The Stockings and The Eyes

Chapter Twenty-Five

  We were finally home. I missed our base, I missed the quiet of the woods. Azure had a winter cabin stolen for us so we could have our fireplace and warm soups like I had dreamed that one time. Until winter we stayed at home. Azure made a cat bed for the kitten she named Sea. Azure said I slept for almost an entire day and night once she was fully healed. I didn't realize my nap had turned into such a deep sleep.

"It didn't leave a scar," I rubbed Azure's stomach, "That's nice."

"It is isn't it. Sea was a wonderful addition to the family Noah," Azure rubbed my chest and smiled, "Let's not tell the others yet."

Azure pulled me under the covers and started before I was even ready. She had me almost every day that week. I had never seen her as active as she was now. I saw her disappointed face when her time of the month came. I made all of her favorites to cheer her up. She became active three days after her time ended.

"Azure I'm tired," I said as I was falling asleep, "I need a break. Just for tonight. You can do what you want with me tomorrow."

"Alright," Azure held me, "That doesn't sound to bad an idea."

I woke up the next morning and Azure was in the black nighty Caroline had given her. She fed me and stayed close. I felt embarrassed that everyone saw her like that. I didn't want anyone else to see her like that. After that night Azure seemed to calm down. She wasn't eating or drinking like she used to. She started asking for her meat to be well done and passed up any raw fish. I had an idea of what was going on. I noticed she was more emotional in at all times. She was even craving foods in the middle of the night.

"Noah I want you to feel something," Azure said one morning.

"What is it?" She held my left hand.

She said nothing as she place my hand on her lower stomach.

"Azure," I was crying, "This isn't a joke right?"

"Nope," She wiped the tears from my eyes, "It was all you."

"I love both you," I hugged her, I knew she was hiding something grand, I kissed her stomach, "I can't wait to meet you little Joy-Atlas."

"I can't wait either," Azure rubbed her stomach, "Baby, Can you get me some ice cream from the ice box?"

"Anything you need," I said as I got up from bed and brought her a bowl of her favorite pistachio ice cream.

I couldn't help watch her eat I loved to see her glow with happiness. I loved them both more and more each day. I knew it would take nine months before I met the baby but I couldn't help talking to it and telling it stories that I heard when I was younger. Azure would laugh when I would spent hours talking to the unborn baby. We went out and found a hospital to check on our child and made it our usual hospital. I thought my heart had melted when I saw the first ultrasound and we listened to the heart beat. I loved watching Azure's belly grow with the baby.

"We need a name," I said as I rubbed Azure's stomach.

"We might need four names," Azure pointed to the desk on the opposite side of the room, "A girl name, a boy name, a neutral name, and a middle name."

"Sounds nice," I brought her a pen and notebook, "I like Azure for a middle name."

"We can't," Azure looked at me with her puppy dog eyes, "We can't name Little Joy after me."

"Why not?" I sat next to her, "Azure if a perfect name."

"I can't," Azure said, "What about your name?"