AUTHOR'S NOTE: SecondarySamuel wrote this chapter. This is an adaptation of a similar fanfic by the user "handymanshipper". If anyone acts OOC I do apologise.
Today was a fairly normal day in Mallow's house. Well, as normal as normal could get right now. The sun was shining, the Pidgeys were chirping, and Ash was bringing Mallow a microwaved breakfast their friends (Sophocles and Lillie were on shift right now) had prepared. Ash himself wasn't trusted to cook anything, since he was a terrible cook. And normally Mallow would've cooked, but she was now so far along in her pregnancy (eight months, to be more specific) that the doctors had mandated she be on bed rest.
As Ash laid the tray of food by Mallow's side, the greenette opened her mouth, "Ash, this bed rest is driving me crazy, and I feel like a stupid balloon, and why am I on bed rest anyway?"
Ripples of movement radiated across her stomach. Ash could only sigh, "Mallow, you have nine babies inside of you, and you are eight months along. Do you really want to deliver more prematurely than you have to?"
She was scheduled for a Caesarian section tomorrow - this had been agreed on as the safest method to deliver the babies after the unique nature of Mallow's pregnancy was revealed. Mallow sighed her own sigh, "I just… I hate the fact I'm confined to a wheelchair. It's just… not a fun time and it's hot as fudge this July. I understand it's to get these babies as healthy as possible, but I'm miserable and bored".
She took her utensils and began digging in as Ash questioned, "Well then, how can we make you not bored without disobeying doctors' orders?"
Just then Pikachu scampered into the room and leapt up onto the bed. He maneuvered for a second before laying down by Mallow, letting out a "cha" of contentment. Ash could help but pat his head.
"I dunno," said Mallow, just as she finished the last of the food.
Ash's voice grew slightly concerned, "Mallow, I know you're lying to me. This isn't boredom. What's really bothering you?"
As Ash took the tray away Mallow spoke again, "Fine, you got me. I'm just… I'm still in disbelief. One moment I have my entire life in front of me, and the next I'm bloated with more babies than there are Eeveelutions! I'm just worried about my future. I won't be able to run a restaurant when I'm busy taking care of nine kids…"
Ash ruffled Mallow's hair. "Don't worry. I know this is a sudden and violent change for us, but we'll get through it. We have our friends and our families, not to mention our Pokémon. I'm sure we can get through this. I know we will."
Just then Nebby the Cosmog happened to drift into the room, covered in paint.
"Nebby, what's going on?" Ash asked.
At that point, Lillie burst in. "Oh my, I'm so sorry! I was trying to do some painting, just to see what it was like, but Nebby accidentally spilled the paint over itself!"
Ash nodded, "I see."
He instructed Pikachu to stay with Mallow whilst he left the room and proceeded over to the bathroom to run Nebby a bath. The bath went fairly well, although Nebby did put up some resistance at first. By the time Ash and Lillie finished drying Nebby off, Mallow had fallen asleep. It was around noon.
Ash could only chuckle to himself. Mallow was more exhausted than she realized. The pregnancy was taking its toll on her. He had been studying up on pregnancy and its effects on the female body ever since he knocked Mallow up because he was determined to try and keep Mallow as safe as he could.
Ash had lunch with Lillie and Sophocles before feeding the rest of their Pokémon. After that Ash sat down by Malow's side and read a book until he heard Mallow crying. He filed the book away and stroked her hair, asking, "What's wrong?"
"I'm… I'm just so scared." Mallow said in between sobs.
"Mind explaining?"
"I'm just so worried about our babies. What if something goes wrong with the pregnancy? What if one of the babies doesn't make it? Or what if… if…"
Mallow was clearly struggling to form her next sentence, "...I-I don't make it?"
Ash could see the fear etched into Mallow's eyes, put a protective arm around Mallow's shoulder, and laid his other arm on her stomach equally protectively, "Shh… it's okay Mallow. I know Konikoni City has the best hospital equipped to handle these kinds of pregnancies. They've been practicing the Caesarian section they will use to deliver our babies ten times over. In their hands, you'll be fine. They've done everything they can to keep the babies inside you for as long as safely possible. They've just checked you every week for any emergency signs as a precaution."
Mallow wiped her tears away, "That's a relief… but why am I on bed rest anyway?"
"Because…" Ash explained, "...you're exhausted. You've slept since noon and it's now 7 pm. They also don't want you falling and hurting yourself or the babies."
Mallow sighed, "Thanks Ash. That really helped. I'm just so lucky to have you."
Ash nodded, "Indeed. I'm going to go zap our dinner now. I'll bring you extra since you slept through lunch, then after we eat, we can watch movies till we fall asleep. Sounds good?"
Mallow nodded, "You bet."
And Mallow could only smile as Ash proceeded out of the bedroom. Yeah. She was in good hands. She and the babies would be fine.