I almost missed mermay. Here's mermaid Fawn, and don't worry...you'll get merman Al, too🤭

Fawn's POV

I have been feeling seriously weird lately.

My brain feels like it's all over the place, I keep having hot spells, and I am craving the weirdest shit.

However, I didn't really think much of it. This happens to me sometimes, when my body doesn't have its period, it produces an unnecessary amount of hormones to make up for the ones I would've received during a normal cycle.

The explanation the doctor gave me was much smarter than that, but I am not a doctor, nor did I pass biology.

So, this is not an oddity to me.

Alastor, however, has been very confused with me. He's already expressed his concern, asking me if I was alright every two seconds last week.

Even after I explained to him what was most likely going on, he kept a very close eye on me.

I guess I don't mind, but I also don't want him worrying over nothing, so I've been trying to conceal my "strange" behavior as much as I can.

That's been going alright...except, today I feel awful. My head has been pounding since I woke up, and my lower back is killing me.

So much so, that I had to escape from doing chores with Niffty just to stand in the break room and try not to cry.

I drew in another deep breath, holding one hand against my hip close to my tailbone. Another dull ache throbbed through my skull, and I winced.

Suddenly, the door to the break room opened up, letting in a sliver of light that I immediately shielded my eyes from.

Followed by the lights flipping on, to which I kept my palm over my eyes and grimaced in pain.

"Fawn, what on earth are you doing, we have so much work— hey, are you alright...?"

Niffty's loud tone became a bit softer, and I slowly removed my hand from my eyes. I was shaking a bit, and I just nodded slowly.

"M'fine, Niff..." I mumbled, giving her a weak smile.

She gave me a skeptical look, her brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you sure...? I can go get Al, if—"

"No!" I interrupted her, and then cleared my throat, "n-no, please, he's busy a-and I don't want him worrying about me, please just...I'm alright," I finished, forcing myself to perk up slightly, "now let's get back to cleaning...those bathrooms won't..."

At the word bathroom my smile slowly faded and a sudden and very strong wave of nausea hit me.

My hand went over my mouth quickly and I sprinted past Niffty and out of the break room.

The amount of times I nearly fell on the way to the bathrooms was ridiculous. My feet were moving so fast, my body could hardly keep up.

It was a miracle I made it in time, my knees hitting the cold tile floor before vile forced its way up my throat and into the porcelain toilet bowl.

With each retch, my throat burned horribly. I was confused, tears running down my face while I thought to myself...what could I have eaten that made me so sick? I haven't had breakfast...Al offered, but I told him I wasn't hungry.

In reality, the mere thought of eating the eggs he prepared made me want to puke. A lot of the foods I normally would eat have been so repulsive to me lately.

The smell of coffee is nearly unbearable to me.

I'm getting a bit sick of it, if I'm being honest. Quite literally, it seems.

Once my body finally stopped heaving, I was shaking badly.

However, I did notice my headache was gone now, ironically.

I was gulping down air, trying to recover my breath. A gentle touch to my back made me tense up.

"Darling...have you been feeling unwell all morning...?" Al asked me softly.

His palm rubbed up and down my back, and my bottom lip quivered as I suddenly felt very emotional.

I sniffled, refusing to look at him. I look gross, I feel gross, I probably smell gross now...

"Baby..." he cooed, "why didn't you tell me you felt this way...? We could've stayed home, you don't need to—"

"You shouldn't have to worry about me so much!" I snapped, my tone sounding a lot more harsh than I'd meant for it to.

Immediately I looked up at him, tears brimming my eyes rapidly, "I-I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to sound so mean..." I whimpered.

He had a soft expression on his face, his lips forming a relaxed frown.

Then he smiled at me, shaking his head, "you're alright, my love...as for me worrying about you, it's only natural I would worry about the woman I love...wouldn't you worry about me if this situation were reversed?" He asked me, his tone still soft.

I sniffled again, lowering my eyes before I gave a slight nod.

Then I felt his palm against my head, and he tsk'd, "oh, my darling...you're burning. Come..." he began helping me up off the floor, and brought me out of the stall.

He quickly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wet it at the sink.

"You and I are going to take a little trip to mama's..." he mumbled slightly, wiping my face off thoroughly before holding the cloth to my stuffy nose.

I blew into it, and he wiped away the snot.

After I was relatively clean and calm, he tossed the handkerchief into the wastebasket, then took my hand in his.

"Come on, my dear..."

"B-but what about work?" I asked him as he lead me through the hallways to get back to the main office.

He chuckled, "darling, Niffty could clean this place in 20 minutes blindfolded and with one arm...your chores will be handled just fine. As for me, I've given my morning broadcast already, and Thomas won't mind filling in for the afternoon one once he sees you're unwell...don't worry, my love."

A bit of my anxiousness eased, and I relaxed a little.

Now that I've gotten whatever that was out of my system, I do feel a little better.

I really hope it's just a stomach bug and not the flu or something.

**

The soft jingle of the bell as we entered Edith's shop was familiar and calming.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as the scent brought me comfort. It reminds me of what I think a grandma probably smells like.

Alastor stopped to observe for a moment. The shop seemed empty, no Edith in sight.

"Mama?" Alastor called.

"I'm in the back, baby! Just stay right where ya at, I'll be there in a jiffy," she called back, to which Alastor tsk'd.

"That woman...forever concocting in that witchcraft hoard of hers," he muttered.

I snorted softly, "says the serial killer," I muttered back, elbowing him in the ribs playfully.

He snickered and then both of us snapped to attention when the loud clattering of Edith's beaded curtain was heard.

"Hello, my babies!" She sang, approaching us with her arms out.

Except, when she opened her eyes and saw me, her wide smile fell.

"Oh, dear..." she mumbled immediately.

Al hummed, "yes, it appears my Fawn doesn't feel too well, mama...she's been acting strange lately, as well, and just earlier she threw up. Do you have any medication for a stomach virus? Or would the healing jelly work if she ate some?"

Edith's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced up at Alastor, and then her eyes went down to my stomach and she just stared at me for a minute.

"Fawn, honeysuckle, come here..." she murmured, motioning me closer to her.

A little bit of worry gathered in my chest, and I took a hesitant step forward.

Why didn't she answer him?

And what's that look about...

Gently she placed her hand against my lower stomach, and her narrowed eyes slowly widened.

Again she looked up at Alastor.

"Mama, what's wrong with her? Is she alright?" Al asked, sounding a bit worried.

Edith chuckled, "well...there's nothing particularly wrong with her, dear."

She took her hand away from my stomach, and gave me a soft smile, "but I'm not exactly sure how to tell you two this...um...darlings, it appears little Fawn is currently carrying a child."

Everything around me stilled. I felt myself tense, my hands immediately covering my stomach.

"What...?" I gasped.

"You're pregnant, dear," she repeated.

My eyes widened and I just stared at her in disbelief. Pregnant?

Pregnant?!

But...the doctors said I'd never have fertile eggs...

Slowly, the sudden panic I felt melted away and a little smile quirked on my lips as I looked down at my stomach.

"Pregnant?" I asked softly, mostly to myself.

Then I looked up at Al, but a bit of my worry returned when he looked like someone had drained the blood out of his entire body.

Without saying a word he took Edith by the hand and lead her a good distance away from me.

Meanwhile I was left to stand here, wondering if I should be upset, or happy...

Alastor's POV

No.

This cannot be real...how...

Did she lie to me? Is that what happened?

How on earth did she get pregnant? She told me we wouldn't have to worry.

I felt ice cold, my hands starting to shake against my will.

Once I'd taken Edith out of earshot, I turned to face her.

"Are you being serious?" I asked her lowly.

She nodded, "yes, dear. I'm not exactly sure how, but...you seem to have gotten the girl pregnant."

So Edith knew about the infertility...meaning Fawn wasn't lying.

That eased a few of my nerves, but not all of them.

A baby...?

I cannot allow that. That cannot happen, I cannot have her bare my child into this world. No.

It was nice as a fantasy, but that's as far as I wanted it to go.

"Can you get rid of it?" I asked her, my voice hushed.

Immediately her features hardened and she glared at me.

"Alastor Alexandre Gabriel Broussard."

My eyes widened slightly after hearing my full name.

She was giving me the same look she gives me when I've done something that disappointed her.

"Edith..." I started, "I...I cannot have her give birth to my child, I'm not...I...I can't let that happen—"

"And what makes you think that's your decision to make?" She asked me, raising an eyebrow.

I felt frustrated suddenly, "Edith, get rid of it, or I'll do it myself," I hissed, narrowing my eyes.

After I said that, the disappointment in her eyes softened into sadness.

She shook her head and sighed, "you sound just like your daddy..." she said quietly.

My expression fell completely and my eyes widened. I lost my breath for a second, blinking in surprise at what she just said to me.

Those words felt like a punch to the stomach.

My father...? How could she say that to me...

Before I could formulate something to respond with, she grabbed my chin harshly and jerked my head to the side.

For the first time since we walked in here, I got a good look at Fawn.

She wasn't worried about us...she was more preoccupied with touching her stomach.

And she was smiling...

"How exactly are you planning to take that baby out of her belly...what would you do, Alastor?" Edith asked me softly.

My brows furrowed and I looked down shamefully.

"Those little spirits you play with are nothing more than scavengers that feed off the dead and lost souls you bring them. They help you for the ultimate price, and nothing less. Do you honestly think they would be gentle with her if you asked them to remove something from inside her?"

My eyes closed and I sighed.

Turning back to Edith, I kept my eyes down, feeling ashamed of myself.

She lifted my chin gently, "look at me, baby..." she requested, and reluctantly, I did.

"I know this is a lot to take in...but this is not your decision to make, darling. You may have given her the child...but she's the one carrying it inside her body. It is her choice."

All I could manage was a small nod, "yes ma'am...I apologize for the way I spoke to you just now..." I mumbled.

I felt her cool touch against my cheek, and she brushed her thumb under my eye.

"Alastor...I know you're just scared, my love...don't be sorry for being frightened...now, go speak to her. I'm sure she's waiting anxiously to hear what you have'ta say about this..."

My chest bunched up in knots.

I cleared my throat and covered her hand with mine, turning my head to kiss her palm gently as another form of apology.

Then I made my way back to Fawn.

When she noticed me coming near her, she lifted her bright green eyes up to me and smiled.

"I-is it true, Al? I'm pregnant?" She asked, and even I could hear the hope in her voice.

My expression softened, and I smiled back at her before nodding.

Her smile faded slightly, "you're...not happy, are you..." she said, her eyes falling as her voice became dampened with...heartache.

I realized then...me telling her I didn't want this child would absolutely shatter her heart.

Instead of lifting her eyes to mine, I lowered to my knees so I was below her. Taking her hands in mine, I brought them both to my lips and kissed them.

"I love you...and whatever makes you happy, will make me happy."

I looked up into her eyes, and she just stared down at me for a second. Her smile that had fallen returned instantly.

"Children."

She and I both perked up and I turned to face Edith.

She was standing by her curtain, and pulled it back with a slightly melancholy smile on her face.

"I hate to...intrude on your moment...but...please come sit. What I'm about to tell you might be difficult to hear."