Title: Blues

Author: jenbachand
Rating: General

Spoilers: Anything through December 2006

Pairing: GSR

Author's Notes: For a fic challenge using the prompt Blue Paint. Set in the same universe as Unplanned and Soft Glow and Joy.

Blue. It's everywhere. Daddy put blue paint on the door that once was his office. Now it's the baby's room. The baby is the only thing anyone talks about. Stupid baby.

Blue is also the color of Daddy's eyes, and lately the only place his eyes seem to be is on Mommy's tummy. His eyes were on me last week as I told my parents about the last day of school, but then Mommy made a noise about the baby moving and Daddy had to go and put his hand on her tummy. He smiled and asked if I wanted to feel my baby brother kick. I asked to be excused from dinner.

When Greg asks me if I want to paint a picture for the baby with the blue paint we've found in his desk drawer, I scream at him.

"No, I don't want to do anything for the baby. I hate everything about the baby. AND I HATE BLUE PAINT," I scream as I run to the bathroom. I've been in the lab so many times getting lost is not an option. I go into the last stall, lock the door, pull my legs up onto the seat, and start crying. Daddy's class was at the body farm, and I couldn't go with him. Mommy is only able to do paperwork, so Daddy had dropped me off at the lab this morning. Greg had been waiting at the door and given me a hug. I'm really not mad at Greg. I just miss being the one to make Mommy and Daddy smile those special smiles.

I also realize Mommy will be here in a minute, so if I don't want to be found, I'll either have to be quiet or find another place to hide. I wish Uncle Jim's office was here, he'd hide me out for a while. And probably buy me some new shoes to cheer me up.

"Sweetheart, are you in here," Mommy's voice sounds worried as it echoes off the tiled walls. I'm a horrible little girl making her worry, but I'm tired of blue stuff, and I think I have what Warrick said were the blues. Odd that one blue thing has lead to another. I get up and unlock the door. Mommy really does look worried, it makes me feel worse.

"Oh sweetie we never meant to upset you. We've been so wrapped up in the baby. I'm so sorry," Mommy says. Her voice is thick with tears as she pulls me into a hug. Her hugs are different from Daddy's. He hugs me all the time with little hugs and big hugs both. Mommy doesn't really hug anyone much, but when she does you know how much she loves you. They really are that good. I start crying again, I can't help it.

"It's just everyone talks about the baby, and when they talk to me they talk about the baby, and nobody wants to just talk to me anymore." I'm sobbing, but nobody has really talked to me without first talking about how I felt about the baby. Mommy's arms tighten around me. Mommy tilts my face up and wipes my tears. She looks like she could cry too.

"I'm so sorry baby. We really didn't think we'd ever have another baby. We've just been so excited, we forgot all about our first pride and joy." She cuddles me close and strokes my back.

"Tomorrow we'll do stuff as a family. No talk of the baby, and no blue paint." There's a twinkle in her eye and she's smiling at me. I know we'll have to talk about me yelling at Greg and the baby, but I know things will be all right.