Thanks to Lipamo, LilMisfit5290 and Bookworm1986 for their reviews and encouragements! And to Terzima for the translation.

You have no idea how much I love writing this fic!
Enjoy your reading.

A New Life

Part 2

I continued to stroke his head down to the back of his neck. His breathing got slower and he finally fell asleep. I liked to think that my presence reassured him, and I hoped he was going to get some rest. There were a few knocks at the door.

"Come in!"

Our young hostess, as blond as me, came in with a well-stocked tray. My stomach rumbled as a matter of principle. I gently slipped away from Brody's arms, covered him with the plaid that was folded on the foot of the bed and walked up to meet the young woman. She handed me the tray and wished me bon appétit. She glanced at Brody:

"When he awake, he can come have lunch."

I thanked her and she walked out silently. I put the tray on the small coffee table near the TV set and took my jacket off. Sitting on the rocking-chair that I had set sideways, I could see both the window and Brody. I literally devoured the potatoes and the beef, but ignored the crudités. I downed half of the jug of water and looked at the chocolate mousse with envy.
I had no more nausea and was going through a positive phase of euphoria despite the treatment that had been readjusted and considerably reduced. I took the ramequin of mousse, suppressing the negative questions that were trying to force their way through the armor of well-being that I had built around me.

"Damn, this is fucking good!"

I scraped the ramequin, licked the spoon and sighed with happiness. I had never been very interested in food and could go without eating if I needed to for my work. But now, my body called and called for it – unless it was the baby?

"Now are you a little foodie?" I laughed.

I rested my head on the back of the chair, oddly serene, enjoying the warmth of the sunrays. My gaze shifted from the blue sky to Brody. He had not moved at all, curled up in a corner of the bed. His features were soft, almost relaxed. I never got tired of watching him.

I had dozed off. Or rather fallen fully asleep, since I had not noticed when he moved me. I was comfy in the bed, feeling warm, and the sun was setting down. My eyes searched for the clock and straining them a bit, I saw it was past seven.

He was not there, I heard the shower in the bathroom. I waited to be a little less drowsy to get up. I was still tired, I didn't think I was so exhausted. I mechanically stroked my belly that was discreetly getting round, I sometimes felt light gentle touches, concrete evidence of the life that was growing in there.
I jumped because this time the contact was more precise and I had felt it under my fingers.
I slipped out of bed and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Brody?"

I was feverish, an unknown feeling was turning my already half fucked-up brain upside down and I wanted to share it with him.
No answer. I knocked harder and strained my ears. Still nothing. My enthusiasm fell flat and I entered the room in a panic. It was rather spacious, lit by spots, and the large bathtub on my left took up half of the space. Brody sat in it, his head bowed down. The water gushing from the big showerhead above his head hit him abundantly. The bathtub was about to overflow, I swiftly turned off the faucets and crouched down to his level. With my elbows on the edge of the tub, I scanned his face with concern. He closed his eyes, his face tightened, signs of the upcoming wreck. And, without warning, he let himself slide underwater. Jesus Christ!

"Damn it, Brody!" I yelled, stepping into the tub to try and haul him out of the water. He was like a dead weight, my clothes were heavy with the water and hampered me.

"Fuck! Brody!"

I was not scolding him, I was crying because I was unable to keep him by my side. I stopped fighting, drawn by his face blurred in the moving water. In turn, I plunged my face into the water to join him. My body landed gently against his body and my cheek pressed against his face. I had not done any thinking, his presence was all that mattered. All was silence, and calm and… I started to run out of air! Don't be afraid, I repeated to myself as I clenched my fingers on his torso.

I was suddenly able to breathe because he had emerged from the water, pulling me with him. I threw my hair back and clung on to his neck. His breathing was slow in contrast with mine which was irregular. I couldn't think anymore, entrapped in a frightening torpor. He tried to undo my hold around his neck but I held fast. He moved his head back and faced me, the trouble prompted by his close presence gave way to a deep sense of unease. By his expression, you could have thought that I had betrayed him. Paralyzed in reaction to the shock, I let him get out of my arms and the tub, he grabbed a towel to dry himself.

"Well, since I'm already in the water, might as well have a shower!"

Pitiful attempt at putting an end to such a heavy moment. He didn't bother answering and wrapped the towel around his waist. I pulled the bathtub plug, opened my shirt, it was hard with my shaking fingers. He had long left the room when I found myself completely naked. I opened the faucets and closed the glass door in order not to add water to the floor which was already flooded. I scrubbed myself with soap and shampoo and it kept my mind busy enough for me to wind down. I wanted to forget what had just happened.

Out of the tub, I stepped on the bathmat and used it to soak up the water. Then I stood in front of the mirror and examined my changing body with a critical eye. My breast was getting heavier, it tingled, my waist was losing its shape, my hips were widening. A shiver ran through me, I opened the closet on my right, grabbed a towel to dry myself and wrapped myself in it. I let my hair air dry, the humidity made it wavy. There was a toothbrush on the sink, so I went in search of another one for me. The little cabinet under the sink held a treasure: hairbrush, hair drier, aftershave, toothpaste, razor, a manicure set and other toiletries including toothbrushes!

When I went back to the bedroom, I breathed better. Brody was kneeling on the floor, his hands on his thighs, his feet under him, as if to pray. Yet, he remained motionless staring at the TV where our two faces appeared here and there. I took the remote from his hand and turned off the damned thing. I noticed he had his clothes on, I searched the room with my eyes, saw an open travel bag and moved closer to see what was in it. There were a few basic clothing items like jeans and t-shirts. One for men and one for women. Was underwear optional? Who had prepared that fucking pack?

"What you're looking for is in the zippered side compartment."

At the sound of his voice, my heart starting racing despite myself.

"There is also a vanity case with some stuff for you."

He pointed at the coffee table, I saw the vanity case and also noticed that the tray was gone.

"While you were sleeping, I went to the car and found this, and also a map."

The map was spread out on the floor. It showed how to get to the safe house, no GPS, it was standard procedure. I walked around the map and rummaged through the vanity case. There were my medicines and vitamins, iron, folic acid and all that kind of things.

"Shit, what's all this?" I grumbled as a matter of principle. I appreciated the unexpected attentions, wherever they came from…

Saul…

"You should put your clothes on, you're going to catch a cold."

I was anything but cold when he was around.
To contradict me, he stood up and reached for the door handle.

"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to eat something."

I tried to invite myself but it was pointless, he was already gone. Far from the room, far from me, far from all kind of life. I hurled everything around me and covered my face with my hands, slumped on the floor and shaking with sobs.

More to come soon.