thanks kayla; without you, this would suck.


the title is from 'people watching' by Jack Johnson, from the Curious George soundtrack. Iris is my own character - please don't use her without my permission.


Not even three minutes old, Iris Emily Keeler is already the love of her mother's life.

She is tear-soaked and exhausted but the adrenaline coursing through her veins will keep her awake for days. She cradles her newborn daughter to her chest and sobs openly, surrounded by the family she chose for herself: Emily, her conscience and confidant, and Kelly, her former enemy turned best friend, pep-talk expert and straight-talking queen. Unlikely friends themselves, they shared a look of awe over Payson's head as they held tight to their friend's shoulders. It remained unspoken, but all three women knew their support was the only thing that had kept Payson afloat over the past nine months.

Only five people in the world, other than Payson, know the truth about her daughter's paternity, and two of them are in the room with her. The other three are pacing holes in the waiting room floor down the hall, desperate for news.

(xoxo)

"I'll go let your parents know, Pay," Emily whispered, kissing the top of her friend's head. She left the room glassy-eyed, heart dancing and breaking all at the same time. For the last six months, she and Kelly had been quietly trying to convince Payson to contact Iris' father. Payson had steadfastly refused, despite Emily's pleas and Kelly's threats to call him herself.

Payson looked up and caught Kelly's eyes. She was already besotted with her honorary niece, and awestruck by her friend's strength and courage.

"She's beautiful, Pay," Kelly whispered. While Emily had been honoured by Payson's request to have her two best friends present at the birth of her daughter, Kelly had balked at the idea. Even up to the previous evening when Payson called her and delivered a string of profane insults, all of which vaguely threatening to Kelly's life if she didn't accompany her friend to the hospital immediately, Kelly had been unsure about the idea—but at the hospital, with Payson's level-headed practicality out of the window, Kelly knew her best friends needed her unflappable nature to complete this leg of their journey. Kelly smiled down at her best friend and her new daughter—a tiny, pink bundle wrapped in white, waving a tiny fist in the air in a miniature protest.

Emily led Payson's parents into the room. The spell of near-silence was broken then as the Keelers took turns to meet the newest member of their family. Emily and Kelly squeezed onto the edges of the bed, surrounding Payson, and the three of them rested their hands on Payson's deflated abdomen. With or without her daughter's father, Payson would be just fine.

"Hey, Payson," Becca began, gazing adoringly at the tiny bundle in her father's arms. "If you named her for Kelly and Em, why is her name Iris?"

Kelly snorted before burying her reddening face in Payson's shoulder.

"Kelly threatened to cut off all my hair if I ever named my child Kelly," Payson explained patiently, shrugging her shoulder violently in an attempt to encourage her friend to move. "But Iris is Kelly's grandmother's name."

"And your favourite flower, right?"

"Yeah. Well, those and daisies," Payson answered slowly. Tiredness was beginning to catch up with her. Becca grinned from across the room and Payson smiled tiredly. Her parents and sister left after that, but Kelly and Emily stayed, folding themselves into guest chairs and acquainting themselves with Iris whilst Payson slept.


to be continued.