31. Lucy
I wake up to the smell of coffee and the sound of Jarvin humming in the kitchen. It's been two months since he proposed, and I still can't believe I'm engaged to this amazing orc. I stretch and make my way to the kitchen, where I find him already at work on breakfast.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Jarvin says, his amber eyes twinkling as he flips a pancake with expert precision. "Thought I'd get a head start on breakfast."
I wrap my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek against his broad back. "Show-off," I tease, breathing in his scent.
He chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest. "You love it."
"Maybe," I say, moving to pour myself a cup of coffee. "But can you do it with your eyes closed?"
Jarvin raises an eyebrow, a challenge accepted. "Watch and learn, babe."
He closes his eyes and flips another pancake perfectly. I can't help but applaud, impressed despite myself.
"Alright, hot shot. Let's see you do it again," I say, leaning against the counter.
Jarvin grins, his tusks glinting in the morning light. "Piece of cake... or should I say, piece of pancake?"
I groan at the terrible pun, but my laughter is cut short as Jarvin attempts another flip. This time, the pancake sails through the air and lands with a splat on the kitchen floor.
I burst into laughter, nearly spilling my coffee. "Oh my God, your face!"
Jarvin looks down at the pancake, then back at me, his expression a mix of shock and amusement. "Well, I guess that one's for the floor gods," he says, joining in my laughter.
I set my mug down and grab a paper towel. "I'll clean it up, Mr. Pancake Flipper Extraordinaire."
As I bend down to wipe up the mess, Jarvin pulls me back up into his arms. "Leave it for a sec," he says, his voice low. "I think I need a kiss to restore my wounded pride."
I grin, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Well, if it's for your pride..."
I lean into Jarvin's embrace, our lips meeting in a passionate kiss. His thumb brushes against my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. For a moment, I forget about everything else, lost in the warmth of his touch.
"Mmm," I murmur as we finally part. "Now that's a good morning."
Jarvin grins, giving me a quick peck before turning back to the stove. "Alright, let's get these pancakes plated before they get cold."
I nod, reaching for the plates in the cupboard. As Jarvin starts stacking the pancakes, the rich, buttery smell wafts through the air. Suddenly, my stomach lurches.
"You okay, babe?" Jarvin asks, noticing my grimace.
I force a smile, trying to push down the wave of nausea. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... really hungry, I guess."
But as the scent intensifies, I feel my stomach rebel. I clap a hand over my mouth, my eyes widening in panic.
"Lucy?" Jarvin's voice is filled with concern.
I can't hold it back any longer. Without a word, I bolt from the kitchen, racing towards the bathroom. I barely make it in time, slamming the door behind me as I lurch over the toilet.
"Lucy!" I hear Jarvin's worried voice through the door. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
I can't answer him, too busy emptying the contents of my stomach. As I retch, I hear Jarvin's heavy footsteps approaching the bathroom door.
"Babe, can I come in?" he asks, his voice gentle but laced with worry.
I want to tell him I'm fine, that he doesn't need to see me like this, but another wave of nausea hits me before I can respond.
I finish retching, my stomach finally settling as I slump against the cool porcelain. Jarvin's concerned voice filters through the door, accompanied by a few more gentle knocks.
"Lucy, please, let me in. I want to help."
I take a shaky breath, reaching for some toilet paper to wipe my mouth. As I do, a realization hits me like a ton of bricks. When was my last period? I can't remember. And now that I think about it, my breasts have been feeling unusually sore lately.
My heart starts racing as the pieces fall into place. The nausea, the missed period, the breast tenderness. Oh my God. I'm pregnant.
"Come in," I manage to croak out, my voice trembling.
The door opens, and Jarvin's large frame fills the doorway. His amber eyes are filled with worry as he kneels beside me.
"Lucy, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
I look up at him, my eyes wide with a mix of shock and wonder. "Jarvin," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I... I think I'm pregnant."
Jarvin's expression shifts from concern to surprise, his tusks parting slightly as his jaw drops. "Pregnant?" he repeats, his voice teeming with disbelief.
I nod, still trying to process the information myself. "I missed my period, and with the nausea and... other symptoms... I think we're going to have a baby."
I watch as Jarvin's expression transforms from shock to pure, unbridled joy. His amber eyes light up, and a wide grin spreads across his face, his tusks gleaming.
"Lucy, this is... this is amazing!" he exclaims, helping me to my feet. His strong arms wrap around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I can feel his heart racing against my chest.
"I never thought I'd have the chance to be a father," Jarvin says, his voice thick with emotion. "And now you've given me that opportunity. I'm so grateful, Lucy. You've made me the happiest orc alive."
As Jarvin's words sink in, my mind starts racing. The reality of the situation hits me full force, and suddenly I'm overwhelmed with all the things we need to do.
"Oh my God, Jarvin," I say, pulling back slightly to look up at him. "We need to find an OBGYN. And I need to start taking prenatal vitamins. And I should probably change my diet. This baby can’t survive on just hamburgers and fries! Oh, and we'll need to baby-proof, and we'll need to buy a crib and some baby clothes and?—"
Before I know it, Jarvin takes my face in his hands and kisses me deeply, effectively silencing my panicked rambling. I melt into his touch, my mind going blank as I lose myself in the warmth of his lips. When we finally part, I'm left breathless and slightly dazed.
"Lucy," Jarvin says, his voice low and soothing. "Whatever we need to do, we'll figure it out one step at a time. Having a baby doesn't have to be overwhelming."
I take a deep breath, feeling my racing thoughts start to slow. Jarvin's amber eyes hold mine, filled with love and reassurance.
"I understand this will be a difficult journey for you, especially since your body will go through massive changes to grow our child," he continues, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. "But I will be there for you at all times. I will never let you go through any hard times alone."
His words wrap around me like a warm blanket, calming my fears. I lean into his touch, feeling grateful for his unwavering support.
"You say that now," I joke weakly, "but the hormones might make me start acting crazy. I might start crying over everything. And I might make you get me ice cream in the middle of the night. Are you sure you're ready for that?"
Jarvin's lips curl into a mischievous grin, his tusks glinting in the bathroom light. "Oh, I'm ready for the challenge," he quips, pulling me closer. "Bring it on, mama bear."
I follow Jarvin back to the kitchen, my stomach still a bit unsettled but my heart full of love and excitement. As we enter, I see the abandoned pancakes on the counter and wrinkle my nose.
"Sorry, babe," I say, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I don't think I can handle those right now."
Jarvin's face lights up with determination. "No problem. I'll whip up something else for you. How about some sausages?"
I nod hesitantly, and he gets to work. The sizzling sound fills the kitchen, but as soon as the smell hits me, I feel my stomach lurch again.
"Nope, not sausages," I say quickly, backing away.
Jarvin looks concerned but undeterred. "Alright, let's try bacon."
He tosses the sausages and starts frying up some bacon. The smoky aroma wafts through the air, and I feel the nausea lingering in my stomach, threatening to strike again.
"Definitely not bacon," I groan, holding my nose.
Jarvin scratches his head, his tusks jutting out as he ponders. "Okay, how about a nice toasted bagel?"
He pops a bagel in the toaster, but even the smell of toasting bread makes me queasy.
"I'm sorry, Jarvin," I say, feeling frustrated. "I don't know what I can eat."
His amber eyes soften as he looks at me. "Don't worry, Lucy. We'll figure this out together."
Finally, after a few more failed attempts, Jarvin suggests scrambled eggs. To my absolute relief, the smell doesn't bother me at all.
"I think we have a winner," I say, smiling.
Jarvin grins triumphantly and plates up the eggs for me. However, as he sits down with his own plate of pancakes and bacon, I realize I can't be anywhere near the smell.
"Um, Jarvin?" I say sheepishly. "I hate to ask, but could you maybe eat in the living room? The smell..."
He chuckles and stands up, plate in hand. "Say no more, babe. I'll be in the other room if you need me."
As we eat our meals in separate rooms, I can't help but laugh at the irony. Here we are, physically apart because of my sensitive nose, yet I've never felt closer to Jarvin. His patience throughout this whole ordeal has only deepened my love for him.
"Hey, Jarvin?" I call out.
"Yeah?" he responds from the living room.
"I love you, you know that?"
I hear him laugh. "I love you too, Lucy. I always will."
The End