The next chapter is up! Enjoy!
February12, 2026 2:32am…
Mia had a hard time getting comfortable.
It's been that way for a while now. The weight of her stomach makes it uncomfortable. Not to mention, she was always a straight up stomach sleeper. But being pregnant, she can't sleep in that position anymore.
She could only sleep on her back or sides. Though she generally tries to sleep on her sides because on her back, it's too uncomfortable, like all the weight is dropping down into her organs.
While sleeping on her sides was better, it still wasn't one hundred percent comfortable. After a while, the weight shifts all onto that one side, putting pressure on the hip and side.
At least this whole thing was temporary, and the baby will be here next month with her due date being March 28th. But even then, it was still not an exact science, when they give you a due date, it's more like an estimate.
The baby could easily come before or after that exact date.
Her mom kept telling her, she has a feeling that the baby may come early. Though Mia doesn't know why her mom thinks that. Mia herself was six days late from her original due date. Yet her brother John was a week early.
So, perhaps there is a chance it could go either way. Though if she had to choose, she'd hope for the latter and that she will come early rather than late.
The bigger her stomach became, the more uncomfortable and awkward it got. Still, at the same time, it was amazing to be able to feel her unborn daughter moving about inside of her.
Even the times, it didn't feel so pleasant, because she would use her organs for a soccer ball.
Speaking of the baby, she was currently sitting on her bladder, and now she had to use the bathroom. So, Mia got up as quietly as possible, trying to make as little movement as she could so not to awaken Aerin from his sleep.
He's always been a very light sleeper. She was too
Before getting up completely, she shifted her gaze to the small digital clock on the nightstand next to her iPhone. The clock said 2:34am.
Once she successfully made it out of bed, she headed for the bedroom door. She rather use the bathroom down the hall than the one in their bedroom, because if she were to use the one in the bedroom, flushing the toilet may wake him up.
Plus, she was also a little thirsty and wanted to get a glass of water from the kitchen. The hallway bathroom was on the way there.
By the time she got to the door and was about to open it, she heard a soft patter on the rug covered floor behind her.
Mia turned around and saw it was Tundra.
The dog must've heard her get up and decided to get up and go with her. It's kind of been this way, since she became pregnant. The dog became a little more protective around her, sticking closer to her side more than usual and never straying too far from her.
Even when they would go for walks on the beach, he would walk beside her, rather than run around like a nut in the sand like he normally did before she was pregnant.
Mia gave him a soft smile and pat his head. Afterwards, he gave her hand a couple licks.
She then faced the door once more and slowly opened it. Then she and Tundra headed out into the hall. Mia quietly closed the door all the way behind her, then she walked or more like waddled down the hall to the other bathroom.
When she got there, Tundra tried following her into the bathroom. Until she stopped him.
"Oh, no. You're not following me in there and watching me take a piss. Stay out here." She whispered.
He made a small whimpering sound, but she was not swayed.
"Nope, stay." She ordered.
The dog let out what sounded like a grumbling sound, before parking his furry butt on the floor right outside the door.
Mia couldn't help but smile in amusement and shake her head as she closed the bathroom door.
After a couple minutes, she finished up in the bathroom, flushed the toilet, and washed her hands. Then she opened the door and headed back out into the hallway.
Tundra quickly got up and moved out of the way as she came out.
Then Mia walked a little further down the hall until she entered the living room. She crossed it, passing the basement door on the right and headed into the kitchen.
One of the plug in night lights was already on in there, that way she didn't have to turn on the kitchen lights.
She walked in and approached the countertop on the other side.
Thankfully, there were already a couple of glasses lined up on the countertop. Aerin had left some there for her, seeing as her large, pregnant stomach made it difficult for her to lean forward and reach up into the cabinet for glasses.
Mia plucked one off the counter and brought it over to the fridge. Then she placed it under the tiny waterspout built into the fridge door and pressed the small lever back with the glass.
A tiny light came on and a small stream of water came out, slowly filling the glass.
When it was filled enough, she pulled it back and took a couple of sips. Then she turned around and waddled out of the kitchen, with Tundra still walking beside her.
Mia didn't go straight back to the bedroom though. Instead, she walked across the living room and stood by one of the windows that faced the beachfront.
As she peered through the blinds, a small smile slowly crept onto her face.
It was snowing out. The ground already was covered, and the sky was bleak and grey as countless snowflakes fell from the sky.
While she still isn't fond of the snow, the reason why she was smiling is because it made her remember something.
As the memory played in her mind, she didn't realize that the bedroom door opened and someone came walking out and down the hall, nor did she hear them enter the living room.
It wasn't until they were a few feet behind her did she hear the faint footsteps crossing the rug that covered the living room floor.
Mia's smile widened, when she felt a pair of arms gently wrap around her bulging midsection, resting their hands over her baby bump. Then she felt lips press a soft kiss to the top of the back of her head.
"Having some trouble sleeping again, Wilwarin?" Aerin asks, his raspy voice breaking the silence in the room.
She sighs, "Yeah, the weight is just…becoming a little too much for me. No matter how I lay, there is always pressure bearing down on one area or another. Even when I tend to sleep on my sides, I still feel the weight and pressure pushing down on my hips and sides."
"If that is the case, we should go and get you one of those full body pillows to lay on. It may help relieve the pressure from the extra weight. We can go and get one in the morning." He says.
This isn't the first time that suggestion was mentioned. When a full body pillow was mentioned before to her, she just shrugged it off, thinking she didn't really need it.
But as time went on, Mia now believes that she may in fact need one. Anything to help relieve the pressure on her hips and sides when she lays on either side.
"Ok, because at this point, I do feel like I need one after all." She replied.
The pair continued standing there in front of the window, both had their gaze on the view outside of the snow softly fluttering down to the ground. It was actually a nice and calming view.
"This is just how it was that night a year ago." Mia said.
"What night was that?" Aerin inquired.
Her smile returned, "If you check the date on our iPhones right now, you will see that the date is February 12th. It was February 12th last year in the middle of the night when you arrived here on Earth and just like that night, it is snowing at this time. It's the first thing that came to mind when I came to this window and saw the snow coming down."
A soft smile slowly appeared on his face.
"I remember, though at that time, I didn't know what the exact date was. But yes, I do recall waking up and seeing snow coming down and could feel the cold sheet of snow beneath me as I laid there on the ground. I was so confused and hadn't a clue where I was or how I really got here.
Next thing I know, I heard your voice, asking me if I was ok. Then I looked over and saw you standing there with Tundra next to you, not a few feet away. I was a little baffled about where you came from and why you were dressed so oddly.
Nonetheless, I was grateful for your assistance and welcoming me into your home. A home that at first looked very strange in appearance with all the strange items and objects that took up space within it. I will admit, it took some time to really adjust and get used to this strange yet fascinating world. But at least I did.
It wasn't long after you escorted me to the guestroom to get some rest, that I started thinking hard on how it was I got here. The only explanation I truly could think of is that the Vala had sent me here when they granted me new life." He explained.
Then a brief huff of laughter left him.
"I cannot begin to describe to you the look on my face when I saw my reflection in the mirror atop the dresser in there for the first time. It was very shocking yet welcoming, seeing myself as I once was, before I was twisted, scarred, and mutilated by Morgoth and Sauron.
The only thing more alarming than seeing myself unscarred, that I wasn't counting on, was seeing myself as a human. Certainly, it was not something I ever expected to happen. Nor begin to understand why they not only gave me a new life but made me human on top of that." Aerin added.
"Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Elves and Uruks don't exist here on Earth. Only humans. And that is why they made you human upon sending you here." Mia speculated.
"That does make a lot of sense and why it would be irrelevant to give me a second life as an elf. Can't be part of a race that doesn't dwell here on this world. It is also something I did theorize in the first few months of taking up residence here. Especially, after you told me for the very first time then; that there were no such races here when I brough them up in conversation." He surmised.
"In a way, it worked out for the best. Because in the end, I feel like if you arrived here an elf; it could've ended up being dangerous for you if other people found out. It would especially raise questions among the populace about why you're not aging like everyone else. That alone would give you away and point out that you weren't exactly human, but something else entirely." She stated.
"Yes, I believe that too. Then just like that show about aliens and UFOs, they most likely would've taken me to that Area 51 and had me studied." He lightly joked.
"Sadly, you're probably not wrong. Even if you were to say, 'I come in Peace'; I don't think they'll buy into it and still keep you under close observation." Mia says, with a small, amused grin.
"I doubt I'd say something as fruity as 'I come in Peace'. More like I'd say something akin to, 'May I use your bathroom, please? I have been sitting in this observation room for hours and really need to relieve myself'." He joked again.
She couldn't help but laugh a little at that remark.
In a way, she wouldn't put it past Aerin to say something along those lines, because if there was one thing she had learned about him this past year, it was that he did tend to be a Smartass at times.
"I don't know if that is a very good idea. They may decide to follow you to the bathroom and try to see if they could spot anything else different about you, like if you had two dicks instead of one, or something." Mia joked back, with some laughter in her voice.
"Now that paints a disturbing image." He said, with a small cringe.
She couldn't help but softly laugh again at that.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it would for anyone." She replied.
A small smile returned to her face.
"Still can't believe it has been a year since you came here, and we met. All the things we experienced together and learned from each other. Now, look where we are, exactly a year later." Mia says, as she rests her hands over his, that are still resting on her swollen abdomen.
Aerin couldn't help but smile as well, as he continued standing behind her with his front pressed to her back and his arms around her heavily pregnant stomach.
"Yes, we have come very far within that time. When I first arrived here, I didn't expect that this would happen. Even after you welcomed me into your home and showed me kindness, a part of me didn't think anything would go further than that. But after spending so much time with you, I found it harder each day in the coming months not to fall for you." He told her.
Her smile widened a little.
"I know what you mean. It was the same for me too. At first, I wasn't expecting anything more than friendship. But as we spent more time together and I grew to know you, that all changed. You are just so kind, caring, and funny, it was hard not to develop feelings towards you as time went on." She said.
He knelt his head down and pressed a small kiss to the top of her head again and gently stroked her protruding stomach.
"And I don't regret anything leading up to this point, I am more than happy to share this new life with you and our child." He softly says.
Plus, the fact that they are to be married in a few months. They settled on a summer wedding when the weather would be beautiful, and their daughter would be a few months old by then. It will be nothing big, and they won't be inviting a ton of people. Mostly just family and friends they know very well.
She leaned back into him a little while still resting her hands and arms over his.
"I love you." Mia tells him.
"And I love you." He replied.
They stayed like that for a few more moments before he spoke again.
"Though I think you forgot one detail besides the kind, caring, and funny traits that I possess." He stated.
She quirked a brow, "And that is?"
"You forgot to mention handsome." He replied, with a lopsided smirk.
Mia was silent for a moment then let out a small chuckle.
"Oh, forgive me. How could I have forgotten that important detail? Of course, I find you very handsome." She teased.
"Just as I find you to be very beautiful." He said.
She snorted at that.
"Hardly, not when I'm roughly the size of the goddamn Hindenburg as it is." Mia quipped.
Having seen many documentaries from that time period, he knew exactly what the Hindenburg was, including its terrible fate.
"Don't be silly, you're not that big…more like the size of the Empire State Building plus, a couple oil tankers on top of that." He teased.
"In a moment, this 'Empire State Building' is going to sit on your ass and cripple you if you don't stop with the huge jokes." She retorted.
"You almost did cripple my legs over a month back when you were on top of me while we made love. Lost feeling in them and everything afterwards for a little while." Aerin replied, with a smirk.
He then laughed when she whacked his arm, because she didn't find it all that amusing.
"Seriously, shut up! That's not funny!" She blurted out.
After a few moments his laughter subsided.
Thinking about it, perhaps he should lay off the fat jokes. Seeing as one of the last times he teased her with such jokes, at one point, she did start crying because of it, due to hormones and not used to being so big. Then he felt bad and embraced her, all while apologizing.
"Sorry. I'll stop. Don't wish to upset you again, like last time." He said, with a hint of guilt.
Mia sighs, "It's fine. Just still not used to it is all. I feel so big and awkward."
"But as I said before, still beautiful." Aerin assured her.
She eventually turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest. Though even that felt a little awkward, because she had to lean a little over her stomach to do so.
He embraced her back, carding his fingers through her hair as he did so.
"Think I'm ready to try and go back to bed." She says.
"Alright, let's go then." He told her.
Before leaving, she picked up her glass of water from the cup holder in the recliner. So, she could bring it back with her.
Aerin kept an arm around her shoulders as they walked back to their bedroom. As always, Tundra followed them.
Once they entered the room, he rounded the bed and went into the closet. She heard him rummaging around in there for several seconds, before he came out with a few extra pillows under his arm.
Then he placed them on her side of the bed, lining them up vertically right below her own pillow.
"For tonight, we'll try this, and hope it helps you be a little more comfortable so you can sleep better." He says, as he placed the last one down.
She couldn't help but smile at the thoughtful idea.
"Thanks, I kind of forgot I had spare pillows in there." Mia said
Then she got in bed, and he helped her settle down on her side on the line of pillows without jostling them too much. It may be hard to keep them lined up with her body moving on top of them. But it was still better than nothing.
Once she settled on top of them and relaxed, she sank a bit into the soft pillows.
They cradled that side of her hip and side by making the surface beneath those areas a little softer than the mattress and she did feel a difference.
So far, there was less pressure.
"I am feeling a difference so far. Less pressure. Hopefully, it stays that way." She told him.
"Good, as I said, this is very temporary. We'll pick up a body pillow in the morning, after breakfast." He replied, while settling in beside her.
Aerin shuffled in closer and gave her a small kiss.
Mia draped an arm over his side and closed her eyes. While he draped an arm over her shoulder and settled back to sleep.
Eventually, she felt the pull of sleep and was finally able to drift off.
Thankfully, she didn't wake up again for the rest of the night and managed to sleep more peacefully. Just like the night they met, the snow filled the air with a soft, silent ambiance that surrounded the house, giving it a very calming and relaxing atmosphere.
Until Next Time!