WHAT: Catra has a meltdown over a shirt, Adora is very confused, Melog has the one braincell and is just happy to be here WHERE: Darla WHEN: Tonight WARNINGS: Pregnancy talk and so much fluff STATUS: Complete ART CREDIT: Here
Yes, it was her birthday. No, she didn’t care. She never did to begin with, but people had to be nice and thoughtful and do something stupid like remember and send her stuff. Then they had a visit with Scorpia and Perfuma and Flora, with the little one gifting her with a handmade card with a drawing of Finn. It was cute. It was perfect. It also gave her a lot of feelings that she kept bottled up, and by the end of the visit she had to fight the instinct to go hide somewhere. Besides, it was the anniversary of when Adora proposed so that was a good thing to celebrate. They should celebrate.
But it was also the last night they had Finn when the whole ‘future kid’ event happened last year, and having this glitch in time be repeated without them in the picture stung in a way she hadn't expected. Her mood had suffered for it these past two weeks.
Could also be the exhaustion, Catra thought, which she had been feeling for a month straight and this is what she gets for being so busy. Patrols and all the things that happened during their shifts that weren’t always Vallo’s weird way to mess with them, and social obligations and even existence. Existing was exhausting. Being a person was sometimes the worst. Her body felt like it could sleep for days on end if left uninterrupted and she really wanted to find out whether that was true or not.
That wasn’t happening any time soon because dinner plans and Adora was really looking forward to it considering Catra’s piss-poor attitude didn’t allow her to celebrate any other way. She did the whole puppy eyes and even through her frustration that was somehow feeling eternal lately, she couldn’t bring herself to tell her no. Nevermind the fact that she wasn’t hungry, or how food wasn’t appealing lately and most of the time the odor was wrong - even smelling caffeine made her nauseous. Drinking it was a sure way of getting her head in the toilet, so coffees and frappes were out of the question.
Catra was a professional dealing with sickly symptoms (except for when Glimmer did the teleporting thing; she was always two seconds away from outright vomiting there). It was a cat thing, to never express those kinds of vulnerabilities easily. She could push through it, act normal - though she was always a little more tense, sometimes a little more out of it. None of it was enough to stop her from completing tasks. Logically, that meant she was fine. (Melog even wasn’t that worried, although they had been a little extra clingy lately.)
Totally fine. Her tits were super sensitive, must be the tight top she was wearing?? It was why they were in their bedroom, and why she was looking for a very specific shirt but it somehow wasn’t in their closet. Adora had done laundry duty last and put away clothes, she knew by now where Catra’s clothes went because they’ve been living together for almost two years as a couple.
And yet, she found it folded weirdly in a drawer. The one that held all their undergarments.
“Adora,” she growled out and snatched it with her claws to unfold. It was a flowy top, not some tight halter she usually slipped into and it was wrinkled. Wrinkled. “Adora, what the hell - I told you these need to go on a HANGER! It’s like - it was folded so awkwardly and why would you even put it with our bras, it’s not even underwear! The only other shirts I have like these are DIRTY and I don’t wanna wear anything else so what do you -” Hiccup. Oh, god. Catra was crying. Catra was crying, and her tail was swishing and her ears were flat but she was also kind of purring in some weird, anxious way that didn’t come up too often nowadays. “What do you expect me to even wear to dinner??”
Adora knew Catra wasn’t feeling her best. Not just in the physically ill sort of way but emotionally, too. The whole timeslip event was happening all over again, and they hadn’t gotten Finn back – or even one or both of the future twins they’d been promised. It had plagued both of them, but all they could do was suffer through, nursing their dashed hopes and turning the urge to dote on their friends’ kids instead.
She also knew, all that aside, Catra wasn’t particularly thrilled about her birthday, just in general. She refused parties, refused anything more than just the two of them being together, and Adora was all for that and respected that. But this was more than birthday frustration. She had grown up with her, knew the signs that something was off: she was aggravated, snippy, listless in that ‘I want to sleep all the time’ sort of way. After today, she’d probably sleep for a good long while, and Adora would let her, even if it meant making excuses for her at work. That was fine.
But she’d asked for one night. Just one. She hadn’t planned anything strenuous, but she wanted to do something. They had that option now, so she refused to let any big occasion like this go unacknowledged, like she knew her wife would probably prefer. If she didn’t want to celebrate because it was her birthday, that was fine. It was also the anniversary of their engagement, and she knew her wife would indulge her and celebrate that with her, at least.
She made plans at The Canteen, because they always got some pretty spectacular service there, since the little cat-people running it considered Catra basically their version of royalty. (Adora suspected it was mostly because, despite how small she was, she was a giant compared to them.) It wasn’t fancy, so there was no need to dress up too much, and she was ready in dark jeans and a nice blue-striped button down shirt, sleeves rolled up just beneath her elbows, with half an hour to spare. Catra was still getting ready, but Adora wasn’t rushing her, instead seated at the end of the bed with Melog, Spirit down at her feet while he got ear rubs.
The last thing she’d expected was this weird, emotional breakdown Catra started having. Her mouth dropped open and she stared at her wife in confusion while the out-of-place shirt was waved in her face. She had messed up - yes, okay, she’d admit that. She couldn’t really remember how the shirt ended up there, but ultimately, it didn’t really matter. It had happened, and Catra was really upset about it.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” she apologized earnestly, stepping around Spirit to scoop the wrinkled shirt out of Catra’s hands. “I can turn on the shower and steam out the wrinkles?” The anxious purrs were loud and impossible to miss, the ears and tail and all those telltale signs something was wrong, and the tears - Adora’s heart hurt any time she saw Catra cry. She wrapped her arm around her wife and pulled her close, subsequently crushing the shirt between them which she would probably come to regret.
Melog, weirdly, didn’t mirror the tsunami of eccentric feelings Catra was currently exploding with - and it was explosive. It was a backlog of frustrations, annoyances, feeling sickly and tired and so incredibly off when it came to everyone and everything. They didn’t need to contribute to it. Instead they watched, head tilted to the side curiously as they kept silent (with every expectation that they’d figure it out and be fine, you’ll see).
“Just forget it,” she groused through the mess of tears and the sobbing, and she hardly ever sobbed but here she was, doing it over a damn blouse. Ordinarily she also wouldn’t mind being pressed up against Adora like this except, also ordinarily, her breasts rarely ached the way they did tonight. They hurt even when she stretched her arms over her head. Could be a PMS-y thing, and she’s always had an unreliable cycle thanks to stress and poor nutrition (though it was more consistent here, in Vallo).
It’s why she pulled away so there was a little more space between them, and she glared up at Adora with wet cheeks and glassy eyes and a quivering sigh. This was stupid. Catra knew it was. She felt stupid; felt overhwelmed and exhausted. Using the heel of her palms to wipe at her face, she hiccuped. “I - hic - this shirt’s tight, like - the built in bra - they’re sore, okay, and I think I need -” There was another dumb, shuddering noise she let out. “I feel like I’m gonna throw up all the time but I never do and I’m so tired, I just wanna…”
Stay in. But she didn’t finish the sentiment because she made another sobbing sound, and then also kind of laughed since this was hysterical and stupid and why did Adora marry her, honestly.
Catra didn’t need to finish that sentence for Adora to know what she meant. And while part of her wanted to plead with her to reconsider like she ordinarily would, she couldn’t this time. She’d already been pushing her luck, and with the mood Catra was in, she knew it was a no-go. That was okay. Maybe she’d kind of been doing the thing where she was making what she wanted more important than what her wife actually wanted.
She set the mangled blouse aside, on top of the dresser to come back to later, and then reached for the hem of the tank top Catra was wearing. If it was bothering her, it was gone, and she certainly never complained when shirtlessness happened. She was careful to lift it off over her head as gently as possible and discard it on the floor, brushing her hands over that wild, mussed-up mane of dark hair and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“We’re staying right here. We can do dinner another time,” she murmured, one hand sliding down to cup a freckled cheek. “Come on, get back into bed.” She took her hands to lead her there, pulling back the comforter on her side. “Want a glass of water? Would that help at all?”
Oh my god, her tits were free. Catra let out the softest hiss at the motions of getting her shirt removed though she was better for it now, and Adora telling her to get into bed? Yeah, she might have cried a little more. This was literally everything she needed right now. She felt so outrageously relieved but also really, really guilty.
And mortified.
Because her reaction was the worst.
“No,” she croaked with a sniffle and crawled under the covers. Has this mattress always felt this amazing? It was soft and warm, and she brought the comforter up to cover her naked chest in shame. Not because she was topless, god no - she walked around topless on her good days - but because she had blown up. On Adora. Who took her meltdown with grace and doubled down on taking care of her without hesitation. “I was an ass. I’m sorry.” Hic. “Can you just come here and hold me?”
Catra had a little more clarity now that she cried it all out but she was needy, and clingy, and didn’t want Adora going anywhere. Melog scooted up a little more from their spot in the bed and plopped their chin on her legs, watching them with big eyes.
Adora was already unbuttoning her shirt when Catra asked her to join her; it made its way to the top of the dresser with the offensive blouse, joined after a moment by her jeans, boots kicked off on the floor. It left her just in boy shorts and a tank top herself, but they weren’t going anywhere and she’d always run hot. She’d keep them both warm, too, no problem.
She slid in from her side of the bed, joining Catra toward the middle and wrapping her arms around her from behind. Her lips pressed gently into her neck before she hooked her chin over her shoulder and snuggled in close, nose nuzzling into the soft bits of fur there. Being the big spoon to Catra’s little spoon was one of her favorite things. She was always small and soft and cozy, and Adora liked feeling like she could protect her like this.
“I really am sorry,” she said quietly. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention, but I’ll be more careful.” She knew Catra had already apologized, but she felt bad some careless mistake of hers had caused that kind of reaction. Catra was usually so calm and tended to get overly snarky when she was upset; even now, Adora rarely saw her just lose her cool like that.
It wasn’t a secret that Catra liked the role of little spoon. Being cocooned in her arms like this felt like nothing bad could happen to them, not when they were like this. She needed it. She didn’t really know why she did but, god, she did. After a few steadying breaths to help cool off her nerves, to help stop the dumbest crying fest of all time - she settled, finally. The gentle beginning of a purr confirmed that.
Her tail slipped around Adora’s leg and she moved a hand over her arm to squeeze. “Don’t,” Catra chuckled raspily. Her voice was small and extra hoarse, and she wanted to never move from this spot if she could help it. “That was… really ridiculous. So fucking stupid. It’s not a big deal. I’ve been feeling so - ugh.” Yeah, that was the best way to describe it. Ugh. “I know you wanted to go but I don’t know if I can eat.”
The nausea was almost always constant. Sometimes subtle, sometimes not. Things had been smelling so strongly that they curbed her appetite so it’s been crackers, or applesauce. Or nothing if she could get away with it (she couldn’t, not with Adora hovering). Which… okay, maybe for the fact that it had been going on for a few weeks now was making her realize that wasn’t totally normal and it wasn’t something like the flu.
That had Catra kind of thinking. And while she was thinking, Melog scooted up more and bumped their head against Adora’s arms for attention. In an insistent way, actually.
Adora didn’t so much as blink when Melog started head butting her for attention. It wasn’t unusual for every member of their little family to get up in bed and snuggle on lazy evenings (or mornings or afternoons, or whenever; she’d been making an effort to spend more time relaxing lately). She lifted one hand from Catra’s waist to give them some scritches along their face and nose, hoping that would satisfy them enough to settle down.
“We can go another time, I meant that,” Adora assured with a soft squeeze around Catra’s waist and a kiss to the back of her shoulder. “I just know you haven’t been eating very well, and I hoped I could get a meal in you. It’s been a while, and I know you don’t really want to see a doctor, but…I feel like something isn’t right?”
She was concerned and earnest in it but not in an overpowering, freakout sort of way like she tended to be. She knew Catra could handle herself, and she didn’t need to hover over her, but she couldn’t always help it. A few days was one thing, but this had been going on for much longer - at least a couple of weeks.
“Uhhhh,” was what Catra managed to voice, which, like - wasn’t much at all. Adora was probably right. Something was up, and judging by Melog’s dissatisfied snort from the pets (not what they wanted, she felt) they could tell too. Thing was, though, she didn’t sense any worried or alarmed vibes from Melog despite it? They were mostly a little annoyed.
Maybe even a little smug.
She looked down at them. They looked up. Direct eye contact was made. A wordless exchange (thank you, magical link) happened resulting in Catra’s brows knitting together. “We’re not oblivious,” she grumbled defensively at her companion, but something had caused her face to feel hot.
Melog did them a favor and dismounted from the bed to allow them space. In one fluid motion Catra turned to face her, the back of her knuckles brushing against Adora’s collarbone. They were snug still, and she could ignore the breast tenderness if it meant they could be pressed into one another. “Before we involve a doctor,” she started, looking at her wife sheepishly, “I think I should take one of those tests. The, um, pregnancy kind?”
Her ears twitched as they were pointed up, waiting for the sound of Adora’s brain breaking.
Adora did her best to loosen her hold around Catra just enough to keep her comfortable when she turned over in her arms. She knew now that she was feeling a little tender, and she didn’t want to exacerbate that by snuggling her too tightly. But she kept close, hands stroking up and down Catra’s back while they settled into their new position. She was content like this, actually. Dinner wasn’t even a thought anymore; she had Catra, and Catra was really all she needed.
She looked curiously towards Melog for just a moment when her wife got all red and defensive. She had no idea why Melog would be calling them ‘oblivious’, but when she turned back and saw that bashful look in her wife’s mismatched eyes, she knew there had been some big reveal she had missed - something Melog knew that they’d missed. But hearing the words? Letting her brain absorb the meaning?
Well, it took a minute. She just kind of froze, staring at Catra in shock. Not in a bad way, not at all. She’d wanted a baby since before Finn showed up in their life at this time last year, and she wanted them even more after getting to experience being a mom for those short couple of weeks. She’d been hopeful earlier in the year that Finn would be coming any day, but she’d tapered down to a ‘come what may’ attitude.
(For the most part. She couldn’t say the idea was never on her mind, especially when they were using what Richie had called her ‘yogurt slinger’. Gross, but it had certainly stayed in her mind.)
“...really?” she finally questioned. The words were disbelieving but her eyes were lighting up hopefully, and she was trying to fight the wide smile that threatened to break out. “Are you— Is that what Melog said? That you’re…pregnant?”
“No no, not those exact words,” Catra replied quickly and, again, defensively. Enough heat in her face had gathered for her cheeks to redden now. “Just that, uhhh… I smell a little different? Pheromone changes, apparently.” They weren’t exactly wrong - she knew her own scent and could always smell it on Adora. It was subtle, though, and not enough for her to want to dissect it when she had been feeling so groggy and her goal was to essentially get through the day.
Melog wasn’t confirming or denying anything. They had suspicions about something, and didn’t seem at all distressed by her symptoms.
Nervous, she rubbed at her splotchy eyes and felt herself become a little more alert now that the possibility was introduced. “But, um. Maybe?” she winced. “Probably?”
“Okaaaay,” Adora said slowly. Probably was a lot to take in, especially when Catra’s reaction was nowhere near mirroring her own. She had expected that, though. Catra had been a hover-mom when Finn was here with them, but she was also the reluctant one. It was Adora who’d been having bouts of baby fever for well over a year at this point. It made complete sense that Catra felt so apprehensive, and it was enough to remind Adora to slow down a bit.
“Well, I think we still have at least one left over from when you had food poisoning.” They had deduced pretty quickly back then that food poisoning was the cause of a night of vomiting, but the thought had been put in their heads that it was pregnancy (by Adora’s baby-crazed brain), and Catra had decided to go ahead and take the test anyway. It was a box of about five, so she’d assume there were at least three left.
“Do you wanna get up or…wanna lay here a little longer?” she questioned softly, forehead creased with worry. “Tell me what you’re feeling?”
That was a loaded question. By now she half-expected to be scooped up and rushed towards the bathroom so she could squat and pee on the damn stick already. A moment to take a deep breath and reflect was nice. Very much needed on Catra’s behalf too, whose tail had come undone from being wrapped around Adora’s leg to moving. It rhythmically thwapped against the mattress, restless.
“Nauseous,” she blurted. “But I don’t think that’s from nerves, that’s just… my existence lately. A little scared, maybe?” Catra didn’t need to get into too much detail there considering those were almost the exact words she’d told her when they met their little surprise a year ago. She wanted Finn. She loved them, missed them, and maybe this day did hurt a little because it was the last time they saw them (sleeping soundly here, in this bed, right after telling them both love you). But her insecurities clung, telling her she wasn’t good enough for them yet - that she wasn’t the person Finn needed her to be right now. That she wasn’t ready.
(Was anyone ever, though, when facing this?)
Adora knew about all of this, though. They’ve talked about it a lot. It’s not as if her wife was a stranger when it came to feelings of self-worth, either - and it was always a reminder that despite their differences they were also wildly similar in a lot of ways.
Catra felt her eyes water again, so she wiped at them before she made a mess of her face a second time. “If this is - you know, that, and we have them, I don’t want to fail them,” she admitted and then added on, quietly, “or you.”
Adora was watching Catra intently while she spoke, doing her best to be observant, to hear what she was saying and read all those other little clues her body gave off that didn’t come out in words. They were both much better at feelings talk these days, but it was still a big deal, still hard sometimes. It wasn’t easy to undo a lifetime of repressing feelings, and this in particular was huge. It was a lot to take in and process, and she didn’t believe for a second this would be the end of all the feelings - good, bad, and everything in between.
But she would do everything in her power to help soothe the bad feelings, and that included right now. “You could never fail me or Finn,” she insisted, one hand raising to brush across a smooth, freckled cheek. She hadn’t missed those watery eyes, and while no more tears had fallen yet, she would be prepared if they did. “I love you, they love you, and you’re a good mom, Catra, and an amazing wife. Best I’ve ever had.” Teasing, of course, an attempt to lighten up the mood just a little bit. “But if you mess up sometimes or have bad days, that doesn’t mean that’s any less true.”
Best I’ve ever had. Catra snorted but the words had their effect - she smirked, and if she were feeling a little more playful she’d take a little bite out of her neck for that comment. All those other words sunk in, though. Adora’s love and assurances and confidence in her and everything; it helped bring her out of that self-deprecating pit she’d fallen into. It always did. She knew they were solid, and that this life they built was theirs and they were happy and despite all of her worries, nothing had ruined that. Catra hadn’t ruined that.
“Best and only wife you’ll ever have,” she corrected with a weak huff, snaking a hand down to grip Adora’s hip and anchored her close. No space - she’d shove her bare tits against hers and deal with the pain. Then she kissed her, soft but needy and clearly expressing I love you too, dummy.
This was fine. It really was, even if they were psyched up for no reason in the scenario the test came out negative (then she’d just be worried about having some kind of terminal illness instead because what the hell, she should have had Lance scan her when he offered). Catra broke the kiss and inhaled deeply, knocking their heads together. “Okay. Cool. I’m ready to pee. Let’s… get up?”
Adora didn’t hesitate to return the kiss and allow Catra to press in even closer to her, smiling against her mouth. She could feel a little bit of that tension and uncertainty lifting, and she was glad for it. Catra didn’t deserve to be bogged down with those worries, but if anyone could understand, it was Adora. They may have put their past behind them, but that didn’t mean the anxieties developed then had left them - not even close.
For now, though, everything was okay. They could handle whatever the results turned out to be - positive or negative, at least they’d know, and they could figure out how to move forward. She nudged Catra’s nose with her own, murmured, “Yeah, let’s get up,” then slipped out of bed and came around to help her up, offering both hands for her to grab.
After finding the pregnancy tests in one of the bathroom cupboards and taking out two to offer Catra (wouldn’t hurt to get two ‘yeses’ or ‘nos’, right?), she decided to step back into the bedroom to wait until she was finished. It wasn’t as if they had any semblance of privacy normally, but she didn’t want to add any pressure to this moment. She was working to keep her expectations low because a change in pheromones might not necessarily mean pregnancy - although she had no idea what else it could be.
She waited on Catra’s side of the bed, hunched over and checking her watch every five seconds while facing the ensuite’s closed doors. Two minutes and they’d know. The longest two minutes in the universe.
Catra swiped up Adora’s old red jacket on the way to the bathroom too to put on, kind of like a robe or… something. Whatever. She had no shame in her body but she liked to wrap up in it anyway, and even if Adora didn’t wear it often it still smelled like her. It’d keep her nerves tame while she was doing this. Did she even have enough pee on her for two sticks?
(Spoiler alert: she did.)
Fuck, life was weird. She didn’t think this kind of thing would be in the cards for them. In fairness, though, she didn’t think any of this would be in the cards for them when she arrived in Vallo, half-crazed and sleep deprived and very prepared to die. It was a fate she thought she deserved. It was also a fate she didn’t get back home or here, and in both instances what she got instead was someone she thought she’d never have - Adora.
Then they built this life, brick by brick, day by day. Rings on their fingers. Wedding photos on their walls. Now, there were two very intimidating pregnancy tests (cleaned off, thanks) sitting on the counter while she washed her hands. It gave her a moment to also wipe her face since she had cried way too much over something that didn’t matter, and she brushed her hair because that was a mess…
It had only been a minute when she looked down and saw.
It had then only been a minute and sixteen seconds when the doors slid open. Catra hesitantly stepped out with her arms behind her, blinking widely at her wife. The sticks were hidden. “Uh, so…”
Adora’s nerves were starting to get to her just a little. She was trying to figure out the best way to react in either situation so she wouldn’t be overwhelming. Because, ultimately, regardless of which way it went, this was more about Catra than about her - just by virtue of Catra being the one who might or might not be pregnant. And she wasn’t sure what to make of Melog, who was just sprawled out on the floor, tail wagging lazily, mane the normal, calm blue color it always was. They were so unbothered.
The moment the doors slid open, she bounced to her feet, looking surprised. That had been much less than two minutes, and she was trying to gauge what the answer was just from Catra’s expression. She knew how to read her wife, and that wide, bewildered blinking thing she was doing was enough of an indicator. She started to smile but bit her lip to try to ease back - not exactly successfully, but it was effort that counted.
“So…yes? What do they say?” she questioned, holding out both her hands. It could be taken either as an offer to take the tests off her hands or to just hold her; either way, she just needed a straight answer before she committed to too much enthusiasm.
It’s funny.
Catra should be freaking out. When she saw the results she kind of was, internally. Shock probably kept her tail still, and her fur wasn’t bristled or anything like that, so - definitely not upset. Adora’s face was also really cute though. That’s what probably did it for her; that face trying to hide that hope and enthusiasm. It made that anxiety and panic ebb, made the last vestiges of tension that tightened her shoulders slip away.
Her stomach was doing crazy shit right now (was it nausea, excitement, surprise or all three?) but she was… good.
Fang biting into her bottom lip, Catra took a step closer. She didn’t take her hands or place anything in them but she definitely invaded her space so Adora could easily wrap her arms around her if she wanted. She then held up two sticks, each of them with two bright, bright lines. She didn’t even need the full two minutes for the results to come up.
They were right there.
“Guess Finn made sure to be here for this birthday too,” she grinned toothily. Yes, she was grinning about this. In a really happy way.
Instantly, Adora started crying.
But they were good tears, the best tears, and she was quick to wrap her wife up in her arms, lifting her off her feet without any thought to how sensitive she might be feeling. Butterflies began flapping wildly in her stomach, her heart felt like it was soaring, and she was smiling so widely that her cheeks hurt, even as she smattered kisses all over Catra’s beautiful, perfect face. It helped that Catra was equally, visibly thrilled, too; it made her feel much more free to really celebrate.
“Oh my gods,” she breathed, letting out an incredulous laugh, blue eyes still wide with some mixture of excitement and disbelief and unimaginable love. “I love you so much.” They’d always known Finn would be here when they were still young, and she’d hoped for them as soon as possible. But at this point, she’d figured it would be another year or two and she was fine with that! She knew they would come, and she would wait and hope and try until the moment came.
And now it was here. Finn was here.
Catra let out the funniest little squeaks and noises at being lifted (but wasn't that the norm for them anyway?), and having been overwhelmed by the kisses and was Adora crying? Was she crying? Kind of, yeah. She was sensitive in every aspect right now - physically (easy on the squeezing there, wife) and emotionally (fucking hormones). This was terrifying. This was amazing. This was a lot.
Still, she was happy.
“I love you too,” she sniffled because, yep, crying (again, though the purrs that came with it were content ones), and she dropped the sticks to wrap her arms around Adora’s neck. Melog caught them with their telekinetic bubble and was kind enough to set them on the nightstand after expressing a telepathic called it in Catra’s direction. She was too caught up in this to properly respond - they respected that. “Please don’t spin me though, I might actually barf on you.”
Though she doubted that could ruin Adora’s mood. She was ecstatic, and she knew her reaction would be big but this was adorable. She was adorable.
That snapped Adora back to reality just enough to remember to be gentle. She nodded, kissing a few tears off Catra’s cheeks, and she did turn - but no spinning - to lower her onto the bed and clamber in beside her to snuggle her properly. Those purrs rumbling through her only amped her up further, her heart beating hard and fast in her chest.
“This is better than any birthday dinner could have been,” she murmured, kissing along Catra’s jaw before capturing her lips for a lingering kiss. They’d never really gotten to celebrate Catra’s birthday the way birthdays were celebrated here in Vallo - or in TV, movies, all that stuff they’d never seen before they ended up here - but the two they’d had so far had been good. Overwhelmingly good - first engaged, now pregnant.
She didn't even know how to be anything but insanely happy, ecstatic out of her mind. And she was going to express that by pampering Catra any way she wanted.
“Way better,” she agreed roughly after that kiss, a fist tucked beneath her chin while her other arm draped over her wife’s waist. Catra didn’t protest being in bed again - it was nice to just curl into Adora’s side and, uh, properly process. This was… happening? This was happening. This was happening.
All the fears that threatened to break through the surface were shoved down. She could stress and simmer about shit later. Not tonight. Tonight was theirs. It was her birthday, damnit.
Catra nuzzled her cheek into her shoulder, scenting. Purring, so loudly there should be a noise complaint somewhere. “We should celebrate, right? If we put clothes on we can make it to that dinner reservation. You can eat for me.” If she ended up actually throwing up she didn’t even care - not when she knew why. But she also didn’t want to move? Except they were… having a baby???
After a beat, she blinked up at her and said, “Holy shit I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah,” Adora chuckled, one hand stroking through Catra’s hair while the other clutched her hip, keeping her protectively close. “You are. We’re having a baby.” She could see having done it herself, but she liked the idea of Catra pregnant, getting to take care of her with less grumbling (if she was lucky). But she knew it was so much, and they were both still wrapping their heads around the concept. Knowing it would happen someday was one thing, but it was happening now.
“But I wanna stay right here with you, if that’s okay. We can do dinner whenever you’re up for really eating. I can think of other ways we can celebrate, anyway.” That was followed by a playful grin and ridiculously waggling eyebrows. She doubted Catra was in the mood for anything like that while she was feeling sick, but there could at least be kissing. Kissing was pretty much her favorite thing.
“Oh!” She perked up, an idea having occurred to her - a light bulb could almost be seen over her head. “And I need to learn to cook now. I wanna be able to help when you’re not feeling good.” She had put it off because Catra had gotten so good, and she’d been pretty damn discouraged after the small fire she’d caused. But now, if she wanted to be that hot older mom (MILF Adora, as Richie had continuously called her) making surprise pancakes in the morning, there was no time left to waste.
Catra was smiling. Not in a wry or coy way that she tended to do - this was her smitten smile, the one brimming with adoration that was exclusively reserved for Adora. Normally that obnoxious eyebrow wiggling would be met with hands in her stupidly beautiful face but she let it slide, just this once. She could be in the mood.
Granted, she might be a pillow princess and fall asleep immediately after (she was finally so comfortable, and she’d been so tired). Still. Kisses were also satisfying, and she gave her neck a few pecks before pressing her lips into her skin and stifling a small laugh. “No complaints, princess - I haven’t really had it in me to do much in the kitchen lately anyway,” she admitted, fingers slipping up her tank top enough so her thumb could rub against hip bone. “Might have to call out for the next few patrol shifts, too.”
There was a lot they had to consider and discuss, come to think about it. Scheduling an actual doctor’s appointment? What the fuck was Catra going to do on the Defense Teams? Did prenatal vitamins come in gummy form?
“We’ll cover you,” Adora replied without hesitation. Their team fluctuated as people arrived and departed on a regular basis, but they had a pretty solid amount of regulars at this point. Leon had helped them cover before, and she knew he would help again if she asked. Until Catra felt more like herself, they would make do. And, eventually, she’d have to start sitting patrol out entirely, anyway. Later, though; she knew her wife wouldn’t accept any semi-permanent benching right now.
“No more pushing through, okay? You’re gonna need your rest.” And she knew that was what Catra had been doing lately - toughing it out, pushing through, just like she always did. She was rarely bedbound when she was sick, and that was partially out of sheer stubbornness and partially because Shadow Weaver and the Horde hadn’t tolerated illness from anyone. Work didn’t stop because you were sick, but here it did.
“Okay,” she acquiesced easily. Probably a first. Catra was stubborn about a lot of things but to be stubborn about this was selfish. Did she like the prospect of sticking to the sidelines for several months while shit went down? Absolutely not. She thrived in combat - the adrenaline rush of a good fight, anything that she could sink her claws into and rip. It’s what she was raised to do.
This was going to be an adjustment. She wouldn’t resist the changes though (not when this would bring Finn to them). She wouldn’t even protest against Adora’s inevitable doting, either.
With her eyes fluttering shut, she took in a deep breath - to inhale every bit of her wife’s scent but to also ground herself. Logistics could be handled later. Their life was on the precipice of changing by a lot, but there was no need to rush to that yet. “Voting we just lay here then. And - you can put something on for background noise? Order food for yourself. I can try some soup, maybe. I’m sleeping in tomorrow for, like… hours.”
Whatever she had planned would wait. No more pushing through.
Adora was always a little bit surprised when Catra went against type and agreed so easily to something she’d normally protest. Good surprised, though, and grateful. She knew sitting out wouldn’t be easy for her, but it would be the best choice for her own and Finn’s well-being. Probably Adora’s, too; she was less likely to be obsessively protective and throw herself into danger when something big (inevitably) happened, knowing her wife and their baby were out of harm’s way.
She stayed wrapped around Catra, tilting her neck a bit to give her space to scent and nuzzle to her heart’s content. She pressed a kiss to her temple, stroked up and down her side, beneath the fabric of her worn out old jacket. She liked when Catra wore this - it wasn’t the staple in her wardrobe it had once been, but she put it on every so often to make sure it still smelled like her for her wife. And that flair of possessiveness inside her liked seeing the girl she loved wearing something that was hers.
It was cozy, too. Warm to sleep in when necessary. And, from the way Catra’s eyes were fluttered, she knew she was well on her way to sleep even before she spoke.
“I’ll put on some music and we can rest,” she murmured. It would be good for her, too, to keep her mind occupied. So far, she hadn’t gone racing down any baby stuff rabbit holes - she was too high on happiness, apparently - but she would eventually. There was so much to work out logistically, with who-even-knew how many appointments with a barrage of doctors in their very near future.