by J. E Hanson
I continue to yawn from the stress earlier today. He bends over to brush my lips with his, “You need your sleep now. I love you always, baby.”
I snuggle my head in the pillow, “I love you too, Chris.” He covers me with my large blanket.
~~~***~~~
A dream fires away. This time I am standing in an emerald field full of wildflowers. Feather is playing in the distance with three other kids. One girl has curly crimson hair. There are two boys, who have straight blonde hair. I slowly and cautiously walk over. I feel a connection to these children in some uncanny familiarity. My maternal instincts kick in, as I study all of them. I sit down on the ground to watch all of them play together. Feather bosses the others around. She notices me, and smiles with her pearl fangs out, “I am trying to tell the others to be good, but they refuse to listen to me!”
I stand up, and walk over to them. The crimson curly hair girl walks over to me. She kisses my cheek, and then she smiles affectionately at me. The two boys touch my face with their tiny hands. All of them have fangs just like Feather. I squat to their level. All of them are almost four feet tall.
Feather huffs, “She is my mommy first! All of you will have to wait!”
I touch Feather’s snowy curls. Her hair feels soft to the touch, “I love you, Feather. There is enough of me to go around. I love all of you equally,” I slip out those words. My motherly instinct kicks in.
The first little blonde boy points at Feather, “You see! You may be the oldest, but she loves all of us! You have to share her, Feather! She is our mommy too!”
Feather sits in my lap, “Shut up, Tristian! I am still older than you are! You must learn your place!”
I readjust Feather in my lap, “Feather that is not a nice thing to say to your brother. You have to apologize to him. At least, I think they are your siblings.”
Tristian’s fangs emerge, “We are next after Feather. We love you too, mommy!”
The crimson hair girl walks over to me, “I am so sorry mommy. You will no longer be the way you are now. Please don’t hate me! I am so sorry mommy!”
Feather huffs, “Shut up, Ruby! You are not supposed to warn her! She needs to be with us! Keep quiet!”
Ruby walks over to me with russet tears falling from her eyes. I hug her tightly, “Everything will be okay, Ruby. I am still here, and I love you. Now introduce me to this other little handsome guy.”
The other blonde boy tilts his head up, “I have daddy’s name. You will meet us really soon, mommy. We love you too. You will be tired, and we are sorry. Feather, it is now time.”
I embrace all four of my kids. Feather makes me stand up, “I am ready, mommy. I love you, and I will see you soon.”
A ball of transparent light hits my stomach hard. The light causes me gasp from pure love flowing through me.
~~~***~~~
My dream vanishes, and I wake up with sweat pouring from me. I quickly survey the room to see if he is still here. To my dismay, he is in another business meeting. The dream exhausts me mentally, but it is just a dream. I refocus my attention to our wedding instead.
~~~***~~~
We spend the next two weeks to find the perfect wedding dress. I keep the dress with the gold pearls on the bottom, but I found a dress, in which I really want from a television ad. Sean makes my dress from scratch. He needs my assistance to make my wedding dress even possible.
Willow helps me with the bridesmaid dresses. She is in charge of it, since I feel extremely tired lately. Sean and Louie work on my wedding decorations too. I fell asleep quite a few times on the library table. There were times that I didn’t even realize I fell asleep. I remember saying one sentence to Christian, only to fall asleep talking to him in mid-sentence.
We are only two days away from our wedding.
Alexander takes me to the side, “You are scaring my brother. Are you feeling okay, Princess?”
My yawns are apparent, “I have no idea what is going on with me. I am unable to stay awake. I just want to go to bed, and I want to sleep for another twenty-four hours. I am trying hard to stay awake, but I feel so drowsy.”
He points to a chair, and he makes me sit down. He returns to check my blood pressure. He never gives me another option, because there is now a needle with vials out. He quickly wipes my arm, and then he sticks me with a needle. He takes vial after vial of blood from my arm. I thought he was done, but he lays out three full injections. He quickly shoots my arm with substances.
After he finishes, he unties my arm, “These are vitamins that you are probably lacking. This will give you a little more energy so you will not fall asleep during your wedding recital.”
I smile awkwardly, and I feel the overwhelming energy hit me. I have energy all right. I have energy to leave the room to throw up. I found the nearest trashcan, and I lost it.
Erik pulls his newspaper down, “Oh, this is a very bad time for that.”
Alexander quickly feels my head, “You are not running a fever. This may be a small flu bug. The weather has a bitter chill to it.”
Christian happens to walk in during round two. Alexander has a washcloth resting on the back of my neck. He is alarmed, “Is something wrong with her, brother?”
“I will keep an eye on her. She may have caught a small flu bug,” Alexander answers.
Christian speaks in a foreign language at first, and then he spoke in English, “This is a very bad time to be sick.”
The burp makes me throw up again, “I am so sorry, Chris! I didn’t go anywhere to be this sick! Luckily, I don’t have to go to school this week, since we are on a Fall Break.”
Ian fake coughs, “She probably has the nine month flu bug,” he breaks the line of questioning.
Sam chuckles loudly, “I agree with Ian, man. She did the same exact thing, the last time she was pregnant. Sorry to break it to you dudes, but she is most likely knocked up.”
Erik scoffs at first, and then he huffs, “I am glad we bought her another pregnancy test just in case it happens again.” Erik leaves only to return a few minutes later. He hands Christian the pregnancy test, and he pats him hard on the back, “Good luck, father-to-be.”
The Enforcers snicker at his statement. This is the first time Erik has made a joke with a huge smile on his face.
Chris helps me to the bathroom, which is across the hallway. He usually avoids my human interactions, but this time he hands me a cup. He waits inside the bathroom with me. I use it, and then place the cup on the sink. I finish using the restroom, and then I wash my hands. He takes the test out of the wrapper, and he dips it in the cup for ten seconds. He lays the pregnancy test on the sink.
“We have three minutes to find out a simple answer,” he whispers. I feel nauseous again, so I throw up for a third time. He pulls my hair back for me, but he keeps a close eye on the time.
His watch beeps, and then he studies me intently, “Do you want me to review it, or do you want to review it?”
I readjust myself, and stand up. I glance at the pink dye test. There are two solid pink lines on it, “What do the two solid pink lines mean, Chris?”
He is not uttering a single word. I turn around, “The last test was a positive—or a negative sign. This one is completely different, Chris.”
He still isn’t speaking one word to me. His face is solid, and he’s not even blinking. There is not even an expression on his face.
I read the back of the box, “Okay… here it suggests that one line means it’s a negative, and two lines means that it’s a positive. Okay… so two lines means it’s positive, right?”
He never responds, and he is not even blinking.
“She’s knocked up again, dudes! Christian is not saying anything either!” Leo yells, as he informs the others.
The remaining urine flushes along with the vomit. I am trying to get him to move, “Please tell me that this is a good thing! Are we pregnant?”
Alexander knocks on the door, “Let me in, Jeannie. Let me see the test.”
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I open the bathroom door. Christian remains in the same exact spot. He turns into a statue. He freaks me out, “I need you to get him to move! He is scaring me, Alex! He is not even blinking!”
Alexander sighs, “I need to see the test first.”
I show him the stick, and then the box. Alexander snickers, as I try to make sense of all this, “Does this mean it is positive—or negative?”
Alexander snickers, as he recites something in their native tongue to Christian. He still has not even budged. Alexander glances sideways at me, “You are pregnant, Jeannie.”
I panic at the state Chris is in, “Why is he not saying anything? He is really scaring me, Alex!”
He snickers at the state he is in, and then he takes a cup of cold water from the sink. He pours the water over his brother’s head. Christian finally flinches. Alexander continues to talk to him in their native tongue.
He finally blinks, “I was not expecting this to happen so soon. I hope you would turn up pregnant after our wedding. I am happy, but a little thrown off from the timing.”
I am about to cry, but Christian stops me, “Please stop! Do not cry! We knew this could happen, and I wanted this to happen. Now hush, and shed no more tears. I love you, babe. This is just a shock to me. I want our baby. Come here.”
I mash my lips against his. He holds me in his arms tightly, “You are absolutely beautiful, and we are having our baby. Try to relax if you can. We can do this.”
“We are finally having our baby. I am in shock too. I love you so much.”
He pecks my lips a few times, “We need to have this wedding.”
Erik automatically hands me his special tea. I take a few sips of it, and I feel instant relief. We have rehearsals in two hours. I shower quickly, and peer at my stomach, “I pray that you stay here with us. I already love you so much.”
The shower stops, and I change into one of my many dresses. Tomorrow… the Enforcers are going to his bachelor party. Joey is throwing the bachelor party, and his parties always make me nervous. Christian’s stocks and businesses are soaring, because we are getting married. Rosalie is throwing my bachelorette party also. Fairies know how to party, and they do it quite well.
Chapter 10
We are standing at our rehearsal. My bridesmaids walk ahead of me, along with the flower girls. The ring bearers escort our flower girls. Susan, the wedding coordinator for the supernatural is doing a fabulous job in keeping us in line. She reminds me where to step, and she tells Papa which side to take. They give me a fake bouquet of flowers. I walk slowly beside Papa. After three minutes, we arrive at the altar with Christian waiting for me. The nerves course through my veins. I am a complete wreck, and I am dealing with a bad case of morning sickness.
We pause at the end of the wedding march with Susan speaking, “This is where you two will stand. The preacher will go through his whole spiel. You can suggest that I give her away—or in late memory of her parents. Whatever you feel comfortable with is fine. That is when you will hand her over to Christian. Christian, you will take her hand and…”
About that time, I have to lose it again. My index finger raises in midair, and I make a beeline for the nearest bathroom. By sheer luck, I make it there with a second to spare.
A set of heels click against the bathroom floor, “Are you feeling okay? You need to take something for the nerves, if that is the case.”
I continue to lose it again, “It is not nerves! I have a terrible case of morning sickness!”
“You assert that, as if you’re actually pregnant, Jeannie...” Rosalie remains silent until I finish throwing up my breakfast from this morning. I realize that the remedy Erik gave me is not working this time.
A woman walks into the bathroom, “I have a remedy, if you want to try it, Jeannie. I know exactly what you are going through right now.” Violet’s sweet voice echoes inside the bathroom
I plead only with an expression. Violet helps me clean off the vomit, and then she flushes the toilet for me. She snaps a mug of liquid for me. I instantly feel so much better, and continue to drink the rest of her concoction. My stomach finally settles down.
Rosalie appears lost, “What is the problem?”
Violet purposely rubs my stomach, “She has a nine month problem, because she is also expecting.”
It must have finally dawn on Rosalie, when she switches back and forth between us. “Why did you not tell me this sooner? Wow! You are finally pregnant! I am so happy for you!” Rosalie hugs me tightly. I nearly run out of oxygen from her hug.
Violet snickers, “You need to let the poor girl breathe! We are so happy for Christian and you! Congratulations, Princess Jeannie. This will definitely change your bachelorette party up a little, but this is all for your baby now.”
After ten minutes of constant puking, I am finally able to return to Christian at the altar.
I feel completely embarrassed. Papa raises an eyebrow, “Are you feeling okay? Do you need to rest?”
“I’m okay, Papa. We can continue, and I am really sorry for that.”
Susan, the wedding coordinator sighs, and she places me right in front of Christian. There are two preachers. We also have to marry another way, in which is the vampire way. We kiss at the end of our rehearsal.
Christian pulls me close to him, “How is our baby doing?”
He brings instant joy to me, “Our baby is kicking my ass right now. I feel even worse than the first time. I am so fearful that I will ruin our wedding!” I excitedly exclaim.
Christian pats my stomach, “Our baby is letting us know that he or she is alive and well. Do not fret, my sweetheart. We will wait until you finish throwing up to finish our wedding. If it takes all night, then it takes all night. Either way, we will be married.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, “I love you so much. Thanks for being completely understanding and patient. I was afraid you would think I am having cold feet.”
Christian pecks my cheek, “I know you are not having cold feet. I can feel you inside of me. I already know you are sick.”
~~~***~~~
We end the evening at rehearsal dinner. Rosalie and Joey dance for the crowd of onlookers. All of us are in high spirits.
The day after the rehearsal dinner, the girls kidnap me. More like they drug me out of bed, and they snap me to Rosalie’s mansion. The Enforcers from all our camps left with Christian. We have pedicures, manicures, and our hair toyed with.
Rosalie hands me something to drink, “How are you holding up? Do I need to ask for Violet’s miracle cure again?”
I always rest my eyes, as they fix my hair, “I think I am holding my own right now. How are you feeling?”
Rosalie seems hopeful, “I find out at the end of November what we are having. Joey seems to believe that he has this in the bag.”
“Gabriel has been driving me crazy, by wanting to know the sex of our baby. He keeps sniffing my stomach every hour on the hour, trying to guess if we are having a boy—or a girl,” Ember adds.
I eye both of them in disbelief, “You two will only be twelve weeks along. How will you be able to tell the sex of your babies so soon?”
Rosalie wraps an arm around me, “I know this will sound completely crazy, but our stomachs will stop blinking, and turn to a bright color. Ember’s stomach will turn to a bright blue color, and mine will turn to a bright yellow color. The moment this happens, is precisely when we will give off a strange scent. The strange scent is extremely important to us. If we are carrying a girl, she will give off a fruit, spice—or a flower smell. If we are having a boy, he will have a musk, plant, tree, animal—or nature smell. This is also how we name our children. My name is Rosalie Summer, so I give off a scent of roses, and the summertime breeze. That is how my parents named me. I can’t speak for angels though.”
Ember glances at me, “We have the same scent types for us too, because angels and fairies are distant cousins. However, angels can name their children anything, except for their name
sake. The firstborn male always takes his name after his father. Gabriel is the third Gabriel. If I am pregnant with a boy, he will become the fourth Gabriel. It is extremely hard to make namesakes. My Uncle Mitch is the second Michael, but they go by their nicknames. Our son will go by his nickname, but he will always be Gabriel.”
I point to their stomachs, “Your stomachs are not flashing, as of right now. I don’t understand the flashing stomachs.”
Rosalie sits down, and then she lifts up her shirt. She snaps a weird contraption into view, and she plugs it in. She smiles affectionately, as she places this contraption over her stomach. I watch in amazement to see her stomach slowly flashing a bright yellow color. She turns to Ember, and she lifts her shirt. She places the contraption over her stomach to show a slow bright blue light flashing. I cover my mouth in complete astonishment.
Rosalie studies the clock, “Ember and I have another midwife appointment tonight. You are more than welcome to join us, if you like.”
“I guess I can see what goes on in a prenatal appointment. I am honored to go.”
I follow behind Ember and Rosalie. They snap their fingers into birthing gowns. Joey and Gabriel managed to sneak away long enough for their appointments. The midwife shows up after ten minutes of waiting. She casually walks over to Rosalie first, and then she lights her stomach up, “Your baby still has another four weeks, before we know the sex. Your baby is just fine.”
Ember is next. Gabriel appears nervous. She places the contraption over Ember’s stomach to see the flashing light, “Your baby still has another four weeks. You are also doing just fine.”
“Can you please check Princess Jeannie? She received a positive pregnancy test a couple of days ago. I will pay for her appointment just to put her mind at ease,” she sweetly asks.