November 2022
Delphine rummages around their unfurnished basement. A laundry rack and a few boxes are the only items in the space for now. She'd planned an afternoon of prepping cloth diapers and sorting baby clothes. Cosima had purchased diapers, intent on just doing it herself vs going for a service. And Delphine was not going to argue. It seemed efficient. And they could change their mind and perhaps use a service through the newborn phase if that made more sense.
She throws the diapers into the washer and washes them on hot, yet again as they try to prep the fibers. Cosima had left instructions but Cosima was in the Leda lab today going over her latest test results. Trying to get the telomerase experiment settled before she leaves for Minnesota and her second defense attempt. Delphine sighs as she feels the baby kick.
"Oui, c'est pour toi." She responds, knowing that the baby's hearing is now developing enough to hear her. And even more exciting, to possibly hear Cosima. She'd insisted Cosima sing and talk to her belly last night to Cosima's intense amusement. But they cannot argue with science, the child will learn their voices.
A not unfamiliar ring tone sounds from her pocket. It was not the call Delphine was expecting. This wasn't Alison calling to talk about the baby shower and all possibilities of how it could go - either in person or virtually. But she had to answer, no matter what. Delphine pulls out her clone-phone.
"Dr. Cormier speaking." Delphine opts for the most professional greeting possible. It had been a long time since she'd spoken to this sister.
"Dr. Cormier… it's Krystal. You told me to call if anything like weird happened with my health… and something weird is happening! And I don't want anymore clone talk. Your lesbian lover is not my clone. That Australian girl is not my clone… but I need help!"
"Krystal. Just slow down and we will talk about your health." Delphine cannot contain her surprise. "Calm down, take a deep breath. And tell me again more slowly."
Krystal's voice raises sharply in pitch as her anxiety peaks. "I mean you're a family doctor… Can you get me a referral to a specialist? I need a second opinion. I'm only 32!"
Delphine stops for only a moment, she's well aware of Krystal's birthday. "Krystal, you are 37." Why Krystal would lie about her age to someone who has seen her medical records is beyond her, but it doesn't really matter.
"Fine. I'm 37, but I shouldn't have arthritis! Can this be like… juvenile arthritis? Like late onset juvenile arthritis? Do you have contact for those fancy specialists now? I didn't think by aging you meant arthritis!" Krystal is spiraling out, and Delphine thinks she must find a way to calm her down.
"I can help you. I have experience in immunology - in autoimmune issues just like this." Delphine thinks she can likely find a good specialist as well. She certainly thinks she must know of someone in Kingston who could see Krystal more regularly to monitor the condition. Else she could find somebody. They wouldn't have to be aware of the cause. She must make more inquiries on Ledas overseas. If this is going to start happening to more of them she must be aware. And unfortunately, so must Cosima.
"You can? Oh my god because I am like freaking out."
"OK. I will get in my car. And I will come to you. Just… text me your address." Delphine looks around the house. She should be able to get to Kingston by this evening, she'll have to stay over a night in a hotel. But she should be able to make it back tomorrow without issue.
"Oh my god. You're the best doctor ever. I love that. House calls. Who does house calls anymore!"
"I'm French." Delphine sighs, thinking it's accurate and as good an excuse as any. Cosima's working. She could swing by the Rabbit Hole lab, get the supplies to treat Krystal with telomerase, and be back within 24 hours. It sounds exhausting but doable.
"Can I switch? Are you taking patients right now?" Krystal becomes sidetracked, unsurprisingly. But Delphine tries to remain unphased.
"We'll discuss it when I get there. Please wear a mask… you're fully vaccinated?" Delphine recalls checking this at one point but cannot recall if Krystal took both doses or just one.
"Umm yeah. I have to have a life and I do not need covid… I'm working." Krystal is clear. "I mean, we reopened and I need to work. Even if the face shield and mask are terrible for my complexion."
"Of course. I will be there in… four hours."
"OK. Thank you Dr. Cormier. Seriously. I need help!"
Delphine pulls the car up to a decent looking apartment building. Krystal has moved, clearly. The building was called Stonecrest, and looked good. She thinks somehow Krystal must be doing. She'd just missed Cosima stopping at the Rabbit Hole, and had decided to proceed quickly before Cosima insisted on going along.
That was a risk they didn't need. Bringing Cosima along on the trip. Add that to Krystal's lack of awareness and it was better that Delphine makes the trip solo. Even if she'd had to stop four times to pee in three hours.
She quickly makes her way to the lobby, masked with an N95 under a cloth mask. It should prevent any transmission of anything from Krystal to her. She assumes she's still working and exposed to more people than herself. No doubt some people show up for their manicures or waxing sick.
Delphine quickly dials the buzzer number and waits only for a minute before announcing her arrival. "It's Dr. Cormier."
"Great." Krystal quips quickly and the door opens easily. "Apartment 214."
No sooner than has Delphine emerged from the elevator than is she met by an anxious looking Krystal, hair still bleached blonde as she ushers her into the apartment. Delphine takes note of signs of some minor cosmetic procedures. Nothing unexpected with Krystal. Botox or facial fillers were the least of her worries.
"Hello Krystal." Delphine pastes a calm smile on her face and decides to play the doctor. "We can have your treatment done in just a couple hours, but I do want you to sign a consent form and find a comfortable seat."
"OK. I set the rules here, Dr. Cormier. And I want the treatment, but I don't want any talk about being your lesbian lover's clone. Or that Australian girl's clone." Krystal lays out her terms.
"Cosima is my wife." Delphine answers inconsequentially. That much she will say. Nothing else is of any importance. At least not in terms of Krystal's treatment or its efficacy.
"You got married? Oh my god congrats!" Krystal is teetering on heels even as she approaches. Delphine carries in two large baggages full of equipment and wishes that she had just sent Scott. She should have just sent Scott and stayed home. Even if she'd like current data on Krystal.
Delphine nods pleasantly as she sets down her bag. She looks around Krystal's new apartment. Or condo. It is nice, Delphine thinks. Nicer than she thought it would be. Though she didn't keep more than loose tabs on Krystal. She wasn't self-aware and was increasingly resistant to becoming self-aware. It was best they give Krystal space.
"Yeah my beauty product reviews and tips show is doing great… And sales are up. Me and my old roomie made a line of facemasks." Krystal smiles behind a bejeweled facemask. "No more roommate. Loved her, but she moved in with her boyfriend. They're super happy and now I have a spare room to use as my recording studio. She still visits all the time… but more space is so good."
"Congratulations." Delphine offers, trying to convey sincerity. She can inject Krystal, though at this point an IV treatment would likely prove more effective. She brought the equipment to do it. But will Krystal let her? She decides to just set up the equipment and get consent for treatment as they go. And so far Krystal is content to yammer on about her healing arts for several long minutes.
It's not until Delphine takes off her thick coat, revealing a thin sweater and her prominent belly does she feel genuine surprise come off the clone. She tosses her coat over a chair, and quickly sets up the portable IV stand, she can have this done quickly. And then find a nice hotel to spend the night in. Maybe order some takeout. Watch a movie. Call her beloved Cosima and apologize profusely for leaving without a word.
"We will go a quick blood test and then proceed with your treatment." Delphine produces the equipment, and begins trying to swab the inside of Krystal's arm where she suspects it will be the easiest to draw blood.
"Oh my god, you're like having a baby!" Krystal exclaims, one hand on the belly before Delphine realizes what is happening. The acrylic nails are…pokey. But Delphine opts not to react. In all honesty, Delphine only really wants Cosima touching the belly. No one else. But she tolerates it for a few minutes of Krystal's excited blathering.
"So boy or girl?" Krystal asks, wincing slightly during the quick blood draw. Three vials should be enough. And Delphine works efficiently, wanting to start the treatment and get out of here.
"A girl." Delphine responds quickly. "I am due mid February. The 18th." She figures these are the typical polite questions she gets from everyone. Telling Krystal certainly doesn't make any difference.
"Oh that's nice… well nice either way. But all the mother daughter stuff you can do…. I can't have kids. But that's fine… saves me money on birth control. Plus… I like my lifestyle, you know?"
"Mmmmm." Delphine hums nodding as she pulls her lab coat on. "We are going to start with an IV treatment, it is… anti-aging. Please sit down and relax. I will refer you to a specialist, and we will… manage your existing symptoms as best we can." Privately, Delphine is unsure if they can reverse the arthritis or not. But she feels confident that she can prevent other Ledas from developing the same symptoms. She has a contact in Kingston who she's already arranged for him to call Krystal, and they will get her on a regimen to manage her existing symptoms. With medication, Krystal should manage to function better for a long time.
Krystal does, eying her cautiously as she sets up. She gets everything set up. She increases the dose marginally, and suspects she'll have to send Scott for a follow up blood test in several weeks. "But they'll go away, right? This treatment will work?"
"It should help. Do you remember Scott Smith?"
"Yeah nerdy guy, secret lab… why?" Krystal winces as she inserts the IV needle and tapes it. The concentration should be enough to get improvement. Delphine thinks. It certainly worked on the other four.
"He will be doing your follow up." Delphine doesn't give more information than needed. Any attempts to increase Krystal's self-awareness have failed. She's determined to remain ignorant, and that is fine.
"Why can't you do it?"
"Scott is very capable… and I am very pregnant." Delphine responds. Her baby squirms inside her kicking and she tries not to react. She cannot get sidetracked. Not with Krystal. She has to treat her, and go, as soon as possible. While minimizing her contacts. While Cosima has just had her booster dose, Delphine doesn't meet the criteria.
"OK. I guess that is fine."
"How has your health been otherwise?" Delphine has to ask.
"Fine… other than losing it in the middle of a vlog because one of my live watchers suggested I have arthritis. And then I got checked out…and I do! So I had to do another vlog…"
Delphine nods patiently.
"Do you like…want a manicure? While you're here? Or a pedicure. The pregnant girls at the salon always want pedicures…You're what? 26 weeks? 27 weeks?"
"Krystal…" Delphine shakes her head. "I am just here to provide you with treatment. Then… I must get home to my wife."
"What? Business is like seriously up and down with the pandemic situation. Besides a pedicure will do you a world of good. Answer me honestly, OK? Can you reach your toes anymore? I'd offer waxing but I do not have the equipment to wax anyone at home."
"Let's just… get through your treatment." Delphine summarizes quickly, it should be simple enough. Truth is, she cannot easily reach her toes anymore. The belly, while still compact, felt larger than ever.
"Dr. Cormier… You look like a woman who needs to relax more."
"Krystal…" Delphine sighs. She cannot relax. But it is unlikely she's going to get out of here without a pedicure. She might as well agree and let Krystal work and see what other information she can get out of the clone. It always proves both inaccurate and spot on.
Her phone rings, she'd texted Cosima during her unplanned pedicure she'd had to run out to do a treatment for a Leda. And given no other information. When Krystal had seen that her legs weren't quite smooth, she'd offered to wax them at the salon the following day. Delphine had declined but thanked Krystal for the offer. Last thing she wanted was to increase her contacts. Or to return home more hairless than intended, as had happened more than once when she wasn't clear with her esthetician exactly what she wanted.
"Cosima… It is good to hear your voice." Delphine sighs onto the phone. Kingston was too far. Even if she'd gone for the right reasons.
"Delphine… Where are you?" Cosima's voice is tinged with concern, and Delphine feels guilty. But only for a moment.
"I'm in Kingston. I will be home tomorrow. I promise." Delphine admits. "Tomorrow morning, I'll get a quick breakfast and get back home."
"Kingston?! That's like four hours away!" Cosima is aghast. "You went alone?"
"Krystal called me… she was just diagnosed with arthritis. And she needed to see someone. I gave her the IV version of the telomerase treatment. Which should help. I'll have Scott do a second treatment right before Christmas." Delphine sighs into the phone. "Cosima… we must find a way to distribute this treatment. Things are starting to degrade."
"We can't. Between the pandemic and the baby…It isn't possible. You know that. You're going to give birth in less than three months!" Cosima points out. "I mean we can get to Krystal, she's close enough. But the overseas clones? What about having your contacts distribute it?"
"Scott. We send him." Delphine realizes that is the solution. Sending a fully vaccinated Scott around to at least begin the injections on the Ledas. And he'll have to do it every few years, or they'll have to find somebody who can.
"He still needs his booster."
"And he will get it." Delphine finishes calmly. "In the new year, I will as well by then." She glances down at her toenails. They're painted red and she smiles at that. She suspects Cosima will get a kick out of it, and then begin to imitate Krystal. Something she knows how to shut down pretty quickly.
Cosima's tone shifts slightly "So… nice hotel?"
"Very decent hotel. I'm at the Delta, so waterfront views." Delphine snorts. "But I'd rather have you with me."
"Alas, you are in another city with our only vehicle. And I am here with your giant pregnancy body pillow." Cosima sighs. "How did the Venza do on the 401?"
"It was fine. Smooth. Not snowy." Delphine sighs. She wants to be home. Would give anything to be home. To be having dinner with Cosima, to be cuddled up next to Cosima. Instead of browsing takeout menus and room service trying to decide what might be good.
"I miss you." Cosima lets it out.
"I will only be gone one night." Delphine assures her. "Toi me manques aussi."
"One night too long. I leave for Minnesota in three days!" Cosima whines. "And you know I won't be back until the 30th. No matter how things go."
"I know, mon amour." Delphine tries to comfort her. "But your dissertation looks amazing. The edits are really good. You will pass this time."
"God I hope so." Cosima mumbles.
"Order yourself your favourite takeout. Watch a movie I cannot stand. I… I will be home by lunchtime tomorrow. Earlier… I hope."
"You didn't let Krystal sell you on extra services at her salon tomorrow?" Cosima teases her remembering the one and only time she'd met Krystal.
"No, she offered but I don't want to come home with a landing strip again." Delphine is quick to spell it out. She could imagine being upsold, especially in this economy, and coming home entirely waxed.
"A full waxing package. Ouch… especially with how sensitive you are everywhere right now? Terrible idea. Plus I'd miss the fuzz to be honest. It's soft."
"I mean, I could go do my legs but… I would rather go home. If I can't reach, I'll get you to help me shave them." Delphine laughs.
"As long as we're just talking legs, sure." Cosima sighs. "I miss you."
"I miss you too. But I need food. Bonne nuit mon amour."
"Goodnight Delphine." Cosima lets her go very reluctantly and then Delphine rearranges the pillows on the bed until she's closer to comfortable. Which was becominging increasingly difficult as the relaxin set in and her belly became larger and larger.
Delphine orders herself a snack from room service, unable to decide exactly what she wants to eat. She lays on the bed while she waits and watches her belly twitch as the baby moves inside. She happily smooths her own hand over the surface. Wondering if her daughter will look more like her or more like Cosima. If Cosima was this active, kicking so hard it hurts in utero. She suspects her own mother doesn't remember such things. But Sally Niehaus might.
She showers, taking her time. Her daughter kicks from the inside which makes her smile again. Cosima can feel her now, another gift. They're more connected than ever, Delphine tells herself. Even if they are spending an extra night apart.
The phone rings again and she picks up. Knowing instantly that it is Cosima.
"Hey don't get mad, OK?" Cosima sounds somewhat muffled but she can make it out.
"Why would I be mad?"
"Because I am on VIA Rail headed to Kingston. I caught the train, the one that left right after 5pm. I'll… be in Kingston around 7:30."
"Cosima!" Delphine shakes her head pointlessly. There was no stopping Cosima now.
"What? I'm masked up. Vaccinated. I… I don't want to be apart. I won't even eat. I'll wait until I get in and stay masked the entire ride."
Delphine softens a little, with how much Cosima wants her. Wants to be with her. "We'll need extra pillows then." Without the large snoogle pillow Delphine knew she'd be using the current allotment of pillows in a pile to support her body as she slept.
"So call the front desk." Cosima tells her. "So… late dinner at 8?"
"Of course, mon chou." Delphine is touched. "I will order us something you'll like."
"Good. I will get there as fast as I can." Cosima assures her. "I love you."
"I love you too." Delphine responds quickly. She quickly alters her evening plans, and wonders if she should just wait for Cosima in the provided bathrobe. She schedules an UberEats delivery from a well-rated restaurant called Atomica, with an excellent vegetarian section. For 8:30, just expecting Cosima to be late.
Delphine glances at her hastily packed bag and she doesn't have much, she opts to remain in the robe. Sure enough, Cosima texts when she arrives, just to get the room number confirmed before arriving.
A knock on the door is quickly answered, Delphine slowly pulls the door open.
"Hey." Cosima speaks from behind two masks, a KN95 and a cloth one that is a deep red.
"Hey." Delphine backs up enough to let her wife in. "Are you hungry? Supper will arrive in about 30 minutes… A little more." Delphine leans back to glance at the clock.
"The train made really good time." Cosima smiles, and removes her masks, placing them down. No sooner than is she kissing Delphine deeply, she unties the robe and Delphine lets it drop from her shoulders.
"Cosima…" Delphine's hands go to cup her wife's face. She's pulled into a soft kiss and then a deeper one as Cosima moans. And Delphine thinks she knows exactly what Cosima is after. A chance to roll her around a king sized bed.
"I need to be inside you." Cosima is insisting breathily as she begins peeling off her own clothes. Delphine goes to help her, Cosima's body is so very much the same against her. The only change to Cosima at all was slight lines around her eyes and an increasing crop of gray hairs. She wonders if the changes to her own are what Cosima fixates on. Whether in desire or curiosity.
"OK…" Delphine is quick enough to agree. It's easy, Cosima is able to enter her near instantly once undressing her, and she groans. The baby kicks and Cosima begins giggling
"Delphine… I love you…" Cosima is crooning at her as she pins her back onto the bed, moving steadily. Cosima adds a third finger and a fourth as her arousal increases and she clings to her wife, wrapping her legs around her, trying to get her deeper. She climaxes twice before Cosima releases her back onto the bed.
"Cosima…"
"I needed that. God… I cannot get enough of you." Cosima moans, and quickly adjusts their position. "Can I… LIke this?"
Delphine nods. The headboard is solid enough for Cosima to hang on to, and cunnilingus like this might be easier than trying to awkwardly crouch with the baby.
"I want to ride your tongue." Cosima tells her, even as she's planting her knees on either side of her head.
"Tu sens bonne." Delphine assures her, she kisses soft thighs and works her mouth towards Cosima's dripping sex. Everything is swollen, sensitive and primed for her attentions. She works her softly with lips and tongue, pushing her tongue in as deeply as she can. She can sense Cosima's desperation. Feel it in every sound, every movement.
"Delphine! Delphine!" Cosima whines above her and she returns her attention to external stimulation. Stimulation she knows will result in the most intense orgasm. She feels submerged, Cosima is all she can smell, all she can taste and finally Cosima comes. She can tell from the tension in Cosima's inner thighs, her sounds… everything. She knows it so well now.
"Oh mon amour." Delphine croons at her when she's down, Cosima slumps and then quickly moves to the side, one leg across Delphine's upper chest so as to not crush her. Cosima remains clinging to the headboard for several long minutes.
"Jesus Christ you've gotten good at that." Cosima rasps out between gasping breaths when she's through.
"Good." Delphine quips, and pulls Cosima down to kiss. "So… dinner and round two?"
"We have time for a quick shower, I think." Cosima tells her, glancing at the hotel clock radio next to the bed.
"We do." Delphine agrees, she offers her wife her hand and they walk to the shower together. To hopefully, eventually get clean and dressed enough to get their takeout from the front lobby.
Takeout containers litter the desk. She and Cosima had polished off the takeout easily. They'd undressed again.
Delphine cannot really think much about the cardboard containers or cleaning up with Cosima's mouth pressing insistently to her sex. It was hard to think about anything but Cosima's lips or her tongue.
"Oh…" Delphine lets out a low sigh as she climaxes for the fourth time in the evening. "Oh mon amour…"
"So good." Cosima mutters into her skin, kissing her hip bones, her inner thighs, the belly. Cosima's reluctance to come up and kiss her suggests that they are not done. Which Delphine thinks she can handle.
"It is… supper. You… All good." Delphine strokes dreadlocks, and cups Cosima's face with her hand. She feels full of love for her. Even if the train ride has left her anxious.
"Like… we've got to come back sometime. I think we could spend a long weekend here." Cosima murmurs into her skin.
"We could… Maybe…" Delphine yawns, the sleepy part of being pregnant was probably the hardest. But she would do her best to stay awake a bit longer.
Cosima stills for a moment.
"What is it?" Delphine asks, eager to connect. To have some time away just the two of them. Maybe they should have taken a weekend away before now. Maybe they need this. Maybe it's more important than ever with the baby coming.
"It's a gray one." Cosima nudges her fingers through the hair of her sex.
"What?"
"You've got a gray pube." Cosima tells her again. "Look, right here. You've got like… five or six gray ones."
"What?" Delphine cranes her neck to get a better look over her belly and one of the hairs does look quite light all of a sudden. It is gray and she decides it doesn't matter. But her face portrays clear annoyance. She can't help it. She never mentions Cosima's grays, at all. And now Cosima's pointing out one there ?
"Oh come on Delphine… You think I don't get grays?" Cosima teases her. "The blonde may hide yours. But we both know they're there."
"I know." Delphine sighs. Her fingers go to Cosima's temples lovingly. "But I love them. I don't want you to colour your hair."
For a moment Cosima quiets, and then she smiles mischievously back at her. "Just like the little lines around your eyes." Cosima teases.
"Well… We are getting older, ma chérie. Late 30s." Delphine sighs. And in reality, it was a miracle she and Cosima had had this time. After fearing for her life intensely before Cosima was even 30. She'll take all the gray hairs. All the fine lines. If it means more time with Cosima.
"And having a baby." Cosima grins, kissing the belly. The baby is still, for the moment and Delphine wonders if she's fallen asleep.
"Who needs a name." Delphine reminds her wife.
"I know… So we've got… Océane, Lena, Mila and Elodie."
"Léna is out. Pronunciation issues." Delphine grumbles a little.
"And Océane too…I can barely do it… I mean we know everyone will butcher it. Except for francophones." Cosima attempts the French pronunciation which Delphine smiles at. She's unable to stop it.
"So… Mila? Or Élodie?" Delphine sighs. If they are down to two names, at least that is something. They're making progress.
"I mean, unless you're going to cave and let me name her Willow?"
"Willow?!" Delphine starts, her brow furrowing. "Comme l'arbre? Le saule?"
"Yeah and like a character … well I don't like Whedon anymore obvs… But like… Willow was a lesbian character. In the 90s… and early 2000s Though they did kill off her adorable girlfriend and replace her with a -"
"No. No naming our child after tragic lesbian characters." Delphine shakes her head. "Absolutely not."
"Fine. So Willow's out." Cosima laughs a little. Delphine can tell Cosima is joking but says nothing. Not wanting to distract from this important conversation.
"I like Élodie best." Delphine finally lets herself say it. That is what she wants to call their daughter. That is a name she's liked for a long long time. And it will work in English, unlike a lot of other names she loves.
"Elodie Niehaus-Cormier." Cosima nods thoughtfully. "I mean I do like it… It's an old name which is cool. And it's unusual. And it means like foreign riches or something…which I mean could be worse… And I did get you !"
"Cosima!"
"What?" Cosima kisses the belly again but pushes her body upwards, slowly kissing up Delphine's body until they are mouth to mouth again.
"So… She will be Élodie?"
"Yeah. I like it. And you love it, clearly. So… she can be Élodie."
"Élodie Niehaus-Cormier." Delphine repeats a wide smile growing on her face.
"Elodie." Cosima repeats letting her hand softly caress the belly. Their daughter kicks as if on cue, and it is perfect. Delphine decides. Élodie will be perfect.
Notes: This is finished only because it was more than half-written (I do not write in order typically, especially when beginning a story). I am not this productive right now. But I want this story done.