Day Thirty-Four

She tripped and fell over but didn't land in grass, she felt snow under her.

"Poor dearest," a smooth, calming voice spoke above her. She looked up at the pale, chiseled shadow of Ronim. "Could not handle being there with that man. Do not worry, my love, I am here."

A set of strong arms lifted her into the air and laid her on a soft, warm bed of clouds.

"No," she whispered. "No, you can't do this to me."

He shushed her softly and laid a hand on her lower stomach. "I will take care of everything."

"How? You're just gonna kill me."

"No, my love. I would never hurt you." He paused and looked away. "A long time ago, the woman I loved was pregnant with her dead husband's child. She went into labor and she and the child died. The humans saw me holding her and the baby's dead body and they said I killed her. They ran me out of the mortal world, the god's banished me to watch this world as punishment for the pain I caused." A tear shined in the sunlight against his dark shadow, he was actually hurting about this.

She sat up slowly and held his hand. "I'm sorry. But why would you..."

"I was afraid," he spoke softly. "I thought you would leave me like they all did and I would be alone."

"Ronim," she whispered, gently caressing his dark cheek. She saw his features move as if he was shifting his gaze toward her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did not want to scare you. I did not know what to do."

She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Be honest with me," she whispered softly. "And send me home."

"I can not," he replied. "Not after what happened."

"Markium is just worried about me, he's probably worried sick right now." She turned his head softly so he'd look at her. "You need to send me home, Ronim."

"If that is your wish," he whispered. He softly covered her eyes and took her hand.

"Please, Ronim," she whispered, feeling him lean closer.

"Your wish is my command," he breathed softly and slowly kissed her lips.

The warmth she remembered was back, starting in her lips, flowing through her body, and pulsating on the mark on her back. The cloud below them slowly got harder and colder. The warmth of the kiss slowly dissipated and his hand disappeared.

She opened her eyes slowly and saw herself back in the cottage sitting on her bed, a pile of fabric on her lap. She put the pile in the trunk by her bed and went outside.

Markium was sitting by the stream with Chim. "She'll be okay, right?" he asked, his voice sounded like he'd been yelling and crying.

"As long as Ronim knows she is pregnant, he will not hurt her," he explained.

"What will he do if the baby isn't his?"

"What do you mean, of course the baby is..."

"I slept with Markium," she spoke up. They both looked back at her.

Markium ran over and hugged her tightly. "Thank the god's you are okay," Chim chimed in. "Markium might be the father?"

"Are you okay, did he hurt you?" Markium asked.

"I'm fine," she answered, resting her forehead against his. "Yes, Chim, Markium may be the father. It's slim but possible."

"That may not be good."

"What? Why?" Markium looked away at Chim curious.

"If Eve is pregnant with your child and not Ronim's, he may do something for revenge."

"How long until we'll know who the father is?" Eve asked.

"Celestial pregnancy's last four months, a woman will begin to swell with child after two weeks. Seeing how she has been pregnant for more than two weeks and has not gotten any bigger..."

Markium stared at Chim and looked over at Eve. "We're gonna have a baby?"