Denise began exploring with her eyes and hands. Moving all about slapping and preening and touching as she took in everything about her body.
Mia walked to a mirror and examined her body and face in that manner. What she saw was another woman looking back at her; one who wasn’t pregnant.
Mia turned and saw Denise standing in profile; her belly sticking out. She knew it was only going to get bigger. The aches and pains that body would experience as it changed over the next 5 months would be Denise’s to bear.
She walked over and hugged Denise as hard as she could, tears forming in her eyes.
“Why are you crying? I’m the one with the raging hormones and pregnancy brain now” Denise said holding onto her friend, and onto her own former body in the process.
“I’m so just so thankful that you said yes” she barely managed to whisper out. Her voice had changed into Denise’s lower tenor as well.
Mia backed up a bit and broke off the embrace “Now as part of this, part of our minds will change as well. I changed our job skills as well as our speech patterns and memories of personal interactions. You know people that I know and um, vice versa…you know so we don’t look like utter fools trying to live the other’s life”
“I think that was a good idea” Denise said. “I had actually forgotten what this felt like…the gravity pulling on my belly like this”
“You’re going to get so big” Mia said “My first pregnancy…my belly was way out there and I put on weight everywhere. I couldn’t wear anything but flip flops the last 3 weeks. Absolutely none of my shoes fit my fat feet”
“It’s okay. I’m already sold. I’m already in your body. I’m not going to ask to get out of this now. I gave you my word” Denise reassured her.
“Whatever you want…once this is over, whatever you want” Mia reiterated.
Denise smirked “I have plenty of time to think about it”
Mia began to get dressed in the clothes that Denise had worn over. The bra and gray top went on followed by the black leggings while Denise remained in her state of undress. “I feel too hot to cover up with clothes already…that swap made me warm and kind of sweaty” Denise said as she fanned herself.
Denise made her way to the couch where she took a seat “God that feels good”
She put her feet up. It hit her again just what had happened to them and she looked at her legs and feet with wonder “These are mine now” she said mostly to herself.
“Wild right” Mia replied. She took a seat across from her. Her thicker legs came together much more than before, her belly shifted as she sat and her more ample ass felt different as she sat in what had been her favorite chair. “I’ll get used to this body”
“I’m sure you will. Those short stubby little legs of yours now…Ha…you’ll find use for the little step stool you keep in the kitchen that’s for sure”
“Oh…I’ve never had one of those before” Mia replied.
“At 5’1” you do” Denise teased.
“Yeah, I am 5’1”
“Even your daughter is taller than you”
“By several inches” Mia replied seeing a 14 year old Taylor Reynolds’ face float up when the word daughter was mentioned to her.
Denise went to get up and had to pause. Her belly was already giving the orders. “Oof…oh yeah” she said getting up. She made sure to memorize how it felt to walk in Mia’s body. The way her feet fell, the way her thighs moved against each other, her hips, her arms, her breasts, her hair.
Mia got up and followed her as she headed to her bedroom curious as to what she would do.
Denise went to the mirror at the dresser and examined her face. She pulled her hair up into a bun on top of her head easily “I don’t have much experience with that…my hair isn’t long enough to do that”
“You pulled it off like you’ve been doing it for years” Mia said.
Denise pulled out a fresh bra and put it on. A pair of shorts and a simple white tank top went on next. The top stretched over her belly, accentuating it “Might as well show it off since I can”
“Go outside; everyone will be all over you cooing going ‘When are you due?!’” Mia laughed her deeper laugh.
“I’m not looking forward to that” Denise admitted.
They headed back down to the kitchen where they talked for quite a while; just going over basics of their lives, filling in details.
“I should probably get home” Mia said “My kids are probably wondering what happened to me”
Denise laughed “If they only knew”
“Exactly…” Mia answered getting up and slipping on the shoes that Denise had worn down.
“Good luck” Denise said as Mia stepped outside.
“Thanks…you too. I’ll check on you later” Mia replied as she walked to what was now her home.
Denise watched her go. She had brief surge of panic “What did I do?! What did I get myself into?! Why would you do this?!” but it soon passed.
Mia walked into her home and a completely different environment. Her daughter Taylor was on her phone in her room. Her son Matt was playing Fortnite and her husband was reading “Hey honey” John called out “How’s Mia doing?”
“Oh she’s fine…you know she just needed someone to talk to” Mia replied.
“I know. I remember the stories you told me about her panicking her way through her first pregnancy” John replied.
“She doesn’t take to it well at all”
“Not everyone does” John shrugged “She’ll be fine”
“I think so too but I’m still going to check on her” Mia said.
“Of course you will and you should”
Mia came in and sat down. She felt no fear, no nervousness. Enough of Denise had transferred to her to at least be comfortable. Now if things went further in the bedroom she might still freak out; she couldn’t guarantee that she wouldn’t but she thought she could pull this off.
“I’ve got to run to Target. I have your list from earlier, did you think of anything else?” John asked getting up.
“Nope” Mia answered.
“See you in a bit”
“Wow…how normal…how mundane…and how quiet it is with older kids haha” she thought as she settled in.
She went up to her bedroom and snooped around, taking in the more personal items she would be using. Her clothes, her makeup, her bathroom stuff. Just the sight of a different toothbrush reminded Mia that she had a different mouth, different teeth, different everything. She found Denise’s supply of pads for when she had her period “Her blood, my blood…does it even matter?”
Denise found herself anxious for her husband and daughter to get home. She wandered the house memorizing where items were kept and jus familiarizing herself to her new surroundings “21 weeks to go” she said to her belly.
She went back to the bedroom, impressed with Mia’s more extensive wardrobe “She has such cooler clothes than I ever did”
All of the clothes still fit her so she had a mini fashion show in the bedroom; trying on dresses and skirts and tops and shoes…so many shoes.
Denise tried on Mia’s; no, they were her swimsuits now “I have to control this body and life as it’s my own. I’m Mia now. I have to get used to that”
She put on a black sundress and a pair of wedge heeled sandals “God…I have to admit that I’m better looking. Fuck that! I’m hot now!”
She walked around in that outfit for a bit “I walk better in heels now too. I don’t stomp anymore”
Denise was back in her baggy t-shirt and leggings by the time Mike and Emily returned. “There’s my baby girl!” she squealed upon seeing Emily running full speed at her. She got on her knees and caught her in a full hug, picking her up and walking around with her as Emily told her about her trip in her 2 year old way.
She kissed Mike on the cheek as he went by with a smile “How’s the project coming along?” she asked.
“Just about done…like 90%. We need to patch a bit then paint and it should be done. How are you doing?”
“Better” Denise replied.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it” Mike replied.
“Denise came down for a while today and we had a nice long talk”
“She calmed you down” Mike said.
“Yes…she definitely did. She really helped me out” Denise answered.
“Look I know you’re nervous but everything is going to be fine. Billions of pregnancies all over the world” Mike said.
“I know but this one is ours” Denise replied. “And that’s why it matters so much to me”
“And that’s why I love you so much” Mike answered with another kiss.
Both women quickly settled into their new lives and routines. Their job skills had transferred between them along with just a general sense of being the other. There was a sense of awkwardness a few times and a time of settling in but it went smoothly for the most part.
The first evening, Denise was lying on the couch when Mike came over and scooted up next to her. Her heart jumped when he put his hands on her belly and rubbed and talked to it.
After a tense moment, she relaxed and smiled and put her own hands on his.
Denise couldn’t keep her hands away from her baby bump. She found herself constantly holding it and caressing it, bonding with the baby inside her.
“I swear I’m bigger today than yesterday” she said with no sense of her own personal irony.
“I’m sure you are too…getting bigger every day” Mike said.
“I feel bigger” Denise said.
He slid down the couch and rubbed her feet.
“Oh that feels amazing” she cooed. She also felt herself getting aroused. “Damn…this is Mia’s husband. My husband…stupid pregnancy hormones are making me so fucking horny” she bit her lip and Mike saw the look on her face and recognized it.
“Later honey…Emily’s pretty tired” he told her.
“But I’m not” Denise answered with a wink shocking herself.
Mike laughed and playfully reached for her breasts as he kissed her. Denise couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
Mia too settled into her new life. She had her series of checks as well like that evening as she stepped out of the shower to find her husband John standing there casually brushing his teeth.
Mia realized that they had been married a long time and this was usual behavior, nothing to be worked up about. Her softer and older body reacted and moved differently. Her shorter legs made some things more difficult but not having a belly sticking out in front of her made them easier too.
She got dressed in a well-worn sleep shirt she found on top of her dresser and got comfortable spooning with John. It felt natural to drape her arm over him and slide her bare legs up behind his “I’m already used to this” she thought. “It isn’t nearly as odd as I thought it might be. Technically I’m in bed with another woman’s husband”
Days turned to weeks.
Mia checked in daily. She could see little differences within the first week. Her former body got slightly larger around the middle of course but Mia knew it so well, she was able to detect the slightest swelling of her ankles. She could tell when Denise’s ass and hips spread and when her face got puffy.
“So…how are you feeling?” Mia would always ask first.
The first day Denise was a bit nervous seeing her old self and having to answer that question. She felt great because Mike had ate her out just 15 minutes prior. A little follow up to a night of mind blowing sex.
Denise’s answers started out positive but steadily got more and more full of little complaints as the weeks went on.
“My back hurts” “My knees hurt” My feet hurt” “I have to pee like every 45 minutes” “My boobs are starting to ache. They’re growing and I’m going to turn into a fucking cow” “I’m so ugly!”
Mia would constantly reassure her friend and always had tissues on hand for the tears that came more and more frequently. Always thinking “I’m so glad it’s her and not me”
Denise passed her 6th month; her belly stuck way out “I’m showing more than last time” she said surprising both of them with her phrasing.
“Yes. Frankly you are but women tend to show earlier on their second pregnancy” Mia answered “I remember from when I had my second”
Denise just shook her head and went on.
Her walk became a waddle. Her shoes no longer fit and even maternity clothes showed off everything. She took up yoga to help with the aches and pains but the hot shower water running over her straining muscles and taut, huge belly were what felt the best.
The baby was moving a lot. She took cell phone videos of the alien movements moving her stomach and shirt around to show to Mia.
Mia watched in wonder “You’re doing so well” she said. “You’re still okay with this right? No second thoughts?”
“No!” Denise said very quickly. “None…I’m happy we swapped. I know I can bitch and complain but ultimately, I’m enjoying this”
“Good. I’m glad”
Denise blushed “There is something you should know…Mike has been talking about having more”
“More?!” Mia’s eyes widened in shock.
“Well, yeah. I’m not afraid…he’s not getting the reluctant signs from, well, from you now so…” Denise admitted.
“And let me guess, you’re actually encouraging this” Mia said.
“I can’t help it…it’s the hormones” Denise said. “I like being pregnant”
“If that’s what you two want, then you might as well stay like this!” Mia said in a huff.
“I wouldn’t mind” Denise mumbled.
“What was that? What did you just say?” Mia asked standing up and putting her hands on her hips.
Denise just sighed and looked down.
“You want to steal my life?” Mia said “I asked you for a favor”
“A really big favor” Denise countered.
“Yeah…I realize how big it is” Mia said “But it’s still my life, my body, my baby, my husband…my…my everything!”
“I know” Denise said “All I said was I wouldn’t mind if you decided to make me stay. That’s what I thought you meant”
Mia’s jaw dropped.
“All I meant was that you have a good life and if it were to be mine, I’d appreciate it and take care of it” Denise said sheepishly, tears starting to come to her eyes. “I’ll switch back with you if you don’t want to do this anymore”
Mia looked at the very pregnant body before her. Denise was struggling to stand up and Mia thought she looked like a frog as her knees spread out and her belly hung down before she was able to stand up fully.
Denise’s back caught as she stood and she winced in pain, her hand flew around to her back.
“No…I…I’m sorry” Mia said “I guess I misunderstood what you meant to what I said”
Denise put her hands out and flourished them “This is your body and you can have it back. There’s still two more months to go like this”
“No. I’m fine” Mia reassured her “You’re doing a great job as me”
“Are you enjoying being me?” Denise asked.
Mia paused “Yes. Yes I am” she admitted.
“Good, I’m glad to hear that”
“Since we’re talking about it” Mia began “I wasn’t sure when I was first thinking about doing this. I knew you were the one to do this; to see this through, to be pregnant but I guess I was being selfish thinking about going up to my mid 40s if I would like it” she shrugged “But I really do. I don’t feel old” she laughed.
“Well I’m glad! I felt old sometimes but just with not getting some reference, not physically even though I realize that my body at 44 is different. My knee does hurt…my shoulder hurts” Denise said.
“I know all about that mysterious shoulder pain” Mia said “I’ll sleep on it wrong. I don’t know what I did to it” she laughed her deep throaty laugh again “But I digress…the point I’m making is: Yes. I like being you. You have a good life, a loving family, a good job”
Denise smiled her wide smile and then went into a shocked look when Mia continued “Maybe I freaked out a bit and said what I said because part of me has been thinking about what if we don’t swap back?”
“Wh…What?!” Denise answered and Mia nodded “You…you actually might want to stay?!”
Mia nodded again “I’m sorry I brought it up, it’s not something we should be thinking about right now”
“No…I mean…my heart is pounding out of my chest now so we should keep talking about it” Denise said.
“So…it’s obviously crossed both of our minds” Mia said.
“I wasn’t going to bring it up. Maybe after the baby came. At first I thought I might just want to stay for a little while longer. You know sweet talk you into it by saying I’d lose your baby weight for you. I want to breastfeed. I really feel the connection and…” Denise trailed off.
Mia took her by the hands and looked up into her eyes. “We don’t have to say anything else right now. Nothing is happening until the baby comes. Just…let’s just keep on going forward okay”
Denise nodded and hugged her short former body. “Good thing my arms are longer. If they weren’t they wouldn’t get around you and this belly”
Mia walked home thinking about what they had both said “What if we do stay? Would it be for the better? Would we be happier?”
Denise watched her walk home “What if this is my body from now on?” she thought holding her long reddish brown hair back.
Denise’s long thin fingers ran gently over her belly once again and she giggled as the baby kicked its approval.
The last two months of the journey, Denise was pretty miserable but she refused to say a word about it. She always downplayed her aches and pains, her sleepless nights of heartburn and failing to get comfortable, her water retention and the fact that she could no longer even see her feet.
Mia still visited every day.
“My fingers look like sausages” Denise said “And I haven’t seen my toes in weeks so I’m guessing those are as well”
“Yep” Mia revealed looking at Denise’s propped up feet.
“I think I’m about ready to burst” Denise admitted “I thought a felt a contraction or two last night but they passed”
“Tomorrow is your due date” Mia said.
“I know…and I’m totally ready” Denise replied.
With those words, Denise’s eyes widened, her face went white and her hands flew to her belly “Oh God…that was definitely a contraction”
Mia jumped up “Should we go? Should I call Mike?”
“Just…let me breathe a second…let’s see if I get another one and how far apart they are” Denise answered.
Mia was on pins and needles as just a few minutes passed before Denise froze as another more intense contraction hit her “Yeah…we’ve got to go”
“I’ll drive” Mia said.
“I hope to shit you would” Denise replied sweating already.
Mia had to offer a hand to Denise to get her up off the couch and an arm to hold on to as she waddled to the car.
Mia drove as Denise called Mike to tell him the news.
Mia stayed with her as she got to the hospital and put into the wheelchair and taken to maternity.
Mike arrived and Mia gave him a quick hug before he headed to the room while she waited in the waiting room.
Denise was in full labor; her bare feet up in the stirrups, her gown pulled up and aside and her full thighs glistened with sweat as did her chest and face. Her long reddish brown hair was pulled back but already damp from her exertion.
“Why did I do this?” she kept saying as she bore down with each contraction. She gripped Mike’s hands tight as she pushed, her face wrenched up into a grimace of concentration.
“Breathe honey…just try to relax and breathe” Mike said.
“Unnnggghhhh!” Denise managed to say before it passed and she lay back and regrouped. Her muscles were twitching and pulling as she heard the nurse say “One really big push”
Denise bore down and grit her teeth. The world started to swirl away from her intensity. Words were very far away as she heard “I can see his head”
She pushed, felt a build up like never before, then some relief. She heard a baby cough and cry and sputter, she felt Mike’s cool hand on her forehead “Oh my god…” she whispered through a tired smile “I did it”
“You certainly did” Mike said kissing her.
She lay back staring up at the ceiling as they continued to work on her and the baby for a few more minutes.
Denise closed her eyes and saw a vision of herself shrinking down as Mia grew, taking back her body and life with no more than a simple Thanks and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Denise was exhausted as she lay in her bed. The baby was asleep in her arms, he had latched on right away and had fed for a bit before falling asleep himself.
Mia had sat anxiously in the waiting room with too many emotions washing over her to count. She was truly conflicted.
She had honestly enjoying being Denise and could easily see herself staying but she also missed her life, her real original life.
She closed her eyes. She could see herself growing. She was getting younger again, her hair growing out, her legs lengthening as Denise shrank down before her.
She heard the door open and saw Mike standing in the doorway with a big smile on his face. She saw the man she had married, the man she loved going on and on about his new baby boy and she knew she had her answer.
The room was quiet, Mike had went to get something to eat when Mia crept in.
Denise was dozing, the baby laying in a bassinet next to her.
Mia stroked the baby’s cheek before she put her hand on Denise’s arm.
Denise had woken up but her exhaustion was still upon her.
“I know you’re tired but I had to talk to you” Mia said.
Denise sat up a bit still very sore.
“I just need to know; do you want to stay as me?” Mia said “I hate to be so blunt but I’m all messed up in emotions and I think we just need closure on this”
“Well…yes. I do want to stay but I can’t steal your life and body” Denise said. “If you’re willing to stay then yes, I will happily stay but if you want to go back, then…”
Mia smiled and shook her head “No…I just wanted to make sure you wanted to stay. I’m perfectly willing to make this permanent”
Denise heart leapt in her chest, her green eyes widened and she nodded “Please. Please make this permanent”
Mia took Denise’s hands in her own “This is the last time I will ever call you Denise. You’re Mia from now on okay”
Denise nodded “Okay Denise” she said making Mia smile.
Mia dipped her chin and she mumbled squeezing their hands together…
Mia opened her eyes. She could feel the compression socks pumping up on her lower legs, the soreness in her body was deep but she was truly happy.
Denise was standing and smiling, holding her younger friend’s hands “Thank You” was all she said.
“Best trade ever” Mia replied.
“I agree” Denise said. “I’ll never get back to 5’6” now haha”
“Nope” Mia replied from her bed. “But since Mike is talking about maybe having two more kids…”
Denise just smiled and shook her head laughing as she said “It’s all you”