The Sirens Call

16

September 24, 1981

Stevie was very pregnant, and very alone. Lindsey was still on his dive and there she was 32 weeks pregnant and she was miserable. She was having a hard time breathing and she was only comfortable when she was in the water, but at the same time, she knew that she couldn't be in water for a long period of time without being in mermaid form, but she was hesitant to turn into mermaid form because she was this far along and there was just a nagging feeling of don't...don't shift. She knew Marina was going to be a mermaid, she had told her she was going to be a mermaid, but she just didn't want to shift. 

She was wearing a purple chiffon blouse that accentuated her tummy and it had 3/4 length sleeves paired with a pair of maternity jeans. Max was laying on the couch next to her staring directly at the redhead walking up to the house. 

Stevie didn't know that Lori was coming, but Lori had wanted to see her. To see the baby that was growing in her belly, and Lori could see her through the glass door leading to the beach and she was just excited. 

Max started to bark as Lori knocked on the glass patio door and Stevie jumped a mile in the air turning to look at the back door. Her hands came up to her mouth and she tried to stand up to answer the door but her center was off balance. Lori just laughed and grabbed the handle pulling the door open. 

"No, no...don't get up." Lori walks in shutting the door.

"What are you doing here how did you know this was my house?" She asks settling back into the couch.

"I saw you from the beach. I didn't show Christopher your letter, and it took me a couple months to gather the courage to come up here. Happy belated Birthday...you're 34 in human years now?" Lori asks.

"Yeah, 34...This is Marina..." Stevie smiles her hand rubbing at her belly.

"So you know it's a girl?" Lori questions her own hands coming to rest on her belly. 

"I think it's a girl...I can talk to her, and she says she's a mermaid." Stevie shrugs.

"So where's Lindsey, can I meet him?" 

"He's on a dive... He's not going to be back until October 5th. It's been just me and Marina here." Stevie caresses her stomach.

"I do want to meet him though at some point." 

"I know you do, and you will...I'll let you know when she's born so you can come see her. My plan is to give birth at the cove. I just need to, I need to be at the sea when I give birth." Stevie shrugs. 

"So whose your doctor..." 

"I don't have one, I can't have one because of the gills. I had done some research and apparently a pregnancy doctor has to like examine your genitals and your stomach and I have gills on my hips so I just can't..." Stevie shrugs. 

"So what are you going to do?" 

"Well, Mermaids give birth by themselves all of the time, I'm just going to have to figure it out." Stevie explains. 

"Is Lindsey going to help?" 

"He took some birthing and baby books with him on the dive, so I'm hoping he can be a giant help, but then I'm not going to have a support system...but I'll figure it out." Stevie shakes her head. 

"I'll be there Stevie." Lori bites her lip.

"What?" 

"Yeah...if you're giving birth at the cove, just send Blue to get me...She's coming in November right?" Lori asks.

"Yeah, November." Stevie nods.

"The whole month of November, I'll be there waiting for you to give birth...It's going to be storming Steves....you control the weather if you're..." 

"Lori mermaids do this every day, when has there ever been a storm?" Stevie asks.

"True...I guess the mermen watching their mates give birth causes happiness to trump the pain." Lori explains.

"I'll be fine. Can I make you something for Lunch?" Stevie asks.

"Like what?"

"Well I was going to make myself Macaroni and Cheese and Chicken strips...It's all processed and comes in a box and a bag but it's not a kelp and seaweed salad." Stevie shrugs.

"Oh my gosh I am so SICK of Kelp and Seaweed." Lori rolls her eyes.

"Trust me, it's good food." Stevie nods.

"Sure, I'd love some..." Lori nods.

"Wonderful, now you've just gotta help me up because I can do it myself but it takes like ten minutes." Stevie chuckles.

"I can't wait for Chris and I to get pregnant..." Lori looks down sadly.

"It'll happen Lori." Stevie grips her hands and pulls her into a hug.

"I hope you're right...I want a baby so badly." Lori pouts.

"You will. I know you will." Stevie smiles. 

After they eat their lunch, Lori moaning and groaning out at the food, Lori looks at Stevie.

"So how do you sleep?" 

"Not in a shell." Stevie chuckles. 

"Oh?" 

"Come on." Stevie motions with her head and leads her upstairs. 

"What is that?" Lori asks pointing to the bed.

"It's called a bed, oh Lori...it's so comfortable and there's so much more room. When Lindsey and I are having sex we aren't confined to one small position.

"Really?" 

"Really...The day that I think Marina was conceived I got to be on top of him." Stevie gushes. 

"You're kidding?" 

"No I'm not, and it felt so good it was so deep Lori." She muses.

"Maybe Chris and I should try for a baby in this form." Lori chews on her lip.

"Maybe, I know Lindsey's equipment is way different than a merman's and maybe in a new form, Chris'll have a better chance at getting you pregnant." Stevie explains leading her over to the bed letting her sit down.

"Oh Stevie this is way more comfortable than a shell." Lori nuzzles into the bed.  

"I know it's amazing." Stevie nods. She wasn't to happy about it at fist but now, two years later she doesn't even want to think about sleeping in a claustrophobic shell. 

"Where is the baby going to sleep?" 

"It's called a cradle...when I went shopping for her room, the lady at the store said typically baby's sleep with mom and dad in their room for about six months, but then they go to what's called a nursery...Oh Lori, come look at it, I made it sea themed." Stevie cheers standing up from the bed and grabbing Lori's hand. 

It was honestly, the only human interaction she's had since Lindsey left, save for shopping at the baby store, so she was just happy she was getting to talk to someone.