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The Smoking Mirror ([personal profile] smokingmirror) wrote2011-05-27 12:08 am

Fanfic: Blessing In Disguise (1/1)

Title: Blessing In Disguise
Author: Avarice
Rating: G
Pairing: Padma/Nefertari
Spoilers: -
Summary: Nefertari stops by Padma and Rafi's apartment with some important news.
Word Count: 1219
Date First Posted: 29-09-2003
Date Revised: 26-05-2011
Beta: Tink.
Awards: -
Notes: Yes, this would've been Fatima :)
Feedback: always welcome, as is constructive criticism.
Also Archived At: LJ






The first thing Padma noticed when he opened the door and found Nefertari standing there was that she seemed... anxious. Not much, she hid most of it behind a large and beautiful smile; but it was still there. The emotion was easily discernible to someone who watched as closely as Padma watched her.

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately, pulling her gently into his arms.

"Hello to you, too," she answered, muffled by his shirt. Nefertari's arms wrapped around Padma's back, embracing him tightly for a moment, before allowing herself to go limp in his arms. Padma closed the door behind her and led her into his and Rafi's humble apartment.

He steered her towards the dark green couch and sat down himself, holding hands up to her. Nefertari took them and lowered herself gracefully, sitting so that Padma's arms encircled her shoulders, and she lay against his chest.

"'tari?" he asked quietly.

Nefertari didn't answer straight away, choosing instead to nestle further into his warm body. Her fingernails traced over his chest, inadvertently brushing over Padma's nipple. He jumped, which made her laugh softly.

Padma waited for her to speak, but when she did, it wasn't what he wanted to hear. "Where's Rafi?"

The Indian man frowned and inclined his head towards the bedroom they shared. "Sleeping it off, and you're trying to change the subject." He took her wandering hand and held it.

"Not purposefully," she answered, a small smile curving the corner of her mouth. Padma couldn't help reciprocating, but worry still gnawed at him.

Nefertari held a finger to his lips as he opened them to let loose a barrage of questions.

"It's alright," she said in a voice that brooked no argument. "If I have anything to tell you, you trust me to do so when I'm ready to, right?"

She took her finger away and Padma's mouth snapped shut. He looked slightly contrite. "Yes, I do."

"Good." Nefertari put her cheek against Padma's flat chest. Padma sighed contentedly, brushing his fingers through his girlfriend's lustrous hair, separating the strands.

They spent long moments together in silence, just breathing in and out. At length, Nefertari broke it.

"What are you thinking about?"

Padma chuckled softly into her hair. "You. Me. Many 'us' thoughts. About our life so far, really." He rubbed his cheek against her head. "I never imagined things would turn out so... so perfect."

Nefertari's hands stilled in their caresses for the briefest of moments, before starting up again.

"So given the choice, you wouldn't change anything?"

"Nothing at all," Padma said with conviction, kissing her hair.

Nefertari bracked her hands against Padma's chest and sat up. "But what if you didn't have a choice and things changed anyway?" She bowed her head, hair falling to obscure her face.

Padma sat up also. He was getting the same vibe as when she entered. He gnawed on his lip, a heavy feeling not unlike a bar of lead settling deep in his stomach.

"'Tari?" he asked hoarsely. "Is... is there something wrong?"

Head still down, she slipped both her hands inside his and squeezed them.

"'Tari?" The Indian man's voice was clogged with panic and anxiety. He tried not to grip her fingers too tightly, but was afraid to let her go. Steeling himself for bad news, he swallowed harshly. "What is it?"

"Padma..." she raised her head, face uncharacteristically inscrutable, "I'm pregnant."

All was quite still for a long moment. Padma's jaw was slack, his eyes comically wide. His mouth began moving, but no sound came out at first. Eventually, he could produce mangled syllables.

"Puh... puh... puhreg..."

"Pregnant," she reiterated.

"And... it's... are you s-sure it's mine?"

"Of course it's yours!" she smacked his arm, mock-insulted. Nefertari knew he was just flummoxed. If it were possible, Padma's eyes widened more when he realised what he'd said.

"Oh, no! That's not what... not what I meant at all. I'm sorry..." Padma ran a trembling hand through his hair, the other tightly squeezing Nefertari's. "I just..." his voice seemed small and almost uncertain. "I'm going to be a father?"

"Yes," she replied, beaming.

With strength that belied his gangly appearance, Padma stood and picked her up off the couch, lifting her into the air. He hooted his joy, twirling her around. Suddenly remembering her delicate state, he brought her feet back to the ground.

There was an audible crash and curses from the bedroom. Rafi ran out looking like hell; hair mussed, dark circles under his eyes, and his shirt on backwards, brandishing a shoe like a lethal weapon.

"Whu? Where's the fire?"

Padma held his hands out to calm him. "It's okay, Rafi, nothing's wrong," Padma paused and glanced at Nefertari. She could see he wasn't going to be able to keep it a secret, he looked almost ready to burst. He put his arm arount 'tari's shoulders. "I'm going to have a baby!"

Rafi scratched the back of his head and dropped the shoe. "As your friend I need to tell you, you don't have child-bearing hips."

Nefertari covered her smile with her hand. The joke sailed right over Padma's head. "No, really! 'Tari's pregnant!"

"Oh," Rafi blinked slowly, still disoriented and unsure as to what his response should be. The small details sunk in slowly for Rafi: The way Padma's arm was wrapped around his girlfriend's shoulders, the extra-wide grin on his face, Nefertari's hopeful smile. He dimly realised that they considered the pregnancy good news.

"Ooh." He smiled and walked forward, embracing Padma and slapping his back in a manly fashion. "Congratulations, brother," he said. Rafi moved to Nefertari and held his arms out. She hugged him politely, but pulled away quickly, nose scrunched up.

"No offense, Rafi, but you smell like the floor of a bar on Saturday night."

"None taken," Rafi grinned winningly. "How'd you know?"

Padma chuckled, and turned his attention back to Nefertari. He tentatively reached out and rested his hand on her smooth stomach. "How far...?"

"I saw the doctor yesterday, that's when I found out. He said almost six weeks." She put her hand over his and smiled beatifically. The couple stared at each other lovingly and with new joy. Rafi cleared his throat noisily.

"I propose a toast," he announced.

Padma frowned. "We have nothing to toast with."

"Sure we do. There's that grape juice stuff in the refrigerator. Remember, you thought it was a really cheap bottle of wine?"

"Oh, right."

"Allow me," Rafi gestured with a flourish and entered the kitchen.

Alone once again, Padma and Nefertari looked at each other. Padma wrapped one arm around her tightly, the other angling her chin up.

"Would you believe me if I told you the first time I saw you I'd hoped you'd mother my children?"

She laughed huskily and nuzzled his chin. "I'd believe it. I also believe you really want to kiss me now."

"I've always been amazed at how perceptive you are." Padma leant forward and kissed her passionately, the first of many such kisses.

Rafi returned to the living room again with three mismatched glasses of the dark purple liquid to find the couple very much in their own little world. He clinked two of the glasses together, toasted his friends' happiness and downed them one by one.

~finis



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