(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)
When I show the girls the pregnancy test result, Alice and Paula get as excited as I am, but Fiona remains frozen in her place. Maybe it is my imagination but she even looks a little bit upset. It takes her a few minutes to digest the news, and then she congratulates me in the coldest way possible and leaves the restroom hastily.
“What is her problem?” Paula asks as we watch her leave.
“Maybe she is jealous, she is always talking about having a baby… maybe she thought she would have one before Aubrey,” Alice replies shrugging.
“That’s childish,” Paula comments.
I do not say anything. Knowing how much Fiona wants a baby, Alice is probably right, but ri
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)We over sleep which means I arrive at the Ministry of Females an hour late. The Grand Fertility Forum is practically ready and there is nothing else for me to do. I look around the Forum astonished with how it looks, I have to say that the Bearers did a spectacular job and the place looks incredible. The party will start at noon when the Matrons are going to summon Mother Constance to the Forum under a false pretext and then we all will give her the surprise. Group 11 is not here, I only see the Matrons who are supervising the decorations and the food. Matron Mary Ann sees me and starts walking towards me, she probably is going to reprimand me for being late, although she does not seem angry. "Aubrey, how are you feeling? Are you experiencing any morning sickness? I was afraid you
(Leopold’s P.O.V)I walk into my office and take a seat while I think about the news I just received last night. I feel as if my heart was going to explode with happiness. Aubrey and I are going to have a baby, in a few months I am going to have a daughter or a son. I feel like the luckiest man on this earth. I lean my head on the back of my seat as I think about what the future holds for us. A few months ago our life was complete chaos and now everything has fallen into place and our little family is going to have a new member. I never imagined being this happy was possible and it is all thanks to Aubrey, this girl completely changed my bitter and lonely life for good, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I will always feel thankful that she was assigned to me. I laugh every time I think about how mad I was when Major Anderson informed me she was going to be my Bearer. I was a fool back then and had no idea I was
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.) Mother Constance comes in the Grand Fertility Forum accompanied by Matron Mary Ann and all the Bearers and Matrons shout “Surprise!” in unison. She takes a step back and startles, she genuinely had no idea we were planning a surprise party for her. “Oh, girls, this is such a wonderful surprise!” She exclaims with a wide grin on her face. Matron Mary Ann starts clapping, thrilled by her friends reaction. I look at her attentively and start to wonder if Matron Mary Ann is jealous that her friend was made head of the Ministry of Females instead of her, the same way Fiona is jealous of me because I am pregnant. Some other Matrons start to clap mimicking her gesture. A few seconds later, Mother Constance is surrounded by Be
(A few months later) (Aubrey’s P.O.V.)I put my hands on my round belly as I look out the window, it is a lovely afternoon."My darling, can you hand me that brush, please?" Leopold says from the top of the ladder.I grunt a little because I do not want to get away from the window, the smell of fresh paint is making me dizzy. I do what he asked me and I return immediately to my place next to the window, with my head practically sticking out towards the street."You can go if you want, you do not have to stay here if the smell bothers you, I have no problem staying here by myself," Leopold says with a smile as he dips the brush into the bucket of yellow paint that we chose for the nursery."No, it is okay, I want to keep you company. Maybe I can not help you paint, but my presence here counts as moral support,&rdq
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)I scan through the selection dresses at the store but they all look ugly and unimaginative. I do not even know why I am wasting my time looking at them, the truth is that none of these models fits me, at least not at this stage of my pregnancy with my belly as big as it is right now. I might be able to fit into these sizes in a few months after I give birth but for now, it is out of the question. I let out a soft groan, the saleswoman is taking too long to find what I asked for.Due to my pregnancy, the regular Bearer uniform does not fit me anymore so, now I need a version that adapts to my changing body and the saleswoman is looking for the model in my size in the back of the store because they did not have it on display. In our district, there is only one store that sells clothes for Bearers, clothes that basically consist of the boring sky blue uniform that we wear every day with very discree
(A few months later) (Aubrey’s P.O.V.)My eye lids feel so heavy that I have to close my eyes for a moment to rest. I can still hear Grandma and Mabel as they talk to each other seated on the couch next to my bed. I would like to ask them to give me a few hours to sleep in peace but I am afraid to be perceived as rude.The whole family is so excited about the birth of our little Bastian that they did not even wait for us to leave the Bearer Center to come to meet him. Normally, the Matrons do not allow so many family members to be here at the same time, but this time they decided to let it pass because of Leopold’s rank.Leopold is showing little Bastian to Jareth and Roberta in the nursery, while the three of us stay in the room waiting for them to come back."Aubrey, are you paying attention? What do you think about the id
(Leopold’s P.O.V.)We arrive at the building of the Ministry of Bravery. People get out of their vehicles wearing their best clothes, the place is brimming with Sharks and their families. Aubrey takes my arm and we head to the party. The event is going to be held at the Temple of Strength under a big white tent. A lot of Sharks salute me as we walk, I am enjoying greatly all the honor and respect that comes with being a major. I look at Aubrey out of the corner of my eye, even though she has barely slept since Bastian was born and she has spent all her energy taking care of our boy, she looks ravishing. I feel like the luckiest man when I am with her.We enter the tent, inside I see General Thompson chatting with other high rank officials, among them Major Anderson. I d
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)I feel like I am trapped inside a nightmare and I don’t know how to wake up from it. The house is full of Sharks that come and go gathering evidence. I am seated in an armchair in the living room while Alice holds my hand to give me strength. On my lap, I have Bastian’s blue baby blanket. My baby boy is not here, someone took him and forgot his blanket. Bastian must be cold, he must be scared, hungry... I burst into tears again. Alice surrounds me with her arms to comfort me. She says nothing because there is nothing to say. What can you say to a person in a situation like this? There are no words, no possible comfort.The 9th Unit along with other Units is questioning all our neighbors, hoping that someone has seen something unusual that can help us find Bastian's whereabouts. People I have never seen in my life are searching for Basti