The Apartment Above the Photo Hut - Friday Morning

[flamesburned]

The last week had been a lot since she had discovered that she was pregnant. First she had called Dr. Lecter to let him know and then she had talked to both Marcand Summer.

Finally Liz had let Professor Broom and Hellboy know that she was pregnant. She hadn’t even gotten the words out before Hellboy had immediately started insisting that she not go back to Fandom, that she could stay at the BPRD, especially if they couldn’t reach Prompto and it had taken a lot of convincing but finally Liz had managed to convince them that she would be fine in Fandom and she did have support and friends who would look after her.

As Liz had promised, she and Rain had gotten back into Fandom early Friday morning. It felt weird being back at her apartment and the store and she didn’t want to think about how much work she now had to finish both in terms of the paperwork and all of the necessary plans she still had to make regarding her pregnancy but she was slowly learning that she could only do one thing at a time and to focus on what she could.

So now that she was back she had to make a few calls and the first one was to Steven, since she had promised Marc that she would tell Steven as soon as she got back to Fandom and then she figured she should leave Marc a voice mail as well to let him know that she was back and would be talking to Steven in case he was concerned she wouldn’t tell him.

She hesitated a moment and then sent a quick text message to Summer to let her know that she had arrived back in Fandom.

The last call was to Dr. Lecter so that he would know she was back in Fandom and then once those calls had been done, she went about unpacking as she nervously waited to see if Steven would stop by.

[Liz is expecting a visit from Steven but the post can also be open! The details of her conversation with Steven is NFB please!]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Marc had told him Liz needed to talk to him personally when she got back in town. Steven wasn't sure how to feel about the way this meant she was apparently talking to him right away. Was it good news that she didn't need to delay seeing him like she'd suggested back when they'd texted on her birthday? Or bad news that she needed to get out of the way before it got worse?

Nothing for it but to find out. Steven went to Liz's place after he got her message, gathered his courage in as many days while standing outside of someone's door, and knocked.

[flamesburned]

Rain sensed there was someone new at the door and went to check it out, meowing a lot as she did.

Liz took several deep breaths, trying to not feel so nervous about this, she opened the door, picking Rain up as she did to stop her from bolting outside “hi,” she said awkwardly, “um … thank you for coming over,“ she said quietly, "I wasn't sure ... I mean ... um, please come in," she stepped back from the door when she realised that he was still standing there.

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course I would," Steven said. He came on in. Then, because of course priorities, he did give a little wave to Rain who he'd not met before. "Hello. You must be Rain. Are you happy to be at home as well?"

[flamesburned]

Rain purred loudly as she tried to see who this new person was and Liz did move her closer so she could look, she was happy to be back home, it was nice being back home in her own space even though she did miss all her brothers and sisters.

"I think she likes you," Liz said with a small smile as Rain tried to see if she could any pats out of this visit.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven held his hand out for Rain to sniff. If he met with approval he would of course provide pets as well. "The feeling is mutual then, for sure. And hello to you as well, Liz. Welcome home."

[flamesburned]

Rain eagerly reached over to sniff Steven's hand, giving a purr of approval as she angled to try and get pets.

"Thank you," Liz said softly with a small smile, "it's nice to be back, I - I did like being home but it's nice to be back in Fandom, I did miss being here,"

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was happy to give Rain pets and skritches around her ears. "Sounded like going home was good though, yeah? Got sleep and - " Steven stopped himself from saying "a clear head," uncertain if that might come off as a pointed comment when he didn't intend it to be.

"A fresh outlook on things," he said instead.

[flamesburned]

Rain purred quite contently as Steven gave her pets and scritches, she definitely enjoyed those.

Liz hesitated, since she now definitely had a whole new fresh outlook ...just not what she had been expecting when she had gone home.

"Um ...it did and that's one of the reasons I um ... need to tell you something and I wanted to tell you in person," she took a deep breath, "you... um did you want to sit down?" she asked, hesitating as she motioned towards the lounge the living room.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven wanted to protest that he didn't need to and whatever it was she could tell him now. But he remembered how it had helped when Llewellyn sat when Steven said he might need to earlier that week. Of course the least Steven could do was show Liz the same understanding.

"Sounds serious," Steven said. "Yeah, all right. Lead on."

[flamesburned]

"Okay, um ... it's just over here,"

Liz took several deep breaths and led them over to the lounge, letting Rain down so she could have a wander around, she sat down nervously on the lounge and waited for Steven to sit down.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven gave a quick look around her flat as they walked, just to get the feel of the place. When she sat, he took a seat as well at the opposite end, leaving space between them but facing so he could still see Liz.

Picking up on her nerves, he hoped it would help if he said, gently, "Whatever it is you can tell me. It's all right."

[flamesburned]

Liz trembled, tried to take another deep breath and then before she could stop herself she could feel tears start to build up

She hesitated and then, “I’m … I’m….Impregnant,” she got out in a rush and the tears started to fall down her cheeks.

Apparently she wasn’t done crying yet.

[hasaknightjob]

"What? Congratulations! That's wonderful news!" Steven said. Then he saw that Liz looked upset and hesitated. "Er - isn't it?"

[sharp_man]

Uncoincidentally close to lunch time, Hannibal showed up with an insulated bag, a medical bag, and a large file folder.

Had you wanted a determined middle-aged cannibal caretaker for your pregnancy, Liz? Because crying on the phone was how you got a determined middle-aged cannibal caretaker.

[flamesburned]

Liz definitely needed all the help she could at this point.

Rain, sensing that Liz had another visitor twice in one day so soon bounded over to the door excitedly and meowed.

Liz walked over to the door and picked up Rain again before she could bolt outside when she opened the door.

“Hi Dr. Lecter,” she said softly, suddenly feeling a bit self conscious, “um …please come in,” she said as she stepped back to let him in.

[sharp_man]

"Thank you." Hannibal came in and offered his hand to Rain. "Welcome back. No problems with the portals, I trust?"

[flamesburned]

Rain eagerly leaned over to sniff Hannibal’s hand, purring contently with approval and tried to see if she could get any more pets,

“Thank you,” Liz said softly, “there wasn’t any issues with the portals, I was able to get back okay,” she told him.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal would absolutely give a few pets, but he was focused on the human here; sorry, Rain.

"I'm glad." Hannibal looked her over and nodded. "Have you had lunch?"

[flamesburned]

Rain would be content with a few pets, she purred loudly.

“No, I - um I haven’t …um really eaten much today,” Liz admitted quietly.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal nodded. "In that case, I have brought lunch." He set his bag down on the counter and started pulling out dishes. "Nothing heavy," he promised. "Baked sweet potato with honey yogurt and walnuts, and if you're still hungry, salmon chowder." That was a sizeable bowl. "It will keep for later, too, and reheat well." Even if you used a microwave like a heathen.

[flamesburned]

Liz definitely used the microwave a lot, sorry Hannibal.

She was also going to blame the hormones as to why she started tearing up as he started taking out the dishes. She was apparently going to be doing that a lot.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, wiping away some of those tears, “um…” she wasn’t sure what else to say, “thank you,” she said again.

[sharp_man]

"You're quite welcome." Hannibal handed her a fork. "Come, eat. I have things to go over with you, but you can get something in you at the same time."

[flamesburned]

"Okay, I can do that," Liz told him quietly as she tried to wipe away her tears and then took the fork Dr. Lecter gave her before she went to sit down at the table.

She looked at the dishes on the table , "um ... what kind of things do you need to go over?" she paused, remembering their conversation from last week "is this about the medication?" she asked.

[sharp_man]

"Partly, yes." Hannibal sat across from her. "I'd like to examine you when you're done, but I believe we may need to change your medication entirely. Have you previously had anyone suggest to you that you might have a bipolar disorder?"

[flamesburned]

"Oh," Liz said softly, looking down at her food, "I ... no, no one's said anything about me having bipolar ... what's ... I'm not entirely sure what this is," she admitted.