Page 48 of Boundless
He pursed his lips thoughtfully, then closed his eyes and put his free hand on her sternum, between her breasts and over her heart. After a minute or two he opened his eyes and rubbed her chest soothingly. "N-nothing feels wrong, but something is d-different from when I healed you before at the inn. I w-wish I knew more about Istarii D-Drakan anatomy to be able to pinpoint—"
"Alright ye two, stop groping each other in public an come in," Granny barked from the entrance of the tent, her eyes softer and more amused than her tone let on.
"And hello to you too, Gran," Daega remarked wryly, getting her crutch back under her arm and maneuvering inside. "The gods forbid you ever actually greet a patient with some sympathy—"
"Hush, girl. A dug shite oot yer arse when you were a wee thing an couldnae go oan yer own; A'll be damned if A’ll let ye talk t’me like A'm no’ a gods-given gift."
Daega hated that even as she laughed, a memory so old it was no longer truly embarrassing nonetheless had tears pooling and overflowing. Len squeezed her and kissed her shoulder as he helped her onto the exam table. When Granny turned and saw her quietly weeping she looked like she'd been struck, her tongue clicking soothingly as she gave Daega a careful hug.
"Och, A'm sorry, lass," she said, rubbing Daega's back between her wings. "A didnae mean t’upset. A wis ainlie teasing."
Daega shook her head, sniffling. "No, I know. This is a part of why I'm here, Gran. I'm like a raw nerve and I'm tired and aching all the time, lately. Len says he doesn't think anything's wrong with me, but Ifeelwrong."
Granny's brow furrowed, her sharp hawklike gaze sweeping over Daega's face. "Any fever? Problems wi’ appetite? How aboot bathroom habits?"
"No fever. I'm more hungry than usual and can't seem to get enough meat, but I figure that's the healing. No issues with going to the bathroom, it all seems normal."
"Y-you've been emptying your b-bladder more often," Len interjected.
"I have?"
He nodded. "I mostly n-notice at night. But you used to s-sleep through and now you're up at l-least once. And, um..." He flushed bright red, avoiding her eyes. She narrowed them in suspicion.
"What? What else have you noticed, Len?"
"It's n-not a problem! I don't want you to be upset."
"Bloody gods, what is it?!"
He swallowed, looking at Granny sheepishly. "She—she's also been a little more... flatulent lately. Um—at least, i-in her sleep."
Daega was wailing before he'd even finished talking, her face buried in her uninjured hand. "V-Vitrin's mercy, what'swrongwith m-me?"
Len and Granny both fell to soothing her, patting her back and petting her hair and cooing in gentle voices while she clawed desperately at her wild emotions. She wasn't exactly stoic, normally, but this was completely unlike her, even on her monthly bleed, and it was starting to scare her.
Once she finally calmed down Granny poked and prodded and listened attentively to her heart and lungs with her strange instruments, asking her a few more targeted questions as she examined Daega.
"Las’ thing is A'll need a urine sample," Granny said, her voice gentle and calm. “Either A or yer bonnie husband can help ye."
"I-I've got it," Len said with a soft smile, taking the cup.
Daega started crying again, though this time it was at least less desperate and choking than before. She wanted to tell him no on no uncertain terms, but he was looking at her with such sweetness, his beautiful face creased in a smile.
"You'll never be able to look at me the same," she warned, her lip wobbling.
"Because now I'll kn-know you urinate? I already knew that. I-it's a natural bodily f-function, love."
She grumbled some more before letting Len help her into an awkward hover over the collection cup, her face flaming hot and the tears unending. This wasn't even the first time she'd pissed in front of him, what with their time on the road making it sometimes necessary, but it was the first time he'd see it come out of her, and that somehow made it worse.
Once it was done and Daega was fully dressed again Granny sprinkled something into the cup that fizzed as it hit the liquid. The older woman hummed knowingly, a sly smile on her face.
"Weel, congratulations, ye lot," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Ye're gunna be havin’ a babby."
Her head swam, reeling at the news that something was happening that everyone had promised would be impossible.
"But—buthow, Gran?" she breathed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Len sway, and that drove her from her confusion enough to focus on something else for a moment. She scooted further back, straddling the table and pulling Len in front of her so he could lean his back against her front while he recovered. Granny handed her a cool damp rag, which she swiped over his neck and cheeks before resting it on his forehead. Then between the two of them, they got some water in him and got him settled while he recovered from his swoon.
"He does this often, then?" Granny asked softly, looking grim.
