Chapter Text
“Jude, why are you so sleepy? Wake up, you're supposed to be spending time with us, count this as your vacay from being a Queen.”
Jude swatted Vivi's face out the way. “Give me space, gosh, you make me nauseous.”
Vivi looked confused. “Excuse me?”
She shook her head dismissively, “No, sorry, it wasn’t you that made me nauseous, what’s that horrid smell?” she gagged.
“Pizza came a few minutes ago! Eat, people!” Taryn exclaimed.
Vivi looked shocked now. “Holy moly, Jude I never knew the smell of pizza makes you nauseous!” she frowned, eyeing Jude.
“Jude, you look pale. Do you feel alright?” Heather said when she walked in the room, setting off her cigarette.
Did she feel alright? She felt like her insides were twisting.
Taryn now walked in the room. “What’s happening guys...” Her voice trailed off once she saw Jude.
“I'm fine, stop overreacting.” She snapped
“Babe, do you have a thermometer?” Vivi asked.
Heather nodded, “Yeah, probably.”
Taryn shook her head, skeptical.
Jude cleared her throat. “Well I feel nauseous and sickly in general. I think I have a fever.” She declared.
“That kind of sounds like morning sickness.” Taryn commented.
Jude did not get the memo. “Can somebody hand me ibuprofen? My head is pounding. I can’t rule in this condition.”
“Jude, when was your last period?” Taryn asked, casually, exchanging glances with both Vivi and Heather.
Jude’s heart stopped. Suddenly, nothing hurt anymore. Her body stilled.
A smile appeared on both of her sisters faces.
She finally knew why they were acting all smug, and what this ‘morning sickness’ was all about, “Periods in Faerieland are bound to be irregular, time is different.”
“We know that.” They all said in unison once again.
Jude groaned. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“And when was the last time you and Cardan…” Taryn didn’t have to continue to figure out what she wanted to say.
Jude closed her eyes, tight. “You guys will be the end of my existence.” she hissed.
“So, when was it?” Taryn asked slowly.
She refused to answer the question. “I’m not telling you about my physical life, but I will say I am—“ She stopped to correct herself. “was on birth control.” she said, narrowing her eyes at Vivi. Her older sister knew that, because she asked to give it to her.
“Bingo!” Leander said.
Everyone’s head turned towards his.
Leander was playing bingo. At the most inconvenient time.
“Leander, can you go into Auntie Vivi’s room and eat pizza? I’ll give you any toy you want in return, before we go back home.” Taryn asked in a singsong voice.
Leander nodded vigorously, “Okay Momma!” he said and ran away,
Everyone looked back at Jude.
She cursed, “Okay, I have a confession.” she sighed, “As you guys know, Oak isn’t heir to the throne anymore. We established that after Cardan and I came back from the undersea. But we still unfortunately need to keep the Greenbriar line going…” Her voice trailed off, refusing not to speak.
Taryn eyebrows went up.
Vivi went into the kitchen to grab a slice of pizza. She came out with both pizza and keys for a car. “Are you thinking of what I'm thinking?” she said smugly.
“A trip to CVS?” Heather questions with a smile.
Vivi grinned, “You know me so well.”
Jude rolled her eyes.
She didn’t even protest when they made her get up and leave with them. Didn’t even defend herself, knowing that there was no point. She didn’t want to be defeated just yet, so she had a little hope that she wasn’t expecting. She shoved her hands into her pockets and went to the medicine aisle. She picked up ibuprofen and allergy meds, just in case it was some unknown allergic reaction. Right? she thought hopefully.
It wasn’t until she heard Leander shout,“ Jude’s pregnant?!” was when she really opened her eyes. Her cheeks flushed pink and she smacked herself in the head. She tried to be mysterious and put her hood up, but she ended up being found by Taryn.
“Jude, come on, we’re buying our things now!” She called out to her.
Once they were at the cash register, she saw the lady scanning three pregnancy tests. Three? She quickly tossed the medications.
The lady smiled, “Good luck on the tests, I hope you get what you want.”
Jude turned the other way.
—
She’s been in the bathroom for 10 minutes.
“Jude are you alive?!” she heard Taryn knock on the door.
“Unfortunately,” she called back.
Silence.
“Well are you coming out?” Vivi asked.
She twisted the knob to open the door and met the faces of all 3 girls looking at her with wide eyes.
“Were they…” Heather said slowly.
“Positive? Yeah. All damn three,” she said and shut her eyes.
All three of them started exclaiming cheerfully and hugging Jude with bright smiles.
She raised her voice, “I don’t know if I can keep the baby,”
“Jude, what? I know it’s your baby but please don’t do anything stupid and regretful without your husbands, aka the King of Elfhames, input.” Taryn reasoned.
Vivi and Heather both nodded in agreement.
Jude sighed, “I know it was planned, but now that it’s true, I can’t deal with nine months of terror.”
“You’ll be an even stronger queen.” Taryn touched her sister's shoulder.
—
2 Days Later
“Bye, see you pretty soon.” Jude said
Taryn said her goodbyes as well.
“Wait Jude, don’t forget your goodies!” Vivi handed her the bag of medication, snacks, and lastly what she was dreading: the positive pregnancy tests.
Jude grabbed it. She fought the urge to throw it away, far away from her.
They each waved bye once again before Jude took off.