[center][h2]Fearful Heart[/h2][/center]

The Lustrous Garden made its way towards the horizon, the warm rays of Heliopolis chasing away the night behind it. Xiaoli looked up for a moment through the foliage above, taking in the purple, almost red light that poked through. Around her the chameleon squirrels were starting to wake up, skipping between the branches and blending with the bark as they shot Xiaoli curious stares. A nearby patch of flying moss soared down from a branch above and landed on her shoulder with a wet slap; with a chuckle, the river girl brushed it off gently. In the distance between the trees, she spotted the faint yellow straw roofs atop the mansion houses. Past a few more trees, she saw the wooden walls and the stone foundations. Past the last few, she entered the clearing and skipped happily over to the family house. 

Xiaoli burst in the door, skipped into the air and boomed, “Good morning!” as she belly flopped onto the mattress. 

“AH!” Hermes woke with a start, neary bouncing off the bed. Her wide eyes narrowed and she smacked Xiaoli with a pillow, a laugh forming, “You see-” she yawned, “seem pretty happy.”

“Yup!” Xiaoli beamed as she dusted some sand off the pillow. “I had a chat with His Lordship, and he really provided some solid wisdom. It's…” She sucked in a deep breath through the nose. “It just feels like a boulder has been lifted off my heart.” She grinned, biting her lip slightly, and threw her arms around Hermes’ neck. “Also, I'm just… Really, really happy.”

“Mm, that's great!” Hermes gave a mirthful smile as she shook off the last of the sleep. She scooted into the embrace.

“Oh, and speaking of His Lordship, he sends his warmest wishes and, listen to this, has pledged himself to defend the Dreamers for as long as he lives!” She let out a silent squeal and kicked her legs about frantically.” Everything is just going so well!”

It was Hermes’ turn to beam as she suddenly squeezed Xiaoli before holding her away, “This is amazing news!” She stopped and smiled wide, “Shengshi… K'nell… our family is blessed. Oh, Xiaoli -- I couldn't be happier.” She squeezed the river girl again. 

Xiaoli let out a fusion of a happy hum and a giddy giggle, digging her face into Hermes. She held the pose for a long moment, occasionally moving her head to peck at the areas of Hermes’ face that she could reach. Hermes chuckled happily at the affectionate assault, returning a few pecks of her own before holding Xiaoli away and peering in her eyes, “Xiaoli?”

“Yes?” the river girl spoke. 

“Do you think,” Hermes said slowly, plucking one of her stray hairs from Xiaoli's woolen shirt, “That since everything is taken care of, and the house is nearly done, we could go on a little trip?”

Xiaoli's smile fainted a little, turning into a somewhat wry, yet straight face. “Hermes, dear, you know we can't do that. You have a baby on the way after all.” 

“Abanoc's book says I have time before I really start showing,” Hermes debated, touching Xiaoli's arm, “Besides, I've been cooped up for a month. That's a first for me.”

“W-well, what if something were to happen? I know you've been practicing diligently, but what if we meet something that neither of us can fight? Or what if we get separated, or--” She cut herself off and squeezed her hand affectionately. “I just think that we shouldn't be reckless for a while, you know?” 

Hermes looked off to the side, “Maybe,” she slumped against the headboard, “But it's been so long.”

“I know, my love, I know.” She placed a hand on Hermes’ muscular stomach and laid her head on her shoulder. “But still, we cannot take a--” Her eyes shot wide and slowly turned to Hermes. “Hermes?” she asked in a worried voice. 

The Dreamer drained of color, “What? What?”

“Did-... Did His Holiness K'nell do anything to you while he was here? Anything spirit enhancing or the like?” Xiaoli patted her stomach searchingly. 

“No,” Hermes squirmed, “He just- we just talked about the battle,” her voice was upset at the mention of it, “and other things, but nothing like that.”

Xiaoli gaped, then let out a single gasp. Her eyes welled up and as she turned to Hermes, the edges of her mouth curled upwards. 

“H-Hermes I… I think there are two souls inside you!” 

The Dreamer reeled away slightly, “I know; me and the baby. Xiaoli, are you okay?”

Xiaoli blinked. “N-no, silly! In addition to yours! There are two souls inside your belly!” 

Hermes hesitated and then put her hands over Xiaoli's, “T-twins!?” She grinned stupidly, “Twins!”

Xiaoli let out a quiet squeal. “Y-yes, it must be! Oh, by the Exalted Ones, Hermes, we will have twins!” She blinked and then suddenly furrowed her brow. “We will have twins… I must add another bed to the room next door!”

Herme’s happy smile suddenly faded, “Twins.” She looked uneasy for a moment then forced her smile back, “Yes- another bed.”

Xiaoli's eyes flicked back at Hermes. “Hermes, is something wrong? You sound...” She raised a hand to caress her cheek. “... Talk to me, my love.” 

“It’s nothing,” Hermes took Xiaoli’s hand from her cheek and held it, lacing her fingers around Xiaoli’s. She looked sad despite her smile, “I’m probably just being emotional again because of the-- pregnancy.” 

Xiaoli sighed and cocked her head to the side. “Is it about the adventures?” she asked and pulled her hand away, shuffling over to the edge of the bed. 

“No,” Hermes’ voice dripped with the beginnings of sadness, she let her hand drop as Xiaoli’s disappeared. Xiaoli looked over her shoulder. 

“What is it, then?” 

The Dreamers eyes shimmered and she turned away to hide them. She mumbled but it was barely audible even to Xiaoli. She let out a slightly frustrated sigh. “Hermes, dear, I'm sorry, but could you say that again, please? I didn't quite hear it.” She shuffled a little closer and leaned in. Hermes leaned close to her.

“I-” She managed quietly, “I might not survive twins.” Her eyes fell on the ever present book of Abanoc, she opened her mouth but then closed it.

Xiaoli did not move. “W-what?” she barely whispered. Her face slowly turned to face Hermes, its colour pale as ice and her lips quivering. 

“It’s dangerous,” Hermes shrunk, “And twins: it’s very dangerous.” She wiped a stray tear that was forming, “I don’t want to worry you -- but I’m scared.”

“No! No!” Xiaoli stabbed a finger at Hermes chest, her eyes like waterfalls and her teeth grit together. “You are -NOT- saying those horrible things to me, is that clear?!” Hermes’ shimmering eyes broke and she closed them, beads running down her own cheeks as she cried quietly. Xiaoli’s neck gave out and her forehead crashed to Hermes’ chest.

“How-... How can you-... We were-...” The river girl sucked in a deep breath and sent her fist through the headboard next to Hermes’ head with a furious scream. The dreamer’s tears stopped as she jumped, looking at Xiaoli with scared eyes. Xiaoli pulled her fist out slowly, the pure sand polluted with splinters. She let out a long wail into Hermes’ chest, murmuring “it’s not fair” over and over.

“Xiaoli, you’re scaring me now,” Hermes looked down with a furrowed brow, her eyes still ripe with worry.

Xiaoli lifted her head, her squinting eyes ringed with red. She pulled away and rose out of bed. With several more sobs, she exited the room. Hermes sat there with a hollow feeling in her chest. She felt sick, more than usual. She leaned back in confusion, a splinter on the headboard snagging the back of her head. She swore and turned, slamming her own fist into the damaged head board. Trickles of crimson covered her fist as she took it out and she groaned, letting her head fall into her hands. 

“I just want to go back to bed,” She whimpered to herself as her stomach turned. She felt guilty, and the guilt was eating at her chest but her anxiety kept her frozen in place. A swirl of emotions conquered her head, and she wasn’t too sure which one she was suppose to be feeling, her mind split between her emotional state and her actual fears. She felt regret.

There was a violent scream outside, followed by the rumble of something heavy crashing to the ground; judging from the snaps and cracking, it was likely a helpless tree. Hermes scooted up against a pillow and stayed like that for a while, before finding a small flame of resolve. She soaked it in and creaked out of the bed.

Padding across the floor of the house, she made her way outside, her arms wrapped around her stomach defensively. By the northern edge of the clearing, violent whips of water sprouted in every direction, occasionally complemented with tree splinters, and a single fleeing shadow crow. After a few moments, they stopped, the only sound on the wind being a loud wail.

“Xiaoli,” Hermes weakly shouted, jogging towards the wail, “Xiaoli.”

She came upon the clearing and saw the river-girl curled up against the pulverised remains of a tree trunk, its length covered with cuts until reaching the middle - which had been ground into sawdust. Xiaoli’s clothes were torn and ripped from splinters and sharps, and her skin was fractured across several spots.

Hermes let out a hot sigh and plopped down next to the river-girl, “Xiaoli…” Her voice was weak and slightly spooked, “You can’t--” Her voice wavered, “You can’t do this. You’re really scaring me.”

Xiaoli let out a sobbing cough. “Ishjuss--” She grabbed Hermes arm and clung to it desperately. “Ishjussai--” She pressed her forehead against her shoulder. Hermes gave another hot sigh and kissed the top of Xiaoli’s head.

“I’m pregnant,” Hermes said, her voice slowly coming back, “I get scared, I get nervous and I get horrible ideas-- but you, you’re my rock in all this. What I said was just from a worried mind, and I know it’s been rough on you too, but --” She looked at the broken trees, “This really scares me, seeing you do this.”

Xiaoli sniffed a few times and looked up at her. “I--” She let out another cough. “It’s just that I-... I cannot afford to lose you. You are--” In a near-unnatural fit of speed, she sat up and cast her arms around Hermes. “You are my existence - my purpose. I cannot even… Begin to imagine a life without you.” She rubbed one of her eyes. “Even the possibility of you not-... Well, it frightens me - frightens me to the point of fury.” She looked at the tree behind them. “I put you and the children in danger… What if one of the splinters had hit you?” Her head keeled over on her knees again and she began to sob once more.

Hermes wrapped her arms around her stomach again and tucked her knees up, “I don’t want to think about that.” Her mind began to spin, the adrenaline slowly leaving her body and leaving an empty bubble in her stomach.

Xiaoli sniffed again. “I cannot even allow myself to think about it…” She looked at Hermes. “I’m-... I’m so sorry for this. It’s just…” She rubbed her eyes with her thumb and her index finger. “... No, there’s no reason. I won’t frighten you again.”

Hermes suddenly leaned over and spat vomit. She rasped a quarter of an apology before suddenly puking again. Tears welled up as she threw up a final time and after a few painful gasps she leaned back and blinked away tears, “Xiao-” She choked on the air and cleared her throat, “Okay,” Her voice was a fine gravel. She reached out and patted Xiaoli’s arm between rancid burps, “Okay.”

Xiaoli sat there like a cat next to water. For what it was worth, her tears had dried. “A-are you well?” she asked uncertainly. Hermes flashed daggers for a second before softening.

“Mhm,” She wiped some spittle from the corner of her mouth. She sucked in a few calming breaths, her heart clearly pounding anyways and her gut clenched. 

Xiaoli sat dumbstruck for a moment before she let out a single snicker. “What a morning,” she mumbled and shot Hermes a weary look. “I’ll go get you something to drink, hmm?”

‘Oh’ was all Hermes managed before suddenly retching again. She quickly scurried behind the stump and emptied her stomach again, half of it just being hot air. Her face was beat red and she let out a single gag before calling back, “P-please.”

“P-please never scare me again,” the woman burped painfully, her throat scratching. 

Xiaoli smiled sadly and sniffed. “Yeah… Yeah, I’ll do my best. Just-... Just please don’t tell me anything else the book says about the survival rates of birth, is that alright?”

“I don’t think I’m--” Hermes paused and made an airy sound, “I don’t think I’m going to be reading about it again.” She coughed a few times, “Also, I’m kinda mad -- I am mad that you broke the bed.”

Xiaoli blinked and cast her eyes down shamefully. “Yes, that was uncalled for. I’ll fix it in a bit, okay?” She got to her feet.

“Okay,” Hermes sat up and pulled loose hair from her face, “Thank you. It was very close to my face and it spooked me and I’m pregnant which means I don’t exactly have the best control over some things right now.”

“Y-yeah…” She sniffed again. “It won’t happen again, I promise.” She picked up one half of the mauled trunk  and walked a few steps before she turned to Hermes again. “I love you, Hermes - more than anything on this world, or any other.”

“I know, and I love you too,” Hermes gave her a small smile. 

Xiaoli smiled warmly and picked up a stone, turning it into a cup in her hand. She raised it to Hermes. “Would you like sparkling or normal water, by the way?”

“Sparkling,” Hermes gave her a cheshire grin, with only minimal spittle on the side of her mouth.




[hider=Architect, that was a rollercoaster.]

On the altar of the sunrise, there was a wedding in the waves. NO but actually what happened is Xiaoli came home and woke Hermes the fuck up to share with her the good news. Against all laws of nature, the pregnant woman woke up not mad and they shared a moment before Xiaoli realized that Hermes is pregnant with twins. She tells the broad, and they both get all screamy happy about it until Hermes is like “That could make my pelvis explode” and then they get sad about it, but then Xiaoli gets Bruce Bannered’ and fucks up some furniture, makes Hermes have an accident and blasts outside with the rage of Khan Krum the Terrible. 

Hermes goes out to calm her lover gone Bulgarian Mass Murderer and they have a serious thing. Hermes ends up puking everywhere being the pregnant lady she is and then scolds Xiaoli for wrecking the joint as if they lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts (ha!). Other shit happens but the real kicker is that Hermes tells Xiaoli that she loves her for the first time, and then orders a Perrier.

21 + 3 = 24 prestige

[/hider]