Looking in the mirror that fine morning, (Y/n)'s chest felt as though it was boiling from excitement. The excitement slipped past her lips in a quiet squeal. She strained the fabric of her dress back once more, her belly curved more than before as she knew her baby was growing bigger.

She remembers her second to last failed pregnancy attempt she didn't make it to the baby bump stage. So, (Y/n) was thrilled to find such progress. She wanted so much to take off her night gown and hold her bare stomach, excited for the day she'll have an actual baby of her own. Hopefully next time it'll be with someone she loves and not her deceased husband.

(Y/n) jumps at the sound of a knock on her door, the sudden fright making her shout. Her shout must've been permission enough, as Slender was suddenly in her room.

"Why are you screaming?" He asks, seeing as she stood there looking unharmed and without pain. (Y/n)'s fear turned shy as she gently put her hands on her stomach.

"S-sorry, I got excited." She apologizes, despite a wide smile on her face. She gathers the thin fabric and pulls it back once more, turning to her side. "I have a baby bump again!"

Slender sighed, then suddenly started chuckling. Anxiety welled in her chest as she stares wide eyed at the creature, unsure if she should be happy or terrified. He kneels down, face level to her chest and his hand touches her stomach.

"I suppose progress is something to be excited about." (Y/n) smiles happily, whatever fear she had seconds ago had disappeared. She felt her face grow hot as he gently caressed her belly before rising once more. "Come, I'll make breakfast."

(Y/n) finds herself seated on the dining room chair, gently swinging her feet that couldn't touch to the ground, due to the high chairs. She watches as he cooks, excitedly awaiting his food. The creature was a good chef, (Y/n) had to admit. He seemed so passionate about many things.

She felt her face heat once more as she thought back to his large hand on her belly. Why was she feeling this way? Perhaps it was because her husband had never responded in such a way to her baby bump, only calling her fat and saying how he couldn't wait for this baby to come out so he wasn't married to a pig.

Her heart aches in her chest at the memory. So many times has her father and husband diminished her, and now she sat here. Here in this small cabin with a creature she once prayed would kill her.

Instead, he has housed her, fed her, healed her, and is helping her carry the heir for her father's throne. And even though she knew death awaited her, she knew he wouldn't be arriving any time soon. For now, she'll enjoy this being who she's come to find immense comfort in.

"Will you be alright to walk this morning?" Slender asks, setting down a plate of food in front of her. She nods and thanks him and he accepts her sentiment, joining her this time to eat as well. "Have you felt any discomfort today thus far?"

(Y/n) shakes her head no, having gotten out of bed without a problem. In fact, she felt great when she got out of bed.

"That's good."

(Y/n) stayed quiet after that, unsure of whether or not he wanted to talk or not. However, going off of how it's been, she was certain he preferred the silence, not that she minded. The silence was always comfortable, allowed her to focus on eating and settling the excitement still boiling inside her.

She was excited for the day Doctor Hayne returned, more than ready to show him her baby bump. She even wanted to show off the bump to Nathan to prove that she really was pregnant and not just a prisoner to the slender being like he consistently insisted.

(Y/n) strongly disliked the man. He was always ruining her mood and stressing her out. He always insisted on extra exams and Slender's absence. Oddly, (Y/n) felt safer with this eldritch being rather than this young, cocky apprentice of Doctor Hayne. As much as she wished he'd stop coming, she also knew Doctor Hayne had other clients in more desperate times than herself.

When her plate was finally empty, she let out a satisfied sigh. Her mind foggy with content. The plate was taken from in front of her, catching her attention and she straightens up. She watched him take care of the dishes and she bites her cheek, annoyed at herself for not taking some sort of initiative to help.

"Get ready." He tells her from over his shoulder. She jumps into awareness once more before getting up to put her shoes on. The shoes were strange. She'd never worn them before and yet they were in her closet.

They were nothing like her colorful heels and the heel on the boot didn't hurt her feet. Instead the boots were a dark, leather brown, and the laces assured it was secure around her feet. They were more comfortable than her regular shoes and she was more than happy to be wearing the boots than heels out in the forest.

As soon as Slenderman was finished with the dishes, the two begin their venture into the forest. (Y/n) only wished that the forest looked familiar, instead, it seemed to change every time. The fallen trees were never the same and yet he had to help her over one ever time they were out together.

"I believe when we return we should begin writing." Slender comments, interrupting their silent walk. (Y/n) looks up at the creature as he helps her sit on one of the fallen trees to catch her breath.

"What's the purpose of writing?" She asks, only remembering sounds of annoyance from her father whenever he was required to do any writing.

"It's a form of communication." He answers, it was a simple answer, and (Y/n) understood it fine. However, she was a little upset he didn't say more. "It'll increase your usefulness to me."

An excuse, that's what he needed. An excuse. A way to keep her around without revealing whatever it was he was feeling. An excuse to avoid telling the truth.

"Then I'll try my best...!" She answers, a little too much excitement in her voice for someone who's supposed to be afraid. Slender pauses, unsure of how to react to her positivity. He kneels down to her height and grabs hold of her chin, watching her eyes widen.

"Good girl." He simply comments, watching her cheeks flush red and her mouth gape open. A strangled whine left her body and Slender simply smirks internally, standing once more and continuing forward.

They continue on their walk in silence, (Y/n) too flustered to say anything and Slender uttering curses in his head. He knew better than to get attached. Having found everything she's done adorable and, unfortunately, attractive.

However, he also knew he couldn't stay a part from her throughout her pregnancy. Not only was her body relying on his magic to carry the child to term, but if she was staying with her father, the baby would be beaten out of her on day one.

He secretly wished her father would've given her some time to heal before all of this. He knew he couldn't let the baby become reliant on his magic, but he also knew changing the focus of where his magic was going was causing her pain. Slender hated being responsible for her pain, even worse when her pain was out of his control.

Now, he sat with her at the table, staring at her. Perhaps she's mistaken his gaze for an angered one, watching her hand shake as she attempts to rewrite the letters, capital and lowercase. At least she'd learnt how to read, because as soon as she figured out how to hold a quill properly, she'll be writing fine in no time.

He'd hope she'd begin to keep a journal, he wanted to see how her thoughts came out on paper. He always heard her racing thoughts when he focused on it, however, few thoughts were prominent enough to understand unless she was actively thinking.

"I have an odd question." She suddenly speaks, swiftly explaining to him her racing thoughts that he couldn't decipher.

"Proceed."

"Am I just a pet to you?" She asks, sounding rather affirmative to a question some may find a yes answer to offensive.

"That is an odd question." He answers, quite unsure of his answer as well.

Slave, perhaps, would be the appropriate answer, as pet has a certain level of affection behind it. Not to mention, he hasn't quite forced her to do anything. He's been met with confusion, but not disobedience. She's been rather willing to do everything he's asked of her.

"I suppose you could think of it that way. You aren't quite here unwillingly, not to mention you're always adamant to please." He answers, giving into her curious stare. He watches her face flush in embarrassment as he looks her over. "Are you asking this because you want to be my pet? Or simply because you don't want to get too comfortable?"

When her head bowed down in shame, he knew it was the latter. Not that he could blame her for not wanting to let her guard down. He knew she was getting comfortable, and so was he. And now that question has sparked a certain desire in him.

Pet... the word repeats in his mind as he examines her in her meek position, her face red as well. Pet... making him want no more than to reach out and touch her.

Perhaps he could compare her to a stray cat. One he found on the side of a road, hungry and desperate. He took her home and has kept her in a healthy condition and makes sure she sticks to a healthy routine. He tells himself he only took in this cat to help it survive until she births her kitten, but he knew damn well as soon as they give the kitten away he's going to put her in a cage and never return her to the world.

Slender couldn't help but remember just how pretty she looks in silver.

"I suppose 'pet' is a proper title for what you are." Slender answers, fighting the urge to stroke her hair as her eyes widen slightly and her gaze turns away once more. "You seem quite taken to playing the part of a pet thus far anyway."

"P-pardon?" She asks, looking up at him with those innocent eyes. He internally smirks; like she didn't know what she's been doing this whole time.

"You're rather enthusiastic about everything and it seems like you want to impress me." He explains, watching her blink and tilt her head.

"Th-that's something pets do...?" She inquires, earning a nod from the being in front of her. "How would you like me to behave?"

Slender felt his teeth grind in his mouth and gripped the fabric of his pants with a strong grasp. All sorts of ideas flew through his head, the innocent face she was making scorching itself into his memory.

"I wasn't asking you to change your behavior." He replies, keeping himself calm with those memories of her floating around his head. "However, I must ask you change your behavior tomorrow."

"Why?" She asks, confused at the sudden and specific change of heart.

"Because we will be returning to the castle tomorrow for the king's check in. Therefore, you need to act afraid of me and as if I've caused harm to you while you've been here." He answers, waiting for her response as her head bowed.

"I suppose now is the best time to pay father a visit." She replies, a hand moving over her stomach and her brows furrowing. "I can be afraid of you, but I must ask. When my father strikes me, how likely will I be to miscarry?"

"He's not going to strike you. Not while in my presence." Slender reassures, a sense of rage in his tone.

"Ah, I suppose it would be unfair of me to ask you to remain by my side every second." She answers, clearly misunderstanding his statement.

"I disagree." He argues. "I will remain by your side for every second to ensure your father brings you no harm."

He watches as her face flushed a warm red as her thoughts raced once more. Doubt in her mind despite how she wanted to simply swoon at his words.

"Th-thank you..."