homeless_pard | Later...home

Entry tags:

jason au,
starter

Later...home

Who: Khem, Jason
When: Home from WW.
What: Hello pregnancy?

She woke, smiling; how could she not? She was home, in her own bed in the rooms above the shop and her husband was beside her, hair honey in the light that leaked past the curtain. He worked late, so she oft woke before he did, with much to do in this world. Shops were open during the day after all and she had been away some time. Like they'd be short of many key items and no few medicines for her regulars. It felt wonderful to be back in the place she had made for herself honestly. She trusted her high lord to handle the horses that had come with them, and to look upon the grander view of their realm. She had...here.

Here and a husband and it was a wonderful thing. She kissed him gently before slipping from the bed. No matter they'd been months and months upon the search for her anchors in her old world and coming back to the gate, the wonder that was wedded life hadn't faded in the least for her. Her lord, her Jason, had chosen to cleave unto her. She had only to share him with her sworn high lord, a fealty as ingrained and accepted as breathing. Her Jason wouldst ever look for the feeling of the high lord's fangs, and betimes his bed. But otherwise he was hers and she wouldst never time of that fact.

Her bed. Their bed. It was enough to bring heat to her cheeks as she slipped down the stairs to the living quarters above the shop and set her kettle to brewing. Skilled was a mild term to apply to her love honestly. Heated mayhap, eager to share his knowledge...

...skill...

...she poured her morning tea without truly realizing, and lifted the cup to her lips when her talisman of Gunnora flared hot, truly burning and sharp against her chest. She yelped and dropped the cup, cup shattering on the floor as she bent forward to get the molten feeling gem off her skin. Ouch ouch ouch...she looked down at the mark on her chest, bewildered, then turned to go downstairs further to the greenhouse. A burn ointment, best to keep this...mild...and then he was staring at the mark for a moment, considering. What, and why?

What and why indeed?

How long had...her tea was not harmful unless...

...when had she last had a cycle?

She blinked, considering amongst the waving greenery in the glass house.

Unless she was three months in.

Almost on cue with the realization there was roil of mild nausea, she winced and fled back upstairs.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh dear.

She wiped her mouth and brushed her teeth, eyes large and dark in the mirror when she dared glance. She had to go...wake Jason. Right now. Yes. Wake him and apologize.

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Lillian spared a glance at Jason. "If there is someone you trust, then of course. But let's make ourselves certain before worrying about all of that, hmm?"

She ushered Khemrys to the small, adjoining bathroom and closed the door. "Breathe, Jason," she reminded him.

"Lillian," Jason started in a helpless whisper. "Can we trust anyone else? If she is, what if there are complications? Or...I'm outed, so..."

"We're testing now, Jason. You have plenty of time before jumping into 'what-if's', so just...calm yourself."

Khemry rested her head against the cool tile wall in the bathroom for a long moment, knowing that Lillian no doubt needed a few moments to speak with Jason. Perhaps the Dame would be more reassuring than she had been?

Or firmer.

One or the other.

And then yes once more with the rather embarrassing test method. Feh. "None that I wouldst know of," she admitted when she came out again finally. "But I'd not wish to strain you either shouldst it come to such."

Lillian turned back from Jason with a comforting smile. "Don't worry too much about it: I've treated a few young women through the early months. I'll put some feelers out: I think I know someone I used to work with that moved into midwifery."

She gestured Khemrys towards her exam table before turning and fiddling with the testing cup and strips. "Let me get everything set up for an ultrasound and then we should have a result. Jason, you can move your chair closer."

Not so much an offer than a command, so Jason nervously slid his chair up next to Khemrys.

"Khemrys, I need your belly exposed; there are some drapes in that drawer next to Jason."

Ah, she was...just wearing a slip on dress over her chemise wasn't she? She flushed and stepped behind Jason to slip from said dress and poked him gently to find her a a drape? "This is the machine which was used to aid me in finding the pieces of silver that one time?" A bullet had shattered and she had trouble finding all bits before healing could be done!

It was still a rather intimidating machine but if she had at least seen it in action before...

...that might help?

Jason reached down into the drawer and turn slightly, holding the drape up for her to stand behind until she was ready to take it. He didn't notice her flush so much as expect it: his eyes were back on her belly.

"That's the one," Lillian answered. "But people usually find them a lot more exciting in these instances."

She appreciated curtain as it were, as she had to shed even her shift for this and she was STILL not overly fond of showing so much skin thank you. When she was clad in the gown rather than hiding behind it she threaded hands into Jason's hair, smiling gently, "my Jason, staring will not grant you an answer here..." she teased gently before settling on the table for Lillian.

"Ah, yes, mayhap exciting? It seems it wouldst be a point of...great conversation amongst all we know."

Her hands in his hair distracted him for a moment and he turned to press his cheek against her arm. "Sorry," he mumbled absently.

"Well yes, that too," Lillian chuckled, "But more for the parents-to-be: it's usually the first look most get of their baby."

Or Only look. Jason and Lillian both knew that well enough, and well enough to not say it aloud.

As she finished getting the ultrasound set up, she glanced once more at her work station and turned to the pair with a small smile. "Positive result on the urine test. Congratulations." She ignored Jason's pale expression and leaned in to squeeze some gel onto Khemrys's belly. "Sorry if it's a little cold."

"I have never feared such," she admitted quietly. "But seeing a child before it is born, yes that will be new..." she admitted, taking Jason's hands and squeezing them rather tightly. She could sense his tension.

And his worry. ANYONE could sense his worry with him paling like that honestly!

"Gunnora will like wish to speak with...any who are saddened by this." No, Jason could not have his hands back. She was SOUNDING calm for his sake, but well. Some nerves still certainly. And the gel was cold.

Lillian paused and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Don't you worry about that, Khemrys. I'm sure everyone will be more happy for the two of you than sad for themselves. Ok? Ok, let's take a look." She pressed the probe low on Khemrys's abdomen, shifting the angle as she watched the screen. Jason...had no idea what they were even looking at: it was just grey fuzzy static.

Lillian clicked a few keys on her keyboard. "See here?" she smiled, moving the pointer on the computer screen over the grainy image that began taking shape. Supposedly. "Here's the baby's head, this is the spine, and that little speck there is a foot..."

Jason...didn't faint. Or go paler (if that was even possible). But there was a soft inhalation as he stared slightly open-mouthed.

"...I meant that she has sanctuaries," she admitted quietly. "That others may have such to ease their sadness." But that was something to approach slowly for her goddess!

Iccccky slimy moving wand yes. She tried not to laugh nervously or shudder? It was just such an unnatural feeling! But then yes her eyes were riveted to the screen and she smiled, "Ah, such a small thing still my Jason. Look, you have made something beautiful with me..."

Jason's head cocked ever so to the side as he continued to stare. The image moved and he jumped. Yes, real, then: it was moving. The nervous energy didn't dissipate, but the corner of his mouth quirked ever so slightly as he breathed, "I can see it."

Lillian smiled, clicking for measurements and reorienting them when she moved the probe for a different view. And her eyebrows raised for a moment as she continued clicking and adjusting. "Hm," was all that was audible.

Khemrys squeezed his hands again, worried at that jumping. He was so tense and it twas worrisome.

And that hmmmm was worrisome too honestly.

"Is that...a third foot?" she hissed, braid poofing.

He squeezed back, mesmerized by the screen. It was sort of blobby, but when she pointed things out he could suddenly see the parts she was describing. It looked vaguely baby-shaped? But...it was there: moving and real.

Lillian pressed her lips together. "I'm not getting a very clear image," she admitted, "But on some angles..." She almost looked apologetic in her smile. "There might be two."

"...Two? Two what?" Jason blinked.

She blinked, considering...then paled herself? "Gunnora's blessing." SHE HADN'T REALLY PAID ATTENTION THEN OKAY?! "Twins." Twins.

Oh. Oh dear. Her husband was going to PASS OUT WASN'T HE?! "Please stay upright my Jason, please, I"m in no position to ease your fall..." at all.

Um.

Yeah.

Jason blinked slowly, eyes widening. "Wait, what?" No, not fainting right now, but intently studying the image on the screen to try to see what they were seeing that he wasn't.

Lillian, however... "Gunnora's blessing? What is that, Khemrys?"

"She came to the shop, when I opened," she winced. "And it was a pleasant conversation but it ended with 'a gift, twins I think' if I recall correctly. It had no bearing then!" SHE HAD FORGOTTEN!

There was the brushing sound of a long cloak in the hall beyond? "And so," Gunnora agreed in amusement.

Jason was blinking a lot, eyes straining at the screen. "...wait...what?" He looked up at the sound of Gunnora's voice, less shocked to see the goddess there than over their current situation. "What?"

Lillian was actually more shocked over the appearance of the goddess, because clearly this being was not from this world. "Oh. Um...hello?" She had no idea how to act around a goddess. "Lady Gunnora I'm guessing? I'd offer tea, but my hands are full at the moment."

The lips beneath the deep hood shifted ever moment; purple, now bloodless and chapped, now thin and stretched over too sharp teeth, but her voice was warm like honest pooling into tea? "How could I not gift the ones who led us here?" she chuckled softly. "Hello Lady Lillian, we will take tea another time you and I."

"Our, ah...shocked delight my lady Gunnora?" Khemrys swallowed. "You've..."

"I look forward to the things your bloodline shall achieve in this world."

Jason's mind was still reeling while the rest spoke with Gunnora.

"I would be honored," Lillian nodded to Gunnora. She thought to pull the probe away while they spoke with the goddess, but she wasn't sure what Jason's reaction would be without that visual distraction.

But...

Jason's gaze shot up to Gunnora, worry etched on his face. "Mattil said there was only so much y'all could...step in about. You...you know for sure you can make this ok?"

gunnora smiled, reaching out a chapped, sword calloused, no, slim and dark as worn wood, or was it wrinkled and aged? hand to touch his brow, "she is mine, young lord. She is mine and and amongst my purview is Childbirth. I wouldst never gift my follower danger."

A brief, resonating touch of warm Power to the worried spouse then she was reaching to touch the scan screen, smiling in all her varied appearances, "and we will discuss this lovely tool I think. Such joys and horrors in turns your world."

He couldn't help but react to her touch of power, and he felt the worry ease back a touch so his voice was less demanding. "You have enough pull here? With how...how our shifters work?"

Lillian cocked an eyebrow. "The machine just shows what's there, Lady: it's on the rest of us whether something is a horror or joy. But either way, it gives us the information we need to deal with it."

"Aye, my truest link here, young lord, is your lady wife. I am strongest through her and that may defeat anything your reality might demand in this case!" she barked a laugh that somehow held the sultry warmth of a maiden's first kiss, the tired snap of a worn mother, and the dusty slowness of a crone knitting by the hearth. "Just as my daughter's avatar is utterly immune to your infections." Just as.

Just as.

She chuckled, her voice oddly close to Lilian's now, "no, this tool is a joy lady, the horrors lay elsewhere in this land."

Jason let out a breath. He didn't sound fully convinced, but no, he wasn't about to doubt Gunnora. Not out loud, anyway. He wouldn't be fully convinced until...

He paled again.

"But...twins?!"

"Jason, I'm sure you'll find plenty of hands eager to help," Lillian snickered. "Lady Gunnora, would you like to see another clever tool of this machine?" She clicked the board and suddenly a rapid whooshing sound filled the room. "Your babies' heartbeats," she explained to Khemrys with a near motherly smile.

Not out loud hmmm? "Shall I ask mym lord to console you as to the coming sleepless nights?" she teased Jason gently, the lips and chin visible now as utterly...Khemrys's just add to the joke. Granted, Mattil would likely stop by later regardless!

Both she AND Khemrys tilted their heads at Lillian's question though; this wasn't exactly something the healer had witnessed in the previous usage of bullet shard locating! "Ah? OH! Oh my..." she actually dropped one of Jason's hands to touch the print out, tears welling in her eyes.

Gunnora chuckled warmly, touching Khemrys briefly, "again my blessing child. Lady Lillian, I look forward to tea," and she was simply...gone, leaving naught but the scent of sun ripened wheat and heavy, mature grapes in her wake.

Jason actually held a high respect for Khem's goddess, but damn if he didn't manage to narrow his eyes somewhat at the joke. Thankfully, Lillian's sudden audio interruption completely stole his attention. The uncertain, crooked smile reappeared while he watched Khemrys reach out. "That's...that's really...them?"

Them. He'd have to get a grasp on that later.

Lillian nodded. "I'll save it as a file for you," she promised. She gave them another moment before slowly pulling the probe back. "Do you want me to try to print some of the pictures for you? I have the files saved but anything I print isn't going to be nice photo paper right now."

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