Chapter 7 – Bittersweet Patience:

Time passed and the gorilla family were settled and content with their lives. They quickly got used to Tarzan being their new leader and felt that he was indeed the right choice. He was strong and decisive yet not aggressive which Kerchak often was. Kerchak was well respected by the troop but sometimes that respect came due to being feared. But Tarzan was respected because of his sensitivity, kindness and his willingness to listen to others' opinions before making a decision, fully embracing the human notion of democracy.

However, having Tarzan as leader did bring some changes to the dynamics of their troop. What with him being a different species, the other males would mate with the females or leave to find other troops to find other potential females. Kerchak, being the silverback had the sole right in mating with the females of the troop. Even though Kala was his alpha female and he loved her dearly, Kerchak still regularly mated with the other females and was expected to. The gorillas didn't reprove of this, this was nature. They had been doing this since they could remember and didn't plan to change it. Monogamy was a strange concept to them. The thought of staying with one gorilla until death was bizarre to them and decided to leave the human ideas to them.

However, Gobu took to this concept of monogamy wholeheartedly. He was only interested in Terk, his attention undivided on her. He talked to Tarzan, asking him for advice on how to keep Terk happy. He then took up the same things as Tarzan did for Jane, building nests for Terk, giving her fruit and flowers, taking her on romantic evening strolls as well as doing the fun, rambunctious activities that they both enjoyed.

Terk slowly warmed to this, not used to be being treated this way. She still refrained from mating and Gobu patiently waited, never pressuring her. But one day a few weeks later into their courtship, she took him by the hand and led him to a secluded spot where they quietly and gently consummated their relationship.

Jane knew instantly that Terk had taken the next step in her relationship with Gobu. She looked exactly like how she did after her own honeymoon, always happy and at peace with the world. The four of them had a great friendship and socialised all the time, often going on double dates together. Then things changed, Terk became more serene and docile, politely declining to wrestle and muck around with Gobu always at her side and getting her anything she wanted.

"Are you alright Terk?" Tarzan asked after she once again refused to wrestle him again. The four of them were lounging by the river, Jane and Terk resting back against their partner's chests.

"I'm fine T," Terk smiled back, "just don't fancy it today."

"You've said that for the past two weeks. What has happened to the Terk I know? Are you even the real Terk?" Tarzan joked but he was also serious. He was glad that being with Gobu made her happy but he was concerned at the change in her behaviour. All of his life he had known his cousin to be highly boisterous and always up for an adventure. But now this quieter, serener Terk seemed weird, almost unnatural.

"Leave her be Tarzan," Jane laughed as she soaked up the afternoon sun. She didn't mind this new Terk, it gave the whole family a lot more peace and quiet!

"Don't worry," Gobu reassured them casually, "once she has the infant, Terk will be her old self again."

"What?!" Tarzan and Jane exclaimed in complete disbelief whilst Gobu gulped, realising he unwittingly let slip his and Terk's big secret!

"You're pregnant?" Tarzan looked at Terk incredulously. Sure she had gained a little weight, but Terk wasn't exactly one to turn down an extra banana or two!

"Gobu!" Terk hissed at her mate before turning back to her cousin, "Yes T, it's true. It's early days so we didn't want to say anything just yet."

"Congratulations cuz!" Tarzan hugged her followed by Jane who hugged her a little less tightly.

"Congratulations Terk," she said quietly as she gave a small, awkward smile, "you two must be very happy."

"Thanks Jane, we appreciate it," Gobu added kindly, "you two will make a great aunt and uncle to our baby I'm sure."

"Thanks guys, so sorry but I think I should go and check on my father at the old camp."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Tarzan asked as Jane started to get ready to go.

"No it's alright, I know the way and I'll be back soon."

Tarzan nodded, but as Jane walked away his eyes narrowed in concern at her sudden wanting to leave.

"Oh hello dear!" Archimedes beamed as he looked up from his work to see his daughter entering the old camp.

"Hey Daddy," Jane smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "what are you working on?"

"Just finishing off a new front door for the treehouse. Tarzan not with you?"

"No he is with Terk and Gobu…I just wanted to check on you, see if you needed any help."

"Yes that would be splendid," Archimedes replied gratefully, "pass me the carpenter's square will you?" Jane rummaged through the toolbox and passed the carpenter's square to her father who went about using it to check the corners of his newly made door. She watched her father lightly sand down one corner so it was exactly 90 degrees.

"There, all done," he made a relieved sigh when he finished sanding. "Now would you kindly tell me what's wrong?"

"Sorry?"

"Oh Janey-Jane, I know that you have something on your mind," Archimedes' eyes twinkled as they sat down side by side on some barrels. "I remember when you were little you always would come into my study and watch me write theses when you were upset or had a little disagreement with your mother or one of your friends. So tell me, what's on your mind poppet?"

"Terk is having a baby," Jane said quietly as she idly brushed off the shavings off the door.

"Well that's fantastic!" Archimedes smiled and then noted his daughter trying to keep her emotions in check, "Isn't it?"

"Oh yes," Jane nodded quickly, "it's just… it's just…I'm still not with child yet and I am getting worried."

"Oh Jane." Archimedes took his daughter's hand and squeezed it in sympathy. Ever since his daughter was little she loved to pretend play being a mother and probably for years knew how many children she wanted and picked the names already.

"It's being almost five months since Tarzan and I have been married and … nothing." Jane looked down at her flat stomach, almost as if she was hoping it would suddenly swell at any second.

"You are still having your monthly courses?"

"Yes," Jane nodded, her courses fortunately for her had always been regular and relatively painless, "I had one last week."

"And you and Tarzan …. are you," Archimedes blushed awkwardly, "intimate?"

"Yes," Jane nodded, also embarrassed. She definitely took care not to mention that they had a very regular and vigorous sex life.

"Well just give it a little more time," Archimedes advised her gently, "it took almost two years for your mother and I to conceive you."

"Really?" Jane was truly surprised; she never knew this about her parents.

"Oh yes, we tried for a baby as soon as we got married but nothing happened and we started to get worried and then you came along."

"Did you ever think about having more children?" Jane asked, curious to know as to why she never had any brothers or sisters.

"Oh we did," Archimedes nodded wistfully, "but it didn't happen for us. But you were all we could ever wish for."

"Would you have liked to have a son?" Jane asked, virtually every man she knew wanted one.

"It is my lot in life to be surrounded by smart, beautiful women and I wouldn't have it any other way." Archimedes replied and Jane leant her head on her father's shoulder and he kissed the top of her head. She adored her father and ever since she was little she regularly came to him for advice, but she also wished that she still had her mother to talk to, especially about women's issues.

"I know that you wish your mother was here," it seemed as if Archimedes knew exactly what she was feeling, "and I wish she was too. But she would tell you to hang in there, be patient. Shall we tidy things up and head back to the family?" Jane nodded and soon they were walking through the jungle arm in arm. They passed a tree with a low branch bearing fruit and Archimedes picked one off and cut it open.

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet," he said wisely as he handed one half to his daughter. Jane smiled at the Jean Jacques Rosseau quote and bit into the ripe fruit. It tasted sweet and succulent, quickly raising her low spirits.

As she wiped the juice off her chin she realised that she was being too hard on herself. She and Tarzan had only been married for a few months and it was silly to pressure herself into getting pregnant as soon as possible. A baby would come to them in time, when it was ready and she should fully enjoy her time with Tarzan just the two of them before she conceived a child. Archimedes saw his daughter relax and smiled, glad she was happy with her loving husband but also secretly hoping that they would not have such an agonising wait as he and his wife did before conceiving a baby, a pain that was more than hard for them to bear.