RP: Shopping and Confessions Who: Addi and Zee When: Saturday, October 21, 2009 [slightly backdated] Where: Westfield Stratford City What: The girls catch up over some shopping. Warnings: Pregnancy symptoms, references to abusive situations
Zahara had reached out to Addi earlier in the week to set up a shopping trip, she wanted an outfit for her birthday. She didn't know exactly what they were doing, but she knew she wanted an outfit for it. She also had news to share with Addi that she didn't want to share with anyone else, and it was news that she wanted to share in person. She just would have to find the right time to slip it into conversation.
She still had a few things she wanted to wrap up at work before her birthday, since the store moved into holidays hours a week after her birthday. It was for that reason that she asked asked Addi to meet her at Westfield Stratford City. It was her favorite shopping center, her favorite shops were there, and they could grab some grub before heading home.
It was by sheer luck that Zahara had noticed Addi before the other woman had noticed her, it also might have something to do with her boots that added a few inches to her height. She slipped through the crowd easily, until she was in Addi's line of sight. It was then that she waved to the other woman, closing the distance with a hug. "Thank you for meeting me here, I had to finish a few things up at the shop and didn't want to keep you waiting too long." She had known she would have asked Addi to sit for a second, then end up wrapped up in a few different projects. Knowing Addi was waiting on her somewhere was a bit of an incentive to get her ass out the door.
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Life had been far too busy since Aruba, and Addi had missed having the time and energy to hang out with Zee as often as she wanted to. So, when Zee had reached out to her earlier in the week for a request to go shopping this weekend, she'd jumped at the chance. She'd gone back and forth about whether to tell Zee she was pregnant but when it came down to it, there were more reasons to not tell yet than there were to fill her friend in.
Because she hadn't really decided what to do about it yet, at least not out loud, and because they hadn't told either of their families yet, though she wasn't set on telling them before telling friends. It was still a consideration, though. And shouldn't she make a decision and share it with Phillip first?
She was pulled from her thoughts as Zee suddenly appeared and pulled her into a hug, and she returned it enthusiastically. A moment later, however, she was hit with that sweet scent of candy that always seemed the linger on her friend. Usually a pleasant scent, today it had her stomach churning, and she gasped softly as she held her breath until stepping back from the hug. She tried smiling at Zee, hoping that her discomfort wasn't showing. She was not going to throw up on this outing, damn it. "Of course, not a problem at all," she assured her with a wave of her hand.
"Where did you want to start?" she asked, nodding her head toward one of the lines of stores.
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Zahara heard the gasp, she thought she had caught an odd look on her friend's face. She wondered a moment if the other woman had caught the flu, she had two employees currently out sick. She wasn't entirely sure she had caught a look though. She didn't want to pry for completely selfish reasons, she had missed spending time with Addi, and she wasn't about to let the flu keep them apart. She'd chance catching the flu, she would just cross her fingers that she didn't catch it too.
"Mmm." Zahara's attention turned towards the lines of stores. "What about we head up top and start making our way around? We can window shop until we see something we like.." She really had no set plan, sure she knew her favorite shop was to their right. That just meant she would have them start walking in that direction so that they would pass the shop and slip inside to find what they'd like.
Without thinking, and forgetting that she thought Addi might have the flu, she slipped her arm through the other woman's and started off towards the right. "I think I can officially say I'm ready for the holidays. I literally just have to let mum redecorate the shop and I'll be ready for all of it." She had gotten all of the posters, sales, and treats together. She had specials for the days leading up to the holidays, and a special sale for a few days after Hogwarts students would return home. She was pretty damn proud of herself. "How's work? What have you been up to?" She had been debating popping in sometime soon to pick up something special for Hype, she was debating maybe even for her birthday. She was debating something all black, something to celebrate the spirit of Halloween.
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Zee didn't seem to noticed, and Addi relaxed a bit in relief. Now, if the queasy feeling would just go away, she would feel much more comfortable. "That sounds like a plan," she agreed easily. Though if they were going to window shop through the whole shopping center, she wasn't sure she would be able to keep her pregnancy symptoms from rearing their ugly heads in a way she couldn't hide. Hopefully she would find a way, though.
"That's great! I'm sure your mum will put up quite the enviable decorations." She paled a bit as she realized that Zee's mum was another person on her list of people she was going to want to tell, hoping that she might glean some valuable advice from the woman who had already gone through all of this, being a muggle pregnant with a likely magical child. She really didn't want to be thinking about all of that just then, though.
"Work is going well. I've... got a new line of sketches in the works, and I've got a meeting with Natalie next week to pitch the line, so that's exciting. She seemed enthusiastic about it when I gave her the brief idea of it, but it'll be different doing a presentation." Some of her nerves leaked through as she spoke, but she would much rather Zee focus on that than ask her what her pitch was about.
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"Anything is going to be better than those damn deer that were pooping last year." Zahara shivered at the thought of those reindeer pellets. While the children had loved them, and everyone else apparently, they weren't due to come back this season. She knew her father was still debating if he wanted to bring them back, but he had at least agreed that they would not put it in a window display this year. It was something that would just be on the shelves with maybe a little animated reindeer above the display.
A laugh slipped from Zahara. "Oh you'll be fantastic. You're so good with people, especially when you love something. What's this new line?" She was sure that Addi would knock it out of the park, she was so talented. "I need to pop into the shop soon... I'm debating still if I want to get something special for my birthday... I was thinking all black. Maybe a bit gothic if I can find something." She was also hoping a little that they might find something as they passed by the stores.
The first few stores they passed were sneakers, candy, and cellphones. It was a shop across the way that caught her eye first, she pointed towards it with her free hand. "Let's head in there, I love that skirt." It was a blood red pencil skirt that was paired with a black blouse that billowed around the bust. Across from the skirt, a bit deeper into the store, were some mommy and me outfits. Though they weren't even on Zahara's radar just then.
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Addi wrinkled her nose at the mention of the reindeer pellets. She remembered Zee complaining about them the first time they'd met, at Quin's Easter party. Good god, that felt like so long ago, even though she knew it had only been about six months. So much had changed in that time, though, and she felt moisture prickling her eyes at the reminder of it. Bloody hormones, she mentally cursed, blinking the moisture back.
Of course she'd known Zee would ask, but she flushed faintly and shook her head. "I don't want to jinx it! I promise I'll share after my pitch," she offered, hoping her friend wouldn't be upset. But she'd worked hard on her designs and had even done a ton of research into the charms involved that would make them better than any similar items in the market. She just still wished she could actually test the magic herself. "Ooh! You so should!" she encouraged, smiling a bit wider. "I have some stunning black and red pieces that you would look killer in." Which she still thought counted as gothic.
She let her friend guide her into the store, her fingers deftly pulling one of the red skirts off the rack in the right size. "Your legs in this skirt? Yes, please," she gushed. How much longer would she be able to wear something like this? Eloise was about six months along now, and she'd had to start wearing maternity clothes a couple of months ago, she thought. Quite suddenly, she wanted to make a trip down to France to visit her second-older sister. And she was so caught up in her thoughts, that she hadn't noticed the mommy and me outfits yet, or much of anything else really, as she seemed a bit frozen and fixated on the red pencil skirt.
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A musical little laugh left Zahara when Addi said she didnβt want to jinx it. βThatβs fine.β She wouldnβt press about it, she knew that with her music she tended to only let others hear it once she had completed the song. The one she was working on with Hyperion had been an exception, but that was because he was helping her write it. It was for the same reason that the only other person she showed her music to was Quin, they were technically her band.
βOh, Iβll have to look at them!β The red and black just made her think of their houses, she thought it was a good blend of Gryffindor red and the black for Hufflepuff. βI was debating a corset sort of deal, something with matching panties... Iβve no idea.β She had been debating a lot of different lingerie, she had still yet to settle on one that she really loved enough. She wanted to make him speechless, her newest goal with any new lingerie purchase.
Zahara gave Addi a sideways glance as the woman seemed to zone out on the skirt, another laugh slipping from her. βI know that my arse looks that good in those skirts, but not even Hyperion loses his focus over imaging my arse in something.β She lightly nudged her friend with her elbow, a playful motion. βAre you alright, love? Everything alright?β
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Addi was relieved when Zee didn't push, though she hadn't really expected her to. She was one of her favorite people for good reason, after all. "We'll get you all decked out when you come into the shop," she promised, and she could admit that she would be slightly offended if Zee picked up some lingerie here instead. She would get over it, of course, but she did try to be honest with herself, at least.
Zee's words drew Addi out of her thoughts, and she visibly shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, noticing the odd tone to her own voice and sighing. "Just wishing I had your curves for the millionth time," she added in a lighter tone, nudging Zee back lightly as she handed the skirt over. "You have to try it on!" Overcompensating much? she thought with a mental sigh.
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Zahara turned her head to hide the frown that she knew was there, she couldn't hide her facial expressions very well. She had caught the odd tone to Addi's voice, then it just... It was weird, something was wrong. It bothered Zahara that Addi didn't seem to trust her enough to talk about whatever was bothering her. She just nodded her head, not wanting to make some sort of ridiculous scene in the store. She was probably reading too much into things, maybe everything was fine with Addi. Maybe it was just Zahara feeling guilty about how busy she had been, and how busy she knew she would be in the coming months.
"I'll totally try it on." While she gave her friend a smile, the tone didn't reach her words. She held a hand out to take the skirt from Addi then. "Though I don't know if I want to wear something so tight is a good idea..." Though she wasn't entirely sure what they'd be doing, she thought she ought to wear something that allowed her more range of motion, just in case they ended up doing something where they'd be dancing. There had been talk of popping into the club, though she didn't remember if that had been talk for the Saturday before her birthday, or the following day on her birthday. "I'll keep looking."
She moved away from that rack then, heading towards another a bit farther into the store. Something felt off, and Zahara was hoping it was all in her imagination. "I think I might need to start condensing my closet. With all of Hyperion's things in the flat now, I'm realizing I think I've far too much clothing. I never thought I'd ever say something like that," she admitted with a laugh. "I know I could always just add onto the flat, but I have dreams of adding our own music room..."
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Under normal circumstances, she might have caught Zee's expression, but just then Addi was so caught up in her own emotional turmoil and the ever-present queasy feeling that she missed it. Of course, she noticed that the tension was weird and different between them, but she chalked it up to her own issues, not anything Zee might be thinking or feeling.
"Why wouldn't it be a good idea?" It didn't occur to her right away that they were supposed to be looking for a birthday outfit, but a moment later she made a sound of realization, laughing softly at herself. Was it too early to blame pregnancy brain? Probably. "I didn't mean for your birthday! I just think you should try it on so I can see your gorgeous curves in it even if only once," she added in a lightly teasing flirtatious tone. Even that felt a bit strange now though.
She gasped playfully at the talk of condensing her closet. "But you won't need to once the house is built right? I mean, you guys have to be putting in rather impressive walk-in closets, right?" she asked curiously. "You could always just pack up your summer clothes to make room," she suggested as she looked through another rack.
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Something was so very off with Addi, Zahara couldn't ignore it for long. She just hoped she could keep herself from opening her big mouth. "Sure," Zahara said with a smile and a nod, shuffling the skirt into her arms. She would try it on with anything else they might happen to come across in the store. She wondered if they'd find the dress for her birthday here, though she still had no idea just what she wanted. She knew that she wanted a dress, something so that no matter what they did, she could sneak off to a corner for a quick snog with Hyperion. She loved the way his hands felt when he would slide a hand up her thigh, touching high up where her skirt would usually cover.
She had to distract herself from Addi's odd behavior, otherwise she knew her curiosity would get the better of her. She focused instead on their conversation about the house they were going to be building. "We're going to have four rooms... He thinks that might be enough, unless we have far too many children and need to expand." She laughed as her own hand came up to hold her stomach a moment, just thinking about them being pregnant. What with them trying, she knew there was a small chance that she was pregnant right this second. Slim chances, she knew she wasn't, she was due to get her period next week, and she was already feeling bloated. Still, the idea sent a thrill through her.
"I think that might be what I need to do, if I can't get rid of things. I don't know if I want a his and hers, or if we'll just have one big closet. I sort of like the idea of having it as an expandable room though, that way should we ever need to move it... It's ridiculous, since I can't honestly think of a reason that we would need to move our entire wardrobe, but.." She gave a shrug, laughing as she rounded on a new rack that had some beautiful sweater dresses, "Ooh, these would be perfect for around the flat... On one of those really snowy nights." She gushed as her fingers slipped over the soft fabric of a plum colored sweater dress.
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There was no stopping the surprised expression not only at Zee's words but the way she lifted a hand to her stomach. Was Zee pregnant too? But no, she would have told her by now, wouldn't she have? And then a voice reminded her that she was pregnant but hadn't told Zee yet, so it probably wasn't safe to assume anything. "Children, hmm. That baby fever getting to you even more?" she asked, hoping her voice sounded lighter out loud than it had in her head. She knew how much Zee had baby fever, and she couldn't help wondering if she would be disappointed that Addi had ended up pregnant first.
"Well, seeing as how you guys are building your house, I'm sure you could have pretty much anything you wanted, even if it was an expandable room for a closet," she pointed out, smiling reassuringly. What would they do if she kept the baby, she wondered then. They wouldn't stay at his flat, right? It was a nice enough flat, but was it big enough to raise a baby in? "Oh god," she breathed, paling.
She was sluggishly pulled from her thoughts when Zee directed her attention to the dresses. "Those look so comfortable," she agreed, going over to grab one in a deep blue in her own size. She should still be able to wear it through the winter, right? ...Another thought that made her think she'd already decided. Good god, she needed to get her mind off her pregnancy and soon!
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Zahara flushed the instant Addi asked about her baby fever, her head bobbed quickly. That's one way to put it, she thought. It seemed that now was the perfect time, she bit her lower lip as she looked at the rack in front of her. "Okay, so don't say a word to anyone... I think you're the only person that I'm trusting to talk to about this." She lifted those bright hazel eyes to meet Addi's across the racks. "We're officially trying!" It was said in hushed excitement, though her face had lit up. The weirdness from earlier was all forgotten in the wake of her baby fever just then.
Her excitement hadn't missed the oh god though, which made her eyebrows perk up. "We are building our own home, I'm excited about all of it. He's hoping that we'll be in our house by the spring. Did I tell you that already?" She had wanted to share that they were hoping to be pregnant by that time, but that was a private wish that she only shared with Hyperion. She didn't want to jinx anything, she knew it was ridiculous but she couldn't help worrying about those sorts of things.
She wanted to ask, but she didn't know how to ask. Someone didn't just say oh god like that though, she wanted to ask. She nodded her head in agreement though. "Very comfortable. Just imagine curling up in a windowsill, watching the snow fall, maybe a glass of hot cocoa." She was looking forward to those nights. Watching Victory Road get snowed over, while she and Hyperion snuggled up on the couch with their own hot cocoa.
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Addi's eyebrows rose in an encouraging expression, unsure just what Zee was going to be admitting to her and feeling guilty for keeping her own secret from her just then. Especially once Zee spilled the beans. "Ohmygod!" She hoped she looked excited and not nauseous, though somehow she doubted it. "That... that is huge, Zee!" Were they really ready to be trying for a baby? It wasn't her place to judge, but they'd only been dating a few months longer than she and Phillip had, and even though they were building a house together, that still seemed awfully fast.
"You did tell me that, but it's still so exciting!" Spring would be an awfully eventful time, she thought, tears springing to her eyes that she stubbornly blinked back. "Have you guys settled on a design yet?" she asked hurriedly, curiously, wanting to keep the conversation focused on Zee.
She hummed in contentment at the image Zee conjured up with that, only her mind decided to veer off, changing the setting to the cottage with Phillip sitting behind her, holding her, both their hands resting on her baby bump. They would get more snow at the cottage than at his flat, and they'd have a fire going. Maybe they would speculate about the gender or toss out suggestions of names. The images in her head overwhelmed her to the point that she started losing the battle with the tears in her eyes, one slipping out of the corner of one eye.
"I... umm... I need a minute," she said, feeling out of breath. She shoved the dress back on the rack and turned, darting for the exit. There was a food court nearby though, and as the smell wafted toward her, she felt her stomach churning again and shifted direction to head to the bathroom. Thankfully it was mostly empty, and she darted into the first stall just in time for her breakfast to come back up into the toilet instead of on her shoes.
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Everything felt so off about the moment. Zahara had imagined telling Addi, sharing her excitement, and she had thought that Addi would be excited as well. Her response had been off, everything had been off. Zahara felt like she had entered the twilight zone, almost instantly regretting that she had shared the information. Her cheeks flushed as her eyes turned back towards the rack in front of her, none of it was interesting anymore. She wanted to just head home, this outing had been a terrible idea. She wasn't sure what was going on, and the more Addi kept trying to evade things, the more Zahara's feelings were hurt.
She looked up when Addi said she needed a minute, which wasn't good. It gave her that feeling, like there was a pit in her stomach, as she watched her friend leave the store. She quickly dropped her own clothing to the rack, before she made her way out of the store and in the direction that Addi had headed. She wasn't far behind, she had watched as the blonde head of curls had slipped into the bathroom.
Zahara stood outside the door for a moment, she didn't know if she wanted to go inside. She didn't know if Addi was crying, or what was going on. She didn't think she had it in her to have another bathroom conversation where nothing was said, not with the way things had been going today. She needed to know what was going on however, why their friendship was suddenly so strained, and why Addi suddenly wasn't.... Well, Addi.
"Addi?" She called out as she stepped inside the bathroom, though she didn't go far inside the bathroom. She hovered near the sinks, her back was to them.
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She wished she could say the sound of her retching was quiet and easily disguised, but it was painfully obvious what Addi was doing, and tears streamed down her cheeks at the burning in her throat from it. She finally stood back up though, flushing the toilet and heading back out of the stall. Seeing Zee standing there by the sinks had her starting, not having heard her friend come in and call out to her.
Lifting her hands to brush the tear tracks on her cheeks away, she continued on to a sink, washing her hands and then rinsing her mouth out without saying a word yet. Finally, she forced herself to look at her friend, knowing that she couldn't keep it to herself anymore. "I'm sorry, Zee. I'm..." The word lodged in her throat, feeling like it was choking her, tears stinging her eyes all over again. "I'm pregnant."
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As Addi went about washing up, Zahara was getting impatient. Her mind had spiraled on just what could possibly be going on with her friend, what was happening between them. With as high as her baby fever was, what Addi said next surprised her. Her hazel eyes grew impossibly wide, choking on her own words just then. She had just been about to open her mouth to shout at her friend, ask her what was going on.
"What?!" Zahara didn't know what reaction Addi wanted just then, somehow she thought all the excitement she was feeling just then was not the reaction her friend wanted. She couldn't keep the excitement off her face though, even as she stepped up closer to her and hugged her tightly. "Oh, Addi!" She wanted to say congratulations, though she didn't think that was something Addi wanted to hear just then.
"Are you alright? Is that why you've been off all day? We didn't have to go out, I would have understood," all came rushing out at once, she was feeling like an awful friend for having thought selfishly there was a problem between them. She wanted to fix the situation and be there for her best friend.
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Her stomach was twisting up again at the clear excitement on Zee's face, and Addi merely nodded to confirm that Zee had heard her right. Yes, she really was pregnant, and she was thankful that Zee didn't congratulate her out loud even though it was written all over her face. She hugged her back, sniffling a bit as the tears slipped from her eyes. She wiped them away again when they pulled back from the hug.
"Oui, but I was trying not to be. It's just all... on the surface right now," she finished lamely. "And I wanted to come out with you! I've missed you so much." And what would she have told her as an excuse for not going out? No, she hadn't wanted to lie. "I just... I didn't want to tell anyone until I'd decided... what to do about it, you know?" she finished in a soft, almost nervous voice, as if afraid of what Zee's reaction might be. She knew everyone would probably vote for her to have the baby if they had a say, and that's why she didn't want everyone to know. It had to be her decision. And Phillip's, to an extent, but she knew he respected that in the end it was her choice.
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"I've missed you too, but we could have stayed in. I would have understood, you could have just said you were under the weather," Zahara reassured her, as she hugged Addi again once more. She couldn't help herself, she wanted to comfort her friend in any way she could, and just now all she could do was hug her.
She nodded her head in understanding, Addi still had a decision to make. She knew this couldn't be easy. "I understand," she said with a nod of her head. "You'll have to tell me as soon as you make that decision. For right now though, would you feel better if we went home? I can apparate us back anywhere you want." Since the mall seemed to be making her sick, it seemed best to head home.
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Addi was shaking her head before Zee even finished speaking her reassurances. "I needed to get out, love. I wanted to. I love shopping, damn it!" she insisted with a pout. She didn't want this pregnancy to kill her small pleasures in life, and spending money shopping was definitely one of those small pleasures. "I just kept thinking... like that skirt, I had a moment of 'oh God, I won't be able to wear something like that much longer!' And then with the dress, I was imagining how long something like that would fit, and..."
Her lip wibbled a bit, and she shook her head. "I feel like I've already made my decision, but the thought is terrifying. But I don't want to go back home yet, really. Besides, we still need to find you that birthday dress!" she pointed out stubbornly. And at least now that Zee knew, she wouldn't have to twist herself up inside about trying to keep it from her. That would help, she thought.
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She really didn't mean what happened next, but she hadn't been able to help herself. She let out a soft giggle, shaking her head, while both hands came up to cover her lips. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I know you love shopping, we will keep shopping. I promise. We will go into as many stores as you'll let me drag you into, but promise me that you'll tell me when you're too tired? I will sit down, we can head back, whatever you want." She knew from all the pregnant women in her life, that growing another life inside of you was exhausting. She wasn't going to push her too far.
"Do you want to talk about it? It does sound like you made a decision, and as terrifying as it seems? Just remember that no matter what, I'm going to be here for you." She knew it went without saying, but sometimes it helped to hear them out loud.
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Zee's giggle and her following words made some of the tension in Addi release, and she let out a giggle too. Why had she felt like she needed to keep this from Zee? It seemed ridiculous now. "I promise," she assured her. Yes, she was tired an awful lot lately, but she wanted them to have a fun outing, and she was going to make sure it happened.
"I... thank you, Zee. Seriously. It's been... such a stressful week with my mind going in circles about it all." Glancing around, she realized where they were and grimaced faintly. "I think if it had just been a matter of my birth control failing, there would be no question about keeping it, but..." She didn't want to tell Zee, to tell her more about what Roberto had done to her, but it was important when it came to this decision. "Roberto removed my birth control without my knowing, and Phillip... he's been so great and promised he would support me no matter my choice, but..."
She sighed, bringing a hand up to rest over her still-flat stomach. "Even though neither of us chose this, it's still a part of him and me, you know?" It was terrifying, thinking about what being pregnant would mean, but it felt like all she could think about lately.
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"Of course it's going in circles, it's life altering decisions." It seemed simple to her, though she hadn't really thought much about her own. She hadn't thought about the music aspect, over what she would do when, and if, they had kids. She knew it was something she needed to worry about, it just wasn't a worry for her currently.
She leaned in and pressed a kiss to Addi's cheek, squeezing her in a quick hug. What Addi said next however wasn't something that she had been prepared for, she hadn't given much thought to just how she had gotten pregnant, if it had been her birth control failing, or what. Her eyes grew wider in shock, unable to hide her expressions from her. Addi could read her as well as Quin at this point, she didn't even bother. She knew Hyperion was just as bad, and yet she always tried to pull something over on him.
"Oh, Addi," she said softly. "I'm sorry. Try not to think about that part of it, the how it all happened. Focus on how you feel about it all with that element removed. Does that change anything?" Though Zahara was relieved that Addi was pregnant with Phillip's baby, and not that psycho's. It had been bad enough the man had kidnapped Addi, Zahara didn't want to think about just why he had removed her birth control and what disaster could have happened. She slipped her wand from her pocket then, quickly casting a muffliato charm, just in case anyone was listening in on their conversations.
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It was life-altering, and that was what made it so difficult to focus on without getting overwhelmed. But that was also why she couldn't stop thinking about it all. Having a baby would change everything, and it would bind her to Phillip forever. Was she ready for that level of commitment? She loved him, of course, but forever was scary.
Addi returned the hug, but then flinched when she saw Zee's expression shift with her admission. This was why she hadn't wanted to tell anyone what Roberto had done to her, even if she'd not known about this part until last weekend when she realized she was pregnant and her birth control was gone
"Of course," she answered softly. "That's what I was saying. If it was just my birth control failing, it would be so different." But that wasn't what had happened, and she couldn't separate it out in her mind. Even if she could, there were other things to think about. Her life would never be the same, and she wasn't the one with baby fever--that was Vieve and Zee and Eloise. "Okay, let's stop talking about this, please! And we can get back to shopping." Because even though Zee had cast the muffliato charm, she still felt weird discussing it like this.
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Zahara wasnβt going to point out that Addi needed to separate the two, that while her birth control had been taken, something out there had intended for this. She didnβt know Addiβs feelings about what was out there, fate, destiny, all of that. She nodded her head though, she was willing to stop talking about it though. βWe can totally stop talking about it. I know that you know, but... Last thing on this.β She needed to say it. βIf you need me, no matter the time of day? Just call me. Youβre one of the few that my phone will still ring for, even if I put it on silent.β It was a small list, Perse, Addi, Hyperion, and Quin.
She moved then to head towards the door of the bathroom, ready to head back out into the shopping center. βAre you going to hate me if I want to grab a soft pretzel? I skipped breakfast. Iβll completely understand if you need to stay about ten feet away while I eat.β She didnβt know just what would or wouldnβt twist up Addiβs stomach, but she was going to be as respectful and helpful as possible.
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Addi sniffled and nodded, smiling despite the situation. "Of course, I know," she said softly. It was a privilege she was determined not to take advantage of unless absolutely necessary, as she knew how much Zee needed her sleep. She commended Hyperion on his bravery for being around Zee in the mornings.
Laughing softly, she shook her head. "Non, though I might give the food court a wide berth. I do not think a soft pretzel will trigger the nausea though," she assured Zee, linking her arm through hers as they headed out of the bathroom. Even though she hadn't wanted anyone to find out until she'd made her decision, she was a bit relieved that Zee knew, that there was someone outside of Phillip she could talk to about it. As long as Zee didn't project her own baby fever onto her, it would be a comfort to lean on her for support through all of this.