A Match Made from the Heavens
Hello! I’m back with more fanfics! I’ve been playing The Arcana lately and it’s been ruining my whole life (in a good way!). Momma is obsessed with Dr. Julian Devorak something fierce (there will be some smut of the dear doctor here soon!). Here is some smut-ish/ fluffy/ angsty Julian stuff, featuring my MC, Caliya (pronounced Ka-lee-a)! Enjoy!
Warnings: mentions of sex, child birth.
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Caliya stared at her deck of cards. They were strewn about the room except for one card, which sat in her lap. It was The Lovers, upright. Caliya had never seen this card before, nor did she know what it meant. Asra never described the energy that came with the Lovers card before. Caliya sat on the floor with her legs crossed now holding the card in her hand, concentrating almost too hard on trying to figure out what the card was trying to tell her. In the midst of concentration, Asra’s shop bell rings, wavering her thoughts. Calyia gets up quickly to greet the customer.
“Hello! Welcome to-” Caliya stops suddenly. A man with bright auburn hair and a tell, lanky body stood in the doorway of the shop. The smile that spread across his face when he saw her made Calyia’s heart leap out of her chest and she could not help but smile herself.
“What can I help you with?” Calyia blushed. She felt a special energy between this man and herself. Was it because of the cards? Were they trying to tell her something?
“Well, my dear, I came for some wolfsbane, but I think I found something I would like more.” the strange man sauntered closer to her with the same shit-eating grin on his face. He held out his hand for Caliya to take and introduced himself.
“Name’s Julian. Dr. Julian Devorak. You are?”
She took his hand and allowed him to give it a polite kiss.
“Calyia. I’m Asra’s apprentice.”
Julian paused and mouthed Calyia’s name to himself.
“Asra’s been a friend of mine for a long time. Is he in right now?”
“No, he is out getting some groceries at the moment. He should be back in an hour if you are willing to come back later.”
“Would you mind if I stay here and visit with you?”
“You can say no, my dear. Do not be forced to say yes.”
Calyia’s heart pounded in her chest.
“No, no! You are more than welcome to stay here and wait for Asra. In fact, would you like to get a card reading?”
Julian raised his eyebrows.
“Ah, I would enjoy a card reading, yes.”
Calyia beckoned for Julian to follow her back into the room that she had just emerged from.
The pair sat across from each other in the extravagantly decorated table, complete with the stereotypical crystal ball. Calyia picked up The upright Lovers card and stared at it for a moment before shuffling it into the deck. Calyia spends a couple minutes just shuffling the deck just to make sure before smiling shyly and putting three cards down in front of Julian. When she flipped the first card over, it made her eyes go wide. It was that same damn upright Lover’s card again. Calyia’s eyes met with Julian’s. She was speechless, creating an awkward pause between them.
“So, apprentice. Tell me what this card means.”
Calyia was at a loss for words, stammering over her sentences.
“Uhm..Well, t-this is “The Lovers”, upright.”
At that same moment, the cards energy took over her body and she knew immediately what it was telling her.
“It means you will soon meet the love of your life.” Caliya said, her eyes unmoving from Julian’s. Julian chuckled in response.
“Oh really? Me? Find love? Are you sure you’re reading that right?”
Julian sighs before his shit-eating grin returns to his face as he stood up and walked around the table toward Calyia, kneeling down to be face to face with the sitting apprentice.
“The look in your eyes tells me you've seen this card before. Tell me when.”
Redness returned to Calyia’s face once more.
“I-I...the cards energy was very prevalent today. I wasn’t sure why.”
“I think I know why.” Julian responded and offered her his hand once more and when she took hold, Julian’s hand captured her wrist instead and pinned her body between his and the stone wall. Calyia gasped, but before she could say anything to possibly protest to what the tall, lanky man was doing, his lips collided with hers. Calyia did not fight his advances, the magic between them would not allow it to happen. Calyia parted her lips to allow for the lust-filled man to explore her mouth, and he took full advantage of the moment. Their tongues collided for what seemed like forever. Calyia felt a special warm feeling encase the two of them, like a warm hug of approval from the Gods above.
Julian paused for a moment with a look of confusion on his face.
It was now Calyia’s turn to be confused.
“The magic. Are you doing it?”
Calyia smiled, trying to mimic Julian’s shit-eating grin from before.
“I’m not that powerful of a sorcerer quite yet. Controlling emotions in such a personified way is an advanced trick that even Asra cannot achieve yet.”
“So, the cards were right then, eh? Well, let’s go along with it then, shall we?”
Calyia now lay naked before Julian on her makeshift bed, her breathing heavy from the hour of love making that ensued. Julian came to his finish just as Calyia heard the bell of the shop ring and Asra’s voice coming through the doorway. Julian was calm and collected and got dressed quickly, while Calyia lay embarrassed, blushing on her bed.
“It’s okay. Just get dressed and act normal. I’ll go talk to Asra.”
Clayia got up and began changing back into her clothes. She felt Julian’s desire run down her leg and she was once again embarrassed.
Calyia was picking up the cards that she left strewn about the floor when she noticed a new card that stood out to her.
Goddess Demeter, upright. Calyia read this many times to clients. Demeter was the Goddess of the Harvest. Most commonly it has to do with crops, but sometimes it can be…
Calyia’s face went white just as both Asra and Julian poked their heads in to check on her. The second option made more sense to her.
“Calyia, what’s wrong?” Asra said, worried.
“I-I- um, nothing. I’m fine.” Clayia shoved the card into her cloak pocket and smiled to fool the two. “Just frustrated that I accidentally dropped my cards everywhere.”
While the two carried on their conversation, Calyia turned away from them, placing a hand on her stomach. The magic she and Julian felt only an hour ago returned, only it felt different, almost maternal in a way. She was for sure she was the only one who felt it because the other two seemed unbothered.
Julian left the shop with a proper goodbye and shut the door behind him. Calyia sighed and fingered the card inside her cloak pocket. Asra looked at her intently.
“I know there is something wrong with you, Calyia. I can sense it.”
Should I tell him what happened with Julian and I? She thought. Should I show him the card?
Calyia casted her eyes downward and after a moment, she pulled the card she had in her pocket and handed it to Asra.
“Julian and I… we...made...love.”
Asra did not say anything so Calyia continued.
“When we were done, this card stood out to me. I knew exactly what it meant.”
“My dear, Calyia. The cards do not lie. There could very well be a life that you harbor inside of you. Not to worry. I can help you.”
Asra hugged Calyia in a tight embrace.
“Anything for you.” He mumbled into her curly brown hair.
It had been five months since the cards spoke to Calyia and eighteen weeks since it was confirmed by the village doctor that she was indeed with child. A small bump was apparent thanks to the belt that she wore just above her hips to keep her cotton shirt and skirt in the proper place.
Since Calyia’s morning sickness had finally subsided by week ten, Asra allowed her to once again run errands and Calyia very eagerly set out for the town market. She hated being cooped up in the house.
With winter approaching, Calyia was looking for a wool blanket for the child when she spotted Julian from across the way. They locked eyes with each other and Julian approached Calyia swiftly, pushing past the people in his way.
“Hello my dear. How have you been?” Julian knelt down to kiss her hand, but stopped suddenly when he noticed Calyia’s growing stomach. He stood up straight, his face went white and he took her hand to take her somewhere private.
The two of them turned into an alleyway, where Julian let go of her hand. He paced back and forth for a few moments, gathering his thoughts until Calyia ordered him to stop by clutching his arms.
His eyes were wide with what Calyia thought was fear. She knew what he was worried about.
“Yes, I am and yes it is yours.”
Julian took a deep breath and knelt down on the ground in front of Calyia, taking her hands.
“I’m so sorry I did this to you, Calyia.”
Calyia couldn’t help but laugh.
“Julian, it’s okay, really! I have always wanted a child.”
“This town really doesn’t need more Devorak blood running these streets.” Julian said as he placed a hand on her stomach.
Calyia ran her hand through Julian’s ginger locks and smiled.
“You’re not as bad as you say you are Julian.”
“You don’t know me that well then, Calyia.”
Calyia’s eyes welled up with tears as she stroked his cheek gently.
“I know that even though I just met you for the first time five months ago, I love you, and the cards never lie. Did they lie about us?”
“I had another card make its presence known to me as you and Asra were talking that day. It was The Goddess Demeter, upright. Do you know what that means?”
Julian paused but then shook his head.
“Demeter is the Goddess of the Harvest, but she is also the Goddess of Fertility. My cards told me of our fate only moments after we had made love.”
Julian stood up, dumbfounded.
“Is that why you looked so pale that day?”
“Yes. I was too nervous to tell you and Asra and I was too nervous to admit it to myself quite yet.”
“Oh, Calyia.” Julian hugged her tightly. “I promise I will be a good father to our child.”
The two of them retreated from the alley and continued shopping together for their unborn child.
In the seven and a half months since Calyia had been with child, her belly swelled to a great size. She felt the infant kick, roll and punch at her organs. She enjoyed the movements that the child made. It meant that it was full of life.
One day, Calyia was experiencing a great amount of pain that lasted in equal intervals. The pain would leave her hunched over and groaning while she attempted to get her daily work done around the shop. She grew worried. The pain was extreme and she was the only one tending to the shop for the next couple days while Asra was on a three-day excursion to a neighboring village. While Calyia was trying to make her way to her bed to rest, she felt a gush of liquid burst from the lower half of her body. Her working trousers were soaked with the unknown, slightly bloodied liquid and another rush of sharp pain overcame her, causing her to scream.
She started to panic. It’s too early for this! She thought to herself. She still had nine weeks to go. Oh Gods, Julian...Asra. Anyone! Please help! Calyia managed to remove her trousers and get onto her bed, sweating and panting. Pressure built up inside of her and she could not help but to push.
Breathe, Breathe, Breathe.
Breathe, Breathe, Breathe.
It only took a few minutes of this routine until the baby was expelled from her body. The sound of a newborn babies cry filled the room as Calyia lifted the wet, wiggly baby to her chest. The baby was a little girl. Her skin was a lively shade of pink, a sign of a baby that is in good condition. Curly, red hair covered the child’s head.
Calyia nursed the baby on her breast to allow for her to calm down.
“Hello, little one.” she cooed.
The shop bell dinged, a signal that someone was entering the shop. Shit.
“Calyia?” It was Julian’s voice.
“Julian! Come here, quickly!”
The infant made a small noise just as Julian glided into the room and his eyes lit up. He knelt beside the bed and stared in wonder at the baby nursing on Calyia’s breast.
“You came here just in time. She just arrived.”
Julian’s eyes watered. “She? A little girl?”
Calyia nodded as her eyes watered as well.
“Oh Gods.” Julian said as he wiped his eyes.
“Look at her hair, Julian. Looks just like yours.”
Julian reached out to stroke the infants downy hair, which mimicked his auburn locks.
Julian looked around. “We need to cut the cord. And we need to clean the two of you up.”
“Asra bought special surgical scissors for this moment and there are towels and a water basin. They are all in his room.”
“Oh, Calyia. Is Asra not here? Did you do this alone?”
“I’m so sorry. I-” Julian stroked her cheek lovingly.
“It’s okay Julian. It’s not your fault. Our little miss here decided to come early. She came out screaming too.”
“Like a Calliope that can be heard from miles away.” Julian smiled.
Calyia repeated the name. It rolled off of her tongue just right. Calliope. Calliope Devorak. The pair never verbally discussed the infant’s name, but they just knew that that would be what they called her.
Julian cut the cord and took his daughter to wash her up. He made sure the water was warm for her precious little body. Calliope did not cry, instead, she stared in wonder up at her father, which made Julian’s heart burst. Calliope was a perfect mix of the two of them. Of course she had Julian’s head of curly, ginger locks, but she had Calyia’s brown eyes and cute, little button nose. Julian wrapped the newly cleaned Calliope in a towel and cuddled her. She looked so tiny in his arms. He talked to her and sang to her, and Calyia watched on from her bed.
“I told you you would be a good father.”
“I love you too, Julian.”