Stay With Me (Part 19)
“Michael, I want to talk to them, Aunt Myrtle and Cordelia. I-“, Michael cuts her off before she can finish. “Mallory, I don’t want you getting upset. It’s not good for you or the baby.”
Simply nodding as she smiles up at him, “Michael, I’ll be fine. I promise I’ll go in and sit down. I will do my best to not get upset, and if I do, I’ll simply stop discussing the subject.” Not entirely convinced that Mallory can do this, Michael watches cautiously as she slowly gets up from the bed. It doesn’t go unnoticed how she winced while climbing off the bed, or the pause as her small hand moved to her growing belly as if she’d had a pain. Getting up as well, knowing he left her once when she needed him most, Michael Langdon is determined he’ll never make that mistake again. Placing his hand on her back as the bedroom door opens. As much as she thought she was ready to see Cordelia and her Aunt Myrtle, the minute they come into view her heart begins to race. Her small hands reach back desperately, pawing at Michael as her hand seeks out his. Doing her best to keep her promise, Mallory realizing she’s failing miserably as the tears begin to fall.
“Are you sure you want to do this now?” Michael whispered into her ear. Unable to look at him, she simply nods as they slowly approach the witches. Both women rise as Mallory comes into view. The older women are trying to hide the shock as they see Mallory and her growing belly. Cordelia is the first to approach, opening her arms for a hug. “Mallory, I’m so sorry. We never could’ve known. We were wrong, all we wanted what was best.” “I forgive you, Cordelia. I also thank you. Michael told me everything. I know if it weren’t for you and Aunt Myrtle I would’ve died and his father would’ve taken both me and Harper with delight.” “Yes, my dear, we couldn’t allow that to happen. We did what we thought was right at the time. Mallory, we didn’t listen. What happened was just as much our fault as it was Michael’s. We made the mistake of separating the two of you. Moira begged us not to take you. She pleaded and promised to take care of the two of you. I didn’t trust my own sister”, tears slipping from the side of Myrtle’s eyes as she thinks of Moira. Walking over to her Aunt Myrtle, embracing her tightly, “Aunt Myrtle, I forgive you, too. We can’t take back what is done. It hurts, and probably always will”, looking up into the older woman’s eyes, smiling, “we have things that are of greater importance, now”, taking her hand, placing it on her belly. Myrtle’s eyes open wide as she feels Mallory’s belly. Cordelia knows that look all too well, moving over to feel her growing belly. Looking to Cordelia, “Delia, do you” pausing for a moment, “feel the same thing?” In a panic as the two witches look at one another, “Aunt Myrtle, Cordelia, what.. what’s wrong with my baby.”
“Oh darling, it’s not that there’s anything wrong. It’s that”, Myrtle stopping herself, not knowing if Mallory knows or even wants to know. “Mallory”, Cordelia began hesitantly, “do you and Michael”, turning to look at him, “do you know how many babies you’re having?
“Babies?” feeling as if she’s going to be sick, turning to look at Michael.
“That’s impossible, Mallory feels her belly frequently. We’ve both felt the heartbeat”, Michael replied moving beside of Mallory. Reaching out, Myrtle takes Mallory’s hand, while Cordelia takes Michael’s hand, “Feel, right here” as the elder women place their hands on Mallory’s belly. “There are two heartbeats” Cordelia said, hesitantly. Looking over to Michael, seeing his stoic expression never changing as his hand begins to move all around Mallory’s belly. He’s in utter disbelief at how he missed this. Surely, he and Mallory had mistaken the second heartbeat as hers and just dismissed it. They were thankful to have just one strong heartbeat, two was something they simply never imagined. Breaking the silence, Mallory’s soft voice lit up the room, “Two. Michael, we’re going to have two babies.” Her smile melted his heart, just as it always had. Mallory meant everything to him. He knew at this point there was nothing he could do to bring Harper back, but he had another chance to be a father. “This time, things will be different. I’ll be by her side, always” thinking to himself. “Mallory, I know Michael explained that pregnancy is a delicate situation for you. I know being confined to a bed is difficult, but it’s necessary. You mustn’t be up walking around unless it’s absolutely necessary. You need to be prepared, both of you”, Cordelia looking to Michael, then Mallory, “for what is to come. Because of the divine lineage that runs through your veins, your babies will grow strong much faster than a normal child. That’s why you’re showing the way you are. We need to keep those babies inside of you as long as possible while keeping you safe.”
Having been prepared by Michael that the babies would be born much earlier than she expected and knowing how they’d have to be delivered, Mallory was ok with the plans that had been made. It’s just the bed rest she wasn’t prepared for. They were supposed to be headed for the Sanctuary that evening, instead she learns they’ll be there a few more months- at least until the babies are born. In truth, she knew little about the Sanctuary. It’s something she and Michael had never discussed, and the more she thought about it, something just didn’t sit right with her.
Feeling her anxiety beginning to rise, she knows it’s time to go lay back down. “Michael, I’m starting to get tired, will you help me back to bed?” Taking her hand, holding it gently in his, “Let’s go my love.”
“Aunt Myrtle, Cordelia, thank you. I’ll speak with you soon”, smiling as Michael slowly escorts her back to their bedroom. Taking a deep breath, feeling as if she can actually breathe as they enter the room. Before getting into the bed, Mallory unties the bow on her nightgown, allowing it to fall off her shoulders and onto the floor. Turning to the side, completely naked, looking at her changing body. “Beautiful”, admiring his wife, Michael is extremely proud of himself as his gaze falls to her growing belly. Blushing, rubbing her, large for her, belly as she looks over to Michael, “I- I just had to look. I wanted to see for myself. I could feel it, but I wanted to see it.”
Hanging his coat up in the closet, taking off his boots, placing them in the correct spot as well, turning to his wife while unbuttoning his shirt, “There was never a more beautiful sight than my wife with my children growing inside of her.” Hanging up his shirt, walking over to Mallory, his large hand touching her face so gently. Slowly, his hand begins to move down her neck, groping her left breast. A small moan escaped her perfect lips as he did, her back arching slightly, pushing into him. Twisting her nipple before his hand continued to move down to the bare flesh of her belly. “Love. Love is what created these children”, seeing the tears in her eyes as she placed her hand atop his. “Michael, they are our blessings. We’ll be good parents.”
There have always been doubts in Michael’s mind if he would be a good parent. After all, other than Moira who looked after him when Constance threw him out, he’d truly never had a parental figure who didn’t want him, told him what a monster he is, actually guided him, or didn’t use him for their own agenda. Mallory wasn’t much different. Her father and stepmother were abusive and ultimately plotted to kill her. Mallory always suspected her father killed her mother, but she could never prove it. If it weren’t for Moira, she wouldn’t have had anyone, at least that she had many memories of to genuinely love and care for her. Right now, Michael is trying to push all of those doubts out of his head. He wants his entire focus on his wife, who looks more beautiful than he’s ever seen her. “Michael, I know I’m not terribly big, yet. Well, I’m probably as big as a 3, maybe 4 month pregnant woman”, really looking at herself, her gaze returning to Michael, “We never really had much of a chance before, when I was pregnant with Harper, but now that my body is changing, do you think you’ll still want to make love to me?” Sensing her insecurity, Michael takes her face in his hands, cupping it, tilting it ever so gently so that she’s looking up into his eyes, “My love, I’ve never seen you look more beautiful than you do right now with my children growing inside of you”, taking her hand, moving it down his pants until she feels his erection growing through the soft material. “The mere sight of you takes my breath away.”
Looking up at him with the shy look he’s always loved, “I love you, Michael. I know it may be a little difficult to make love, but I need it. I need to feel that love with you as long as it’s safe. Right now, I don’t think we’re in any immediate danger.”
His hands caressing her belly ever-so-gently, leaning in placing a soft kiss upon her lips, “Lie down, Mallory.”
Michael’s voice always melts her, and even moreso when he’s giving her commands. Her hand caressing his strong chest as she walks over to the bed, lying back, watching as his removes his slacks. Mallory’s eyes never leave Michael, moving from his beautiful eyes down his body, her hand lazily moves to her breasts, caressing them as he climbs onto the bed.
“Mallory Langdon, you are breathtaking, do you know that?”
Her cheeks turning a bright rouge, reaching up to touch his face, “I know that I love you more than ever.” There’s nothing Mallory loves more than the sight of Michael’s face above hers. The way he looks down into her eyes, she can see the love he feels. She’s the only person he’s ever truly allowed himself to open up to. She’s the only person he ever will.