Hello everyone! It's oneshot time. And this is gonna be a rather sad one. For this focusing on Cubby and Melanie getting ready for their first child... but it doesn't exactly go as planned for them. So... girls, prepare your tissues, and boys prepare you arm sleeves for tears... and try to enjoy this...
Warning: Contains character death of infant.
Disclaimer: I do not own Jake and the Never Land Pirates. They belong to Disney Junior. Though I do own Melanie...
Melanie's Angel
It's been about a year since Charles Andrews has been married to his good friends sister, Melanie Hutchinson, and two years since Jake and Izzy have given birth to their twin son and daughter, Troy and Maia.
Cubby couldn't have been more happier than he was to be with Melanie. But they pondered... when will they have their first child? They wished for at least two, like Jake and Izzy had. But Melanie was nervous about the birth experience, knowing how much pain she could be in. But Cubby would assure her that he would be there by her side and help her get through.
Soon, their wish came true as in the summer of June, Melanie found out that she was pregnant. Once telling Cubby, he passed out. The happy couple later informed their friends as they were delighted by the news.
A few months later, Cubby and Melanie found out that they were gonna have a little boy. And that made Cubby very excited, as he would have a little son that could look up to him like a role model.
"Honey... honey!" Melanie called for her husband. She looked at her swollen belly in front of her. The baby would come in another month, and she couldn't wait any longer to see her baby boy.
"He would have my eyes... and Cubby's hair..." She thought out loud as she rubbed her stomach. Speaking of Cubby, he came into the room. "Yes, Mel?" He asked her sweetly.
"When is everyone coming for the baby shower...?" She asked.
"In just another hour, Mel..."
A baby shower was scheduled for today, and the house was already decorated with blue balloons, blue streamers, blue everything. Just right for a little baby boy. Cubby had put up the decorations, including a banner that red 'It's a Boy!'. All of their closest friends would come by with presents and other things for the baby. And Melanie was excited for this. "Oh, Cubby. I can't wait until Christian comes."
"Christian?" Cubby asked.
Melanie nodded, "Yes. Christian is the name I picked out for our baby. Christian Peter Andrews."
"Hey... I like that."
"I knew you would."
Cubby then began to rub Melanie's stomach as he spoke to it, "Ahoy there, Christian. This is your dad speaking to ya! We're gonna have lots of fun when you come out of your Mom's tummy. I'll teach you how to read maps, play games, and other cool stuff."
The only respone he had gotten was little movement from inside. It looked like Christian was ready to come out already. But too bad he had to wait another month before he could come into this world.
Another hour later, the guest had came for the baby shower as the party began.
First, Melanie decided she wanted to open the presents from her guest. Jake and Izzy were next, "We hope that you like them, Mellie." Jake told his sister with a smile. The woman opened the box, and took out three pairs on blue, red, and green onesies'. "Oh my god. They're so cute. Thanks!" Melanie squealed.
"We knew they would be the perfect choice for the baby boy." Izzy added, holding Maia close to her. Jake and his wife had brought along the toddler twins so they could see their aunt and uncle. They even had their own little baby gifts. Troy had a teddy bear, while Maia had a doll. They gave the toys to Melanie as she kissed her nephew and niece, "Oh thank you, sweethearts."
"Make baby happy!" Troy cooed.
"Yes, this will definitely make the baby happy." Melanie responded.
Next was Peter Pan, as he presented a gift. "Mel, as courtesy of me and Cartoon All Star Shawn K., I present to you... this!"
He shows Melanie and Cubby a map... a map of Never Land. "This is something for the baby to enjoy. The secret... this map is magical..."
As he said that, the map began to sparkle, much to Cubby's amazement, "Now that is awesome! Thanks." Peter smiled, "You're very welcome."
Next, came a lot of other gifts ranging from baby food, to diapers, to more baby clothes, to baby toys. The majority of the presents were blue to represent the boy, but there were few that that were red, green, yellow, purple, or even multicolored. Melanie and Cubby were thankful for all the gifts, as it was time to eat the baby shower cake.
Much like Izzy, Melanie has been through the pregnancy symptom of cravings, and cake was the main victim of it. She quickly scarf down the piece of cake (added with mustard... weird, I know), and extra frosting. If there was one thing Cubby didn't like during his wife's pregnancy, it had to be the cravings. Being the cook between the two of them, he was growing tired of cooking all of her favorite meals in a short amount of time, mostly because she had demanded him to do it.
But that didn't mean he didn't love her any less than he did. He was always able to be there for his wife...
And now.. he had an announcement to make...
"Hey... everyone!" Cubby called to get everyone's attention. "I just wanna say thanks to everyone who's helped us out and supported us through these months. I mean, this is our first child. Our first son. It hasn't been easy dealing with this pregnancy, and Mel's not the only one who's feeling stress... But, aside from all of that, thank you guys so much for all your help, and I'm sure we'll have even more help to make Christian Peter Andrews have a good life. A toast, to our baby!"
With that, the group clanked their drinks together and started to drink from their cups... until there was a gasp in the air... and then a drink shattering.
Izzy turned to see Melanie, sitting on the couch, and holding her stomach. Her face seemed to be twisted in pain as she looked up.
"Mel... is it time?" Izzy asked with worry.
"Iz... it's time! Cubby!" Melanie whimpered.
Cubby immediately paled when he heard that. Melanie was going into labor, and the baby's not due until next month! And much to his horror, he could also see blood seeping through Melanie's pants.
"Aw coconuts! What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?" He asked, panicking.
"Get a hold of yourself, Cubby!" Jake told him, just hold Mel's hand, and I'll call the doctor.
And so, Cubby ran to his wife side as Jake called 911. The doctor had told them to drive to the hospital immediately. Since Cubby was too nervous, Jake had to drive them all to the doctor, with Izzy sitting in the back with a sobbing Melanie, who was sitting on top of a towel to hopefully stop the bleeding.
"She's bleeding an awful lot. I hope it's not a symptom..." Izzy said as she wiped Melanie's forehead with a cloth.
"I doubt it. If she's bleeding, then something's wrong with either her or the baby." Jake replied.
"IT'S HURTS!" Melanie wailed, breathing heavily.
"Don't worry, sis. You're gonna be okay." Jake assured his sister.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital, where a nurse was waiting for them with a wheelchair. "We'll take everything from here, Mr. Andrews." The nurse said, "Once we get Melanie settled, you may come to be with her."
"Oh thank you..." Cubby sighed.
With that, Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and later Peter with the twins all sat down in the lobby. "When baby coming, Mama?" Maia asked innocently.
"Very soon, sweetheart. We'll just have to wait." Izzy told her daughter.
As for Cubby, he was extremely nervous. He was glad he was going to be able to be with Melanie for the delivery, but he felt uncomfortable about her being in so much pain, especially with the bleeding earlier. He was worried that this might cause problems for the baby... or Melanie herself. Jake could see the worry on his friends face and smiled, "Don't worry, matey. Melanie and the baby will be fine..."
"I sure hope so..." Cubby replied.
Peter then spoke up, "Besides, Mel is a lot tougher than she looks..."
Suddenly, a nurse came walking by the group, "Mr. Andrews, you may see your wife now."
"Awesome... I'll see you guys later and let you know when Christian comes."
With that, Cubby followed the nurse down the hall, and into a delivery room, where Melanie was sitting, her legs opened with a blanket covering them, and a doctor sitting in front of them. "You're just in time, sir." The doctor said.
Cubby walked over to his wife and took hold of her hand, "You're gonna be okay, hon. Just breathe..." He told her.
"I... I don't think I can do it..." Melanie whimpered as tears fell.
"Sure you can... I know you can..." Cubby whispered to her.
"Okay, Mrs. Andrews. We're gonna need at least two more pushes to get that baby." The doctor, whose name was Joyce, said. And so with taking a deep breath, Melanie gave one big push, but was crying and screaming as she did it. Cubby whispered soothing words into her ear to comfort her, but it seemed to not have been working.
After one push, Dr. Joyce could now see the baby's head, "I see an adorable head of auburn hair..."
Auburn hair... Christian has auburn hair... Cubby thought as the doctor told Melanie to give one final push. Melanie took another deep breath, and began to push, putting all she could into getting her son out into the world.
And before Cubby knew it, the small child was pulled out... but... he wasn't crying. This made Cubby confused, but he then kissed Melanie's forehead as she was breathing heavily. "We did it... we have a boy..." Was all she said.
They watched as the doctor cut the umbilical cord and cleaned the baby, but when she came back holding him... she was frowning... why...
"I'm.. I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews..." Dr. Joyce said sadly.
"What's wrong...?" Cubby asked. "Is something wrong with Christian...?"
When Dr. Joyce explained, Cubby and Melanie heard something they never wanted to hear about their baby. "It seems that when you went into labor, your baby came too early, which weakened his respiratory system as you delivered him... and once he came out... he stopped breathing... I'm afraid... your baby is dead."
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Hearing that one word made the world stop for Cubby. Christian... is dead? No... he can't be... he has to be okay. I mean, I felt him kick earlier today. How could he have died?
"NO!" Melanie screamed, glaring at the doctor. "You're lying! Christian can't be dead! He was doing just fine earlier."
"I'm sorry, M'am. But due to the birth being so soon than scheduled, little Christian just wasn't ready to join the world..." The doctor told her.
Melanie began to cry uncontrollably as she buried her face in her hand. Cubby, on the other hand, didn't know what to do at the moment. He didn't know whether to cry along with his wife or try to console her. He mostly wanted to stay strong, but even a little tear slid down his cheek. "Can we... see him?" he asked the doctor.
Joyce grinned a little, and gave the unresponsive infant to Melanie, who held him tightly, still sobbing. Cubby couldn't help but smile a little when he saw his little son, "He is really cute... for a stillborn."
He was right. Christian was very tiny, but he looked like an angel no doubt. He had a pudgy little face a lot like his fathers, and his hair was nearly the same shade as his mothers. The only other thing that would make them happy is to see him awake... but unfortunately, he wasn't.
"My baby!" Melanie wailed, holding the baby close to her.
Cubby wish that this wasn't happening. This was their first child... and now he's already left them. "Mel... I know it's hard... but I guess it wasn't meant to be... clearly we're still not ready for a baby yet..." He told her.
As much as Melanie wanted to object, she knew her husband was right. It was obvious that they weren't ready to have a baby yet... but will they ever be ready?
"I guess I have to tell the others about Christian..." Cubby spoke up after a few minutes of silence. Melanie nodded, as he left the room.
Back in the waiting room, Jake was pacing back and forth along the floor, waiting on the news of the baby with the others. Some of Melanie's friends from college has also arrived to see their friends new baby. "I hope everything's okay..." Izzy said as she cuddled a sleep Troy close to her."
"Don't worry. Soon, we'll all be able to see Baby Christian before you know it." Peter assured her.
"I can't wait to meet him." Said Sandra, one of Melanie's friends.
"I know! I bet he's gonna be really cute!" Said another one of Melanie's friend's, Samantha.
Soon, they saw Cubby walked into the waiting room, and then they got excited for the news. Little did they know was that the news was not gonna be good for them. "Cubby! You're back. So how is Melanie?" Jake asked.
"Is the baby here?" Izzy asked.
"How big is he?" Peter asked.
"How is he feeling?" Sandra asked.
Cubby frowned, which Jake noticed. Was something wrong? "Cubby... is something the matter?" He asked his friend. The former young pirate sighed as he wiped a tear from his face. "Melanie's fine... it's Christian."
"What about Christian?" Izzy asked with concern.
With a deep breath... Cubby said these words...
"He... he didn't make it."
A bunch of gasps filled the air, mostly from the girls. But now Jake was confused, "What do you mean 'he didn't make it'?"
"Due to the birth being so early, and the bleeding from earlier, it weakened Christian a lot. And.. he died once he came out... he's a stillborn..."
There was silence that filled the waiting room as everyone tried to comprehend what Cubby just told them. Christian... has passed away. This anticipated day has taken a turn for the worse with this sudden news.
"Oh... my... god..." Izzy whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks. Jake held her tightly as tears of his own fell. Melanie friends only bowed their heads, as Samantha said, "Gosh... who knew you could lose a life so quick..."
"I know... poor baby..." Sandra responded.
"And poor Melanie too..." Peter added, trying to fight back tears. "She just lose her first child in a matter of seconds..."
Cubby frowned even more as Jake put a hand on his shoulder, "I know it's hard, matey... but here's something you should know... Christian may not have stayed with us for long... but his possible love for us isn't gone... he's still with us in our hearts."
Hearing that made Cubby smile a little... for he knew that Jake was right.
Later that week, Melanie was released from the hospital, but she wasn't doing any better. The news of Christian's passing as struck most of their closest friends, even those from Never Land. Flowers and other gifts were given to them as sympathy for their darkest hour. Cubby appreciated all the support from everybody, and Jake even offered to make funeral arrangements for the baby.
The funeral was held at a small funeral home, for Melanie wanted it to be short and sweet for her baby boy. She and Cubby arrived at the building, but just at the mere sight of the tiny casket at the front of the room made Melanie break down in tears. Cubby tried to comfort her as he helped her up. Jake and Izzy showed Troy and Maia their tiny cousin lying in the casket.
Christian was wearing a little blue hat, wrapping in a little blanket, but wearing a cute suit underneath.
"Daddy. Why is baby in box?" Troy asked his father.
"Because... he's resting." Jake quickly said, finding it hard to explain death to a toddler.
"Why he not awake?" Maia asked.
"Because he... went back with God." Izzy answered. "He's back in a better place now, sweet face. But where he is... he's happy."
Troy and Maia didn't exactly understand what was going on, but they just assumed that Christian wasn't going to play with them and leaving to be with another family.
Soon, the service began. Speeches were made, solos were sang, and Cubby once again gave everyone his thanks for their support.
After the service, it was Christian's time to be buried at a church cemetery. After the priest made a short speech and a prayer, he had dismissed everyone from the burial as Christian was quietly being lowered to the ground.
And it was a good thing that they were dismissed, so Cubby and Melanie wouldn't have to go through the pain of seeing their son go six feet under. A few days after the funeral, the young couple had been doing a lot better, but were still devastated, they had both missed their son gratefully, and at times wish that it was all a dream. But it wasn't...
At their house, Cubby was busy making some cheese sandwiches for the both of them. As he carried a tray of the sandwiches, he noticed that Melanie was standing in the nursery they had made for Christian. Cubby walked up behind her as he whispered, "How are ya...?"
Melanie turned to him with a sad look in her green eyes, "I've always wondered what color his eyes would have been." She told him. Cubby knew she was referring to their late baby as he replied, "I bet he would have had your pretty eyes..."
Jake's sister smiled a bit, but then frowned again, "I just miss him so much..."
"Me too, Mel... I do too... but he's in a better place now." Cubby told her. "And he'll always be in our heart and memories. And soon we'll be blessed with another little guy or girl."
"But no new baby will ever replace my Christian."
"I know..."
"But you're right. I just wasn't ready. My body isn't prepared for a baby yet... but soon it will be..."
With that, the two just smiled as they looked at the nursery, knowing that their darkest hour will soon be over...
Three years later...
"Congratulations, you two! It's a girl!" Dr. Joyce handed the little baby girl to Melanie. Cubby was grinning from ear to ear as he leaned in to kiss the baby. Her name was Crystal Dawn Andrews, born on December 11 at 5:55 in the morning.
"We have a little girl, Mel." Cubby whispered.
Melanie nodded, "I know... and she's just precious..."
The couple hadn't forgotten about Christian at all, but they were happy that he was somewhat able to have a little sister. A very adorable little sister at that. Soon, Jake, Izzy, and the others had arrived in the room to see little Crystal.
"Oh my goodness, she's so beautiful!" Izzy squealed as she stared lovingly at the newborn.
Troy and Maia, now five, stared at their new cousin with curiosity. "Where is Christian?" Troy asked.
"Why isn't he here?" Maia asked.
Everyone frowned at the mention of Christian, until Jake explained, "Well... remember when we said that Christian is in a better place... well, that's where he is right now... in Heaven."
The twins were still confused, but understood what their father meant. Melanie just smiled as she looked down at her baby girl and kissed her, "Well, I'm glad that he's in a better place. A place where he can be happy... and a place where we can all be happy one day."
"Mel..." Cubby spoke up.
"Yes, Cubby?" She asked.
"I love you... and Christian... and Crystal..."
"I love you too, sweetheart... and I love you all."
With that, the couple kissed, smiling as they heard Crystal cooing.
THE END
(Sniff) That was sad... and yet sweet at the same time. I'm gonna be honest, I'm almost cried writing this. It's that sad. But at least it has a happy ending. This story is actually a little tribute to a friend of my aunts, who too has lost a little boy during birth earlier this year. So this oneshot is dedicated to all families who lose their babies at such a young age, especially those who are newborns or stillborns. So with that said, I'll see you guys later... and don't forget to review, please. Thank you.
PS:
Rest in Peace
Martel Anthony Hill
January 2, 2015- January 2, 2015
I hope you have a most tremendous time in Heaven... and who knows, maybe you'll somehow find your way back on Earth with your family...