Etcetera stood in her shower. She needed the warm water to relax her. So many things were running through her mind. She closed her eyes and leaned into the water. The water ran down her face washing away her tears. She leaned away from the water and looked down.
"This cant be happening." She said softly. She looked down at her stomach. Now that she knew what it was the swelling made more sense. Etcetera remember the horrible walk home. Now and then when she walked she got sick. Tantomile had given her some herbs that she was suppost to put in everything she drank and ate so that she would be able to hold it down.
"This shouldn't be happening." Etcetera said. She laid her hands gently across her swollen belly. Tears began to drip down her face as the relization sunk in. She was going to be a mother. And Admetus was going to be a father. She wonder what Admetus would say when she told him. What if he was angry with her? What if he left her? All alone, to raise their kitten... Or kittens. Etcetera cringed at the thought of more than one kitten. She remained in the shower. Trying to remeber when she might have conceived the kitten.
"It couldn't have been at the jellicle ball." Etcetera said. She clutched her stomach trying hard to remeber. She was aware that her and Admetus mated more. But she wasent quite sure what night. Then she remeber the night when Admetus read poetry to her. She and Admetus mated that night. She didn't expect to mate with him again. But she felt more closer to him now. Etcetera's thoughts were interuppeted by what seemed like movment inside her. She froze and kept her hands on her stomach. Was she imagining it? She was sure she was until she felt what seemed like a little paw press up against her hand that was on her stomach. She removed her hands from her stomach and brought them up to her face. This was happening to fast. First the pregnancy, Then the swelling, Now movement? Why didn't she feel it before? She continued thinking to herself and lost track of time. Admetus arrived home.
"I'm home." He called out.
Etcetera snapped out of her thoughts. She stuck her head out of the shower curtain. She knew if she didn't greet Admetus back he would worry and try to find her.
"He- Hey Addie." Etcetera called out trying to sound like everything was alright.
"Where are you?" Admetus called out.
Etcetera worried he would come in the bathroom. "I'm showering! I- I will be out in a minute. " Etcetera yelled back.
Etcetera stood in the shower waiting for Admetus to call back. But soon she heard his footsteps coming up to the bathroom door. Etcetera was about to jump out of the shower to lock the door. But by the time she stuck one leg out of the shower the door knob began to turn. She jumped back in the shower and closed the curtain. She listen as Admetus slowly opened the door and closed it.
"Etcetera... Is everything ok?" Admetus asked.
Etcetera saw his hand take the side of the shower curtain. "No! Don't come in. I'm fine!" She shouted. At that moment she began to feel the dizzyness come back. "Dear god not now!" She thought to herself. She felt like throwing up. She whipped open the curtain and threw up in the toilet. While she was getting sick she clutched her swollen belly. When she was done she turned around. Admetus was standing behind her. He knelt down to help her get up. He noticed her hands on her stomach. He sat there staring. Staring at how swollen her stomach was. Etcetera quickly grabbed a towel and threw it over her torso, covering her stomach. Admetus stood up and looked away from her. Etcetera remained on the floor. She looked up at him nervously.
"I'll be out in a minute." Etcetera said quietly.
Admetus said nothing and slowly exited the bathroom without looking at her. Etcetera got up and looked at herself in the mirror. She seemed more swollen than she did this morning. She felt like a disapointment. She told Admetus that she would never get pregnant so early. And he respected that. But now here she was going against her beleifs. She toweled off and exited the bathroom, prepared to have a serious discussion with Admetus. She entered the bedroom and noticed Admetus sitting in the rocking chair again. She didn't know if she was being delusional, but it looked like the chair was farther away than normal. Etcetera brushed it off and sat down on the bed. Her stomach stuck out more and became more rounder when she sat. She looked over at Admetus. He was looking down at the ground. Etcetera's heart flutter at the sight of him. The kitten reacted too. It kicked her gently. Etcetera ignored the movement and continued to stare at Admetus. She bit her lip and spoke up.
"I- I just found out today." Etcetera said hesitating a bit.
Admetus didn't reply. He continued to stare at the ground.
"Admetus?" Etcetera called out to him.
He slowly raised his head and looked over at her. His face was blank. No expression. He stared at her, waiting for her to talk. Etcetera gently patted the space next to her on the bed, gesturing that she wanted him to sit by her. Admetus got up and slowly crossed the room. He slowly sat down and looked back down at the floor. Etcetera was now getting upset.
'Why... Why won't you talk to me?" Etcetera said, her voice started to crack.
Admetus closed his eyes. "Because I did this to you." He said calmly.
The kitten inside Etcetera began to react immdiatly the moment it heard Admetus voice. It shifted around and pressed its paws against the inside of Etcetera's stomach. Unaware of what to do Etcetera gently laid her hand on the side of her stomach trying to calm the kitten. She reached over to Admetus's hand and took it gently. She stoked his hand with her thumb in a attempt to get him to talk. Admetus remainded statue like. Staring at the floor. He gently pulled his hand out of Etcetera's grasp. Etcetea lost it there.
"I'm sorry." She blurted out before she began to bawl. Almost instantly Admtus threw his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. She pressed her face against his chest letting her tears soak his chestfur. Admetus hugged Etcetera closed to him. He remained silent. Ecetera continued to cry.
"Etcetera." Admetus said in a soothing voice. The kitten began to stir again. Obviously happy to hear its father's voice.
Etcetera tried to calm down and to regan her breathing. She managed to choke out her words. "I'm sorry Admetus, I'm so sorry." She choked out.
Admetus genlty lifted Etcetera's chin up so she was looking at him. "It's not your fault. It's my fault." Admetus said.
Etcetera shooked her head. "No, I'm the one that wanted you to read to me. I'm the reason why we mated that night!" Etcetera cried out.
Admetus placed his hand gently on Etcetera's mouth so she would stop talking. When she remained quiet Admetus removed his hand from her mouth and gently caressed her face. "Etcetera. I'm glad that night happened. Words cannot describe how amazing it was to share something like that with you. I love you. And I'm here for you." Admetus said.
Etcetera whiped away a tear. "But if it werent for that night, I wouldn't be pregnant though. We wouldn't be in this mess" Etcetera said softly.
Admetus leaned in resting his forhead on hers. "A mess? Is that what you called it?" Admetus said smiling gently.
Etcetera sniffed still trying to recover from her crying. "Called what?" She asked puzzled as she whiped her eyes some more.
Admetus took his hands that were on her face and gently laid them on top of Etcetera's round stomach. "I don't consider this a mess." He said quietly. The kitten began to stir again. It kicked hard agains't Admetus's hands.
Etcetera's anxiety began to die down. "You dont?" She asked somewhat relieved.
Admetus gently pecked her on the lips and pulled back smiling again. "Of course I don't. Its beautiful. My kitten growing inside the most beautiful queen I love." He replied happily. It seemed the kitten wanted him to know it agreed with him. It kicked against his hands some more.
Etcetera began to blush again. She looked down and smiled when she saw Admetus's hands on her stomach. She gently laid her hands on top of Admetus hands. Admetus kissed her gently on the forhead and looked down at Etcetera's stomach smiling the same way she did. Etcetera looked away from her stomach and looked at Admetus.
"Admetus? Are you ready to be a father?" Etcetera asked, neverous of what his answer would be.
"Of course I am. It's a little to late to ask that, isn't it." Admetus said laughing softly. The kitten kicked even harder. Admetus looked at Etcetera
"Dose it hurt?" He asked and began to gently rub her stomach with his hands.
Etcetera shrugged. "Not really. Depends on how hard it's kicking." She said. "It mostly kicks when it hears your voice."
Admetus smiled and looked back down at her belly. "Must already know who I am." He said gently.
Etcetera looked back down at her stomach. "Admetus? Why did you seem like you were mad at me when you found out?" She asked.
Admetus took one of his hands of Etcetera's stomach and laid it on one of Etcetera's shoulders. "Etcetera, I was so worried about you for the past days. And when I found out what it was it made me feel horrible. I was the reason why you were getting sick. I thought the kitten was hurting you. But I believe eveything is going to be ok." Admetus said bringing his hand up from Etcetera's sholder to her face. He stoked her face. Then leaned in and gently kissed her on the lips. Etcetera closed her eyes and pressed her lips agains't his. Admetus and Etcetera shared their moment of bliss. That was until the kitten began to kick even harder. Etcetera pulled away from Admetus gasping at the kittens sudden movement. Admetus smiled and kissed Etcetera on her forehead.
"I Think it's hungry." Etcetera said.
"Will you be able to hold it down?" Admetus asked concerned.
Etcetera nodded. "Yes, Tantomile gave me some special herbs that I am suppost to put in everything I eat and drink."
"Alright, wait here and I'll go make dinner." Admetus said.
He got up from the bed and went into the kitchen. Etcetera continued to sit on the bed. She felt so relieved. She didn't expect Admetus to react so greatly. She expected him to be upset with her. Etcetera's for once was starting to feel the stress go away. Everything was going to be ok. She smiled and placed her hand on her stomach to feel for more kicks from the kitten. Etcetera was about to get up and leave when she noticed something on the wall. A picture of her mother. Etcetera's smiled disapeared. She never thought about what her mother would think of her being pregnant. Etcetera sighed as she felt the stress return.
"I doubt she'll react the same way Admetus did." Etcetera said to herself.
Next chapter coming soon. Please click the little review button. :)