*** Chapter 4 ***
Tulani hummed quietly to herself as she tidied up her workspace. Sinea was passed out for a nap on her little cot, and Tulani was taking the time to put the room to rights. She didn't have a scheduled appointment for a few more hours. She typically spent this downtime designing, sewing, or playing with little Sinea. The knock on the door shattered her reverie. Tulani opened the door and blinked at Carla with a dress draped over her arm.
"Oh! I haven't seen you since the wedding." Tulani winked at Carla, a small grin on her face.
Carla blushed. "I apologize. We've been a little busy."
"Come in, come in. Have some tea and tell me all about it." Tulani gestured to a chair and began pouring tea into some cups.
"Well, we went on a tourist visit of the cities and towns of Eastern Kingdoms. Then we went to Dustwallow Marsh to visit his mother, and finally back here." Carla felt the heat in her face deepen. "We made love almost every night." Her eyes flicked to the sleeping child. "She can't hear me, can she?"
"Oh, my, no. Sinea sleeps like the dead."
"Well, anyway, we haven't been back very long."
Tulani smiled knowingly. "What brings you my way today?"
"Well, it appears as though I've eaten a few too many sweets. Some of my clothes have stopped fitting right, especially around the belly and my breasts. I must admit that I'm craving the weirdest foods lately."
"Oh?" Tulani's eye glittered as she discreetly eyed the girl who could very well be her own daughter. "Is that so?"
"It's unimportant." Carla shook her head. "I wanted to put this dress on today, but I ripped the seam." Her eyes watered. "It's one you made me. I'm so sorry."
"Now, now, don't worry. Changing bodies do that."
Letting out a massive sigh, Carla slumped her shoulders. "I wish I wasn't so pudgy. Maybe I should start exercising more."
"I'm not sure that's the issue, dear."
"Oh, but it must be. I know I've always been a bit overweight, but this new development..."
"Let me see the dress."
Carla handed over the dress and stretched. "Ugh, my back."
"Hmm?"
"Think I've been sleeping wrong lately. It's getting more difficult to get comfortable."
"Poor dear." Tulani held up the dress and eyed where the seam had split. With the dress hiding her face, she grinned. "We may have to take out the seams and give you more room to grow."
"Oh no!" Carla shook her head. "I don't plan on growing any more. I'm on a diet, effectively immediately. After I find some damned cherries."
"Well, cherries are a healthy fruit, so I wouldn't worry about all that." Tulani draped the dress over her table. "Well, get undressed and get on the stand."
"Will Sinea wake up?"
"Most likely not. Her naps usually last an hour or more and I just got her down. Besides, she's used to seeing the female body. Women come to my shop and do what I need with her happily ignoring us as she plays with her toys. Now, you know what to do."
Carla laid her clothes carefully to the side and climbed up on the stand. As Tulani began to get her measurements, Carla eyed the notations on the paper. "Damn it, even my boobs are getting bigger."
Tulani chuckled. Holding out her hand, she touched Carla's shoulder and sent out her weak magic.
"That kind of tickles. What are you doing?"
"Just confirming my suspicions."
"Suspicions?"
Tulani pulled her hand back. "Honey, you're pregnant."
"I..." Carla couldn't have been more surprised if Tulani had punched her. "No, I'm not."
Tulani's grin became uncontainable. "Yes, yes you are."
"But that's impossible, I haven't missed my... wait." Carla blinked. She cocked her head to the side and tried to calculate. "Oh. Oh, dear!" Flapping her hands near her face. "Oh! Oh! I don't, oh no! oh my! I just... I... oh my!
Tulani hesitated. "Do you not want to be?"
"Oh, but I do! This is just so surprising! I must tell Ryan!" Carla ran over to the door.
"Uh, you might want to--" Tulani reached out.
Carla yanked open the door. "Ryan!"
Ryan was leaning against the side of the building and almost fell over in shock. "Carla! You're naked!"
Carla looked down and turned full body crimson. "Get in here!" She hissed, before bolting back into the shop.
Concerned, Ryan followed her inside and snapped the door shut. "What is the matter, sweetie?"
Carla was violently flapping her hands by her face. "MMMMM!!!"
"Spit it out! I can't understand you again."
"I'm pregnant!"
Ryan's mouth dropped open, and he squeaked. "You!"
Nodding vigorously, Carla was still flapping her hands and making weird gargling noises.
"This is so cool!" He reached out and put his hands on her belly. "There's a baby in there right now?"
"Tulani says it! It must be true!"
Ryan looked at Tulani, who nodded. Ryan knelt and put his head on her stomach. "Hey there, little baby. I can't wait to meet you."
Putting her hands on his head, Carla giggled. A sudden thought occurred to her and her energy deflated. "What if... What if I lose them?" Tears began to pool in her eyes. "What if I die?" She whispered.
"Oh shit." Ryan looked up into her face as tears began to stream down her face. He stood up quickly and took her hands. "I can't lose you; I just got you." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and clung tightly to her, burying his face in her hair. The pair of them went down on their knees, both with tears down their faces.
"I don't want to die!" Carla wailed.
Reaching out, Tulani put her hand on Carla' shoulder. "Now, now. There's no need for this."
"What?" Carla sniffled and looked at Tulani.
"Go to Elunara."
"What? Why Elunara?"
"Because she is a goddess, and she can protect you and your baby. Like she did for me, like she's done for many mothers before you. When Elunara wants you to live, you do."
Ryan stood up and wiped his face. He pulled Carla to standing. "Yeah, sweetie. Tulani has a point. Let's go get Elunara's blessing."
"Oh, but will she? I haven't exactly been nice to her."
"She blessed our wedding. Plus, from what I get of Elunara, she doesn't hold grudges."
"That she does not." Tulani smiled as she clasped her hands together. "Go on, get. She'll be by the yard today."
----
By the yard, Elunara was staring at her children. Emaline had opted for another dress this morning and did not want to train today. "You want to what?"
"We want to run and play like normal kids." Laithion declared. "All the other kids our age are running around and exploring the city."
"Uh, you're seven months, not seven years."
"Emaline is seven years old."
"Mommy, I've never got to run around and play with the other kids either." Emaline fidgeted. "You said once before that the city is the safest place to be. I... we," she amended. "Want to play with other kids our own, well, my own age."