Replacement

Regurgitation

"I had no idea, how long twelve days can be!", Adrien lamented, as he sat on the bed next to Nathalie, to keep her company and enlighten her mood. Because she really had enough of staying in that bed and that room before the procedure and now, that she had to wait for the bloodtest, to confirm, that she was pregnant or destroy all of their hopes forever, she was even more agitated and she let everybody know.

"I would have never figured that one out, Adrien!", she spat snidely, making the boy, who was used to her calm demeanor gasp.

She noticed at the very same moment and apologized immediately:

"Oh my, Adrien, I am so, so sorry. I didn't mean to let it out on you! Come here, please, let me explain."

She held out her hand and waited for him to take it. He hesitated and she withdraw hers in an instant.

"Well, if you don't.....I'm doing it again, right? I really don't mean ot Adrien, I think it's the injections and the hormones inside, which make me snap like that!"

The teenager scooted a little bit upwards on the mattress, until they were lying next to each other, their shoulders slightly touching.

"I think it's amazing, that you are doing that for us, Nathalie! You're also the only one, who never even once treated me like the thing I am. thank you for that!"

Now her eyes were brimming with tears, as she pulled the boy into a tight embrace.

"I would so want you to believe, that this was true, but I recently did. Even if it was Felix, I thought, it was you. I did use the ring to give you an order. I am very sorry, I shouldn't have", she confessed.

He hugged her back, wrapping his arms strongly around her waist, telling her:

"It's fine, Nathalie. I am very sure, you just did it, to protect me and get me to safety in time!"

The woman was touched by his understanding and kind reaction and placed a soft kiss on top of his head.

"Say, how many days have passed yet?", she asked him with a grin then.

"Still only nine!", he sighed.

"Crap!"

"Yeah!"

They looked at each other and began to laugh.

"All this excitement and the waiting and hoping and the fear to fail is starting to taking its toll on me, Adrien!", she then said rather quietly.

"Why? Aren't you feeling good? Is there anything I can do, Nathalie?", he had jumped to his feet and quickly made it to the other side of the large bed, to stand there, his face worried, while the assistant scooted towards the rim of the mattress.

"There is, actually. Would you mind helping me into the bathroom? I think, I'm going to be sick!", she squeezed through gritted teeth.

"Oh, uhm....of course, just uhm, hold on to me, I'll help you walk there!", he exclaimed and pulled her to her feet, to then support her arm and hold her around the waist, while they slowly made it to the bathroom, Nathalie covering her mouth with one hand on the last few meters, trying to not throw up until they would reach the toilet or at least the sink.

They had barely stepped through the door, when she let go of the boy and pushed him back, to grab the side of the sink for holding herself on her feet, while she emptied all of her stomach contents, the smelly stuff staining the extravagant black porcelain.

Feeling insecure about the whole situation, Adrien pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Gabriel, saying: