Diamonds Are Forever 11/?
Chapters: 11/?
More Info and disclaimer see; General info Jorli series, http://sagas-stories.livejournal.com/25492.html
Author's Note for this chapter: I know that you are probably eagerly waiting for Johnny to come back, but if you are patient, he will…
Previous chapters: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Orlando had started to feel better, and he wanted to think it was because he was taking more hormones, and that he knew what his body reacted to. That morning, he lay in bed, smiling with his hand on his stomach thinking that under it, there was a new life. Lying there, he decided that he would leave it for a few weeks before he would tell anyone else, making an exception for Johnny and those that already knew. His smile got wider thinking of the baby's father. He always got in a good mood thinking about Johnny.
After getting up and eating he was able to read his manuscript for a few hours. He then took some time to clean his place. He had been sloppy, which he had a tendency to be when he knew he would be alone.
Before the shops closed, he went to find a present for Jadan. In a children's clothing store, he found a nice, knitted cardigan in pink. In another store that sold beauty products, he bought a basket filled with lotions, creams, shower gel and shampoo he had found useful after he had given birth to Beatrix. He hoped that Jadan wouldn't feel it was too womanly. From his own experience, his skin had needed more moisturising and with it, his body seemed to go back to normal a lot faster. If Jadan had been a woman, he probably would have reacted the same way. Orlando also stopped by a flower shop and bought some for Gina.
He didn't have any problems in finding the way to Deerbrook Lane. The area looked woody with plenty of greenery around the houses. It also seemed quite good for maintaining privacy. He could understand that they could feel some safety from the hungry journalists and photographers, if they had ever had a problem with it. Orlando knew he had been lucky to have had Beatrix in New Zealand, and then been hidden from any paparazzi. Now he would be happy to manage a few more months as a normal guy. He knew it would probably be a matter of time as soon after he started to show, though now wasn't the time to ponder over that.
Orlando parked the car, took the gifts and went to the door. Just as he was about to push the doorbell, Jadan opened the door.
"Orlando, welcome! You didn't have any problems getting here, did you?" Jadan smiled with his whole face.
"No, not at all. Thank you."
"Please, come inside. Gina is in our kitchen putting the last finishing touches to dinner." Jadan stepped aside so Orlando could enter.
Inside, Orlando let Jadan take his jacket and then followed the man into the kitchen, and Orlando quickly saw that Gina's homely figure was proof that she enjoyed her food. Hearing them coming, she turned towards them with a big smile over her face. She had to turn back to the stove to return the spoon to the pot, and then she came and greeted him.
"Oh my, you do look good in real life," she exclaimed. "Welcome. I was so exited when Jadan told me he had invited you."
"Thank you." Orlando held out the flowers to her, "These are for the lady of the house."
"You didn't need to," Gina said and blushed.
Orlando held out the bag left in his hand and turned to Jadan, "and this is for you and the little girl."
"Thank you, but I agree with Gina that you should not have brought anything, we are happy you could come and visit."
"Nonsense, it's nothing." Orlando smiled, and then turned back to Gina. "What is that you are cooking? It smells delicious."
"Orange and ginger chicken, some vegetables, rice and a creamy curry sauce." She paused for a moment before adding, "I hope you are not a vegetarian, or allergic…"
"No. I'm not a vegetarian, I love chicken and I can eat most things, but some do not go down as well as normal during pregnancy."
Gina smiled at him. "Tell me about it. Jadan has had his moments, and with some crazy mixing of foods as well. Do you have them too?"
"In the last few weeks, I've been happy to keep anything down, but it has started to get better. The crazy cravings still have to come this time, but I had some last time."
Before Gina could ask, or say anything more, Jadan suggested that they go to the living room and have a seat. Jadan sat and then moved around a little to get comfortable, stroking his belly.
"Is she moving?"
"Yeah, it feels like she is kicking my bowels. It is something I won't miss when she is born." Orlando smiled, knowing how it felt.
When Jadan was comfortable, he opened the presents. He held up the little cardigan. "Thank you. It's pretty."
"Glad to hear. Even if I'm not that fond of shopping for clothes, I do manage to buy something fun for the children. It might sound womanly, but it is special. It changed after I had Beatrix."
They become silent for a moment. Orlando looked around the living room. He noticed that there were some baby things in a few places. "You have had a baby shower?"
"We had one this weekend. I didn't think we would have one, but Gina surprised me. Our closest friends came. Did you have any?"
"No. David and I decided not to quite so early, as we didn't tell many people that I was pregnant."
"Do you think you will have one now?"
"I don't know. It's way too early to tell and I have a few months to decide. I will probably change my mind several times."
"Yeah, being who you are, I think I can understand you."
Gina came into the living room to telling them that the dinner was ready. Orlando followed her to give a helping hand, but she didn't want to know about it. "You guys sit down and take it easy, you are a guest here, Orlando."
Orlando praised Gina for the delicious food. It tasted as good as it had smelled. She had tried to say it was nothing, and Jadan said that she always thought less of her cooking than she deserved. Keeping a conversation through the meal was not a problem. They had been very interested in his story, when they hadn't known any people of double gender or learnt about many people in their own situation. In return, he had learned Jadan's story from growing up as Nadja, and how he had then started with testosterone to become the man he actually felt he was.
Jadan also shared how it came to be that he kept his female part, which then made it possible to carry their daughter. This time, when there was no hurry, Jadan with the help of Gina, told of how they had searched and tried several doctors before they had asked Doctor Lee.
"You know that going to your employer isn't what you normally think to do, but Chris is great and really has given us the support we needed."
"It can be very awkward to tell your boss. When I had to tell Peter Jackson, I was pregnant at the end of filming." Orlando agreed. "Though I've probably been lucky for being understood in an acceptable way."
"But it isn't widely known about you. What do you think will happen when the newspapers and fans learn about it?" Gina asked.
"I've tried not to think about it. If I did that, I probably wouldn't be able to take it very well. I want to believe that every year I get stronger, and will be able to handle it when it does comes out."
"May I ask how you were able to keep it a secret when you carried Beatrix?"
"First I was in New Zealand and we were guarded well for the Lord of the Ring's movies, and not many people knew me. When I went out towards the end, they would have taken me for a woman. After the birth, we often said that a friend had helped us. Probably it has helped that there has been no one like me who had done it before."
"I know a few. Are you really the first one?" Jadan interrupted.
"I don't know if I'm really the first one here in the US, but in New Zealand and England I am. And before you ask, they did listen to me and kept my name secret after I asked them to. I hope they would continue to do so for as long as possible, but I know the chances get smaller all the time. It might have worked if I hadn't become pregnant again. I want to think the gift that is a child makes it worth what I have to go through later, though."
"I agree with you on that. A child is the biggest gift you can ever have."
They talked more about names and all the other things that revolved around children, and before they knew it, it was very late. When Jadan had fallen asleep twice, Orlando made his excuses to leave. He had felt during the evening how nice a couple they were and was sure he had made two good friends. He promised to come and visit again and to keep in touch.