Prompt 11: "I missed something, didn't I?"
Summary: Timothy has a very important question for Shelagh over tea with the Nonnatuns.
A/N: Takes place in a Season 3 AU where Shelagh gets pregnant shortly after she and Patrick marry. Also according to google, half-term would be in May! The things we research for fic...
A/N 2: Thank you all so, so much for your enthusiastic responses to this series! It's incredibly motivational and I'm trying to write as much as possible while I'm in tech rehearsal because as soon as my show starts in a couple weeks, I'm going to no longer be a human until the new year. But yay artistic employment!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The May sun beamed down on a beautiful Poplar spring day as Shelagh and Timothy Turner made their way to Nonnatus House. Timothy's normally dreaded half-term had taken an extreme turn for the better since Shelagh joined their family two months prior. Instead of cleaning equipment at his father's surgery, Timothy had spent the morning in the yard with his new Mum, working on strengthening his legs in his calipers and indulging in freshly made biscuits. Overall, he had to say life in general was much better with Shelagh in it. He got home cooked meals, he didn't have to stay home alone, and there was always someone to pick him up from school (although his dad had definitely improved on the latter since his bout with polio).
The most exciting change to his young life was that in seven months, he was going to get a new baby brother or sister. His mum and dad had told him over dinner last night and he knew Shelagh was going to tell the rest of Nonnatus today, which was good, because he really didn't want to keep it a secret. The rest of his friends at school all talked about their siblings and he always felt left out, but now he wouldn't have to! He would have a brand new friend that he could teach to like all the things he liked. Plus, he had tons of experience from looking after his dad after his birth mum died and a baby had to be easier than dad.
Still, he had lots of questions. There were many practicalities to be considered.
"Mum, when the baby comes, where will it sleep?"
Shelagh smiled down at him and slowed her pace as she realized her excited mood might be pushing him a little too fast down the road.
"Well, for a little while, the baby will stay with your father and I in our room." She explained.
"What about after that?" He asked. His face paled. "I won't have to give up my room, right?"
Shelagh laughed.
"No of course not, Timothy dearest." She promised. "Although you might have to share for a wee bit. Would that be alright?"
"That'd be smashing!" He declared. "It'll be like having a sleepover all the time!"
Shelagh smiled to herself. Somehow, she didn't think Timothy fully understood that the baby needed to grow before he could play with it, but for now, she was content to let him dream. It was going to be an interesting seven months with such an inquisitive son, but she was delighted. She was married to the man she loved, she adored his son who was now completely hers in all but blood, and now she was expecting a child she'd desperately prayed for. Everything was finally falling into place. Granted, she was slightly nervous about telling her former Sisters and co-workers that she'd gotten pregnant nearly as soon as she was married, but she knew they would be thrilled about the baby and that was all that mattered. Speaking of which, they were nearly at Nonnatus…
"Now, Timothy, remember-"
"I know, I know." He sassed. "No talking about the baby until you tell everyone first."
"Less cheek, but yes, thank you." She grinned.
The two gleefully climbed the steps and knocked on the door. Trixie answered and gratefully took one of the picnic baskets Shelagh had prepared.
"I can't tell you how excited we are that it's your turn to bring lunch." She whispered conspiratorially.
"Oh dear, I take it Chummy hasn't improved?" Shelagh sighed.
"Sandwich meats and ketchup bottles in a pram." Trixie giggled. "I think she's just as relieved as we are to add you to the lunch rotation."
"I'm happy to help." Shelagh replied earnestly. "I miss you all so very much."
"We miss you too, but we know you have very important matters to attend to now." Trixie turned her attention to Timothy. "How is Master Turner, today?"
"Mum let me out of the house, so I think it's a good day." He quipped with a sly smile.
"Timothy!" Shelagh admonished.
"You know you sound exactly like dad when you do that? It's spooky." He observed.
Shelagh blushed.
"Spending too much time with Dr. Turner, Shelagh?" Trixie teased.
"If you only knew…" Shelagh thought to herself. "Well, I guess you will soon enough."
Lunch was an energetic affair. Since Shelagh's reconciliation with Nonnatus, she hadn't been able to spend as much time as she would've liked with her old family outside of clinic and she treasured these moments. Timothy kept glancing over at her, waiting for her to make her announcement, though, so she supposed she should just get it over with.
"Oh Shelagh, it is always so lovely to see you. I do wish you come around more often." Sister Julienne implored.
"Perfect." thought Shelagh. "Actually, you might be seeing quite a bit more of me...over the next seven months…"
The hundred watt smile and the hand on her stomach that accompanied her statement were enough to confirm the news and the table exploded in excitement.
"How long have you known?" squealed Jenny.
"Just a week or so." Shelagh beamed. "We told Timothy last night."
"You won't find a better older brother." Sister Evangelina praised. She always had a soft spot for the Turner boy.
"You two certainly didn't waste any time, did you?" Teased Trixie. Shelagh blushed into the roots of her hair. Luckily, Timothy had more questions to change the subject.
"Mum?"
"Yes, Tim?" Shelagh eagerly asked.
"When you have the baby, does one of the midwives come? Or since you're a midwife, do you do it?"
The table smiled.
"No, dear, one of them would come help." Shelagh explained. "It's quite a different thing to have my own baby than it is to help someone else."
"I'll say." Chummy agreed. "Completely different."
"Oh." Tim seemed to ponder for a moment. "Can I ask another question?"
"Of course you can, you're at a table full of knowledge in this department." Sister Evangelina joked.
"The baby grows in your stomach, right?" Tim asked.
"Yes, but you know that." Shelagh answered, now slightly concerned with where this line of questioning was leading.
"Right." Tim confirmed. "But, how does it get there to start growing? Dad never told me that part."
The Sisters went silent and the nurses looked like they might die trying to not to laugh.
"Oh, he didn't, um, well, you see..." Shelagh stammered.
"You can't say the stork, Shelagh, he's the GP's son." Trixie nearly cackled.
"Not helping, Nurse Franklin." Shelagh glared. Jenny, Cynthia, and Chummy nearly choked on their water. Shelagh took a deep breath and turned to Timothy who was even further confused by the reactions to his question. "You see, Tim, um, when a Mum and Dad love each other very much, they, um-"
"Give me strength." Sister Evangelina muttered into her hands.
"-they have a special hug that makes the baby." Shelagh lamely finished.
"Ew, is that why you and dad kiss all the time? Mushy stuff's gross." Tim sighed.
The nurses were practically purple by now and Shelagh wanted to sink into the floor.
"Oh! Does that mean no more mushy stuff once the baby gets here?" Tim asked excitedly. "That'd be great. It's bad enough around me, but you can't make a baby watch that."
"Timothy Turner, I think that's enough questioning for today." Shelagh scolded as gently as she could.
"The boy has an inquisitive mind and that should be encouraged." Sister Monica Joan said with a twinkle in her eye. "Come, young Turner, we shall use our combined intelligence to find the coconut cream."
Timothy eagerly followed Sister Monica Joan into the kitchen on the hunt for dessert and the rest of the table burst into hysterics.
"We're so sorry, Shelagh," Trixie laughed, "it was just too funny."
"I'll remind you of that down the road when it's your own child." Shelagh warned with a smile. "I can't believe Patrick never told him."
"Well it's not exactly a conversation one wants to have." Cynthia remarked, still giggling.
"Although with you already two months pregnant, it's certainly a conversation he's adept at having." Trixie teased.
"Nurse Franklin!" Sister Julienne chided. "Remember, your company."
"Sorry, Sister Julienne." Trixie apologized, though Shelagh could tell she wasn't truly sorry at all.
The sound of the front door opening and hurried footsteps drew the attention of the group and they turned to see Patrick running in with his medical bag.
"Sorry I'm late." He apologized, as always.
The entire table looked from Dr. Turner to each other and promptly burst into tears of laughter.
Patrick sighed.
"I missed something, didn't I?"
11 down, 39 to go!