Tempest

Chapter 6 (Smut)

The walk back to where the Naunet was docked proved to be a trying one as the inn was located at the exact opposite of the town. The rain was falling in a light drizzle and Belle's clothes were already decently dampened from her trek with Todd to reach the inn in the first place. She walked alongside Sera with her arms wrapped around herself and shivering.

Not wanting the expectant mother to become ill, Sera had passed over her greatcoat, and while it didn't fit around Belle's stomach it did its job in keeping her warm. They walked mostly in silence, Sera with one hand on her sword and the other kept around Belle's left arm to help guide her over the treacherously muddy ground.

After they reached the ship, Sera left Belle to retreat within their shared cabin while she took on the captainly duty of making sure that all was well amongst the crew that had returned. Which...was very few. It seemed that only Todd and Cooky remained aboard the Naunet which was fine with Sera. That meant the rest of her crew were off enjoying themselves and the sooner they grew tired of all that this particular town had to offer the sooner they could set sail. Sera already had a port in mind for their next destination. It was a nice place with mild winters and a decent community where Belle and her child could live peacefully. The only problem was that from where they were located now it would take several months to reach the port and it would likely put them at landfall around the same time as the baby being due.

Once she'd completed her nightly rounds and had checked on the posted guards, Sera made her way back to her quarters. The cabin was lit with the warm glow of only one lantern near the bed and immediately the proud captain began to feel her unease set in. A beeline was made for her desk where she kept a lighting kit for the lantern that hung above the table. It was lit quickly, and once its light was cast around them, Sera was able to let go of the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"You're afraid of the dark, aren't you?" Belle's voice was quiet and kind as she looked up from the book in her hands. She had changed for bed and was wearing nothing more than one of Sera's shirts. It was the most comfortable way for her to sleep and despite their differences, Belle didn't feel embarrassed around Sera. After all, she was a woman too.

"I don't know what you're talking about." The blonde went about removing her boots and clothes before pulling on a clean button-down shirt to sleep in. It was identical to the one Belle wore.

"I do. I've had my suspicions for a while, I just never said anything."

"Suspicions? And just what is it I do that would raise your suspicions about *that*?" All except for the top four buttons were fastened before Sera made her way over to the bed and took her seat at the edge.

"You always keep a light going at night. And I've seen how anxious you become when it goes out. Why is that?"

A darkness crossed over Sera's features as she frowned. "It's best you learn not to ask questions that you don't want the answers to."

Belle was quiet for several long moments as she went back to her book but finally, the thick volume was closed and passed over to Sera who placed it on the small table next to their bed. The women settled in, with Belle laying on her right side facing Sera and Sera on her back. It was how they fell asleep most nights, although it was still rather rare that Sera stayed in the bed longer than it took Belle to fall asleep.

"I'm sorry for prying," Belle's hand came to rub her aching side. The trip into the village and back had left her sore and aching. The chilled air of the cabin wasn't helping either and she knew it was going to be a difficult night. Especially considering the baby wouldn't settle down. Lulled to sleep by her movements during the day, he often kept Belle awoke at night. "I just want to know more about you, is all."

"Why?" The tone Sera spoke with was lost as she gazed up at the ceiling above them. "Why does it matter? I'm nothing more than someone who didn't kill you when I had the chance. And now I'm stuck with you until we make port."