I hope you enjoy this chapter, although it is pretty low key, compared to the previous one.
Thank you all for the nice reviews!
...
"The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward."
― Steve Maraboli
...
Isabelle had fallen asleep while trying to write up her admissions letter for the academy. She had been so exhausted recently because of trying to get back on track with the Clave and her shadowhuntering so that they would be pleased with her, and the twins as well as the new baby were beginning to keep her up whenever she had a chance to sleep. With only three weeks left to spare while jobless, Isabelle had been trying to get at least a little bit more in shape all the while trying to find a job.
There was a strong squeeze on her shoulders, which jerked her awake, and she sat up, blinking sleep out of her eyes, "I promise, I'm an amazing trainer, Dad." Izzy stumbled over her words, her mind still on getting a job as a trainer for new shadowhunters.
Simon laughed, "No, Iz, it's just me." He offered her his help to stand up, and she took it gratefully, groaning when her back began to clench in pain again. "You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just...he's getting so big and I feel like I'm carrying a whale around with me."
"Look on the bright side: only four more months-"
"Do you know how much he is going to grow in four months?!" She countered, starting to get annoyed with his sarcasm.
Simon scoffed, "Iz, he's like, not even two pounds right now; how in the world are you this uncomfortable? It can't possible be that bad-"
"Hey. No uterus, no opinion." Izzy glared in his direction, only half amused by her own comment, and more focused on her back pain.
Simon smiled and was barely able to stifle a laugh at her joke, but he leaned over to kiss her neck in an effort to make her feel better. "I'll go make us something warm to drink and then we can talk."
Isabelle nodded, "Okay, but can you also get me-"
"Something for your back? Of course."
They smiled at each other, realizing that it had been a while since either of them had finished one another's sentence. It was almost like things were getting back to normal.
...
Hot chocolate it was. After years of having been a vampire, Simon had learned how to keep down most liquids, although he was still struggling with food. Not that he needed it, he just missed it.
"So," Simon sat down beside her on the couch, handing her a steaming mug of the chocolatey beverage. "How about you start from the very beginning."
"I think we made the baby probably back on Christmas Day almost two years ago-" She began, but Simon glared, "Iz, come on."
She sighed. "It was the second week of February, and I woke up one morning feeling like I had gotten my period because I was cramping." Isabelle shifted uncomfortably as the memory of how terrified she was that day came flooding back all at once; it was like a wave of emotion crashing down all around her. There were tears in her eyes now, and Simon looked away, not wanting to see her hurt so badly.
"There was so much blood. And I was so scared, I thought there was something seriously wrong." She wiped hastily at her eyes, "But you were with Clary on a trip and I just couldn't imagine telling you..."
This time, Simon did look up at her, but the amount of heartbreak and grief on her features brought tears to his own eyes. He had always hated seeing anyone he loved in such deep despair; it just broke him. Every time.
"I called Magnus and he could barely understand me because I was crying, I was so panicked, but he was here in like, five minutes, and when he told me why I was bleeding-" Her breath caught in her throat, "I just feel like it's my fault because I had no idea that I was supposed to be minding another life inside of me. I had no symptoms, so obviously I didn't take a test to see-"
Simon raked his hands through his hair, still trying to fight the tears, "Izzy, it wasn't your fault-"
Her eyes widened, "I was drinking, Si! And I didn't take care of myself for the entire time I was pregnant because I didn't...know!" Isabelle's voice broke at the end of her sentence, and that was Simon's last straw. He pulled her into his arms, and kissed the top of her head, letting her cry all of her emotions out into his chest. All he could do was whisper sweet nothings into her ear, which she probably didn't hear through her own sobs.
"You've got this guy now, Iz. You've already made it past the hardest part, and this baby is going to grow up and be a strong shadowhunter. Just like his mom." Simon breathed into her hair, which hurt his lungs, but he didn't care because he knew she loved the feeling. "I only wish you had told me so that I could have taken some of the pain away from you."
Izzy sniffled and looked up at him, her eyes already red and puffy, "He told me it was a girl. We were supposed to have another little girl. That's why I was so upset when Magnus said we could never-" She cut herself off as a tentative pair of brunettes peeked their heads into the room. "Hey..."
Simon waved them over and the twins came running for their parents, jumping right into their laps.
Layla scooted a little bit away from Simon so that she could wipe at her mother's wet cheeks, "Why are you so sad?"
Izzy smiled weakly at her, in an attempt to continue being the strong mother they saw her as everyday, "I need to tell you something about your baby sister..."
...
"I think we should call her Layla's Best Friend because I would have played with her a lot. Every single day." Layla stated, looking littler than ever while wrapped up in Simon's arms. Her shed tears had dried by now, although her eyes were still watering a bit. Kaden hasn't had as much of a reaction as his sister, but he did grow quieter and a bit more still as the death of his unborn sister really set in.
Izzy giggled at the sweet comment made by her daughter, "I know you would have, baby. But we've got to think of a real, meaningful name for her."
Simon mumbled something that no one else heard except for Layla, who laughed and clapped her hands. "Daddy has a name!" He moved to cover her mouth before she could blurt it out, but she was too fast for him, "He said Leia! Daddy wants to name her after Princess Leia from Star Wars!"
Isabelle didn't look surprised, but a smile still fell across her lips, "Of course Daddy wants to, but Mommy doesn't."
Simon rolled his eyes, grinning broadly, "It was just a thought."
"I know it was, but not everybody's thoughts in this will be considered-"
"Can I have your hot chocolate?" Kaden interrupted, "I feel like I'm going to throw up."
Izzy narrowed her eyes at him in disbelief, "Well then, shouldn't you have some water instead? I'm pretty sure hot chocolate won't help you if you're stomach is upset."
"Ginger will." Simon said, gently pushing Layla away from him so that he could stand up. "I'll go get him some-"
"Simon, he's not going to eat straight up ginger-"
"I'll make him a drink with ginger in it."
She looked doubtful, but shrugged anyway, too tired to want to argue him down over the lack of skill he had in the kitchen, "Don't do it if you don't know what you're doing; I don't want you to give him food poisoning."
"Izzy, I know what I'm doing." He said defensively. Simon held his hand out for Kaden and the little boy took it, following his father into the kitchen.
Just as Isabelle was turning back to her daughter, there was a loud yell from Simon, "Oh, God! It's too late! Isabelle, come clean it up!"
She rolled her eyes, but didn't get off of the couch, "You clean it up! Kaden, please come here."
He stumbled into the room looking pale, but still slightly green. "Mama, I don't feel good." He moaned, clutching at his belly.
Izzy stood up and grabbed his hand, then began pulling him towards the nearest bathroom, "Layla, go help Daddy, I'll be right back."
...
When Kaden was tucked in and sleeping, after having gotten his temperature taken numerous times, Isabelle felt even more exhaust crash over her as she came back downstairs to see how the rest of her family was doing.
"Mommy! Me and Daddy came up with a name!" Layla bounced up to Izzy, grabbing her hands to tug her down so that they were at eye level with each other. "Ava."
Izzy smiled at the pretty name, "And what does Ava mean?"
"For some people, it means life. And then other people think it means..living human." She frowned and looked up at her dad, "What does it mean again, Daddy?"
"Living one." Simon corrected her.
Layla rolled her eyes, "Same thing."
"I like that name," Isabelle felt herself getting upset again, but she pushed back the fresh tears and stood up straight, "Ava sounds beautiful." She looked at Simon, "How did you come up with it?"
"It means life." He breathed. "And if our little Ava couldn't live, then at least we can give her something that means she's alive with us, in our hearts."
Layla nodded, "But she's going to be with us all the time, watching down on us." She looked up at Simon, "Right, Daddy?"
He nodded as Izzy pulled Layla in for a tight hug, wiping the tears that fell down her daughter's cheeks and kissing the top of her head. Simon wrapped his arms around them both, wishing in that moment, he could take all of their pain away.
"Mommy?" Layla sniffled.
"Yes, baby?"
"When can I see my baby brother?"
Izzy smiled to herself as a soft kick in her stomach sent a reminder of the baby inside of her, "Sometime around Christmas."
"But that's when I was born. And Kaden."
Oh snap. They hadn't even thought of that. The twins sharing a birthday with their new sibling? That would be interesting.
"Well then, maybe everyone can have one big birthday party." Izzy exclaimed cheerfully.
"I think the Christmas party will be everyone's party this year. Financially, anyway."
Isabelle swallowed as the thought of her father's threats from the Clave came back into her mind, "Si, I have to go back to work."
He shrugged, "So go back to work."
"Obviously, I will, but I think you should consider becoming immortal-"
"Izzy, we already-"
She shook her head, "You could be a shadowhunter!"
Simon took Layla into his own arms as she began to drift off in Izzy's, trying to cover her ears as much as he could in case they argued. "It's not safe for Layla. I'm not going to put her in danger-"
"I didn't say anything about Layla. Of course, I wouldn't want to put her in danger either, but I do think that everything we do should be distributed fairly amongst all of us." She looked at her little girl, innocent as ever as she slept on Simon, her eyelids fluttering with dreams. "I don't want anything happening to her, Si, but if there is a way to do it safely, I think we should at least try."
Layla stirred a little bit, opening her eyes wide, as if she had just thought of something, "Mama, we have to name my brother."
Isabelle leaned in the press a kiss to her forehead, "I know, Lay. We can do that later, though."
...
I feel like the ending was kind of abrupt, no?
Sorry if this chapter was extremely boring. In my opinion, all that happened was dialogue, and more dialogue. Nothing super interesting. Hopefully, the next chapter will spice things up, though.
I think it will :)
-H.
