Hayze was surprised to see that River-rose wasn't outside playing like she usually was when he came home.

He unlocked the door and the smell of food wafted into his nose almost immediately. He hummed in delight and slipped off his shoes at the door before trailing into the kitchen.

"What you cooking, pretty girl?" He came up behind her and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.

"Hi," she said quietly as she stirred what looked like chili.

He frowned when he got a less excited reaction than usual. He scanned her over and noticed she was wearing loose sweats and a baggy t-shirt instead of any of the lounging outfits he'd bought her or the comfortable lingere. She still looked pretty but he liked to have skin showing when it was just them home so he could caress her baby soft skin and show her how much he adored her. Her midnight black hair was also tied up into a loose ponytail, her hair swinging around at her waist as she moved.

"Are you feeling well? Are you catching a cold?"

She turned around and frowned at him. "No. I'm okay. Do i look sick?" She pouted.

His eyes widened. "No no, not at all. I was just wondering because you usually wear the silk dresses or your cute little skirts and knee socks."

She turned back to the chili and stirred it some more. "I just didn't feel like it today," she mumbled.

He placed his hands on her hips and rubbed his hands up and down her sides soothingly. "That's fine. You still look beautiful." He turned to go to the fridge and grab some water. "That chili smells delecious."

When she didn't answer he looked back at her to see her lazily mixing the simmering chili. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Yes," she groaned.

He squinted his eyes at her before shutting the fridge door and slipping off his suit jacket. Hayze stepped up behind her and grabbed her hips before trailing one hand down to her plump bum.

Surprising him, she spun around and knocked his hand away. He stepped back in disbeleif.

"Can you please just keep your hands to yourself for for one minute," she breathed out.

He watched in shock as she shut the fire off to the chili and grabbed two bowls from the shelf he built just so she could reach. She dropped them onto the counter and spooned some of the steaming chili into them. One bowl had more than the other.

Next, she swung the stainless steel fridge door opened and grabbed some sour cream before plopping some into each bowl.

The whole time, Hayze just watched in shock as he followed her to the dining room table.

He sat across from her, all the while keeping his eyes on her as she picked up her spoon.

When she avoided all eye contact with him, he sighed loudly. "Have i done something wrong?"

She shook her head and stirred her chili around slowly in her bowl.

"Women," he groaned under his breath. "Whats wrong? Why do you seem upset?"

She took a bite of her chili before placing the spoon back in her bowl and pushing it away from her. His eyes followed her as she got up from her seat and came up to him. She picked up his bowl and brought some of the chili to his mouth.

"You always seem to stall when i cook you food?" She said quietly.

He looked at her strangely before taking the spoon into his mouth. He smiled at the taste and she smiled back tiredly.

"As much as i like when you do this, you should eat as well."

She went back to her spot and began eating her chili.

The whole time they ate in silence, he wondered why she had acted so strange.

°•○●○•°

Hayze walked into his study and spotted River-rose feeding her snake, Kiko.

"Have you been outside today, pretty girl?"

She shook her head.

"Oh okay." He came up beside her and watched as she closed the glass cage. When she turned around, he frowned and grabbed her face in his hands. "Why are you so pale. Are you sure your alright?"

She pulled away with an annoyed expression on her face. "I said i'm fine," she snapped as she strolled over to his couch.

"River," he growled and caught her arm. "Obviously you are not okay. You need to tell me what you're feeling so i can at least help. You can't go around being angry at me and not telling me what i did so i can apologize for it." He turned her around and smacked her bum making her gasp. She turned around with tears in her eyes.

"You're treating me like a bad child!" She cried as she pointed an accusing finger at his chest.

"Merda! Well if you weren't acting like one i wouldn't have to treat you like one," he said frustratedly. "If you want me to keep spanking you like this then you can keep acting like a spoiled brat. I don't mind spanking my wife sometimes," he smirked as he ruffled his dark brown hair.

She pushed him back. "You're making a joke out of this! I can't beleive you. Not even you can see me as an adult for more than five minutes."

She stepped around him but he quickly grabbed her and pulled her down with him onto the couch. "Tell me what's wrong. Now," he demanded.

She stared at him with her honey eyes before her anger slowly faded away and was replaced by tears.

"Oh merda. No, no cry. I was being too mean, si?"

She shook her head and her lip trembled. "I-im sorry. You're not being mean. I'm being me-mean. I ju-just feel like trash today."

"Bella rosa," he sighed. "I asked you if you were feeling okay and you said yes. Why did you lie to me?" He asked softly as he carresed her cheeks.

Her cheeks turned red slowly. "Because it's that... timeofthemonth," she mumbled.

"Say that again," he said with a raised eyebrow.

"Its that time of the month for me."

"Oh," he chuckled. "And your embarassed?"

"Yes," she mumbled as she looked away from him.

"You shouldn't be," he said as he kissed her forehead. "That just means you're capable of carrying my beautiful children."

She blushed even brighter and tucked her face into his chest.

"Are you always this... upset when you have your cycle?"

"Some times are worse than others. I'm sorry in advance."

He laughed his deep, rumbling laughter and nuzzled his face into her neck. "Why weren't you like this last month?"

"I haven't had it for a while."

"How long?"

"Umm." She looked away. "Maybe six months."

"Six months? Why not?"

"Stress..." She sounded unsure.

"And what else?"

"Nico's lessons stopped them some times," she said as she dipped her head.

Hayze inhaled and clenched his fists in anger. "I hate that asshole. He deserves longer than three months in prison."

"It's fine," she smiled. "I have you now."

He smiled down at her and stroked her hair affectionately. He was going to make sure she felt better.

"River?"

"Yes?" She mumbled.

"Don't you dare lie to me again or i really will bend you over and spank you."

°•○●○•°

Hayze slowly cracked open his eyes when he felt the small warmth leave from under his arm.

He looked to the side to see his wife hopping off the bed and wobbling around to his ensuite.

"Baby girl, whats wrong?"

She looked at him through her eyelashes and she was holding her tummy. "I'm fine. You should just go back to sleep. I'll be out in a minute."

He watched as she made her way into the bathroom and she quietly shut the door.

When she didn't come out for twelve minutes, he got up and went downstairs to make her some tea. He added some honey and lemon just as she liked it before climbing back up the steps and into his bedroom.

He knocked on the bathroom door. "River, i made you some tea. Come out so you can drink it."

"Thanks. But i said you should go back to sleep."

"I can only do that if you're laying next to me and i know you're okay. So come."

Two minutes later she made her way sluggishly out of the bathroom and onto her side of the bed.

When she couldn't find the strength to get into the bed, Hayze gently helped her up and then crawled in next to her.

River groaned and curled up into a ball making her seem so much smaller.

"Where are you in pain?"

River looked up at him through droopy eyes before pointing to below her belly button.

Hayze quickly grabbed some lotion and essential oils before hopping up on the bed and pulling her shirt up.

When he put his large hands on her little tummy she immediately let out a sigh of releif. He rubbed the lotion in on her soft skin and massaged her sides until she started drifting off to sleep.

"Drink some tea, pretty girl. Before you fall asleep."

She leaned her head up and Hayze blew on it for a few seconds before holding it to her lips. She took a few sips and then dropped her head to the pillow.

"Thank you," she said breathlessly. "You're my angel."

He chuckled before putting the tea on the bedside table and kissing her forehead. "Night."

"Goodnight."