Sempahore

[intheheart]

Title: Semaphore
Rating: G
Summary: There's something on Thea's mind.
Warnings: mention of a phantom pregnancy.
Notes: Writing this story was like pulling teeth. Meme fill for sarcasticsra.


Henrik rolled fish in breading and kept an eye on Thea where she sat at the table, chin in her hand and a distant, thoughtful expression in her eyes. He'd poured them both a glass of wine, a nice red that Thea particularly liked, but she hadn't touched hers, only toyed with the glass now and again, running her fingers over the stem or around the rim.

He set the fish to frying and returned to the kitchen table. "You seem awfully preoccupied," he told his wife, slipping his arms around her shoulders and hugging her gently. She jumped a little beneath his touch, as if startled, before she leaned back into his touch. "Long day?"

"No, not really," she said, setting down the wineglass. "I was just thinking I should probably stop working at the bar. You said we could afford for me to stay home, right?"

He hesitated, and drew back from her a little. "Well, yes, when we have children."

Thea dipped her chin. "Of course. When we have children. But I should quit. It probably isn’t good for me to be around so much alcohol anyway."

Henrik stared at the back of her neck, then circled around the table to face her. "Thea, what are you talking about?"

She blinked, refocusing on him, and said, "Oh. Um."

Henrik narrowed his eyes. He could see her trying to think up a story. "Thea..."

She sighed, and visibly gave up. "I think I might be pregnant."

"I knew you missed a period," he said, because he did-- not that he kept track of these things, but he could hear Thea cursing in the mornings, and he definitely could tell when he was engaging in sexual activities with a menstruating woman-- little bit of an obvious sign-- and that hadn't happened in over a month. "I thought it was stress. Since you didn't bring it up."

"I wasn't sure," Thea said, and shrugged. "I'm not sure now, of course, but it's been two months now, which makes pregnancy more likely. I..." She hesitated, and then said, "I was going to wait until I was sure."

"Okay," he said, slowly, and sat down. "I... are you happy?"

"Yes," she said, but she didn't sound it.

He was happy, or at least he thought he was, under the worry. They'd talked about children before, but always in the future tense, someday when. Which was not to say that they hadn't been trying, but he'd assumed she would have told him, if she was pregnant. If she thought she might be. If...

"Okay," he said, again. "I wish you had told me."

She reached out to fidget with her wine glass again, and wouldn't meet his eyes. "I know, I should have, I just... do you remember Andie? My coworker?"

"Vaguely," he said, and he did, a blur of blonde hair and perpetual smiles. "What about her?"

"She thought she was pregnant once," Thea said, quietly. "About a year ago. She was so happy. She told everyone at work, bought all of this baby stuff, and then it turned out she wasn't pregnant after all, it was... what do you call it, a phantom pregnancy? She wanted a baby so badly she made herself believe she was going to have one, when she wasn't." She shrugged one shoulder. "I don't think I saw her smile for a couple months after that. She was so broken up, and she had all these baby things lying around to remind her. I didn't-- I don't want that to be me. To be us."

He reached out, took both her hands. "Thea..."

"You want children so much," Thea said, plainly. "So do I, but I think as long as you didn't know it didn't have to be real..." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."

He squeezed her hands, touched to the heart. "When do you find out for sure?"

"Next week," she said. "I have a doctor's appointment. I... didn't trust the home tests."

Henrik nodded. "Can I come with you?"

She gave him a rather startled look that faded into relief and then pleasure. "Sure, if you want. It will probably be rather boring."

"Except," Henrik said, "for the part where he tells you whether or not you're pregnant. I want to be there for that." To celebrate if she was, to console her if she wasn't, because really... "You know, Thea, I won't mind if you aren't pregnant yet. We've only been trying for a few months, and it isn't as if I hate trying." He waggled his eyebrows at her, and got a laugh.

"Oh, all right," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, and next time I think I'm pregnant I will let you know as soon as possible. Happy?"

"Thrilled," he answered, dryly, and then, "Next time?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "Well, you said you wanted a big family... oh, the fish are burning."

Henrik cursed, and dove for the pan.

So much for serious conversation.