FALLEN ─ marvel ⁵

V. Not An Average Pregnancy

Three months later...

Chapter Five
Soroya

I have never been pregnant before, so I had no idea what to expect. One of those things certainly wasn't how quick my pregnancy would be, which is a blessing and a curse. Because of my serum, my metabolism is faster than the average person, as is my cellular reproduction and regeneration, which was Shuri's explanation as to why at only four months pregnant, I'm entering into my final weeks of pregnancy. Shuri first informed me that my pregnancy might be quicker than a normal woman's only a month ago, and in that time, my baby has grown to nearly full size. Shuri thinks that in less than eight weeks I'll give birth, making this a six month long pregnancy.

This quick pregnancy will make certain Ross, the UN, and the general public will not suspect I'm pregnant. Not only had my broken leg fake out made headlines for months, but who will guess I'm pregnant if I'm only out of the public eye for maybe six months?

I'm glad I won't have to go without my powers for nine months like I had thought I would. The ache I feel in my power's absence almost feels like the ache of missing a real person, a relative or someone close to you. In many ways my powers feel like another person, an animal that permanently resides in my brain. But even with the absence of my powers, I can still feel it's presence in many ways, like how I have craved meat every day throughout my pregnancy. Not just any meat though, raw meat. The looks on my family's faces when I told them I wanted raw deer and elk was priceless, and Shuri warned me that eating raw meat will make me sick no matter how much I crave it. I've settled for cooked meat, but I haven't stopped wanting raw meat.

Alex is doing about as well as I am without his powers. He has been taking the same doses I have and hasn't had his powers for three months, which I still can't believe he would be willing to do for me. He and I sit down and vent to each other about how much it sucks without our powers pretty much everyday, but I would be lying if I said him not having powers too didn't make me feel better. Alex can tell, which is why he still does it. Ross hasn't sent him on any missions, so he's been in Wakanda the whole time I have, which makes it easier when Ross sends Bucky on missions. He was forced to go back and hunt down the remaining HYDRA agents on our list pretty soon after my 'injury', but he managed to find ways to return home early or skip out on missions altogether. It helps that we have John, Jade, Sam, and Sharon helping us cover the pregnancy, as well as our family back here in Wakanda.

Bucky has been a saint throughout my whole pregnancy. He's made me breakfast every morning, watched tons of movies with me, given me help whenever I need it, and bent over backwards trying to make sure I'm comfortable. He's so excited about the baby, and everyday he tells me how happy he is and how lucky he feels.

I'm happy too, and I'm so so excited to become a mother, but my level of enthusiasm has been dwindling as the months have gone on. The truth is, I haven't felt like myself since I became pregnant, or more specifically, since I got my powers taken away. I've felt like half of myself, and it's hard to be at the level of excitement Bucky is at when I feel like part of me is missing. I haven't talked to Bucky about this, because how can I? How can I crush his happiness by burdening him with my troubles?

If I'm being honest, another thing has been bothering me too. My body has changed so much in such a short time, which has caused many things to happen. I constantly ache, my back hurts like hell, as do my feet, and my stomach has blown up to the size of a beach ball. I've gotten a lot of stretch marks because of my pregnancy, and every time I look at them I feel really self conscious, especially around my stomach and breasts. I feel absolutely ridiculous for caring about these things, but I can't help it. I've never cared about how I looked before, but maybe a mixture of not having my powers, the pregnancy hormones, and my rapidly changing body has caused me to feel so awkward about my looks.