Hello again readers,

I'm sorry about this long delay but I promise you I had a good reason for it. Hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters! As always, reviews are much appreciated.

We were beamed into the living room and J'onn lifted me into his arms and settled into the couch. His large hand carefully placed itself on my stomach, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

The silence was interrupted by the rumbling skies outside which slowly darkened as the minutes passed us by. I trace idle patterns over the back of his hand, finally deciding to voice my thoughts.

'I want to give this a try J'onn, there is a chance that everything will work out.' His eyes focus on my stomach as I say this, a flicker of fear passes through his features before he schools his expression to a smile.

He's scared.

I don't know how to process this typically stoic pillar of strength being so terrified. I can understand his fear, after already losing his former wife and child, the last thing is needs is to lose another woman of his life and child. There are no words we can offer each other, so we settle into another heavy silence.

Minutes pass us by until the jarring crack of thunder pulls us back to our senses. J'onn laces his fingers with utmost care into my hair and tilts my head up to his. His lips press against my forehead and the deep rumbling of the Martian language surrounds me as he prays to his own gods.

I don't know what to make of it. I've never seen him pray and I've even heard of his prayers before this.

It sounds like a spell being cast with his baritone voice making each word travel straight to the center of my body. It's no surprise that it's a prayer for protection. Both the child and I need as much help as we can get once things really get going and at this point only the gods can help.

The words come to an end and he pulls back to fix his red gaze on me.

'I will not lose you.'

The intent behind those words leave me helpless and I throw my arms around his neck, pressing my mouth to his. He kisses back with agonizing care. Gentle fingers pulling me close, his lips brushing against mine as if I would break under his passion.

'I love you.' He echoes the sentiment into my head while pulling away from me.

The sky opens up and the sound of rain drops hitting the roof finally fills the silence we found ourselves in. The careful tension breaks and J'onn offers to make dinner. He refuses my help and instead surrounds me with pillows and a blanket. This man is going to be impossible.

And impossible he is.

Ever since that day, J'onn has refused to let me do any lifting, cooking and cleaning.

At first I protested but once the days turned to I couldn't help him even if I wanted to. It turns out that a Martian pregnancy last around 10 months and at the end of my first month I started sleeping over 18 hours a day. Food held little appeal and most what I ate made its way back up. My emotions made no sense even to myself; I would wake up from my constant naps in a state of sorrow, fear or joy. My temper had completely died and been replaced with the water works.

J'onn worked through all of this with painstaking care, watching his words and actions to the point of annoyance. He always had food ready whenever I woke up, he held my hair back when I threw up whatever I'd eaten, and he would put me to sleep when my emotions left me near hysterical. It was taking its toll on him.

He never snapped but his eyes burned duller, his mind was constantly restless whenever I used our link to listen to his inner thoughts. I had seen him look better after missions! I had had enough of it. The love of my life was going to work himself to death before the baby would even finish forming.

I looked over at the calendar we had marked the weeks on, so far I was only 2 months pregnant. There was no way J'onn would survive with his sanity intact for another 8 months once I start showing. I was feeling particularly well today after my ridiculous 12 hour nap in the middle of the day and peeking into my lover's thoughts let me know that he was asleep somewhere in the house as well.

He needs the rest.

I carefully get out of bed, slipping my feet into the fluffy white slippers by my bed before padding out quietly into the living room. Sure enough, J'onn is laid out on the couch an arm draped over his eyes. He had taken to wearing soft t shirts and sweat pants around the house and right now he looked absolutely warm and comfortable. But if I get any closer to him his instincts would wake him up so being the considerate being that I am, I edge around the couch and head into the kitchen to fix us dinner in over 2 months.

A couple of minutes after sneaking around in my own kitchen to grab the ingredients for my sudden craving of pasta, I stare at the sink wondering how I'm going to wash things without making noise.

'You should be resting, my love.'

I startle at his voice, somehow having missed the 6'7" green skinned alien looming in the doorway.

'I'm tired of resting J'onn, let me cook for once. I'm not incapable of it yet.'

'A compromise then,' he offers with a smile. 'I will work the stove, you can do the rest.'

I quickly agree before he takes it back and we work together. It brings forth the memories of our early days, back when I still had my family and J'onn had spent that first weekend with me. We work quietly around each other, exchanging smiles and little touches. It makes me happy and pretty soon he's turning on the radio as I set the table.

It has been a wild ride ever since the pregnancy. J'onn had informed the Justice League of the possibilities and implications if this pregnancy coming to term and while everyone had been excited, it was also understood that a lot could go wrong.

We talk through dinner about his life on Mars. J'onn shows me memories of his city, his home and the life he had lived. It is fascinating how similar the two worlds are and I find myself telling him such.

'J'onn, do you think the baby might need a Martian environment?'

'It is unlikely to be a problem, the largest difference is gravity and the child is forming already so it shouldn't be an issue.'

He then reminds me about the visit to the med bay for another scan. Since this is a completely new genetic combination we had decided to take regular scans to be better prepared for any complications.

J'onn reaches across the table and traces his fingers across my cheek. 'I will clear the table love, would you get ready to leave?'

Looking at him, I'm always reminded of how difficult it is to say no to him when he speaks like that and I find myself getting up to change into something more accessible for a scan.

He stands in the doorway, occupying the entirety of it as he watches me with thoughtful darkening red eyes. I know that look.

'J'onn?' he silently closes the distance between us, arms reaching out to pull me against his chest with a growl. The leans down to kiss me soundly, hands travelling across my back till I arch against him. I can feel his thundering heartbeat against my palms on his chest, the heat of his body surrounding me and how utter helplessness I feel at the difference in our size makes me whimper.

The sound sets him aflame; he backs me up against the wall to hoist me into his hips, trapping me against himself and the unyielding concrete. His breath rushes against my throat and he works his mark into my neck till I beg for relief.

'Look at me little one.'

My eyes obey his command and he uses the moment to slip his hand under my dress and into my underwear. His long digits play at my center till I cry out. He presses his forehead to mine, letting me catch my breath before gently setting me down.

'J'onn... What about you?'

'This was for me.' He echoes back into my mind. Clearly the Martian Manhunter is all sorts of cautious with pregnant women.

'It won't hurt the baby J'onn.'

'True, perhaps later.'

I almost protest but he looks tortured enough as it is and I don't want to push him so I settle for a kiss pressed right against his throat. His grip tightens and he groans before controlling himself and pulling back, eyes pleading for mercy. Laughter tumbles out of me and he shakes his head at me, instantly dispelling the sexual tension.

'Come.' He offers me his hand as he telepathically communicates with whoever is on communications duty at the Watchtower.

Within seconds we are on the transporter pads and J'onn leads me to the medbay. Blessedly we don't run into any superheroes on the way and he quickly closes the door as I settle onto a bed. We go through the usual procedure, anxiously looking at the screen for the image to appear.

My heart skips a beat as the ball of cells from last month have developed into a bean shaped fetus.