A Nagas tale

What timing

I got home with the meat and the set I had just bought. 'I can't believe I let Missy influence my gifts.' I tucked the bag into the closet in my room so he wouldn't find it later. I start making the sauce and prepping the salsas for him to try. While I waited for the sauce to reduce I started setting up the decor. The cute banner that reads Happy Birthday hung on the wall. I got a few Royal Purple streamers set up before I went to check on the sauce. I continued the process with the meat and made some corn tortillas for us to eat with. I got so focused on the food and making sure the house was clean for him not to worry about it later. I quickly set out the cake and the sides of salsa and tortilla chips I fried up. I ran to the kitchen to check on the drunken beans I was working on. I  taste the beans and grin 'Ugh I could chug the entire pot.' I relish the delicious dish. 'Man to think I found it boring once upon a time.' I move the rice from the heat and check the meat. 'Okay! it's all set!' I step back proud of my hard work. I flinch feeling Kogens aura enter the area. I look at my dirty clothes and quickly change into something clean. I run to the door almost tripping on my own feet. I quickly stand up as Kogen opens the door. 

These past few days Audrey has been very busy with her research. I have started to feel lonely since I became used to having her around all the time. Last year she didn't show interest in my birthday and I did not tell her about it either. This year I did not expect her to know since she has not asked and seems busy enough. This morning she surprised me with a box and a shy Birthday wish. I thought she had gotten me something like a headpiece since I hadn't worn the one the old man had given me. She looked nervous watching me for my reaction. I took a deep breath knowing this might be a gift to replace the headpiece I did not want to wear. Seeing the choker and bead set I felt like I'd drag her to the room and refuse to leave the house. It took a lot not to just carry her off. I wore the cloth choker every day before the wedding to prove I had my partner. I did not shy away from wearing it since I had grown pride in my partner. I would show my status off if she wanted me to. I loved the thought of her wanting me to show off I was hers. I learned from Otani's father that Topaz symbolizes Love, affection, and strength. I wanted this training to end quickly so I could go sit with Audrey and finish some paperwork. She left really quickly only a few hours after coming with me. She seemed in a rush so I did not stop her thinking she had something come up. I stand at the gate ready to find her resting after dealing with her task. I walked closer to the house and the smell of food caught my nose. Yyvonne ran towards the back of the house I guess to scare Audrey. 'It's already five in the afternoon.' I open the door and reach forward seeing her straighten up from nearly falling. She laughs nervously "Welcome home!" she smiles at me. I noticed she smelled of sweat and spices. "I'm back," I answer walking into the house. I noticed the house had been dusted and the air smelt clean like she had aired the house out. "I made dinner!" she grabs my arm leading me to the dining room. She looked excited and nervous all at once. She opens the dining room door where Yyvonne jumps out at me "Happy birthday!" she shouts throwing up some paper glitter. Audrey pulls out some of the paper glitter from her pockets and throws them at me. "Happy birthday!" she offers her congratulations. I look into the room seeing the banners and streamers around the room. I look at Audrey as she pushes me to my seat. "Sit! sit! I made Queso birria today!" I sit down finding her efforts adorable. I noticed that recently she's been speaking in her native tongue a lot. She would ramble to herself in her language. She walks in with a large platter of tacos a bowl of beans and another with rice. "Okay! so I had time today to make frijoles borrachos with pork skin!" she serves the sides and double-checks everything. "Okay! Oh shoot the plates!" she quickly runs back into the kitchen. She comes back with plates "That way you can catch any sauce that falls from the tacos." she hands us each the plates. "Is this what you've been doing all day?" I ask. She nods "Yep! I didn't want to make you wait till later in the night to eat cause I know Queso birria can be really heavy." she tells me. Seeing the excitement in her eyes I felt like I had been gifted such a wonderful partner. We ate dinner and Audrey asked me about what I'd been up to these past few weeks throughout the meal. That loneliness I felt before being washed out by her curious questions. Once we were done she picked everything up and put the cake at the center of the table. "Oh shoot I forgot the candles!" she grumbled as she looked through a bag. She sighs "Hold on!" she quickly runs into the kitchen and comes back. "I... It's only one I hope you don't mind," she whispers putting the small unlit candle on the cake. I chuckle "That's fine I don't think 247 candles would fit on the cake anyway." I assure her. She giggles "hm true." she lights the candle. I normally feel uncomfortable having people sing the birthday song but hearing Audrey and Yyvonne both sing it felt nice. After the festivities, I dragged Audrey out to the catwalk where we used to spend a lot of time together. I sat her in my lap holding her in my arms finally after so many busy days. I have never really vocalized how unreal having her in my life feels. I wouldn't want to put the pressure of my own self-doubt on her. I love her fresh scent of Grapefruit and the way it tickled my nose. It's so light that it soothes any anxiety that dares creep into my mind. I feel her shift uncomfortably in my lap. "Are you feeling alright?" I look at her. She seems a bit pale and she is covering her mouth. "Audrey?" She tilts her head back taking deep breaths. She's been doing this a lot this past week. She tries to hide from me but I've caught her doing it at least twice before. "S... sorry I think I might have eaten too much." she giggles once she's calmed down. 'Is she sick?' I tilt my head "Are you not feeling well?" I ask. She nods "Yeah, I just think it's my head messing with me." she grumbles. "Your head?" I ask worriedly. She nods "I used to throw up whatever I ate as a kid due to some very impractical mental issues." she sighs. "Why?" I ask not liking the idea of Audrey suffering mentally. She sighs "My mother used to call me a pig if I so much gained a gram of weight." she answers. I recall that day a few weeks ago when she was saying she was 'fat.' I frown "Audrey, don't worry about that." I groan hugging her tightly. 'She is already so small in my arms.' I gasp when she shoves my arms away "Oh fuck!" she quickly crawls to the edge of the catwalk before throwing up. She groans once everything is out of her body. She sits up and wipes her mouth "Ugh all of that good food." she grumbles. "We need to get you checked." I felt there was something wrong with her. "Why? It's just." "I need to be sure you are not sick." I was already unhappy with how uncaring she was about her body's state. I pick her up and turn to Yyvonne who is still eating cake. "Yyvonne let's go." I quickly walk to the main door. "Kogen! Honestly, I'm alright!" Audrey protests. "I need to be sure you are not sick." I scold before rushing to my mother's clinic. Audrey did not argue further letting out deep sighs. "It's stupid that it's taken this long for this thing to start rearing its dumb face." she grumbles. I look at her as she frowns "I didn't want to make you worry especially on your birthday." she grumbles. We get to the clinic where Audrey tells them about her accident and any other issues she was feeling. Livy was on duty tonight so she took care of the needed tests. I sat with Audrey in her room with Yyvonne sitting on the chair nearby. After a few minutes, Livy walks in with a grand smile on her face. "Well, the good news is that Audrey is not sick, there is no food poisoning or anything seriously life-threatening at least." she murmurs. "See I told you I'm fine I must have eaten too much or something." Audrey sighs. She looks at the nurses walking in with an ultrasound machine. "why are they bringing that in?" Audrey asks. Livy nods "I said you were not sick with anything life-threatening."  she repeats. "Alright, Audrey do you mind lying down?" Audrey looks at Livy "Uhm can I ask why?" She seems nervous. Livy nods "I need to see how far along your baby is." she states holding back her excitement. "My!?" Audrey looks at me shocked. I feel my heart start racing "She's pregnant!?" I ask. Livy nods "Yep and I want to see how far along she is so we can start the proper prenatal care." she answers. I am filled with shock that Audrey is already carrying another child. The relief of her not being sick was short-lived. 'How will she handle this!? Is she ready for!?' I look at Audrey seeing her eyes shimmering a bright brown color. "I... I am having another baby!" she cries out turning to me. She smiles brightly "Another one!" she laughs as tears start falling from her eyes. She quickly does as Livy asks and follows instructions. I hold Audrey's hand as Livy puts the machine on her stomach. She moves it around and stops when the sound of a heartbeat catches her attention. "Oh! such a strong heartbeat." She giggles before moving the wand some more. "Oh." she gasps at the sound of two heartbeats. "Oh my! Two little ones." she giggles Audrey squeezed my hand "Two." she whispers her eyes fixed on the tiny beans on the monitor. I look at the tiny beans on the screen in utter shock of the news. "Okay so by the looks of them." she snaps a few screenshots. "You are about five weeks along." Livy points to the beans "Their hearts are strong." she turns to Audrey with a wide tearful smile. She looks at me and smiles "Congrats on the twins." she giggles. 'twins.' I look at the images. 'two? two at once.' I struggled to believe I was having another baby much less two. "I'll give you two some space." she giggles taking Yyvonne with her outside. Audrey said nothing for a little while. 'Being claimed so boldly this morning and now... I am a father too?' I feel my head spin with the events of this day. Audrey giggles silently "Honey, Are you okay?" she asks. I looked at her wondering how she was feeling herself. Her smile is nervous but her eyes are filled with excitement. I touch her stomach feeling an underlying fear surge. 'I need to protect them, I can't let them out of my sight.' I press her hand to my forehead 'I can't let these children get hurt like the first.' Fear grips me at the thought of the same happening. "Audrey, stay with me from now on." I whisper worried she would get angry with me. She puts her other hand on my head "I won't be too far." she whispers I look at her. She smiles at me "I won't leave your side." she assures me. I let out the breath I had not noticed I'd held in. 'I won't risk these children.' I sit on the bed next to her. 'I will put my life on the line if it means these children make it.' Audrey sits up moving her hand to my cheek. I look into her eyes seeing she held a strong resolve "We can protect our children I trust in us both." she whispers. I nod "We are home where it is safe, but I will not risk it." I let her know. She nods bumping her forehead against mine. "We need to find two names." she giggles. I smile "Yeah, we have time to think it over." I hug her carefully. "what perfectly timed gifts." I chuckle. Audrey smiles "Happy birthday?" she asks. I laugh "Happy for sure." I assure her.