112. Doing Absolutely Nothing

"You've been awfully quiet since we got back...and the entire ride to and from the hospital."

"..."

"You were too quiet during our last week of stay. I was hoping to make some memorable pre departure experience but you wouldn't even let me touch you."

"..."

Tapping his fated's shoulder, Elric felt frustrated by the silent treatment he'd been getting. "Hey, talk to me. I want to look at you but I have to keep my eyes on the road..."

"How far is your place? It feels like we've been driving forever." Niel spoke, his eyes outside the window.

"We'll be there in ten minutes or so..." Looking at the rear view mirror, Elric asked his driver at the back. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes sir."

"How are you feeling how? I'm guessing you are well considering you wanted to be the one driving." Niel inquired, looking back at Elric.

They'd just come from the hospital after leaving his grandparent's home. Elric had been complaining of constant reccuring headaches that they'd had to end their three month stay and seek further checkup.

"Hey, stop sulking, I'm not some helpless kid."

"Did you even listen to what the doctor said? You kept smiling at everything mentioned weather positive or negative until the doctor thought you were insane."

"It's pretty late to worry about the inevitable don't you think?"

"You could die Elric, let alone rapture your womb and loose the pregnancy all at once. How can you not be worried? I'm actually the one responding normally to our situation between us two."

"Hey, it's going to be fine. Nothing bad will happen to me."

Just then, Elric began laughing. "I can't believe we get to start experiencing couple arguments! This will be fun."

"You really are a lost cause. This is not an argument but a disagreement. Haven't you ever dated anyone in your life before?"

"I have but it wasn't serious..."

"Not a sex friend dufus! An actual relationship with real arguments."

While watching Elric trying to think of what to answer, Niel gave up after a few seconds. "You know what, forget it. Someone who has dated before wouldn't be celebrating at such a time."

"What does it matter, couples always patch up after an argument."

"This is a serious matter Elric. You still have the option to terminate the pregnancy while it's this early as the doctor said. Please consider it. You are in no physical condition to be caring one- I...I just don't get it." Niel stuttered seeming frustrated as his eyes returned to look outside the window. 'I thought I was careful? I never stop taking my meds and only missed a week- Yes! That time when we were apart but still... They should have been effective...'

"Don't get what?" Elric asked but before Niel could give him a reply, his driver who'd sat quietly as if non existent, informed him they had already reached their destination.

"You were right about the map leading us straight to our desired location." Elric said to his driver after parking the car. "I dont have to worry about being lost.

Looking up and down the building, Niel turned his gaze to Elric and raised an eyebrow. "Where is this?"

Pointing at a secluded manssionate, Elric replied. "I'm not one for gated communities. I'd rather my old apartment but you said you don't want to stay in a place filled with memories of my previous promiscuous activities so I bought a new place. You look like the type who likes to stay in places like this. I'm surprised it looks exactly like the pictures sent by mother's realtor."

"You've got money to waste and you don't even try to hide it."

Elric laughed as he got out of his car, Niel following him. "With our current status, don't you think we need a place that looks like a home? That's why I secured it under short notice."

"A home isn't just some stone and cement, it's made by those that live in it."

"I wish you told me that earlier. Selling it would be quite troublesome. Or perhaps I could lease it. That will earn me my money back with good intrest." Opening the booth to pick up their luggages, he stopped briefly and added. "I should ask Stan for advice since this is his area of interest."

Pushing Elric away gently, Niel cautioned. "Don't carry anything heavy..."

"You're patronizing me babe. Unless this is part of play, you don't have to worry about me so much."

"Again with the name..."

"Better get used to it."

"You are such a hassle."

Niel urged Elric to head inside as him and the driver brought their luggages in. Once done, Niel admired the place up a bit. It may have looked a little less spacious than Elric's mother's house but it still boasted a little extravagance, which made him feel somewhat intimidated.

"Now I feel like shit."

"Why?" Elric asked while handing over the car keys to his driver then thanked him for helping them out.

"Your bag was the heaviest of us two. Why did you bring with you if you were only going to put on a quarter of the clothes you'd carried?"

"That's because in there, I put some toys for us to use. I was hoping we'll both go on a outdoor sexual adventure but I should have trusted your dominance. I like how you constantly manage to surprise me with such subtle effort and less..."

Opening the bag to look inside, Niel's jaw dropped briefly before he let out a low laugh. "I'm not even going to ask which one you want to try out first."

"On you?" Elric laughed at Niel's blank look.

"Jokes aside, honestly Elric your pregnancy has really thrown me offguard. I was still getting used to your changed eye color. It was a permanent reminder what you are to me and now..."

"What's so bad about us being pregnant? Wasn't that expected to happen in future?"

"What if you die?"

"Well, I wouldn't care if you moved on and dated someone else. Just don't go back to Mijin."

"What the-? Why would you bring her up all of a sudden?"

"She is someone you've dated the longest, and I don't like that you still hold some residual feelings for her."

"What the heck are you acting jealous for? Mijin and I split up ages ago!"

"Yet you were together for three years. I can't expect you to get over her in just a couple of months. She did scar you deeply and that affects you to date somehow."

"I can't believe you see her as a competition, or are the pregnant hormones kicking in this early?"

"How long are we going to live together?" Elric asked, changing the subject out of the blue.

Niel looked at his fated then sighed. Arguing at this point about Mijin wasn't productive for either of them. "I really don't know. I wasn't prepared of you being pregnant. How you conceived despite me taking all the necessary precautions baffles me. You may not know this but I took supressants daily."

"Well...that wasn't exactly the case."

"What does that mean? You wanted play everywhere and anywhere. Of course it called on me to be careful for both of us."

"I kind of switched your meds with fertility pills. I'm surprised you didn't notice."

"What?"

"Yea. Your grandparents were right about you being not so vigilant."

"Elric, exlain to me clearly what you mean by what you just said."

As if oblivious to an fuming fated infront of him, Elric replied. "The truth is, I was already on supplements to make myself as fertile as possible so that by the time I achieve womb maturity, I'll be ready to conceive and carry to full term. When you left after marking me, I began taking them and I have been on them ever since because I already told you the duties and responsibilites that weigh heavily on my shoulders. At that time, I didnt have your scent to depend on however, as time progressed, I still took them since Stan's uncle, whom you earlier met confirmed it was a great fertility booster. So with the help of your granddad, we made the switch before the week you left for your interviews."

"What?

"I'm guessing it worked too well for both of us. Didn't you see how attentive and happy your grandparents were? If it wasn't for them, you'd have made me terminate the pregnancy by now."

"How could you make such a decision and not inform me? I'm not ready to be a father let alone be called anyones dad!"

"Why are you so worked up about this? Is it because you don't have a job?"

"Exactly you stupid fuck! Do you ever think of your health or you just let others worry themselves to death on your behalf? You may never conceive again Elric!"

"So what? We can just adopt. As long as we have one that is ours..."

"Think before you speak sometines Elric! You made this decision for you and not me..."

"Because you don't like me! I've never heard you speak of our future together or make any plans untill recently!"

"Oh my word Elric, it doesn't suit you to be so insecure. A playboy..."

"See, that's where the problem is. You still see me as such babe." Closing the gap between them, Elric added. "I'm not a playboy anymore. Haven't I shown my loyalty by being with only one partner? Isn't it enough that we are fated to celebrate this development and not overthink it? You've been sulking about this since that night..."

"The fact that we are fated means you should discuss such matters with me first before doing whatever you want. Neither of us are ready to be parents Elric. Moreover, I came back, I scent you all the time so you needn't worry about your womb becoming stunted in growth."

"I am ready to be a dad."

"How can you be a good parent when you don't even know the meaning of being in a relationship and loving someone? Are you also forgetting my financial status? I feel inadequate."

"I never once thought you were inferior to me, rather..."

"Elric, I don't feel inferior to you. If you can't comprehend what the point I'm trying to pass across then it is pointless for us having this discussion." Looking around, Niel said. "I need some time alone. Which room must I take? I don't think I can stand the sight of you for a while."

"Hey, babe I'm sorry. I hadn't thought the pills would work out well this soon. I only took them to prepare my body for what was yet to come...and besides, what if I begin feeling unwell in the middle of the night? What if you can't sense me?"

"You'll do just fine on your own Elric therefore, if you don't have a place for me to rest seperately from you, I'd be glad to head back at my grandparent's house. If what you also said about my grandfather having a hand in this is true then I should have a word with him."

"I'm sorry. We thought you'd be glad..."

"Haven't I done right by you all this time?" Niel sighed when Elric didn't reply. "As much as I hate to admit it, you and Mijin are so much alike. You both like having your way, acting all on your own and most of all, you keep calling me just like her."

"I wish you'd forget about her, and stop comparing me to her."

"She was once your lover too Elric. If anyone should be hurt or jealous here, it's me."

"Is it the name alone or you just hate me that much?" Elric asked but Niel remained silent. "Or you're still with me out of responsibility?"

"I don't dislike the name but the memory behind it."

"Then replace it with new memories. You don't want me calling you Zaddy, or babe... What must I do to make you like me then when me being pregnant only puts us at loggerheads?"

"Do absolutely nothing."