Chapter 14: Exchange

Song Connection: "A Change I Need"

Early one evening in Exchancia, Orchid began feeling lightheaded and nauseated. According to some of the other maids, she'd nearly passed out in one of the rooms when they were making up the bed. Thankfully, another woman had caught her before she hit the floor, and they both went to the steward to speak to him.

Of course, Brookes became concerned when he saw the older maid shuffling forward with his partner hanging onto her. In a steady voice, because he was still acting as the head of the servants in this undercover mission, he asked, "Orchid, are you all right?"

She shook her head, immediately regretting it as it caused her nausea to resurface. "Mm, no, sir," she whispered, stilling her head to keep from causing more trouble for herself. "I'm not feelin' well."

He frowned, turning to the older maid. "Sharon, can you please take her to the medical bay and get her examined?"

"Yes, sir," Sharon responded, helping Orchid move forward. "Come on, Orchid. It's going to be all right. I've got you."

When they left, Brookes let out a heavy sigh, his face betraying his concern as he stared after them. "Orchid…"

"Well, I believe I know the issue," the medic informed Orchid as Sharon sat next to her, holding her hand in support. "You're pregnant."

"I'm what?" The undercover maid sat up, staring at the medic in shock. "Pregnant? How?" Sure, she and Brookes enjoyed some physical activity on occasion, but they'd always tried to be careful when doing so. Well… Except for a few weeks ago, but he'd looked exceptionally dashing in that new suit when he was preparing for an evening ball at the castle, and trying to distract him a bit longer, she'd worn her finest silk robe she'd found at one of the bazaar booths, which was unfortunately beyond use anymore due to her partner's…energetic nature that night. Of course, it only took one time, but now? During their mission? When they were getting closer to the end and to that $25 million?

"Well, when two people really love each other or find each other attractive—"

"Hush, Percy, I think she's in enough shock as it is," Sharon chided. Percy was her brother, so she had no problem calling him by his first name. "Orchid, hon, do you know who the father is?"

She frowned. "I do, but I'm not sure how he's going to take this news. It's not exactly ideal…" She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples before settling her hands over her face.

Sharon chuckled, patting her back. "You know, I think Brookes is a bit more understanding than you'd assume. Just talk to him after his shift ends and see what happens."

The younger woman gasped and dropped her hands to her lap. "What makes you think Brookes is the father?"

The other maid smirked and gave her friend a knowing look. "Orchid… Come on… I see the way you two share amorous glances at each other each day. Plus, you pinched him on his rear end a few months ago, thinking no one noticed."

Orchid blushed darkly, looking away. "S-So what if he's the father? I don't think he's the type who would want to…have a child to look after… No, I should just keep it to myself and tell him later."

"When?" Percy asked, a dubious expression on his features. "When you're too weak to work? When your belly is bigger than Queen Ember's ego?" He grinned when Sharon smacked him on the shoulder. "You know it's true. Come on, Orchid. Tell him tonight before it becomes an issue. You don't know. He could be excited about it, and maybe you two can find better jobs and start a life together."

Surprise, excitement, devastation, concern… All those emotions were flooding Orchid at the same time as she made it back to her chambers that she shared with Brookes. With the double life they led, becoming pregnant was so dangerous and stupid. Sure, she knew there was a risk of it happening, but for three years they'd been so careful. It shouldn't have been a concern to express her love for her partner, at least not in normal circumstances. But nothing about this was normal. It never had been.

She stood in front of a full-length mirror and removed her maid outfit, setting it aside, standing in a simple slip instead. She turned sideways, her hands instinctively reaching down to settle on her abdomen. "A baby," she murmured, a strange emotion overtaking her. Orchid had never even considered having children before now. Not in her line of work, and certainly not now. But since it had happened, she knew there needed to be a change. A change for herself, for Brookes, and for their unborn child.

She was nervous to talk to him about this though. She wanted out now, for fear of the danger that could fall upon them, especially with the queen and her brother possessing so much power. They'd been foolish to stay all this time anyway, but now, another innocent life was in danger. Forget the $25 million. Forget their jobs. This really was a matter of life and death at this point…

Orchid sat down and began planning an out for them—something to do and somewhere to go when they left. She looked up when the door to the chambers opened, and she watched Brookes enter, locking the door behind him, before sitting down on their bed. "I'm sorry for leavin' early, Brookes…"

He smiled gently at her, shaking his head. "The others were able to cover for you. Are you feeling any better?"

"Well… Yes and no…" Seeing his confusion, she explained, "I know what caused my sickness, but…it ain't goin' away any time soon."

"What do you…?" Brookes paused, his eyes widening. "Orchid… Are you pregnant?"

She nodded, expecting a negative reaction from the older man. Instead, he seemed both astounded yet elated. It was quite a mix of emotions, which she could understand. "Brookes… What should we do? I kind of wanted to…" She gestured toward the window, indicating the action of leaving, when she saw his expression darken ever so slightly.

"Leave? Now?" He nodded thoughtfully, and then he sighed. "We'd be giving up a substantial amount of money doing so… But we'd stay out of danger, and…" His smile returned as he moved over to her, kneeling next to her, kissing her belly ever so gently. "I've never told you this, but I always dreamed of being a father… I just never thought it would happen for me."

"Brookes…" She ran her fingers through his ponytailed hair and sighed, leaning back a bit in the chair. "We need a plan. If we're leavin', we should know when, where, how… How far should we travel? What should we do next to support ourselves?"

He looked up at her, grasping her free hand. "We'll figure it out. We'll come up with new identities, and we'll abandon both occupations. Paul won't even know where we are, which is probably for the best, considering the circumstances…"

"We can start over," she added, smiling warmly at him. "Just you, me, and the little bean."

"Hmm. I like the sound of that…"

Never did two assassins believe they'd just abandon their posts and all that money for a quaint life in the country with a baby on the way, but that's exactly what they did weeks later, after quite a lot of planning. In the dark of the night, Brookes and Orchid disappeared, nothing of theirs left behind to even indicate they'd ever existed.

Of course, Ember was furious since she'd have to find a replacement for each person, but she also had no idea how close she'd been to death. Her life had been spared by a life that had not even yet begun—irony in its purest form.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Best Laid Plans