Storm Snippets: “Adjustments”
Adjustments
Robert wasn't sure how he felt morally of ransacking abandoned camps. Camps that had clearly had someone living in them at some point, but long since deserted.
Technically he shouldn't have needed half the things he did. But he didn't want to trouble anyone in Andrea's former village and he also didn't want to keep asking things of Laika. The young huntress still had plenty of her own chores to attend to for her tribe. She didn't need him asking to help him with supply runs.
This was also one of the few times he emerged from the darkness into the light of the day.
It had started because he noted there had been at least one attempt made by someone long ago in the caves to survive. Not much had been there. A fishing rod near a pond that was still in good condition, a tent that aside from a spider he had to bludgeon to death inside, was still perfectly usable and the fabric, while needing a good washing, seemed to be salvageable.
It escalated into a theory if there was one like this in the caves, then was it possible there was more on the surface. As grim of a theory as it was, it had bothered him.
So, with a warning to stay safe from his wife, he set out. Traveling through a snow covered land, bundled up in a cloak made of beefalo fur found from one of the camps he had raided.
He spent a few days on the surface, mapping out the trail leading from the cave entrance to where he was now.
The camp before him had clearly seen better days. There was a tent with claw marks through it and a large fire pire that hadn't been lit in quite some time.
Robert took a deep breath before using his wrench to part the tent flap to be sure no one else was inside.
Like he had suspected, once more, it was empty. Part of him was relieved he wasn't taking from someone who might've needed it… but he also felt a bit guilty ransacking it.
It looked worse on the inside. He could see an abandoned bed roll with dark stains on it. There was a chest off to the side too.
Robert took a glance outside to once more be sure he truly was salone before digging through it.
"Hm…" He pulled out what seemed to be medical supplies. Honey poultice, a container of healing salve… He pulled out a small box, opening it to find a set of scalpels gleaming up at him.
This camp must've been home to a psychician.
Judging from how torn up this place is, I don't think he'd mind if I took these.
I may not be a doctor but I can handle basics. I can't rely on the Thulecitans to suddenly be human anatomy experts.
He gathered up the tools, taking a mental note of what else he found. He sighed a bit, shivering as the wind picked up.
Tomorrow… He decided, I'm going home to my wife.
oooooo
"Alright, I think that's the last one." Andrea sighed in relief, counting the jars in front of her.
Living down in the caves, she had gotten quite adept at canning and preserving the things that grew in her garden.
Sebastian leaned over one jar, scrunching his face up as best as he could.
"Beanssss. Yaaaaay." He hissed.
Andrea shoved him off the counter as he gave a shriek, flailing as if injured.
"Oh don't be such a terror-chick." Andrea crossed her arms, giving him a grin. Sebastian went limp, throwing his head back, letting his tongue hang out.
"Gooodbyyeee cruuueeel world. Remember meee!" He hissed. "Rose…. Bud."
Andrea clapped slowly as he jumped up, taking a bow.
"Thaaank you, thank you I'll be here all weeeek!" He scurried back up onto the table. "Screee!"
Andrea slid him the jar of beans as he looked at it as if offended. He turned his nose up at it, diving under the table into a dark corner.
"You big baby." She dropped a tea towel on top of him as he poked his nose out.
"It'ssss keeping your mind off the hubby." He replied, his tongue hanging out a little.
Andrea sighed a bit as she brought her arms around herself. She was still worried, her stomach twisting in knots sometimes when she thought of the possible dangers.
"Y-Yeah."
Sebastian nuzzled her ankle before scurrying back into his hiding place.
The door opened as a chill came through the house.
"Andrea?" Robert called as she perked up, hurrying to meet him halfway. He was shrugging off his cloak, sighing in relief at being inside their home. He looked at her with an ecstatic look. "I'm home!"
She squealed, throwing her arms around him as he spun her around, laughing before they shared a brief kiss.
"Mm… Well, that's quite the welcome." Robert chuckled, pressing his forehead against hers. He still had a chill to his skin as she shivered a bit, bringing her arms around him.
"Oh, Robbie, you're freezing! Sit, sit, by the fire!" She said before shoving him towards it as he let himself be moved.
"Yaaayyy brother in law isssss home!" Sebastian chirped, scurrying to another dark area.
"I am. Good to see you too Sebastian. Take care of Andrea while I was out?"
"Terror Beak Theater."
Robert chuckled, rubbing his hands together in front of the crackling fireplace, sighing in relief as warmth came back to them. He looked behind him to Andrea as she laid a blanket around his shoulders before sitting nearby with his bag.
"You can look through it, just be careful. I need to clean quite a bit."
Andrea peered inside. She pulled out the box of scalpels, taking a look before putting them away quickly.
"Well then."
Robert shrugged.
"While I'm not a doctor, I can pick up first aid quickly and I'd rather be able to help if something were to happen. I thought it'd be good just in case." He grinned sheepishly. "Call me overprotective but… I wanna make sure I can take care of you." He looked to Sebastian. "And you, if you ever get changed back."
"I vill NOT be your guinea pig!" Sebastian hissed.
"Guess I'll just fill in your little hidey hole."
Sebastian gasped sharply before scurrying out of the room.
"NUUUU!"
Robert chuckled, offering an arm to Andrea as she huddled close, curling up beside him. He brought an arm around her, stroking her shoulder as she slumped a bit against him.
"How've you been?" He asked, running a hand through her hair. Andrea curled up more until she was almost a ball and sharing the blanket fully with him. He adjusted it to keep it close around her.
"Cold." She retorted. "And busy. I was preserving food or making sure it stayed preserved. Laika stopped by with Sanare and helped out. It was fun." She yawned a little "Wish I wasn't so stressed though."
Robert frowned, feeling a pang of guilt.
"Oh, Andrea…"
"I worry… and my stomach was all up in knots."
"Well, I'm home now. No more knots." He ran his hand through her hair before stroking one of her ears as she let out a small purr.
"M'supposed to be taking care of you. How'd you turn this around?" She asked, her eyes closing as she nuzzled his hand.
"Because I love you." He chuckled, kissing her head before shrugging off the blanket, wrapping her up in it.
"H-hey, I still have to make dinner-EEP!" She squeaked a little when he stood and lifted her up into his arms. "Robert!"
"I'm tired too. Let's go take a nap." He yawned a bit, carrying her to their room. Andrea wasn't going to argue with that as she kissed his cheek.
He set her down before heading out of the room. She sat up, tilting her head, wondering where he was going off to. He soon appeared, munching on a piece of jerky, offering her one.
".. No thanks."
"Suit yourself." He finished his snack before laying beside her, bringing her close.
Robert was the last to drift off, unable to help but watch his wife fall asleep. He still felt like he was in a dream that he feared he might awaken from.
oooooo
Over the next month or so, life went on as normal for them in the caves. Visiting the tribe or hosting young Thulecitians in their abode for meals, Sebastian and Andrea bantering as always…
Until something felt off.
Andrea usually was up first. She would dust her crystals and meditated in the glow of her candles or scry in her crystal ball. She had a whole routine dedicated to her craft for when she first rose with the sun.
He was used to hearing her whisper or softly sing spells as she did so. But one morning… It didn't come.
Robert yawned, sitting up slowly, fumbling for his glasses. He slid them on, staring blearily at the clock he had made for them.
Andrea was beside him still, curled up on her side away from him. He shook his head, figuring maybe she had stayed up too late casting once more. Too much use of her abilities and she was exhausted.
He ran his hand through her hair, humming softly. Andrea's ear twitched before she looked up at him, exhausted. She blinked slowly at him.
"Hey you… Morning." He leaned over to kiss her head before she shook her head, pushing him away.
"No. You'll catch it." Andrea murmured, burying her face into her pillow, her response partially muffled by the action.
While she had tried to keep quiet - and her husband slept like a rock when he worked too long which he had, she had been sick all night, battling bouts of nausea between trying to get any form of sleep.
"Andrea, please tell me what's wrong." He pleaded gently. "What's going on?"
Andrea sighed into her pillow, her hair splayed across it like a curtain before rolling over to face him.
"I think I caught something. I don't want you sick either."
Robert gave her a gentle look, feeling her cheeks and head. He noted she did feel a bit warm.
"Anything else?"
"Nausea… Really, really bad nausea. Like, ate a raw green cap piece by accident levels."
Robert winced. He had been witness to that when they had been younger. He stroked her hair before getting up.
"Wait here." He said over his shoulder.
Andrea sighed, trying to make herself comfortable.
"Can you make me some tea, please?" She called.
"When I'm done."
"With what-No."
He leaned back in, a few of his new tools in hand.
"I cleaned them and I have been studying I can't very well drag a healer down here." He gave her a gentle look. "I'll be fast, promise."
Andrea sighed, nodding.
"Besides your stomach Love, anything else going on?"
"My clothes were fitting a bit weird. More snug in some places." Andrea added.
Robert nodded before listening to her abdomen, focusing on what he was hearing. Andrea watched him, concerned.
Alright, so far so good-Huh?
He blinked in confusion as he heard a new sound in particular. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sound.
It was tiny but it was so strong at the same time. A heartbeat.
"Andrea… I… I think I know what's wrong." He threw the stethoscope around his neck, a look of surprise on his face. Andrea sat up a little, giving him a worried look. "N-No, it's not bad."
"Robbie, tell me."
He rubbed the back of his neck, a grin coming to his face.
"Andrea… I heard a heartbeat." He laughed a little. "A very tiny heartbeat."
Andrea's eyes grew wide as her hands came to her mouth.
"Y-You're not kidding?"
"No! I know what that sounds like. We're… We're actually…" He brought her into his arms, peppering her head with kisses. "Oh my stars Andrea we're having a baby!"
Andrea laughed, hugging him tightly, kissing his cheek in return.
"A little baby." She wiped away a tear that threatened to fall, her eyes a bit misty. "We're… We're having a baby."
Robert nodded, his own eyes glassy.
They had wanted a family of their own, they just didn't expect it to happen quite like this.
"This is really our life… Are we ready?" She asked softly.
"I… I have no idea. But we will be." He assured her as she brought both hands over her abdomen. "And I'll make sure you both are safe."
She smiled giving a nod.
"Heh… A baby… What do you think Sebastian's gonna think of this?"
"Heh, we'll find out." He chuckled, kissing her head again. "Now, you want that tea?"
"Mm-hm. More sleep and cuddling. Food later."
Robert laid down with her, his arms around her, his hands resting over hers.
We're really gonna do this. We're going to be bringing a baby into this crazy world.
I can't wait.
