Thank you for sharing that LivvieLove. I love hearing stories about couples like that, who have each other even if they don't have anything else, and they're still happy. You can just feel their love.
Oh no . . . Palmira . . . While I am longing to see their adorable nooboo, I would never want Noten to lose Palmira. I know she's going to do everything she can for the baby, as is Noten. I love how you make your story realistic, and address factors that would come up in a world like that, without it going as far to be disturbing. If that makes sense. Again, I love your titles for the chapters! I always scroll back up to see what the title was after I finish, to find that it fits the chapter so well!
Adorable Nooboo indeed. Thank you kindly, I'm doing everything I can to keep things as real as possible, because when generation 5 grows up... things may get a little less realistic... heh. Thank you though, I do put a lot of thought into my chapters and their titles. I want it to be just enough to warn people about the chapter, but not enough to spoil it.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... Poor Palmira! That nooboo is really a mischeivious one, I hope the girl will pull through. Noten will be a great dad, if everything goes as planned. I'm so excited! 
Noten is a great dad, he goes up there as number one in my books (Giacomo had a nice run for a while, but neither he or Khang did things autonomously for their kids... so...). Though I should warn you, mischievous doesn't even begin to describe their first born... But I won't spoil anything.
Boy, I missed a lot! So many emotions surging inside me right now. Poor Palmira on every front! First her dad, now this baby. But at least they'll be able to keep her healthy...right? Right? Unless you're going to just, you know, run a stake through my heart and let Palmira die in childbirth.
This story is so in-depth and thorough. Even without the screencaps it was easy to follow and I was completely enthralled. I was paying more attention to it than my Native American History lecture (Bad I know). Can't wait for more, and I can't wait to see this nooboo! And hoping Noten doesn't have to care for it on his own.
Haha, no, I wouldn't run a stake through your heart, not at all. Things work out just fine... for now.
I have some pretty depressing chapters coming soon though, so... don't get too used to the happy. I'm just so excited, I'm like a step away from the storyline I've been dying to play for ages.
Oh no!! Poor Palmira! First her dad dies, then she might die along with her baby. I really hope she gets through it alright.
Well good thing she won't kill off main characters...right...hang on a minute...Demi...
*Evil laughter*
Haha, on a serious note, I'm not really afraid to kill off main characters because in real life, you aren't spared because of your importance, however, I think everyone should be pleased with this chapter.
Pride and Selfishness
Palmira and Noten sat in silence as it grew darker outside. Everything had been packed up and tucked away in little backpacks for them to carry. They knew it was best to travel light.
Palmira finally broke the silence. "Why are you upset with me, Noten?" Her voice had a twinge of defensiveness hidden in her question.
Noten was silent, but his anger was building.
"Are you mad at me because of our child?" She half-growled, Noten couldn't take it anymore.
Noten's hands slammed against the table. "No." He said with so much force that Palmira's eyes went wide and she stopped her mocking. "I just can't stand how selfish you are." He said, hammering her with the emotions he had been holding back. "You don't seem to give a care how I feel about anything, or the fact that your life is hanging in the balance of this situation."
"My life is my own to worry about." She said softly.
"You just don't get it, do you?!" Noten shouted. He stood up and walked to the window in frustration. "Sure, you die, you could care less about that, but what about me?" He spat. "Do you care about how I feel? That I actually might NOT want to lose you? That maybe, you're more important to me than anything else? That maybe I wasn't on board with this crazy idea?"
Palmira was stunned into silence.
Noten exhaled hard. "I didn't think so."
There was a knock at the door, Noten straightened himself and opened it. "Hello, Ruben." He said quietly, motioning him inside.
"Are you ready?" He asked the two of them.
Palmira stared at the table and Noten sucked in on his cheek. "I don't know." Noten said with coldness in his voice. He reached down and grabbed the heavier backpack. "Ask Palmira. My opinion in this doesn't matter." Noten swung the backpack over his shoulder and walked out the door.
Ruben looked at Palmira for a second before Palmira nodded sadly and stood up.
Ruben had taken Bear, Noten and Palmira to his sailboat and got them situated. After an hour of sailing in silence, Ruben finally spoke up. "Hey Noten, how good are you with a boat?"
Noten half smiled, he felt a draw to sailing. Ruben pulled him towards the back of the boat for him to start steering while Ruben approached the stunned Palmira.
"Rough night?" He asked quietly. Ruben was trying to find a polite way to express that he had overheard the outburst between the two of them before he knocked.
"I guess you could say that." Palmira's voice was hollow.
"Look, I know it's not my place to say, but Noten really does care about you." Ruben said softly, putting a hand on Palmira's knee.
"Oh?" Palmira's voice was cold.
"Yeah, believe it or not, he does. It's not easy for a man to express feelings to a girl who has such a strong will." Ruben paused, "but if Noten was running around in the middle of the streets, aggravating the guards around town, tempting them to shoot him right after you got married... you wouldn't be to happy with him, now would you?"
"That's hardly the same thing." She spat, holding her stomach.
"Maybe not... to you." He said somewhat forcefully. "But that's the point. You don't seem to see past yourself sometimes Palmira, and that will hurt the ones you love, and really hurt the ones who love you." He motioned to Noten who was deep in thought as he sailed. Palmira stared at him for a moment, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
"I think I see it!" Noten called out quickly, he pointed the way. Ruben stood and squinted in the direction and laughed while nodding before walking back to Noten - leaving Palmira to think on his last words to her.
They arrived at the small island that was covered in foliage.
Ruben began to explain. "Home sweet home, for now." He chuckled. "Ok you two, here's the deal. There's no electricity this far out, so you'll likely need a lot of natural light. The stove in there runs on gas, and the fridge runs on a generator."
Palmira's face paled, she was starting to look a little green. "Ruben?" She asked quietly. "Where's the bathroom?"
Ruben laughed. "There really isn't one, there's a tub outside, but no running water. You'll have to fill it from the well, and boil the water on the stove if you really wanted to have a warm bath. I would usually fill the tub up in the morning and let the beautiful island sun warm it up for an evening bath." He paused, noting Palmira's face. "There's also an outhouse around back, but nothing is covered. It's secluded enough around here that the only life you'll see is wildlife."
Palmira didn't look comforted.
"There's also a cellar with some nectar and a cot in case my wife needs to stay with you."
"I'll leave you two to get settled in." Ruben said quietly. He pulled Palmira aside and told her one last thing. "Please just think on what I said, ok?" He rubbed her shoulder and left the two of them in silence.
The two got ready for bed in silence.
Palmira woke in the middle of the night to run out to the outhouse and get sick.
And Noten woke early to start to prepare for his wife's needs. He tended to the garden and decided on pancakes for a breakfast start.
He was trying very hard to not think of what felt inevitable. He pulled the pancakes off the stove and doubled over for a moment, crying very softly. Palmira had just come out to see if breakfast was ready, even though she knew she was on strict bed rest. It was only after seeing her husband's pain did she start to feel the weight of Ruben's words. She sunk quietly back into the bedroom and waited for Noten to come and get her.
Noten carried Palmira around the house when she wished to move or needed to sit to eat. He worried about her getting too dizzy if she were to stand for to long, so he discouraged her from moving much on her own. As they sat down to eat, Palmira could only picture the image of Noten crying and found it hard to eat her food.
"You need to eat." Noten said firmly. "Everything, I need to make sure you are eating regularly, three full meals a day-"
"I'm so sorry, Noten." She swallowed hard, twisting the food on her plate. She started to sniffle a little as she held back tears of her own. "I've wanted a family my whole life, I just... thought you would be ok with the decision I made because it's more than just a baby to me. It's our baby and there's nothing I wanted more in life than to start a family with you." A tear betrayed her and fell from her eye.
Noten stared at her deeply before he stood up slowly and walked around the table to her. He picked her up and sat her in his lap and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
"I'm sorry." She whispered between sobs. Noten just hugged her close.
"You don't have to be sorry." Noten's voice was gruff. "We're here now. It isn't an ideal situation, but we're here. You have to keep your strength up, not just for you, but for our child." He whispered to her softly.
Palmira pulled back and looked at him. It was the first time he had given the baby a possessive. "Our baby." She said back to him slowly, rubbing her stomach. She nodded. It wasn't just hers, it was theirs. They kissed and Palmira straightened herself. She wiped her face off and sniffled a little longer before she turned to devour her pancakes. Noten made sure she had a second helping before getting her back to bed.
Their relationship was slowly improving, but it still needed time.
Noten buried himself into working in the garden while Palmira spent time reading every book on the bookshelf.
Then, everyday in the afternoon, like clockwork Mylee would show up and quietly walk into the bedroom where Palmira rested.
Noten could never bring himself to listen in or even enter the room on those days. He just sat quietly and waited. An hour would pass, Mylee would open the door and leave, only smiling at Noten on her way out.
This was the norm for them. Noten would cook three meals a day for his wife and they would spend time together just laughing and eating.
But Noten could never get the impending birth out of his mind, the possibility of losing Palmira haunted him every night as he would close up the house and every moment he spent alone.
The days were passing, and Palmira was getting bigger and bigger. Her face was filling out again and her cheeks were gaining a natural glow.
She was starting to become healthier and happier as the days came and went and her stomach grew.
Noten had far too many conflicting feelings. While he was with Palmira he felt calm, everything was going to be fine he would assure himself. He would even spend time talking to his unborn child.
But when he was alone the fears started to grow again, and his heart would ache to just be sure of something.
Ruben sent a few gifts to Noten and Palmira to celebrate the upcoming birth.
With the rocking chair there now, Palmira could come out of the dark bedroom more often to sit next to the windows and rest. Noten still worried about her, but she couldn't stay cooped up forever.
It wasn't long after receiving the crib that Mylee determined that she would need to stay over, as the baby would be arriving within the next day. Noten was falling apart inside, but he kept it together. He continued his work out in his garden when the screaming started. Noten ran inside as fast as he could.
Mylee calmly grabbed him by the shoulders and ushered him outside. "Just breathe now Noten, it's best if you stay outside while I help your wife. Ok?"
Noten couldn't bear being outside while he heard his wife screaming inside.
He stood, feeling helpless as Palmira's painful cries echoed outside. Noten paced back and forth in front of their bedroom window. After what felt like hours, Palmira's screams finally ended. Noten swallowed hard, feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
When she was screaming he at least knew she was alive. Now things were so quiet.
There was a soft wail of an infant. Noten breathed out softly, waiting to hear his wife say something, but it was too hard to hear anything else. The door opened outside and the wailing child, wrapped in blankets, came to greet his father from Mylee's arms.
"Congratulations father. You have a son." Mylee said happily. "Palmira is resting now, but she should recover fully." Noten finally exhaled completely and grinned wildly.
"I have a son?" He reached out and took his little boy who gurgled happily in his arms.
"Palmira has asked to name him Edward." Mylee said, tickling the boy's feet.
Noten swiftly wiped a tear of happiness away. "Edward it is." He hugged the boy close.
"Edward, my son."
