Gaia gets some news in this one, how's she gonna handle it?
Gaia moaned in pain as she shifted under the blankets. Finn was running his hands across her shoulders, trying to help her feel better. He felt bad for pressuring her the other day. She'd been sick for several days, and that night she was so tired must've been the beginning of it.
She whimpered lightly as she leaned against his chest.
He rubbed her back, "I'm sorry Gaia. Do you want something to drink?"
She nodded.
He slid out of the bed and went to the cafeteria.
When he reached the cafeteria, only Lilly, Kane and Spade were there. Breakfast was over, but the three of them were still eating.
Lilly looked up, "hello Infinite." She smiled, "we missed you and Gaia this morning."
He was taken aback at first, he'd grown used to being called Finn. That's what Gaia called him. He shook the surprise away and smiled lightly, "thanks."
"Is Gaia all right?" Asked the vixen.
"She's still sick, I came to get her a drink."
She stood up, "everything has been put away. I'll help you get her something." Then she turned to the boys, "wait here. I'll be back."
The two adults went into the kitchen area. "Is she sick to her stomach?" She asked while looking in the cabinet for a glass.
"Yes. She has been for several days now."
Lilly hummed in thought. "I know there's a tea that's good for stomach upset in here somewhere." She pulled out a metal tin of loose tea leaves, "here we go." She handed him the tin and a mug, "make this up. I'll find her a little something to nibble. She could use something in her stomach."
Quietly, he heated the water and added the tea leaves as she rummaged for something light for the wolf to eat.
She found a sleeve of crackers and a banana. Lilly sliced the fruit and set the food on a small plate.
"Thanks for your help," he said quietly.
The vixen looked at him with surprise. "You're welcome." A soft smile rested on her lips. He seemed softer than before. It seemed being with Gaia made him better.
"So, what made you decide to be with Gaia?" She asked after several minutes of silence.
"I care a lot about her," he said softly. "I don't feel I deserve her love. I've done so many bad things. But she waited for me. For literally years. I just wish I'd seen how special she was sooner."
"Better late then never right?" She picked up the plate, "let's go take this to her."
All four of the canines went to Gaia and Infinite's room. "You boys wait out here, try not to start any mischief."
Spade nodded, "we won't."
"Good." She patted his head. Infinite opened the door and she followed him inside.
Gaia was curled up in a little ball, holding her stomach.
"Gaia?" Lilly asked. "Are you ok?"
The red wolf wiped her eyes, "I don't know, I think so."
"Are you feeling any better at all? Infinite said you've been sick for several days." Lilly sat on the edge of the bed beside her.
"Not really, it comes and goes. I feel worst in the mornings when I first wake up."
"Maybe getting a little something in your stomach will help. I brought some banana slices and crackers. Infinite brought you some tea."
Gaia moved to sit up and Infinite was at her side to help. Once she was propped up and he'd adjusted her pillows, he gave her the cream colored mug.
She took a tentative sip. Her stomach swirled with discomfort, but it faded as the tea warmed her insides.
"Want to try some crackers?" Lilly asked after she'd drank about half the tea.
"Ok."
The albino gave her the plate and Gaia took a very small bite. She nibbled only about two crackers before she had to rush to the bathroom.
The poor wolf emptied her stomach into the toilet. Infinite held onto her as she whimpered.
Wordlessly, he picked her up and carried her back to bed. He got her tucked in under the blankets once more and picked up the mug, "I'll get you some more to drink."
"See if Vanilla has any medicine," Lilly suggested.
He nodded and slipped from the room.
"Are you sure you're all right?" She asked once he'd gone.
She sniffed, "I don't know Lilly. I just feel terrible. I want to sleep." Her eyes watered, "I'm just so tired, and I feel like all I've been doing is sleeping."
Infinite came back. Vanilla was right behind him, "Gaia?" She asked, "are you ok?"
Fresh tears welled up, "I don't know."
The rabbit came over, "it's ok. I know you're worrying." She patted her hand, "things should be fine. Try to stay calm, being upset just makes things worse." Vanilla got out some medicine, "this will help with the nausea." She put a pill in the wolf's hand, and Infinite came over with her tea.
She put the pill in her mouth and reached for the drink.
Instead, he put the mug to her lips and tilted it so she could drink. She took a couple small sips and he set it on the end table. She gave him a weak smile, "thank you."
He bent and softly kissed her forehead.
"Infinite?" Vanilla asked gently, "why don't you see if you can find a couple more blankets, and maybe a heating pad. It would be good if we could get her a little warmer."
He nodded and quickly left to find the requested items.
Lilly gave the rabbit a look, "you're trying to get rid of him aren't you."
"Just for a minute. I want to ask Gaia a few things."
The wolf turned her full attention to the rabbit, "what is it Vanilla?"
"Sweetheart, are you pregnant?"
"What? No." Her face flushed and she looked down almost guiltily, "I've been taking birth control."
Lilly raised a brow, she doubted Infinite knew about that.
"I see." The rabbit's mouth made a straight line. "Does he know?"
"No." Her voice was barely a whisper, "he would throw a fit if he knew about it."
"You understand how important pups are to jackals right?" Lilly interrupted. "Why didn't you at least talk it out?"
"He would never listen to me," she sniffled, "he wouldn't understand that I'm not ready for this. He wouldn't be willing to wait."
"You don't know that," Lilly sounded upset, "you didn't even ask him."
"We're getting off the subject," Vanilla said, effectively calming the two women down. "Gaia, is that the only method of prevention you're using?"
The wolf nodded. "Finn doesn't know anything about such things, and I couldn't bring myself to take anything after."
"You know that birth control is not foolproof. You could still be pregnant. It's unlikely, but possible." She took her hand, "I'm just asking because your symptoms usually mean pregnancy."
Gaia nodded as she stared down at her stomach. She felt her eyes fill with tears. She didn't want this. She wasn't ready to be a mom.
"How often do you get intimate with him?" Vanilla asked softly. She had a way of asking that didn't make Gaia feel embarrassed.
Her fingers played with the end of the blankets as she thought. "Quite a lot actually. That's what he wants to do most nights."
"What about you?" Lilly asked, "is that what you want to do?"
"Yes." Her face was bright red. "Occasionally I just want to sleep, but it's hard to get through to him when I don't want to." She sniffled, "he always listens, but it's like he doesn't hear me at first."
Lilly frowned, "he doesn't make you do anything does he?"
"No. But it's weird. He always acts like he can barely stop himself. Like it's instinct for him to have me."
"It must have something to do with jackal anatomy," Vanilla mused. "Has he been interested since you've been feeling sick?"
"No."
She hummed in thought. Then stood up, "I'm going to get a test for you to take. I'll be back soon. Don't worry," she added when she saw the concern on Gaia's face, "I'll keep quiet about it."
While she was gone, Infinite came back. He put the blankets on his mate and plugged in the heating pad for her.
She smiled softly and set it on her stomach. "Thanks."
He nuzzled against her neck, smelling her like he always did before softly kissing her skin. "You smell different," he mumbled.
"Really?" She asked.
He nodded. "Your heat is finally finished?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?" Her brow knitted in confusion.
"I don't smell it anymore."
Her eyes widened in understanding. He didn't know that her cycle didn't work like a jackal's. She didn't come into heat per say, but she did have times she was more fertile. The pills she'd been taking must've thrown her hormones enough for him to think she was in heat. Since she had stopped taking them due to feeling ill, he thought she was just done with her heat. That's why he'd been so interested in having her before. She didn't say anything though.
Vanilla came back a few minutes later. She smiled softly, "are you feeling any better Gaia?"
"A little bit. The heating pad helped."
"Maybe you'd like to have a bath," she suggested. "That might help too."
Gaia nodded, knowing she could take the test without him knowing. She wasn't ready for him to know if she was pregnant.
She pushed the blankets back and he helped her up. Before she could protest, he scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom.
Gaia looked over his shoulder at the women. Her eyes were silently asking for their help.
Vanilla understood that she wanted to be away from him right now. She followed the couple, while Lilly stayed in her place.
The rabbit entered the bathroom as he was setting her down on the edge of the tub. She rested her hand on his shoulder, "I can take it from here."
Gaia flinched as a look of hurt flashed across his face. She hated for him to be upset. He had been for most of his life, and she wanted him to be happy. Even at her own expense.
He quickly returned his expression to the neutral one that he usually held. "Ok." He stood up to leave.
Gaia grabbed his arm, "Finn."
He stopped and turned to look at her.
She was about to tell him he could stay if he wanted, but Vanilla gave a discreet cough to catch the wolf's attention. She showed her the pink package she held. "Thanks for all your help Finn, but I need some privacy right now. Please?"
"Ok." He kissed her forehead. "I'll see you when you're ready." Then the jackal left the room.
A few minutes after he left, Lilly stuck her head in the room. "Gaia?" She asked, "can I come in?"
"Yeah." Her voice was somewhat shaky. "Where's Finn?"
"He said he was going to get lunch. And for you to text him when you were ready for him to come back. I told him not to worry about getting food for you. We can worry about that later." The vixen shut the door behind her just in case.
Gaia smiled softly, "thanks."
"Let's get you in the tub," Vanilla said as she set the now used test on the sink. "We've got ten minutes till the results are ready."
Lilly held Gaia steady as Vanilla undressed her. The wolf's pajamas and undergarments were tossed in a pile. Gaia held Lilly's arm as she stepped into the warm water. She whimpered softly.
"What's wrong?" Worry seeped into Lilly's voice.
"My stomach." She held onto her belly as a wave of nausea washed over her.
"I'll get your tea." She went to retrieve the mug by the bed.
After she had a few more swallows, she leaned back to rest. Her eyes grew heavy, so she closed them.
Ten minutes passed, Gaia was still resting in the water. Vanilla silently picked up the test on the counter. She showed it to Lilly. Positive. Despite everything, Gaia was having a baby.
Lilly bit her lip, Gaia was going to freak. It was obvious she didn't want this. That she didn't want to be a mother.
After a bit, Gaia opened her eyes and sat up a little. She still looked like she didn't feel well, but some color had come back to her cheeks.
"Let me wash your hair," Vanilla said while getting started. She wasn't giving her an opportunity to say no.
"What did the test say?" Gaia asked quietly.
Lilly handed it to her after the rabbit rinsed all the soap from her fur.
Gaia was almost afraid to look. But she did. The results became blurred though her tears. She was pregnant. She covered her mouth to stop the sob. She was supposed to be happy.
Vanilla grabbed her in a hug and she started to cry. She didn't want a child. She wasn't ready. She was scared. "It's ok," the rabbit whispered.
"I'm supposed to want this," she choked out between sobs.
"No you're not," she soothed. "You can feel however you need to about this."
Lilly came over with a towel. When Vanilla got the wolf to her feet she wrapped the cloth around her, drying her off.
They got her back in the bed and tucked in. They didn't bother getting her dressed again. She was so upset about this, she needed to cry. So she did. For a long while.
After about an hour, Gaia finally stopped crying. "I'm sorry Lilly," she said quietly. "You can't have children, even though you've always wanted to, and here I am bawling my eyes out because I'm pregnant."
"It's ok Gaia. Not everyone wants to bear children, and that's ok. Sometimes though, things don't happen the way you want them to."
She nodded while wiping her eyes with a tissue. "I tried to prevent this, but I couldn't apparently."
"Sometimes people get pregnant anyway," Vanilla said softly.
"I know. Just, how am I going to tell Finn? He'll be happy. He'll expect me to be happy. He won't understand my fears."
"What are you afraid of?"
"That I can't do this. That I won't be a good mom. That I won't be able to have the baby. That I'm going to have to birth a litter of pups. Finn had nine siblings when he was born. There's no way I could have as many as his mother did."
"I highly doubt you'll have more than one," Vanilla consoled her.
"That's right," Lilly said. "From what I understand, jackals have several pups at one time in order to preserve their species. A lot of their pups don't make it to adulthood."
Gaia nodded. "Finn and Jay are the only ones left from their litter," she mused.
"And you're not a jackal. You don't live in the wild like they do. Your body isn't made to have so many pups. Remember that he provides one half, you provide the other."
"Thanks Lilly," she smiled softly, feeling better about one of her concerns at least.
"Now," Vanilla smiled, "let's get some food in you. That baby needs to grow."