him, and remember him as her husband who loved her, and made her into a woman. She rather he never see her again, she might sicken him, but at least those few days they spent she would like to believe they loved a lifetime's worth. She intended on ending her life before she finally changed. She counted herself lucky she had Geralt by her side, but even though she knew he was a good man, and saw the human side of him. She knew it was mostly the spell, but when the time came, she was certain he would be the one to put her out of her misery. She cared deeply for him, but she would never admit, he would never have that special place in her heart like Cahir did.

She bobbed her head, before suddenly he grunted, his ass tightening as he suddenly climaxed. She felt the warm fluid shoot into her mouth and for a second she didn't think she could keep it all in her mouth. She faintly heard him tell her to swallow it, as she gulped the salty tasting liquid as it dripped down her throat. After a second, she was able to breath, and drew back her head, a small trail of her spit and his semen dribbling down her chin. Staring down, his sex softening, Geralt grinned down at her. Reaching down, he wiped her chin with his hand, before leaning down and kissing her forehead.

"Good girl..."

Now a few days later they had continued to travel. Both just headed North. Gretchen would ride on Roach with Geralt as they rode in silence, looking at the land unfold before them. Last night after washing up in a stream, Gretchen suddenly felt light headed. She had sat down quickly, feeling her stomach twist before she felt suddenly ill. Geralt was by her side, asking if she was alright? He brushed her hair back, but Gretchen shrugged it off. Having caught a rabbit, he roasted it over the fire but when Gretchen went to eat she felt her stomach twist again. She barley touched any, and found herself sleeping heavy that night, curled up against Geralt. When he woke up, she still felt exhausted. Besides a little pain in her back, she hadn't felt any changes, and the night she had helped with her hand, the talons bursting through her flesh, hearing the bones crack, and feeling the skin burst had been one of the most painful things she had felt. Still, this was something else...

She hoped she wasn't getting sick, but it felt strange.

She had actually hurt her muscles in her stomach after vomiting. Staring at Geralt's amber glowing eyes, she knew something was wrong. Sitting, she stared at him.

"What is it?"

Geralt looked at her, his brow wrinkling slightly.

"I need to tell you something."

Gretchen stared at him.

"What?"

Geralt sighed before digging into his side pocket and producing a small glass bottle. Gretchen looked at it and made a face.

"Us and glass bottles...not exactly a great pairing. What is this another spell?"

"No. I got this along with the coin I received in the last village we were in by the local Madge. This is your choice Gretchen, but I think in a few days you're going to see what's wrong and there isn't much time to act. This is your choice...and yours alone."

Gretchen took the small bottle and stared up at him and she juggled it between her two hands.

"I know what this is. Some of the girls at the whore house were given these. It gives you...a miscarriage without having an abortion. These are expensive. The madam would only allow the girls to buy these if they paid for it themselves. Am I pregnant?"

Geralt looked guilty before Gretchen stared up at him.

"You said...Witchers are sterile. You didn't get me pregnant...so it's..."

"Your husband's. Half breed skin walkers like yourself...it's a magical pregnancy. There are several different breeds like yourself. Especially your kind. I'm sure your mother gave birth maybe...less than a month after she was raped. It's what the sorcerers call an escalated pregnancy. Most don'y survive it. Most of the babies don't make it. Gretchen, you have a leveled head. You know the simple sad facts if the card you were dealt. You know your time is short. If you agree to have keep this baby you need to know the risks. It might quicken your transformation. There are healers and sorcerers we can find, but there are limits you can do..."

"And then what? Either I die having it, or survive and live a few months. You aren't responsible for me...or this child. What do I do? Leave it someplace like my poor mother did? No...I this baby didn't ask to continue this bloodline and be born a monster. I wish my mother had gotten rid of me. Instead I lived seventeen miserable years being beaten and abused. For less than a week I had a little taste of happiness, and now I'm traveling with you. Geralt you are a wonderful man...not a Witcher, but a man. I know you are a good person, but at the end of every day...it comes down to it being just a spell."

"Gretchen..."

Gretchen held up her hand.

"I'm not playing the victim. It's the truth. I can drink potions to numb my pain and slow it down, but...in the end I'm dying and I refuse to change. I don't know what my mother did, but her biggest mistake was not putting me out of my misery. I'm exhausted Geralt, and even though I have forever grateful to not spend what little time I have left alone, my heart breaks for my lost marriage. I miss him so much...I remember when he first took me away from the whore house he mentioned me bearing his heir and the very thought frightened me. Now I wish more than ever I was just a normal girl. That I would be sitting bored with his mother and sisters, day dreaming...but still very much safe and loved. I wish I could carry a normal baby, let it be a boy or a girl. I would love to give birth and become a mother. Have a child that was half me and half Cahir. A result of the two of us. I would have loved to have dozens of his children, raise them and love them...but instead this is density just showing me how cruel it can be. I know this child won't be normal. If it does survive and I give birth to it, it's another turned over hour glass...a clock ticking away until it too begins to transform and have whatever life it deserved ripped away. Knowing Chair made a child that's inside of me breaks my heart because of how badly I want it...but I know it's only going to end in misery. I won't allow it, nor ever let him...wherever he is know. So again Geralt, thank you for being my guardian angel. Killing this baby will destroy me, because it's part of my husband who I mourn until I die...but it's the right thing to do. So thank you."

She used her free hand to squeeze his. Geralt sighed before grunting.

"Are you sure?"

Nodding, Gretchen nodded, staring up at the tall trees, tears rimming her eyes.

"Yes..."

"I'll make camp, you'll have to rest for at least a day or so. I'll be by you throughout it."

Gretchen sniffled before nodding.

"Thank you."

Later...

Gretchen sat by the fire, Geralt sitting beside her as she took a deep breath and stared at the tiny glass bottle.

"Will I bleed?"

Geralt nodded.

"Yes."

Gretchen nodded before carefully slipping off her boots and slacks. She took a small fur blanket Geralt traveled with and draped it over her lap, She was no longer embarrassed by her body, and prepared for whatever was going to happen. Geralt said she shouldn't waste her potions on this, instead he had mixtures to help with the pain. He offered her water, and now sitting by the campfire, she was ready to kill the baby she had just learned about less than a few hours before.

From what Geralt explained, she would be of full term by the end of the month. Right now she was roughly maybe two months. More signs of the pregnancy would begin to show if she waited any longer. Knowing it was now or never, she closed her eyes and tried to summon Cahir's face. Each night she laid wearing his clothes, smelling his scent less and less. She hated thinking about him so much, mostly since she had began sleeping with Geralt. Still, she missed him, and loved him, hating that this was how their story ended. She tried to think of what this child would be like had it been born of a pure bloodline. A beautiful baby with his sparking blue eyes. She thought of it, feeling her chest ache before knowing this was simply a mercy killing. Not opening her eyes she whispered...

"Forgive me Chair. I hope you can have a child with a woman who deserves one, not a creature like me..."

Geralt sighed at this as she tilted the sour tasting liquid and swallowed it with one gulp. Once it was gone, she opened her eyes staring at the flicking flames and sighed. She turned towards Geralt, silent tears running down her face. Nodding, she tossed the glass bottle into the fire.

"That's that."

Geralt sighed before Gretchen sighed staring at her empty hands.

"This is for the best. I never thought I would want to be a mother, but...had things been differently. Had I been...born normal, I would have wanted nothing more than to have a baby with Cahir. He would have made a wonderful father. Sadly...this wasn't in the cards."

"You aren't a creature Gretchen, and you're doing the right thing."

Gretchen nodded sadly before she looked up at him.

"Had...you not...been made a Witcher. Would you have wanted a family?"

Geralt thought for a second before he shrugged.

"Not sure, maybe...it's hard to think of something that's impossible. Years back...I was given the the Law of Surprise and...well...I'm indebted to a child."

"What?!"

Sighing, Geralt never told many about this. Instead, he knew the potion would start taking affect soon, as would the blood and pain. Wanting to take her mind off it, he sighed and began to tell her the story of how he came to be told he would be given a child. He told her the entire thing, actually feeling guilty by the end as she listened. Sighing he finished his story and saw how pale she was. He suspected the first cramps were beginning to take hold.

"Am I awful?"

Gretchen shook her head.

"No, it seemed density decided to have a good laugh on you. I think you've done the right thing. Why take an innocent child from its parents?"

"Do you believe in density?"

"Maybe...if it is true, man...she's a bitch with what she's done to me."

Geralt chuckled before Gretchen cocked her head staring at him.

"Will you ever see the child?"

Geralt sighed staring at the fire.

"Not sure...if our paths cross perhaps, but...the life of a Witcher is a dangerous and lonely one. Not one to raise a child."

"I think you would have a wonderful father Geralt. Sadly...the stars just aren't for us reproducing."

Geralt smirked, before the first cramp came. Geralt watched her, suddenly sitting up, eyes filled with concern as Gretchen bit down on her bottom lip, hissing in pain. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she snapped her eyes shut as a horrible wave of cramps began from inside. Pushing away any thoughts of the fact she was losing Cahir's baby that he had put inside of her for that brief time they had been married. She thought of him taking her virginty, maybe it had been that time? She remembered the flushed look on his face as the warmth filled her. Somehow in those few days, they had made a child. Now out of a mercy killing, she was killing his baby. She wondered if this half breed creature like herself would have been a boy or a girl? Thinking of that image of a beautiful baby, she forced it away as she felt thick warmth begin to seep between her legs and dribble down. Lifting the fur blanket slightly, she stared down and let out a half choked sob.

"Fuck..."

She said as she reached down, touching as more thick syrup like blood continued to flow out of her. Raising her hand, covered in blood she stared at it, knowing her body was voiding of Cahir's child. Feeling tears rolling down her face, she let out another choked sob before Geralt gathered her gently against him, allowing her to lay her head against his large shoulder. Crying in both pain and heartbreak, she sat there with Geralt, continuing watching the fire.

Elsewhere...

Cahir knelt down, dressed in his amor. He couldn't believe it. The changes were one in a million. Plucking it off the frost covered ground, he stared at it and held it between his leather gloved fingers.

Gretchen's wedding ring.

He stared at it in disbelief.

He couldn't believe it.

She was out there, somewhere...he knew it.

His father hadn't spoken a word to him, and he was no longer living at home. He knew people had been talking, but he no longer cared. He was climbing ranks with the Nilfgaardian army, and spent every waking moment still searching for his bride.

Seeing her wedding ring, he knew he would have the dogs search for a body. Still, he figured had she been killed whoever did this would have taken the ring. Slowly rising, cape flapping in the cold wind he glared at it. Suddenly something seemed "off". His blue narrow eyes slowly lifted up at the sky. He stared at the moon, and felt something was wrong.

Gretchen was alive, he knew it...but sensed something was wrong. Wherever she was, she needed him. He would find her, he promised himself.