Chapter 24: Worries and Advice
KLB: Thank you! :)
Sandrastar1: Okay, thanks. :D
Jenny woke up in the middle of the night, feeling hunger in her belly. Her cravings had been getting bigger for the last couple of days. The baby will arrive in three months, and Jenny and Charlie were excited for their little miracle to arrive. The expectant mother looked at her husband sleeping. She gently shook him awake.
Charlie woke up. He yawned. "What is it, hon?"
"Honey, I know it's late, but my cravings are getting bigger. I'm really craving for kelp and seaweed."
"Okay, dear." Charlie got her some kelp and seaweed.
"Thanks, sweetie." Jenny devoured on it.
After Jenny's snack, the couple went back to bed.
In the morning, Jenny woke up. She yawned and stroked her swollen belly before getting out of the cave. She went to get some breakfast for her and Charlie.
Charlie shifted in his sleep. He then woke up. He yawned. With a smile, he swam to Jenny. He kissed her lovingly.
"Morning, honey," he said.
Jenny giggled. "Morning, Charlie. Breakfast is ready."
Charlie smiled and ate his breakfast.
Jenny ate hers.
After breakfast, a couple of Jenny's and Charlie's friends came over.
"Hi, Jenny! Hi, Charlie!" Kaitlyn, who was a damselfish, greeted.
"Hello!" their other friend, Susan, who was a threadfin butterfly fish, said.
"Hello there," Jenny said smiling.
"Hi," Charlie said.
"We both heard that you guys are having a baby! Congratulations!" Kaitlyn exclaimed.
Charlie chuckled. "Thanks. Soon we'll be having a little one around." He stroked Jenny's tummy.
Jenny giggled.
Susan smiled. "Are you guys excited about being parents?"
"We sure are. But we are also nervous," Jenny explained.
"Yeah. Being a first-time parent can be difficult sometimes, but as you keep taking care of the baby, it'll be easier," Susan stated.
Jenny sighed and stroked her tummy. "I'm worried about the baby. I'm only having one egg, which is rare for fishes. Since it's a birth-defected egg, it'll have a disability, and I'm not sure what disability the baby will even have."
Charlie stroked Jenny. "It'll be alright, honey. We'll take really good care of the baby."
"Yes, but, what if we don't do a great job taking care of the baby? What if I might do something wrong or do something that might accidentally hurt it?" she rambled worriedly.
She then gasped in horror. "What if their disability gets worse?"
Charlie patted Jenny. "Now, now, honey, don't fret. I'm sure we'll do a great job taking care of it."
"Yeah, Jenny. You and Charlie are gonna be great parents," Susan agreed.
Kaitlyn smiled. "I'll give you advice on how you'll take care of the baby."
"Thanks, Kaitlyn," Jenny said.
"Okay, so you need to be kind and loving to them. And if they have difficulty sleeping, you could sing them a lullaby and rock them gently. If a baby is ever hurt, you need to treat the boo boos carefully by putting a bandage on it. You also need to keep the baby entertained, so play games like peek a boo for example. Babies are curious, and they try to go to dangerous things. They have to learn that it is dangerous, so keep dangerous things away from it."
"Thank you for the advice, Kaitlyn. I'll try to do those things." Jenny smiled.
"Yeah, thank you," Charlie said.
"No problem! Now, Susan and I gotta go."
"Okay! Bye, guys!" Jenny exclaimed.
"Bye!" they said simultaneously.
Charlie smiled and waved.
The two friends left.
Jenny felt a bump. She giggled. "Charlie, the baby's bumping."
Charlie placed a fin on his wife's belly. "Hi there, baby boy or girl."
Jenny giggled and kissed Charlie on the lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Jenny. You're gonna be a great mother." Charlie smiled.
"And you're gonna be a great father." Jenny hugged him.
Charlie hugged her back before kissing her belly.
Jenny giggled and stroked it lovingly.