The idea of running was very appealing especially in those few moments where they would be at each other’s throats and he would have to step out of the house to cool down. The idea of not coming back had its appeal but every single time he found himself back home. As appealing as it would be to just drop everything, he couldn’t. Her father had given up on the both of them or so it seemed as he was no longer in contact and he couldn’t bring himself to do the same. It more or less showed the maturity and who held the bigger responsibility. Even if he wasn’t fit to be in this position and hadn’t the slightest idea of how to be a parent – he was willing to try. It was going to be a common thing though with him screwing up more often than naught, however.

He followed the toddling Rhea, hazel eyes every now and then glancing upon the various carts they passed. Behind the both of them followed the large lanky feline who acted more canine than feline. Much like a large dog, the cat insisted on following them where ever they went and most of the time – much to Faron’s relief – she would rather follow Rhea than him. Perhaps it had something to do with the pregnancy and she felt it her job to protect the rather vulnerable woman he wasn’t entirely sure but the cat was less of a nuisance to him. He glanced down at Rhea as she let go of his fingers and quietly wandered over to one of the stalls that sticks of beef cuts on them. He paused watching her. Even if she thought she was the size of a whale he couldn’t say he really saw it. She was more belly than she was anything else. It also meant that what weight she did have was all baby. It by no means was a turn off for him if anything he had to say he praised her body even more. The fact that a small framed woman could do such a powerful thing was incredible.

The cat was quick to follow on her heels stepping lightly and elegantly behind her as she was grabbing her purchase. He could already tell where this was going when she turned her attention to him asking if he wanted one. ”Nah. I’m good.” the cat then began rubbing and bumping her head into the leg of the illusionist. ”Seems someone else does though.” he snorted as he gave their surroundings another once over. He was getting the eerie feeling they were being watched and couldn’t really get over it. Though not trying to raise alarm to Rhea, he tipped his head waiting for her to step away from the cart. ”Was this why you dragged me out here? Hm?” he teased. ”Just so you can get one of your addictions?” He was pretty sure they were her drug. She craved them and had probably eaten more than her body weight in the delicious perfectly sautéed spicy beef. Even though he said he hadn’t wanted and the moment she got closer he stole a bite. He had a feeling he would hear about it. Since her pregnancy, she had become far more protective over her coveted beef cuts.

"Faaaaaaron!!"

A singsonged voice screeched and nearly made him cringe. Turning to look he spotted the fiery redhead he thought he saw at his brother's party to remember. This was the same exact woman, right? The very one who sat practically on his lap with quite the frisky intentions. For a moment he forgot to even say anything, words were lost on him. His face drained of color as the tiny woman was quick to wrap her arms around his neck and bring herself in for a tight hug. The hug, however, wasn't returned quite as eager as hers. It was loose as he seemed like he saw a ghost. Lips were parted wanting to speak but he hadn't the slightest clue what to say as 'you are supposed to be dead' kept wanting to come out as did 'I saw you die. I buried you.' He continued to almost stare at her shell shocked. "Where have you been hiding?" her attention not once was brought to Rhea and positively ignored her mere presence. "I saw your brother just some nights ago."

His brow arched as she countered his accusation. Cravings were what she called them. ”I like addiction better.” He gave her a bit of a mockery grin as he stole a piece from her. Quickly he pulled his hand away when she, of course, flicked at him and popped the piece in his mouth. Still, the very haughty grin remained on his face before spying her willingly feed the beast at her legs. ”How unjust.” he said. ”You will feed her but not me.” Of course he was the one who denied the offering of getting one but it wasn’t the same. Right as Rhea was about to speak again that was when his name was sung like a fangirl. Next thing he knew he was standing in front of the very women he saw die… the very woman he had buried and only days before today visited. ”M-Mira?” He was stunned, shocked, he was utterly confused. Before he could say much more than that he felt an instant yank on his arm and a possessive arm hug. He saw Mira’s eyes move towards the small but round blonde for the first time she had been standing there. ”Oh.” she said sounding almost bored. Rhea then started to state her claim furthering by saying her name and then inquiring who she was.

The redhead was beginning to see the picture here and almost in a very haughty way sneaked her fingers up the side of Faron’s shoulder. Her expression was still very friendly despite her body language. ”I’m Mira! Mira Ryuuk. I am a long and dear friend of Faron’s and you are ---.” Her eyes dropped to the blonde’s rather impending belly and her eyes widened. ”OH! You sly dog! I didn’t know you had a girlfriend?!” She was nearly beaming. Faron blinked a few times and steadily moved out from under Mira’s hand but she was quick to replace it elsewhere this time on his hand nearly gripping his fingers. ”I have missed much!”

His gaze turned to Rhea. He wasn’t entirely liking being in the middle of this duo and had to think of a way to get around the both of them. He still, however, couldn’t get over one fact. She wasn’t supposed to be here and she was acting as though nothing had happened. ”Mira you -.” he was quickly cut off by her pipping up again hugging his other arm that he was trying to wiggle away. ”You missed me I am sure! Much like I have missed you. After you disappeared that one night, I trailed you back here. I ran into your brother as I said and he said that I would likely catch you around town! He told me you got into some trouble but I didn’t think it was this!” What was she doing? Was she trying to get them both killed? Her a second time!? ”I didn’t leave. You—“

”Yes you did. That night I fell asleep. You left in the middle of the night.” she almost looked sad and heartbroken. ”Careful with this one. He can slip right out of your grasp before you know it.” she said offhandedly to Rhea.

Mira almost looked offended when Rhea said she had never heard of her. ”Well that is strange. I have heard about you.” she said. ”The adopted niece, right?” there was almost a smirk on her face. Faron was now frowning as he could see the little game she was playing now. Women were such evil creatures. As Rhea soon confirmed that they weren’t dating Mira’s eyes widened dramatically. ”Clearly you are more than just friends.” she moved her hand towards Rhea’s belly before a sly look came onto her face again now as quickly as it had begun it was beginning to start to spiral downwards as Mira kept opening her mouth. Rhea stepped around him now towards the redhead who held onto his hand. ”Sounds like trouble when you can’t admit to a girlfriend status.” She said less than impressed as she turned her attention back to Faron and with the same catty voice opinion said. ”Sounds like indecisiveness to me.” she batted her eyes at him before looking back towards Rhea. ”No matter if you don’t want him, honey, I’ll take him.” She grinned and grabbed his hand again which he tore from her with a snarl. ”Cut it out, Mira.”

This was a ticking time bomb and he needed to derail this situation as Rhea now turned her foucs onto him saying that Mira was the one that died wo apparently didn’t because she was standing right there. This looked bad. This looked really bad but the problem was this time he hadn’t lied about it. ”She’s supposed to be dead! I didn’t lie about that.” He said pointing at Mira also. ”I don’t know what’s going on.” He was annoyed that she didn’t even take his look into consideration but instead was acting upon her raging female hormones. ”I’m clearly right here, Faron.” she said and touched his back which he was quick to whisk around and snatch her by the wrist. ”Stop. Touching. Me. And you died. I saw you. I BURIED you, Mira. What fucking game are you playing here? I didn’t dream this. I know what I saw and I know what I did.”

The small redheaded minx just gave him a sad slow smile and shook her head almost sounding as though she was sad for him. ”Is that what he told your dear? That he was the sad defeated man that buried the dying woman? Well, clearly I am not dead. Apparently, someone has been hitting the booze a little too hard in trying to forget what we had.” She yanked her hand out from his old and cooly looked between the two of them. ”Is that how you forget about all the girls you dragged around, Faron? Are you going to do that to her and that poor child too? Pathetic.” She scoffed. Looking to Rhea now she crossed her arms as she was backing up ready to leave. ” you may be the next one to have happened to mysteriously “die” one night in one of his wild stories. I have apparently. Just be aware of that when he is done with you. Good luck.” with that she turned and headed off on her way snickering softly to herself once out of earshot to leave them to fight it out.

He didn’t know what to do as he watched her walk away and looked back at Rhea. How was he going to explain this? This made him look incredibly bad and he knew that was just what she was trying to do. But how? ”I’m not lying, Rhea. I will even take you to the damn grave! She died!”

The tone she used caused him to actually cringe. Anger was bubbling at the surface primarily because she was now being accusing to him. ”I told you everything.” his voice was almost in warning however there was a hiss in his direction from the once silent cat. Brows furrowed down at the feline who stared up at him with fur spiked along her neck and shoulder blades who watched him carefully. For once the stupid feline was right. This was no time to get angry even if she didn’t believe him. It was just frustrating to be made out like he lied about it. ”I don’t know what more you want me to say! I have told you everything.” Though he was beginning to wonder if he did.

Did he make all of that up? Did he dream it up? Wait, no! This was what she wanted. She wanted him to question everything he knew. He could prove he was right. There is a grave. There is a grave and he can prove it. ”There was nothing there. She was in an abusive marriage; I helped her out of it. She died from her injuries.” His head felt like it was going to explode from the amount of stress that was building on him. ”Why won’t you believe me? What have I done for you to not believe me?” he was confused. ”Let me show you.” he said. ”I can prove it.” He didn’t dare step towards her primarily the cat looked like she might take his eyeballs out of his head if he did. It was a bit of a begrudgingly agreement but once he got the okay he led her towards the area out of town. It was a walk but it wasn’t like she couldn’t manage it.

It took a while primarily because she was slower than usual and had to take a few breathers. She wouldn’t really talk to him. He tried. He wanted her to believe him even if right now he was skeptical of himself. Sure he had a reputation of stringing along the ladies but he hadn’t once lied to Rhea. Not about that. Not about something that bothered him and really got to him like Mira’s death had. Her death had been the whole reason he had even actually come back into contact with his brother and her. Once out there he led her down a small path towards a willow tree and a nearby small stream. ”Right down here.” he turned and made sure that she wouldn’t lose her footing despite her likely not wanting anything to do with him he still wasn’t going to let her slip. But once they got there the color drained from his face again. ”No….” He stepped from Rhea and head towards the spot where the stone with her name on it should have been. ”I was just here days ago. What the fuck.” He was confused. He didn’t understand what was going on. ”There was a grave here.” he looked to Rhea almost pleading. ”What is going on…..”

He wasn't sure how she had done it but he knew she did. He knew this had to have been Mira’s doing. Lost in thought as he stared at the ground he could feel the anxiety creeping in on him. Rhea was going to blame him for something because she thought he was lying. He could see it on her face that she was skeptical but could he blame her? Still, how could he lead her to a specific spot and act like he was? Faron by no means was an actor and could be quite the terrible liar. Half the things he had done it was found out because eventually all the lies always did. She spoke and it caused him to look up and at her. His brows furrowed. Of course, she didn’t know, he didn’t know either. ”I am telling the truth, Rhea.” he said again. He knew she was probably tired of hearing it but it wasn’t a lie. For once he wasn’t trying to poorly cover up something. She had been dead and that was the truth. ”If she did do it I don’t understand why she would go through the trouble of making me think she died. Made me bury her only to come back and pretend like it was nothing. We weren’t romantically involved so what would the motive be?” It didn’t make sense nor did he know how she did it let alone pull it off.

He rubbed his head a bit feeling like he was losing his sanity. Did he dream it? Was it all in his head like she said it was? That he literally just got up and left one night and pretended she died? No. But why? Sighing through his nose he headed up the hill and back towards Rhea. His head was hurting and he wanted to leave that spot. Walking past her he started back up the hill and glanced back to see if she was coming as she spoke her question. ”It is the right spot. Do you see the ground disturbed anywhere else?” he growled quietly under his breath before shrugging a little. ”She’s a mage. So she does magic. I'm just not sure what kind or what she can do. She was sick so magic would have just drained her for all I know. I wasn't with her for long.”

He stared at her again. ”You think I have lost my mind, don’t you. You think I am lying.” It was true he didn’t have a very good track record an didn’t give her all the much of a reason to trust him in the beginning but he very well hadn’t done anything behind her back. Not now. Not since this last time he had come back home this last time.

It was a quick transition of what was going on to something a bit more serious. Hazel eyes stared at the wincing woman and furrowed his brows as he took a step towards her. She had been too far along to be out here waltzing around. He should have known better. She wasn’t one to show something wrong as she was quick to cover it up so he couldn’t read it… or so she liked to believe but he knew better. ”We did too much.” he said. ”Walking is probably a bad idea, Rhea.” He would either have to pick her up or force her to sit down for a while. Neither sounded like the best option but they were quite away from home. ”Walking could make it worse.” He pointed out. No less he knew staying out here if it were a bigger problem than either of them were capable of handling wasn’t wise either. Eyes dropped to his cat who was acting like she was on pins and needles. Her fur was spiked near her shoulders as her tail whipped behind her agitatedly.

He took a couple steps towards Rhea. If anything he was going to have to just pick her up and get her back within the city limits if worse came to worse. ”I’ll carry you.” He knew she would hate feeling like she was someone broken but if it were contractions or heading into contractions the walking could increase it or force her into labor. Neither one of them could really handle that on their own right now. As he took a couple steps towards her to reach for her stretched out fingers for his, the cat released a warning growl. He stopped and stared at the large feline. ”Oh fuck off, Kota.” he growled and attempted to step closer. Her ears soon pinned to her skull taking a very protective stance of Rhea and swatted at him with extended claws. Hisses were loud now. Rhea was in pain and though she wasn’t entirely sure why it meant she was in a weakened state. The cat took this as she needed guarding. This he could appreciate if only it weren’t against him. She didn’t need protecting from him. He would likely get the crap scratched out of him and this was what brought him back to the whole issue of detesting cats. Their claws were like needles.

A new determination came to him and he was quick to knock Kota out of the way with is foot receiving a nice deep bite and claws. ”Dumb ass cat. We gotta get her out of here if you're so damn worried.” His hand grabbed onto Rhea’s as that cat stared him down though spying he wasn’t hurting her, her demeanor eased…. Slightly. ”Do you want me to carry you?” he asked finally drawing his attention back to her. She would likely say no but if he sees she needed it anyways she would have no more room for argument.

It was in this moment he understood exactly what powerless meant. Sure there had been other times he hadn’t been able to control something but this was far more than just not having control. This was something that was hurting her as a natural occurrence this was something he could do absolutely nothing about. She held onto him and was sinking closer to the ground as she flat out refused his carrying her. With how bad she was going now he doubted he would successfully be able to without her flinging her legs from the pain. Besides that, if something was wrong for whatever reason he didn’t want to make it worse as it was apparently getting. He stood there shell-shocked not entirely sure what else to do. She confirmed his worries about not making it to town and he nodded his head agreeing. She sunk a little more and he held onto her as her knees buckled. If they were going to be having a kid tonight this was not the place to do it…. And how unbefitting that it was near a once grave site.

Her next statement caused his hazel eyes to widen a little. ”I have no idea what I am doing, Rhea.” he said rushed but she was whimpering and whining. This wasn’t like birthing a pet dog’s pups this was a real-life human he extremely cared for. This was the part he never seen. What if the baby got stuck? What if the baby had a complication like the cord around its neck or came out breach? How the fuck was he going take care of the matter? His eyes soon shifted from her and onto Kota who was keenly watching the situation. ”Kota, go get help.” the cat stared at him very aware of the human words being said. She was always a strange cat but being magical he supposed that was a perk. She could understand she just couldn’t speak. ”Now! Go get someone, cat!” he hissed as he held Rhea with one arm and swatted at her before quickly grabbing Rhea again. The cat blinked a few times, ducking her head and tucking her ears back as she reluctantly backed away and bolted off up the hill.

”Lets up she’s not as useless as I believe her to be.” he gave her a sad smile as he lowered Rhea to the ground to sit. This was it. This was what it was coming down to. ”I know this is annoying to hear but try and breathe through it. Gravity will help pull the baby down with the contractions and if you need to push just do it.” He shifted down in between her legs even though he had absolutely no idea on what he was going to do or how he was going to do it. No less he was going to do his best until someone hopefully arrived.