Again, I don't own hairspray or the characters. Also, huge thanks to my first (and only) reviewer, H6p8Gv! :) And now, for the story!
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Talking to the doctor hadn't been as scary as Tracy thought it would be. Penny was in the waiting room. Tracy swung her stubby legs off the side of a very uncomfortable bed.
"Alright, Mrs. Larkin!" Amber said, grinning. "The doctor will be in touch! Say hi to Link, Penny and Seaweed for me, okay?" she asked. Tracy smiled brightly back at Amber. No one had expected Amber to turn in her dancing shoes for nursing, but she had. According to her, the lack of nurturing from her obtuse mother had driven her to reach out to others. As she matured she realized that helping others was something she could do well and something she could feel good about. There was never any bitterness in her tone when she spoke to the girl who had turned her whole sheltered world upside down. Amber had confessed to Tracy before when they had run into each other at the grocery store, that she had indeed loved Link. She had said that she had loved him and let him go, and that she realized it was best for her to move on. She had tried apologizing for being cruel, especially in school, but Tracy would hear none of it. She credited Amber for her marriage and for her friendship with Seaweed. Amber had been relieved. Though she and Tracy had never exactly been friends, the bond between them had continued to grow upon each new meeting.
Tracy thanked Amber and went back into the waiting room where Penny was crunching on her lollipop.
"Well?" she asked, jumping up from her chair. Tracy chuckled. "We've got to wait for the results. I'll call you as soon as I know. Don't forget Seaweed's gift!" she said. Penny smiled sheepishly and ran back to her chair. She scooped up Seaweed's present, and she and Tracy went home.
"It's the works!" Link said in awe as he took in the bare living room. The golden hardwood floors shone yellow warmth back at him. The walls were all completely and perfectly white.
"I'm kind of thinking she's going to paint around here, but for now I really like the way it is. Can't you see it, Link? Television over there, big couch here, romantic loveseat," he gestured with his hands, "right here. Just big enough for Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs."
"What of the children?" Link joked.
"They'll have a whole couch. All seven of them!"
"Seven? Have you talked to the woman who has to give live birth to all seven of those imaginary children?"
"We're still negotiating."
"Ah, and what number are you stuck on."
"Eh, well, you know, it's just a teeny difference."
"Seaweed..."
"Alright, two. Just two. What am I going to do with just two kids?"
"You're going to be thankful you retained your hair and your sanity."
"But what if it's two boys or two girls? I want at least one of each."
"By the sound of it, you want seven. What if six are boys?"
"The seventh would be a guaranteed girl or we'd just stop there."
"How generous of you," his friend joked, and Seaweed chuckled.
"You're a jerk," he said. Link continued to survey the house. He really could see his friends living here and their potential children playing all over the house. He could also see himself and Tracy in a quaint neighborhood like this one. He could hear the birds chirping outside and he could envision summer barbecues, even though the yard was filled with small snow drifts. He imagined himself and Tracy and their children making snowmen. There would be, however, no snowball fights. He winced as his forehead throbbed again at the thought.
"You can see it, can't you?" Seaweed asked. Link raised a questioning eyebrow. "You can see yourself here. You can see you and her and the kids all here."
"I can," Link admitted.
"There's a house for sale just two doors down. I know we wouldn't be next door neighbors, but maybe a little space would be good. Anyway, if you were going to wait and you just had to be right by me, the house to our right is going up for sale after Christmas."
"You serious?"
"Mhmm. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm trying not to take it personally."
"Personally?"
"Some people think if a negro moves in that everything is suddenly worth less. Like we devalue the area. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
"Really? Tastes pretty good to me. It spares us from having to live around bigots." Link smiled and Seaweed smiled back.
"You alright, Link Larkin."
"You too, bud," he said, smiling.
"Don't do that creepy wink thing at me. That only works on girls and the sensitive male." Link broke into a cackle. "You almost did it, didn't you? You almost did the wink!"
"Shut up!" Link said, playfully shoving his friend.
"C'mon, let's see if we can get a halfway decent view of their backyard. Man, we could tear down this divisive fence and just have one huge backyard for the kids to share." Link smiled at his friend, losing himself in the thought of watching their potential children play together in their yards. He couldn't think of anything more wonderful.
"I guess shoes will have to be good enough," Penny frowned.
"Why are you stressing over what to give him so much?"
Penny sighed and shook her head. "We've been together for four years. Four whole years. I used to feel like I didn't need official validation like you and Link have but…"
"You're worried that he hasn't popped the question."
"Yeah. I wonder if he's serious. I wonder if he loves me at all?"
"Penny! That's ridiculous!"
"That's easy to say for you Mrs. Larkin," Penny sneered. Tracy stared down at her hands as they walked. The snow crunched beneath her feet and the sound made her realize she still hadn't eaten but that she really wanted to.
"You hungry?" she asked.
"Duh!" Penny exclaimed.
"Want to grab a late lunch?"
"Yeah… can we hit up that diner by the shoe shop? They have awesome chicken." Tracy nodded. The women entered the restaurant and sat in a corner booth. A waitress served them menus and smiles. Tracy was ravenous, but she was worried that she might lose her food again if she wasn't careful. When the waitress returned, Tracy ordered first.
"Dry toast, milk-"
"Tracy!" Penny exclaimed.
"I'm not finished, I promise! I also want your country fried chicken, white gravy and french fries instead of mashed potatoes and a side of whatever vegetable you like best."
"Oh! I want the same thing except I want double fries, no veggies and a slice of apple pie and a chocolate malted… oh, and not the toast and milk part."
"Coming right up!" the waitress said.
"You sure you'll eat that?" Penny asked, staring hungrily at the ketchup. Tracy giggled. Her friend had always been one to put a lot of food away. It had bothered Tracy when they were younger, but because of Link she no longer cared.
"No, but I can try. That's what the toast is for. If I am really pregnant, I've got to do something for my little one. I could no more deny anything to Link than I could any part of him." Tracy's face turned soft, her eyes turned downward. Penny thought Tracy looked a lot like a painting that some dead old guy from about a bajillion years ago would have painted. She looked beautiful. The waitress silently slipped between them and placed down their drinks.
"You're positively glowing." Penny smiled at her friend. Tracy looked up at Penny. She was so thankful to have such a wonderful best friend.
"Who would leave these two stone cold foxes by themselves?" Seaweed asked. Penny perked up and beamed at him. Seaweed leaned in for a soft kiss. Tracy saw Link smiling beside him. She smiled back.
"Two of the biggest fools in the world. Who else could leave such beauty unchecked?" Link asked, leaning down in the booth to brush his lips to Tracy's.
"What are you guys doing here?" Penny asked. Seaweed wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"We were in the neighborhood and decided it was time to eat something. Fancy running into the two finest chicks in town!" Link waved the waitress over. He took Tracy's hand in his. She rubbed their hands with her other hand.
"Sweetheart," he said softly in her ear. "Your hands are so cold."
"I'm fine, don't worry so much," she whispered back. Link started to give her a look, but the waitress saved Tracy from further scrutiny.
"What'll it be, gents?" she asked, handing over two menus.
"What're you havin' babe?" Seaweed asked Penny. After she had given him the run down, Seaweed laughed. "I'll just have a burger and an iced tea. She can share her fries."
"You sure about that? " Penny asked.
"Yeah, you love me," he said. Penny smiled back at him.
"So a burger all the way. And you?" she gestured at Link with her pencil.
"Coke, Burger, no mayo and fries," he said. The waitress scribbled, gave both the young men a nod, accepted their menus and walked away. Link took a sip of Tracy's milk while he waited for his drink.
"So you said you guys just happened to be in the neighborhood. What were you really doing out together three days before Christmas?" Penny asked. Seaweed smiled.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked. Tracy frowned and Link raised an eyebrow at her.
"Trace?" he asked softly as Penny and Seaweed continued their conversation alone.
"I'm fine," she said, but she avoided his gaze.
"Swear to me," he said. Tracy smiled at him. She placed her hand on the side of his face and he almost shivered. Screw the no gift thing. She was at least getting gloves.
"I swear to you, Link Larkin, with all of my heart, that nothing at all is wrong with me." Link smiled accepting of her answer. Tracy's left hand absentmindedly found her stomach and rested there. She wasn't exactly lying to him, but she felt as though she wasn't being truthful. Not that a baby was wrong, and she knew he wanted to start a family, but when they had agreed he had specifically used the word "someday". Was it already someday? Was it too soon for someday for Link?
General conversations about the weather, funny anecdotes and stories about shopping continued until the food arrived. Link and Seaweed shared a look at one point. The nonverbal communication said everything; The girls were not to know about the incident at the jewelry shop, and not just because the engagement was to be a surprise.
The couples ate their food, passing and sharing and accepting bites of food and jabs and teases from one another. The delightful conversation brightened the little booth in the corner. The foursome could have been anywhere on Earth, but nowhere could they have been as happy as they were at the moment, altogether. Tracy was relived she was able to keep her food down. She found herself ravenous and had even strayed over to Link's plate for some fries and a couple of bites of his burger. Penny had eaten her chicken and half her fries, two bites of pie and half her malted. Seaweed surveyed the mountains of untouched food left behind by Penny.
"I'm just tired," she said, and Seaweed had accepted her answer. After the check was paid, everyone piled into Seaweed's car. Penny rode up front. Link sat in the back with his arms wrapped around Tracy. Penny and Seaweed dropped Tracy and link off at their apartment. They tweeted their horn and waved. Tracy and Link waved back. They went upstairs. Link turned on the furnace while Tracy changed into some warm pajamas. She grabbed a warm blanket and waited on the couch while he changed into some comfortable pjs. They turned on the television and watched programs until the t.v. signed off for the night. The national anthem jolted Tracy awake. Link's head was rolled back on the couch. He was snoring lightly, his mouth agape. Tracy bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. He was just too precious. She leaned over and began pressing soft kisses all over his face until she roused him. He lifted his head and looked at her, his gaze cockeyed from being woken. His hair was tousled all about his head. Tracy sighed contentedly. He gave her a half smile. He rose from the couch and helped her up. They walked hand in hand to bed. Tracy wondered if she would sleep at all, considering that the anticipation of learning whether she would be a mother or not was weighing so heavily on her. When Link's warm arms wrapped around her from behind as they lay in bed, all fears and stresses melted away. Tracy had found no time to worry when a comfortable sleep quickly whisked her away.
"Penny, please answer," Tracy muttered into the phone. Link and Seaweed had gone for the day, and Tracy had decided to stay in alone. It was a smart move. Amber had called and confirmed what Tracy and Penny had expected; Tracy Edna Turnblad Larkin was expecting a baby. Tracy became frustrated upon her third call of the phone's incessant ringing. Penny couldn't have been home. She was always the first one to jump on a call. Motormouth Maybelle had made light of the situation by gently ribbing Penny that she was after Maybelle's "Motormouth" title.
Tracy jumped with a start when she heard someone banging on her door, their fists slamming with rapid succession. Tracy flung the door open to see an overly excited Penny with eyes as wide as saucers standing there with her arms thrust into the air in a questioning gesture.
"Well?" she exclaimed.
"You're going to be an aunt!" Tracy said, and Penny threw her arms around her best friend and began weeping.
"Does he know yet?" she asked, referring to Link.
"You and Amber and the doctor are the only ones who know."
"Yeah, the Amber part is still creepy to me. She still gets under my skin."
"Amber has changed, Penny. And you can't judge her any more than she judges you, which is not at all. So drop it."
"Ouch, Tracy," Penny frowned.
"I'm sorry, Penny. I guess my hormones have me snapping."
"It's cool. So… where's daddy?"
"He and your man have gone out for the day."
"Do you think they're stepping out on us?"
"Don't be silly, Penny! Seaweed only has eyes for you! I'm not worried!"
"No, I'm not worried they're stepping out with other women," Penny joked.
"Sure, our men love each other more than us!" Tracy laughed. "You're crazy." Tracy smiled at Penny, but the smile soon faded.
"I still haven't found anything for Link for Christmas, but I think I know what I want to get him."
"Cool. Get ready, I'll go with you." Tracy nodded at her friend. She quickly dressed and the two girls hit the street. People were everywhere, crowding the streets. Last minute shoppers swooped around the women and kept moving like fish swimming around a boulder.
"It could get ugly out here," Tracy said. The women carefully navigated their way to the suit shop. Penny raised an eyebrow.
"This is the only place you ever buy anything for Link."
"I don't know what else to do, Penny. All I can think about is the baby. I'm such a terrible gift giver. I'm an even worse wife."
"Woah, slow down, Tracy! None of that is true."
"But it is, and you're right. Link is so thoughtful and all I ever buy him are ties!" she sobbed, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands.
"Don't cause a scene, Tracy…" Penny said, rubbing her back in a soothing motion.
"Now I'm causing a scene! Fantastic! Look at Tracy Larkin, everyone! Watch her cry in the street for absolutely no reason!" she bawled. Penny cupped her hand over Tracy's mouth.
"Your hormones have got you acting like a mad woman," Penny said. Tracy tried to talk back, but Penny kept her hand over Tracy's mouth. "You've got to calm down." Tracy blinked away her tears, and Penny released her. "I'm thinking we should walk around for a while and see what we can't see, okay?" Penny and Tracy walked around the area stopping into shops but never really seeing anything they wanted until Tracy found herself pressed to a shop front glass.
"I've found it, Penny!" she said reverently. "It's absolutely perfect!"
"I don't think it's Link's size."
"No, for the baby!"
"Your baby who won't be here for several months and will probably get here in time for summer." Penny said. Tracy shot her an evil glare, and Penny threw her hands up. "Just being realistic here!" Tracy sighed.
"I know. I'm not even sure he will be happy about this baby."
"Of course he will, Tracy."
"You don't understand. We've talked about 'someday' so much. I wonder if it's finally here?"
"You don't really have a choice in the matter now, do you?"
"No."
"Link has surprised you before, hasn't he? You fell in love with his face, but then you got to know him. That's when you leaned what love was really about."
"That was deep, Penny."
"Thanks!" she said, swirling her lolly around her mouth.
"The problem is, I haven't been pregnant this whole time, you know, for months now anyway. I could have at any time started looking for gifts."
"You were all very busy. Besides, beating yourself up for the past isn't going to help with our current predicament. Just think Tracy."
"I have been. Honestly, my head is kind of stuck hearing the same song over and over. 'Love, love me do! You know I love you! I'll always be true. So pleeeease… love me do, oh love me do!'", she sang and Penny joined her at the end. "That's it, Penny!" she exclaimed. "Link has been singing that new song by The Beatles for days now! I can buy him the single!"
"That's a swell idea, Tracy!"
"Not as nice of a gift as those shoes you bought for Seaweed."
"Honestly, I'm pretty sure he'll be relieved you didn't buy him an article of clothing for once." Tracy poked Penny in the ribs. "Ouch!" she exclaimed. Both women laughed. They locked arms and headed for the one place they knew would have every record there was to hear- Motormouth Maybelle's Record Shop.
25 December
Tracy's eyes slowly slid open. She had been so excited about Christmas morning that she hadn't remembered falling asleep. She could feel Link's arms wrapped around her from behind. It was cold in the bedroom but almost to hot for comfort under their blankets. Tracy sneezed, jarring herself backward into her snoozing husband. Her face scrunched in apologetic worry. She hoped she had not roused him. A soft snort indicated she had indeed.
"Bless you," he whispered. "Merry Christmas."
"Thank you," she whispered back. "I'm going to go make you some breakfast."
"No. I want you to lay right here," he said, pulling her closer to his chest. "I don't want to leave this bed all day." Tracy felt her stomach rumble. She swallowed hard, hoping it would calm down. Link rested his head above hers,
"Please let me go," she whispered.
"Never."
"I'm going to be sick."
"What?" he asked, releasing her and sitting up. Tracy had disappeared into the bathroom. Link frowned. So much for their wonderful Christmas vacation from the world. His wife would be too sick to enjoy herself. All he had gotten her was a stupid pair of gloves. What a stupid idea. He should have bought her something better and not worried about holing up for three days. There goes the rest of his gift. When Tracy was sick, she didn't like to be touched, she didn't want to be spoken to. She wanted to rest and drink chicken broth until she got better. Link was the opposite. He wanted Tracy to hold him the whole time. There was something about her touch. He never wanted to do without it. Link frowned and rolled out of bed. He made the bed up and slipped into his slippers and housecoat. He rubbed his hands together and blew warm air into them. He started to go to the furnace, but he detoured by the bathroom door.
"Sweetheart?" he asked. "Trace?"
"I'm fine," she said, though her voice had taken on an echo. She definitely had her head over the commode. He left her alone. He turned up the furnace and then went to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. He hated cooking for just himself, but maybe she would try the delicious waffles with fruit compote and whipped cream he had planned for their breakfast. He put on a couple of pieces of chicken to boil, just in case she would only take broth. By the time Link had finished making breakfast, Tracy was waiting for him in the living room. Much to his relief, she looked rejuvenated. He slid a plate in front of her.
"I'm going to get us some milk," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Her breath smelled minty. She must have just brushed. Link walked back into the kitchen, prepared two glasses of milk and returned just in time to see Tracy enjoying the last bite of her first waffle. He grinned from ear to ear.
"They're perfect, Link! Thank you!"
"Anything, little darlin'," he said. "This is just the first gourmet meal of many. For the next three days, we are shutting out the whole world. No phone, no visitors, nothin'. I'm going to pamper you. I just want to spend time with you."
"Link," she sighed dreamily, and then frowned. Of course his gift was amazing.
"Oh, and one more thing," he said, reaching under their Christmas tree." He handed Tracy the package. "I see there's one for me, too!" he said, snatching it up and plopping down on the couch.
"My hands are so cold I can barely open this!" she said, tearing away the paper. Inside the box was a pair of black gloves lined with fur. "Perfect!" she exclaimed, pulling them on. "They're so warm! You always know just what I need. Gloves, perfect breakfasts," she whimpered, her lip trembling as she began to break down. She ripped off the gloves and tossed them down on the couch. Link's eyebrows creased in concern. "You deserve a better wife. You deserve someone who deserves to be treated like this!" she sniffled.
"What?" Link asked. Tracy got up from the couch and walked out of the room. He could hear their bedroom door slam closed, quickly followed by their bathroom door. Link frowned. He set down his gift and followed Tracy. The bedroom door opened, but the bathroom door was locked. "Trace?" he asked through the door. "Please…"
"Link you deserve so much better than some stupid record!"
"You got me a record?" he asked, smiling.
"I can't believe I ruined that, too!" she sobbed.
"Tracy, stop this, now," he said, his voice becoming serious. "Open the door. Don't make me break it down. I don't deserve to be locked away from my wife." The door clicked open. Her eyes were soft and red. Tears stained her cheeks. Link wrapped his arms around her, helpless as she cried. When she calmed down, he pulled her away and looked down at her. "Darlin', you've got to tell me what's going on. I deserve to know." Link pulled her to the couch in the front room. Tracy sat down. She picked her gloves up and began fidgeting with them.
"I don't know how to say…"
"You can tell me anything, Trace. I love you!"
"Link, I… Link…" she paused. "Link, you're going to be a daddy." Link's concern melted away. His expression was replaced with relief and then excitement.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying? You're kidding! Really? This is amazing!" he said and grabbed Tracy. He hugged her tightly and then released her. "Don't want to squish our baby… How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Just a couple days. I thought you'd be mad at me."
"Mad? Are you kidding?"
"Well, you said you wanted kids someday,"
"Yeah, when we graduated. I didn't want kids then, but they're pretty much all I've been thinking about lately."
"You have?"
"Well, yeah! When Seaweed and I went to the house he bought Penny for… oh man, I wasn't supposed to tell you."
"He bought her a house?"
"Yeah."
"That's incredible!"
"Ain't it?"
"Not quite what she was expecting, but I'm sure she'll be happy."
"Who would expect a house?"
"Maybe someone who already had a ring." Link sighed.
"Babe, he couldn't get her a ring, but it isn't his fault. We tried. He's still going to propose to her."
"You knew all this and we're having a no phone calls or visitors weekend?"
"Well…"
"Link, I can't not talk to Penny!"
"I thought maybe they should have some alone time, too," he said. Tracy melted when she saw the look of disappointment that crossed his face.
"This means a lot to you, doesn't it?"
"I was kind of hoping it would mean a lot to you, too."
"It does-"
"Yeah," he said. "You know, Trace, I'm not really hungry. I'm going back to bed. Why don't you go to Penny's."
"Link-"
"Go, Trace."
"You don't want me here?"
"Of course I do, Tracy! I wanted you here to myself for three days. Three measly days, and I'm a bad husband for that."
"I never said that."
"Well you're acting like it! Tracy we spend all of our time on the road or with other people. I hardly ever have you to myself. I understand that Penny is about to see her dreams come to fruition. Maybe they need to spend a little time alone, too. For goodness sakes, Tracy, I just found out you're pregnant. I kind of want to soak that in, just the two of us. Of course, I'm sure Penny knew before me anyway. Might as well be her baby," he snapped. Link stormed into the kitchen. He set his plate on the table and grabbed the edges feeling his anger flow. Tracy's soft sobbing in the other room disarmed him. Link sighed and ran a hand over his face. He cursed softly. This wasn't the holiday he wanted. Link shuffled quietly back into the living room. When he wrapped his arms around Tracy, he expected her to be angry or to shove him away, but she pulled him closer. He kissed the top of her head willing himself not to cry.
"Have things gotten so bad?" she asked into his shirt.
"No sweetheart. Everything is fine I just..." he trailed off. Tracy nodded into his chest as if she understood what he meant to say. She pulled away. He wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks with the pad of his thumb and he smiled at her. "I love you Tracy Edna Turnblad Larkin." She smiled brightly. She leaned up and he leaned down and shared a sweet kiss with her. "And I love baby Larkin," he said, resting his left hand on her tummy. Tracy giggled and Link sighed.
"I appreciate all your efforts. Today would have been wonderful if I weren't so emotional."
"I disagree. You're emotional because of our little one. Now I don't have to booze you up and take advantage of you."
"Link Larkin!" she shrieked and then giggled.
"We've already started our little family. Who could ask for anything more?"
"Well, I know it isn't much, but you still haven't opened your gift." Link reluctantly released Tracy. He slid his hands over the brown paper wrapping.
"I know it's a record, but I kind of have my hopes up." he said, slowly tearing the paper. "The Beatles! How did you know?" he asked. He gave Tracy a chaste kiss on the lips. "Thank you, baby!"
"You've only been singing that song forever now," she said. Link smirked at her. He ran over to the record player and put his new record on. The music filled the room. Link extended his hand to Tracy.
"Wife, baby, may I have this dance?" he asked. Tracy graciously accepted his invitation.
A/N Sorry if the page breaks don't show up. It edits them out or some reaosn. Hope you liked this chapter. The next chapter will be very Penny and Seaweed heavy.