"Tell me what’s bothering you. Why aren’t you happy? This is wonderful news," Esma asked as both of them settled down in the bedroom.

"I am not ready to be a mother and I am not even fit to be one," Aselia lamented and Esma scowled at her answer.

"Who gave you such an absurd notion? Do you think anyone is ever ready for such a huge responsibility? No one is, we figure out as time passes and we learn with it. There is no formula for being a perfect mother because we are not flawless. So quit that negative thinking Leia and embrace this beautiful part of your life of becoming a mother."

"We just found our way to each other and now all this, we hardly spent any time together. I don’t even know how pregnancies work," Aselia’s eyes instinctively went towards her belly. She hadn’t touched it, too afraid of doing it.

"My dear you have a long time with him to figure everything out. You know when I became pregnant with Rasia, I was so young and clueless. Every step was a challenge, it was like I could never get enough oxygen because I worried so much. But it was all worth it, her smiles, her laughter, her crawling, her first steps, her first words, everything was worth it. The same was with Rawias and I would not exchange that for anything. I know it’s the fear of the unknown that’s gripping your heart but you are not alone, all of us will be with you on this journey of discovering motherhood. So, loosen up," she held Aselia’s face and kissed her forehead, trying to ease her heart. The fear gripped it in its claws.

"What if I make mistakes in raising them and they turn out evil?" she innocently questioned with a burdened heart.

"Your kids will not be evil and everyone makes mistakes. It’s in our blood to make mistakes but I highly doubt that you will make such a blunder that will turn your kids evil. Even I made so many errors with Rawais. Did he turn out evil?" Esma countered and Aselia whispered a ’no’ but continued:

"And I am angry at Xiran too, he deliberately made me pregnant," Aselia was not about to give up.

"The poor chap always has it hard on him, give him a break. Hasn’t he waited a long time to be with you? Husbands usually get the bitter end of the stick, try to go easy on him, don’t kill him. He will be your greatest strength, my child. Pregnancy is not easy nor are kids, I won’t lie to you but if you have a caring enough life partner it’s always worth it. And you have been blessed with one. Let him come to you," Esma stood up after that, knowing that Aselia had been posing challenges for him. She wanted them to be on the same page for this.

"I am sending him inside. Talk to him and sort everything out. Don’t let there be a ridge between the two of you," Esma told her before walking outside, leaving her to collect her thoughts.

Razian and Xiran were still discussing aspects of being parents when Esma joined them. Xiran handed her the glass of red wine and asked:

"How is she doing now? She won’t let me touch her."

"She will be alright. She just needed some motherly advice. Go to her and sort this out, she will talk to you now. And if she says anything negative just ask her if she wants an abortion," Esma nonchalantly added, settling down near her husband and taking a small sip. Xiran’s mouth hung open at her words and he blinked, not believing what he had heard.

"Abortion?" he hoarsely repeated the word.

"Trust me on this and just do as I said," Esma slightly smirked and he understood what she was trying to do.

"Ok, I will give this a go," leaving the elderly couple to enjoy their wine and snacks he went to his wife.

"Are they going to be alright?" Razian asked his wife, taking her hand in his, once Xiran had shut the door.

"They are going to fight because Leia is afraid of having kids. But they are going to be just fine," she confidently smiled at her husband and he squeezed her hand.

Aselia was comfortably sitting on the plush chair in the corner with Rony’s head comfortably resting on her belly. She was patting him.

"Leia! How are you feeling?" he sat down in the chair Esma had just left. His wife seemed to be glowing, seeming more beautiful as their children nourished inside her. Her hooded lashes were downcast as she lifted them and found him staring at her.

"Why would you care?" her voice had that jabbing tone that always hit him in the heart.

"I always care for you. We will do this together, I will be there every step of the way," he leaned in and removed a stray lock from her face, revealing her cute face to him.

"Tell me Xiran. Can you carry these children in your womb?" she glared at him.

"No, but..." he tried to speak but she cut him off.

"Have you ever been pregnant? Can you vomit instead of me? Can you birth them instead of me? Can you breastfeed them instead of me?" Her pointed questions left him speechless for a while and hurt descended in his misty eyes.

"I can’t but I can assure you that you won’t be alone in any of these steps, I will be there holding your hand, guiding you through every process. So let me be there for you for our kids," he pleaded, reaching out and squeezing her hand.

"But I don’t even want kids right now," she spoke out of fear and not what really was in her heart. The fear of being not a good enough mother to them. The fear of making mistakes while raising them. It was gripping her heart.

Xiran tensed at her words and remembered what Esma had said.

"Then let’s go abort them. I will call Dr. Wanstine right now and arrange it. We can have them when you are ready or not at all if you don’t want them," he sternly stated, taking out his cell phone. His insides screamed to even say it and his heart was breaking into two. His eyes were fighting back tears.

Aselia gasped at the words he had uttered but who could blame him? She had pushed him to the edge. Her hands instinctively went to her belly and she formed a protective shield as if hiding them away, keeping them safe. This was the first time she had touched her belly and registered the fact that another life was inside her now.

"NO!" she yelled, tears welled up in her own eyes and slid down. This broke him to see her cry again. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Woof!" Rony whimpered seeing her cry and lying down on her feet, his ears cast down.

"Shhh! Come here," he leaned in and swooped her in his steady arms and this time she didn’t complain or push him away. The solace his arms brought her had been missing and she openly cried in his chest.

He carried her to their bed and carefully laid her down as if she was made up of glass and could break any moment. Keeping his arm under her head he pressed her closer to him.

"I can’t even imagine going through what you are right now. But I can share your heart’s burden. Lay it on me for I understand giving birth is not easy especially when it comes so suddenly. Still, I believe we are going to be exceptional parents, Leia. I can feel it in my soul. And you my lovely wife will be the most amazing mother."

Xiran’s hand slipped under her shirt and tenderly rested on her belly as his lips descended on her quivering ones and he softly kissed her, taking away all her fears, misconceptions and heartaches. Filling her heart with a brighter hope for their future, for their kids.

"You promise to be there whenever I need you?" Aselia hiccuped against his lips.

"I do, didn’t I promise you that when we bonded? You and our kids are my top priority, nothing can keep me away. It’s my duty as your husband to be by your side. Let the fear go so we can finally embrace this beautiful reality," his words had her nodding and he kissed away her tears. A small smile spread on her cherry lips.

His hand tucked her shirt up and bending down he placed feathery kisses where his kids peacefully rested inside of her.

A tender warmth enveloped her at his action.

"You are so beautiful and you have become even more beautiful now that you are carrying our children. You think they will be like you or me?" he asked before kissing her belly again.

"One will be like me and the other will be like you," she faintly smiled, relishing in his love.

"I want them both to be like my Leia," he smiled back at her before resuming kissing her again and again.