I changed mermaid Fawn's design a little.

Y'all want some mermaid AU lore? 👀

Yea you do.

Fawn is the princess of the seven seas. Her father is ruthless ruler, putting his people second to himself.

This, of course, leads to some of his citizens getting fed up. A few of them gather and call upon Alastor...the "Demon Shark" of the Dead Sea.

They tell him of their issues, telling him to get the kings attention he needs to kill the princess. He thinks nothing of this, assuming the princess is just like the one who raised her.

Then he meets her, and realizes she's actually quite innocent, and very kind. This leads to him visiting her multiple times, very curious about the small mermaid princess. He's never met something so delicate before, and inevitably falls in love with her.

Fawn's POV

Weeks passed by like minutes. Every Friday Al and I would go straight from the studio to mama's shop so she could give me my check up.

In all reality, it wasn't very eventful.

Alastor fell into a bit of a routine. Wake up, feed me, give me my vitamins, go to work, feed me again, take me out for fresh air, come home, disappear for a few hours every other night.

I told him recently I think he should still try to be careful, but he informed me the police are back to being "brainless fools with no how and no way of figuring him out".

So, I dropped it. If he's confident, I trust him. From what I gather, he's been doing this for years and no one has ever cracked the case.

However...that detective's eyes still haunt my dreams every once in a while. I haven't seen him since that day, but something about him gave me the creeps.

But there's no use in dwelling on those things now. Not when I'm going to see Edith for what will be my fourth checkup today!

I looked up at Al with a smile, our hands intertwined.

He stood tall and proud like always, perfect posture and an expensive air about him.

However, it all softened when he noticed me staring at him.

Those brown eyes trained on me and we came to halt in our steps just outside the shop.

"Yes, my darling?" He asked, tilting his head.

I shrugged and shook my head, "Nothin', I was just thinking," I said, keeping my little smile.

"Whatever about?" He retorted, to which I squeezed his hand lightly.

"How much I love you," I responded, feeling especially mushy in this particular moment.

I'm not sure really what I was thinking about as I observed him, but I feel like me admiring him could be summed up to how much I love him.

His cheeks gained a soft pink tint, and he blinked back in mild surprise. Then, he rolled his eyes and took his hand from behind his back to hook it around my waist and pull me close to him.

Before I even knew what was happening, his lips were pressed against mine and my eyes were wide open.

Not long after realizing what was happening, I let my eyes close and melted into the soft kiss.

He pulled back far too soon for my liking, and then put his lips next to my ear.

"I love you, too," he whispered, making me shiver slightly.

Once he let go of me, he pulled back with a smirk on his face. My cheeks were burning with what I can only assume is a bright red blush, and I punched his shoulder gently.

"You're mean," I giggled as he opened the door for me.

"Only to you, my dear," he hummed in response as we entered the tranquil shop.

The fall collection of clothing was dwindling, taking up space on the sale's racks as the winter styles dominated the main shopping area.

Since Louisiana doesn't necessarily get cold, these we're simple thin long sleeve tops, or cool toned blouses.

My skirt or pants would go nicely with any of them, and I made mental note of that.

Edith was over at the register, helping an elderly woman check out. Alastor and I both noticed this, and politely wandered over to the shopping area to wait for her to be finished.

As I was thumbing through the blouses, my mind wondered to the holidays. Christmas is steadily approaching, meaning I need to get something for Alastor...

What would he even want?

He never really expressed a desire for things, and when he does, he simply buys it on the spot. I actually have a bit of my own money now from working at the station, but I never get to spend it because Al insists on treating me.

"Taking care of me" as he calls it.

However, I am determined to buy him a gift and surprise him. Although, I'm not sure how I'm going to accomplish that when he practically watches me like a hawk every single day.

As any good soon-to-be father would for the mother of his child, but it still puts a hindrance on my plan.

I became distracted in my own thoughts, only just barely hearing Alastor say my name.

"Hm? What'd you say, baby, I'm sorry I was...I spaced out," I explained and he blinked at me, a bit of worry creasing his brow.

He leaned down to see me a bit better.

"Are you alright? You don't feel weak, do you? Are you hungry?" He fell into the same spiral of questions he always does when I express any discomfort or there's an irregularity in my behavior.

I chuckled, "I'm alright, Al, no need to freak out. I promise," I reassured him, and that seemed to work as he relaxed a bit and stood up straight once more.

He cleared his throat, "ok, good...Edith is ready for us now," he said, holding a hand out for me to take.

I did so, and followed him back the same way to mama's spell room that we always go. When we got back there, she was already waiting with the regular setup.

A small couch for me to lay on, and her cauldron set up next to it. She uses a special form of medicinal magic that lets her check my bodily health, followed by a different spell that shows her something similar to an ultrasound when she hovers her hand over my stomach.

The picture is shown in the cauldron.

The entire process is very neat, and something I'm still getting used to.

"Hey mama," I greeted her, heading over to the couch to settle in.

"Hello, honeysuckle, how are you feeling?" She asked me as she got into her usual spot.

"Oh, I'm alright..." I let out a sigh as I relaxed into the couch, "just some soreness in my hips and back, but other than that I feel alright."

She hummed, "that's all normal, honeydew. As long as you don't see any bleeding or have any unusual cramping pains, then we're all good," she assured me as she checked my vitals.

"Heartbeat is normal...everything seems in perfect condition..." she mumbled to herself, and then hummed softly.

Before I know it, we're doing the "ultrasound".

Edith's hand hovered over my belly, making me have to stifle a giggle when she would graze me with her fingers occasionally.

"Oh...would you look at that..." Edith said, and I could practically hear the smile in her voice. I looked over, but I couldn't see the into cauldron from where I was situated.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"Well...I can just see a little bitty head and the beginnings of a body...along with a tiny heartbeat," she said softly, and my eyes widened.

For the last few visits, nothing has been visible on ultrasound just because the embryo was so small.

"What, really?!" I asked excitedly, and Alastor moved from his spot next to me to be closer to the cauldron.

I studied his expression as he gazed into the swirling liquid, and watched as his eyes softened.

Slowly he reached forward and brushed his fingers over the image that I couldn't see, "right there?" He asked softly, looking to Edith.

She nodded, "yes, honey. That's your little baby, beating heart and all," she said.

Excitement sparked through my chest, and I smiled wider. Up until now, each visit has been nerve wracking. We never knew what would be the result, because the pregnancy was so new it would've been easy for my body to just expel the foreign object.

But now it's got a heartbeat.

"Can you feel the heart? Beating, I mean..." Al asked, softly still.

Edith chuckled, "of course, darling. Would you like to feel as well?" She asked, and Al's eyes widened as he suddenly looked taken aback.

"Me? I...I can do that?" He responded, sounding a bit hesitant, "w-what if...what if I hurt it, I..."

The look Edith gave him was one of amusement, but also knowing.

"Alastor, sweet boy...come here. You won't hurt the baby," she reassured, urging him closer.

Hesitantly, he did so. She took his hand in hers, and held his palm over my stomach before gently pressing into me.

Again I watched for his reaction, living vicariously through him for these experiences.

His brow furrowed and he seemed concentrated before his expression melted into one of shock. Then he laughed slightly, and I swear I even saw his eyes get a little glossy.

"Wow...that's..." he seemed at a loss for words, and looked up a me, "fantastic...you are fantastic..." he said, his tone one of awe.

I smiled sheepishly and hid my blushing face, "stop it..." I mumbled with a little smile.

Edith smiled, "yes, this is truly wonderful. It's going so much better than I could've ever hoped, and so far everything is just peachy keen!"

She said these words with pure happiness, and then waved her hand and the cauldron disappeared. I sat up, and Alastor quickly scurried back to my side and took on of my hands to help me.

"I'm not that pregnant yet," I scoffed with a playful smile, to which he hummed, and helped me up anyway.

There was a soft chuckle from the older woman across from us.

"Ah, no, honeydew but you'll get there. Speaking of, since the pregnancy is well on its way to bein' stable, you gotta start thinkin' about when you start to show."

My eyes widened and I suddenly remembered that little part.

People will most definitely ask questions as my belly gets bigger.

"Oh, yea," I said softly, and Edith waved her hand.

"I'd just find a way to let your all's friends be aware a' the situation," she said, and her tone made it sound like no big deal.

However, me being pregnant may very well be a big deal to other people. We're in a time where pregnancy outside of marriage is a big ol' solid blinking red lighted no-no.

But, in my not so humble opinion, they can kiss my ass on both cheeks.

And then choke on Al's knife when he kills them for it.

"Alrighty, thank you very much as always, mama," Alastor said, and we started to walk back towards the beaded curtain.

Edith cleared her throat, and we turned to look at her. He arms were crossed, one hip cocked to the side sassily.

"Um, I believe you children owe me your payment?" She hummed, raising an eyebrow.

I giggled slightly and Al chuckled, "yes, yes," he mumbled, walking us back over to her.

He leaned down first, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her pout turned into a smile and then it was my turn.

I gave her a kiss on her other cheek.

"That's much better!" She said, throwing her hands onto her hips, "you two rascals be safe now! Remember your vitamins, and come see me if anything unexpected happens, baby girl!"

I nodded, waving to her as we turned to leave, "I will, mama! See you soon," I called back, to which she blew a kiss at me and waved.

Then she turned and began cleaning up a little bit, waving her hands and causing several items to begin moving on their own.

Which is something I don't think I'll ever get used to.

After Al and I emerged back into the main shop, we started to head for the door.

"Alright, darling, how about you and I—"

"Fawn?!"

A high pitched voice made me jump slightly, and I turned to see Niffty...

And she was with Tom.

Their arms were looped, and she was wearing an adorable yellow dress with bright pink kitten heels.

Tom was dressed rather casually, wearing a simple slate grey dress shirt. This was paired with deep navy slacks.

They must've changed out of their work clothes to have a casual little shopping date. How cute.

I smiled brightly, immediately pulled Al over to them.

"Hi, guys!" I greeted, "fancy seein' y'all over this way."

Niff rolled her good eye, nudging Tom in the side, "this silly goose managed to tear up his coat! He dropped it off here to get it fixed, we're just picking it up before we go find somewhere to eat dinner," she explained.

Ah, that's why he wore a different coat to work today.

Tom simply smiled and shrugged.

It was then that an idea popped into my head, making me perk up, "oh! Niffty, do you still need to do Christmas shopping?"

Her smile widened immediately as if she picked up a telepathic message from me, "yes I do! Do you wanna have a girl's day and go out with me?" She asked without me even needing to bring it up.

I nodded, and then immediately looked up at Al hopefully.

He glanced between us, narrowing his eyes slightly before he shrugged, "I don't see a problem with that...I need to do a bit of shopping myself."

When he said that he smiled wider, gaining a shine in his eye.

I didn't have time to wonder what he was planning, excited to have the chance to shop for him.

"Yay!" I chirped, squeezing his hand.

We all shared a few parting words, setting the shopping date for tomorrow. Niffty said we can meet back here in the afternoon since we both know where it is.

Then we left the shop, going to head home for the night.