Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with the Mediator Series because that honor is exclusively Meg Cabot's. Anything unrecognizable (characters, plot, etc.) is mine.
Author's Note 1/18/12: So I've re-written everything I had before twice now and changed things around to where these are more like snippets of their life. I think I can live with this version. I hope you like it! I have no excuse for taking so long and I hope this makes up for it!
Susannah was truly tired of being tired. As Jesse carried Rae up the steps to Ruthy's house, she stood at the bottom. The stupid stairs felt like she was going to climb Mount Everest. She knew she had to climb them. But she really just wanted to sit on the bottom step. This, and the fact that she was now unmistakably six months pregnant, had stupid hormonal tears coming to her eyes. She rummaged through the diaper bag (now used primarily to house Perrito the stuffed dog and his many companions) to find the Kleenex.
"Susannah? Is everything okay, baby?" Jesse asked.
"No, everything is not okay. I can't find the stupid Kleenex!"
"Mommy's upset, Daddy." Rae was watching her mother with an intent expression. "Mommy wants Perrito?"
Suze, tears streaming, looked up to see Rae holding out to her. "Oh, sweetie, thank you. But I'm okay now." Suze smiled as she forgot about the Kleenex and about the stairs and joined them just as Rutherford opened the door.
"Well, look here. It's the de Silva's. Now the party can start." Rutherford held out his arms for Rae who latched onto him and began to regale him in her own special language about everything she did that day. With the ease of honorary grandpa, he knew exactly what she was saying.
"Everything better now, baby?" Jesse held her hand as they headed toward the den area where Kane and Gabby Lawson, Morris Richardson and Madison White were already sitting.
"Yeah, it is." Suze leaned against him.
"Suze! You look wonderful." Kane stood and gave her a hug that she returned happily.
After the greetings were exchanged, everyone settled in to talk. Suze watched the way Madison subtly flirted with Morris and the way he noticed and flirted back. Kane and Gabby were discussing medicine with Jesse and Rutherford was on the floor playing with Rae. She relaxed against Jesse and his arm came around her. He played with her hair absently and Suze felt much better than she had earlier.
After dinner, Gabby pulled Suze aside to talk to her. "How are you feeling, Suze?"
Suze thought for a moment. "I'm doing mostly right. Somewhat wrong in the fact that I'm definitely more exhausted this time around than last time. Maybe it's having a toddler in the terrible twos this time, but sometimes I have to give myself a pep talk in the morning."
"You're taking your vitamins, right, sweetie?"
"Oh, yes. I take mine when I get Rae to take hers. Besides, with my husband the doctor I would be worried if I wasn't. Jesse calls me when he isn't home to make sure."
"Speaking of Rae, how is she taking everything?"
"I don't think she completely understands. Jesse does his best to explain. I think I've gotten it through, mostly. The other day when we were in the park a woman had an infant and Rae said that's what was in Mommy's tummy. She's particularly bright."
"Of course, her daddy and mommy are both very smart." Gabby smiled.
"True." Suze looked over to see Rae and Jesse playing on the floor.
"If the exhaustion persists, come and see me. Maybe we can figure something out."
Suze hugged her. "Thanks, Gabby."
With that, the two women joined the others again.
Three weeks had passed since the get together and the evening found the de Silva's, Madison and Morris sitting in Central Park listening to one of the concerts in the park. While it was an eighteenth date for Madison and Morris, they didn't mind having the others along with them. Rae, being only two years old, was strangely attentive to the Celtic music the band was playing. As Jesse watched her, he couldn't help but be excited about the new addition to their family. He had always wanted a family of his own and he had, since high school, wanted it to be with Susannah. Sometimes, he thought with a smile, life worked out the way you wanted.
"What are you smiling about, mister?" He turned to see Susannah grinning at him.
"Life in general. And how good it's been lately."
Suze laughed and laid a hand on her stomach. "Sure, because you don't have to house another human being for nine months."
Before he could reply, they were interrupted by Rae who had plopped into Jesse's lap while yanking Perrito up in down in an imitation of the bow of the violinist on stage. "Daddy, Mommy watch me!"
She then proceeded to throw her stuffed dog at Morris' head which caused all the adults to laugh and Rae to giggle endlessly. By that time, the music had ended and everyone around them applauded. The adults cleaned up the remnants from their picnic while Rae crawled around on the grass with Perrito making train sounds.
While Rae played on the blanket, the conversation turned to baby names. Morris had suggested Broccoli and Sage and Madison had suggested Meghan or Jane. Suze still wanted some boy names, just in case, and Jesse was content to let her pick since he'd picked Rae's name.
"So, seriously, you guys should totally name it after a vegetable or herb. It's obviously pretty popular to do that." Morris waggled his eyebrows.
With disdainful look, Madison elbowed him in the stomach. "You're such an idiot. You can name your own kid whatever you want, but don't saddle Suze and Jesse's baby with such horrible names."
Morris shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat, babe."
Madison stuck her tongue out at him and he leaned over and kissed her. Rae giggled, but wanted to be included so she reached up and pushed them apart so that they could kiss her. They both did and she went back to playing with her toys.
"If Baby de Silva is anything like her sister, you two have your hands full." Madison said as she leaned down to help Suze put away their things.
Suze laughed, "That would certainly make life very interesting."
Madison shrugged. "You'd love every minute. Seriously, though, I could see you with a daughter named Meghan or Jane. I think they're kind of old fashioned just like Susannah. It would fit."
Suze looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "You know, that wouldn't be too bad."
And, later than evening, when Suze felt the baby moving and kicking she hoped it would be a girl that she could name Meghan Jane de Silva.
Here's another chapter. Read, review and then have fun!
