Brida Pact

by Leora Gonzales

  “Hannah?” Wheaton said, clearing his throat.

  “Yes, dear?” came from the direction of the bedroom.

  Oh fuck no. Was that the way Hannah was going to start her morning? Gripping Wheaton’s hand tightly, Poppy smiled up at him as he squeezed back. She prayed for the patience not to strangle the bitch and knew Wheaton was silently urging to keep calm too.

  Hannah appeared in the doorway in what Poppy could only describe as a silk gown she had seen in movies, accompanied by little kitten heels with puffs on the toes. Her hair was tousled as if she’d just had a satisfactory night in bed. Rolling her eyes, Poppy was grateful that Wheaton had been with her all night. If she had walked in to see him stumbling out of the bedroom behind Hannah dressed like this, she would have lost her shit. As it was, she was having a very hard time not marching forward and grabbing a hank of that blonde hair.

  Another squeeze of her hand made her glance away from Hannah back up to Wheaton.

  “I did not require that she be naked in our bed…unlike with you,” he pointed out quietly.

  “Well, at least that’s something,” she murmured back sarcastically with another eye roll, this time in his direction.

  “Oh! Good morning, Poppy,” Hannah said with a fake smile, acting surprised to see her nemesis.

  “Good morning, Hannah,” Poppy said back with just as fake a smile. “We need to talk.”

  “Oh, of course. Let’s make some coffee and we can chat while Wheaton gets ready for our day.” Her face was frozen in a plastic-looking smile.

  “I’ll have tea with sugar instead of coffee but yes, let’s get comfortable,” Poppy agreed, moving to the counter.

  Wheaton stared at both the women as if unsure it was safe to leave them alone.

  “Wheaton, why don’t you go get ready before I take you to the med center to show you what I’ve been doing? Hurry back though so we can make sure we’re all on the same page.” Poppy gave his back a push toward the bedroom.

  “Of course, let me change. I will be right back.” Wheaton gave Poppy a pleading glance that she interpreted as Please don’t hit the bitch. Poppy wasn’t going to make any promises though until she figured out where Hannah was coming from.

  “Yep, you should probably hurry.” After he walked away, she turned to Hannah and dropped the fake face. It was starting to hurt her cheeks to pretend to like this woman.

  Taking the mug Hannah passed her, she took a few seconds to study the woman. When the silence was too much for her to take any longer, Poppy spoke, unable to contain herself.

  “Soooo…Wheaton told me you’ve been sleeping in the same bed.”

  Hannah’s mouth popped open. Poppy figured she didn’t expect Wheaton to have been honest with her.

  “And he explained you two have kissed.”

  Hannah cast a glance at the bedroom door. Was she hoping Wheaton was a speed dresser and would suddenly appear to save her? Hannah cleared her throat delicately, her discomfort apparent, but she still remained silent.

  “Which was your idea,” Poppy finished.

  “Ummmm…well…” Hannah stammered, obviously unsure what to do or say.

  Liking the fact that she had the normally well-spoken woman stuttering, Poppy decided to lay all her cards on the table and let her have it.

  Setting down her cup, Poppy kept her voice as calm as possible. “Listen, Hannah, I get it. You came here expecting to have a husband and saw Wheaton. I know how I felt when I first saw him,” Poppy admitted. “However, the crap that you pulled was not okay. Wheaton told me about it and he now knows it’s not okay. I expect you to respect our relationship and back the fuck off. Comprende?” Poppy’s voice had risen with each word out of her mouth, and she sat glaring at a stunned and slightly scared Hannah.

  “Well…” Hannah again cleared her throat, as if trying to come up with something to say.

  “Well what?” Poppy asked curtly.

  Hannah pushed her silky strands behind one ear and tapped her fingers against her mug of coffee.

  “Isn’t that Wheaton’s decision?” she countered with a lift of her chin. Poppy was surprised at the question. Apparently Hannah had just grown some balls.

  “What decision? You approached him with logic and he agreed at the time, which I understand and accept. It’s the way these guys’ heads work. What I don’t get is why. Why would you try to steal a man who is obviously in a relationship? Is that the type of person you are? Do you even care that it hurt someone? Wheaton and I are happy—hell, you know we are happy—but that didn’t stop you from worming your way into our bed or tricking him into kissing you.”

  “I never—” Hannah started.

  “Never what? Tried to break us up? You knew when you started sleeping next to him it would be a problem. You knew that kissing him was wrong, and yet you fucking did it anyway,” Poppy said, on a roll.

  Hannah took a sip of her coffee again and set the cup down. The way she avoided Poppy’s eyes showed how uncomfortable she was. Had she not expected Wheaton to be honest with Poppy, or even get called out about it? Too damn bad for her then. Poppy was not the type of person to roll over and take shit from anyone. Especially when the fight was for her future.

  “My intention was not to get in the way of your relationship…if that is what you truly have. Councilor Demascus had mentioned that Wheaton might have been starved for attention and acted too quickly on meeting you without knowing he had options,” Hannah blurted out.

  “Well, that was your first mistake. Fuck that asshole. Listening to Demascus is going to be nothing but trouble for you. That guy is a tool,” Poppy said plainly. “And yes, we truly have a relationship. What I have with Wheaton may have happened quickly but it’s real. As real as it can get.”

  Hannah seemed as if she could cry, which surprised the hell out of Poppy. She had not expected the well-put-together woman to have emotions, much less show them to someone. If Poppy didn’t know better, she’d have assumed she was a fem-bot considering how perfect she seemed.

  “Listen, Hannah. I was really fucking pissed last night when I found out what had happened,” Poppy explained. “Wheaton and I have talked and worked out the situation but I am letting you know right now that shit stops now.”

  “Okay…if Wheaton really is sure,” Hannah said in a tearful voice, as if Poppy had just kicked her puppy.

  “I am very sure, Hannah.”

  At the voice coming from the door, both women turned toward the bedroom. A refreshed Wheaton stood in the opening with his arms folded across his chest. He apparently had been listening for a bit so he knew where they all stood.

  “I am sorry, Wheaton. I really did want you to make an informed decision,” Hannah explained.

  “My decision is final. It was final before you even showed up in my quarters,” Wheaton said while keeping his gaze on Poppy’s face.

  “Yeah, I get that now,” Hannah admitted, shooting glances between Poppy and Wheaton with what seemed more like understanding than the manipulation it had been previously.

  “So, are you ready for the meetings today? We have quite a bit to go over before they start,” Hannah said, obviously deciding the situation said and done.

  “I am going to escort Poppy to the medical unit this morning but should be able to join you in Council meetings before lunch,” he said now from Poppy’s side while he rubbed his hand up and down her back.

  “But we—” Hannah interrupted.

  “I will escort her. Missing the first meeting will bring no harm and I am not yet ready to let Poppy go. You understand, correct?” His tone brooked no argument.

  “Of course.” Hannah backed down with that kicked-puppy look again.

  Poppy had an idea. One that would take care of her problem with Hannah and allow her and Wheaton to spend more time together.

  “Hannah?” Poppy’s voice stopped Hannah as she was walking to the bedroom to get dressed for the day.

  “Yes?” she said without turning around.

&n
bsp; “How about when it’s lunchtime we all get together? I’m sure the other warriors on the Council are pretty dry and I’ve met some great guys while I’ve been working in the medical unit. It would be a good thing to meet some new people and make friends.”

  It would give Hannah someone else to set her sights on, although Poppy didn’t say that out loud. Waiting for Hannah to think for a moment, Poppy was surprised when she was witness to what she assumed was a “real” smile from her.

  “That would be wonderful, Poppy,” she answered, showing all her perfect teeth in their gleaming glory.

  “All right, big guy. Let’s leave so she can get ready and then you can escort her to lunch later this afternoon,” Poppy told Wheaton.

  Wheaton stopped Poppy with a hand on her arm.

  “Who are these ‘great guys’ you were referring to?” he asked with a huffy expression on his face.

  “Seriously, Wheaton, you leave me alone for two weeks, and now you get pissed because I made friends? Tone it down, Tarzan, or we’re going to have our second fight in twenty-four hours. You should be happy I didn’t knock Hannah the Horror flat on her ass. Not asking me stupid questions.” She emphasized her words with a finger point.

  “Okay, okay…no fighting. Just remember we agreed on no kissing these other warriors. No matter how great you think they may be.”

  Bumping sides while they walked, Poppy couldn’t help but think that her discussion with Hannah had gone better than expected. Now to just make sure that she found someone new and stopped eyeing Wheaton as if he were a juicy steak and problem solved. Feeling much better, Poppy threaded her fingers through Wheaton’s and his hand tightened on her shoulder.

  As they reached the medical unit, Wheaton slowed.

  Concerned, Poppy asked, “What’s up, babe?”

  Wheaton glanced up at the shiny ceiling in the hallway, confusion on his face.

  “Not up, up… I meant what’s wrong?” she asked, smiling.

  “Oh, I find I am nervous to see you have a scan today,” he admitted.

  “Why?”

  “What if there is something wrong with the baby? I am still feeling that we have been too lucky in our match.”

  “Lucky? What about our situation has been lucky lately?” she asked.

  “We were matched together. It is a perfect match. We enjoy sexual intercourse. Quite a bit, I might add.” His grin was infectious, and she couldn’t stop herself from mirroring it.

  “And now we have made a baby. We are very lucky,” he explained.

  “And?”

  “What if there is a problem? So far we have had nothing but this ‘easy breezy’ way you always say. I am nervous that this cannot last.” His worried demeanor immediately shot straight to her heart.

  “Wheaton, nothing about you is ‘easy breezy’. Remember when you ignored me the first few days here and I got all weepy and played Adele? And also, we can’t forget the mess we have with this whole second-bride fucktastrophe. Believe me—not my definition of ‘easy breezy’.”

  “I do not believe I will ever forget Adele and her sad songs. Still, we are lucky to have each other,” Wheaton countered.

  Giving him a side hug, she nudged him the last few steps to the door.

  “Are you ready for this?” she asked before waving her arm over the door.

  “As ready I will ever be,” he replied, looking like he’d be blowing chunks at any moment.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Tamin and Rodin seemed both excited and surprised to see Wheaton when he walked in with Poppy. The men came up and gave him an arm shake accompanied by a manly back pat. After she hugged each of the men, which was accompanied by a growl from Wheaton, she clapped her hands together and said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  The men obviously figured that she meant to get the scan started, and followed her into the exam room. Familiar with the drill by now, Poppy kicked off her shoes and hopped onto the regen bed. Blowing a kiss to a still queasy-looking Wheaton, she lay back and prepared for the doors to close.

  Wheaton bent over the bed with an anxious glance, causing Tamin to smack his arm and mumble, “Calm down, warrior.”

  Poppy giggled when she saw Wheaton whip his head around to glare at Tamin, who pretended to be busy with his tablet.

  One minute later, the door slid back open. Sitting up, Poppy glanced at a very concerned Wheaton.

  “What the hell is your problem, Wheaton? You know these beds are safe. You’re acting like it was going to kill me or something,” she teased, trying to put him at ease.

  “I explained that I am nervous, my little flower,” he reminded her while helping her out of the bed.

  Poppy witnessed Rodin mouth, “Little flower?” to his friend. Both men smirked at Wheaton, their amusement obvious. Wheaton paid no attention to the other men as he helped her slip on her shoes once more. Waiting for the results seemed to take forever…or at least it seemed that way with Wheaton hovering over the readout screen at the end of the bed. Every thirty seconds he would pace back to Poppy and put his hand on her shoulder or smooth her hair back. Then he would trek back to the regen bed and stare at it, waiting for it to do something.

  Tamin and Rodin tried to distract him but gave up when they were unable to get a response. Soon they began chatting with Poppy about the previous day’s activities. When she explained about the situation she had with Hannah, they were furious on her behalf.

  Once Wheaton overheard the phrases “that idiot Wheaton” in addition to “not deserving her”, he finally joined in the conversation.

  “I was an idiot and do deserve her. I have fixed my errors so mind your own business,” he bit out, not at all willing to humor the men trying to rile him.

  “Well, if for some reason Poppy changes her mind, then we know many a warrior who would snatch her up in a second,” Rodin chipped in.

  At those words, Wheaton lunged across the room and held Rodin up off his feet by his scrubs.

  “What warriors are they?” he demanded, angry as hell.

  Although Poppy had moved as quickly as she was able to help her friend, she wasn’t fast enough to make it before Wheaton had Rodin in a death grip. Trying to get Wheaton to loosen his grip on Rodin, she was pulling on his fingers when the machine signaled it had completed its cycle. In an instant, Rodin was released and fell back to the wall behind him, still staring wide-eyed at Wheaton. With one last glare in Rodin’s direction, Wheaton moved toward Tamin, who was standing by the bed.

  Tamin snatched the information the regen bed spit out as it printed, and was scanning it quickly while Wheaton stared him down. Between him casting angry glances at Rodin for what he had said, and glaring at Tamin as if he needed to hurry the fuck up with his reading, Poppy just tossed her hands in the air and sat down again.

  “Rodin, I need your eyes on this. Something seems…off,” Tamin said, keeping an eye on Wheaton, who appeared as if he were ready to strangle someone again.

  “Off? What does ‘off’ mean?” Wheaton asked, his voice hoarse. “If there is a question about Poppy’s health then you do what must be done to fix her. No matter what the cost. Understand?”

  “Yeah, guys, what does ‘off’ mean?” Poppy’s voice rose to match Wheaton’s.

  The two men mumbled quietly to one another while Wheaton strode back to Poppy, pulling her into a hard hug. Holding her tight, he whispered, “Do not worry, Poppy. We will handle whatever has happened and make sure that you are taken care of.”

  As they huddled in their little circle while the men talked, she could feel Wheaton take deep breaths. Her mind whirling with possibilities, all bad of course, as to what could be “off”. Moving her arms lower on his body to hug his waist, she leaned against him and felt him lean into her as well. With him kissing her ear and hugging her, she felt whatever the problem was, they would really be all right. The strength that he lent her was powerful enough to get them through anything as long as they were together.

  “Popp
y? Wheaton?” Rodin said.

  Turning in Wheaton’s hold, Poppy was startled to see the men smiling. What the hell? What was there to smile about??

  Poppy’s nerves shot, she snapped at the men. “Spit it out, doc. I feel like I’m either ready to cry or puke. Neither one of those options is pretty.”

  “I am sorry to have upset you. I wanted Rodin to confirm what I believed from the changes on this scan versus your previous scan,” Tamin explained.

  “And?” Wheaton asked anxiously when the doctor paused. He was just as much on pins and needles as she was. Poppy needed the doctors to explain what was happening before he started punching people for answers.

  “Well, from the readings today, compared to your previous scan, it seems you are due in eighteen weeks,” Rodin said with a smile.

  “Wait. What?”

  “Are you sure?”

  Both Wheaton and Poppy had spoken at the same time.

  “Hold the phone, people. Human pregnancies are normally forty weeks for full term. There is no way I’m due in eighteen weeks,” Poppy said in disbelief.

  “Well…it appears as if you two are compatible for breeding but Wheaton’s cloning genes have taken over the gestation period,” Tamin explained, as if that made total sense to a confused Poppy.

  “Uh?”

  Wheaton turned toward Poppy and took her hand. Gesturing for her to sit down, he explained, “When warriors are cloned, they are engineered to have a gestation period of only twenty weeks. This is to speed up the process. It must have influenced my own genetics when reproducing naturally with a human.”

  “But wouldn’t I be showing more if I were due so soon? Will the development still be okay considering the timeline is short and the baby is only half Phaeton?” Poppy’s voice sounded panicked even to her own ears.

  Rodin walked closer to the couple, holding the readouts in his hand. “The findings are showing a healthy fetus for the time frame listed. Development is showing on par with what we would expect for a cloned incubator fetus with no signs of distress.” As if embarrassed, he paused a moment before continuing, “Your…weight may be hindering our ability to see more of an obvious swelling of the abdomen. Do not worry though, you are completely healthy and we have no worries. It will not be long though before your pregnancy is apparent to everyone. We have been lucky so far that you haven’t been showing considering your desire to keep your condition a secret.”