...Here Comes the News...

[Deleted]

Xavier stirred the chicken wild rice a few more times in the large pot that hung in his fireplace cooking. Dani would be home soon from work, or so he expected. She was running a little late it seemed, they normally made their soup together. Mostly because she was a far better cook than he was, but he figured he try and start it himself tonight and then surprise her with his improvements... hopefully.

He took a seat near the fire, listening to its crackling and watching the small blaze heat up the soup. Soup was about all they got, at least had gotten. Now that spring was very near, the variety of foods would pick back up, hard to having anything else during the winter than a cup of soup of something similar.

A thought did rush to his mind, he hadn't been keeping up with his knight duties rather well. That wasn't too much of an issue, he would just claim he was taking time to heal after the battle, after all it was sort of true. The raid had been successful as well, besides a few minor incidences, he supposed Dani and some of the others hadn't seen it that way but their leader had. They all managed to do what they were supposed to, for the most part.

She hadn't exactly told him what she had thought of it, maybe tonight, if nothing more important came up. Xavier got up to stir the pot again, better to not burn anything. He continued to cook as he waited for his lover.

[Danielle Otis]

She had been a nervous wreck all day. And with good reasoning, too. All day at work, she made little slip-ups. Messing up someones order, spilling something on the floor. Her boss assumed she was just having a bad day, and let her get away with it. She was grateful- a loss in her day job would have just added onto her stress.

Dani's mind was off for the entire day- she wasn't thinking about work, or the raid, or anything. Only about the things that just didn't seem right. Of course, as soon as she was let off work, she decided to swing by the infirmary. Tell them her symptoms. She was almost certain what it was, of course, what else could it be? But she could hope. Hope she was wrong.

And finally, they told her what it was- what she had thought it was. Her stomach turned, her head felt dizzy. Was she ready to face something like this? More importantly, how could she tell Xavier?

Her feet were light on the ground as she made her way towards their home. Danielle was nervous, thinking of ways to mention it to him. She finally decided to come out with it while they were eating, or maybe after. She just hoped that Xavier had not been waiting up for her.

Standing outside the door to her home, she let out a long sigh, running her hands through her hair. The woman was clearly stressed out of her wits. But she thought it best to get it over with- like ripping off a band aid.

Her hand reached for the door knob, and before she knew it she was quietly closing the door behind her, turning and going towards the fireplace where Dosise stood.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," Dani gulped down the lump in her throat. Then, with a weak smile as she stood next to him she added, "I'm surprised you're cooking though, by yourself at least. Here's hoping that it tastes good."

[Deleted]

Xavier walked over and kissed Dani's forehead before answering her. "Oh, you weren't that long really, and it gave me some time to try and surprise you by getting a good start on dinner." he smiled as he looked her over.
She didn't look so well, she seemed pale, and flustered, nervous, anxious... it wasn't really like her at all.

He raised an eyebrow as he looked worriedly at her. "Is everything okay?"

[Danielle Otis]

Her face flushed, as she waved her hand, chuckling nervously.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just feel bad for leaving you to fend for yourself. Though you seem to be working fine on your own!" the girl smiled, face still red, before looking over the pot, trying to avoid the conversation. It really should have been said right at that moment, but Danielle couldn't help but freeze up- how do you tell someone something like this?

Quickly she took a sip from the pot, then grinned, a bit less tense- but nowhere near relaxed.
"It's pretty good so far, actually. You've been getting better! A man of many talents, it seems!"

[Deleted]

Xavier looked at her quizzically, but her compliments on his cooking made him forget about it temporarily.
"Oh really? That is good then, I would hate to have to make you do all the cooking in the future." he chuckled.

He walked over to look into the pot before, he didn't feel like saying he used half the leftovers from a while ago, hoping it would mask any flaws he had made.

((sorry if it takes me so long lol writing part three... it is sort of hard to edit some things into the story XD))

[Danielle Otis]

(( It's all good XD No worries ))

Danielle chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of her neck. She was horrible with stuff like this- bringing up serious stuff. She never was one for serious matters.
"Oh, I didn't figure I'd do all the cooking in the future... but even so, I don't mind cooking anyways. Though it's nice to know I'm not going to be forced into cooking on a daily basis!" she laughed.

Her stomach flipped, as she quickly slid in the question, "So Xavier, I was wondering, what were your expectations for the future?"
In her heart she wanted to know that what she would say wouldn't crush any dreams he had for the future- she didn't think so, from what she knew Stacy's illness hadn't gotten in the way of anything. But, she didn't know if that was entirely the case- nor was that situation that similar to hers.

[Deleted]

"Oh, I am not sure really, I suppose try and start a family. Raise some kids and stuff like that." he raised an eyebrow after answering. Looking at Dani he wondered what this was all about.

"And you? Where do you see yourself in the future? Is there something you are getting at?"

[Danielle Otis]

Only for a moment did she relax- knowing that it was what he wanted. Then she remembered that she did say future- not now. What if it ruined his plans for now? Or the near future? She was sent into a panic once more, before rubbing the back of her head, waving with the other hand and laughing a bit.

"Oh, nothing, nothing...I don't really see what I'll be doing in the future. Just sort of...winging it, you know?" Danielle laughed again, as her words began to come quicker out of her mouth. She took a deep breath, before shakily sitting down on one of the chairs by the fireplace.

"I'm sure you've noticed, but I'm sort of freaking out," she admitted, trying to calm her breath as she rubbed at the back of her neck, sending a sheepish smile at her lover.

[Deleted]

Xavier walked back over to the pot above the fire and stirred it a little longer. Dani sure did seem real upset about something. He needed to try and stay calm for her. He didn't want to add to it, that could make things worse.

Once he stirred a little, he sat down on the armrest of the chair she sat at. He smiled reassuringly to her. "yeah, I may have noticed just a bit... care to tell me what it is that is on your mind so heavily?"

This was it, he supposed she would either tell him or not. Then he would stop asking.

[Danielle Otis]

"Well...uhm..." she twiddled her fingers, sighed, then rubbed at the back of her head again.
"I should apologize again...for being late...I was late cause I went to the infirmary after work. Something's sort of been going on lately, and I thought that it was just out of nerves, you know? But then, I sort of notice that I was missing something..."
Like hell she would say that she missed her time of the month- not to a boy. Much too embarrassing! She didn't catch it at first- she missed one, then realized two weeks later that she had missed it. When she realized that, it started coming together- getting sick, joint pains.

"The infirmary knew what it was...I sort of figured, but I wanted to confirm it and..." she gulped down the lump in her throat. Some girls her age were excited for this type of thing to happen- but all Danielle was was worried. In her and Xaviers line of work, it was dangerous- at least for the time being. Not to mention her mother never talked about this sort of thing. She didn't know what to expect. Last but not least- was she even ready?
"Xavier...I'm sort of...pregnant," the words slid off of her tongue, her heart beating fast. She looked down at her lap, red in the face.
What would Xavier think of this? Would he be alright with it? She knew that if Xavier was okay, that she would probably become fine with the idea. Probably. But if he were upset? Frightened? She didn't want to upset him.

[Deleted]

Xavier listened intently as she gave an account of her reason for being late. Confusion grew when she didn't exactly say what she was missing but he didn't show it. He continued to lesson and try and figure things out. Was she sick? Dying? Oh he sure hoped she wasn't dying...

His thoughts wandered or a moment as she talked. All this talk of the future, and now the infirmary? He couldn't help but think of the night of the raid. When he had seen him... Eric, his brother.

The man's thoughts snapped back real quick when he heard the news. He was dumbfounded, speechless for a moment. Why do you say to that? Was it his, no of course it was. Could he do this? Be a father? And her being a neko, part cat, would she have a litter? Why was he getting himself into?!

All this ran through his mind while keeping a relatively composed face, practice he supposed. Xavier had to be strong, whatever he showed, she would reflect, worse or better.

"I wont lie... this is quite a shock.. i mean t-that is great news." He smiled awkwardly, "I mean uh, it is isn't it?" He raises an eye brow, he guessed he should get her opion on all of this too.

[Danielle Otis]

"Well, I just, I don't know...there's so much that could go wrong, Xavier...hell, my mother assumed I would never have kids, so I don't know what to expect," she admitted. She looked back up at Dosise, and slid her hand into his.
"Not to mention that we don't exactly have very kid-friendly jobs. I don't want anything to happen to the child just because its parents are criminals," Danielle leaned back farther into the chair, and sighed.

"I just never really thought I'd be having a child, so I'm not entirely sure if I'll do it right, you know?"
The girl was slightly relieved- great news. Did he really believe that? The thought relaxed her just a tad. That was one of the reasons why she had been nervous in the first place, what he would think of it. But it seemed to her that the man was fine with it. Now it was a matter of being ready for it.

[Deleted]

"So does that mean we know it is just one?" he asked as she talked about it and only it, no its.
"I mean I just didn't know with you being part cat... do you have litters?"

He got up from the chair, taking a deep breath. And their work? What were they to do about that? Sure he couldn't quit... and Enoch would have to act as though Dani was just another girl pregnant. Could he do that? Things sure would get rather complicated, there was no way she would be able to do raids until after all this. Why was he thinking of business? He shook those thoughts away.

"I am sure we will be fine." he smiled reassuringly, both to her and for him. "We can to this."

[Danielle Otis]

Dani took a deep breath, then let it out, slowly becoming a little more relaxed, the adrenaline in her veins calming down. She rested her head on his arm, as she spoke.
"I...I hope that we can do this."

Then, to answer his question, she sheepishly replied with a blush, "Neither mother and I thought I would ever have children...I mean, that sounds harsh, but really we would laugh about it. Joke about a man liking me, and bearing a child with me. I hated the thought when I was younger- boys treated me like, well, a girl, and I didn't much appreciate it. Thought I'd never need one."

"Anyways... she never talked to me about children. I don't know if I'll have just one, or more. I don't know how it all works, any of it really. Best bet is to see a neko that has experience or knowledge with this stuff, or see my mom," with her head leaned up against him, and their fingers entwined, she rested her final hand on his arm, giving him a slight squeeze.

[Deleted]

Xavier nodded, trying to take all this in in the best way possible. One wrong reaction and he could be hearing about it. He wasn't sure how her moods would be from now on but he would definitely be on the side of caution.

"I am not so sure I know where to find any neko woman..." well in truth he did... but he would rather not go back to Jerad's tent. "I-I guess we could see your mom if we need too." he had never met her parents... would they be pleased? Outraged? They would probably need to go see them... she was pregnant with her grandchild...

As they discussed, a smell of burning slowly filled Xavier's nostrils and he hurried over to save the soup!

He stirred for a little longer and after deciding it was fine, put out the fire that had grown to be too much to save. They would just have to eat the soup before it got could and re-warm the leftovers later.

[Danielle Otis]

"That would probably be a good idea..." she spoke as the man ran over to the soup pot- she couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"Don't worry about my parents, if- or when- we end up seeing them. Dad's just like me, and mom's a pretty frail woman. I'm sure they'll like you. Now, me having a child, I don't know what they'll think about, but I'm sure everything will be fine. I hope."

By now, she was much more relaxed- it was better to be. For the baby. Still nervous, and anxious, but a lot less so.

"Do you think that the guild knowing about my pregnancy will be dangerous? I mean, they'll find out one way or another. By seeing me on the street, in the pub, at the guild. It'll be known. I just want to make sure the child will be safe."

[Deleted]

Xavier sighed at this... All of this... A baby he was sure he could handle. But parents? Now that sounded like a problem. Not to mention he and Dani weren't married, that could make things worse.

Then there was the guild. Everything would have been fine. But Dax. Dac would be an issue no doubt about it.
"We'll I don't think you should be going on missions of any sort for a good while... And as Enoch we still won't have any connection.." That was something that would be hard.

[Danielle Otis]

Danielle nodded, sighing.

"Of course, I understand...it's dangerous enough for anyone to know I am having a child, let alone yours. I'll still be going to work at the pub, though, I understand no missions but I can still listen in on conversations like I usually do," she squeezed his hand a bit tighter, unsure of what to say.
She bit her lip, as she thought.

"Do you think we can do it?" she asked, looking up at Xavier.

[Deleted]

Xavier smiled as he looked over to Dani after saving the soup. Things would definetly not get easy, it would be hard but, they would get through it.

"We will be fine." He reassures as he holds her Ito the hug. "We will get though this and everything will work out."

[Danielle Otis]

Danielle hugged him back, thinking.
"...I sure hope so. And I really hope that my kind doesn't have litters."
She chuckled slightly, before pulling back a little to look into the man's face.
She grinned, gave him a quick peck on the lips, before speaking once more.

"We should eat. See how good your cooking really is," the neko girl grinned.