A/N: Day 27 - pregnancy. Ahh, cravings... amiright?

Chapter Summary: Callum vowed to be there for Rayla in sickness and in health. But now? He was wishing he vowed to be there unless she was pregnant. Simply enough, Rayla's got cravings and Callum's the delivery boy.

Word Count: 1,994

Pregnant Thoughts

"Callum!"

With a wince and a tired look, the man in question shot up from his recent sketching, arcing his head back as he shouted, "Yes my Dear?"

"I need ya!"

He sighed as he pushed himself out of his chair, walking over to the door. "Are you sure it's a need me, need me? Or more like, need me because you don't wanna get up to get another book?"

"Shut up and come help me!" she shouted back.

Callum sighed as he wandered down the hall. He found his wife, his beautiful, amazing wife, lying down on the couch, book rested on her bloated belly, and blanket stopping just short over her waist. "I need ya to tuck me in," she stated. Because pregnant Rayla didn't ask, no, demands were more her speed.

Callum chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head. "Ray, I would, but it's a couch, wouldn't you prefer being tucked in bed—"

"I like being on the couch!" she shouted. "It's comfy, it's nice, and I wanna be near the campfire in case!"

"But it's July—" he stopped himself, knowing that at this point he was merely holding a shovel in his hand and practically setting himself up. With a sigh, he walked over to his love, and began fitting the blanket around her, tucking her in as best he could.

And Callum swore, for the briefest of moments, he caught a smile elicit from her face. He instantly smiled out of joy. He rarely got those nowadays. "What're ya smiling 'bout?" she scowled, narrowing her brows. "Thinkin' how funny it is to tuck a turkey?" she barked, rising up from her spot.

His eyes widened as he vigorously shook his head. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" he held his hands up. "I was just, I-I, saw you—smile! It looked nice!"

"What? Ya saying I don't smile?" her narrowed eyes turned to slits.

He gulped. He needed to act fast. "Of course you do! You… smile all the time, it… it's what inspires me to draw," he said with a warm smile. Rayla seemed satisfied with his answer, easing into the couch more, leaving Callum to retuck her. Clearing his throat, Callum knelt down and smiled at her. "So, uh, need anything else?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Ya can go, I wanna read."

Callum nodded, jerking his thumb over to the room down the hall. "I'll be in the study if you need me," he whispered. He leaned in and pecked her forehead, then departed from the living room. Not even a second down the hall, he heard an annoyed groan echo throughout their home. If he was feeling lucky, Callum was attempt to play it off like he hadn't heard her at first and try to return to his sketching, and hopefully it would either play out that nothing came out of it. But of course, knowing how his luck played out for the past few weeks, Callum decided to respond instantaneously and whipped his body around, rushing back into the living room. "Yes? Need something?" he hastily asked.

Rayla was adjusting herself—even though she had asked him to tuck her in—and wore a discomforted look as she did so. "No, I'm good," she muttered.

Callum sighed. If there was one thing he knew about Pregnant Rayla, it was that whenever she had cravings, she needed to be prompted to reveal what they were. And it took a lot of prompting to do so. "You sure?" he asked.

"Yes," she flatly replied.

"Positive?"

"Oh my goodness, just go," she groaned, throwing her head back.

Callum sighed once more, anticipating that he might be doing a lot more of that today. "If you say so!" he shouted. He started stomping in place, trying to give the illusion that he had walked off, hoping it would help egg her on.

"I know ya're still there! I have super ears!" she shouted, not even caring how silly her words sounded. Callum groaned as he walked away. This was baiting. He was walking into the study, and as he sat down in his chair, pencil in hand, it happened again. "Callum!"

He held back his sighs, irritation, pain, and gritted his teeth with a forced smile. Running down the hall, he shouted, "Yes my Dear!"

"I have cravings!"

He tried to muster as much shock as he could. "Whaaaat? Really?"

"Don't do that," she venomously spat, "Or I'll shoot this baby in your face!"

Callum's face dropped into horror. Another fun thing with Pregnant Rayla: everyday she managed to come up with new graphically vulgar and horrific insults. Somedays if he was lucky, he'd get two of them. "Right, right," he apologized, "sorry. Uhh, what're you craving?"

He begged it was Sunberry bread. He could get that at the market in the square.

Or Moonberry juice, they sold that there too.

Or maybe Moonhoney, they still had some in their shelves.

"Moldy cheese."

His face dropped. "What?"

"I want moldy cheese," she repeated.

"But… you hate dairy… anything…" Callum pointed out, utterly confused by her request.

"Yeah? And I hate being bloated and having to lie here! But look where we are!" she yelled gesturing all around them. "For the love of Thunder, I just want some cheese, so I can read my book, eat in peace, and be tucked in for a nap!"

Callum sighed once again, nodding. "Yes, of course my Dear," he replied, walking over to her. He leaned in for a peck on the lips, but stopped as she raised her finger to intercept.

"Ya're wastin' time."

And with that, Callum's mission began.

::::

"So let me get this straight," Soren began, "You went to the market in town, searched all the strips of food shops, and even went to your neighbours' houses, and still got no cheese?"

"Yes and—"

"And since you knew the town nearby had none, and the town after that, you decided to run all the way over here, to the castle, for this?" Soren held up the moldy cheese in his hand, completely shocked by the younger man's actions.

Panting heavily, Callum breathed out, "Yes."

"Callum, this is why you should've taken Ez's offer and just stay here whenever you two visit!" Soren pointed out. "Look how much—"

"Soren, we've been over this, Ray and I prefer staying in town whenever we're only here for a few days," Callum quickly reminded him, "and besides, I would love to stay at the castle but Rayla's decided that she prefers staying at a small house in town instead, apparently it's more cosy."

The head guard scoffed with confusion. "What?"

"Listen, I'd love to debate or agree and talk about this, but if you have issues or anything you want to talk about, tell my wife the next time you see her," Callum hurriedly said, "right now, I need that block of bleu cheese."

Soren glanced down at the block, then back up at Callum. "Dude, just go to the kitchen. The chef will give you another."

"Soren, that's all the way inside! Like, the lowest level too! I was lucky to even run into you in the courtyard with your little afternoon snack!"

"I know Callum, but like, I just started eating this."

"You sliced off a piece with your sword and placed it on a jelly tart," Callum deadpanned.

"Yeah, that's how I eat my cheese?"

Callum took a deep breath. He still had inspiration in his veins, and he was determined to finish his sketch today. He took five steps back and dropped into a steady stance, spreading his legs out as he lifted his finger. He was not letting down his wife today. "Soren… don't make me do this," he lightly pleaded, drawing the blue symbol before him.

Soren's eyes narrowed as his free hand flew down to the handle of his sword, gripping tightly as he slowly crouched into a tight stance. "You wouldn't dare…" he replied, attempting to call his bluff.

Callum shook his head. "With a pregnant wife with cravings? Of course I would—aspiro!" he suddenly shouted, blowing a large gust of wind against the crownsguard. He flew back a few feet, leaving the object of his eye to fly out of his hand. Callum adjusted his bottom lip, arcing the wind funnel somewhat upward, sending the block of cheese straight into the air. He seized his spell and rushed toward the moldy cheese, reaching out to catch it. As soon as it landed in his hand, he pumped his fist victory. "Yes!"

"Guards!" Soren's voice rung out, draggin Callum's attention back in front of him. His face dropped as he saw a very mad looking Soren and a couple guards rounding the corner, appearing behind his back. Callum turned back and noticed another few turning up at the other entrance to the courtyard. The sound of Soren's sword unsheathing, slicing through the air reverberated through the wind around them. He narrowed his eyes at Callum, pointing his hilt at the Archmage.

"Get the cheese!"

::::

A sudden mist of sparkles and cloud emerged within the living room, startling Rayla out of her almost nap. "Ah Callum!" she shouted as the man formed before her. "How many times have I told ya not to teleport inside the house!"

"I…" he huffed, "I… I did it." he limped over to his wife, kneeling before her as he bestowed a wrapped item in front of her face. "My love… here… enjoy… live…" he panted collapsing onto the floor as soon as Rayla picked it up.

"Finally! I was wondering what took ya!" She eagerly unwrapped the block of cheese and took an unceremonious bite out of it, chunking off a large section. She munched on the cheese with excitement, swaying in her spot like a child. Not even a minute had passed, and she was already licking her fingers, cleaning herself of any residue of the moldy cheese. "Ahhh, that was great.

Callum's head shot up from the floor. "You finished it!" he incredulously asked.

"Aye," she looked down at Callum, letting her hand fall down to the floor to grace his fingers. "And thank ya. I know I'm being difficult."

"More than usual?" Callum mused. His finger suddenly felt tighter as a vice grip ensnared onto them. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Kidding! I'm kidding!" he shouted. Rayla released his fingers and chuckled. "Rayla, you know I wouldn't trade this," he placed his hand on her stomach as he sat up, "for anything. Not for a craving, not for my art, and especially not for some luxurious stay at the castle with… countless… armed hungry guards."

"What?"

"Nothing," Callum shook off. "By the way, Soren might visit tomorrow."

Rayla threw her head back and groaned. "Ugh, does that mean we're leaving tomorrow?"

Her husband laughed as he leaned down, pecking her forehead. "Whatever you want my Dear," he smiled against her skin. As he parted from her, he shot her a brow, "Now, speaking of wants, do you have anything else you require of me?"

Rayla opened her mouth, then silenced herself, settlin on shaking her head.

"You sure?

"Yup."

"Nothing at all"

"Nope."

"Okay, then… I'll get back to my sketching," Callum announced, making a break down the hall. A sense of relief finally overcame him as he sat down. His pencil in hand, he grazed his led against the outline of his recent sketch. It was a child. Hair was mid-length, bone and facial structure was average enough for the gender of the character to be determined. Of course he had no idea what their baby would look like, what they would set out to be, who they were, but he was inspired.

After all, it was his reminder: what all these cravings really were for at the end of the day.

"Callum! I need you!"

A/N: yes, the baby is in fact Isha from the family AUs. I really like adding fun quirky things to their characters, especially Rayla's. Mainly because, she's so cool and I personally find it hilarious if she secretly had a bundle of quirks Callum has to get use to. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed!

Review Responses:

Prophet21: Thanks! Glad you liked it!

Griff-FanFic1933: I'm glad you love the twists! I had a blast writing both of those oneshots, and well, the Childhood is a new favourite. I'm happy to hear you got some laughs out of it too! Children are very fun to write.

Next prompt is The Baby.

Until next time,

- Bleh