A/N: Hiya everyone! As always thanks to the people who have looked at this story even if you don't stay long I'd love to hear your thoughts! Other than that there isn't much to say other than enjoy! Nation stop kissing Cosmo and let's go we are behind! Someone find Laura!...oh she's in place already good!

*~Chapter 7~*

The first several weeks seemed to fly by for Laura, before she knew it she was 7 weeks along and just as Nellie had said she was showing much more than before but still nowhere near as much as Magenta had been but everything was going fine according to Nellie. Laura still followed Magenta to work even when she wasn't supposed to but she never listened and Magenta never argued because she knew Laura hated being left alone all day and she kept Callie entertained, well more like the baby did as Callie felt Laura's stomach waiting to feel a kick.

Magenta looked over at them and smiled as Callie sat beside Laura looking determined to feel her future playmate kick and Laura was helping reminding Callie where his feet were from time to time. Suddenly Callie's face lit up and she looked up at Laura.

"I felt him! He moved!"

Laura smiled nodding as she moved Callie's hand to where he kicked again.

"I think he woke up because you're here, he's always moving when you're feeling for him."

Callie smiled proudly.

"Good he should like me, I'm going to be his best friend so he doesn't have a choice!"

Laura laughed looking over at Magenta.

"Sounds like we will have our hands full then."

Magenta nodded placing her hand where Callie's had been and smiled at the nudge against her hand.

"Strong little thing isn't he? If he keeps that up in one place you're going to have a bruise."

Laura sighed.

"Tell me about it, he kicked me yesterday and I swear I had a red spot. You never had these issues with Callie."

Magenta shrugged looking over at Callie who had busied herself with blank paper and crayons drawing plans of some kind, even at 7 the girl was just as quick to learn things as her father and she often made up little plans for experiments of her own last week it was a device to pour her juice for her which ended up in the whole glass spilling across the table.

"Just lucky I guess, but don't worry Collie it'll be over soon and he won't be kicking you from the inside."

Laura nodded and began filling out a few of the papers letting the area lapse into silence until Callie put down her crayon and held up her sketch.

"Finished! Mommy look I figured out what was wrong with my juice machine!"

Magenta looked over the drawing and was a little surprised to see it look almost like one of Riff's old notes from when he was in school just a little messier and in blue crayon.

"Wow sweetie this is very impressive. Daddy will be proud."

She smiled hugging her daughter close making her laugh before taking the paper back and showing Laura explaining how it worked. By the time the day was over Callie had at least 3 other projects started, one of which involved steps Riff would need to help her with and worried Magenta a little as they walked back to their rooms.

"That girl is going to be a mad genius just like her father and a heart throb like her mother, better keep an eye on her."

Laura chuckled but held up her hands at the leer Magenta threw her and watched as it faded and she looked at Callie who had went into her parent's bedroom on Riff's heels telling him about the corrections she'd made.

"Maybe you're right, she got his mind and my looks."

She laughed shaking her head.

"There's no boy in the world who'd stand a chance, except maybe a little brown eyed boy."

Laura smirked rolling her eyes.

"Well then you're SOL if my boy has blue eyes aren't you."

Magenta laughed putting her hands on Laura's stomach.

"If he's got blue eyes I'm telling Ricky you had an affair because you both have brown eyes."

Laura laughed shaking her head.

"Well that's impossible cause the only other person I've slept with has green eyes and is female."

They both laughed blushing slightly before a kick against Magenta's hand made them smile.

"Go get some rest I'll see you tomorrow, right now I need to go stop my daughter from talking before she gives her father an idea for an invention."

Laura laughed but watched Magenta disappear into her and Riff's room before going into her own laying on the bed to get off her feet as she stroked her stomach closing her eyes.

By the middle of her 8th week Laura was put on bed rest and Magenta had taken to staying by her side with Callie, they had taken the bassinet from when Callie was little back out as well as the organizers now filled with little boy clothes and toys.

"We aren't going to have an episode like what happened with me are we? Cause I will not know what I'm doing and we'll have a major problem."

Laura laughed shaking her head.

"Don't worry we won't cause I'm not moving like I was told. I'll be sure this little one stays where he's supposed to until it's time."

Magenta chuckled sitting next to her putting a hand on her friends swollen stomach.

"You can't control it Collie, when he wants out he'll come out."

Laura rolled her eyes chuckling as there was a nudge against her hand as if agreeing with Magenta. Callie bounced on the other side of the bed watching her mother and aunt.

"Callie don't jump on the bed you could fall on Laura."

Laura gave Magenta a look.

"She's fine, she isn't hurting anything."

Magenta sighed giving her a worried look making Laura turn back to Callie telling her to settle down for a while. Callie plopped down on the bed so she landed sitting cross legged looking at the two women before her.

"Mommy, Auntie Laura how are babies born?"

Laura covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile as Magenta looked a little panicked.

"Uh well Callie umm you see when a baby is ready to be born…."

She trailed off unsure what to say to the 7 year old watching her, for the first time in a long while Magenta was stumped at how to answer a question but who could blame her Callie wasn't supposed to be asking these questions until she was older and the true answer wouldn't scar her for life. Laura took her hand away from her mouth and looked at Callie.

"Oh that's easy, you see Callie when the baby is ready to be born the mother writes a letter to the stork and he'll bring the baby to the parents."

Callie didn't look like she was buying it as she sat up on her knees and put her hands on Laura's stomach.

"If that's how they come then why is he in here?"

Laura thought for a second then smiled.

"Because that's where he's growing and being ready to be sent to the stork. When the mother writes to the stork she also sends a little something of the baby's so he goes too."

Callie looked down thinking hard, looking more like her father as she did.

"So he goes poof from your belly to where the stork is then the stork brings him here to you and uncle Ricky?"

Laura nodded silently begging the child took the answer. Callie smiled getting off the bed and going to the side of the bed crawling under it for a minute making Laura and Magenta share a look until the girl came back out holding out a blue wrapped box to Laura.

"I was gonna wait till he got here but after flying with the stork he'll be sleepy and want a friend his size so he can cuddle with it."

Laura opened the box and took out a brown teddy bear that had black buttons for eyes and a blue ribbon around its neck. Callie climbed back on the bed smiling.

"Do you think he'll like it?"

Laura set the bear down and hugged Callie close making her laugh and hug back.

"Thank you Callie, I'm sure he'll love it! I'll make sure he has it as soon as he's here."

Callie smiled proudly before getting off the bed and going to the window looking out.

"Mommy, Janey is out in the gardens can I go play?"

Magenta looked at her daughter then at the clock.

"For a little while I want you back before dinner, I know Janey's mom will want her back before then too."

Callie nodded kissing her mother's cheek before leaving the room for the gardens. Magenta let out a sigh of relief putting her hands over her face before looking at Laura.

"Where the hell did you think of that story?"

Laura laughed leaning her head back against the headboard.

"Made it up from the old human story about the stork bringing babies to their parents. I'm just glad she believed it smart as she is I was waiting for her to say it was a lie."

Magenta nodded her agreement crossing her arms.

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain that to her until she was 13 or something."

Laura nodded but smiled.

"Hey it could have been worse! She could have asked how babies are made."

Magenta groaned covering her face with her hands.

"Don't jinx it! I don't want to have to explain that to her until she's 17."

Laura laughed again.

"Really that long? By the time I was 17 I had already met Eddie and lost my virginity."

Magenta looked at her friend hearing the sudden sad tone in her voice, it had been years since they had talked about Eddie but Magenta knew it was coming the minute she took the teddy bear from the box.

"It's okay Collie, I know you miss him but you have to remember your married to Ricky, happily too! And you've got a little one coming any day. As much as you loved Eddie he never would have given you this life he wasn't the type."

Laura took a deep breath nodding, of course Magenta was right she normally was, Eddie may have loved her at the time but he would have never settled down and started a family with her it just wasn't who he was. She lifted the teddy out of the box and smirked as she started singing to herself.

"When Eddie said he didn't like the teddy you knew he was a no good kid."

Magenta smiled catching on and sat beside Laura putting her arm around her shoulders.

"But when he threatened your life with his switchblade knife."

"What a guy, makes ya cry."

"And I did!"

Magenta finished the little song with a very heavy imitation German accent making them both laugh. Laura winced feeling a pain in her side putting her hand over it.

"Ow, now that one hurt more than his normal kicks."

Magenta looked at her raising an eyebrow and starting to stand.

"What hurt?"

Laura gasped as the pain spread over her torso.

"Magenta damn you! You jinxed it now he's coming!"

Magenta swore under her breath over and over as her mind struggled with what to do knowing she couldn't leave Laura alone in case something happened.

"Genta calm down don't have a break down now! Ricky is just down the hall go tell him to get your aunt it's an emergency."

Magenta nodded hurrying to the door but stopped looking back at her opening her mouth to protest the idea until Laura leered at her.

"Just go I'll be fine for a few seconds!"

Magenta nodded and dashed from the room and down the hall until she seen Ricky.

"RICKY GO GET AUNT NELLIE NOW IT'S LAURA SHE'S IN LABOR!"

Ricky stood frozen for a moment as Magenta stopped in front of him and growled pushing him toward the recovery wing's hall.

"Damn it Ricky go! We don't have time for this! Laura can't deliver this baby alone! Fuck I have to get back!"

As if struck by lightning Ricky nodded and ran off to the recovery wing while Magenta went back to Laura who was panting and nearly screaming in pain sweat pouring off her. Not knowing what else to to Magenta sat beside her and held her hand flinching a little at her grip but said nothing as she ran her other hand over Laura's forehead brushing her hair out of the way. Laura opened her eyes and looked at Magenta and forced words from her throat over the screams.

"H-help….I need you to H-help."

Magenta's brow furrowed but she nodded as Laura let go of her hand.

"Move the blanket, you're going to have to m-make sure he's not c-crowning yet!"

Swallowing thickly Magenta did as she was told removing Laura's underwear looking back up at her.

"Not yet, at least I don't see his head."

Laura nodded squeezing her eyes shut as pain washed over her again before speaking.

"Go get a t-towel from the bathroom."

Magenta jumped up and grabbed the first clean and folded towel her fingers touch going back to where she was following the instructions Laura was giving her between whimpers and screams. She looked back to make sure the head wasn't crowning and swore under her breath.

"Laura I see his head what do I do?"

Laura looked a little panicked herself gripping the bedsheet as hard as she could trying to keep from pushing despite the pain. As she watched her friend struggle some kind of instinct took over and Magenta placed the towel on the bed under where the baby's head was peeking.

"Laura it's okay, push."

Laura looked at her with teary eyes before screaming again as pain tore through her as her body tried to expel the source but she resisted.

"Laura you have to push!"

Finally Laura nodded weakly and began to push whimpering and crying as she did. After what seemed like hours but was only a few pushes later Magenta was holding the crying dark haired boy in her hands. Laura panted collapsing against the pillows closing her eyes as she listened to the cries. The door opened suddenly and Nellie rushed to Magenta's side looking at the baby before quickly cutting the cord and instructing Magenta to wrap him up then turned her attention to Laura.

"Laura open your eyes dear."

Laura didn't respond in any way making Magenta's stomach turn over and her heart freeze for a long moment as she watched her aunt try to rouse the brunette. Nellie looked over her shoulder at Magenta hearing the baby still crying loudly.

"Take him out of the room, don't let anyone in."

Magenta didn't argue as she stepped out of the room and closed the door and began pacing trying to calm the boy in her arms.

"It's alright little one, your mommy will be just fine."

Magenta's voice quivered and she knew she was trying to convince herself more than the baby. Running footfalls made her turn around to see Ricky, Riff and Callie running toward her. The minute Ricky seen her holding the baby his eyes filled with panic as he tried to get to the door.

"Don't let him in Riff!"

Seeing his sister had her hands full Riff grabbed Ricky and held him back from the door despite his struggling. Callie looked up at her mom seeing red on her hands as she held the screaming blanket to her chest and fought to keep tears from rolling down her cheeks.

"Mommy is auntie Laura okay?"

Magenta looked down at her daughter and suddenly Ricky stopped fighting and fell to his knees as his body shut down but his mind reeled with panic.

"S-she'll be okay baby I know she will. Your aunt Laura is strong, she's just very tired."

The words felt like sugar coated acid on her tongue but she knew she had to try and make the words believable even if she didn't know if they were true. Callie looked at the crying baby as her mother kneeled down, her little brows knitting together Callie put her finger against the boy's palm and his hand closed around it tightly as his wails subsided to whimpers and hiccup like sounds. Magenta looked from the boy to Ricky who had broke down to silently crying and Riff was watching the door for any movement a glimmer of sadness in his blue eyes, she turned her eyes to Callie and seen her eyes weren't sad or scared like the rest, they were full of hope and solidarity, out of the three adults in the hall it was the 7 year old girl who was being the strong one refusing to believe anything bad was happening.

After a silence that seemed to last hours the door finally opened and Nellie stepped out looking around at the four faces looking at her eager to hear either good news or horrible news. She gave them a weak smile.

"She's okay now, the delivery was rather hard on her and her body shut down to protect itself to try and stop the pain. She's sleeping right now but she'll wake up soon, I hope. Magenta, Ricky you two take the baby and go in, she might wake up if she hears him."

Magenta nodded and numbly walked to the door pausing to wait for Ricky but he was still in a state of shock of his own where he sat in the hall. After shaking herself Magenta went into the room holding the sleeping baby close as she sat in the chair beside the bed looking at Laura as she slowly breathed in and out asleep. Carefully she laid the sleeping boy beside his mother wiping tears from her face, the boy opened his brown eyes feeling Laura beside him and made a small sound before he began crying. Biting her lip Magenta let him cry a little watching Laura, after a few seconds her eyes fluttered open before she looked around her eyes falling on the baby by her side and she smiled.

Magenta felt relief wash over her as Laura put her hand over the boys wrapped body smiling softly.

"Hey now, come on don't cry little one you're alright."

The boy looked at her still whimpering making her push herself into sitting up wincing as she did, Magenta went to her side and helped her.

"Take it slow and easy, your body is recovering."

Laura nodded but looked over at her son then to Magenta silently asking for help. Magenta lifted the boy into her arms then carefully handed him to Laura watching her smile and coo to the boy.

"Will he do the funny aging thing like Callie did?"

Magenta shrugged.

"I'm not sure Collie, he's part human so he may not."

Laura placed a soft kiss to the boy's forehead as he yawned and closed his eyes.

"My little darling."

She looked back at Magenta smiling taking her hand.

"Thank you, I would have been in trouble if you hadn't been here."

Magenta blushed faintly holding her hand.

"Just returning the favor 7 years late. I'm sorry I wasn't much more help."

Laura shook her head.

"You did just fine Genta."

They both smiled looking down at the boy as he made a sound in his sleep making Laura giggle and lean her head against Magenta's. Suddenly the door opened making the two women jump, Magenta slipping off the bed and catching herself on her feet in the process, and before Laura could turn around arms wrapped tightly around her and someone buried their face in her shoulder.

"Ricky! Careful you'll squish your son doing that."

Ricky lifted his face from her shoulder to kiss her neck before looking down at the baby laying in her lap sleeping soundly despite the disturbance. He cracked a smile before nuzzling her neck.

"Thank god you're alright. You scared me half to death."

Laura leaned back into his hold closing her eyes.

"I'm sorry my love I didn't intend to, I just felt exhausted and couldn't keep my eyes open."

He held her tight sighing.

"It's alright and Laura?"

"Hmm?"

She lifted a hand running her fingers through his hair.

"I love you."

Laura smiled.

"I love you too Ricky."

He smiled lifting his head looking at Magenta who had settled back down on the bed watching them.

"Thank you Genta, for being here for her when I couldn't be, I'm just sorry you had to do it alone."

Magenta shook her head waving him off.

"Laura already thanked me and made me cry don't you start too."

They all laughed before the door opened again and Riff came in with Callie holding onto his hand. Laura smiled at her and curled her finger.

"Come here you, there's someone you've been waiting to meet."

Callie looked up at her father as if making sure it was okay, once he nodded she let go of his hand and went to the bed climbing up beside Ricky who moved so she was in his lap. Callie looked over the little boy again and smiled.

"He's cute, for a boy anyway."

Laura chuckled messing up the girl's red hair earning a growl and her hand grabbed.

"What's his name?"

All eyes looked at Laura who blushed.

"W-well I haven't thought of a name yet, I mean I picked one out but I thought I had a little more time."

Ricky put his hand on her shoulder making her look at him.

"What was it?"

Laura bit her lip but smiled.

"Axton Beryl Ansalong Trettin."

Ricky smiled kissing her cheek.

"It's perfect."

Magenta smiled.

"Beryl? That's a gemstone isn't it?"

Laura nodded then giggled.

"Well you gave up using gemstones for middle names so I took it up."

Magenta nodded leaning back into Riff's hold as he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You know, I've known you all these years and never once have you told me your middle name."

Laura tried not to laugh and failed.

"Sure I did, I went by it all that first year I was at the castle."

The other woman's brows furrowed and her nose scrunched up.

"Your middle name is Columbia? Laura Columbia Ansalong?"

She started laughing holding her sides.

"What the hell were your parents smoking when they named you?!"

Laura blushed looking down.

"My dad named me before he left, Laura after my great grandmother and Columbia because that's where I was born."

Magenta stopped laughing and looked a little embarrassed that she'd laughed.

"Sorry I didn't know."

Laura shrugged looking up at her smiling.

"Don't worry about it, it does sound funny out loud doesn't it."

The room lapsed into quiet talk as Callie curled up in Ricky's lap and fell asleep and the adults talked.

A/N: I know I can't seem to let Laura catch a break can I? Don't worry our darling little ex-groupie has had her share of hardships now and is out of the woods for awhile. Good news for all the Shocky fans reading you'll be happy because our plunge into Shocky will begin very very shortly!