Chapter Text
Rafayel gazed out into the distance, his bicolor eyes taking in the view of the waves crashing to the shore. the sight and the sound has always been comforting; a constant reminder of home . seagulls flew past his floor-to-ceiling window, their calls rambunctious as always. one of them perched by the window, casually staring at Rafayel and tilted its head.
"ssh," Rafayel motioned with his pointer finger upon his lips, "no choir today," he requested, motioning to his lap.
as if understanding, the seagull's sight fell on the figure resting on Rafayel's lap. there, his heart, his whole world, sleeping soundly to the rhythm of the waves and ocean breeze. a gentle smile graced his face, his fingers tracing her features gently.
"look at you," he whispered, "taking your claim on my lap after kicking me out of the bedroom last night," chuckling, he grins in amusement when your brows furrowed as if understanding what he just said.
"I'm starting to wonder if you're just taking advantage of me at this point," he joked, poking your nose gently and ceased his movement when you groaned in your sleep. apologetically he rubbed down your arms, the movement gaining your approval as you scoot closer to him, curling into a ball as much as your body allowed with the growing bump within your stomach.
Rafayel's eyes dart to the exposed skin of your tummy, smiling softly as his right palm cupped the area. there is tenderness in his eyes, ones that are reserved only for you before.
"and you, little pearl," he called in a sing-sang tone, "how are you feeling today?"
from the moment you were confirmed positive, he did everything he could to support you on all aspects possible.
doctor appointments? check. he immediately broke the news to Talia, the only person he can trust in this matter. delighted, Talia immediately connected him to a trusted Lemurian friend who is well-versed in the arts of Lemurian healing, but also well-educated in human biology. your check-ups have been going so smoothly.
renovating the house? check. he arranged that all your needs should be accessible on the first floor. the baby room is also underway, situated right next to the main bedroom and connected with a connecting door. your most used items are moved to the lower cabinets or ones easily reachable from your height. baby-proof furnitures. and for the first time in forever, Rafayel cleaned and organized his organized-mess of a studio, arranging all his art supplies neatly by order.
maternity clothes? check. some he bought, some he got specifically made. prioritizing your comfort but still making sure you always serve. when you complained that you didn't need to have customized ones since you won't be wearing them after giving birth, Rafayel shook his head sternly. "cutie, I need to weaponize your pregnancy glow to the max," you raised an eyebrow, "it's not safe for me because you're quite literally killing me with your looks, but that is a risk I'm willing to take." you stopped questioning him after that.
food and craving supplies? check. you didn't crave anything specific at first, but your appetite did increase. it changes when you were two months pregnant, though.
Rafayel rubbed your tummy tenderly, feeling the warmth radiating all throughout his palm. "aren't you an exact copy of me, you adorable thing," he mumbled.
how could he not think so?
your first craving was seafood. a smoked lobster, to be precise. then came the barrage of sweet cravings; desserts of any kind. a sweet tooth . before pregnancy, you are quite the foodie yourself, but not to this extent.
you enjoy any water-related activities. Rafayel can barely keep up with all the time you request for a nap on the seabed, or an hour long soak in the bath tub. morning or evening swim, or just strolling by the beach with your toes dipped in the sand. he still remembers the shock written all over your face the first time you realized how Rafayel-like you have become.
which also means cue the increasing frequency of being.. less cooperative..?
in his defense, Rafayel learned all about his 'dramatic flair' from you. sure, he is quite the troublemaker and prankster since birth, pampered by his closest ones during childhood days. but after meeting you for the first time, your presence was like an amplifier to his own persona. without him really noticing, he started mirroring you and picking up your habits. as millennia passed, it's only natural that he had grown accustomed to it.
so when he found you and realizes how high of a wall you have put up, he made it a goal to breach through. which he of course succeeded in, maybe even too well.
"out! I don't want to sleep with you!" you shouted last night, holding a pillow over your head menacingly.
"are you sure, cutie? last time this happened, I found you crying in the middle of the night," he tried to talk you out of it, which you responded to with a scoff.
"that was only one time and I've told you it was because I had a nightmare. now off you go!"
Talia had told him about this.
his obviously excited aunt compiled a list of what to expect during a pregnancy for both humans and Lemurians. he is currently experiencing the effect of what Talia listed as 'hyperosmia', which is a heightened sense of smell due to increasing hormonal levels in pregnancy.
Lemurians have sharper senses compared to humans, and perhaps alongside the fluctuating hormones, you're also having it worse since the baby is both Lemurian and human.
"give her space but still keep a close eye on her needs," was what Talia advised him.
so he retreated to the living room obediently, sleeping on the sofa facing the bedroom door. last night was the third time this happened, and Rafayel won't lie that this is also starting to affect him. he is way too used to having you close to him in his sleep, it feels odd to know you're under the same roof but unable to be close to each other.
but alas, all he can do is wait. and how did the sayings go?
ah, good things come to those who wait.
this morning, he woke up to a familiar warmth next to his body and voilà, there you were. his heartbeat races in an instant, and he can feel the warmth starting to creep up his neck and ears.
pregnancy glow does exist, and Rafayel will forever engrave this to his memory. he already has dozens of paintings, even.
he was smiling so wide his cheeks started to hurt, gentle fingers continue caressing the bump. his other hand played with strands of your hair, blowing softly upon your face. your brows furrowed, and slowly but surely, you opened your eyes.
ah, Rafayel thought, now cradling your cheeks tenderly, so beautiful.
he leaned down and smooched your face all over, giggling at your sounds of protests.
"good morning, my wife." pecking your nose, he rubbed them together. you chuckled.
"mornin'," you mumble, scooting closer and tangling your legs with him. "sorry for kicking you out last night," hiding your face in his chest, Rafayel laughed. he shifted the two of you into a much comfortable position, his arms embracing you protectively.
"no worries. it's all worth it in the end," he joked.
you groaned, admitting your defeat.
"it's confusing. one minute your scent is overwhelming, the next I need you like oxygen,"
he tapped the crown of your head, signaling you to look up at him. you did, though your eyes didn't meet his gaze.
"it must be," he spoke gently, "but don't blame yourself for it. I'll always be here when you need me."
as he kissed your forehead, you felt butterflies in your stomach. the idea of marriage and pregnancy used to scare you at some point, but with Rafayel, he made everything easy.
you sigh, pecking his cheek. "I love you."