Despite being a Healer, Ernie had not thought anything about her tiredness to be particularly extraordinary. Having been through such a turbulent time, he had assumed like any person might have, that it was all easily explainable. He had seen in his own patients more times then he could count that one emotionally heightened period could cause all sorts of repercussions and stresses on the body. So, as he would with his patients, he had just slipped a few vitamin potions into their meals and made sure she had all the bed rest and relaxation that she could.
Freezing in his massaging of the shoulders, he stood motionless for a few drawn-out moments as the news washed over him. Sure, it wasn’t as though they had not done enough of the thing that brought children into existence, but he felt moments of genuine shock that it had happened quite as quickly as it had. As far as he was aware, Daphne had always been regular with her potions. Moving a few steps in front of her, his hand ruffled through his hair and down to massage his face, still numb from the shock.
Then as if possessed by a demon, he spun about and was at her feet in no time at all. Taking her hands in his, he breathed deep before leaning forward and kissing her belly, despite knowing anything there would be far too small to see at this point.
“Whatever happens, I am here for you, I am here for your child” he finally managed to tell her, his eyes wet with tears of joy, as he found himself unable to articulate it any other way.