The Ups and Downs of Marriage (TNT x Foxxo)

[Foxxo]

It had been an extremely busy week. It had only been a few days since Global Fitness had gone public, but the amount of work required in setting up the process, and now maintaining it, had left Jack feeling overwhelmed and exhausted come Friday evening. It was now after 8 PM, and he'd only just finished the last of the work he'd laid out for himself this morning. Normally, he'd at least have the time and energy to get a workout himself before heading home, but now he no longer had the time or energy.

Instead, he laid back in his chair for a few minutes and ran his hands through his short, dark hair. This was pretty normal behavior during times when he was feeling tired or stressed. It felt nice to try and rub away the fatigue, and he loved getting his head scratched.

After another few minutes he finally began packing up the few things he'd have to bring home, including a few more papers to look over before he'd nod off to bed tonight. During this, he sent a quick text to his wife; Just leaving the office now love. Sorry that I'm late again tonight. Everything's just been crazy. I'll see you in about half hour. It wasn't much longer than he found himself walking through the gym, waving goodnight to the personal trainers and staff coming in for the late shift, and through the front door.

At the very least, the rewards for his chain of gyms' success was quite nice. He'd recently been able to buy a new car, and it was a definite improvement over the previous, nearly 20 year old civic he'd been driving for years. Now, a comfortable sedan, equipped with just about everything one needed to make driving easier and more comfortable. It had been a tough choice between this and something sporty, but given how tired he'd been this whole week, he thanked his past self for making the right decision almost everyday.

His drive home was uneventful, and quick, thankfully. The roads leading back to his house were fairly dead at this time in the evening, which was always appreciated. Traffic would have just added to the sense of stress and fatigue. Sessions in the gym, among the weights and treadmills had never left him feeling this tired before. Maybe he just wasn't the type for desk and paper work? Jack hoped it would get easier over time. Yet, part of him couldn't shake the feeling that he was more exhausted than he should be.

Finally, he pulled into his driveway. A nice home just on the edge of the city and suburbs. Far enough away from the busy streets of downtown, but close enough that he had constant, easy access to his gym's headquarters.

Slowly he pulled himself from the car, collected his things from the passenger seat, and walked up the driveway, the few steps leading to his front door, and then through the front door himself. He hoped desperately that his wife had cooked up something. It wasn't that he was hungry, but Jack knew based on how he was feeling that he should eat.

"Hon... I'm home! Sorry again for coming home late every day this week. It's been crazy." His fatigue was noticeable in his voice.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Julia knew that she had more than a few things to be thankful for, so when she started to feel a tad bit sorry for herself because she was left home alone, once again - and on a Friday night, nonetheless! - she was quick to remind herself of a few of those things that she should be grateful for, those things that brought her absolute joy.

First and foremost, she had her health and well-being. Not many people could say, with absolute confidence, that they were strong in both of these things. Perhaps one, but rarely both. Julia on the other hand made certain that she took excellent care of not only her lithe, somewhat diminutive body, but she remained steadfast in maintaining a balanced, healthy state of mind. Unlike her loving husband - who was certainly one of her other joys, but more on him later - Julia took the time to mediate, on a daily basis, and to write in her journal. She found both to be calming and rewarding in ways that most people just couldn't understand. This, as a matter of fact, was usually where others fell short. While they would spend countless hours in the gym, refining their bodies, they often did very little to nurture their mind and soul.

As for her aforementioned husband, Jack, he was indeed the very next thing she was thankful for. He was truly a gift, for a number of reasons, regardless of the fact that he didn't always take the best care of himself, which annoyed her, just a little, especially given his line of work. That being said, he was indeed a very smart man, but in that savvy sort of way, not nerdy, nor condescendingly so, which she certainly appreciated and, to be honest, found to be rather sexy. Could he be a bit demanding at times? Yes. Yes he could. But he was a man after all, so it was almost expected. Did he sometimes brush aside her opinions, feeling that she didn't have either the knowledge or life experience to provide substantial input? Well, yes, he could occasionally do that as well, but it was typically in a kind manner. Never rude, nor in a demeaning sort of way. At least not to her awareness. Was he hardworking? Dear lord, was he ever. Why else would she be standing in their well-appointed kitchen, at eight o'clock at night, preparing him one of his favorite meals, knowing full well that he probably consumed nothing more than a granola bar and a protein shake as he powered through yet another fourteen hour day?

And you wouldn't have him any other way, she now thought, as she heard him pull up in the driveway, faults and all.

It certainly didn't hurt that the athletically-built man was ever-so-easy on the eyes; although, as he came through the front door, calling out for her - which she immediately responded to by exiting the kitchen and stepping out into the adjoining hallway - Julia couldn't help but notice that he didn't quite look himself.

"Here, let me help you with that," she offered, as she scooped up some of the files he was juggling as he attempted to remove his coat. "No need to apologize," she was quick to add, as she stepped up upon her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. He was, after all, nearly a foot taller than her, so it was either perform this small act or kiss his chest, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, seeing that it was both firm and beautifully sculpted, but that wasn't exactly the type of greeting one would expect, even from a dutiful wife, regardless of how enjoyable it may be.

"I'm almost afraid to ask how your day went," she then noted as she began to head back towards the kitchen, feeling that he was in a good enough place to take care of himself now, "but come and tell me all about it over a glass of wine, while I finish pulling our dinner together."

"How does sesame chicken over brown fried rice sound?" she continued to speak as she took up a spot at the stove, snatching the wooden spoon from the ceramic rest so she could stir the steaming skillet filled with cubes of tender chicken.

 

[Foxxo]

"Oh man, that sounds amazing Julia. It smells amazing too!" He followed her to the kitchen, letting his nose guide him while he followed closely behind her. Despite the delicious odours, and the lack of food he'd eaten throughout the day, he still found he didn't have much of an appetite.

"I don't know how you do it, reading my mind like this. You always seem to be a step ahead of everything else." Jack figured he'd do his best to eat however much he could. The last thing he wanted to do was leave her with the impression that he didn't want what she'd made for him.

Watching her cook, a part of him always wanted to ask whether or not she needed help. He'd tried a few times, and she'd let him, kindly enough. That didn't last long though as he was kitchen illiterate and got in her way every single time. A lot of dishes were nearly ruined due to his clumsiness. He couldn't shake this feeling that he turned into a bit of an ogre as soon as he entered a kitchen.

Instead, he leaned back on the counter and watched his wife do her thing. "Today was pretty much the same as every other day this week, but I just felt so much more tired." It was true. There was a pit inside him that screamed fatigue. Yet it wasn't any kind of fatigue he was familiar with. It seemed to be increasing even now; a sort of bubbling to the surface sensation. It had him a little worried. "I should be fine though. It's probably just everything catching up to me. At least I have a weekend to recover right?"

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Julia could hear it in his voice and see it in his face. Her husband was exhausted. And why shouldn't he be? After working, what, seventy plus hours in one week, anybody would be dead on their feet. So, in an effort to get him to bed sooner rather than later, she quickened her steps and finished preparing their meal in a timely manner. Truth be told, she had cooked the chicken earlier and readied the rice as well, so it was just a matter of combining the two, heating it up, and adding a few finishing touches.

"You know, I could lend a hand...," she cautiously offered, knowing the subject was sort of a sore spot between the two of them, as she spooned the chicken and rice onto the two plates she had set out on the counter earlier. "It could be temporary, until things level out," she pressed, a little bit further, as she set the skillet back down.

Deciding it was probably best that they simply eat right there at the island Jack was currently leaning against, she brought the two plates over, set them down, and then proceeded to pull silverware from a nearby drawer. Instead of the wine, she opted to fill two glasses with ice water. Liquor on an empty stomach was probably not the best path to take this late in the evening.

Taking a seat upon one of the two, highbacked stools, Julia reached across the counter and snatched at the paper towel dispenser that sat in the center of the island. Ripping off two sheets with ease, she folded one and tucked it under Jack's plate. Then...

Wait.

Stopping mid-motion, with a single towel in hand, she eyed the dispenser up. Typically she had to extend herself a good inch more to reach it; however, she had just done so without that extra effort. Odd. Perhaps Jack had moved it when she wasn't looking, yet, as far as she could tell, it appeared to be exactly where it always was.

"Honey, sit, eat. Those files aren't going anywhere," she then encouraged Jack when it looked like he was going to gravitate toward the stack she had taken from him earlier in the front foyer. "You should've actually left all of that at the gym," she stated, in a gentle voice, trying not to pounce too hard on his unhealthy work habits, as she turned her food over in an effort to cool it. "Don't you think you've earned yourself a work-free weekend? Like you just said yourself, you need the time to recover, to recharge."

 

[Foxxo]

It was a pretty sensitive topic. He knew she'd be able to help, and that it would probably work out for the best, yet his pride wouldn't let him. Not being able to handle all of the work himself seemed like in a way he was admitting defeat.

"It's alright. I think I can get the hang of it eventually." He looked over at the files. There was a lot he could do this weekend, but taking a few days to relax was probably a better approach. "I'll try not to dig into them too much, but there are a few essentials I'm going to have to sort through."

With that he started to spoon some of the chicken and rice into his mouth. Of course, it was delicious, but he just couldn't bring himself to eat nearly as much as he normally would in this situation. Typically he'd have eaten everything she cooked and more. Tonight, the appetite just wasn't there.

His shoulders dropped slightly, and he had this odd feeling that his shirt was hanging off his frame. Was he losing weight? It must be all the work. The late nights and the stress.

"I'm sorry love. I thought I was hungrier than this but I don't know how much more I'll be able to eat." He felt bad about it. That she'd put in all of this effort for him to simply consume about half. In no way did he want to imply that he wasn't absolutely in love with her cooking.

"You look good though. Radiant as always. Seems like there an extra layer of energy to you today though. Something good happen?" Jack was pretty eager to change the subject at this point. Yet, she really did seem to be more of... Well... Something, today.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Seeing Jack pick at his plate, Julia began to worry if exhaustion was his only issue. By now he should've been nearly finished clearing his plate and well on his way to asking her if she planned to finish what was left on hers. On the verge of asking him if he was feeling okay, if there was something bothering him besides being tired, he actually took the lead and began to apologize for not being able to finish what he had started.

"Oh, honey, please, there's no need to be sorry," she stated now as she rose from her seat and caught her knee on the underside of the island countertop, which caused her to take pause, yet again; however, seeing that her husband wasn't feeling well, she immediately returned her focus to him and his needs. "Why don't you head up to bed. I'll clean up," she then offered, which went against their usual routine of she cooks and he cleans up.

Moving towards the sink now with both of their plates in hand, she was caught off guard once more, after placing the dishes in the sink, as she whacked her knuckles on the wall behind the faucet as she reached for the hot water. What was going on here? When did she suddenly become a stranger in her own kitchen? While everything looked the same, it all felt just a little off. Actually, the more she thought about it, she was the one who was starting to feel really off.

Perhaps I'm getting sick as well?

However, just as she had this thought, Jack made a comment about her looking good, perhaps, dare he say it, even better than usual. Wondering if something had happened to her today which would bring about such a glow, she simply replied, "Well, no, not really. Just my usual routine, you know. Yoga in the morning, mediation in the afternoon, some journaling around sunset."

Oh, dear lord, could I be...?

Shaking her head, she was quick to cut her thoughts just short of stating something that simply could not be possible. She was on the pill. Actually, both of them were, as prescribed by their mutual physicians. Not that the pills were a guarantee, but the fact that they also hadn't had sex in nearly three weeks - mostly thanks to Jack's insane work schedule - well, that would certainly diminish the odds.

"Alright. No more small talk. Off to bed with you," she then insisted, as she approached him and couldn't help but notice that the sweater he was wearing, the one that usually hugged his athletic form like a second skin, accentuating the swell of muscles, was now hanging somewhat loosely from his slumped form.

"Jack, what's going on here?" she then found herself asking with a healthy dose of concern in her typically calm voice.

 

[Foxxo]

"I'm not sure what you're talking about... I mean, maybe I'm getting sick? It's possible I've lost a bit of weight over the past little while as well. Haven't been able to work out or eat as much as I'd typically like too." He was concerned as well though. This wasn't like any illness he'd ever experienced, if it was an illness at all.

"I think you're right though, maybe I should just rest for the rest of the night." Following her direction seemed like a good idea, though in any other situation or on any other night he would have been adamant about doing his share in washing the dishes. Tonight though, he didn't want to think, and having her blessing to simply go and rest felt right.

Jack looked her over again, noticing more than just the glow surrounding her. "Say, did you mix up the laundry or something? I know those clothes you're wearing, their some of my favourites. They seem a bit smaller though. Did you shrink them?" He smiled and teased, even though he knew such a thing would be extremely unlike her. She never neglected or messed up on anything, especially when house work was concerned.

He stood up from the island and carried his dishes over to the sink, before setting them inside gently. Absentmindedly he also reached for his pants to adjust them. He hadn't noticed this earlier in the day but his belt felt a bit too lose. He'd been using the same hole for years... Why were they lose now? He mist really have lost weight.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Moderately suspicious of how easily her husband was brushing off whatever was going on with him, Julia just offered a supportive smile and a pat to his seemingly slimmer shoulder, before leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek. If he said he was tired, he was tired. If he lost a little weight, so be it. He would gain it right back, once he was feeling better. It wasn't like he got sick very often. Both of them were known for their strong constitution and stamina. Granted, Jack often thought himself a bit more indestructible than he really was.

Moving back to the sink, she continued with cleaning the dishes she had taken there, ready to get lost in her own thoughts as she finished up; however, Jack was still sitting at the island, essentially disregarding her suggestion to get some much needed rest. Instead, he felt the need to imply that she had made some sort of mix-up with the laundry. The nerve of him to say such a thing, even in jest! If there was one thing she excelled at, it was housework. God knew she had more than enough time to perfect it, seeing that she was more or less forbidden to have a career of her own.

Glancing down at her top, she had to admit, it did look a bit more snug. Actually, now that he said something, she couldn't help herself from feeling as if her jeans felt a bit tighter too, as they stretched across her thighs and hugged the curves of her slim ass. What...what exactly was going on here? Had they unknowingly slipped through Alice's Looking Glass, into a world where big was suddenly small, and, well, small was suddenly not?

Oddly amused by this fantastical thought, a slight smile actually slipped into place upon her lips, regardless of the fact that they both appeared to be coming down with some sort of strange illness; however, that amused expression vanished the minute her husband stood up from his seat and approached her by the sink.

It was now abundantly clear, no, alarmingly clear, something crazy was going on, for as Jack now stood next to her, her eyes landed comfortably upon his square jawline, instead of his chest, a good six inches higher than earlier.

"Jack, honey...," was all she got out, just before a button popped on her blouse.

 

[Foxxo]

Jack hadn't really thought much about what was going on, until the moment he stood before his wife by the sink. His mind had felt a bit cloudy, and it took him slightly longer than her to realize something was definitely off. When she spoke, and the button popped off from her blouse, things finally began to settle in a bit more.

"What... What?" He tried to speak but words wouldn't come out. This was insanely confusing... Was he dreaming? Was he that tired? No, it didn't feel like a dream at all, not to mention the look on his wife's face told him that he wasn't the only one who noticed the differences in their height. Jack took a tentative step back and looked her over. Sure enough, her clothes looked tighter than before, and sure enough, she was standing at a far taller height than he was used to.

"I'm... not sure what's going on... This is too much." Despite the stress, the confusion, and the extreme sense of worry and dread that was setting in, Jack couldn't help but also feel more than a little turned on as he looked at his wife. Shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of the thoughts. Now was not the time for that.

"This can't be real? Can it?" There was a lot of doubt in his voice, as he was beginning to feel that sense of dread bubble higher and higher. "Aren't you supposed to be... like... a decent amount shorter than me?"

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Suddenly feeling lightheaded, Julia reached for the nearby counter and, just like when she had gone for the faucet earlier, she totally misjudged her proximity, so her knuckles whacked against the edge of It. Letting slip a small, "Ouch," she pulled her hand back and then rubbed it with her other, all the while keeping her gaze, her very worried-filled gaze on Jack.

"You're right," was all she initially said, as she felt a pang of nausea developing inside the pit of her stomach. "This is too much," she agreed, with a shake of her head, just as she caught the faintest hint of arousal in her husband's face. Oh yeah. She knew that look. Although, as quickly as it was there, it was gone, and soon enough his expression matched hers.

Reaching for the counter once more, but in a much more cautious manner, Julia supported her larger frame. How was this even possible? How was it that an adult woman, a fully developed woman, had just grown a few more inches taller? And it wasn't just her height that had changed either. Oh no. Her breasts had certainly developed as well. For as long as she could remember, she had been a modest 32A, but now? She was at least a B cup, if not nearly a C!

No wonder Jack had given her that look.

"Honey, I just...I can't explain it," she stammered, with a shrug of her broader shoulders, as her mind fought to find an explanation, but failed, as she eyed him up and down, suddenly aware that while she had grown, he had - Oh god - shrunk?! "It's...it's going to be alright. We'll figure this out," she tried to reassure him, tried to reassure both of them, as she reached out and stroked his cheek with her slightly larger hand, inwardly thankful that she had already removed her wedding ring to wash the dishes because if she hadn't it would more than likely be cutting into her thicker ring finger.

"Do you think we should go to the ER?" she then questioned, feeling a little silly for stating the obvious. Of course that's what they needed to do. There was no other path to take. It wasn't like they could just pretend this wasn't happening.

 

[Foxxo]

"That's... that's probably a good idea." He felt a tad dizzy, but not the ill sort of dizzy. It could only be described as how someone feels when they encounter something most would believe to be impossible. "They, I mean, doctors, or a doctor, should know what's going on right?" His typical decisive, confident tone had disappeared. Jack was feeling anxious as hell.

"I'm thinking it'd be best if we go right now though. Who knows if what's happening is really dangerous." He looked into her eyes and she nodded in agreement. They both moved through the kitchen, leaving everything as is, and to be cleaned later, and made their way into the front foyer. Now that it was evening, and fall, it was a little colder out than it had been during the day, and they did what they could to dress appropriately while also still rushing.

Putting on his jacket, only to have it hang off his frame in much the same way his shirt did, was definitely a weird experience. He imagined his wife going through something similar, but at the other end of the scale. All of her clothes were hugging her frame, and Jack had to put in a decent amount of effort to avoid his mind going back to various dirty thoughts. This certainly wasn't the time for that!

He grabbed the keys, and after they left the house he locked the door. On their way to the car however Jack spoke, "Say... hun, I'm actually feeling a little bit dizzy. It may be best if I don't drive... Could you drive us?" Usually he drove everywhere, even when it was the two of them. His stubbornness usually lead him to wanting to drive, and insisting on it, even when he'd been in worse physical states than this. She didn't always let him, and he usually conceded, knowing his wife was often right when she said he wasn't able to drive, but for him to actually offer was a new experience. It didn't really occur to him much at the moment though, that his behavior in that moment was any different than it ever was.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Julia was relieved that her husband agreed with her. They needed to get to the hospital now. Whatever was happening to them, appeared to be happening at an alarmingly steady rate. Just in the last hour alone they'd both experienced distinct physical changes. God only knew what was happening to them on the inside, in places that they couldn't see or even comprehend. Take, for example, her husband's mind. Clearly something was wrong with it, because for the first time in forever he was actually allowing her to drive!

Taking the keys, she slid inside the car behind the wheel and turned the engine over. Trying to ignore the fact that no adjustments were needed for either the seat or the mirrors, which were both set for her much taller husband - previously taller husband? - she took a deep breath and tried to refocus her mind. It was up to her to get them safely to the hospital. Jack was counting on her.

Glancing at her husband in the passenger seat, she felt the deepest pang of sympathy for him. He looked so sad and, dare she think it, frightened. Well, why shouldn't he? Why shouldn't they both? This illness - or whatever it was - was indeed exactly that. It was alarming, and scary, and...

Adding curves to her body that had never existed before?!

As she reached for her seatbelt, she certainly felt more than a little off; however, it wasn't until she brought the strap over her chest that she realized she had grown at least a full size larger. Thankful that she was not someone who insisted upon wearing a bra every hour of every day, especially when she knew she wouldn't be leaving the house, she did take a moment to give her chest a glance, only to see that she now had cleavage, which was more than a little obvious due to her tight blouse - which was missing a button - and equally tight jacket.

Taking yet another deep breath, she returned her attention to the car, which she threw into reverse, to get them out of the driveway, and then drive, to get them on the road. Regardless of the fact that this illness seemed somewhat favorable for her, she still floored it for her husband's sake and got them to the hospital in record time!

 

[Foxxo]

Almost as soon as the car started moving he felt uncomfortable. There was something about being in the passenger seat that made him feel like he wasn't exactly in control. Not to mention he knew he was quite the back-seat driver, and he liked to drive. All these things contributed to how hard he would usually push to ensure he'd be the one behind the wheel. Considering all that, Jack was pretty confused as to why he'd volunteered to let her drive so quickly and easily. Shouldn't he have put up more of a fight, even if he didn't feel like he was all that capable at the moment? Jack tried not to think too much about it.

Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly considering it was a Friday night, the streets were quite busy as they tried to drive to the hospital. He made a few comments on which ways she should take in order to get to the hospital faster; the backseat driver in him still showing through. It was also a means of not focusing on the physical changes that had just occurred to the two of them. Part of him knew that if he focused on it too much, he'd start to panic. It wasn't a huge change, but the tall, strong man running his own business, especially a gym, all of a sudden shrinking wasn't going to be good PR. He didn't want to be smaller, even if he was still above average. He tried his best to push these thoughts from his head.

For the most part they drove in silence. Jack was afraid to talk. He was afraid of what could get said given the situation. He just hoped it was reversible.

When they finally arrived at the hospital it was quite busy. Mind you, they hadn't been to the hospital very often, and didn't know what busy looked like, but there were a lot of cars, especially around the emergency room entrance. Not just ambulances either. "Do you think we should head to the emergency room? Is this an emergency?" They agreed that it was, as what had happened was virtually unprecedented.

They walked in through the front door and were greeted with a pretty chaotic scene. Lots of waiting people, and every health professional seemed to be running around like a headless chicken. One of the nurses hurriedly walked over to the two of them and asked; "Let me guess, the two of you happened to change sizes over the past few hours?" No hint of surprise in the nurses voice. Without even really waiting for much beyond a nod she handed Jack a piece of paper with a number on it. "Please wait until called."

Jack turned to his wife, a worried expression on his face. "I was not expecting this... What should we do?" The hesitation in his voice was unlike him.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Trying her hardest to remain calm, Jack's comments about her driving were really starting to agitate Julia. If he wanted to drive so badly, he should've just done so; however, casting him a quick glance at one of the red lights, she could see that he was in no condition to do that. As the minutes passed, he began to look more and more feeble, even smaller than when they had left the house, and as those minutes passed, he actually grew more silent, more meek, barely speaking at all. Furthermore, he somehow managed to look both sad and frightened, which worried her greatly. Had he already given up, resigned himself to this new condition.

Well that, quite frankly, was unacceptable!

Racing into the hospital parking lot, Julia did her best to find a spot close to the main door. Surprisingly, there weren't many to choose from, for the place was oddly busy, or at least it appeared that way. Perhaps we're not the only ones in this predicament? she now thought as she flew into a spot and killed the engine. Maybe others are experiencing the exact same changes? she reasoned as she helped Jack out of the car. These thoughts, while disturbing on the surface - because, dear lord, was this an epidemic?! - actually comforted her. They weren't alone in this. This wasn't an isolated incident. This was bigger than the two of them.

Upon entering the ER, it quickly became crystal clear that they most certainly were not the only ones!

Glancing around the full waiting room, while Jack spoke with a nurse, Julia could see other couples and individuals suffering the same fate, although, it appeared that some of them were further along in the process, with several women appearing dramatically larger than their male companions. Unnerved by the sight of these women - because she didn't really want to think about what was coming next and she certainly didn't want to get that large - she shut her eyes and gripped her husband's hand.

This...this was like something out of the Twilight Zone or one of those B-Movies. It was almost too much to...

"We wait," she found herself replying, as she opened her eyes and directly met her husband's gaze, which caused her to gasp, seeing that they were now just about the same height. "We wait, Jack," she repeated more firmly, as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, trying her hardest to ignore the fact that she had grown yet another cup size.

 

[Foxxo]

Jack was feeling a bit better now that they were in the ER, despite the fact that it seemed they were facing an outbreak. Every few minutes another couple would get called in to see a doctor, yet it seemed like at least 3 or 4 more couples would arrived at that time. After about twenty minutes the room they were waiting in was packed to the brim.

"This is insane hun." He paused, not really sure of what he should say. "Hey... Are you okay? I never really got to ask you how you've been handling this." It was true, he'd mostly been concerned about himself an his own reduced stature. Who knows what his wife had been experiencing through all of this?

Looking around the room left Jack with an odd sensation. It was definitely weird seeing so many small men with so many big women. Jack did what he could to avoid thinking about it, but only so much thought could be avoided.

Just then,a voice played through the intercom. "We're sorry to all those waiting and concerned by recent events, but we're going to have to ask everyone facing the body change issue to go home. Please do not worry, we've seen enough patients to conclude that this issue has no immediate threat to your health. However, we simply don't have the manpower to attend to everyone. We will be releasing a statement within the hour with every bit of information we've discovered. If you'd like access to that information please go home and watch the evening news. I repeat, were sorry but..." The doctor on the intercom repeated the statement.

Jack turned to his wife, not all that surprised given how many people were still arriving. "I guess this means we should go home?" He was calming now. Taking some time to order his thoughts really helped. He was feeling more himself, though his behavior was still a bit odd.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

On the verge of sharing her thoughts and feelings about what was happening to her, happening to both of them, Julia was cut short by the overhead announcement. Obviously electing to listen instead of speak, a wave of dread washed over her as they were told to go home. There would be no direct care for them, for any of those who had been patiently waiting. Not today at least. No, instead, they were to go home and...and...watch the news?

Really? That was their solution to this? To send everyone home so that they could sit and wait for further instructions? How long had this been going on that they felt comfortable in following this course of action? What if they missed something? What if someone couldn't handle the changes, and not just the physical ones, but the mental ones? What if...

Stopping herself short from allowing her mind to completely spiral out of control with a hundred questions that couldn't be answered, Julia stood up from her seat, clutched Jack's hand, and made her way out the nearest exit with him in tow. It was a rather bold move, considering she rarely allowed herself to take the lead in anything that they did, but in this moment, under these bizarre circumstances, if felt like the right thing to do.

They needed to get home and deal with this on their own, and they needed to do so right now, before things got completely out of control. She could see it in the other patients eyes as they left the hospital. Panic was already starting to set in and they couldn't be caught in the middle of it. At least in the safety of their own home, they could discuss this in a calm, logical manner, and figure out what was going to work best for the both of them. They were two well-educated individuals. Surely they could come up with a way to make this work until the cause was discovered and - she prayed - a cure was found.

"Do me a favor," she suddenly found herself stating as they both slid inside the car. "Please ignore the fact that my top has come completely undone," she practically begged, as she tried to cover her breasts with her very tight jacket, seeing that somewhere along the way she had lost all of the buttons on her blouse. "I have no way to fix this until we get home," she concluded, with an exasperated sigh, before starting up the car and gunning it out of the lot.

 

[Foxxo]

Her taking his hand and leading him out of the hospital did feel a bit off. Usually their reactions would have been reversed, but there was so much going on that Jack didn't really think twice about it. He also didn't think twice about her again slipping into the drivers seat and starting the engine, even though he was feeling better.

Only now did he realize that his wife's shirt really had come undone. Had she changed that much, that her shirt had literally popped open as a result? Now that he thought on it, his own clothing did feel ridiculously roomy on his frame. The bottoms of his pants were looking ratty from him stepping on them.

"Ya, no problem. It's already been ignored." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Is what I would say if that were possible..." How could he ignore his wife's open shirt? Especially given how much more there was underneath it?

They drove the rest of the way home, again mostly in silence, though a less panicked, stressed silence than before. Eventually they pulled into the driveway, got out, and walked back into the house.

"So, they said on the intercom we should watch for a news broadcast. I'm thinking that's a good idea as we have no idea what's going on." He paused, thoughtful, as they moved from the entry way to the living room to turn on the TV. "Do you think they'll be entirely truthful though? If this is a serious issue don't you think they'd want to keep some things under wraps?" Jack was curious. He'd always been a critical type when it came to politics.

Then, he flipped on the TV, and sure enough they were already launching coverage of the event. Even from the first few minutes it was obvious that yes, this way a big deal.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Julia had wanted to get out of her clothes and into something a bit more comfortable and, well, modest, but she was drawn to the television like a moth to a flame. She had to know more. She had to know exactly what was going on and what was coming next, but the newscast was rather lacking in its content. It was apparently too soon to say anything definitive. Scientists were still gathering data and tests were still being done. Thankfully, there had been zero casualties. As far as anyone could tell at this point, the disease wasn't fatal.

Letting slip a long sigh, Julia snatched up the remote and clicked the tv off. She had seen enough and she didn't really care if Jack was still watching it or not, which was so unlike her. What exactly was coming over her? She felt so...agitated, and yet, emboldened at the same time. It was as if she was coming out of her shell and...and...putting her needs first? It was practically unheard of in this household. Not that Jack was a domineering monster, not at all, but she had always, always deferred to him and she had always taken a backseat to his wants and needs. She was the dutiful wife, after all, it was just the proper thing to do.

"I'm going to bed," she then announced, as she got up from the sofa. "Hopefully we'll wake up to the news that this is just some sort of bizarre, twenty-four hour bug. Then we can go back to our normal lives and selves," she continued, as she removed her jacket, allowing her breasts to pop out from between the folds of her splayed blouse. "You coming?" she then questioned, as she hung her coat in the hall closet and made her way towards the stairs.

 

[Foxxo]

Jack had been nearly as glued to the TV as Julia had. Mind you, there wasn't that much in terms of updates or information, but the whole situation itself was extremely interesting regardless. There was a moment when Jack had almost forgotten that he too had been affected by this same virus.

This is why Jack got fairly heated when she turned off the TV without saying anything, or asking whether it was okay. "Hey, Julia. I was watching that!" He surprised himself a little bit as he snapped at her. That wasn't like him, but neither was her turning off the TV in such a way.

As she continued to speak he took the remote and turned the TV back on. It's not that he particularly wanted or needed to continue watching, but he did it on principal. If it wasn't for her behaviour he probably would have joined her and gone to bed, but not now.

"I think I'll stay up a bit longer. We're still in the early hours. New developments could pop up quickly." Jack did his best to sound dismissive, as he was still a bit rattled. He didn't want to act like this, seemed like the behaviour of a spoiled child in a way, but he also couldn't help himself.

He agreed with what she said though. He'd done his best to ignore what was happening them. Jack didn't want to acknowledge that he was only ever so slightly taller than his wife now, when normally he'd tower over her. It was humiliating, and it hit him hard just thinking about it. He prayed it was just a one day bug and that they would wake up back to their normal selves.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Initially content with just heading upstairs and ignoring the fact that both of them were more than a little on edge - which was clearly exhibited in their short words and abrupt actions - Julia took a deep breath, turned away from the staircase, and made her way back into the living room. She needed her husband now more than ever. She needed to be held in his arms and told that everything was going to be okay. They couldn't allow this to come between them. They were better than this, much stronger than this.

Weren't they?

Quietly sliding into the spot on the sofa she had just abandoned, she leaned into her husband and gently took his hand. Bringing it to her mouth, she kissed the back of it. Then, in a sincere voice she whispered, "I'm sorry," before kissing his hand again. It was at this point that she felt that stinging sensation in the corner of her eyes, just before tears began to form. Then they came, slow but steady, streaming down her cheeks and dripping from her chin only to splash upon her still exposed breasts.

She was a quiet crier, not one of those types to heave or openly lament as it happened. There would be no sniffling or sighing, no sudden fits. No. The tears would just silently stream as she released whatever pain she was feeling, which, at this point, was based in a mixture of confusion and anger and regret. It would take Jack looking at her to even realize something was wrong and if he didn't, she would simply just sit quietly and wait for him to finish, as she usually did, before any of this happened.

 

[Foxxo]

Jack hadn't expected her to come back, and resigned himself to spending some time alone on the sofa, eyes glued to the TV. At the same time, he wasn't surprised when she walked back into the room and sat down again next to him. They were usually pretty good with working things out, even when the moments of conflict were small and could be ignored.

"It's okay love. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." They'd had moments almost exactly like this before. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Now, however, it felt different. Normally he'd be able to encompass her and draw her in completely. Yet, she was bigger now, and so this gesture didn't feel the same as it had every time before.

As she started to cry her took notice immediately. He hated when she cried, but only because it always made him feel like he'd fucked up and caused her sadness. That wasn't the case this time, but it still stung. He had to be strong for her now. It restored some of his lost pride, knowing that.

"It's going to be okay. They'll figure something out... If not, we'll figure something out. I know we will." He hugged her and drew her close. It was hard to shake how different her body felt now, but he did his best to ignore it and comfort her as best he could.

"Maybe we should just go to bed hmm? Try and sleep off all of this confusion. Things will be better in the morning." He lifted her face, kissed her, wiped her tears away and smiled before turning off the TV and standing up. He drew her with him as they made their way to the stairs and eventually the bedroom. Leading her like this felt different than it normally would too, as if something about the whole situation was slightly off.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Feeling a little foolish for breaking down so easily, Julia found the strength she needed in her husband's surprisingly softer touch, but typically soothing words, instead of melting down even more, which she could've easily done, seeing that she was right on the edge of a deeper cry. No, instead, she would pull herself together and be strong, for both their sake's. There was nothing they could do at this point, nothing anyone could do. They would just have to wait this out and hope for the best. Although, a part of her, that level-headed, responsible part of her, also realized that they should prepare for the worst just the same.

What if they both continued to change? What if this couldn't be reversed? What if...

Sighing, she leaned into Jack some more as he continued to speak. She had to stop thinking like this. It wasn't going to help. At least not in the moment. Besides, perhaps stress played a role in all of this, as it often did when illness struck. It would be better for her to remain calm, to find her center and balance her emotions, even if it meant detaching herself a bit from the situation. Also, weren't there things to be thankful for, too? She felt...stronger now, not to mention more confident in her skin, regardless of the fact that she felt like a stranger in the strange land that was now her body. It had something to do with her thought process now. Something was changing inside of her, that had nothing to do with the way she looked. Although, the fact that she was now a bit more well-endowed certainly didn't hurt.

Straightening her back, she met her husband's steady gaze as he wiped away her tears and kissed her. They were going to be okay, as long as they were able to be there for each other. What was the saying? United we stand, divided we fall? That was something she was going to have to keep in mind as they moved forward. They needed to remain a team, since they were in this together.

Allowing herself to be drawn away from the living room, she continued to hold on firmly to Jack until they reached their master suite on the second floor. Once inside, she slipped away from his hold and began to get undressed; however, as she often did, she moved inside the bathroom so that she could do so in private. There was no need to toss modesty out the window just because...

Oh. Dear. Lord.

Stopping dead in her tracks as she now stood in just her panties before the double-wide bathroom mirror, Julia suddenly felt lightheaded, so much so, she had to grip the counter before her. Who was that woman looking back at her? She...she...she not only had fuller breasts, but...better muscle tone? Suddenly there were clearly defined curves and beautifully carved lines where she had once been soft and smooth, far more feminine in form. Not that she looked overly masculine, not at all, but she certainly appeared more built, for lack of a better word. Like she had been working out hardcore, lifting weights in the gym for the last year, instead of doing mostly cardio. It...it...it was...

Exciting?

Yes, exciting!

"Uh, honey," she now called through the partially open door. "You've got to come and see this," she then said, in a bit more lively voice, as she began to preen and pose in the mirror, checking out her new curves with a look of wonder, no, wait, glee upon her face!

 

[Foxxo]

It felt like there was a pretty heavy weight on his shoulders. He needed to be strong, for the both of them, but their changes had gotten him pretty down and he didn't really want to deal with the responsibility. It was unlike him. Normally he was always up for a challenge but now he just felt like, what? He couldn't really explain it.

Jack too began to undress, though still in the bedroom. He was pretty rattled as he took off his shirt. All of the size he'd worked so hard for had disappeared. Not completely, of course. He was still quite toned, but he was nothing compared to where he'd been before. It left him feeling surprisingly insecure. He began to reach around and touch his torso in various places. Everything had changed, none of which was positive on his end.

As he did so he became so enthralled by his own situation he barely registered when his wife called out from the bathroom. It took about a second for him to realize that she'd told him to come in. He took a few seconds to change out of his pants and into some clothes for sleeping. Normally, he didn't wear a shirt to bed, but this time he didn't want his wife to see his body. He didn't want to see it himself either, for that matter. It didn't help that these night clothes were now hanging off of him.

After he'd finished dressing he made his way across the room and entered the bathroom. He'd been looking down, to tie his bottoms, and when he looked up and at his wife he'd stopped dead in his tracks.

"Holy shit Julia..." Jack had no idea what to say Ashe looked at her, flexing and experimenting in front of the mirror. Sure, he'd noticed that she'd gotten taller and bigger in... certain areas... But he hadn't expected this.

Remembering his own body, everything sort of hit him at once. He did his best to hide it and remain composed, but it hurt. She was putting on tons of muscle while he was losing it. All of this was so unfair... Why was it happening?

"You look... great hun. Wow..." Was all he could manage. In reality he was angry. Upset and jealous all at once. He didn't know what to do or say.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

So lost in the moment, lost in what was happening to her body, Julia nearly, just nearly, missed the fact that her husband appeared rather distraught.

He could try and hide it all he wanted to, but she knew that look. She'd certainly seen it before. Not countless times, but enough to know he was upset. So instead of continuing with her admiration session, she simply stopped - not so abruptly that it would appear questionable, but in a sort of casual way - and proceeded to dress for bed. As she did this, she made small talk, just to lessen the odds that there would be an awkward silence between them, since it appeared that Jack was struggling to express himself without saying something he'd regret.

Or at least she assumed that was why he had gone quiet.

"I wonder how widespread this is?" she openly mused, shifting the topic away from herself, as she worked her nightgown on over her head, covering her shapely body to the best of her ability, inwardly thankful that the garment was loose and flowing. Or at least it had been when she last wore it. Now, however, it was a bit more snug, but in all the right places. "I also can't help but wonder if there's any sort of age limit or has everyone been infected? The newscaster didn't make any mention of this impacting kids or the elderly," she continued to ponder as she fussed a bit with her hair, pinning it up in a bun. "I'm sure they'll know more by tomorrow," she then concluded, with a confident nod of her head, as she made a move to exit the bathroom, grabbing Jack's hand along the way.

"Come on," she gently coaxed him, as she turned off the bathroom light with her free hand. "Let's put this day to rest."

 

[Foxxo]

"I'm sure we'll have a little more information when we wake up. For now I just kind of want to sleep this off and hope for the best."

Hopping into bed felt different, that's for sure. They'd always had a big bed, mostly because Jack himself had always been a large man, but now it felt like he was practically swimming in it. Even with only half the bed to himself it felt like he could reach out in every direction and not reach the ends. It wasn't a bad feeling, as he loved space when he slept, but it did leave him feeling a little bit worried. Not only that, but his wife now laying beside him took up more space than he was used to. There was a lot more to her now. They were almost the same height from what he remembered.

Tentatively he reached out and touched her. She felt different too. Even without really trying or seeing it was easy to trace her newly developed muscles. All of the work, all of the time he'd spent in a gym building up mass had disappeared so quickly. Well, it wasn't completely gone, but it felt like he'd lost at least a years worth of time. It was a horrible feeling, only made worse by the fact that his wife seemed to reach his level within a day, and without any work at all. Those thoughts left him feeling fairly bitter, even if he knew that none of this was her fault. She couldn't help what was happening to her body. All Jack could do was attempt to bury those negative feelings until there came a time when he felt he could process them properly. Until then he could only hope that these changes wouldn't continue.

For a married couple, their sex lives were normally quite healthy, yet Jack just wasn't feeling it tonight. He spent a little bit of time running his hands over her new body, and a little bit of time on his own as well, but eventually decided he wasn't in the mood. She'd respect that, of course. She always did.

Not much longer after that and all the stress from the day finally caught up to him. Jack was out like a light. However, it wasn't that pleasant of a sleep as he found himself experiencing quite a few nightmares. He still slept the whole night, but tossed and turned throughout. When he awoke in the morning it was with a slight start. He had been sweating quite a bit as the sheets felt a little bit damp on his side of the bed.