STRONG WOMAN

THREE WEEKS LATER


Nick watched as the night gradually crept in and Ava was still sleeping. She woke up twice to urinate and that was the time he'd forced her to eat… it was such a difficult task to do.



She didn't want to eat. Although Nick didn't know much about her preferences for food, one thing he knew for sure was that Ava liked Croissants.




But now, she said Croissants make her feel like vomiting and she doesn't like the smell of salad.




It had not been easy for him and when he'd told Reid about it, he said perhaps she was sick but Ava kept saying she was fine.




“I’m hungry, Nick,” her sleepy voice snapped Nick out of his thoughts.




Nick jumped to his feet, grinning. “Right away, Princess. You can go back to your room and wait,”




Ava went back to wait but fell asleep instead. Nick got out to buy the food and then woke her up and she ate. Then she went back to sleep.




Nick sighed and left the room.



The following noon, Ava came into the kitchen and saw Nick preparing lunch.




“What are you cooking_?” the words hadn't left her mouth fully before she was staring back at her breakfast in the kitchen sink.




“That's it. Get ready now and let’s go to the hospital to have you checked up,” Nick said in a final tone.



Ava rinsed her mouth and face before turning toward Nick. “I don't think that's necessary, Nick. I’m fine_”




“I've had enough of you're fine, Princess, when you're clearly not fine. I'm being assigned to take good care of you and trust me when I say it can cost my arm and leg or even my head if anything should happen to you,” Nick joked at last and he was glad when Ava's lips stretched to a smile.



************

“Congratulations, ma’am, you're four weeks pregnant,” The doctor said to Ava and her eyes widened in shock instantly.



“W-What did you just s-say, Doctor?” she stuttered, sitting upright and leaning towards the table.




The private doctor smiled at her so kindly and repeated the news.




“You are four weeks pregnant, my dear. Well, a little over a month, you're exactly five weeks pregnant,”




Shuddering, Ava tried to recall the last time she had sex with Zac before his disappearance and she soon remembered that it was during Genevieve’s birthday and marriage.





First, it was on the ship while they were going, without any protection, and then twice at Genevieve’s place. They had raw sex for the first time and now the result has come out but Zac wasn't there.





Thinking of Zac brought tears to her eyes and the doctor held her hands on the table, smiling warmly at her, “It’s alright, dear. Are you scared that you won't be able to make a good mother?”





Ava looked up at the doctor and nodded, “But that's not the problem, ma’am. My man has been away for over three weeks with no phone calls or messages. I'm so scared,”





“Without him around, do I need to keep the baby?” Ava asked, patiently. More tears welled up in her eyes.





The doctor was silent for a fraction of a second before saying, “I don't know why your man hasn't been around but do you love him and believe he'll come back to you no matter what?”





Ava gulped and lowered her head. It has been three good weeks and still nothing from him. She longs for a call and at least a message from him every day and night but to no avail.




“I love him so much, ma’am,” she burst into tears, her shoulders quivering very hard.




“Then hold onto your love, honey. Don't you wanna see the fruit between you two? The pretty little thing that would be so joyful to have such endearing parents as you two?”





Ava even cried harder after listening to the doctor’s words and the doctor really took her time by saying soothing words to her.





After Ava stopped crying, the doctor began again, “You’ve got nothing to worry about, dear. I'll give you medical instructions and procedures for everything.




We’ll give you all the books you need to read and educative movies about pregnancy and childbirth you need to watch,”




“You might not be registering here, it's totally fine. All you have to do is to follow the instructions, read a lot and watch a lot. You will most definitely be fine,”




“It’s fine, Doctor. I'll just register with you here. Thank you very much for your time and words,” Ava said gratefully.




“It’s my pleasure, dear. Come with me to start the registration,” The doctor stood up and together, they left her office.



***


“For real, Princess? You're pregnant?” Nick asked again, his eyes broadening with glee.



Ava chuckled and nodded, “Yes, I am,”



“Woo-hoo hoo!” Nick screeched in rejoicing and rounded Ava over and over again.




“Stop it, Nick,” Ava laughed along with him and then he stopped his antics and came to crouch right in front of Ava.




Ava frowned, “Now what are you doing?”




“You’re pregnant now, my lady. You shouldn't be walking for a long time. And from here to the garage is a long distance. Therefore, hop on my back. I'll carry you from now on,” Nick enunciated naturally not knowing how greatly his words had affected Ava.





She mentally asked herself that would Zac also behave like this after learning about their baby?




Several seconds passed, but Ava was still not getting on. Nick looked back and became frightened after he saw that Ava’s face was now full of tears.





“Pardon me, Princess. Alright let’s walk then. I won't force you,” he stated softly. And they both started heading to the hospital lot together.




————


“Surprise!!!” multiple voices rang out as soon as Ava and Nick stepped into the house.





The light came on and Ava was struck dumb to see her best friends in a jolly mood. Party hats over their heads while holding lots of balloons.





“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Hazel came forward and hugged and kissed her.





Ava was even more surprised, “How did you find out already? We were just coming from the hospital,”





“Reid called and told me, baby,” Hazel replied, caressing Ava’s cheeks.





Ava’s brows furrowed as she shifted her gaze toward Reid who grinned while pointing a finger at Nick, “He shared the good news with me first,”






“Yes, Your Highness. I couldn't contain my happiness. So I sent Reid a text first,” Nick beamed, revealing all his teeth.






Ava just rolled her eyes at him as she couldn't even get mad at him.






“Oh my, I'm so sorry sweetheart,” Freya sobbed, getting closer and wrapped her arms around Ava.





“It would have been so great if Zac is here, isn't it? Where is he, and why would he not be here on a joyous day like this?” she whimpered, hugging Ava to herself.






The rest of the audience exchanged a worried glance among themselves.






“Is she here to celebrate with her or ruin the mood?” Nick asked Hazel through gritted teeth.






Hazel didn't even know how to answer the question as she couldn't figure out what's going in Freya’s head. They all had an agreement not to mention Zac in Ava’s presence and look what she’s doing.






“Who’s this stupid girl? Who invited her? Reid directed his cold words to Caleb since he was the only one standing very close to him.





“She’s also Ava’s friend. I'm sorry,” Caleb apologized softly, also feeling enraged inwardly and for the first time, he had the urge to raise his hands at a woman.






“Zac would be so happy to hear about the pregnancy, wouldn't he? By now, you guys would be dragging on about the gender you both want, isn't it?” Freya was still talking on when someone suddenly pushed her aside.





Ava gave a smile full of bitterness before scurrying off.





“Are you mad?





“Are you out of your senses?”





“Do you know the implication of what you just did?”




Hazel, Caleb, and Reid shouted with one voice and Freya seemed to reflect on her action soon.





“I just couldn't help it. I feel so sorry for my Ava,” she started sobbing all over again, covering her face with her hands.





“You’ll never cease to amaze me every day, Freya. Is this our agreement?” Hazel questioned, clearly disappointed in Freya’s behavior.





However, Freya had not uttered any words before Hazel marched off, going in the same direction as Ava.





“I understand how you feel but you shouldn't have been careless. Ava is going through a lot right now, she's just trying to be strong,” Nick counseled in a calm tone. He noticed that Freya didn't mean any harm.





Some moments later. The atmosphere seemed to have returned back to normal as Hazel had effectively brightened Ava’s mood and then took her out of her bedroom.






Nick and Caleb brought some cookies, popcorn, chocolates, juices, and wines to the girls at the center of the living room.





“How about you answer some of my jokes, Ava?” Freya suggested, beaming.





“I don't know jokes, Freya,” Ava retorted, frowning.





“Let’s find out,” Freya then cleared her throat and readjusted on the floor.





Everyone also paid attention, including Reid, waiting for Freya’s jokes.





“What does a house wear?” Freya asked with a crooked grin.





Ava’s mouth lifted in a grin, “Paints?”





“Veranda?” Nick put in.




“Courtyard?” Caleb also added but Freya shook her head.





“No, it's address,” Freya told them and they all broke out in hearty laughter.





“Another one. Why do ducks have feathers?”




Reid puckered his brows, “To fly?”





“To cover their quacks!” Freya yelled the answer and everyone started laughing again.






Ava especially. She stuck a knuckle into her mouth, letting the hysteria take over.






Seeing her laughing like this put everyone in an excited mood and Hazel even tugged at Freya to tell more of the jokes.






“Ava, did you hear about the painter who was hospitalized?” Freya inquired.





Ava became serious and shook her head sideways, “No. What happened to him?”




“The doctor says it was due to many strokes,” Freya giggled.





Ava’s high-pitched laughter took over the place and everyone couldn't hide the adoration look on their faces while looking at her.




She's really a strong woman.






Gradually and gradually, a month became two months and three and four, five, six, seven, and right to the ninth month.





Ava woke up feeling terrible. Since she entered her ninth month, she felt so terrible all the time. Her back hurts a lot all the time. Her waist hurt sometimes. Her belly was as big as a house. Everywhere hurts.





But all in all, she's still happy, knowing that very soon she will be carrying her baby in her arms.





Although, she didn't know the gender of the baby yet. She had denied the test and wanted it to come as a surprise. She would be happy whatever the gender her baby is.





Gently, she made her way out of the bed to start the day and went out.




There she found Freya and Caleb displaying their lovey-dovey while cleaning the place.




“Uhm uhmm” she cleared her throat and they both turned in her direction, smiling shyly and greeting her softly.






“Shameless couple,” she hissed at them playfully before following the familiar voice of Reid, Hazel, and Nick talking. They were in the kitchen when she walked in.






Over the months, all of them spend most of their time with Ava in order to keep her happy. And for those months, they were the ones doing the chores in the house and it made her so grateful to have such wonderful people around her.




Hazel was cooking while Reid and Nick did the dishes.




“Good morning, my people,” Ava greeted and a smile spread across their faces.




“How are you doing this morning?” Reid asked, concerned.





“I feel terrible but better than yesterday,” She answered truthfully before pecking Hazel’s cheeks.





“It will be over soon, baby,” Hazel assured her in a sweet voice.




Ava nodded and then walked around the kitchen only to find Nick staring at her amusingly. She knew what he was going to say and glared at him.





“Don't say it, Nick!” she hissed, trying to stop him but he said it anyway.




“You waggle like a huge duck, Princess,” he laughed out loud.




“Nick!” Ava cried out, disgruntled..