Chapter Text
A big house. The sound of children’s laughter. Playful pitter-pattering of little footsteps skipping across the floor. A person to share all of it with. A family to call their own.
Nerissa Bloodflame had always wanted to be a mother. Growing up in a large family, she enjoyed having lots of siblings to play with and many more memories to share. Ever since she was a little girl, she daydreamed about having children of her own one day. All she needed was someone with whom she could have enough love to share.
Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame led a quiet and lonely childhood. She had never given much thought to being a parent. Yet, something about the way her wife would hold a pair of baby shoes or smile at children at the park made her want to try. She worked hard, getting in the best possible shape so Nerissa could carry a healthy baby, but Elizabeth had doubts about being a good mother. Yet, she knew deep down that Nerissa would be.
There was a common misconception that Elizabeth was the more assertive one in the relationship. Nerissa would regale friends, family, or anyone who would listen with their bedroom escapades and her strong and strapping wife. This would embarrass her scarlet bride, knowing that it was Nerissa who would take charge. Such a task ahead proved to be no exception.
Elizabeth’s wife always had needs, ever since they first wed, but this idea seemed to make her insatiable. Meticulously chronicling her fertile days, the two would be intimate together multiple times a day in rapid succession. Some nights, the red-headed breadwinner would come home and just want to sleep. But Nerissa had a mischievous gleam in her purple eyes that never failed to excite.
One day, Elizabeth saw her love standing by the bathroom sink. Her face was buried in her hands. Yet another negative pregnancy test had been thrown to the floor. Walking up to her soulmate, the fire-hearted woman rested her hands on Nerissa’s shoulders. Gently yet firmly, she began to massage. The other’s tensions seemed to ease.
“I don’t understand, we’ve been doing everything right…”
Her blue, fiery heart seemed to burn brighter at hearing Nerissa’s sorrow. Times like these were when the Scarlet Queen felt most helpless. No enemies to defeat, no tasks to complete. It wounded her deeply to see the woman she loved most in such sorrow. Elizabeth was filled with a sudden sense of resolve.
“It’ll happen, Nerissa, I promise.”
“How do you know?” The other’s purple eyes lacked anger or challenge. Rather, they pleaded for answers. In times like these, Elizabeth was her rock. She sought comfort.
“Because you want it, darling. Whenever you want something, you always find a way to dodge the obstacles that are set before you. I know it seems impossible now. One day, we’ll look back and smile. We’ll have a story to share with our little one.”
This answer seemed to sate Nerissa’s worries for now. Strong arms nestled around her waist. Elizabeth’s tall wife seemed to melt into her arms. The two swayed side to side, forming a peaceful dance together. For now, their worries appeared to be set aside.
One morning, the harbinger of order rushed to the toilet and fell sick. She was followed closely by her love, who held her red hair back and offered soothing words. Elizabeth dismissed it as something dodgy she had eaten, or perhaps morning sickness from rising out of bed too quickly. She felt a tinge of embarrassment at needing be doted on and tended to like this. Regardless, Nerissa was nothing but gentle and patient.
Elizabeth was late by several days. She would often have to make runs for the loo, sometimes for nausea and at other times what must have been her drinking too much water the night before. Her chest grew tender and sore, for which Nerissa was always understanding and accommodating. At night, she was exhausted, falling asleep even during activities as fun as snuggling close to her wife. By the end of a midnight snack, and struggling to fit into her pajamas, Elizabeth began to feel as if she had read about her symptoms before.
At dawn of one day, when Nerissa was fast asleep, her beloved quietly tiptoed into the bathroom and searched under the sink. She felt dirty for this, wrong even. These weren’t hers. Each one belonged to her wife, set aside for a special day. Still, once Elizabeth could dismiss her concerns, she would understand.
“Firefly, is everything alright in there?”
“J-just a minute!”
Elizabeth hated how easily lies tumbled from her lips. Nerissa was so sweet and concerned, she did not mean to be so dismissive. Patiently, she waited. She could explain everything. Her darling would understand.
“Liz?”
“One second!”
Biting her lip, a foot tapped nervously on the tiled floor. How long would this thing take? It was all silly, preposterous really. It wasn’t supposed to be her. She had promised as much.
“Liz, I’m coming in.”
“Wait—”
The Great Exardian rose up, hiding the stolen artifact behind her back. She had always been a terrible liar; it was written all over her face. Fire in her heart ebbed and flowed, mimicking the frantic beating of her panic. Red eyes tried to meet the demon’s gaze, but her own guilty glance remained locked at the floor like a sad puppy. Her hands trembled slightly.
Purple eyes looked Elizabeth up and down. The other stood perfectly still, hoping to throw off Nerissa’s perceptive watch. Her mouth would open occasionally to object, before closing itself. Walking about the room, her wife seemed to take the role of a detective reaching for clues. Finally, she reached her deduction.
“You’re pregnant.”
Elizabeth gave a startled gasp, dropping a piece of plastic. Sliding across the tiled floor, it halted before Nerissa. Scrambling to pick it up, she examined it closer. It was positive. She couldn’t help but let out a delighted squeal.
“You’re pregnant?”
Her wife stood frozen, as if she had no idea what to do.
“You’re pregnant! My wife is pregnant. We’re having a baby. The two of us. We’re making a family!”
Nerissa jumped for joy. She pranced and leapt all around, practically skipping across the room. Finally, she leaned in to embrace her wife for a warm hug. Purple eyes gazed at Elizabeth with nothing but love and admiration. She was overjoyed.
“You’re happy about this?”
“Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?” Nerissa stopped and began to think. “Are you, Liz? Are you happy about this?”
“I… I don’t know how to feel about this.”
Elizabeth wrung her hands, seeming ashamed of her lack of enthusiasm. Both had worked so hard and waited so long for this news. Yet, now that she knew, she couldn’t help but feel scared. The confused mother-to-be crossed her arms, turning away from her wife. Nerissa approached closer.
“Liz, if this isn’t something you want, it’s okay. This wasn’t part of the plan. I know a clinic you could go to. We could always try again. Wait until—”
“I do want this!” Elizabeth jolted, appearing startled at her own tone. “But it’s just not fair…” The poor Exardian seemed to be more tense. Her gaze drooped to the floor.
Nerissa placed a hand under her wife’s face. She tilted her head upwards, so she could look into her beautiful red eyes. The flames of her heart had diminished to a tiny flicker. It hurt her to see her sweetest scarlet so confused.
“What’s not fair?”
Elizabeth moved to sit on the floor. Her head rested on her knees. She curled into a little ball on the floor. Her wife’s hand ran up and down gently along her back.
“It should be you! You wanted this more than anything. I always knew you would be a good mother. But instead. Instead—”
Nerissa sat on the floor with her wife. Gently, she reached out to hold Elizabeth’s hands. With a firm grip, she held them closely. A thumb absentmindedly traced the back of her palms. Purple eyes glanced patiently.
“Instead, what, Liz?”
“Nerissa, I don’t think that I’d be a good mom.”
Resting her head in her hand, the raven-haired counselor softly caressed her wife’s cheek. A profound sadness filled her heart. Elizabeth had always been too hard on herself. If only she could see herself the way Nerissa saw her. She would simply have to try.
“Elizabeth. What makes you say that?”
The scarlet queen’s face screwed into a wince.
“You’ve always been so warm and loving and kind. I feel like I can be too busy. I would never want our baby to doubt if they are loved. I don’t want them to have to ask where their mummy is. I…”
Before Elizabeth could finish, Nerissa hushed her gums with a gentle kiss. She adored how detail-oriented her wife was. It seemed as if her fair knight always focused on one final plan. Every time, she wanted to reassure her. She wanted her to know it would be alright.
“Honey, you’ve always been so selfless. You’re always compassionate to the people who need it most. You’ve always been so silly and unafraid to be yourself. You’ve always been my rock. Just this once, let me support you, too.”
It seemed as if Nerissa’s kind words were the embers needed to fan the flames of Elizabeth’s heart. Blue fire burned just a bit brighter. Still, her lips were pursed. Her brow was furrowed. These were telltale signs that she was deeply puzzled.
“What… what if I can’t do it?”
“Liz, I think you’re already doing it…” Nerissa teased.
“But what if I can’t do any of it? The hard work, the sleepless nights, what if I fail? What if I’m not there when they need me? What if I am there but I’m not wanted? It all just seems like too much.”
Nerissa paused for a moment to think. Deep down, she knew that Elizabeth could do all of it. But there wouldn’t really be a way to prove it until it happened. So, she dug deeper still. Finally, she arrived at an answer.
“Liz, I don’t think anyone can…”
“You could!” Elizabeth huffed.
Despite everything, Elizabeth’s pouts always brought a smile to Nerissa’s face. Normally she did such a good job at being professional, stalwart, focused. But just the right things could be enough to annoy her. Especially when it involved the people she loved. She chuckled.
“No, I couldn’t.”
“Yes you—”
“Because I wouldn’t have to.”
A dawning realization seemed to impress itself upon Elizabeth. Slowly, she looked down and began to fidget with her wedding ring. Memories, moments, lifetimes, they would all be there with her. With them.
“Elizabeth, I could never do it all on my own. I knew that I would need the right person by my side. You are that person. So, as good of a mom as I’ll be, I’ll only be as good as you. Because we complete each other.”
At once, the Exardian rose up and began to pace back and forth, arms crossed behind her back. Nerissa was thankful to see some of her energy return. Her heart seemed to burn brighter than ever. Still, her face demonstrated that she was concentrating deeply. The other dared to interrupt.
“Liz, what’s on your mind?”
“First, we’ll need to start researching hospitals. I want doctors and nurses that I can trust. Then, we’ll investigate books and classes. I felt that you should have them to prepare, I’ll likely need them more. Finally, I’ll need something to eat.”
“There’s my Type A wife!” Nerissa patted her beloved on the head.
“Sure, call your pregnant wife neurotic, that’ll help.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
“Is that what it means? I meant ‘Type A’ as in A-grade!
“Very well. Now, come get you’re A-grade wife a snack, our baby’s hungry.”
Both walked hand in hand to adventure.