Shadow and Bone - The child of shadow and light

Chapter 4

Mal didn't return for hours and when he well did, he ignored me, and honestly, I was glad he did. I really didn't feel like talking to him right now. Genya had told David everything that had happened. He had merely nodded in acknowledgment before continuing on a project he was working on (like always). The only good thing about having a husband is that you can tell him all your secrets and he won't tell a soul. Do you know why? Because he isn't listening anyway.

"So, what's the plan?" Genya said as she sat down next to me by the table. "What do you mean?" "well now that you're pregnant do you still plan to go to Novyi Zem as originally planned? Or will you be staying here? You know you'll have to quit one of your jobs, too much stress can cause damage to the baby?" I nodded in agreement. She was right and in a few months, it would be dangerous to travel by sea while pregnant.

"I think I'll stay here until the baby is born but you guys should try to get on a ship to Novyi Zem as soon as possible. "Without you?" "Yes" the room fell silent as I got up from my seat and walked over to the small dresser and took out a small pouch. "This is the money I've earned by working a the dining place, it should be enough to pay for a ticket. Take it" I said handing Genya a small pouch filled with coins. She just stared at me. "The money from the factory will hopefully be able to pay for a small apartment or cottage for me and the baby."-"I don't want to - I can't"-"Genya, you can and you will. You can't stay here anymore, not when the darkling is in power, not when I can't protect you guys"

"Did your powers really disappear?" "Not all of it, but I'm as well as powerless" "Please go, take Mal and David with you. Build a new home - the family you've always wanted" she took my hands in hers, her hands warming my cold ones. "I will. But after the baby is at least a few months old, ok?" "okay" She smiled and I smiled back at her. As time passed Mal came and apologize for his reaction, Zoya, and how he wasn't there for me when I needed him and I forgave him. Not because he begged but for my heart deserved peace. And in these times, I could really need my best friend from Keramzin with me throughout this journey into the unknown.

A/N: I'm just going to jump a few months forward here and there as I don't have the patience to write one chapter for each month.

A month later (ca. 12 weeks p.)

I threw myself over the toilet just in time as the urge to empty my stomach hit me. "Saints the baby hates me" "Nonsens! your baby loves you!" Genya scolded behind me as she held back my too-long hair. "Then why can't I keep anything down?" I said before vomiting again. "See it as a sign of it being healthy" I can not for the love of me understand how she can be so positive all the time. But at the same time, I can't express my gratitude enough for I've no idea what I would have done without her. "What time is it?" "Half-past six" Mal answered as he handed me a glass of water to rinse my mouth. "I'm gonna be late!" I hurried and got dressed before rushing off to the map factory. I had taken Genya's advice and quit my job at the restaurant and focused on making maps. Which actually led to me getting a salary raise. And I had started to look at life a bit more 'positive' as Genya would've said it. Though nothing happiness seemed to cure the nightmares that kept haunting me at night.

Three months later (ca. 28 weeks p.)

"The baby's heartbeats sound great" the healer Olga tells me and I let out a sigh of relief. "Though I do recommend you trying to eat a bit more. It's easy to forget that you are eating for two, so don't forget to eat larger meals dear" I nodded. Food wasn't as tight now as it had been a few months ago but it made me feel guilty eating more than the others when I could offer nothing to repay them for it. "Have you decided on names yet?" Olga asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Yes, a few actually. If it's a boy I thought of Mikhail or Alexei and if it's a girl I was thinking of Anastasia, Alyona, or Polina" "I came up with Mikhail and Alyona" Genya voiced proudly.