(no subject)

[trueloveskid]

Her days have started to look mostly the same. She's still on the morning shift at the diner (which is fine, she likes being home with Neal in the evening), but she doesn't even really need to set an alarm anymore. It never fails, 6am rolls around and she's running for the bathroom. It doesn't matter what she ate the night before; every morning, like clockwork, she's making friends with the toilet.

She's so tired all the time too, and she can't even have coffee to wake up. Her one consolation right now is that she can eat whatever she wants.

The first thing she does when she gets home after work is go to take a shower. There are so many food smells clinging to her clothes, and to her skin, and she needs to be rid of them. She puts on something more comfortable – stretchy pants and one of Neal's t-shirts – and plops on the couch to wait for him to get home. Her belly is starting to grow larger and she's going to need to go shopping for some maternity clothes soon. How are they going to afford that?

She closes her eyes while waiting for him to get home. She's not even halfway through yet. It's going to be a long six more months.

Comments

[alandwithoutmagic]

"Want me to get another?"

He can tell that she's distressed but he didn't know what else to do.

[trueloveskid]

"No. I'll be fine. These other ones fit." She doesn't know that he could help her right now anyway.

[alandwithoutmagic]

"Okay." Neal went back to waiting with his back pressed against the wall. He felt the tension in his shoulders rise though he didn't want to tell Emma how worried he really was.

[trueloveskid]

She changes back into her own clothes and gathers up the ones she's picked out before opening the door to find him. "These will do."

[alandwithoutmagic]

"Great." He flashed her a warm smile. "Let's go. Here I'll care them for you."

[trueloveskid]

She nods and heads in the direction of the checkout. She'll be glad when they're back home.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal grabs the items and leads the way. He knows how stressful shopping could be so he pays, speaks to the woman at the cash register and then leads Emma out of the store and back down the street.

He holds her close while carrying the clothing bag beneath his arm. He didn't feel the need to speak until they were closer to the apartment. "Feel up for eating something? I can make some oatmeal if you want something light."

[trueloveskid]

"Some oatmeal would be good." She should eat something, but she's been having so many problems with keeping food down lately that it's hard to find something that works. She hasn't had a problem with oatmeal yet.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal nodded his head and then dug into his pockets for his keys. The effort only lasted a few minutes before he's pushing open the door for Emma to walk in first. He then places their purchase down on the couch and peels off his jacket.

"I'll get that for you." He moved next to her and kissed her on the cheek before vanishing into the kitchen.

[trueloveskid]

"Thank you."

She smiles at him and takes the bag of clothes into the bedroom to put them away while he makes her some food. He doesn't have to do everything, and they're her clothes and she knows where she wants them.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal had learned a long time ago that he was always wrong when it came to putting stuff away and as much as he wanted to help, he didn't want to make Emma feel like she couldn't do anything at all.

He stepped into the kitchen and quickly made oatmeal. It wasn't all that hard. With a bowl for both of them he called out into the rest of the apartment. "Do you want to eat in here or in there?"

[trueloveskid]

She comes into the kitchen doorway and answers him from there. "In the kitchen is fine." She goes over to the fridge and opens it to get out the milk. "You don't have to have oatmeal. You an have other food."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal grinned at her as he took a seat at the table. "Yeah but I'm lazy. I would probably eat cereal every day if it wasn't for you." It was half true. He'd eat another snack if he was hungry later but he didn't want to fill the apartment with the smell of food.

He really didn't want to give Emma more reasons to feel sick.

[trueloveskid]

"I think it's more like I'd be eating cereal every day if it weren't for you." They both know she's a disaster in the kitchen and he's the only reason they have anything resembling real food. "Do you want some milk?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal laughed but didn't comment about Emma's attempts in the kitchen. He'd never stop her from trying.

"Yeah, thanks."

[trueloveskid]

She pours him some and hands it to him. "I didn't get a chance to ask before. How was your day?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

He took the glass with a smile, stealing a sip before placing it down on the table and taking a large bit of oatmeal. He made himself a lot of oatmeal, he was a big guy after all.

"It was pretty good. I got everything I needed to get done and we're about to have bi-yearly reviews so I'm hoping for a raise."

[trueloveskid]

"Good." She smiles at him. "Hopefully you do." Not just because they could use the extra money, but because he works hard and deserves it.

[alandwithoutmagic]

"I think I will. I've been talking with my supervisors for awhile now. They might have another opening that also comes with a raise but I have to wait." He also didn't know if he liked the new job or not or if it was worth it.

[trueloveskid]

"What kind of job is that?" She scrapes the last of her oatmeal out of the bowl and sets her spoon down as she listens to his reply.

[alandwithoutmagic]

"It's an accounting position. I'd have room to move and the company is willing to pay for training." It wasn't bad but numbers were boring.

[trueloveskid]

"Is that something you want to do?" He had encouraged her to find something else, and so should he, if this isn't what he wants to do. They'll find a way to afford whatever they need.

[alandwithoutmagic]

"I don't know yet. I asked for a trial run to learn more about it. I think the company wants me to." They had told him it'd be a good fit but he wasn't so sure.

[trueloveskid]

"There's no harm in trying, right?" He might be surprised about what he likes. "It's good that they want you to do it."

[alandwithoutmagic]

"Yeah. That's the plan." Neal was used to trying things. Each new world brought him something new to face and he did with what determination he could gather.

He flashed Emma a smile before finishing his oatmeal and rising to take the dishes. "Besides. I have support here. Either way, it'll be good."