I really don't know why I try and finish things in one sitting.

And because I'm feeling all writy-funny, here's a little story to go along with the pic:

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Sophia reached out and took Mikhail by his hand, leading him out of her parent's vacation house, towards the crowded gardens. Far from looking wild and unkept, the rolling garden was teeming with every kind of flower one could think of, filling the air with their characteristic scents.

Located in France's Brittany region, the cottage was flanked on all sides by lush vegetation, trees that loomed overhead, flowers that blanketed the ground like a floral carpet. It was March, normally a chilly month for France, but a warm front had rolled in early, giving the area a refreshing temperature.

They walked hand-in-hand to a small clearing, where her great-grandfather had built a stone fountain. Her family's heritage of masonry was well-exposed in all of the estate's architecture, which was beautiful and enduring. Almost everything, from the strong stone walls of the house to the walkways had been built by hand, giving the home a warm, rustic atmosphere.

As Sophia neared the fountain, the sound of babbling water the only sound, she let go of Mikhail. "Let's make a wish...My grand-père always told me that wishes made here always come true..." Sophia said wistfully to her lover.

Mikhail raised an eyebrow dubiously, though he was soon next to her, gazing into the clear water. "Really? Never believed in that sort of thing. Have any of your wishes come true?"

"In some way, yes. I wished to be the happiest girl alive when I was ten..." Sophia answered gently as she tried to sit down on the lip of the fountain. But unlike so many years ago, her bottom seemed to want to slip off. It wasn't because she'd grown taller, just wider. Her belly was enormous at 8 months pregnant, making it difficult to find the space to sit. Giving up with an airy, genuine Sophia-laugh, the gravid woman rubbed the globe of flesh lovingly. "I'd like to think of myself as the happiest human being on the Earth..."

"You'll be sharing that title with me, I assume," Mikhail joked, getting on his knees so that he could cherish Sophia's stomach. Pressing his ear to her belly, the black-haired man smiled when he heard a tiny heartbeat just past the cloth and skin, followed by a sudden kick. "You might have to give-up your hopes for a tiny Mozart, honey...looks like we've got a soccer-star in there!"

Sophia's eyes closed as she laughed again, raking her thin fingers through Mikhail's straightened hair. He'd gone for a relaxed look that day, forgoing his usual hour-long beauty regiment. They were on vacation, anyway.

Purring from the head-massage, Mikhail held onto both sides of the strawberry-blonde's swollen middle, amazed at how much she'd grown since the summer-time. She'd been slow to show at first, just a little bump that was easily concealed behind jackets and long-sleeve shirts. But during the winter's chill, she'd not blossomed, but burgeoned, outgrowing her maternity wardrobe in a record two weeks time. It had been amazing to watch her stomach literally swell before his eyes, but even though she only had a month left in her pregnancy, Mikhail could tell that Sophia had still grown some.

Sensing Mikhail's thoughts, Sophia pulled him back up to his feet. With a caring stare, she said, "I hope...you still think I'm beautiful."

Mikhail had to chuckle. "Are you kidding me? You're gorgeous, a goddess!" he exclaimed truthfully, pulling out his digital camera. "Let me take a picture of you next to the fountain so you can see."

Blushing, the peach-skinned woman slowly positioned herself, feeling rather awkward before a camera. Not a photogenic person in the slightest, Sophia had a bad-habit of becoming flustered whenever her picture was being taken, and was prone to blinking or making a forced, fake smile.

"Just relax, Phia...you look wonderful..." Mikhail assured her as he checked the lighting. Steadying his hands, Mikhail peered into the viewfinder and discovered that she indeed did look quite a bit larger than she had a few weeks ago. The pink blouse he'd bought her at the beginning of their vacation was already lifting in the front. "Ready?"

Nodding nervously, Sophia struggled to smile naturally. Her heart tightened as a tinny beep sounded, followed by an electronic flash.

Mikhail looked at the picture, smiling broadly. "See? I told you. Beautiful," he declared, holding up the camera for his girlfriend to see.

The French-woman could hardly believe her eyes when she saw the digital picture. Though no stranger to the saying, Sophia had never thought that pregnant women actually did glow...she was practically alight with a healthy verve!

Brown-eyes widening, Sophia was shocked to see just how big her belly was, though it always looked huge from her vantage point, blocking her vision from the naval down. She missed the days of being able to see her toes.

"This one's for keeps," Mikhail said happily, putting the camera back into his pocket. "Now, what did you want to do now?

"Lunch! I'm famished!!" Sophia said excitedly, licking her pink lips. Her mind became filled with thoughts of food, causing her mouth to water.

"So soon? We just had breakfast not even an hour ago!" Mikhail replied, a little taken back by her suggestion. An unexpected knot started to build in the back of his throat as Sophia started to rub her distended belly. It looked even larger now...he had to be imagining it, but still, there it was!

"Weeelll..." she started coyly, still patting her middle, "I am eating for two now..."

Eyes fixed to her stomach, Mikhail pondered anxiously if she was right about it just being two...

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Tools:
Printer paper
Micron pens
Prismacolor pencils and markers
white and green paint

Sophia Pelletier © me

~Sarah