Disclaimer: I own nothing. All hail the Queen.

And Baby Makes Seven

The Sunday afternoon ice cream outing tradition was a much easier task when Calum was the only one who could walk. It was definitely much easier when Katie wasn't the size of a whale ("The most beautiful whale that ever was, darling.") The Wood family slowly made their way down the Alley, Oliver constantly being pulled in one direction or another by the twins or chasing down the oldest who was uninterested in anything that did not include ice cream. The baby was squirming on Katie's hip, anxious to get down and run with his brothers but he was still too unsteady to walk completely unassisted.

Finally they reached Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and Katie fell into the closest chair. Oliver picked up the twins and set them in a chair together next to their mother. Calum sat on the other side. Hamish wiggled in her arms and Katie let him down to toddle around the small courtyard in front of the shop.

"I'll go get us some treats, shall I?" Oliver offered looking at his clearly exhausted wife.

"Thanks, love. And see if they have any of those frozen bananas for the baby."

"Of course, dear." He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Yuck!" Calum protested.

"Yuck!" Domhnall and Dougal echoed.

"Oh, yuck is it?" Oliver jested. He tilted his wife's face to his and pressed his lips firmly to hers.

"Da!" the boys whined.

"Sorry, boys." He straightened up. "You'll understand someday."

"Yes, but not for a very long time," their mother agreed. "Now go get my ice cream." Katie's eyes went wide and she grabbed her husband's arm. "On second thought, Ol."

"What is it, Kate? Oh!" He looked around frantically for a moment. "Uh, right. Boys, time to go home."

"Aw, but Da, what about ice cream?" Calum winged.

"Maybe Granda can bring you back, but right now we need to get Mammy home."

Katie let out a low moan, squeezing her mother's hands tighter. She pushed her hips lower squatting low to the floor as another wave of pain wracked through her body. Her mother-in-law Isobel was on the floor next to her, giving words of encouragement and massaging her lower back.

"What is taking so long?" Katie gasped as the contraction subsided.

Her sister-in-law Maggie dabbed a cool cloth across Katie's forehead. "You know how Wood men are. Stubborn as mules, the lot of them."

Katie laughed and then cringed as the next contraction began.

"Katie, it's been twenty-four hours since your waters broke. The baby is still high but we need to get him out soon," Isobel explained.

"It's time?" Katie asked.

"It's time."

Two hours later, Katie was exhausted. She remained in the same position, her legs shaking and her hands red from her constant grip on the footboard of the bed.

"Come on, Katie. Just a little more," Isobel coaxed.

Katie shook her head. "I can't," she breathed.

"You're doing great, sweetheart," her mother said brushing her hair from her face.

Katie groaned with the next contraction. "I want Oliver! Get Oliver!"

"Are you sure?" Maggie asked.

"Do I look sure?"

Maggie nodded and went to the door to the hall. Katie could hear her whispering and soon a heavy set of footsteps followed behind her.

"Kates?" Oliver knelt down next to his wife. "Hey, mo chridhe," he whispered pushing a stray hair behind her ear.

"Oliver," she sighed.

"Tell me what to do for you, love."

"Hold me."

Oliver moved in front of her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Katie rested her head against his chest and put her arms around his middle. Her body tensed as another contraction began. She squeezed Oliver tighter and he whispered encouragement in her ear.

Oliver sat with his back resting on the headboard with Katie laying between his legs. She held the small bundle tightly in her arms. His eyes were threatening to drift closed the longer they lay there.

"We need a name," Katie whispered.

Oliver grinned. "I thought you were asleep."

"I've been trying to think of a good one."

"Well obviously Steaphan won't work."

Katie giggled. "I should think not."

Isobel chuckled to herself as she continued cleaning the room and putting everything back in order.

"Maw, what do you think?" Oliver asked.

"Your da and I had Kirstin picked out, but as you know we never got to use it. You almost got it out of spite."

Oliver laughed. "Thanks for that, Maw."

Katie traced her finger along the baby's cheek. "Kirstin." She looked up at her husband. "I think it suits."

Oliver looked down at his daughter, studying her face. "Hm, I think I agree." He touched her hand and her tiny fingers wrapped around his. "Kirstin Katherine Wood."

There was a small knock on the door and Oliver's father poked his head in the room. "I have some very anxious boys out here," he whispered.

Oliver looked at Katie.

"Send them in," she said.

"Baby brother!" Calum yelled as he ran and jumped on the bed. The twins were following close behind and the baby toddled slowly behind.

"Careful now laddies," Oliver chided. Hamish whined from the floor holding his arms up to his father. "Here now, little yin." Oliver picked him up under his arms and set him on the bed next to him.

"What's his name?" Dougal asked.

Katie looked to her father-in-law.

He shrugged. "I figured I'd let it be a surprise."

Oliver looked at his boys. "Well, laddies, her name is Kirstin."

Calum wrinkled his nose. "That's a girl's name."

"That's right." Katie ruffled his hair. "Your baby brother is actually a baby sister."

"A sister?" Domhnall asked.

"That's right, Donnie."

The boys all looked at each other. Finally Calum said, "Can she play outside with us?"

Oliver chuckled. "One day, when she's a little older."

"Like Hamish?"

Oliver nodded. "Like Hamish. But Calum, being a big brother to a little sister is a big responsibility. Little sisters aren't like little brothers."

He wrinkled his forehead. "What do you mean?"

"Girls can't handle themselves like boys can."

"Oi!" Katie and Isobel interjected simultaneously.

"Present company excluded," he added quickly.

"So I need to watch out for her?"

"You all do. Just like you would do for Mammy."

Calum nodded. The twins began to get restless and the baby was trying to climb off the bed.

"Alright, laddies," Isobel called from the door. "It's time to give Maw and Da and baby sister some quiet time. Outside with ye."

The twins jumped down quickly and Isobel came to take Hamish.

"Can I stay for a little, Gran?" Calum asked.

"Maybe later, love," Katie said. "Mammy's very tired."

Calum nodded and bent over and kissed his sister's forehead gently before running off after his brothers.

"Thanks, Mum," she called after Isobel.

"Of course, dear. Send Oliver if you need anything. We've got the boys." She shut the door gently behind her.

Katie let out a long yawn.

"Give me the baby, love. You've been up for two days."

"That's ok," she said through a yawn.

"Give her here." Oliver stood and scooped the baby from his wife's arms. She stirred and let out a small squeak. "Shh," Oliver cooed. "We'll be right here if she gets hungry." He sat in the rocking chair by the window and began to rock back and forth humming a lullaby.

Katie smiled as she watched her husband dote over his daughter. A daughter, she thought with a smile as she fell asleep.

12.1 AU in terms of canon

WC: 1258

Also written for The Sims 3 challenge: personality trait- family oriented