Guinevere doesn't understand why she stormed off. She thought about joking about his delayed answer, but instead her body had reacted differently. She was confused why she was crying in front of the mirror too. It felt like she was watching herself being taken over by somebody else.
Granger ran down the halls, careless if he was dripping wet all over the place. Odette would magically dry the carpets out with her magic, no need to worry.
Luckily, Guinevere was also dripping wet, meaning she was leaving foot prints on the carpet. He followed them and it led him to the last door of the corridor.
"Gwen?" He started to knock at the door. "Gwen, let me in."
Guinevere jolted her head to the door. She tightened her fists on the basin and heeded on her heart's command, opening the door.
With his hair in an odd position, Granger stood outside. Guinevere bravely looks him in the eye with tears still pouring out.
"Look, I'm sorry if I didn't give you an answer back there." He apologized in an immediate manner. "It's just that-"
"I understand." She replied instantly in the lowest level of her voice. She sounded like a different person.
Granger reached for her hand but she pulls it away from his reach. He felt as though he was stunned by lightning. "Gwen... Oh, for God's sake!"
Guinevere backs away with her mouth agape as Granger lets himself come in, locking the door behind him. A switch had been turned on inside her and she knew what was going to happen next.
"You're hiding something from me so I'm not leaving unless you tell it to me personally." He stated.
Actually she had something to tell him. But this wasn't the right time for it felt like it was too soon.
"What do you think of having children?"
That question came out of nowhere. Granger remained calm and simply answered. "It would be great to have an offspring someday, but I think I'd be a horrible parent... Gwen, why would you ask such a question?"
"What if I told you I was pregnant?"
Oh, no. Granger thought, beginning to space out. Don't tell me she's...
"A-Are you?" He stammered, unable to finish.
She was biting her lip as she slowly nodded. At her back, she was clasping her hands so hard her nails began to draw blood.
His red eyes lost their focus as he leaned his back against the door, running his fingers in his dishevelled hair in frustration.
"I can't believe I'm going to be a..."
Guinevere reconnected their gaze, hoping he would continue. "Yeah?"
His eyes closed as he gulped. How he wished this was a dream for he would automatically know what to react. He couldn't even feel any emotion. His mind was completely blank.
Guinevere sighed in understanding. "Abortion it is."
"No, I didn't say no. I'm just..."
He keeps trailing off! Guinevere mentally screamed. She studied him as he dug his face in his palms.
"Gwen, take a look at me." He said. Guinevere winced in confusion, forcing him to repeat.
"Take a good look at me. See? I'm not husband material. I never even thought twice about having a family and having a happy future because being a Hunter there is no such thing as a retirement. I'm the Empire's killing machine forever haunted by avengers, Gwen. Our child would hate me."
Her eyes have become puffed. She was sobbing, holding her chest tight. "Don't say that, please. You don't know what truly lies ahead of us." She convinced with a cracking voice.
"I can't change my fate." He said before spinning around for his exit.
But before he could step out, Guinevere grabbed him by the wrist. "Y-You promised!" She cried.
"I promised none." He said coldly before pushing her aside.
⚜️⚜️⚜️
Guinevere pulled Granger close to her chest. That dream felt so real she almost thought it was.
"Nothing like that would ever happen." she whispered thoughtlessly. He's not going to abandon me after I tell him for he loves me, She thought to herself reassuringly.
Feeling the tears coming up, she tightened her hold around his body and buried her face in his hair. He smelled so good of musk, even better when he's fresh out of the shower. Her lips brushed against his bare neck. A small cross was tattooed at the nape, implementing his loyalty to the Monastery.
⚜️⚜️⚜️
A letter arrived from the mail this morning. It was from Lancelot and Guinevere's parents. Lancelot opened it at once, curiously, and he soon frowned after reading it.
Guinevere and Granger were silently eating their breakfast at the dining hall. They exchanged no words and if it weren't for Oddette trying to keep a conversation alive with the topic all about marriage and family the room would be as eerily quiet as a graveyard.
Granger was looking gruff, though, despite he was aware of Oddette's efforts.
"Gwen, should I name my future son John or Jhon?" Oddette asked, leaning against her elbow on the table.
Guinevere gave her a confused look. "I don't quite follow, Oddette."
"John with the 'h' after the 'o' or the Jhon with the 'h' after the 'J'?"
Hearing Granger sigh in utter puzzlement, Guinevere smiled. "Uh, both is good."
The small talk was somewhat making Granger lose his appetite, albeit the pancakes and bacon tasted fantastic.
Guinevere was uncomfortable with the topic as well since she was with child and nobody seems to know yet, not even Granger himself. The more she seems to wait for the right moment, the more she loses interest on telling.
Wouldn't it be awkward though if I just spread it right here? Guinevere thought.
She was biting her lip, and Granger assumed she was nervous about something. When he looked her in the eye, she avoided to make eye contact with him.
If this was about yesterday, Granger had sworn she said she forgave how he upset her then. Lancelot entered the room and Granger mentally thanked him.
The blonde slid the unfolded letter to Guinevere's side of the table, the frown never wearing off him. "It's from our mother." He explained. "And they want you to come back and celebrate your birthday at the castle."
Granger furrowed his brows in surprise. Her birthday was coming?
To confirm his explanation, Guinevere read until the last words of the letter and she wished she hadn't for there was a post spartum.
PS. Bring your dear lover as well.
She gave Granger a weary look. "They want to meet you." She told him lightly.
"You're not going back there, are you?" Granger asked, slowly.
Guinevere slammed the letter on the table. "Of course I am not."
"Gwen, whether you like them or not, they're still our biological parents. We must accept them for who they are." Lancelot commented, making her scowl at him.
"Have you lost your mind already, Lance? You said it yourself back at the Celestial Palace. They are simply the worst, and that is why we ran away. Truthfully, I won't even consider them as parents anymore so going back to them is a fool's move. God only knows what would happen." She said, throwing Granger a soft look.
"Then we will accompany you." Oddette spoke with a smile, lightening up Guinevere a bit. "Isn't that right, Lancy?"
Lancelot decided for a moment. "Fine. We are all coming."
"Yay!" Oddette cheered and sang. "Happy birthday, Gwenny!"
"Gwenny." Granger repeated, chuckling at the nickname, making Guinevere's shoulders weak.
"Oh, of course! Gwenny should be my future daughter's name. Isn't that name adorable, Lancy?"
"Heavens no! Don't name our future girl after my psycho sister."
"I beg your pardon, Lancelot!" Guinevere bellowed, making Lancelot back away cautiously, apologetically smiling.
"So, you're coming?" Granger asked her, still unsure.
"I am, only because they are." She said, motioning to her brother and Oddette. "Plus, I think if Lancelot and Oddette will be there they wouldn't be able to take us all down in one day, would they?"
Lancelot smirked proudly. "I will be so gladly to protect all of us."
"It's going to be bloody then." Granger commented, crossing his arms.
"Let's hope not. I don't want my last dance with Lancelot to be cancelled." Oddette replied, leaning against hand on her shoulder. "Surely, nothing is going to happen. It is Gwen's birthday. Perhaps they have changed and have missed their daughter?"
"I wished they would have, but it seems too unlikely for them." Guinevere retorted.
"Sorry, baby sis, but I'm with Oddette here. She's right. Perhaps they have changed."
"Well, the only reason I'm going is because I miss my old bed," Guinevere pointed out, sounding like a child. "Oh and also the lot of you will be there with."