Titel: At the end of the road

Sprache: Englisch

Summary: Maeves Laune änderte sich immer wieder, mal ist sie gut gelaunt mal ist sie genervt. Was ist los mit Sindbads wunderschönen Ehefrau? Bekommt die Mannschaft vielleicht ein neues Mannschaftmitglied? 

Catergory: Romanze

Rating: ohne Altersbeschränkung

Status: Fertig

Maeve sighed as she snuggled closer to the man who was beside her in bed. She smiled as she inhaled the muscular scent of the man she loved. “Hmmm.” She murmured.

Sinbad turned so that he was lying on his side, his head propped up on his hand. He used his free hand to trace the beautiful face beside him. “Hey, sleepyhead, time to rise and shine.” He said softly.

“Hmmm. Just a few more minutes.” Maeve muttered.

Sinbad grinned as a thought occurred to him. He bent his head and gently traced her earlobe with his tongue. Maeve opened up her eyes and found herself staring at her husband’s sea-blue ones. “What are you doing?” she asked, playfully.

“Waking my beautiful wife, what else?” he kissed her softly on the lips. “You know, I might just quit being a sailor and take this job instead. It’s way too much fun.” He mused.

She laughed with him. “Yeah. Just be sure it is I that you will wake up every day.”

“Of course. That’s why I’d be taking this job in the first place.” He stopped any further conversations by kissing her again. Maeve responded, and soon both of them were breathless as they separated.

“You know. I was kind of exhausted yesterday.” Maeve whispered.

“Oh, yeah? Why?”

“Just because,” she got up and planted herself at Sinbad’s waist, straddling him as he lay on the bed, “My husband was very energetic yesterday. He tired me out.”

Sinbad sat up so that they were facing each other. “Are you saying that you’re complaining about my energy?” he asked.

Maeve chuckled. “No. What I was trying to say was… let’s do it again.”

“Why, Maeve. I’m really surprised at you! You wanted us to repeat what we did yesterday? Again?”

“Why?” Maeve shot back. “You chicken?”

“Chicken?” Sinbad shifted, and now Maeve was lying with her back on the bed and Sinbad on top of her. “I was waiting for you to say that.” Then he claimed her lips.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sinbad lay awake at his cabin. He sighed. Maeve was having one of her spells again. Yesterday she told him that she wanted him to sleep on a different cabin. He asked her why, but instead of answering him, she literally kicked him out of her cabin. This attitude of hers was becoming very tiresome. Suddenly a knock pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Little brother? Are you awake?” Doubar asked from the door.

“Yes, I’m awake. Come in.” Sinbad said, pulling himself to a sitting position.

Doubar opened the door and gently closed it after he went inside the cabin. “She’s at it again?” he asked, smiling.

Sinbad glared at him. “It’s not funny, Doubar. You know how I hate it when these things happen.”

“You mean you hate it when she’s not beside you in bed.” Doubar said, sitting beside his brother.

Sinbad blushed a little. That was exactly what he meant. “I don’t know. I mean, I’m confused by her attitude these days. One minute she’s nice and all, the next she looks at me as though she was going to claw my eyes out. It’s so odd.”

Doubar patted his brother’s shoulder. “I’m sure that whatever it is will pass.”

“I hope so.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Maeve awoke in the middle of the night. She combed her hands through her hair. She’s feeling…something. She can’t describe it. Grabbing her robe she pulled it on, and walked out of her cabin to the kitchen. Suddenly she was starving. Maeve opened the cupboard and grabbed some cheese and bread. But as she bit into the food, she pushed it away. She wasn’t hungry anymore. Sighing with irritation, she just shoved the bread and cheese back into the cupboard and walked to the deck. The air was damp and chilly, so she tightened her hold on her robe. She spotted Rongar at the tiller. It was his turn to man the boat that night. Maeve felt that she needed someone to talk to, or at least, in Rongar’s case, someone who’d listen to her and talk to her telepathically.

“Hey.” She greeted him, smiling.

Rongar turned around to face her. Shouldn’t you be asleep now?

Maeve shook her head. I’m not in any mood to sleep yet.

Rongar smiled at her. Does your husband know where you are? He might worry.

Maeve looked at her feet. She was slightly embarrassed at what she was about to say. Sinbad doesn’t know I’m out. You see, I told him to sleep on his cabin tonight.

Rongar chuckled. Poor captain.

Maeve smacked him at the shoulder. Hey! It’s not my fault I don’t want him beside me tonight! Rongar, I’m confused. I mean, I don’t know what I’m feeling. I can’t sleep right, I can’t eat right, I can’t –

Maybe you should talk to Firouz, Maeve. Not me. I don’t know anything about medical stuff.

I’m not sick, Rongar, if that’s what’s you’re implying. Besides, Maeve smiled, he’s asleep. How can I possibly talk to a sleeping scientist?

I don’t know. Maybe you can use your power to talk to a sleeping man, in the same way you talk to a mute.

Oh, okay. I guess you don’t want me around anyway. Maeve grinned at him. See you tomorrow, Rongar.

Good night Maeve. Oh, and don’t worry. I’ll tell Sinbad to sneak into your cabin later.

“Ha ha. Very funny.” Maeve shot back as she went down to her cabin.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Morning came. Sinbad had taken the tiller away from Rongar so that the moor could get some sleep. But before he gave it to him, Sinbad could swear that he saw the moor wink at him. He shook his head. The days just get weirder and weirder.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and out came Maeve with a hand clamped to her mouth. She ran to the side of the ship.

Sinbad went to her, concerned. “Maeve, what’s wrong?” he asked her.

Maeve turned around to face her husband. She wiped her mouth with one hand. “I don’t know. I feel sick, Sinbad.” She admitted.

“You look sick.” Sinbad said, noticing that her fair skin was very pale. “You’d better go back to your cabin, Maeve. You must rest.” He added, before hugging his wife.

“I don’t want to go back to my cabin.” Maeve told him.

Sinbad pulled himself away from her so that he could look in her eyes. “You have to, my love.”

Maeve shook her head. “You don’t get me. I mean, I don’t want to go back to my cabin… alone.” She said, a wicked gleam penetrating her brown eyes.

Sinbad grinned as realization dawned. “Ahhh.” He suddenly scooped her in his arms. “Doubar! Hold the tiller for me, would you? I’m afraid I have some… unfinished business with my wife here.” He called out to his brother.

Doubar heard him, grinned, and saluted to the couple. “I’d be happy to, little brother.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Another week passed by. Sinbad and Maeve were inside her cabin.

“Did you say you wanted grapefruit?”

“That’s exactly what I said, Sinbad.”

Sinbad flung his arms in the air. “But where would I get that grapefruit? We’re in the middle of the sea!”

Maeve pouted as she sat on her bed. “I want grapefruit, Sinbad. Now.” She repeated.

Sinbad sighed, and then went out of her cabin. He bumped into Firouz.

“Whoa there, sailor! Where’s the fire?” Firouz said to him.

“Firouz! I’m sorry I didn’t see you. I was… well… do you know how in the world I could get some grapefruit?”

“Grapefruit?” Firouz gaped at his friend. “Sinbad, we’re in the middle of the sea!”

Sinbad rolled his eyes heavenward. “Don’t you think I know that?”

“Then where and why do you need it for?”

“I don’t need it. Maeve does.”

“Maeve?”

“Yes, she was constantly asking for it this morning.”

“Wait a minute. You said she asked you for a grapefruit?”

“Yes.”

“And yesterday, she asked you for a cantaloupe?”

“Yup. It was a good thing that pirates had attacked us yesterday. I was able to get some cantaloupe from their ship before it sailed away.”

“I see.” Firouz was silent for a moment.

“What do you see?” Sinbad asked, puzzled on why his friend was beaming.

“Don’t you get it, Sinbad? She’s craving for food, she’s throwing up, so she must be –“

“What?” Sinbad asked again.

“I’m going to check her now.” Firouz said, before leaving Sinbad on his own.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You mean it, Firouz? I might be pregnant?” Maeve asked him yet again.

“Yes, dear. By my calculations of your condition, I’d say that it is in its second month.”

“Oh my…” Maeve clutched her belly, ecstatic at the thought of a life forming inside of her. She looked up to Firouz, smiling with her eyes and mouth. “I’ve got to tell Sinbad!” she whispered. Maeve stood up and went outside of her cabin. She walked to the deck and found Sinbad staring at the sea.

“What are you doing?” she asked him.

“I’m praying to gods that a grapefruit would magically appear on my hands.” He raised his hands and showed it to her. “But obviously they haven’t answered me yet.”

Maeve smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For doing everything to make me happy. I know that you must be frustrated with me because of my attitude these days.”

“I’m not frustrated at you, my love.” Sinbad looked at her beautiful face. “Well, maybe just a little.” He amended.

Maeve chuckled. “But I think there’s something you should know, Sinbad.” She said, her voice becoming devoid of any laughter.

Sinbad frowned as he gazed at his beloved. She was serious. “What is it?”

Maeve heaved a sigh, looked at her feet, and then stared back at her husband. Suddenly she smiled. “You’re going to be a daddy.” She said quietly.

Sinbad was shocked, to say the least. “What?”

“I said you’re going to be a daddy, Sinbad. Firouz told me that I’m pregnant.”

“I’m going to be a daddy?” Sinbad repeated, bewildered.

Maeve nodded.

“I’m going to be a daddy!” he yelled. Suddenly he grabbed Maeve by the waist and spun her around.

“Hey, sailor! Put me down!” Maeve said, laughing with delight.

Sinbad did put her down, but did not release his hold on her. He pressed his lips onto hers. “You’ve made me the happiest man on earth, my sorcerer’s apprentice.” He said, his blue eyes shining with happiness.

“I know. And you’ve made me the happiest woman on earth, my captain.” Maeve said. They were about to kiss when Doubar suddenly appeared.

“Was I imagining things, or did I just hear Sinbad shout that he’s going to be a daddy?” he asked them.

“You’re imagining things.” Maeve responded, and then laughed at Doubar’s crestfallen look.

“You heard me right, brother. You’re going to be an uncle.”

“Oh my… oh my…” Doubar said over and over again. He walked to Maeve and hugged her, and then patted his brother’s back. “I’m so happy I could cry.” He said to both of them.

“You’re crying already.” Maeve pointed out. Then the three of them laughed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Several months passed by. Maeve’s belly grew larger and larger as her due date neared. One night, they were sitting on the deck, with no one else but the stars watching them. Sinbad was behind Maeve, so he could touch his wife’s belly and cuddle her at the same time.

“I wonder what our child would be.” Maeve said.

“I’m sure that he would inherit all of my good looks.” Sinbad said to her ear.

Maeve smiled. “Maybe. But I sure hope he wouldn’t get any of your so-called humility.” She teased him.

Sinbad laughed. “And I hope he wouldn’t get your stubbornness, or we would have one heck of a baby to deal with.” He shot back.

Maeve pinched him playfully at the arm. Sinbad responded by tightening his embrace.

“Hmmm. I really love it when we’re cruising together.” She said.

“You got that right.” Sinbad kissed her cheek. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“Not as much as I love you.” Maeve muttered as she turned to accept her husband’s kiss.

Suddenly Maeve broke off. She clutched her belly as a searing pain shot through her.

Sinbad noticed her distraught. “What’s wrong, Maeve? Are you feeling alright?”

Maeve shook her head, her face turning white as another pain rummaged through her. “I… call Firouz, Sinbad. I… think… I think the baby’s coming out.” She gasped out.

Sinbad was horrified. He was afraid to leave her side, but logic told him that he should get the physician. “Don’t go anywhere. I’d be back.” He said to her.

“Where… where could I go…?” Maeve muttered through clenched teeth. The pain was terrible. She had never experienced anything so painful in her entire life. She gripped the rope dangling by her side until her knuckles turned white.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Firouz was sound asleep he was having a dream. He was being awarded for his invention of the magnascope when suddenly, a heavy pounding shattered it. He awoke and went to open the door.

“What is it, Sinbad? Don’t you realize the time of day?” he asked, rubbing his eyes. He looked at the other man and noticed that he was panicking.

“Firouz! It’s Maeve. She… she thinks… the baby’s coming out!” Sinbad blabbered.

Firouz’s eyes widen. “I’d get my kit. Where is she?” he asked.

“She’s… she’s at the deck. Firouz, hurry!”

“I’m coming. I’m coming.” Firouz mumbled.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sinbad paced like a caged lion. He was worried, concerned, excited, happy and very, very eager to see his family.

Doubar watched his brother with a mixture of amusement and concern. “Sit down, Sinbad. You’d burn a hole through the Nomad if you don’t stop that!” he said.

“I can’t, Doubar. I’m nervous.” Sinbad said, pacing again.

Suddenly a cry pierced the night.

Sinbad stared at the door of Maeve’s cabin. Was the baby out? Is she alright?

Firouz opened the door and motioned Sinbad to go inside. Sinbad took slow, unsteady steps to the door. He looked at his wife and at the baby cradled in her arms. He barely noticed Firouz and Rongar walking out of the cabin so that they could have some privacy.

Maeve looked at Sinbad with a smile on her face, despite the throbbing pain on the lower half of her body. But it doesn’t matter. She had done it. Their child was here. Hers and Sinbad’s offspring.

“We have a son, Sinbad.” She said quietly, enjoying the wondrous look on his face, and the warmth of her baby’s skin against hers.

“A son?” Sinbad repeated. He walked to Maeve’s side and seated himself beside her. “A son.” He traced an index finger to his son’s face. The baby made gurgling sounds at the touch of his father.

“He’s beautiful.” Sinbad said, kissing Maeve on the top of her head.

“He’s perfect.” Maeve added, watching as the baby cuddled to her and closed his eyes.

“We’re perfect.” Sinbad said.

“What should we call him?” Maeve whispered.

“Why should I think of his name? You did the hard part. You have the honor of naming him.”

“That’s it, Sinbad. Delivering him was my part. Naming him is yours.”

“Okay.” Sinbad stared at the baby in Maeve’s arms, then at her. “I’m calling him… Daevin. From both of our names.”

“Daevin.” Maeve smiled at the sound of her son’s name. “It’s perfect.” She said.

“We’re perfect.” Sinbad repeated. “But especially, our love for one another made it perfect.”

“I love you, Sinbad.” Maeve said, looking at her husband with pure love glowing in her eyes.

“As I love you, Maeve. My Celtic dream.” Sinbad muttered to her.

Daevin opened his eyes yet again as he heard his parents’ declaration of love for each other. He made gurgling sounds, which made Maeve and Sinbad smile at him.

“I’m afraid he feels as though we’re leaving him out of the picture.” Maeve said, laughing.

“ I think you’re right.” Sinbad said. He scooped little Daevin out of his mother’s arms and held him on his own. “Your parents love you dearly, my boy. Don’t forget that.” He said.

For the first time, Daevin smiled.

The End