the_lioness | At the sign of a wooden cup

Adam wraps his arms around Alanna, careful to keep them steady, leaning forward to place a kiss on the back of her head.

"This'll be George's mum, then?"

Staring straight ahead, she nods miserably.

"Aye. Maybe we shouldn't bother her. For all we know, she's with Myles. Perhaps we should leave."

He squeezes carefully and whispers in her ear.

"We're not going anywhere but inside."

Stubbornly, "I'm sure I'm just fine. I ate too much, most likely."

The horse stops as if she knows where she's going, for all that she is just a schooling mare. Alanna swallows. The healer's sign on the gate looks as freshly painted as the first time she saw it, the wooden cup circled in vivid brown and red.

"If you have, it's not as if you've kept it down. Alanna."

There's an undercurrent in that last word, not quite a threat.

She ducks her head, grumbling, "you really weren't supposed to know about that."

Lifting her leg up and over the horse's neck, she slides to the ground. Her feet hit hard, shocking her knees, and she leaves her forehead against the mare's warm mane.

"But what I'm supposed to know and what I actually know are often quite different."

He follows her to the ground, hand reaching out to run over her hair.

"No need to rub it in," comes the disgruntled response. She turns into his arms and buries her face against his neck. "Okay. I'll go."

Which is really silly to say considering they are already there, but it makes her feel better.

"Rubbing it in? It's not as if you aren't the same."

He smiles at her, lightly, and squeezes tight for a long moment before letting go.

"Shall we?"

Lifting her chin, she pulls away and moves to the door as if approaching a line of archers. She knocks, softly at first, then grits her teeth and knocks harder.

"She's probably not here."

Adam says nothing and just raises his eyebrows. Soon enough, the door creaks open, proving her wrong. And that's certainly not a smug look on Adam's face, not in the least.

His arms are wrapped around Alanna's shoulder as the door opens wider, and he smiles hesitantly at the weathered face that greets them.

Eleni's face widens into an enormous smile at the sight of Alanna.

"My dear! It's wonderful to see you!" She sweeps forward and gathers Alanna into a hug.

She pulls back and gives Adam an appraising look. "And this is your young man, I gather?"

"It is," Alanna responds, clinging for a second more. "Mistress Cooper, this is Adam Young. Adam, George's mother, Eleni Cooper."

She rocks from foot to foot.

"She's a healer," Alanna adds unnecessarily.

Adam lets go enough to offer up a hand for a proper handshake and his smile loses a bit of its nervousness.

"I've heard much about you."

Which is sort of true. And it's what you say in cases like this. Right?

She takes his hand and grasps it firmly, tilting her head and gazing at him for a moment.

She cocks an eyebrow, "Have you now? I hope it was all good." She releases his hand with a smile and turns back to Alanna.

"He's a handsome one."

She turns back to Adam and gestures towards the door. "Please come in and make yourselves comfortable"

Alanna nods, all wide eyes and red cheeks. A small part of her still feels horribly guilty about George, and she hesitates at the door, watching.

Adam looks at her, and eventually, she follows them inside. Wringing her hands, she glances around and laughs quietly to herself.

"It has been quite some time."

Glancing back and forth between the two women as they move further back in the house, he narrows his eyes and tilts his head.

"Have you not been back since..."

Eleni shows them into a comfortable sitting room, urging them into chairs. She goes into the kitchen for a moment and emerges with a tray of 3 teacups. She hands them each one and settles herself down.

"It has been far too long since you've come to see me, Alanna. I've had to hear about all your exploits from your father."

At Adam's question, Alanna simply shakes her head.

"Far too long, indeed. I'm sorry that we seem to always miss each other. I wanted you to meet Adam before now, but-"

She trails off and looks embarrassed, thinking about George. Mistress Cooper tends to make her feel like a youngster again, and so she reaches out to pour the tea before being told.

There's only a small wince followed by mostly concealed fumbling.

Adam's eyes are nearly constantly on Alanna, if that were something to be noticed. He reaches out softly to still her hand and gives her a warm smile.

Eleni smiles a bit sadly. "I understand. I felt a bit awkward myself, but there is always a place for you in my home, Alanna.

She chuckles at the spill. "Some things never change, child." She pulls a small rag from her pocket and offers it to her.

She has noticed Adam's attentiveness and as Alanna bends over the tray, Eleni's eyes trace her form. A small smile tugs at her lips.

Mopping up the tea, Alanna doesn't notice either of them watching. Her chin is set at a stubborn angle, predictably, and she scowls at the teapot as she tries again -- this time, successfully.

"I thank you for that, and for all the kindnesses you've shown my father."

She swallows.

"Really, I'm fine."

Adam's look is skeptical -- not that Alanna would notice -- and he turns his gaze to Eleni.

"Yes, we've come because she's perfectly fine."

"Of course you have," she says solemnly, then gives Adam a commiserating smile. "This girl is certainly not one of the most stubborn people I know." She stands and moves over to Alanna.

"Stand up, my dear and let's have a look at you."

Eyes narrowed a tad suspiciously, Alanna complies, immediately reaching down to tug Adam up as well.

She looks Mistress Cooper in the eyes, one hand unconsciously lifting to curl around the emberstone at her neck.

"I've been... sick, although it hasn't diminished my appetite much. Feverish, possibly."

Without any tact (even as he squeezes her hand, standing off to the side)

"She's been throwing up nearly every night."

"Um hm." Eleni nods almost unconsciously, taking Alanna's hand and closing her eyes, sending out her Gift into Alanna.

After a few moments, her eyes open and she gives the two a huge smile.

"Well, there's nothing to worry about. You are not ill, you are pregnant. Congratulations."

"Buh," Alanna murmurs intelligently.

Pregnant.

Mouth hanging open and eyes bright with shock, Alanna stares straight ahead, dimly aware of a roaring in her ears.

Pregnant? Of course. What a lackwit she had been to not even suspect as much before now. All the signs were there. Had Maude taught her nothing?

But, but, but... pregnant, and she had gone adventuring with Indy. She had nearly died in Japan.

The roaring intensifies, and the color drains from her face. Goddess.

Alanna is not one of those women who faint gracefully. Not even close. In fact, when she makes an odd sound and keels sideways, it's vaguely reminiscent of a felled tree.

Pre-

it's not as if Adam has much time to process it before Alanna faints, and his hand closes around hers tightly, pulling on her arm a little roughly as he tries to catch her. It's only then that he repeats his thought, and he apparently repeats it out loud as well, because Eleni is nodding at him with a strange sort of grin on her face, and that's when he hears the thud and sees Alanna no longer in his arms, but on the floor.

Eleni curses under her breath as she hurries to Alanna's side, pulling a bottle of smelling salts from her pocket. She cradle's Alanna's head, waving the smelling salts under her nose until Alanna begins to sputter.

"Mmph."

Alanna doesn't exactly come around gracefully, either. Lurching sideways, she rolls into a crouch and stares at the bottle with a disgruntled expression.

"That's disgusting."

Remembering why she fainted in the first place, she sits down. Hard.

"At least I didn't land on the tea? Mithros... pregnant?"

Entirely too awed to be embarrassed, she slowly looks up at Adam.

Adam's plenty embarrassed -- he let his pregnant wife fall?!? -- but he kneels down next to her and takes her hand in his and just stares at the two women, mouth agape.

Eleni gives Alanna a knowing look. "You did realize that this would happen if you removed the charm, which I see you have."

He did, and he'll be hearing about it. At length. For many months. But for the moment, Alanna simply clutches his hand.

Nodding slowly, "we knew. Just... when?"

"Not so SOON."

It's his immediate response, despite knowing full well that it CAN happen so soon. He just . . . didn't expect it. Still holding on to her hand, he wraps his other arm around her shoulder.

She smiles reassuringly at them. "You have a good seven months to prepare for this little one. That's not so soon." She stands up briskly, holding her hand down to haul Alanna back up. She doesn't let go of her hand, and looks at her seriously.

"The most important thing for you is to understand what your responsibilities are. The babe will be making you sick for a bit longer and will slow you down. You need to pay attention to what your body tells you. Plenty of rest and nourishing food."

Alanna starts to protest, to insist that nothing will slow her down, but then she merely smiles. It's different if you choose to slow down.

"You know I take my responsibilities very seriously," she whispers, still a bit wobbly. "Tell me, is he taking notes down yet?"

Maybe not on paper, but in his head he is. And it's possible there's the slightest look of "told you so" on his face. Possible.

"Seven months."

His voice holds still a bit of awe.

Eleni smiles warmly at both of them and takes each of their hands. "Your love for each other is obvious and that will spill over onto the babe. You will have a wonderful family. So mote it be."

She squeezes their hands tightly. "I may have to visit the Temple to make a special prayer, just in case." Her eyes twinkle at them.

Alanna feels a rush of --love, anxiety, determination... something-- and straightens, holding her head high.

"So mote it be," she repeats firmly. Visiting the temple again suddenly seems like a wonderful plan, but it can wait. She is suddenly quite unable to look away from Adam. "Thank you, Eleni."

Adam's own eyes are only on Alanna, but his face is a giant grin.

"Thank you."

"You are both very welcome. My only request is that you come by to see me every other month so I can make sure everything is going smoothly. And I have packets of herbs that you'll need to take..." She starts to wander into her storeroom, muttering under her breath about which herb best settles an uncomfortable stomach, smiling all the way.

Watching her, Alanna wraps her arms around Adam's waist, leaning slightly, and smiles.

Softly, "this is ever so much better than the Sweating Fever."

He nods and drops a kiss on her head, eyes following George's mother.

There will be much to discuss. Later. For now, neither one of them can say much at all, content just to smile.

At the sign of a wooden cup

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