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Fire Opal ( 8 ) : On a cold winter night, there’s nothing nicer than burning a nice log in the fire. Looking like any average piece of lumber, the neatly chopped log you selected has no clear indication that there’s something special about it–until the fire gets to it. A typical fire should be red and orange and yellow, and yet this one circles through all colors of the rainbow. It smells fragrant and pleasant, and there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with it–it just burns in beautiful, vibrant colors. As the wood burns, opalescent cracks appear through it, casting a shimmering light enhanced by the flames. By the end of it, only rainbow embers remain, sparkling like dark opals, and even they eventually lose their color and crumble away.
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Today seemed like it would be a nice cozy day given the fact that all of her stuff was finally moved into Quinn’s apartment and she also has one of her employees renting out the living quarters of her jewelry store. The choice to be at the lake house was a nice one and she loved the views that it offered. Granted, her employee would not be able to access the store or her office after work hours but that was fine with them. Just in case (because you can't be too careful), Anna input some added security since she would no longer be living above the store. It made her cringe inside but she had to ask for help installing the security system when ordinarily she could've done it herself.
Her mother did warn her that carrying a baby would come with symptoms and she did her due diligence and looked things up when she could, scheduled appointments and took her prenatal vitamins. However, the vitamins did not stop the fact that she was constantly tired, her chest was slightly swollen and sore, and god the morning sickness was killer. There were times when she couldn't even walk into a grocery store if she smelled anything remotely close to garlic or the strangest one, potatoes. Fries? Nope. Baked potato? Definitely not. If she wanted roasted garlic to use as a spread? Hell no. She was running to the bathroom so fast she didn't even realize she was getting sick in the toilet.
Sighing with a cup of hot coco in her hand on the couch, Anna watched the flames on the fireplace with a smile. Sure, it's a bit hard right now, but she figured the morning sickness would fade. Her mother never had it when she was pregnant but everyone’s body is different when it comes to certain things. Looking down at her watch she frowned. Quinn went out to get firewood and while she knew the store was a bit far she didn't think he would take too long, especially if he drove. It was the holidays so maybe there was traffic? He also hopefully had the lemon tarts she usually craves so much. It's a specific recipe from a specific restaurant. As much as she wished she could just have the grocery store ones noooooo….Apparently this baby had some refined tastes and would only tolerate this particular lemon tart.
It was….Strange considering their parentage.
Her mother did warn her that carrying a baby would come with symptoms and she did her due diligence and looked things up when she could, scheduled appointments and took her prenatal vitamins. However, the vitamins did not stop the fact that she was constantly tired, her chest was slightly swollen and sore, and god the morning sickness was killer. There were times when she couldn't even walk into a grocery store if she smelled anything remotely close to garlic or the strangest one, potatoes. Fries? Nope. Baked potato? Definitely not. If she wanted roasted garlic to use as a spread? Hell no. She was running to the bathroom so fast she didn't even realize she was getting sick in the toilet.
Sighing with a cup of hot coco in her hand on the couch, Anna watched the flames on the fireplace with a smile. Sure, it's a bit hard right now, but she figured the morning sickness would fade. Her mother never had it when she was pregnant but everyone’s body is different when it comes to certain things. Looking down at her watch she frowned. Quinn went out to get firewood and while she knew the store was a bit far she didn't think he would take too long, especially if he drove. It was the holidays so maybe there was traffic? He also hopefully had the lemon tarts she usually craves so much. It's a specific recipe from a specific restaurant. As much as she wished she could just have the grocery store ones noooooo….Apparently this baby had some refined tastes and would only tolerate this particular lemon tart.
It was….Strange considering their parentage.
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He hit the button to open the garage and quickly maneuvered the car in, sending the garage door down behind him. Quinn quickly pilled up his arms and eased his way into the mudroom where he deposited the bags he had, a few more trips had a whole mess but it was all inside, and Quinn quickly started to sort everything out. “Anna, I’m back!” He called out as he carried bag after bag into the kitchen. The lakehouse’s floor plan wasn’t exactly an ease of entry when coming in from the garage but it was too damn cold to hoof everything from outside and through the front door, besides he still would have had a hall to navigate. Granted, the whole space had been built for the view of the lake, the lake that was currently picturesque with winter bare branches and a light coating of snow making the view ever so wintery. He was just glad it wasn’t actively snowing since it would have made his drive down into the city a massive pain in the a**.
“Have you eaten anything Anna?” He asked absently, puttering around in the kitchen putting everything away. Everything they would need for the smallish vacation he was able to wrangle. He would still need to spend a few hours each day working on paperwork but that's what the den, aka the spare bedroom, was set up for. That was for tomorrow though, right now his focus was on his fiance, and the baby of course. “Anna?” Quinn asked again, this time turning to face her since the most pressing items were already put away. He knew that morning sickness was taking a toll on her but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try. He just wished he could either make her feel better or take on the burden of being sick for her.
“Have you eaten anything Anna?” He asked absently, puttering around in the kitchen putting everything away. Everything they would need for the smallish vacation he was able to wrangle. He would still need to spend a few hours each day working on paperwork but that's what the den, aka the spare bedroom, was set up for. That was for tomorrow though, right now his focus was on his fiance, and the baby of course. “Anna?” Quinn asked again, this time turning to face her since the most pressing items were already put away. He knew that morning sickness was taking a toll on her but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try. He just wished he could either make her feel better or take on the burden of being sick for her.
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There was a soft smile on her face the moment she heard Quinn coming into the house. Anna went back to staring at the fire for a bit, frowning when it looked like the flames were becoming rainbow-esque. Interesting….She stared for a bit longer before hearing her fiance call her again. “Hummmn?” Did she eat? She looked down at the cocoa, did this drink count? She really wasn't all that hungry and if there was garlic involved….She definitely wasn't hungry. “No…But I'm not hungry…Cocoa seemed to fill me at the moment.” She blinked and looked back at the fire, “Quinn, have you seen this? Look!” She pointed to the rainbow flames, “It's beautiful ~” her brown eyes were in awe at the sight before her.
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“Anna,” He sighed and tossed a bagel in the toaster, “I know you really don’t want to, but you really should try to eat something.” Morning sickness had been horrid for her so he knew better to push her on it but that didn’t mean he didn’t quickly plate up the slightly toasted whole wheat bagel, siding it with some jelly, and carry it out of the kitchen into the great room where Anna was snuggled up on the couch.
He placed the little ‘treat’ down on the coffee table and joined her on the couch, tucking himself next to her. “Seen what?” Quinn asked absently even as he tucked the blanket around her more securely, leaning in to kiss her gently on the temple. “Try eating a little when you feel up for it darling,” He didn’t ‘order’ her to eat even if it was tempting to see if it would work. Honestly, right now he didn’t want to stress her out so he just sat back and focused on the fireplace, especially since she was trying to point something out.
It didn’t take him very long to notice the flames shifting colors. Quinn narrowed his eyes and kept silent, while it was pretty it was suspicious as hell. He hadn’t bought any of those color changing packets, nor was any of the wood that was stacked special in any way. There were a few of those creosote bricks in the garage to help keep the flue clear of creosote build up but the wood that was stacked next to the fireplace was normal, everyday wood. All locally sourced to keep down invasive pests and the like. He watched as the flames just shifted from one color to the next, weary but also willing to admit that it really was beautiful. “Not as beautiful as you of course,” He teased Anna, his eyes flicking out to the deck outside. “I don’t suppose you would want to go for a little walk would you?” It would get them both out of the house just in case the ‘pretty’ flames were up to no good, and it would get her moving, which was never a bad thing for her health and the health of the baby.
He placed the little ‘treat’ down on the coffee table and joined her on the couch, tucking himself next to her. “Seen what?” Quinn asked absently even as he tucked the blanket around her more securely, leaning in to kiss her gently on the temple. “Try eating a little when you feel up for it darling,” He didn’t ‘order’ her to eat even if it was tempting to see if it would work. Honestly, right now he didn’t want to stress her out so he just sat back and focused on the fireplace, especially since she was trying to point something out.
It didn’t take him very long to notice the flames shifting colors. Quinn narrowed his eyes and kept silent, while it was pretty it was suspicious as hell. He hadn’t bought any of those color changing packets, nor was any of the wood that was stacked special in any way. There were a few of those creosote bricks in the garage to help keep the flue clear of creosote build up but the wood that was stacked next to the fireplace was normal, everyday wood. All locally sourced to keep down invasive pests and the like. He watched as the flames just shifted from one color to the next, weary but also willing to admit that it really was beautiful. “Not as beautiful as you of course,” He teased Anna, his eyes flicking out to the deck outside. “I don’t suppose you would want to go for a little walk would you?” It would get them both out of the house just in case the ‘pretty’ flames were up to no good, and it would get her moving, which was never a bad thing for her health and the health of the baby.
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Anna knew Quinn was right so she took a couple of bites from the bagel he provided, still looking at the pretty flames. As soon as he sat down and tucked the blanket around her she leaned over to rest her head on his side, yawning and looking up at him with a smile. “No one told me carrying another human would be so tiring…” she was tired more often, but joking since her mother told her all about what would and could potentially happen during her pregnancy.
She noticed his frown and returned it with one of her own. Anna has noticed that Quinn was….Strange around this time of year. More protective, always seeming like something was going on behind the scenes. Like now. “Something wrong?” There didn't seem to be any immediate danger, so she was wondering if he could sense something she couldn't? There was a blush at the compliment and a shaking of her head when he asked if she would like to go for a walk. “No, I'm….Sadly starting to feel tired again.” She took another, more generous bite of the bagel, “I'm fine here but I might pass out.”
Indeed carrying and growing another human being really was taxing.
She noticed his frown and returned it with one of her own. Anna has noticed that Quinn was….Strange around this time of year. More protective, always seeming like something was going on behind the scenes. Like now. “Something wrong?” There didn't seem to be any immediate danger, so she was wondering if he could sense something she couldn't? There was a blush at the compliment and a shaking of her head when he asked if she would like to go for a walk. “No, I'm….Sadly starting to feel tired again.” She took another, more generous bite of the bagel, “I'm fine here but I might pass out.”
Indeed carrying and growing another human being really was taxing.
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“Nothing important sweetheart,” Quinn assured her while putting an arm around her and letting her rest against him. He really wished she wanted to go on a walk but he wouldn’t push her. “We can always take a walk after a nap. Naps are always doctor approved after all.” He smiled down at her even as he did his best to get as comfortable as he could since it looked like they would be there for a while.
The fireplace was still shifting colors but it wasn’t quite as strong as before. All he could do was stay vigilant and keep an eye on the situation. “What did you do while I was in the city?” He questioned quietly, listening to the relaxing sounds of the fire crackling and popping. It was so quiet out here at the lake it was like they were the only two in the world. For him it really was a welcome break from the city.
The fireplace was still shifting colors but it wasn’t quite as strong as before. All he could do was stay vigilant and keep an eye on the situation. “What did you do while I was in the city?” He questioned quietly, listening to the relaxing sounds of the fire crackling and popping. It was so quiet out here at the lake it was like they were the only two in the world. For him it really was a welcome break from the city.
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She frowned a bit but didn't push any further. Maybe one day she would get him to tell her but it seemed like that was not going to be today. Anna yawned again, feeling her eyelids growing heavy. She snorted at the fact that naps were doctor approved, snuggling some more before she closed her eyes. “I just made cocoa and started the fire place…Nothing much. Your child does not allow me that much freedom apparently.” Usually she would pull out her laptop and start working on some sales for her shop as well as some figures but morning sickness usually wears her out before she could do anything productive. Combine this with her fatigue, and she had to contact her second to do the work for her, something she only liked to do in emergency situations.
“I have paperwork to do and I had to relinquish that to Cassidy. So…I sadly have nothing to do.” she yawned again, trying to stay awake for a bit longer but it was quickly becoming an uphill battle.
“I have paperwork to do and I had to relinquish that to Cassidy. So…I sadly have nothing to do.” she yawned again, trying to stay awake for a bit longer but it was quickly becoming an uphill battle.
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“Sorry about that,” He apologized. This was as new to her as it was to him, MJ practically came to him as a fully formed human so he had no idea just what kind of strain was put on an expectant mother. He just hoped that once this first trimester had passed she would get some of her energy back. As cute as it was to have her snuggling against him, almost dozing off, it was still with a pang of guilt since he knew she was as driven as he was, if not more so. “Just close your eyes, Cassidy’s got it and in a little bit you will be refreshed enough to take over.”
He started to hum softly even as he repetitively rubbed her back. She was safe. It was ok to nap. He was here. Quinn wasn’t even aware that he had started to hum a lullaby that had been used on him since he was a child. One his own mother had used so very long ago. The flames continued to burn down, opalescent cracks appearing through the wood, casting a shimmering light across the fire only to disappear up the chimney. Quinn yawned and blinked slowly. The desire to doze off was seeping in but no he needed to stay awake. Even if he didn’t want to.
He started to hum softly even as he repetitively rubbed her back. She was safe. It was ok to nap. He was here. Quinn wasn’t even aware that he had started to hum a lullaby that had been used on him since he was a child. One his own mother had used so very long ago. The flames continued to burn down, opalescent cracks appearing through the wood, casting a shimmering light across the fire only to disappear up the chimney. Quinn yawned and blinked slowly. The desire to doze off was seeping in but no he needed to stay awake. Even if he didn’t want to.
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Anna giggled at that. “My eyes are closed Quinn…” But none the less she did quiet down, drifting off slowly to whatever Quinn was humming, feeling safe and secure. Hopefully, when she was feeling better, she could go on and take care of her business and when the second trimester hit, start running the floor once more. For right now, she allowed herself to rest on Quinn and enjoy the mini vacation provided. Soon enough both were asleep on the couch with the last of the opalescent embers dying down. Clearly that walk would have to come later.
”Fiction119”
