Since the prosthetic work was halted temporarily, Bucky was put into helping out the uncovering parts of Atlantis as the city is still partly being an archeological site of sorts, with Audrey building more bicycles as it was a quick adaption to a chosen couple of a father and a son to ride the first two bicycles that was brought with the supplies, to their joy, enjoying the new technology from the surface as they didn't like heights, and so Audrey became proficient, stunned to see that she's majorly respected unlike some bigots who judged her for just being a woman in a mechanical shop back on the surface.
As for Rebecca, with two weeks passing since the day of Gabriella's birth, she is learning how to make tapestries occasionally, though she is spending more time with Dazis. She heard the gossip about Nola's twins being a boy and a second girl, and today, she decided to make the next step by letting Dazis check on her baby's gender.
"Are you alright, Rebecca? Is the water too hot? Is the baby uncomfortable?", Dazis asked in concern as he went to sit beside her in a spot where they are soaking their feet in a Atlantean natural jacuzzi that's powered by runes from a crystal, after Rebecca said that her feet is sore lately, and Dazis, not wanting to cross the line by being forward and impolite if he asked to massage her feet, he took her here at one of his favorite spots where the view of the lake is clear without boats at this time of day, with the lava falls in the far distance.
"No... it's fine... just... just the pains of carrying and such; just a bit of bad timing there, that's all.", Rebecca sighed as Dazis nodded. "Right... shouldn't be too much longer now, right?", he asked as she shrugged.
"I've honestly lost a bit of track, I'll be honest... hard to tell sometimes when it's day and night down here.", Rebecca admitted. "I'm so used to the sun practically blazing a hole through the window to alert me it's morning.".
Dazis asked, "Do you wish to have a water clock or a shadow clock?", and Rebecca replied, "A shadow clock would be nice...Especially with timing this little one's kicks and moments of hunger..", with a fond smile as she rubbed her baby bump.
"It brings me joy to see that you have fallen in love with your child as a true mother...", Dazis smiled warmly, and Rebecca replied, "I wouldn't have done it without your advice, Dazis...I think I'm ready to try to be the best mother for this little one, and somehow, I'm no longer scared of messing up my mistakes when I can learn from them...".
Dazis chuckled, "I believe you, Rebecca...", and Rebecca blushed warmly, and looked at Dazis, taking a deep breath, "Dazis, I'm no longer scared of something else...I'd like you to check on my baby's gender as my baby clearly likes you by your voice and presence. I'm comfortable now with you touching me.".
"You sure?", Dazis asked, with a bit of a blush on his face. "I mean...", rubbing the back of his neck with a hand. Rebecca exhaled, "Well, let's at least try... I might worry and change my mind; I hope you'll be alright if that may happen. My brain says it's okay right now, but well, I'm sure you know folks can quickly switch.".
Dazis nodded, "Right...Remember what I told you back on that night?", and Rebecca nodded softly, taking a deep breath, and took her tunic shirt upwards just modestly of her hiding bra, as she's wearing a knee-long skirt, and underwear, with her sandals off to the side as she has been dipping her feet in the wonderful warm water of the natural Atlantean jacuzzi.
Dazis battled the urge back to kiss and lean his head on the baby bump that makes Rebecca even more stunningly beautiful as he shuffled closer, taking off his crystal, blowing warm breath into it, and before he would even touch her, he looked at her who gave him a reassuring, slightly blushing smile, and then he smiled reassuringly back to her as he then touched her baby bump with a gentle hand as he pressed the crystal with the other hand gently.
Dazis can't believe that he's actually doing this as he has been falling in love with this woman and her child, no matter if she's too young on surface rules, but a woman here in Atlantis, counting a month and two weeks so far.
"Do...do you see them?", Rebecca asked nervously, almost hoping with all her heart that it's a girl. She couldn't mind a boy, but she's still scared of them turning out to be like that bastard in looks and such.
Dazis nodded, "I sure do...", chuckling, "They're trying to catch their foot. Come on, little one, let me see what you are...", as he can see the outline and motions of the baby. "That's it...There you are, sweet girl.".
A gasp of surprise and joy, tears prickling at her eyes, "It's a girl?", Rebecca whispered, and Dazis smiled, looking up at her, "Yes, and she's absolutely healthy for a mid-seven-month-old unborn baby, getting there to be full term from what I can see. I'm sorry that I couldn't see the actual features to say if she looks like you or...him, but-".
Rebecca suddenly hugged him, sobbing, "No, don't be sorry! Thank you for telling me that she's healthy! That's what is important! Thank you, Dazis!", looking at him, and then kissed him on the cheek out of nowhere before realizing with wide eyes as she was so close to him as he was stunned by the hug and the cheek kiss.
She let go of him, looking down, rubbing her arms, almost hunched over her baby bump, "I'm sorry! You must hate me for being so...so forward like a...I know you said that you were single, thanks to that gold earring like dictated in your culture, but there's so much better women for you than...than a pathetic, hormonal, pregnant teenage girl who is stupid for wanting love again...", wishing that she'd get up and run away, but she's too nerved up and she didn't want to put her daughter...gods, her daughter in too much stress...
Dazis took a deep breath. "Rebecca... have... how much of our culture have you been told about since you've been here? Especially regarding mates?", he asked.
Rebecca exhaled, "Along with what you said that night, it's a crime for mates to harm their own mates, that mates are soulmates, and that mates can be any kind of free love; gay, lesbian, poly, bisexual, and monogamous. When they find their mate/s, they just somehow know it prior, but they are forbidden to be forceful, but able to talk with their newfound mate/s with everything they know before they actually get into mating which can happen before engagement, before marriage, and on the wedding night, on their own choice of consent together, and of course, at their own time as well.", before noticing Dazis gently taking her chin with his hand to look at him.
"Well, yes, that's all true... but there's something else... something... that you need to know; in regard to perfect mates.", Dazis rubbed his arm, wondering how he was going to tell her about the visions without freaking her out.
"Dazis...is it a good thing?", Rebecca asked softly, surprised to see him looking so nervous for once, and Dazis nodded, "Yes, it is...The way they know prior in finding their mates, it comes either in puberty or in the prime of adulthood which is in the 20s physically...and...I'm one of them as of late...", looking at her directly.
"And?", Rebecca asked. "How is it you know who your mate is?", looking curious yet a little surprised. "Dreams.", Dazis said. "Well, visions, more than likely, which could be explained, but we see our mates; sometimes prior to even actually meeting them.".
Rebecca widened her eyes as she connected the dots of why Dazis was so nervous, her heart skipping a beat, whispering, "Me? But...I...I'm...I'm not worthy of you!".
Dazis shook his head. "Rebecca, please, don't think anything like that!", he said as he squeezed her hand. "You are not unworthy... of me or anybody!".
Rebecca was stunned by his firm proclamation, and Dazis didn't stop there, "Rebecca, for the last month and a half, I was falling in love with you, and your child, and I don't intend to deny my feelings anymore that I am taking this chance to say them...You are the most incredible woman ever in my eyes, resilient and determined to try for any chance of happiness for this child, even if it denies yourself love again in a man, and you aren't pathetic, that bastard is, and he would never know how it feels to see such a stunning, glowing, and brave woman smiling again like I have, and to feel so relieved, protective, and proud of every moment you talk about the baby's actions and such, and I stayed on boundaries, even if I wanted to hold you so badly when you feel down and sad, and feel the baby kicking against my hands, and honestly a bit sad at the fact that I'd never be her true father instead of that bastard, but I love her all the same as much as I love you, Rebecca Primrose Barnes.", as Rebecca had said her middle name in one of their conversations in the past.
"You... you do?", Rebecca whispered as she was absolutely stunned at that moment hearing him say that. Especially with how so soon those words were said.
Dazis gave her a soft smile, "I do...I understand if you want to be alone to think about this...I realize that it's a bit rushed this way, but I...I have been containing those feelings almost from that night in the gardens...", raising his other hand to stroke his cheek, "And if a sudden cheek kiss out of gratitude is the only affection I'd ever remember, I'll take it...I wouldn't want to lose our friendship if you still feel uncomfortable around intimacy, and I won't force you.", with a understanding look.
Rebecca exhaled, remembering that mates are forbidden to harm their own mates, and that mates won't force their own mates for anything, and he never had harmed her or forced her, always questioning in a way of choice for her, making sure that she and her daughter is safe and comfortable, and he had always been a shoulder for her to lean on which is rare, with being an ear for her when she talks which is more common.
And to hear such words that he's determined to be a father even if he wasn't her daughter's biological father, loving her daughter, not disgusted or anything of concern, and to say that he loves her...And to spit metaphorically at the bastard while reassuring her that she's...she's worthy of him nor her family...
Rebecca looked at him, squeezing his hand, "And when I'm not pregnant?", biting her lip, knowing sometimes not at their fault, but babies sometimes split lovers up, and get blamed for crying and all, just being babies.
"Wouldn't make a difference at all.", Dazis assured her. "You wouldn't change just because you're not pregnant, you'd still be the same and my heart would still burn for you all the same; no matter what happens with the child. They'll not be their father; I know you'll see to that because they'll know only your love.".
Rebecca's eyes prickled with tears, and whispered, "And they'll know your love too...", and Dazis gave a smile, "I wouldn't have done it any other way, Rebecca...I know she'll be beautiful, and caring, and witty, just like her mother...".
Rebecca blushed, smiling shyly, and brushed a strand of hair over her ear, "You haven't been kissed on the lips, have you?", and Dazis blushed in embarrassment, "No, I haven't had the chance, and besides, I kept a promise to myself that the first kiss would be with my mate...I just never thought I'd have a beautiful mate from the surface thanks to my visions, yet here you are, and I sincerely swear I'd never hurt you or your daughter...".
"I believe you, Dazis.", Rebecca smiled, and took a deep breath as she grabbed his hands to touch her baby bump through her tunic shirt, and saw his overjoyed and amazed look when her daughter kicked happily, her heart skipping a beat at the glint of love in those eyes, and then caressed his cheek, grabbing his attention, "It has been a long time since I kissed on the lips...Do you really want me?".
"What is it going to take for me to truly prove that?", Dazis chuckled as Rebecca blushed before giving a small nod. "I suppose you're right... but I have been burned before.", she reminded.
"I know. And I'm not going to insist and try to tell you that I'd obviously be different. You have to decide that, and I won't force you.", Dazis gave her a patient, loving smile.
Rebecca gave a small smile, and went to lean in, pressing her lips against his lips, and Dazis felt something he never felt before as he gently followed her lead as the kiss became more.
Her heart pounding as Rebecca felt the familiar sensation yet it's somehow different and stronger than what she expected, and her hormones was feeling it as she tentatively yet eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his arms holding her gently yet lovingly, making her feel like she's safe and comfortable, her daughter moving around in the womb in joy and soaking into the happiness and discovering love of her mommy and the nice man who is loving them both.
They broke the kiss in a few moments as Rebecca took a deep breath. "That... that felt nice... different than before...", she told him.
"In a good or bad way?", Dazis asked, wondering if maybe it was the former; considering what she had said about her previous lover.
Rebecca looked at him with a growing smile, "Good way...I...I don't know when I'd say those words, but...I can do small steps with you...", and Dazis smiled tenderly, "I'd take that over anything. And it feels amazing to feel the child moving within you...".
Rebecca looked happy for that bastard never did that, but for Dazis to love all of her, including her baby, and she whispered, "And I think she really likes you too, Dazis...", and he looks very overjoyed to hear that.
After seeing that their feet has gone wrinkly in the natural jacuzzi, they took them out, and with care and tender love, the couple got up, and so, Dazis was happy at every little step she did out of her choice, like holding hands, facing each other while having some lunch, and dozing in one of the peaceful clearings while allowing Dazis to rest his head on the grass close to her baby bump to whisper a story to her daughter, and of course, kisses on her cheek, her lips, and her hands.
Rebecca was soon escorted back to the palace, and Dazis smiled at her, "Thank you for giving me one of my happiest days...May I court you, Lady Rebecca?", and Rebecca blushed, smiling, "Yes, Dazis...Thank you for giving me time to get used to your affections. Until tomorrow, then?", knowing that he has a shift tonight on the steps outside the palace, not the gardens this time.
Dazis nodded, "Until tomorrow, my Fireheart.", kissing her hand, and stroked her baby bump gently, "Behave good for your mother, sweet girl...", feeling a kick, earning the couple to chuckle, and he smiled, "Just like her mother.", looking at her with a smile.
Rebecca blushed again, and quirked an eyebrow, "Have you forgotten something?", and Dazis looked confused for a second, "Have I?", and Rebecca giggled, "You forgot to give a good night kiss to my daughter...and me...".
Dazis smiled. "Sorry, let me correct that...", he said as he leaned over to give her a kiss for a few moments before he backed away a bit again. "Would you like me to kiss your belly too?", he asked as Rebecca nodded. "It's the close you can get to giving her a kiss right now.", she chuckled.
Dazis chuckled, "True.", before kneeling down to kiss her baby bump lovingly on the sliver of skin with a smile, feeling a kick in response, "Good night, sweet girl.", and stood up, looking at Rebecca, "Good night, Rebecca.".
Rebecca smiled, "Good night, Dazis.", and Dazis smiled as he then headed out, leaving his newfound loves of his life as Rebecca opened the door, closing it, leaning on it as she rested a hand on her chest, exhaling, smiling happily, stroking her baby bump, looking at it, "Well, we might finally have found the one...Still, do you understand if I still keep him at some distance for a time?".
A soft kick came almost like her daughter's pouting, and she chuckled, "I know, little one, but just be patient. Are you happy at least with all his affections today?".
An eager kick came, and she almost winced, smiling, "I had a feeling you'd say that...I wish he'd be your father, little one.", with a light sigh, feeling another kick, and she chuckled, "You too, huh?", before a sound grabbed her attention, hearing muttering and groaning with the sound of throwing up.