Chapter 430: Avery

Avery - The Pregnancy Part 2

By the time Joyce barges into my room without knocking, Kuro doesn't even bother lifting his head.

He opens one silver eye.

Sees who it is.

Lets out the longest, most dramatic sigh I've ever heard from a fox before going right back to sleep.

Joyce points at him.

"Your giant murder fox judges me."

"He judges everyone."

"I don't like it."

"I think he can tell."

Kuro flicks one fluffy tail in response.

Joyce gasps.

"See?"

I laugh, carefully setting my book aside before pushing myself upright on the bed. At almost four months pregnant with triplets, even sitting up has become an event.

Behind Joyce trail her usual entourage.

Amelia has three garment bags hanging over one arm.

Noah is balancing a box of pastries.

Lina carries a sewing basket.

"You brought reinforcements?" I ask.

Joyce grins.

"Sweetheart."

She gestures dramatically toward my stomach.

"You're growing three demi-god babies."

"I am."

"So your wardrobe is officially in crisis."

I look down at the pale green dress stretched comfortably over my bump.

"I thought I was doing alright."

"You were."

She points accusingly.

"Yesterday."

I blink.

"Yesterday?"

She nods solemnly.

"Today you're approximately seventeen percent more pregnant."

Everyone laughs.

Including me.

Noah sets the pastries on the coffee table.

"I brought chocolate croissants."

Joyce narrows her eyes.

"You only brought those because she's pregnant."

"I also brought apple turnovers."

"I forgive you."

Within minutes my room looks like a tailor's workshop.

Fabric is draped over chairs.

Pins somehow end up everywhere.

Joyce stands behind me, pulling a measuring tape around my waist while muttering numbers under her breath.

"You're all belly."

"I've noticed."

"No, like..."

She crouches dramatically to look at my profile.

"It's actually impressive."

"I'll tell the babies you complimented them."

"Tell them to stop stealing your ribs."

"They're trying."

Lina kneels to pin the hem of one of my dresses.

"We'll just let this out a little."

"A little?"

She looks at my stomach.

"Maybe a lot."

I sigh dramatically.

"I had such cute clothes."

Joyce snorts.

"You still do."

"I can't fit into them."

"Temporary problem."

"I miss my jeans."

"You'll miss seeing your feet soon."

"I already kind of do."

That earns another round of laughter.

The conversation drifts easily after that.

Fashion.

Institute gossip.

The upcoming harvest celebration.

One of the new recruits who accidentally set his own trousers on fire during Rowan's training session.

Apparently Damien laughed for a full minute before helping.

"I'm shocked," I say.

Joyce deadpans.

"No, you're not."

"Okay I'm really not."

Noah passes me another pastry.

"You need to eat."

"I've eaten three."

"You can eat four."

"I physically cannot."

Joyce nods.

"Challenge accepted."

"I walked right into that."

"You really did."

For a while, it's just... nice.

No politics.

No council meetings.

No healers telling me to rest.

Just friends sitting on the floor surrounded by fabric and snacks.

Eventually Amelia glances between Joyce and me with the unmistakable expression of someone debating whether to ask a question.

Joyce notices immediately.

"Don't."

"I haven't said anything."

"I know that face."

"What face?"

"The face that gets us kicked out of respectable establishments."

Amelia grins.

"I was just curious."

Joyce pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Oh no."

She turns to me.

"You absolutely do not have to answer this."

"I don't even know the question."

Amelia clears her throat.

"So..."

She hesitates.

"Three husbands."

Joyce groans.

"I knew it."

"And now triplets."

Joyce points at her.

"Stop talking."

"I just wanted to know—"

"No."

"—how that even—"

"No."

"Works?"

Joyce throws both hands into the air.

"They're my cousins!"

The room erupts into laughter.

"I'm serious!"

She points accusingly at Amelia.

"I grew up with those idiots."

Amelia is laughing too hard to defend herself.

"I don't want answers anymore!"

"I thought you wouldn't mind!"

"I don't want to know about their sex lives!"

Noah wipes tears from his eyes.

"I've never seen Joyce regret something so quickly."

Joyce looks at me, horrified.

"You are under no obligation to answer."

I can already feel my face burning.

"I wasn't planning to."

"Good."

She points at everyone else.

"And the next person who asks anything remotely related is getting stabbed with a sewing needle."

Lina quietly raises both hands.

"Can you blame a girl for being curious?"

Amelia sighs dramatically.

"Fine."

Another beat passes.

"I was mostly wondering how they decide who gets blanket space."

I burst into laughter.

Joyce freezes.

"...Actually..."

She looks at me.

"Now I'm curious too."

I shake my head, still laughing.

"They're surprisingly civilized."

"They take turns?"

"More or less."

Noah nods thoughtfully.

"See?"

"That's a normal question."

Joyce sighs in relief.

"I can live with blanket logistics."

By late afternoon, several of my dresses have been altered, two sweaters have mysteriously become "pregnancy approved," and Joyce has declared my entire wardrobe salvageable.

She steps back to admire her work.

"There."

I look at myself in the mirror.

The soft cream dress now falls perfectly over my stomach instead of pulling awkwardly across it.

It's comfortable.

Pretty.

It still feels like... me.

My eyes sting unexpectedly.

Joyce notices immediately.

"Oh no."

She walks over.

"What?"

I touch the fabric lightly.

"I thought I'd have to stop feeling like myself for a while."

Her expression softens.

She takes my hands.

"You are yourself."

She smiles warmly.

"You just happen to be growing three future nightmares."

I laugh through the sudden tears.

"I hope they're sweet."

Joyce snorts.

"They have Damien's attitude, Ezra's stubbornness and Rowan's intelligence."

She pats my shoulder.

"You've got absolutely no chance."

The room fills with laughter again.

Even Kuro lets out an amused little huff from his spot by the window, as if he agrees.