Something had been troubling Halo's stomach, and troubling it quite badly. It was a fight to try and settle it. A fight she'd waged with ginger, peppermint, chamomile. All the things that should be helping simply... weren't. Any time Halo tried to eat breakfast she found herself throwing it right back up. It didn't make sense. What was wrong with her? There was nothing wrong with the food. No one else was getting sick. It couldn't even be something viral, else Mortis would be sick too, living in such close quarters.

Mortis.

Oh no. Oh no. Halo found herself counting back the days, taking a moment to look at her other symptoms with an analytical mind instead of an emotional one. Strange swelling, how bloated she'd felt, the ache in her back that seemed like it wouldn't go away. All of that paired with the fact she was throwing up particularly in the mornings. Oh no. It couldn't be true... it shouldn't have been possible, even, as she was out of season. Feeling the panic rise in her system and her head start to spin-- oh no.

The panic wasn't the only thing, though. No, it wasn't just panic, there was excitement too. Halo had wanted nothing more than a family, than pups of her own but... Mortis? They'd had such a talk the night that things had happened, but since then? She couldn't really put the words together correctly. Still, the woman resolved that she'd need to tell him when he came home later today. Until then, the healer would make herself a cup of tea and just... wait. Try to hold the tea down and, agonizingly, wait.
     
   

 

Mortis finally felt like he was settling into a routine. He slept in Halo’s den, and the company kept him from losing his mind. They would sit by the hearth and have the evening meal together, chatting and simply enjoying eachothers company. During the day, patrols kept him busy, but he helped Halo about her den as well. Volunteering for any heavy lifting she needed to do. He slowly worked on building her a patio, as well.

Maybe, just maybe, the Armada could feel like home again. He was in a good mood as he made his way back to Halo’s den. He’d gone hunting earlier in the day, and the pheasant had been smoked for most of the day. The scent of it was strong, and all he could smell as he carried it back to the healers - his? - den.

“Halo, I brought us some dinner” He said as he gently pushed open the door and found her sipping away at her tea. He smiled as he placed the bird on a table.


"Speech"

 

   

She'd tried to keep herself busy in the meantime. Tried to keep her anxiety down, tried to sort out what she was feeling. They'd had their talk about their feelings that night when they were drinking, but after that? Well, it seemed that the subject had been sort of dropped. Halo didn't know how to explain it, how to describe it. They were still as close, perhaps closer than they'd ever been. He did a good job taking care of her, whether he knew it or not. Helping with the lifting, helping with the chores. Spending time assembling a nice patio and cozy outdoor space in their downtime. Mortis was all things good, and he'd done so much for her.

And now she had to break the news. She'd idly been sorting herbs and packing seeds, sipping her tea, trying to keep the nausea down. Halo wouldn't admit it, but she was so anxious about the whole thing, her paws were shaking. He's home. He was home, a smoked pheasant in tow. She smiled softly, appreciative of the food, at this point concerned if she'd be able to hold anything down. Maybe once the weight was off her shoulders... maybe.

"Thank you," she spoke softly. Halo swallowed hard, looking up at Mort from where she sat. Better to just rip the band-aid off, right? "Mortis I'm... um, I think, I think I'm pregnant. Well, I think I know I'm pregnant, all of the symptoms and signs and just... I was out of season, it shouldn't have been possible, I..." the words came out as an anxious rush, all at once. Would he be angry? Would he be upset? Was he mad at her? Oh gosh, what would Sirius think? The Warlord would have to hear it from her own mouth that she hadn't been careful enough and now she was going to have pups without his blessing. Everyone was going to be mad and it was her fault.

Oh no.
     
   

 

His smile paused, held in place by confusion. Confusion that only grew as her stammered words continued. Confirming that yes, he had heard her correctly. They were the  other of them painfully awkward, which had lead to neither of them approaching the topic of what had happened. They had continued on, flatmates. Snuggly ones at that. He was still rather confused himself, pinning over Hika and slow and shy about untangling the confusing web of emotions he felt for Halo. But this… he felt his heartbeat pick up. Trepidation and… excitement? A part of him had always wanted kids, but it was complicated. His life was complicated.


"Are they mine?" He whisper-asked, but he felt like he already knew the answer. "Sirius…" he said, but he was thinking out loud. His thoughts weren't in a row yet, it was like his brain had short-circuited. "He told me to have kids, he never put a date in it, I can use that…" then he blinked, and properly focused on Halo for the first time. "Do you want this? Them?" He asked softly,

Their relationship was complicated and confusing, but Halo herself was rather... rather not-confusing. Rather straight forward. She's not the most complicated creature, so maybe that would balance out. She knows that she likes being around Mort. He's here., That's enough. That was enough, at least until the situation had gotten... more complicated.

Are they mine? The question came. Halo's eyes went wide, hurt by the accusation for a moment. Still, she supposes it's a fair question. Wordlessly, she nods. He says the Warlord's name, and her eyes go wide. She'd thought about that bit too, he'd be upset. Fuck, he'd be so upset. Halo was scared, now. Was he going to cast her out of the Armada? Though the thought was irrational, it's still a scary thought. It was what her family would have done.

Mort's question comes in earnest. Halo nods once more, her eyes wide as she looks to him. As she looks to his face, searching his expression for any sort of indication how he felt on it. "I've um... always really loved pups, I just never thought I'd have them, I... do you? Do you want this?" Halo's tone was shaky. This was a decision for both of them, together.
"Halo" & "Mortis"

He was starting to focus now, some of the adrenaline washing away, replaced by excitement. It gave him more room to see Halo’s own expressions. So see the hurt, the fear, the unknown. He gently closed the door behind him with a wing and came further into the den. Stopping just before Halo, he reached out and picked up her paw gently in his own.

“I do.” He said, and then took in a soft, shaky breath. He did want this. He hadn’t planned for it, he didn’t know what to expect. His heart still hurt with Hika’s absence, but this was the here and the now. This was happening. He cradled Halo’s paw, bringing it to his chest. Decisions needed to be made. He needed to know what he was bringing to his father. What sort of household he wanted these kids raised in. What they would know as their reality. He wanted... He wanted to be held, the way Halo had held him. To know he mattered to her, that she wouldn't leave him. He wanted to hold onto her tightly. “Halo… Will you marry me?”

"Halo" & "Mortis"

He closes the gap between them, coming to stand before her. She's confused for a moment, but then? It all makes sense. It all makes sense. Wide eyed, looking upon the man and... woah. A rush of emotions, enough to make her dizzy. More than than, more than dizzy, like she's going to throw up and pass out and everything all at once... in a good way. How can you feel all of those things in a good way? Well, that's Halo for you.

Her paw held to his chest, the girl is overwhelmed. Tears welling up in her eyes, she moves instead to put her weight on his shoulder, on his chest. Curling up close to Mortis and nodding, sniffling through happy, joyful tears. "Of course I will, of course. Yes I'll marry you." Like all the pieces were falling into place, though Halo doesn't know how to process that. All she knows is that she's happier, perhaps happier than she's ever been. Softly, through tears, words find her once more. "I love you, Mortis."

"Halo" & "Mortis"

He could see the tears that sprang to her eyes, and his throat felt thick. He tried to swallow past it as she came closer to him. Leaning into his chest. He wrapped a wing gently around her, the soft inside feathers brushing against her coat. His wings were made for embracing those he loved. For embracing Halo. He knew there would still be struggle down this road, He knew he was giving up on Hika coming back to him.

But he wanted to give these children the best start to this world, he wanted to share it with Halo. “My finance” He whispered, scarcely able to believe this turn of events. “When will we feel them kick? Will we know how many to expect? What names will we give them…? I’ll talk to my father, tomorrow.” Not tonight. Tonight was for him and Halo.

"Halo" & "Mortis"

It wasn't going to be easy, but Halo was an optimist. She always was, and always had been. The girl leaned heavily into Mortis's chest, clinging to him. She's happy. There are no words for just how happy she is. All of it was overwhelming, all of it was new and bold and different. She couldn't really describe all of it, but she knows that it's wonderful. My fiancée, the words come, and she can't help but cling tightly. Hold tightly. As tightly as she can. Halo was used to being nothing of anyone's... and that's no longer true. That's no longer something she has to worry about. An extremely strange turn of events, and one she's grateful for.

The flood of questions comes, and she smiles softly. "It will be a few weeks before we can feel them moving around. As for the number, it's just as hard to tell. With the difference in size between us, I will look um... larger than expected, regardless of number." Halo blushed a bit. She was glad that her face was hidden, tucked tight against Mort's chest. "We have plenty of time to think about names, don't worry. Heck, it could even wait until after they're here, they won't be able to hear for the first little bit anyway." The giggle was soft, now. "Do you want me to go with you to speak with Sirius?" An earnest question, though Halo was rather anxious on that front.

"Halo" & "Mortis"

He couldn’t wait for the chance to feel them kick. He wanted to sing to them, and for them to know the voices of their parents before they were even born. Overcome, he leaned forward and pressed his muzzle gently to hers. kissing her gently. They were no longer 'roommates' that was clear. His wide eyed wonder came to a halt as she mentioned their size differences, and how she will appear. He sucked in a breath. That was the other side of pregnancy, wasn’t it? “Will it be dangerous for you? Our sizes?” He asked softly.

Her question on Sirius was a welcome distraction. He considered it carefully - would it be better for him to go alone, or for them to put on a united front? He thought the latter might do better. Besides, his father had a weak spot a mile long for children. “Together.” He agreed softly.


"Halo" & "Mortis"