"The babe wasn't affected at all," he said quietly. Both he and Ansell were watching her with the same expression as a man handed a bomb with no visible indication of when it might blow. "Your body's natural protective measures kept him safe. Briar was worried about it, for a time, but she did all the tests and it appears the pathogen never made it close enough to harm. You'll need extra vitamins and other nutritional supplements for a time to combat all the pathogen took from your body but you will be fine and back to your normal self in about a month she figures.
Lacey's hands were shaking. She hadn't thought about this particular part of life. Having a child. "I." She started but stopped. She couldn't seem to think, at all. Holy crapola. "And you are sure we are pregnant?" she whispered. Holy. Hell.
The men shared a look before Ansell nodded slowly. "Quite. Both Briar's tests and our own scenting of your skin have proven that you are pregnant. The disease you were infected with masked the scent until it was finally pushed from your body."
"And it is now?" She was more worried now than she was before. "You are sure that the illness is gone and our child is okay?" she asked softly and put her hand to her stomach. "I need to learn more about Luhpyne pregnancies. I need to figure out what to expect as I'm expecting."
"Briar has a lot of materials that you will be able to read. Since we became part of your world we felt it only fair warning to let your doctors know all about us and the results of possible pairings and matings. Not everything, but enough to keep all your people as safe as possible." Reaching over, Ansell squeezed her arm, just above her wrist, gently. "It's gone, your scent is pure again and all you and the baby. Eat."
Lacey picked up the spoon and then smiled. "Oh god, your momma is going to have a heart attack when she finds out that we are expecting. I'm fully prepared for her to make your dads come to this side of the Veil to try to talk us into moving to that side." If that made sense aloud.
"Oh, she likely will," Zhubin said quietly with a smile. "Our life is here and, if one day we want to, we can move to the other side. But at this time, though, I think staying here is the best idea. If you want to that is, if you want to move to the other side we can."
"I want to remain here," she agreed. "Maybe one day we will move to the other side but right now I think we belong here. I think that this is just where we need to be. Don't you think?" She couldn't help the smile that kicked up the corners of her mouth though. "Heavens, I didn't think I would be so happy, but I am. I am so very, very happy to have this step in our lives here."
"Then this is where we will remain, for however long you wish. But that means you need to eat and get better. Otherwise, Briar will keep you here for much longer than we all want." He flipped a look at his watch and sighed. "We need to go, darling. We have work to do so if you are okay, I'll get Briar to give you some reading material and we'll be back in a few hours."
"I think that sounds like a very good idea," she whispered. "Crap. She will be all grumbly and stuff if I don't eat better, won't she?" She loved Briar and had grown closer to the woman as they worked together. "Right, work." Lord, her brains were so scrambled that she couldn't even think about what work they had to do let alone how to do it. If she had a weapon right now she wouldn't know which end was which, sad but true.
"Yes, work," Ansell said as they got off the bed. He pulled a phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. "In case you need us. We checked with Briar and she's confirmed it won't interfere with anything down here. So call if you need us, no matter what. We will drop whatever we're doing and get here as fast as we can."
"Even if you just want to talk," Zhubin told her. Brushing his hand over her hair he leaned in to kiss her. "Call, we always have time for our mate."
"I am not getting released right away, am I?" She just realized that. She just realized that they were going back to work, and she was stuck staying there. Freaking. Wonderful. "I just thought I would be coming with you," she admitted softly. "But I guess I still need to get better don't I?"
"You'll be coming home with us tonight," Ansell said, leaning in to kiss her. "But until then, you are under the watchful eye of the doctor. Which means, finish your soup and whatever else she gives you, otherwise … " He shrugged and stepped back.
"Oh don't you dare otherwise me, mister." She grumbled and took another spoonful of the soup. "And I will be coming home with you tonight or I am making you stay another night with me here." She didn't want to be alone. Someone had nearly killed her with a fucking flu virus on steroids and alone was not something she could be right now. She realized that just as they did.
"We wouldn't leave you alone, Lacey," Zhubin said softly. He tucked some of her hair behind her ear and rubbed her cheek lightly. "Whether we are here or at home, we'll be with you. We're going to go and do some work so that one of us can be with you until you're back on duty as well. So, behave and we will see you in a few hours."
That had her grinning. "Oh you are telling me to behave, are you?" She must be feeling a little better if she was up to teasing him, pushing the envelope even more. "I will behave but I have to ask, what do I get as a reward for being a good girl while you are off working?" Ah yes, it was going to so be worth it.
"We have your favorite ice cream at home in the freezer. If you behave and get out of here tonight, you can have as much as you want. If not, we're going home for an hour and eating it before coming back to breathe on you all night," he said. "Oh, and if you do behave, we'll give you three orgasms too." Zhubin actually said that like it was an afterthought, unbelievable!
"Oh that's just so wrong. Oh, now that's worth getting better." She lifted her hand and wrapped it around Zhubin's neck, pulling him close she brushed her lips to his. Smiling, she said, "Go earn a living for us, Daddy." She liked that, a lot. She looked to Ansell and felt her heart melting again. "You too, Daddy."
He made a face at her but leaned in to kiss her softly. "I love you," he said quietly. Cupping her cheek, he stared into her eyes for a long time before dropping another kiss on her lips. Only Zhubin calling to him pulled him away. "Call if you need anything."
"I will. I promise." She smiled at him and nodded. "Go, both of you keep out of trouble while I'm down here trying to get better and not jump at shadows." Sadly that part couldn't be helped. Someone had nearly killed her. She deserved to jump at shadows, dammit. With having someone nearly kill her via a letter, she was allowed to have fear in her life.
"Just scream really loudly. Your scream could puncture eardrums," Ansell said with a grin. Winking, he turned and jogged out of the room and out of sight.
A moment later Briar came bustling in with her clipboard. Stopping at the end of the bed she shot her a look that warned of painful things before looking to the bowl still in her hand. Not exactly a subtle hint.
"I was just saying good-bye." Lacey laughed and began to eat the soup, her eyes on Briar as she ate. Finally, she had her soup finished and leaned back with a smile on her face. "There, see. I ate it all. Aren't you proud?"
Taking the bowl, Briar set it aside before patting her on the head. "So proud, even prouder if you were a two-year-old who'd managed the feat instead of a fully grown woman. Two hours and you get another bowl. If you manage it and one more before they return you can go home. If not, you're mine for another night."
"You are slightly terrifying when you get that glint in your eyes, you know that right?" Lacey did grin, however, and leaned back. "I think for now I'm going to nap for a bit, eat the soup and then get up and shower. If you are good with that?" She didn't want to do anything that might cause more harm to her body than it had already been put through. "And Briar, thank you. For saving my life and … " She touched her hand to her belly, she couldn't say the words aloud just yet.
Nodding, the other woman moved closer to the bed. "After your next bowl of soup I'll get rid of the IV. I think you should be fine. But if you are thirsty, definitely drink. This whole thing has taken a toll on your system so you really need to listen to your body for the next while, closely. Now, get some rest." She reached up and turned off the light right over the bed. "I'll be in my office if you need me."