Rick waited anxiously. A thick rolling musky scent wafted in from the lake, carried by the damp breeze, the scent filled his lungs and it's crispness nearly took his breath away. Birds cawed up above, covering the rooftops or skirting in the sky. The smell of fish and moistened earth was also in the air, with barrels of dead fish in rows of size and species lining the docks, shadowed under the buildings above. As heavy as the smell was where he was stood, overlooking the lake, it became something of a distraction.
Up until this point, the news that Nessya has given him lacked proof. She would implore to him with all her enthusiasm and mixed emotion that she knew, deep down and felt it in her bones that she truly was pregnant. Rick, with his little bits of knowledge on how women behaved during the early stages of pregnancy was in no doubt himself, now that she had pointed it out to him. But he knew, now they had come to a town where such persons, such as a healer, could be found, it was best to be double sure. He'd want a healer to look her over regardless. After all, they had just spent weeks on the road, all of them were understandably fatigued. But this surprising news changed matters.
If he was so certain, why was he so nervous? The longer he waited for Nessya to come out from the healer's shop, the worse his anxiousness grew. To anyone passing by he would look a strange fellow looking out over the lake; rocking on the balls of his feet, nibbling on his fingernails and clenching his jaw. Perhaps, having the news confirmed by a third party was the cause? Both of them had talked for a while about the idea of having a child; a little brother or sister for Averick. Though it was never spoken about till then, both been married for a while and nothing had come from the fruits of the marriage, in the way of conceiving.
The doubts went unsaid till finally, one day in Autumn, it was talked about. From then on, it was decided they would seriously try. Nessya had a change of heart towards the idea of children, having previously loathed the prospect and doubted herself with the skills of Motherhood. Averick was an exception. She loved that boy like her own, yet still respected the boundaries. After all, Averick was not her Son.
Now that both of them were in the Dale-Lands, it had been many months of trying and carrying on with daily life. Neither of them wanted to get their hopes up. In all honesty, during the traveling, it had not been mentioned by either of them, given the seriousness and understandable importance of their journey. The days were spent with waking and eating, packing, traveling and repeating in each new location. That was of course till Nessya dropped the news onto his lap about a week ago; then everything changed.
After what seemed like an hour, Rick finally heard footsteps behind him on the damp wooden dock and turned around. Nessya took in a deep, rubbing her hands down her face slowly as she mulled over everything that had been said and explained. She took a moment to collect herself.
"...W..Well?"
She took in another breath as she mustered the courage to look up at him, this all still feeling so surreal, moreso now that she had gone through with getting checked and everything else. She steps closer, clearing her throat softly as she reaches out for his hands, only then starting to nod.
"...We're havin' a baby.." she whispered, in utter disbelief.
Rick felt his breath leave his body in a gasp, harsh against the lake breeze and his eyes stung as they began to moisten. The hand that was holding her's tightened. Quickly remembering to breath in he whispered,
"W...W..We are?. Are..We?"
His breathing quickened, and he stuttered at the threat of sobs. Any consideration for where they stood or who was around them was gone.
Nessya nodded again as she felt her own eyes go misty upon seeing his tears and his breathless words, reaching out quickly instead to wrap her arms around him tightly,
"We are... We are, Rick.."
Nessya started to laugh herself in utter disbelief, with a few tears slipping from her eyes as her emotions ran high, but she simply couldn't help it, somewhere between happiness and utter terror as she hugs him, worth it all to hear him so happy.
"Really, really are..No guessin', no doubts.."
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