Holier Than Thou

[Emora Deen]

"No," she told him as he listened to the heartbeat. "I've been feeling fine until just recently." She closed her eyes while Maxwell did his work, not wanting to look at his yellow eyes or the fact he was even in the room. The sooner this was over, the better. Her hand tightened around Vlad's hand.

[Soran Nightblade]

Maxwell looked down at Tenele's hand and followed it to Vlad's. "Do you really have to do that?" he sighed.

"Get over it," Vlad sighed at the hen-pecking.

"Well, I supposed it does work out to my advantage," he muttered, shaking his head at the vampire's apparent affection for this human. "Now, we're four weeks out. I expect you to follow these instructions religiously," he informed Tenele. He pulled two bottles out of his bag. "This is for mom. Get some rest, and then take this when you're feeling rested. All of it." He held up the second bottle. "This is for baby, after the birth. Give it in three doses over 24 hours. Got it?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele narrowed her eyes on the bottles, reaching out slowly and taking them. She was suspicious, and unable to decide why she should be giving her child medicine after birth. But, she'd learned a while back not to question anything he told her to do.

"Got it," she told Maxwell, lifting her green gaze to him. She sat the bottles on the nightstand. "Anything else?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"That's it. I hope your kid has a long, wonderful life," he said vacantly. "Vlad, we'll be in touch." With that, he turned to pack up.

"You're not planning to be at the birth?" Vlad demanded.

"You don't have people here that do that?" Maxwell asked condescendingly.

"Of course we do, but this birth is different," Vlad snarled, standing between the man and his bag.

Maxwell tried pushing the vampire aside, without success. "It will be no different. Besides, I'm sure the experience will be safer with a doctor she can bear to touch her," he offered dryly. "As I've said, I've done my part. Anything that can be done for the child is done. All that is left is the birth."

"That is the dangerous part, smartass," Vlad snarled, under his breath to avoid panicking his wife. "You'd better be at that birth."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele narrowed her eyes on the two of them. Vlad seemed angry, but he was talking so that she could barely understand what he was saying. She sat up slowly, swinging her legs so that her feet touched the floor. She glanced to Sinead with confusion, and then to Vlad. "Is something wrong?" she asked the two men.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Very well," Maxwell sighed. "I'll attend if I must. Call when it is time." With that, he hung his bag over his shoulder and was gone.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele frowned at where Maxwell stood. "I thought him attending the birth was part of the original agreement," she muttered. "If he can pick and choose what to back out of I don't see why we can't."

Tenele lifted her gaze to Sinead, feeling to frustrated and weary to speak to her. It made her feel awful. "I'm sorry, my Queen, but I do not think I can visit with you anymore today..." she glanced down at her hands. "I'm feeling very tired now, and I'd like to rest. It was very good seeing you, and if you decide to leave while I'm sleeping... I will be sure to write you. Real letters this time."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead studied her two servants thoughtfully. "I'll stay in the palace tonight," she finally said. "I still don't like this, Vladimir. If I can break Maxwell's claim on you, I will. Tenele, my dear....feel better. I'm sorry to have upset you."

"I'll call someone to escort you out," Vlad said reflexively, starting toward the door to keep her from wandering out alone.

"No need. I can find my way, Lord Dracul. Thank you for your concern." She gave him a nod, to which he bowed as she left he room.

He straightened up when they were alone again. "She is a difficult woman to understand," he sighed, turning back to his wife. "Were you hurt at all when you fell?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele pushed out of bed slowly, careful how she moved when standing, encase she went down again. "No," she replied. "It was more of a fast paced sit than a fall." She rubbed her belly gently. "I was afraid of falling forward, so I just kind of plopped down where I was standing. I don't know what came over me. I just got all light headed."

Tenele went to their wardrobe and slipped the gown she wore off. She was feeling lazy, so she left it pooled on the floor near the furniture. She drew on a light-weight sleeping gown that went to her knees. It pulled tight very loosely under her bust, accentuating the bulge around her waist.

Tenele had a petite form to start with, attributing that to her mother's elvish heritage. For a pregnant woman, while she did have a rounded belly, it wasn't so large that it looked like she'd tip over.

Tenele dragged her feet back towards bed."Its early, but do you want to lay in bed with me while I sleep? I don't want you to be bored."

[Soran Nightblade]

"All day," Vlad smirked. He slid his pants off and removed his shirt before settling in with her. He curved his strong body against her back and notched his chin over her head so that she heated the crook of his neck. "There's nothing else to do anyway, until our king returns tomorrow."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele frowned. "I thought he was supposed to be home today. I wonder what delayed him. Or maybe I got the day wrong," she mused quietly. Tenele tucked a hand underneath her face. She let out a heavy sigh. She took his hand and pressed it to her lips. "Good night."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Today?" Vlad muttered. His eyes slowly narrowed in realization. He had a tendency to get impatient waiting for the king to arrive, especially on the last day. Atul might have chosen to shield himself as well as Tenele from Vlad's ill temper."No...he might actually come back today," he muttered.

[Emora Deen]

"Hmmm..." she murmured lazily. "Maybe he will..." Tenele pressed her lips together into a tired smile and shut her eyes. Within a few minutes she fell a sleep.

Evening wore into night, and Atul never arrived.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad waited all night with the quiet patience of the dead. He listened to Tenele's heartbeat, and the quiet echo of their child's heart. He didn't mind doing only this. It seemed like he could never grow tired of that musical rhythm between the two of them. He'd nearly driven the doctors crazy demanding to know when it would be noticeable, and he'd spent countless ours with his head just beside his wife's belly as she slept, waiting for that rhythm of life to begin.

He noticed the sun rising over the edge of the balcony outside, and drew his arms a bit closer around Tenele. He stuck his nose into her hair to block out the invading light.

A knock at the door forced him away from his shelter. "What?" he asked lazily.

"The lady's breakfast is prepared," a maid offered from the other side of the door.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele blinked her eyes open. She didn't sleep as deeply of late, so the knock that normally wouldn't have disturbed her drew her awake. She sat up slowly, stretching her arms above her head.

"Breakfast," she yawned. Tenele looked to Vlad with a smile. She leaned down and pressed a feather light kiss to his cheek. "Can I have breakfast in bed?"