Elian stood in front of the mirror, tilting his body this way and that, studying his reflection from every possible angle. His gaze kept returning to his abdomen, where a faint but unmistakable bump was beginning to show. He placed his hand over it, pressing gently, still half in disbelief. It seemed to have appeared overnight, he was sure it hadn't been visible the last time he checked. But now, there it was, proof of the life growing inside him.
He turned sideways, eyeing the slight swell with a frown. "I'll need bigger clothes at this rate," he murmured, tugging at the fabric. "Otherwise, I'll just look... odd."
"You don't look odd," a voice piped up behind him. Elian flinched, startled, as he turned to see Aria standing by the doorway, balancing a tray of sliced fruit.
How did she, he began to wonder, when she smirked knowingly.
"You just said it," she teased, setting down the tray. "You don't want to look odd."
