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I climbed the steps of my temple, happier that I had been in a long time. The prospect of spending as much time as I wanted with Sadie filled my heart with warmth. I couldn't wait to have her to myself for a while.

I rounded the corner of the hall, knocking softly on her door.

No answer.

I frowned, poking my head in the door. She wasn't asleep on the bed as I assumed she'd be. I cocked my head to the side. Sadie had been sleepy most of the day for the past month and I'd been making a point to spoil her rotten and let her sleep all she wanted.

I rubbed my hands together, wondering where she would be-

The kitchen.

Obviously.

The only thing that could drag that my Sadie out of bed was food. Hunger won out exhaustion, I suppose. I turned on my heels and started to the kitchen.

When I got there, I was momentarily confused. I didn't see Sadie anywhere. Mrs. Brown had her back to me, stirring something on the stove. A fluffy blonde cat was on the counter-

"Obtained a pet, have you?" I asked in amusement.

Mrs. Brown turned and waved her spoon at me. Sadie ignored us both.

"That child is most definantly yours," she said, prodding Sadie's swollen stomach with the tip of her spoon. Sadie batted her away and resumed lapping up her bowel of what looked like milk.

"What makes you think that?" I asked, coming over to stand by Sadie.

"She's got a fierce craving for Salab," Mrs. Brown said, gesturing to the bowl of steaming white cream. "You used to drink it by the pint, and she's been gorging herself on it all morning."

I laughed softly, looking at Sadie.

"Is that so? Why is she in a cat form?"

Mrs. Brown waved her spoon at Sadie. "She got stuck like that and she's been mewing under my feet all morning, so I put her up on the cabinet to keep from tripping on her."

Sadie rubbed her body against my hand, making me smile. I rubbed her belly gently. Her stomach was swollen from all the Salab.

"You look tired, my Lady Kane," I teased. I turned to ask Mrs. Brown if she was always like this. Her eyes seemed awful heavy. She stumbled slightly and her paw caught the rim of her bowl.

Both fell off the counter with a crash. I jumped back and looked at my mate, sitting in a puddle of Salab, her fur soaked with white droplets of Salab.

"Are you okay?" Mrs. Brown fettered, looking down at her.

Sadie sniffled and hid her face in her paws.

"I think her pride's more wounded that anything," I chuckled. I bent down and lifted her up. She was definantly heavier than she had been last time. I smiled wirily, looking at her swollen tummy.

"C'mon butterball, let's get that out of your fur," I said fondly, holding her to my chest. "You're going to get all sticky." I walked out of the kitchen.

She morphed human and glowered at me as we rounded the corner. "Don't call me Butterball!"

I raised an eyebrow and rubbed her belly. "Why not, Butterball?"

She hissed at me in irritation and crossed her arms.

"Are you going to pout now?" I teased. "What a shame, I had good new to tell you."

She was silent for a moment, but eventually curiosity out won her pride and she looked at me curiously.

"What is it?"

I smiled down at her, "well, you know…it's my vacation and all, and I get to spend it with you."

Her eyes lit up, filling my heart with warmth.

"I didn't know you took breaks," Sadie said.

"For you, I do."

She grinned and hopped out of my arms, throwing her arms around my waist.

"From seething in anger, to hugging me," I said fondly, petting her hair. "You are unpredictable, Butter-"

"Don't call me Butterball!"

I chuckled and gave her a bow, "Of course, My Lady Kane." Those pretty eyes seemed to flash with malice, but I smiled, happy I could get such a passionate response out of her. She rolled her eyes at my lack of temper and jumped back in my arms, none-too-eager to walk on her own two feet.

"Tsk, tsk, I am spoiling you," I observed.

She blushed and nuzzled my neck. "'mm, I have you all to myself. What am I to do?"

I smiled, "What do you want to do?"

She thought for a moment and a sneaky grin spread across her face.

"I could think of a way to pass the time," she said, fluttering her eyes.

"I am spoiling you," I teased. She grinned.

By sundown I was sweaty and pleasantly tired. Sadie dropped immediately and fell asleep, exhausted and sex-sated for the moment. I'd brought her to orgasm enough times that she probably wasn't going to be able to walk tomorrow.

I yawned and stood up. Sadie definantly looked happier. Her skin gleamed and there was a shine to her hair. It was amazing what a few months of spoiling could do. She looked like a different person, happy and healthy, just a little bit bigger around her tummy. I smiled, leaning down to kiss her heated skin, murmuring an 'I love you' to my unborn child. Sadie shifted slightly, winced, and decided she didn't want to move.

I smiled and shook my head, heading towards the shower to rinse the cum off my body.

I woke up to a chill going down my spine. I groaned and stretched my arm out, feeling around for Sadie's warm figure.

She wasn't there. I bolted up in a panic, looking for my mate. She wasn't in here, but the door was cracked. I sighed through my nose and swung my legs out of bed.

I bet she's snacking, I thought sleepily, pulling my jacket off the chair and shrugging it on, squinting at the light. I flourished my hand, bringing the bright flames down to a soft glow so I could see.

I leaned on the wall as I walked, yawning and trying not to stumble, but I snapped awake when I got to the kitchen.

Sadie was sitting at the table in her pajamas, a cup of steaming Salab in front of her, crying her heart out in her hands and clutching her stomach. Mrs. Brown was rubbing her shoulders in a comforting manner, but it wasn't working. Sadie was still sobbing brokenly.

My feet moved on their own accord and I found myself picking her up and calmly walking out of the kitchen before I realized what I was doing. Halfway down the hall, Sadie threw her arms around my neck and sobbed harder.

"Hush, there, there," I soothed, bringing her back into my room and sitting on the edge of our bed.

"Beautiful, what are you crying for?" I asked gently, hugging her to me.

"N-nightmare," She sobbed.

I sighed and rubbed her shoulders, knowing full and well how awful her dreams could get. I let her cry a little longer and she started to confess what she was crying about.

In her dream, she had suffered a miscarriage and I had been furious with her. I'd raised my fist to her in her dream. She'd woken up briefly, only to be too weak and fall back asleep to suffer through another one. In the second nightmare, she'd had our baby, but I had decided I didn't love her and I had left her and my child with her and the child had grown up to hate her and blame her for not having a father.

Sadie dissolved into another round of tears and I cooed at her the entire time that she was the best thing that had happened to me and I loved her. I repeated that I loved her so many times I thought I would lose my voice. I promised I would never hit her and that our baby was going to be happy and healthy and as pretty as she was.

Eventually, she lost her voice from weeping and she lay in a shaking mess in my lap.

"There, there," I soothed. "It's alright. "Now, c'mon, you've worn yourself out crying like that. Go back to sleep baby and in the morning I will make for certain that our baby will be okay, alright?"

She sniffled and nodded.

I lay back down with her and pulled her into me, burying my face in her neck. She took in a shaky breath and I put my hand on her tummy, letting her fingers entwine with mine.

"I love you," I said one more time, but Sadie was already out.