The Marriage Counselor. (Woman x intersex)

eighty-one.

The storm is here.

UNEDITED

chapter eighty-one: two months later.

"Aw my sweet girl, what's the matter? Hm?" Danielle asked as she lifted her almost five month old baby. It was late in the evening, all of the kids asleep except for Nubia who kept fussing. She fidgeted in her mothers arms, Danielle rubbing her back before touching her small forehead.

"Oh you feel so warm..my baby are you getting sick? Your brothers and miss Sophia were sick..now it's your turn.." Danielle pouted before looking over to see Nour walking into the room. He was fresh out of the shower and in his pajamas, his hair wrapped in a messy bun as he walked over.

"I didn't see you come in." Danielle breathed as Nour kissed her cheek before kissing Nubia's forehead.

"Oh she's warm..and yes you were in the shower when I walked in so I showered in the other room."

"Mm." Danielle hummed in response. Nour didn't respond to her shortness, instead walking over to the pamper station and grabbing the forehead thermometer from the drawer.

"Is there an issue?" Nour asked as he quickly swiped Nubia's forehead. Danielle sighed before shaking her head while rubbing Nubia's back.

"No. I just expected you home a little earlier. Mason did too."

"I'm sorry. I had a meeting with my father and Nasir. They just needed help clearing up some stuff now that I'm not in charge anymore."

"Okay, but you promised you wouldn't be involved at all, and the last month you've been doing the opposite. All of these late meetings and being out all day. What's going on?" Danielle asked as she sat down on the rocking chair. The thermometer beeped, Nour's eyes full concern.

"She has a low grade fever. Should I get some Tylenol?" Nour asked, completely digressing from the conversation. She knew there was something going on, Nour suddenly withdrawn and inconsistent for the last month. She tried her best to keep her temper in control since knew that he wouldn't be acting this way if there wasn't a reason.

So, she instead swallowed her crazy and watched while doing her best to stay out of his way. He did mention that there were still some things he had to work through before completely being free, so she tried not to be hard on him.

That was until he started answering the phone in another room and flipping it over on the table so she couldn't see his messages everytime it chimed. If he wasn't in his office, he wasn't home and it was starting to piss her off.

Is it me? Am I that bad that both marriages are starting the same way? What is wrong with me?

She tried her best not to let her insecurities get to her. She just couldn't help it. She was full anxiety and hadn't felt like herself and this was adding to it. But she held her composure because she knew deep in her heart that Nour wouldn't betray her the same way Alfred did.

At least she hoped.

"Yes after I'm finished feeding her." Danielle muttered while rubbing Nubia's back as she feasted from her mothers breast. Nour watched as he leaned against the drawer, Danielle sighing before shaking her head.

"You're breaking your promise, Nour." Her voice was gentle but the hurt laced within it stung him in more ways than one. He couldn't possibly tell her what was going on out of fear of her reaction. She didn't need anymore on her plate, Nour doing everything in his power to keep his home calm and collected.

"That's not my intention Dani and you know that." Nour responded quietly. She chuckled while shaking her head causing him to swallow hard. She looked up at him with red rimmed eyes, a tear escaping from the corner.

"I know I haven't been feeling like myself the last few weeks, but..I would think that'd be more of a reason to be home. Please don't leave me room to believe something else is going on." Danielle breathed as she waved for Nour to hand her the vile of infant Tylenol. She slipped it into Nubia's mouth, the five month old suckling in her sleep.

"Let me know if you're coming to bed." Danielle whispered as she swaddled Nubia and laid her back down. She walked out of the room, Nour following behind her and watching as she crawled onto their king sized bed.

"I'm sorry."

"Just come lay down please." Danielle breathed as she felt the exhaustion take over her body. Nour obeyed, wrapping his arms around his wife who rolled her eyes with a small smile.

"You can tell me anything. You know that."

"I know, mama. This is more complicated. Just give me some time."

Danielle stared down at the positive pregnancy test with uncertain eyes. Her stomach knotted with nausea and anxiety, biting her lip as she tried to figure out what to tell Nour. He was becoming more and more withdrawn even from his sisters. She just prayed that whatever it was would get better knowing fighting wouldn't work. He asked for time and she had no reason not to give it to him.

"Shit." Danielle whispered as she placed a hand on her mouth. They didn't think about protection in Greece, her mind traveling back to the pleasure she hasn't felt in almost two months. She missed it, remembering the agonizing pleasure she felt having to hold back from screaming as he plunged himself into her at their wedding. Her body felt like it was engulfed in flames as if she was drowning in pleasure.

She craved her husband and it nearly brought her to tears.

"You okay?" Nura's voice asked through the bathroom door. Danielle sniffed before wiping her face as she flushed the toilet.

"Yeah, sorry. Is she fussing?"

"Yeah. Nour just walked in though." Danielle's eyebrows shot up in shock, this being the earliest he's been home in a while. She washed her hands before looking at the tests and throwing them deep into the trash.

"Hi baby. You're home early." Danielle breathed while wiping her hands on her thighs after running downstairs. Nour smiled while kissing her cheek as he coddled their daughter who cooed loudly.

"Yeah..Nura said she had something she wanted to talk about and we need to talk too."

"Yeah..we do." Danielle uttered causing Nour to look over in concern. She smiled nervously before walking into the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of water and taking a slice of cheesecake from the fridge.

"Are you hungry? I can make you lunch." Danielle asked as he sat down in the kitchen. Nubia babbled, her eyes a lighter grey than when she was born. Her features were coming in, her cocoa skin moisturized and wrapped in a white onesie. Her raven hair had loose curls and was glossy, Danielle already knowing she'd take after Nour in that department.

"Mmm, I'll order something. We can get Mexican."

"Oh no..absolutely not." Danielle grimaced causing Nour to arch a brow as he stared at his wife before standing and placing Nubia in her high chair.

"We'll decide when I finish in the bathroom," Nour chuckled before walking off. Danielle smirked and continued to eat her cheesecake when Nour's phone chimed. She saw it was an unsaved number, leaning over and reading it, immediately regretting her actions.

I need you right now..please come get me from here.