At least tomorrow he would be a day closer to his family.
***
A knock came from the front door. Anna Leigh carefully rose from the couch while holding her stomach, grimacing when she felt a pinch in her back from moving too quickly. Her stomach had nearly doubled in size over the course of two weeks and she could already feel her feet swelling. She waddled to the door and pulled it open, allowing Elu to walk inside. He held up a bouquet of synthetic flowers. They shimmered in the afternoon light.
“Hello, darling,” she said. “Those look lovely. Thank you.”
After giving him a kiss, she waddled to the kitchen to put the synthetic flowers in a vase. Her mother walked into the kitchen and smiled warmly.
“Hello, Elu. How is everything?” Anna's mother asked, her tunic flowing behind her as she walked.
“It’s going well. How are you doing, Mrs. Black?” Elu asked.
“I’m doing fine. How is our prisoner doing?” she asked.
“Mother,” Anna Leigh said firmly. “Come on.”
“I’m just joking, dear,” her mother said sweetly while patting her arm. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I hope he’s getting along well.”
“He is doing fine, Mrs. Black. I just spoke to him earlier today,” Elu replied.
Elu smiled and gave Anna Leigh a kiss, placing a hand on her stomach.
“How did your appointment go today?” he asked, helping guide her towards the couch.
Anna Leigh sat down with a loud sigh and rested her head against the back of the couch.
“It went well. The baby is nearly full grown and I’m afraid I might pop soon,” Anna Leigh replied.
“That just means it has the strength of two fathers,” Elu said.
“Of course it does. Kuhlarai grow fairly quickly in the womb. It’s how our species thrived for so long,” Anna Leigh explained.
“I’m surprised you have lasted this long. Your mother said she barely lasted four weeks with you,” Elu said.
Anna Leigh nodded as his hand trailed over her stomach, watching the blue fingers lifting the hem of her shirt and tracing her belly button.
“That tickles,” she said with a giggle.
“Sorry,” he said.
“No, you can keep rubbing. My skin is so sore,” she said.
“Do you need lotion?” Elu asked.
Before she could respond, her mother leaned over the couch with a bottle of lotion and daubed it on her shoulder. When her mother left the room, she turned to Elu.
“I’m not sure I can do the plan in this condition. I can hardly walk,” Anna Leigh whispered while he lathered her belly with lotion.
“It’s going to be fine, darling. You just need to go for another week or so,” Elu replied in a low voice.
He set the bottle of lotion on the table and started rubbing her belly rhythmically. The skin moved and warped briefly before settling under his touch.
“But what if she comes early?” Anna Leigh asked.
“She?” Elu asked with a grin. “Are we having a girl?”
Anna Leigh shook her head.
“I’m not sure yet what we’re having, but it feels like a she. The doctor asked if I wanted to know the gender and I said no,” Anna Leigh replied.
“Well, why would you not want to know?” Elu asked.
“I’m a Kuhlarai. Its gender could change quickly before it comes out. It’s just the way our species works,” Anna Leigh replied.
“But I want to know now,” Elu said while leaning into her shoulder. “I just want to prepare with enough clothing.”
“Mother has clothing here and we can always buy new things,” Anna Leigh said. “The crib is set up in the nursery and we can decorate it soon.”
“But we won’t be having it here,” Elu said.
Anna Leigh looked down at her stomach, her features growing dark.
“I keep forgetting about that,” she whispered tearfully. “I wish we could be with mother. I don’t like this idea of running away.”
“Xander doesn’t seem to like it either, but it’s what we have to do if we want to be together without being torn apart,” Elu explained.
Anna Leigh rubbed her temples.
“I feel so overwhelmed thinking about it. I just don’t want to get caught and hurt the baby,” Anna Leigh said.
“It’s going to be okay. Our plan is flawless and we’ll be together soon,” Elu said. “Would you like me to rub your back?”
Anna Leigh nodded with a smile. As she leaned forward, Elu placed a pillow on her lap to lean against and he began rubbing the tense muscles. She hummed and collapsed forward into the pillow while he worked. It was incredibly difficult to be large and full of life all the time. Having Elu rub her shoulders made her feel better, but she wished she had Xander to rub her feet. She missed having both of her boys in one place.
“How long would we have to hide?” Anna Leigh asked.
Elu remained quiet as he worked out a knot carefully, rubbing the tense muscle with two fingers in a circular motion.
“Probably forever,” he replied.
“Really?” she asked.
“Well, yes. We’ll be fugitives, Anna Leigh,” Elu replied.
“That sounds awful,” she said.
“It is what it is, darling,” Elu said, rubbing his fingers across her neck. “You have so much tension in your neck. Are you sleeping well?”
“Not really,” she replied. “It’s hard to sleep without you and Xander.”
“I can stay tonight if you like,” Elu suggested.
“That would actually be wonderful,” she said. “Do you think Xander will get upset?”
“He might, but we can always call him later this afternoon. His visitation clearance includes some digital calls,” Elu explained.
“That would be lovely,” Anna Leigh said.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“No, dear. We just ate something. I could use a foot rub. I have to say, having two lovers is wonderful when my body is aching,” she joked.
Elu chuckled.
“It does come with a number of perks,” he said. “Lean back, darling.”
Anna Leigh carefully relaxed into the cushions of the couch and Elu sat on the table, holding her foot between his knees while working the tension out of her soles. She smiled.
“This is nice,” she said. “Do you think we can watch a movie, too?”
“I would like that,” he said. “It’s been a while since we’ve really done anything together that wasn’t related to the plan.”
“I know. I feel like it’s been ages since we went on a date,” she said.
“We could do that,” he suggested.
“Not without Xander, please,” she begged. “I just want him home in my arms and I don’t want to do this any longer.”
Her eyes were tearing up again and she couldn’t stop it. Her red-nailed, slender green hands flew up to cover her eyelids and she squeaked, her stomach shaking as she sobbed.
“Oh, darling, please,” Elu begged. “Don’t cry.”
“I can’t stop,” she claimed. “It just comes in waves and I can’t get it to stop.”
“Is it because of Xander?” he asked.
“It’s everything,” she replied. “It’s all so overwhelming that I just can’t handle it.”
“Come on. Let’s get you to the bedroom,” he said while standing.
He carefully hooked his arms under her shoulders and pulled her up into a standing position, wrapping a blue arm around her waist while guiding her towards the bedroom. She sat on the bed and allowed him to manipulate her body. Elu then curled up right behind her with his hand over her stomach. The crying continued for a few minutes and then stopped abruptly.
“Oh, this is wild,” she whispered in the dim light.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I feel like a complete basket case,” she replied.
“You’re not,” he insisted.
“I know I’m not, but I feel like it
,” she said.
“Everything seems bleak now, but it will get better soon,” Elu assured her.
“It’s just out of my control. I’m used to having control over most things. Working in the emergency room broke me of my obsession, but now and then I still need to know I’m in control,” Anna Leigh explained.
“I understand that. I’ve been that way my whole life, especially when I joined the Federation,” Elu said.
“How did you come to decide to be an undercover agent, anyway? It doesn’t seem like a very good job,” she said.
“The pay is great, but the conditions are horrible,” he replied. “I have to conceal my real life from everyone. There's so much deception. I haven’t had any close friends or relationships in nearly ten years.”
“That sounds awful, sweetheart,” she said. “How do you even manage?”
“I have a therapist. He’s helped me through a lot of rough situations. Sometimes, I get lost in my head and try to imagine I live a different life,” he replied.
“Does that help?” she asked.
“Maybe about half the time. Sleeping helps me escape, but a lot of it is just stifling emotions for the sake of work,” he explained.
Anna Leigh shook her head.
“I can’t imagine living a double life. I can hardly handle a white lie,” she said.
“It’s rough and it requires a great deal of cunning on my behalf,” he said. “I’m sure that’s why Xander couldn’t trust me again.”
“It’s why I had trouble trusting you,” she said.
“I don’t blame you,” he said.
“I just don’t understand why you would agree to do that willingly. It seems so difficult,” she said.
“It paid my bills. I’ve saved enough to retire many times over and I’ve done good work for the Federation,” he explained.
“But was it worth all that?” she asked.
Elu fell silent as his fingers ran over her skin, causing her to shiver.
“It was worth being able to meet Xander and you. We would have never come to fruition had it not been for that project,” Elu replied.
“I suppose that’s true, even though it sounds pretty awful,” she said.
“I can’t imagine our child asking how we met,” Elu joked. “But it will be the greatest love story ever told.”
Anna Leigh smiled and wrapped her hand around his, pulling him in closer.
“Let’s call Xander,” she said while pulling out her phone.
Elu typed the number for the prison and then typed in Xander’s prison number.
“Request processing,” said an automated voice over the phone.
A beeping sound came through the speaker and then the video feed started, showing a guard setting up a camera in front of Xander. Anna Leigh smiled wide.
“You have fifteen minutes,” the guard said before moving out of the way.
“Hi, Xander,” Anna Leigh said.
“Hello, dear,” Xander said with a wide grin. “It’s so good to see you. How’s the baby?”
“The baby is doing well. It is getting pretty big right now,” she replied while holding the phone out further.
“Wow, look at that beautiful belly,” Xander commented. “Hey, Elu. What are you two doing today?”
“I’m just resting as the doctor prescribed and Elu is helping,” Anna Leigh replied.
“We’re going to watch a movie. I wish you could join us,” Elu said.
“Oh, I definitely miss doing that. Watching movies with a bunch of male prisoners can get pretty tiresome after a while,” Xander said.
Elu chuckled.
“I can only imagine,” Elu said. “But we’ll be seeing you soon.”
“I do hope so. My court date is coming up pretty soon,” Xander said.
“We’ll be there. I promise,” Anna Leigh said.
“Well, Elu has to be and you’ll be a key witness,” Xander said.
Anna Leigh shivered.
“Courtrooms make me nervous,” she commented. “The whole procedure is proper and makes me afraid to speak.”
“You’ll be great, darling,” Xander assured her. “It’s nothing to worry about at all. Just follow the steps my lawyer took you through last week.”
“I know, but I’m still scared I’ll mess something up,” she admitted.
“I’ve been in and out of courtrooms most of my career and sometimes I still get nervous,” Elu commented.
“Really?” Xander asked with a chuckle. “That sounds silly.”
“It does,” Anna Leigh added.
“I’m serious! There’s always a new procedure in place I have to memorize and it’s difficult to keep up with,” Elu said.
“See, that’s why I just don’t like going there. Those procedures seem complicated. Nursing feels natural to me. The procedures I have to follow in nursing just feel logical,” Anna Leigh explained.
“Well, it’s all logical,” Elu said. “But I can understand it feels strange to be under such pressure.”
“I’m slowly getting used to being here and being asked questions. It’s almost like a game,” Xander said. “I do have to go soon. We’re having dinner out in the courtyard today.”
“Well, that sounds nice,” Anna Leigh commented.
“It should be if it doesn’t rain,” Xander said. “Enjoy your movie and give that stomach kisses from daddy.”
“Of course,” Elu said. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Love you,” Anna Leigh said.
“Love you, too, darling,” Xander said.
The guard stepped into view and cut the video feed, causing Anna Leigh to collapse back into her pillow and sigh.
“I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” she said, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
“It won’t be long now,” Elu said. “We’ll have this all figured out soon.”
***
As planned, Xander began complaining of intense stomach pains prior to his court date. He had visited the doctor twice for these pains, each time producing a diagnosis of general anxiety about his trial. On the third visit, he was ushered into a private room towards the back of the hospital wing where he sat crying in pain for a few minutes until a pregnant green woman with scarlet lips walked in wearing a white tunic. Her belly bulged.
“Darling,” Xander whispered while sitting up. “How did you get in?”
“Honestly, it was easier than I thought. I applied for an open nurse position and they handed it to me quite quickly,” she explained with a grin.
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t have to do anything too extravagant,” Xander said. “This whole thing has had me nervous from day one. How are your feet?”
Anna Leigh smiled, looking down at her stomach.
“I can’t see them anymore,” she joked. “But they’re doing fine for now. I’m wearing the special shoes they gave me that help reduce the swelling. The equipment here is much more extensive than back on the planet C'ezor.”
“Is it?” Xander asked.
“It’s been quite lovely for my first day, but it will also be my last,” Anna Leigh said.
She held up a syringe.
“This is the serum Elu told you about. It’s going to course through your system rather quickly and put you into a coma. You won’t know what’s happening,” she explained.
Xander cringed.
“I hate needles,” he commented.
“Well, you’ll have to get over that today, darling. Once I inject it, your body will be paralyzed and you’ll go to sleep, essentially. Elu is waiting in the west corridor where I’ll meet him after the doctor pronounces you dead,” she continued. “And then we’ll get you down to the crematorium where a transportation pod is waiting to take us to safety.”
“Who is piloting the pod?” Xander asked.
“It’s automated. Elu already set the coordinates on it,” she replied. “Are you ready?”
Xander shook his head. He looked at the white curtains covering the
windows where shadows passed. Doctors and nurses rushed by to tend to other patients, wheeling medicine carts and other things back and forth. He gulped.
“What if this doesn’t work?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked in return.
“I mean, what if I don’t wake up?”
Anna Leigh blinked back tears.
“Don’t say that,” she whispered. “You know I cry easily right now and–”
She bent over, clutching her stomach. Xander held her up and rubbed her back, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I think it was the baby kicking,” she replied. “It must have been just that. Let’s inject you quickly. I can’t stand for much longer.”
“This was a terrible idea. Why would they hire you when you’re this far along?” Xander asked.
“I may have lied about that,” she admitted with a grin.
Xander shook his head.
“Look at you becoming an agent over night,” he teased.
Anna Leigh pushed his arm gently and then grabbed a disinfectant towel from the table nearly.
“I need you to stay still,” she said while wiping his skin. “This might sting a bit.”
As she pinched some skin on his forearm and positioned the needle, Xander leaned forward to inhale the sweet scent of her perfume. He was taken aback by the intoxicating aroma and stopped her hand from moving further. Before she could say anything, he leaned in to taste her lips. A soft moan greeted him and he was delighted to find she tasted as amazing as their first date.
Every moment spent alone in his cell he yearned to feel her touch. Each dream held only her beautiful form, her loving embrace, and her shining eyes. It was truly alarming to not have her body next to him every night and he lamented ever having been involved with such a scheme against the company. If only he had done things differently—honestly—then perhaps they wouldn’t be in such a situation.
As they kissed, he felt a pinch on his arm and pulled back to gasp, noticing she had jammed the needle into his skin while he was distracted. His brows furrowed together.
“Darling,” he whispered. “That hurt.”
She smiled sweetly and started to inject the serum into his vein. He could feel the hot liquid coursing through him, immediately inspiring his body to begin convulsing. She held his head as she started injecting the rest. Behind her, the door flew open and two guards seized her before she could finish the procedure. Xander was left convulsing on the bed and a doctor sprinted into the room to tend to him.
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