chapter two

I get home, coming in the door in the evening, and he's splayed across the bed with an empty pizza box next to him.

"How was work honey?" he asks.

"Exhausting! Ugh. How are you and the baby?" I pat his tummy as I walk by.

"We're good. I feel like I should be contributing more. I could work for a while", he says.

"Nonsense. We don't know how well this procedure works, it's new. Your body has been donated to the baby right now, hun, sorry, you're not a person right now, you're a gestating machine." I kiss his forehead.

"Do you have any idea what would happen to a man who dared say that to a woman?" he asks.

"Yeah, yeah, but those times are gone." I pat his belly. "I want to know you and our baby are growing healthy, that's all I want. So...dinnertime."

He sighs. "Bring it on."

That night, I straddle him low around his hips, avoiding the baby, and he explodes deep inside me. He's fat and happy, and incredibly turned on by his changing body.

At five months, he had an ultra sound that showed everything was going well. While other men hadn't been so lucky, I credited keeping him in bed with the successful pregnancy so far.

"I don't feel good", he moans to the doctor.

"You're five months pregnant, you're not supposed to", the doctor laughs. "Hormones?" her eyes meet mine.

"Oh brother, yes."

"Why are you two talking about me like I'm not even here?" he fusses.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm sorry", I answer, hugging him, and trying not to laugh.

"He's gained a lot of weight", she says, "Unnecessarily."

We knew this was coming. "He's an eater", I say.

"Apparently. Why don't you step on the scale, sweetheart?" he prompts him.

I help him off the table, and onto the scale.

"How much did you weigh before you got pregnant?" she asks.

"180, right?"

"185", I answer.

"Well you're 220 now. And only a little over halfway there. You don't need to eat so much", she tells him.

"Is there any danger to him?" I ask.

"Oh no, it's not like with a woman, his womb is physically separate from the rest of his body in a way it isn't with women. But, there's also no need for it", she says.

Good.

"Your baby looks fantastic, guys", she says.

"I didn't know I was that big", he says, a grin on his face, patting his belly.

"You're pretty darn big, guy", the doctor says and laughs.

We go home, and I put him right back to bed.

"I guess I'm getting huge", he says, happily.

"Yep, you're both pregnant and fat, baby. Your body is lost completely."

Months go by, and I have to help my enormous husband to the bathroom, as he waddles his 250 pound self down the hall. I stand him in front of mirrors, show him how fat he is, and tease him. "You look like a pregnant whale", I accuse, but he keeps smiling.

Everything is fine until I have to bring a work colleague home. Justin is a man's man who would never get pregnant, or become feminized in any way.

We both come through the door to find Alan on the sofa, wrapped up in a blanket, shoving cheese blintzes into his mouth.

He stops, and tries to stand, but fails.

"Baby, baby", I run over to him, "Easy, sweetie." I get him back on the sofa.

"This has to be Alan", Justin says, a smug look on his face, tight dress pants buttoned around his trim middle. He holds out a hand. Alan takes it.

Then Alan clutches his belly. "This is Justin, my co-worker", I tell him, "He just needs a document, and...there it is." I hand him a paper from my desk.

"We should get together, all have a drink with the boss...when Alan is feeling better", Justin adds.

"Oh definitely", I say.

He leaves. Alan rolls away from me.

"He was flirting with you", he says.

"He was NOT..."

"He thinks you're just interested in the baby, after I give birth, you'll leave me", he fusses.

I cuddle up to him, and find him crying.

"Oh sweetheart, stop...I love you. We're creating a family together..."

"I may never get my body back."

Good.

"You're just hungry baby..."

"You don't have to keep stuffing me! I'm already your property! I already almost never leave the house. I already look like a pig!" I cuddle him close and let him cry it out. We kiss, touch each other, and make love very gently.

"I love you", I whisper to him. "And I love that you're big, we both know that."

He falls asleep, and I play the rolls on his belly.