Just Like Old Times

Pickles and Ice Cream?

"She's pregnant!" Arthur exclaimed with joy. "Dutch! Hosea! Jesus Christ!" Arthur started laughing, his cackling full of happiness as he ran to Dutch's tent. "Dutch! Dutch! Shit, wait a minute!" He ran back and grabbed the list from Sean, then almost ran into Dutch and gave him the list. "Here, read this."

Dutch started reading and Hosea peeked over Dutch's shoulder. "Pickles? Ice cream? Weight gain? Arthur, what in the he-" Dutch's eyes lit up. "Lilly's pregnant? But she's barren!"

"Not anymore!" Arthur smiled with pride. "You both are gonna be grandfathers!"

Hosea snatched the list and beamed. "Grandfathers?! I'll be god damned! Where is she?"

Arthur's face tightened. "Oh, she's asleep! I'm...oh, why didn't she tell me? Why didn't that doctor tell me?" He suddenly remembered what he overheard and frowned. "Oh. I told her...Christ, I really am an idiot!" Arthur took the paper and jogged to his and Lilly's tent. He walked in with a big smile. Lilly was sitting up, puking into a bucket. He grabbed the bottle of dramamine and rushed to her side, grabbing a small teaspoon from the bag and pouring the medicine into it. "Take this, darlin'."

Lilly wiped her mouth and Arthur spoon fed her. She swallowed and put the bucket down. "Ugh, thanks. What the hell is that shite?"

"Dramamine, for your nausea. You have a list of instructions here." Arthur handed it to her and started placing the bottles and jars on her nightstand, one by one. "Feelin' better?"

"Yes, I already do. That stuff works...what in the hell? Why would I want pickles and ice cream? Excessive weight gain? I'm gonna get overly fat from bein' puh...parasited?"

Arthur laughed and stroked her hair. "You ain't got a parasite and you know it," he chastised in a frisky sort of tone.

Lilly looked at him and frowned. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know you said you didn't want any kids. I'm so sorry!" Lilly covered her face.

Arthur pulled her hands back and laughed. "Lillian Rose, ní raibh mé in ann a bheith níos sásta go bhfuil tú ag iompar mo linbh." [I couldn't be more happy that you are carrying my child.]

"You're...you're happy about this? But you said-"

Arthur kissed her deeply. "Forget what I said before. I ain't feelin' that way now." He kissed her again but she turned away. "What's wrong? Ain't you happy?"

"I am," she said softly. "But I was so used to the idea of never bearin' children. I wasn't comfortable with it, but I was...I got by. Now, I'm-I'm-I'm confused. How did this happen?"

Arthur smiled brightly at Lilly and put an arm around her. "Sex. That's how it happened."

"I meant me becomin' fertile, ya god damn bithiúnach," Lilly said with a giggle.

"I knew what you meant. I was only tryin' to cheer you up."

"Ya think The Morrigan did it? When I came back from the dead?"

"Hmm," Arthur hummed, scratching his chin. "Maybe, but I don't care how it happened. I'm only happy it did."

Lilly smiled. "Yer gonna be a father! Oh! We're gonna have an heir! Oh! What am I gonna say tah Patrick? Do ya think he'll be mad?"