I yawned, again. I've been on bed arrest for two weeks. Good news is that my cramps have weakened by a lot. If I ever get them, now it's like there's a small pressure. It's more of an annoyance than it is pain. But I haven't suffered alone, Crona has been on bed arrest too. Though his wasn't that he had to be stuck to the bed, he could walk around the apartment as long as he'd come back after twenty minutes. However, I had to be glued to the bed or the couch. I wasn't allowed to walk around unless I had to use the bathroom. Crona has been the unfortunate one to carry me there every half an hour.
"Crona?" I called. He had gotten up fifteen minutes ago to go to the kitchen. I heard him start walking towards the bedroom. He opened the bedroom door and I heard it creak as it moved. He stuck his head in. "Would you mind helping me into the living room?" He nodded and came to the bed to help me stand and walk.
"Theresa called earlier, she was wondering if she could come over." Crona told me. I nodded.
"I'm surprised she didn't just pop in." I said as Crona helped me sit down. He sat down next to me.
"I guess she didn't want to feel like a bother since we're both on house arrest." I laughed.
"Her, of all people, would not be a bother if she just walked in. She's been getting our groceries for us, I can't just kick her out. Besides, her company is nice." Then I added, "You're company is nice too, but the two of us get pretty bored in this apartment. I think we've read all of our books, haven't we?" Crona smiled and nodded.
"Too bad we can't just get more from the DWMA."
"We're not even allowed to walk to the store, which is a block away. I mean, we even go to our classes through a camera that we asked Cumo to carry around. I'm sure Stein wouldn't appreciate us going for a book." I giggled. Crona smiled and scooted closer to me.
"Well she said that she'd be over soon." He put his arm around my shoulders. "Stein called earlier too." I looked up at him questionably.
"And..?" I asked, hoping it'd be something about Crona's back.
"Well, he said he found some research about the blood theory we had. He said that soon we'd be able to experiment on it with me." I stayed quiet as I processed this. At first it sounded like a good idea, until I heard "experiment". I shook my head.
"I don't like the sound of experimenting. I want to know that it'll work and it won't harm you before he even thinks about putting it into your blood stream." I argued. Crona sighed.
"I thought you'd say that. But Maka, there aren't any other test subjects. He can't even see if it'll work on his rats because their body hasn't been filled with black blood for seventeen years. It won't work for them." Crona explained. I crossed my arms and set them on top of my baby bump. I pouted a little and looked towards the television. Why does our life have to be so difficult?
"If you agree to it, then I want to be there or close atleast. I want Stein to explain completely what he's found and what the results might be. I don't want to take any chances. I lost you once, I won't let it happen again." I said to him in a very stern voice. Crona wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me into a gentle hug.
"I know. I won't leave again." He paused, "And this time i'll keep my word." I looked up at him again. And kissed his cheek as a response. I suddenly heard a few knocks on the door and smiled because I knew who it was. Then the door opened and Theresa walked in.
"Hey Theresa, how are you?" I asked her. She still stood in the doorway. My smile fell as she just stood there. "What?" I asked her. She seemed nervous.
"Well... Um, I said I was coming over. But I forgot to mention that I invited other people." Theresa said. I smiled again.
"That's fine, let them in." I said. Crona let me go, but stayed on the couch. Theresa walked in and two other people did too. I knew it's not safe for me to do so, but I jumped off the couch as soon as I saw who it was. "Mom!" I said happily as I ran into her and hugged her tightly. I felt her wrap her arms around me.
"Geez, you don't have act like we haven't seen you for two months." Seirei playfully rolled her eyes. I let go of my Mom and looked over at Seirei with a smile. She gave out a small sigh and smiled as she motioned her hands for me to give her a hug. I gave her a hug too.
"I have so many questions." I said. My mom laughed.
"I'm sure you do. But i've been told that you're on a strict bed rest, so why don't you go and sit back down on the couch." She gently pushed me and I did as she said. I sat down next to Crona.
"There are some dining chairs in there that you can pull in here." Crona said. Theresa hopped on it and one by one pulled a chair into the living room. Then she came and sat by me as I scooted over to give her room.
"Are you pregnant too?" Seirei asked Crona. I giggled a little as Crona blushed.
"Y-you'd think so. Considering i'm on b-bed rest too." He stuttered. I smiled as I listened to it. Crona had learned how to control his stuttering, well for the most part. Usually he has a hard time when he's embarassed, nervous, or lieing. Sometimes strangers tend to make him stutter as well. Crona hates his stutter, but i've always thought it was adorable.
"So what's been going on lately?" Theresa asked my mom.
"Oh nothing much, the usual I guess. Traveling around." She glanced at Seirei, "But we've been thinking about settling down for a while. We've been traveling ever since my split up with Spirit and Maka. It'd be nice to have a house and be able to finally get to know my youngest daughter." I smiled.
"Besides, my sister is having her baby which is a big deal. Can't just leave again. And I want to be able to bond with her, unlike I tried to do when we were little." Seirei chuckled, "Maka never really liked the magic very much. Simple things like making her sneeze would send her into a fit of tears."
"Well I can promise i'm not afraid of magic anymore." I half-laughed. "My entire life is now based on magic." There was a short, awkward silence. I don't think anyone is used to my mother and sister. I know i'm not...
"Well, we just wanted to come and check up on you. See how the baby is doing." Mom said. I smiled and entertwined my fingers with Crona's.
"Baby is fine. We found out that she's a girl. And she's been trying to leave a bit early, hence the bed arrest." I explained. Seirei smiled and clapped her hands together.
"Oh it's a girl! That's cool! What're you gonna name her? Are you gonna dress her up into dresses and skirts or pants?" Seirei asked, scooting to the end of her chair. Theresa giggled.
"Uh, her name will be Tiffany. And she'll be in dresses, seeing as that's basically the only clothes I have. But when she's old enough to pick out her own clothes, I won't care what she wears." I answered.
"You named her your middle name?" My mom asked me. I nodded and glanced at Crona.
"We both came up with it, but it was mostly Crona's idea." I giggled as he bumped into his shoulder into mine.
"You know that's not true." Crona said. He smiled, "We were talking about our middle names and Maka had guessed mine. Michael was going to be the boy's name. So I told her that if the baby was a girl, she'd have to be Tiffany." My mom had nodded her head in understanding and smiled.
"I think that's very sweet. But anyway, how are you doing Crona?" She asked. Crona blushed a little.
"I-i'm alright. My back seems to have a problem with mending. And we're doing some research to possibly fix it. So other than breaking my back over and over again, I seem to be completely fine. Hence the bed arrest." He answered. I scooted closer to him. I knew that her asking him that question bothers him. He doesn't know how to handle the thought of my mother bringing him back. Everytime he seems troubled, i'll ask what's wrong and he'll never talk about it, so I suspect that he thinks about that night.
"I'm glad that you're doing much better and I hope that your back is mends. But i'm sure it will, with time and being gentle."
"Eh, it shouldn't be long for him. He's a big boy with big bones and some strong ass blood. It shouldn't cause him any trouble soon." Seirei said as she winked. I raised an eyebrow in suspicion, but brushed the feeling away.
"So, are you guys going to be moving to Death City?" Theresa asked Seirei and my mom. Seirei started to lean in her chair and raised her arms up to rest behind her head.
"Unfortunately Death City is too much of a risk to live in. I use too much magic with soul protect if i'm using it every day, including when i'm sleeping. But we won't be living too far away. The people here are skeptical of witches, especially after the destruction of Medusa. Cumo herself is in danger of being here." My mom paused for a moment and sighed, "I was going to warn you, as well."
"About what?" I asked as I let go of Crona's hand and scooted closer to the edge of the couch. I had a jolt of worry course through me and I furrowed my brows.
"Cumo is in danger living here. I think you already know that though, don't you? Well, it's worse than you believe. Cumo is pregnant, which means it's very possible to have a witch child, and a strong one, considering she's a Gorgon." Mom scooted herself closer to me, "If the people here in the city find out that she is with child, there will be an outbreak of riots. I won't be surprised if people try to assassinate her, or tear down the DWMA to get to Lord Death. Death The Kid is a target as well. People will be afraid of the power the baby will have after it's been crossed with a shinigami and a witch."
"Mom, can you see the future?" I asked her. I knew that every witch had individual powers. She smiled but shook her head and Seirei scoffed.
"Um, hello? I'm a witch too. I have powers!" Seirei put the chair back on the floor. "Mom is a healer, but can also be a real badass destruction bringer. But, I am the future seeker. I can also do things like wipe your memory for twenty-four hours, make you hallucinate things in your memory, create a fake hallucination to you... Plus other stuff like simple bombs and such that every witch can do."
"How do you see the future?" Theresa asked her, curiosity in her voice.
"It's not like I have a lot of control with it. But if I concentrate really hard, I can see the future of a particular person or place. It takes a lot of mental shit that is hard as hell to maintain. Although it's involuntary as well... Sometimes I get random visions, which i've realized that it's connected to something important to me." She looked out the window, "In this case, it's Maka, Maka's city and her friends."
"Well what do we do to keep Cumo safe?" Crona asked. I could feel his worry through our bond. And it was carried in his voice as he spoke.
"I'm not too sure. Death City has recognized that Cumo is a part of their population now, which most have accepted. But the problem is that they'll become scared once they find out about the baby. They won't think that she's safe anymore. So our problems are that if we move her somewhere else, she'll become a suspicious character; if we leave her be, there will be mayhem when people find out; and if we lock her in that mansion, people will begin to wonder where she's gone and will most likely follow and question her." Mom answered.
"So either way, mayhem is likely to begin?" Crona said. My mom nodded.
"The big solution is finding out which option is the safest and then do crowd control. You know?" Seirei added.
"Well whatever happens, she can't be separated from Kid. Cumo can't use magic while she's pregnant, in order to keep her soul protect. And Kid is her only protection, he's the only person she can trust her life with... And Crona." I argued.
"Shouldn't we go to Lord Death with this?" Theresa asked.
"We are. But we wanted to tell you all first. Maka and Crona are the main portion of our plan, seeing as they've got some close relationships with Cumo." Mom explained.
"D-do you have a plan?" Crona asked.
"Sort of." Mom stood up, "Cumo will have to hide her baby from the public without eliminating her presence in the city. As far as I know, Cumo is only four months along. In two months she'll be way more noticeably pregnant and she'll have to stay home from the DWMA. How long until your summer break?"
"Well it doesn't start until the end of May. And tomorrow is Wednesday, the start of March." Theresa answered.
"That's too far... In the summer we can easily make her disappear. Her and Kid could go on 'vacation.' But by May, she'd be too noticeable, pregnancy wise. We'll have to find a way to conceal her until then." Mom paced around while thinking. I could tell that Seirei was trying hard to think too because she had her eyes closed and she hadn't said anything for a while. Theresa seemed nervous. Crona and I were thinking as well, but we didn't know what to do.
"Is there a spell that might hide the bump?" Crona asked. I looked at him kind of confused. So he explained, "My mother had to hide her pregnancy from the rest of the witches. She didn't just stay in her void. She had to have hid me somehow."
"There is a spell kind of like that... But it hides all of the curves in your body. No boobs, no belly, no butt, and it shortens the hips." Seirei said, "Basically the no sex appeal potion."
"I don't think there is one that would just hide her baby bump. Though i'll do some research into that." Mom commented.
"Theres no way we could use that first potion, Cumo is VERY curvy. Everybody would instantly know what was up." Seirei said.
"Who's curvy?" Blair asked as she jumped into the window and startled all of us.
"Damn that kitty has some magic." Seirei said instantly. Blair transformed from being a cat into a human.
"Proud, thanks!"
"Hi Blair." Theresa greeted. Blair answered by wiggling her fingers as a wave. "Do you know how to help?" Blair twitched her ears and asked what we were talking about. We explained.
"Mrow, sounds scandalous! But no, i'm not sure how to fix that. I'd love to help though!" She jumped a little, "I'm good a potion making!"
"Blair you burn the fish everytime you even turn on the stove, how can you make potions?" I asked.
"I didn't say I could cook. I said I can make potions. Potions aren't food, they're magic. Besides, it's kinda like making a mix drink, atleast to me anyway." She retorted. I forgot she worked at the bar.
"Good, we could use that. I'll have to research for an existing potion. Seirei can begin drawing out the alternate plans, one for the potion, and another in case it isn't real. Blair could create a potion, if she knows how to." Mom said.
"Blair knows how to make potions. Creating one is a different story... But I can do it!" Blair wiggled her ears in excitement.
"Let the kitty do it. All else fails, i'll have the extra plan." Seirei said. Mom nodded in approval.
"It's getting late, i'll have to come back and further our conversation. But for now, we should be getting to the DWMA to speak with Lord Death." Mom said. I stood up, wobbily at first, but stood firm after a moment. She gave me a hug and she left with Seirei.
"I'll put the chairs away." Theresa said as she got up. I sat down and thanked her with a smile.
"Your Mama is so cute!" Blair said as she jumped onto the couch to sit. "Your sister is too. She's kinda got that tomboy attitude."
"Yeah, I wish I could get to know both of them more. They seem to disappear all the time though." I sighed.
"Oh, but how is the bun?" I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Blair patted my belly, then I understood.
"She's fine. Stein's coming this Saturday to check up on her. I might finally be off of house arrest. I want to go somewhere so bad. This apartment doesn't seem so cool now that i've been stuck here for two whole weeks." I whined. Blair giggled.
"Blair will bring you presents to help." She said to me. "Blair is all sorts of fun!" She stretched out her arms and yawned.
"Do you guys need anything?" Theresa asked us.
"No. Thank you Theresa. I really appreciate it. It's getting kind of late, but you can stay for dinner. I'd be happy to cook for you." I offered.
"I better actually go and cook for Soul and Amanda. Neither seem to have much cooking ability except for ramen noodles. But thanks. I'll come over after school and we can do a study session though." She waved goodbye to us and left.
"She's so helpful. I wish I could thank her in a way better than words." I commented.
"Make her a tuna sandwich!" Blair suggested. I giggled.
"Blair, that's what i'd thank you with. And if you help us with the Cumo situation, i'll make you a month worth of tuna sandwiches. Sound good?" Blair's tail twitched and her ears perked up and she licked her lips.
"Yep!" She suddenly got off the couch, "Hey, since you two are on bed rest. I can cook!" I shook my head instantly.
"I don't have any fish, sorry. And besides, you've been working forever. I haven't seen you for almost a whole week. I'll cook, alright?" Blair looked to the side and tapped her finger on her chin.
"Well that's no fun. But can I help?!" I nodded and slowly got up off the couch.
"Maka, are you sure you should be getting up?" Crona asked me worriedly.
"I'm fine. I don't have the cramps anymore. Besides, if i'm slow and careful I won't get dizzy. I bet you my cramps are gone. I've been stress free for two whole weeks." And I really have been. The sleeping pills Stein gave me don't make me droggy in the morning and I haven't had a nightmare since. I'm trying to cut down on them now. So i'm not addicted. I am afraid though that the nightmares will come back when I stop taking them. I went into the kitchen and found some stuff to make pasta. Spaghetti, one of Crona's favorites.
"Are you sure? Especially with the Cumo issue now?" Crona asked as he came and sat at the kitchen table.
"Yes, i'm sure. I mean, that really is stressful, having to worry about Cumo and her baby's safety... But I realize that I have to be careful myself, or my baby won't make it..." I paused a moment, "Our baby." Those two words together always stump me. Our... Baby... I still can't believe it. When I started at the DWMA I definitely wouldn't of predicted my life to come here. I had always found myself with Soul as a death scythe and we graduated. And now here I am, engaged, pregnant, and barely making it to graduation, and my partner isn't even Soul now. I sighed.
"What're you thinking about, Maka?" Blair asked me as she messed with the stove temperature. (When she looked away I set it back)
"Just how grateful I am to have the family I always wanted." I said.
"What family is that?"
"You know, this one. I have a child and the husband of my dreams. I have friends who care deeply about me and my personal needs." I started to tear up. Damn these hormones.
"Maka, are you crying?" Crona asked me from the table. I wiped at my eyes.
"No." I lied. But he knew that. I heard his chair scoot across the floor and his footsteps towards me. His hands came from behind and wrapped around me, I felt his head rest on the top of mine.
"Doesn't matter how much you hide from me. I always know." He said. "You should be keeping a smile on your face. Crying is for the sad stuff." I smiled and wiped another tear away.
"Yeah, because you're real good at that." I teased. I heard him laugh.
"Hey, Blair wants to cook!" Blair fought as she took the box of spaghetti noodles from me. I sighed and let her be.
"I can't wait to get off this house arrest." I said. "There's so much I want to do. I need to plan something with Cumo before all this stuff begins. Give her something good to look forward to." I felt Crona nod.
"That would be nice. How about this Saturday? Kid wants to come over and talk to me anyway, you can take her to lunch and stuff then." He let go of me and spun me around to look at me.
"That doesn't sound too bad. I think i'll do that." I smiled at him and he gave me a smile back. Both me and Crona dead panned as soon as we saw the fire in our peripheral vision.
"BLAIR!" We screamed.
Here is the long awaited third chapter! I'm so sorry guys for the late upload. I've been so freaking busy and stressed out. You guys have no clue. But i'm still working! Stay tuned for chapter 4! Bye Bye