Author's Note: I have been wanting to write this for awhile, and finally, I am. I know I have too many stories for my own good, but there are 3 that will be taking top priority in getting updated. This, my Harry Potter fanfiction 'At a Time When no One Else Was', and my Titanic fanfiction: 'Because She Trusted Him.' I have a bunch of other Keith stories, which I will be updating regularly, but you may see more updates for this for a bit while I get it up to the speed I want it to be. I won't ignore the others, though, I promise! This story is going to take awhile, and I can assure you it will be longer than 'A Little Chemistry' was, so that is exciting! Please review- feedback is always immensely appreciated; you guys are so supportive and it makes a huge difference! Thank you, as always.
God Bless,
Sarah- thegoodgirldoll.
Sandra sat quietly flipping through the pages of a new Country Home magazine as Henry vacuumed. She lifted her legs above the ground, grinning at him as he vacuumed under her. She set them back down, criss-crossed on the floor when he was finished and sighed, rubbing her stomach softly. Sandra had heard before that when a woman was pregnant, it was the happiest time of her life, but for her it wasn't. She was absolutely miserable all the time with everything from hormones to an aching back and more. She was just tired of it, and she was so ready to get this baby out of her. Henry, on the other hand, was obsessive about rubbing her stomach, her feet, her shoulders, and anywhere else she had discomfort. She supposed that was one plus. For once she wasn't the one doing everything, he actually pitched in. Sandra smiled to herself as she watched Henry begin the hot water to clean off the dishes. She leaned forward as best she could and grabbed the remote control off the coffee table, flipping on the TV so the Animal Planet.
"You know, Henry, we should get a dog!" She called into the kitchen.
Henry immediately appeared in the doorway, wringing his hands on a dish towel.
"Sandy, we don't need any pets. We already have a baby on the way."
"Well that's just it," she tried to stand, but Henry had to help her. She threw the magazine down on the coffee table and placed her hands on her hips. "You know, if we have a dog, it'll keep the baby safe. We don't have enough money to fix the alarm system, and a dog can be the baby's little companion."
"Alright, you lost me at little. If we do get a dog, we're getting a big one."
Sandra rolled her eyes. "Well, obviously, it would have to be big to protect the baby."
Henry sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright," he said, kissing her forehead. "We can get a dog."
Later in the day, they made a trip to their local pet store. Henry whistled as they browsed, holding Sandra's hand tightly as they went along. She practically drug him over to the Doggy Adoption center and once they were almost running down the aisle, she stopped dead in her tracks at the first crate. It was enormous, housing a dark colored husky. The dog kept its head down, appearing quite sad, until Sandra knelt beside it and placed her fingers on the metal bars.
"Hi there," she said softly. "Look at you, cutie!"
Henry chuckled, kneeling on one leg beside her and placing a hand on her back.
"Henry, this is the dog!"
And of course, what Sandra wants, Sandra gets. Henry did nothing to displease her, ever, and that day they went home with an abused, aggressive husky. Sandra was one of those people that thought she could 'save the world', and Henry could do nothing but go along with it. Sandra was hopefully the dog would grow to love them, and she assured Henry they would lock it up every-night and that they would take him to training classes. Henry unlocked the door to their home quickly, following behind her as she led the dog on its leash.
"Look at your new home!" She yelled excitedly, setting the dog free.
Immediately, it trotted over to the couch, jumped up, and buried its head in the pillows. Sandra sighed and looked up at her husband.
"See?" She urged. "This little baby isn't a threat- he's more frightened of you than you are of him, Henry!"
Henry laughed and shook his head, hanging his keys and jacket on the hooks near the front door. It was around 6 P.M. now, and Henry immediately set to work making dinner. Usually, on late nights like these they would just order pizza, but he had been so obsessed with Sandra's health and the baby's health throughout the pregnancy, he always wanted to make everything just right. Soon, the salads he decided to make were finished and he added a thin slice of wheat bread and butter on the side of both. He called Sandra to the kitchen as he poured them glasses of water, and smiled as she walked in.
"Hungry, you?"
Sandra grinned as he pulled out her chair for her.
"Very. What did you make?"
"Salads with last-night's salmon, and a slice of wheat. I know you aren't too fond of it, but I put that organic butter on it this time, so maybe it'll help."
Sandra laughed and nodded, picking up her fork. "That sounds wonderful, Henry. Thanks for picking up the dinner slack lately."
"No problem, dear. Trust me. Grace?"
Sandra nodded. "Sure, I've got it."
After giving the blessing for dinner, they set to work devouring their salads and fish. Their new dog came to rest under the table as they ate, and Sandra ran her toes through its fur.
"I wonder if he will try and sleep with us tonight."
Henry smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I do hope not."
"So when do you think our baby is going to get here?"
"I don't know. We technically have two more days to go."
"Oh man, Henry, it feels like this kiddo is triple the size it should be already," she groaned.
"I hope it isn't because that would mean you pushing out a 30 pound kid in a couple days."
Sandra's eyes widened in fright as she leaned further on the table.
"You don't think that's possible, do you?"
Henry laughed loudly. "Honey, I love you, but sometimes you are such a trip," he replied, standing quickly as he took their empty plates off the table.
"Henry, your sarcasm doesn't go too far anymore. Not charming, just annoying," she shot back, worry still etched in her eyes.
"Sandy," he rested a hand on her shoulder. "You can't have a 30 pound kid, stop worrying."
Sandra sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're right."
"I always am, pup," he replied, grinning cheekily.
Sandra smiled and kissed his lips softly before walking out and into their bedroom. Henry finished cleaning up and took the dog bowls they had just bought out of the shopping bags.
"Where are you, doggy?" Henry called out.
The husky ran through the door way, wagging its tail happily as he immediately began to chow down on the food Henry had just poured into the metal dishes. Henry smiled as the dog ate feverishly, as though the food would be taken away any second. He rested a gentle hand on the dog's back and sighed.
"They didn't feed you, huh, those last owners? Poor doggy."
He knelt there for a few moments before filling the water dish with icy liquid and then leaving the new dog alone. Henry walked through the living room to get to their bedroom, happy that he was already beginning to grow fond of the dog he wasn't sure he wanted. That was, until he noticed the large stain on the floor.
"SANDRA! THAT DOG ALREADY STAINED OUR CARPET! I JUST CLEANED THIS!" He screeched, running into their bedroom.
He found Sandra packing their clothes and baby clothes into a small duffle bag on the bed. He approached her quickly.
"Sandra, the dog wet a whole section of the floor that I just spent the whole day scrubbing!"
Sandra turned to him calmly and shook her head. She held out the duffle bag to him and he took it, confused.
"It's time to have our baby, Henry. My water broke."
Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter! Next chapter, Keith is born, we find out how he got his name, and how the dog finally gets its name. What do you guys think? I was excited about writing a story about Keith's whole life, and some good flashbacks of Sandra and Henry's wedding, dating, etc. Of course, it'll follow the movie plot, so you will all see crucial things like Sandra's death, Keith's license, any other children or miscarriages, and Keith meeting Al. I have a lot of ideas for this, so I hope you all enjoy it, and I can't wait to see what you all thought of the first chapter! I am nervous to be writing such a lengthy, detailed account of their lives, but I know with you all's support I can surely do it.
God Bless,
Sarah.