Another day another trouble

Nova simply placed the soul against the daemon's lips, knowing his body would normally react and take it in even if he was asleep. Then she decided to leave, give herself some room to walk and feel the fresh air against her skin. Mika joined her, leaving the apartment she looked back shortly, smiling, however she knew the worst was yet to come.

Buffy came back in to the living room, munching on a mouthful of egg. Seeing her daemon asleep made her smile, mostly because he looked so relieved to finally relax. She moved a blanket around him before she ate her meal. When that was finished she turned on the TV, making sure the volume wasn't too loud before she cuddled up to him. She placed his arm around her, letting it rest on her hip as she rested her head in his lap. She eventually napped as well, feeling like she was safe for the first time in a couple of days. A few hours passed, but she felt like she had simply blinked and the watch on the wall had just made a jump on it's own. Blinking a few times, she placed a hand on her stomach, frowning as she felt nauseous. She almost fell out of the couch, running to the bathroom. She reached the toilet in time, her meal hardly digested ending up in the clear water of the bowl. Groaning she felt her stomach retract once more, emptying her stomach further. Maybe it had just been bad eggs? She sat back on the bathroom floor, placing her forehead against her knees as she tried to calm her body down from the initial shock. She was shaking a little, feeling like she was going to throw up once more, but she knew there was nothing left. On shaky feet she moved to stand up, flushing out the mess in the toilet before looking at herself in the mirror. Her vision slightly blurry she sighed as she started rinsing her mouth and brushing her teeth. Buffy leaned herself against the sink, needing support as her legs were shaking so much. She was far from cold, she actually felt like she was burning up, but she wasn't sure if it was just because of the vomiting or the fact she had slept fully clothed and under blankets with Baal. Spitting in to the sink, she rinsed her mouth again before placing her toothbrush back in its holder. She had been told by her mother how fast the pregnancy had been with Buffy and Xander, but if that was true she was carrying a fenix, right? Either way it was too surreal to think of a race yet, let alone think of things moving this fast. Buffy splashed a bit of water on her face, bowing over the sink just to stabilize herself. As she looked back up in the mirror she felt like her face had changed, however it really hadn't. Her vision were just a bit more blurry now and she felt like crying because she didn't know what what going on. Sitting down on the edge of the tub she hid her face in her palms, hoping it would just pass, but then she felt her stomach rumble. She was hungry, of course she was, but she also had a fear that whatever she put between her lips and swallowed would be forced right out of her again.

She couldn't really tell how long she had been sitting here on the edge of the tub, however her feet and legs were feeling like pins and needles. She focused a lot on just breathing, as that seemed to be the only thing not making her nauseous. As she heard Baal call out she sighed. She didn't really like him seeing her this way, mostly because he needed healing and sleep. Lots of it if it was up to her. "I'm in here," she finally replied, her voice shaky from her body's recent experience. Sighing she looked at the tile under her feet, just following the pattern as it seemed to help her a little. Not that it really did anything but take her mind off of whatever was going through it. When she felt like she could stand up she went to the door, opening it, she looked at her daemon with an exhausted expression. "You shouldn't be walking around love," she said in a soft voice, reaching for him to take his hand, but her body felt weak. She was still shaking a little bit, but the worst had passed. The only thing that mattered right now was how her stomach kept rumbling at how empty it now was. She looked at him with a soft smile, trying to show that he didn't need to worry, however she was not sure if she was worried or just tired. "Let's get you to bed," she whispered, taking his hand as her legs were still shaking. It must've been all her worry just showing physically now that he was healing. She couldn't begin to believe that it was the child already showing itself. She walked with him, and although she felt her body weak, she wanted to stay strong for him. "I just ate some bad eggs," she said, smiling as genuine as she could muster without pulling a pained expression.

Buffy looked at Baal as he placed a hand against her cheek, leaning a bit against it as it seemed to relax her more. She knew he was right, she needed to eat, but the fear of throwing it up only to be left hungry again scared her. “I know it shouldn’t be happening, that’s why I think it’s simply a matter of bad eggs,” she replied, exhaling as she didn’t even know if she believed herself. It all seemed like a mess right now, feeling so tired and hungry at the same time. “I’ll try eating in a bit, I just need to rest a little,” she said, feeling dizzy didn’t really help, but she knew she just needed a little bit of rest before she could do much else. Opening the door to her room she frowned as she felt a pain in her stomach, however it seemed to subside as she laid down on the bed. Breathing normally proved to be a challenge, and she felt bad for knowing that Baal might be worried now. He needed to heal, so she didn’t want the focus to be on her.

As he laid down with her she tried breathing as normally as she could, but she just felt like she couldn't. She felt quite winded after everything. "Honestly, I don't know," she replied a little distressed, looking at him, she touched his face, but her hands were extremely cold. "I hope I'm not getting sick," she mumbled as she closed her eyes. Baal had mentioned something about daemon children not accepting food. But she felt like it wouldn't be a daemon; to be honest she felt rather alright except for the cold sensation in her limbs. Maybe she really just was exhausted. "Tell me ... Tell me about daemon children," she mumbled. He had mentioned it, and she just wanted to take her own mind off of her body reacting this way. Aiden had been born to a seraphim mother, so Buffy didn't think she would come across any problems. The only problem she had was the fact that she was mortal, but why would that be something to be worried about when she thought she was carrying a fenix.

Buffy sighed, because everyone knew that a fenix rarely got sick. They got cold, that was for sure, but any bacteria mostly burned off before they even got to sneezing. "They do if their flame is starting to burn out," she whispered, not knowing how she felt about saying it. It would only make him worry more, but that was why she didn't know what it was. As he spoke about the daemon experience of pregnancy she swallowed, looking down at her stomach as she frowned. It was all happening at once, and she just wanted a few minutes to relax. His words about them needing to know made her sad, mostly because she knew deep down that there was a child in there. However if it was already starting to affect her, she couldn't help but worry. Baal had said he wouldn't live without her, but what would that mean if the baby lived and she died? Closing her eyes to try and stop herself from crying she took a trembling inhale. "I don't know where I could get tested and the Order wouldn't find out," she said in a soft voice, trying to hide the whirlwind of emotions in her chest.

Of course he didn't want that to happen. She didn't want either, but she also knew that she was living on borrowed time either which way they were looking at it. A fenix did not live long, that was just how things were and always had been. Even living past 70 could prove difficult and she feared that it would be a task too filled with burdens for Baal to carry. Nodding silently at his words, she knew he was right, but right now she couldn't think of any way to be certain. She could go to the doctors, but seeing how the Order had seized information about Aiden so easily, she feared that the same would happen to her. As he briefly looked at the ceiling she didn't know what to do, she placed a hand over the one he had on her stomach, pressing it closer as if it would protect her. "Baal, you worry too much; It was just bad eggs and maybe that's all there is to it," she whispered in a soft voice. She placed her hand on his cheek, turning his head gently to face her, even if he didn't open his eyes. "A fantastic middle, right? Our middle is hardly there, and I hope it will start with our wedding," she whispered softly, placing a gentle kiss against his lips. "I'll birth you so many children that you might be swimming in the sea of our offspring, and we'll live a nice life in a small house with just enough room for us all," she said. Her voice sounding a bit stronger, frowning as she looked down to her stomach. It was strange, because she had always been so determined and once she set her mind to something it happened. "We both know a fenix cannot live long, but I have decided to not die before I've seen us as a fully fletched family," she said, tears in her eyes as she felt emotional. She was still hungry, she knew she had to eat. "Perhaps I'm just getting picky? My mother always said how she craved gummy bears with mustard when she was bearing me and Xander," she chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood somehow.

Buffy felt a few of her own tears escaping, taking trembling breaths as he started pleading with her. She just wanted him to know what she was dreaming off, how she saw her future with him so clearly in her head. She scoffed softly at his words, but perhaps to him it would only be a minute they would truly spend together compared to his lifespan. "Belial ... If I was dying, I would've dreamt it," she said in a firm voice. She knew that a fenix would know when the time was close, and she had not had any dreams regarding death. On the contrary she had only dreamt of life, specifically the one growing in her as he worried. He moved to sit up, and she felt it rather hurtful that he wouldn't look her in the eyes. His words were silly to her, mostly because he sounded so stubborn, however she didn't laugh. Rather, she looked at him with pleading eyes. "You can never lose me," she said, speaking the truth. Even if she died, she knew she would always be with him in his heart. Reaching up she placed a careful hand against his chest, feeling his heart beat behind his ribcage. "Please just look at me," she said, feeling her lower lip quiver a bit. "Look at me and see my flames, see the life that is bursting from me right now because I have you here," Buffy said softly. Her eyes were bright, determined even, showing that she was not lying when she said she was happier when he was with her. The flames were strong, just as strong as when they had had their first night together. "Belial, I love you, and believe me when I say we will find a way, but right now, I need you to heal," she said.

Buffy looked at him, seeing the hurt in his eyes and the tears drying on his face didn't feel good. Soon enough she felt his lips press against her own, sighing as she leaned in to the tenderness of the kiss. Had other lips ever tasted so sweet even if the destiny was bitter? As he leaned away, she frowned slightly, her lips still separated as if her body had hoped for another kiss. Feeling his forehead against hers was like having a secret connection that only the two of them knew about. His words filled with promise made her relax more, although her body was still cold she was heating up by being near him. Maybe it had just been bad eggs, or that was at least what she hoped for right now. He moved away and as he laid back down she just wanted to cuddle up to him. However his concerned voice made her nod in agreement. "I'll grab something to eat; I bet that Aiden has probably left a whole stock of soups in the freezer," she said. She didn't want to leave the bed however, frankly she wanted to stay close to him and just listen to him breathing. But she knew she had to eat. Her stomach was starting to hurt and she sighed. "I'll make me some food, and then I want to feel your arms around me," she said softly. She leaned down over him, pushing a bit of her blonde hair behind her ear as she looked at Baal, a smile creeping upon her lips. "Don't miss me too much," she whispered sweetly against his lips before giving him a brief kiss. Then she moved out to the kitchen, looking at what they had in the fridge and freezer. She placed a hand on her rumbling stomach, and for some reason she couldn't help but smile a little to herself. "Let's see what you like; you clearly don't like eggs," she whispered to her stomach, but it was more so to the child than to herself. She started out slow, and quickly figured out that peanut butter for some reason was something she liked all of a sudden. Finding some carrots as well she started dipping them in to the peanut butter. It didn't make her nauseous, but she couldn't live off of that alone. Sitting down for a while she tried feeling her stomach. There was no sign of the need to hurl everything out of her system, and it made her smile a bit. Quickly she found that anything related to something produced by animals made her sick, but it was still a work in progress. This meant that she finally got something to eat, making her stomach stop rumbling and screaming for food. She placed her hands against the radiator in the kitchen, sighing in relief at the heat before she ate the rest of her plate with nuts and apples. Strangely she felt rather content as she came back in to the living room. Color had come back to her face, and she didn't feel like her vision was blurry. "I think I might be carrying a vegan," she chuckled, placing a hand on her full stomach. She shook her head, it was stupid, but she liked the joke of it.

Buffy heard her phone buzz, looking to the small table at the couch. Walking over she picked it up, unlocking it before reading the messages. Somehow she felt a bittersweetness to the messages. However she was grateful for Aiden's written words.

[Messages between Aiden and Buffy]
[Buffy:] Yeah, that would be great ... I'm having some weird experiences
[Buffy:] But we can speak about that if you stop by

She felt s little too paranoid to actually write anything about Baal or even the thought of being pregnant. Looking at the bowl on the coffee table she sighed, grabbing it to at least place it back out in the kitchen, letting it fill with water. She didn't feel like she wanted to do the dishes, mostly because she wanted to snuggle up to Baal, just listen and relaxing. She made sure to lock the apartment door, knowing that both Aiden and Xander had an extra key. Nova, well if she wanted to come in she guessed she would have to ring the bell. Walking back to the bedroom felt a lot easier than the last time, and Buffy couldn't help but smile as she stood a bit in the doorframe. Looking at Baal just made her happy, seeing him rest was even better. She was careful as she removed her clothes, instead opting for some more loose fitting clothes. She had a pajamas she liked wearing on cozy nights. Putting it on she then walked to the bed, crawling under the covers and snuggling up to her daemon. "I've eaten," she said calmly, just before he got to ask her at least. "Did I wake you?" she whispered softly, hoping that she hadn't.

She couldn't help but smile, seeing how he moved so slow as if he was still traversing his dream world. His words sweet, yet revealing how drowsy he truly was. It made her chuckle lightly, not too loud as to wake him up fully. Feeling him wrap his arm around her and pulling her close just made her relax. But what made everything fall in to place was feeling how even in his light sleep he was thinking about what she might've been carrying. The hand on her stomach providing her with heat and feeling his breath against her scalp made her feel like she could doze off any second. Then she heard her phone buzz, sighing as she turned around, looking at the screen before replying.

[Messages between Aiden and Buffy]
[Buffy:] That sounds good - I've locked the door. You still got a key, right?
[Buffy:] And no, I think Xander went to the Institute to study
[Buffy:] He hasn't texted me, so I don't know when he'll be home

Buffy felt Baal's body getting heavier, sighing in relief at the fact he was actually resting. He was a stubborn daemon, stubborn enough to rival her own determination, however they both seemed to understand the necessity of taking care of themselves. At least right now. There was more at stake. Being reunited reminded her of how much she actually needed him in her life. It wasn't just love, it was something deeper. The kind of companionship you only met once in your life. The thought made her a little sad as well, knowing that she would grow old and he wouldn't. Would he still look at her the same as she started gaining wrinkles and grey hair? Lord, she hoped so. Looking at the message that Aiden replied with made her smile a little. Buffy was not blind, she had seen what had been going on between Aiden and Xander today. Normally she would've tried to make both of them stay, speak it out, but she was too hurt to do much more than just accept their choices. She simply replied to the message with a thumbs up emoji, placing her phone on the nightstand. She closed her eyes, feeling those long arms around her, placing a hand over the one he had on her stomach. She felt rather excited. If they had proof, then they could start planning. Plan what they needed to do to keep both themselves and the child safe.