flamesburned | The Apartment Above the Photo Hut

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The Apartment Above the Photo Hut - Friday Morning

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!]

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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.

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.

"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?"

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.

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."

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,"

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.

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.

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."

"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.

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."

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.

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

"Sorry," Liz hiccuped, wiping away her tears, "it's been ... it's been a lot to process, I think it's the hormones," she said guilty, "I'm, I'm seven weeks, I'm having a girl," she added, "she's Prompto's ... it's ...I can't reach him to tell him,"

"Oh no, of course that must be hard," Steven said, with sympathy. He moved a bit closer in case she wanted to reach out to him. "When here you are already hurting because you can't talk to him."

Liz hesitated and then slowly reached out a hand, she wasn't expecting Steven to reach out after everything and she wouldn't blame him but she thought she'd try just in case, "I just miss Prompto so much and I want to tell him that he's going to be a father and I want him to be here, to be part of this journey and I know I have to start making preparations, that I can't hold them off forever," she let out a sob, "Dr. Lecter said it wasn't a sin to have a child whose parents weren't married but I feel guilty," she admitted, biting her lip, "I can barely look after myself most days let alone a child,"

Steven took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Well you didn't plan for it to happen like this, did you? I mean Dr Lector is right. There's nothing wrong with it. But let's say there was. Wouldn't the sin be breaking the rules on purpose? That's not what you did. What happened here is a lovely surprise, yeah? No sin in that."

“No, I mean I didn’t plan - I - I thought I was going to be a couple years off having children still, that I’d - that I’d be married “ Liz admitted.

“I’m scared,” she said softly.

"Well sounds like she wanted to meet you sooner," Steven said. He gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "I don't blame you, being scared. But it's not so bad, is it? More... a surprise, yeah? Didn't expect it, but still could be good?"

Liz smiled softly at that, “it ….I wasn’t sure at first but Dr. Lecter suggested I start learning a new hobby, learn some arts and crafts so I can focus on making things for the baby when she arrives, start preparing for the nursery,”

She paused, “it also helps knowing I’m not alone here that I’ve got support,” she admitted.

"That's true in spades," Steven assured her. "Whatever Marc and I can do to help you know we will, right? No question."

“Thank you,” Liz said quietly, feeling the tears begin to build up again and she used her free hand to wipe them away.

“It - it means a lot, especially after …” her voice trailed off guilty, “how I’ve been acting, lately …”

"What? Since you went home?" Steven asked. "Did something go wrong there?"

“No …I mean before I left,” Liz said quietly, the tears falling a lot faster now, “with how I …I hurt you, I’m - I’m sorry,”

"Oh no, nonsense." Steven squeezed her hand tighter. Normally this was when he would've moved to attempt a pat on the shoulder or even a hug but he wasn't sure if she'd feel comfortable with that, given the exact topic she was talking about. "It's fine. We're all fine. I told you, only thing that would've hurt is losing my friend. And here you are, so we're fine."

Not that Steven had been thrilled that he and Liz could be no more than friends. But the pain when she left was more due to having to accept that rather than keep alive the thought of "what if?"

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