Serendipity: A New Generation of Knights

Part 1: Ch. 11. You Okay?

Autumn woke up to a strange feeling in her abdomen. It wasn't like anything she had experienced before, and definitely not in any of her pregnancies. It seemed too high to have to do with the baby. So she persisted on with her day, she and Winter riding to the nursery together with their little boy in tow in the back seat.

Autumn sat up straight in the passenger seat, willing herself well as best as she could. Usually, she'd be the one to drive to and from work when they were together. Today, she allowed Winter to drive them. He knew something was up with her, watching her get dressed for work quietly, a look of consternation across her eyes, but he didn't want to press. He knew if it was important or emergent, she would tell him. That was the only thing giving him solace.

Truthfully, she was concerned, but she was afraid to worry him. They worried through everything with their last pregnancy, and things turned out beautifully. She didn't want to trouble him with little things that may solve themselves, especially right before work.

The nursery was only about ten minutes down the road from their home, but the pounding headache that was already building up in her skull was being amplified with the sound of their vehicle's tires against the road, the noise of engines running all around them, and of course...

"Mama, we listen to Hound Dog now?" Benny spoke up from his seat in the back.

Autumn glanced briefly in the rear view mirror, a pang of pain hitting around the sides of her head as she did so. She quickly shut her eyes as she brought her hands to her temples. Winter placed a hand on her thigh. Even though he didn't want to push her to talk about whatever was paining her, he wanted her to know he was there.

"Yes, Benjamin," She replied softly, the rush of the road noise echoing in her head. The rush of the road noise and... blood?

As she reached for her phone to flip through her music library, the sound of her blood rushing in her ears pounded away in her head.

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Their son sang along as best as he could, as loudly as he could, to his current favorite song in the back seat.

As they pulled into the nursery, the first to arrive, per usual, Autumn leaned back in her seat while Winter opened his car door to take to Benny in the back seat. She drew in a steady, deep breath as she placed a hand on her bump.

"You okay in there?" she asked aloud, but barely audible to anyone but herself.

Autumn slowly traced her fingers over the lined pattern of her shirt, pressing her fingers lightly into her abdomen as she felt her daughter kick. The small movement was enough to, even in her pain, bring Autumn down from her growing fears.

She smiled softly as she continued to push along the patterns in her clothing. Ever since announcing the news that they were expecting again, Autumn had been very excited about her wardrobe choices. With her first pregnancy, she never even had the chance to dress her bump, as it was never really noticeable to anyone but herself and Winter. With Benny, her thoughts were all consumed with making the right choices for the inside of her body, almost to a point of obsession. She never got the chance to explore much with the visible, outside part of her body, other than making sure she stayed looking sharp and professional for work. Now, in her third and final pregnancy, she took the time to explore maternity wear, new colors and patterns, new ways to dress herself that would be comfortable, professional, and perfectly pair with her ever-growing baby bump. Maternity style was never something Autumn could see herself getting into. But she was feeling sentimental about her last pregnancy, and it was something new and exciting that she wanted to enjoy, just for herself, as a sweet memory every time she looked in her closet for years to come.

"You okay in there?" Winter spoke, interrupting his wife's thoughts as he stuck his head back in the driver's side door.

"Better now," Autumn smiled up at him. "She's quite active right now."

Though the pain in her head grew, Autumn knew the familiar, soft sounds of the computer fan, echoes of children playing down the hall, and the relief from two paracetamol waiting for her at her desk would bring her to a more comfortable state.

"Mama coming?" Benny peeked his head into the driver side doorway as well, prompting Autumn to unbuckle her seatbelt and slowly make her way out of the car.

Upon standing, a sudden wave of nausea hit her, crashing against her just as a rush of dizziness joined it. She swayed a bit, but she never lost her footing. Her eyes fluttered shut as she brought her hands around her head once again. Luckily, Winter was stood right next to her.

"My love?" He sputtered, wrapping an arm around her back.

"I'm alright," she told him, doing her best to reassure him with a smile. Not only that, but she didn't want to worry Benny. He was much too empathetic for her to want to show any worry or fear around him right now. "My head's been hurting all morning."

"Autumn, why didn't you tell me?" Winter asked, rubbing his palm against the small of her back.

"It's fine, my sweet," she assured him, smiling as she looked toward her husband.

Autumn steadied herself on her feet and pulled Winter's hand from behind herself. She lifted one of his hands to her mouth and kissed his palm.

"I've got some paracetamol at my desk, and I haven't had any breakfast. I'm sure with both of those, I'll be just fine."

Winter smiled. He didn't fully believe her, but he was willing to give it a chance. He leaned forward and kissed his wife on her forehead before picking up their son and placing him on his hip.

"You heard your mama," Winter proclaimed. "Let's to get her some breakfast."

The three pressed on into the office, where Winter and Benny left Autumn with a full bottle of fresh water and a few extra kisses before heading upstairs to the staff room where they had stashed away some extra fruit and yogurt just for her.

One by one, staff members made their way into the building, waving hello into the office as they passed by. Autumn waited patiently for her breakfast as she sipped away at her water and hoped the headache medication would start to work quickly.

"Morning, Autumn," Marjorie chimed as she walked into the office.

"Morning," Autumn replied, mindlessly grabbing a tissue from the box on her desk to wipe at her nose that seemed to be dripping suddenly.

She blew her nose into the tissue, then pulled it away from her face to see the contents.

"Marjorie..." Autumn spoke softly.

As quickly as the manager turned her head to face her deputy, her eyes widened in fear.

"I'm going to get Winter."

Autumn never took her eyes off of the sight before her.

In her hands, unfolding against its own moisture, was her now bright red tissue.