The Devil Walks Among Us; Book l - Completed 4/21/22

Beginning of Hard Times

As Mia was showering, Big John had dismissed himself from the house to visit his husband at work, leaving Michael and Mia in the house alone, aside from Ella.

He sat back down on the couch after putting Ella in the bassinet, her lips securing the pacifier in her mouth as Michael tucked the blanket around her snugly. He stretched his arms on the back of the couch, turning his head slightly as he heard Mia come down the stairs, her hair damp from her shower and a baggy t-shirt - one of Michael's shirts - coming down to stop at her thighs, covering the new scar from Kevin's attack. She carried a hamper, full of the new clothes she had purchased for both her and Michael. The back of the couch faced the staircase, leaving a gap between the couch and the staircase, making a walkway as she was heading towards the laundry room. He watched her walk by, her gaze fixated on the task at hand, never noticing Michael's mischievous smirk on his lips as he playfully tapped her rear as she walked by.

"Michael!" She gasped, giggling.

"What?"

She scoffed playfully, continuing her trek towards the laundry room, Michael standing to his feet to follow her, his steps quiet. He leaned against the door frame, watching her bend over the washer to take out the prior load of laundry that Big John had forgotten to take out before he had left. Smirking, he watched her stand on her toes to reach for the clothes that were pressed against the drum of the washer, her legs shaking as she was too short to reach, but she was determined.

In a few moments, she felt his large hands on her hips, stabilizing her as she began to regain her balance. It was clear she had been frustrated. "Need help?"

"Please," She sighed. "John's stupid shirt is stuck at the bottom and I can't get it out."

He shook his head as she stepped aside, effortlessly retrieving the garments for her and tossing them into the dryer, standing aside to let her continue with the task at hand. "Is Ella sleeping?"

"Yes. She fell asleep not too long after you went upstairs."

"Okay. Hopefully, I can make a few bottles..." She sighed, eager to try the new breast pump she had bought, sincerely hoping it would help alleviate the intense soreness in her breasts.

"Don't stress over it." He reminded her.

"I know."

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really." She sighed.

"You haven't eaten almost all day, Mia," Michael advised. "You need to eat something."

"I will, Michael," She shook her head, wiping a piece of stray hair from her face. "I haven't really felt good the last couple of days."

"I know. You look like you're burning up." He said, pressing the back of his hand to her forehead, hoping the warm sensation of her head was from her shower, always joking with her that she liked her water scalding hot.

"Here lately, I've been feeling like my heart is racing or my adrenaline keeps going." She shook her head.

"It's been hard. That's why you need to relax. You don't need any more stress on you. I'll make you some popcorn or something-"

"-I promise, I'm not that hungry."

"I'll feel better if I can see you actually eat something."

She nodded, leaning into his embrace as he placed a warming kiss on her forehead before going into the kitchen, putting a bag of popcorn into the microwave, leaning against the counter as he studied her. Something doesn't feel right...

Once the popcorn was done, she ensured him that she would return to the living room after she had finished putting away some of the food they had gotten from the store, wiping away a few crumbs from the countertop before walking into the living room, sighing as she walked by the bowl of popcorn that sat on the coffee table. Michael grew worried about her, seeing her drained complexion before she straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and nestling her face into the base of his neck. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her waist, rubbing his palms up and down her back slowly, feeling a faint groan against his skin as he knew he was helping relieve some of the stress she had been carrying with her.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, figuring that holding each other for moments at a time was what they needed exactly. He felt his own heart beating against his chest, but something felt off. Usually, what he would notice, was that his and Mia's heartbeats would almost always be in the same rhythm, but hers was off. It felt as if her heart was fluttering against his chest, although her breathing was normal. He felt her breath hitch a couple of times, but not loud enough to be abnormal. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah?"

He used his hands to gently guide her to sit straight up on his lap, placing his right hand on her sternum, careful to not push too hard as he knew she was immensely sore in her breasts. She looked down at him, wondering what he was thinking. The more she breathed normally, the more he felt it.

"Your heart isn't beating right." He commented.

"I'd assume if it was beating still it's good..."

"That's not funny, Mia," He sighed. "How long has it been doing this?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't take it as seriously. It's not all the time it does this."

"How long has it been doing this?"

"I haven't kept track, Michael," She huffed. "It just feels like a flutter."

"Yeah, and a flutter isn't good."

"What do you know about hearts besides stopping them?" She questioned.

"I know they're not supposed to beat like that," He scoffed. "You're going to the doctor."

"I don't feel like going to the doctor."

"And I don't feel like burying you for being stubborn." He arched a brow, keeping his hand firmly on her sternum, feeling the described flutter she had been talking about.

"Let's at least wait until LJ gets home. He might know why it's doing that."

"And if it's something bad, you're going to the doctor."

"Yes, sir," She sighed, leaning back into him as his natural warmth was welcoming. "John texted me saying LJ would be home soon."

"Good," He replied, now rubbing his hands up and down her back, feeling the goosebumps. "I'm not going to rest until he looks at you."