Another Chance Chapter 1
Ever wonder whether Rosette and Chrono might have another chance with each other again? Read to find out!
Tick tock tick tock
"What did you say?" Mr Anderson asked in shock after a pause at the news his wife just told him moments before.
Tick tock tick tock Time passed as both husband and wife stood staring at each other. Mr Anderson stood frozen in the middle of their living room staring at his wife while his wife glared at him.
"I said that, I AM PREGNANT!" replied his wife with slight irritation for perhaps the umpteenth time.
"What?! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY? WHEN?"
"I think you know how it happened. As to when, I'm not really sure. After all, we had many attempts these few months, remember? As to why it happened. It's because I conceived. The rest of the questions you can answer them yourself." replied Irene Anderson drily. Sometimes in moments like this, she felt like strangling her husband. He could be so dense some times.
"I.. I...That's wonderful news, honey!" exclaimed Richard as he tried to absorb the news. They had been trying for years ever since they were married five years ago. They had almost despaired of ever having a little one of their own after his wife's second miscarriage last year. Hearing the news from his wife was like a miracle that happened and the best of his dreams come true. He really hoped that this time, this miracle will really happen. 'Thank you God, thank you! You heard my prayers!' he whispered in his heart as he enveloped his happy, albeit slightly irritated, wife in a warm hug.
Both husband and wife held each other in a tight embrace until Richard pulled back. "Are you... Are you really sure? Afterall...So...So when can we see the little one?"
"Let's see... I am about three months along. I found out when I was nearly four weeks along but waited till now to tell you because I did not want you to be disappointed in case..." she drifted off, exchanging a knowing look with her husband. He smiled and tried in an attempt to joke. "You still have not told me how long more we will have to wait for this little one to come out. Three months? Four months?"
"Six months."
"That long?! I thought it was shorter than that!"
"Did you fail your biology? It takes nine months for the entire pregnancy you know!"
"I know I know. I am just so happy and excited that I can't wait to meet him! - or her! Regardless of gender, I will love this child the same." Richard pledged solemnly. Suddenly there was a loud growling sound. His wife grinned sheepishly. "What? A pregnant woman has to eat for two shares and is constantly hungry you know. "
Her husband laughed a throaty laughter. He could not love his wife more at such moments of adorableness. "Let's go out celebrate shall we?"
"Ok. But right now, I feel like eating fish with prunes and lettuce. Hm... Oh, and add spagetti in ketchup, black pepper and durian to the list. Do you know where we can get these dishes?"
"Yikes... No. I guess we might as well just celebrate at home..." Richard stared at thethe clock hanging on their living room wall. "I guess there is time after dinner for us to get more food at the mart to satisfy your cravings."
Tick tock tick tock
Six months later
In London, a pregnant mother-to-be was being rushed into the hospital.
"Ah! I can't make it! The pain is unbearable!" screamed Irene as she reached for the closest object and squeezed hard on it as a moment of contraction hit her.
"Just try and bear with it, dear. Think about how adorable our little one will be when we finally get to see him." said Richard wincing while trying to swallow the pain he felt on the hand that his wife was squeezing.
"Easy for you to say! I don't see you having morning sickness and having to go into labour!" Irene screamed as she took deep breaths in between contractions.
"Calm down, honey, I'm sure you suffered a lot and I know how it feels. I was there with you, remember?"
"There with me?! You were at work for half the time that I am pregnant!"
"Hey, but I DID got a few days off this month to accompany you!" said Richard with a hurt tone.
"Yeah, yeah. And all you did was- AHHH!"
"Mrs Anderson, please concentrate on pushing. Now take a deep breath and push hard on the next contraction." instructed the doctor.
"Trying. It's so- Argh! " Irene sucked in a deep breath gasped as the next contraction hit her.
"The baby is coming! I can see his head!" cried the excited father-to-be.
"Push." ordered the doctor.
"I hate you, Richard Daniel Anderson! Get lost, you freak! I never ever want to see you again! Because of you, I am in all this pain!"
"Come on, honey. You know you love me.. You are just saying this because you are in labour. I know that you are in a lot of pain and your hormones are all over the place. It's understandable." teased Richard trying to ease his tense wife.
"HORMONES ALL OVER THE PLACE?! What do you mean by HORMONES ALL OVER THE PLACE?! LET'S SEE YOU LYING HERE AND IN LABOUR! IT'LL BE ME LAUGHING AT YOU THEN! ACK! THE PAIN IS KILLING ME!"
"Don't bedramatic, dear. Just take a deep breath and-" cooed her husband.
"YOU IDIOT! GET LOST!" With that, Irene Anderson gave her husband a hard slap as he leaned down to try to calm her down.
"Ouch! Honey! Did you have to do that?" Richard glanced down at the bruises that were already starting to appear on his arms.
"Yes I did! YOU caused me to be in this state!" Irene's face was soaked with sweat. She gasped for air as the contractions increased in frequency.
"Alright alright! I am sorry! Please, honey, push harder. This will all be over soon." Richard said as encouragingly as he could. In actual fact, he himself was so nervous that he was covered in sweat all over. This was going to be the birth of his first child and he had no idea how long the labour could go on.
"Mrs Anderson, can you please concentrate on pushing? Your baby is almost out now." said the doctor, ignoring the bickering and trying hard to concentrate on his job at hand.
"Argh! It's so PAINFUL!"
"You can do it, honey!"
"One more really hard push and the baby should be out!" said the doctor.
"AHH!" screamed Irene as she pushed with all her might and will power.
"Congratulations, you have a boy." said the doctor, shaking the proud new father's hand while a nurse passed him his crying son.
"What should we name him, honey?" asked Richard, holding his son proudly in his arms. His son started to quieten his sobs.
"Haven't we decided on Chrono?" said his wife tiredly from the bed as she reached out to hold her son in her arms while a nurse helped to prop up her pillows.
"Isn't that supposed to be his middle name?"
"No! We just discussed this yesterday! How could you-" scolded Irene though a smile was tugging on the corners of her lips as she looked down proudly at the newborn baby in her arms.
"Calm down, honey.."
"So what's his middle name? Mary? Rose?Angela?Hey, Angela fits cause' he will be our little angel, won't he- AW! Why did you do that for?" asked the excited new father, eager to settle on a name for his newborn son. That earned him a smack on his head.
"Mary? Rose? Angela?! ARE YOU NUTS?! It's a boy! Are you going to give them female names to be laughed at in school in the future? I don't see you being called Richard Anne Anderson or anything like that!"
"Ok. Calm down, Honey. You know all the monikers some people are naming their child with these days. I just thought that those names would make it more unique for our son! Take a deep breath and calm down, ok?"
"..."
"So, we are naming him Chrono Andrew Anderson, right?"
Both parents fell silent when at that moment, baby Chrono opened his eyes. They stared at his transfixed as the baby stared at his parents in curiosity. His glanced up at them with large ruby eyes with open wonder which were reflected in those of his parents. Both new parents were mesmerized as the baby, who seemingly satisfied with what he saw, smiled a big toothless smile at his parents. It was one of the best days of Richard and Irene Anderson's lives and both refused to return the baby to be bathed by the nurse untill baby Chrono, who was undisturbed by the gazes upon him, slowly drifting into a peaceful sleep.