Summary: Six-and-a-half Amelia handles - or at least tries to - the news of a new baby.
Number of years married:
22
Sons:
5
Daughters:
3


~:~ No matter what ~:~

Amelia jumped as Agatha suddenly appeared at her side with a wide grin on her face. She jabbed Amelia's side. "You're not gonna be the baby anymore," she teased. She pointed at Belle who was preparing supper. The older sister slumped over the side of the armchair and watched Amelia. She wiggled her eyebrows and grinned mischievously at the little girl.

She pouted, protruding her bottom lip and tried to remember what Mama and Papa had told her months ago.

Mama and Papa were kneeling on the floor and her hands were in Mama's.

"Amelia, darling," Mama began slowly. She brushed back Amelia's dark hair out of her face and gave her a comforting smile. (Belle had learned from years and years of having kids that telling each youngest that they wouldn't be the baby anymore was overly nerve-wracking). "There is something Papa and I must tell you."

She looked around to see if anyone else was being told this great secret, but no one was in sight. She turned back to Mama who gave another smile. She noticed Mama kept glancing at Papa nervously.

"Sweetheart, you're going to be a big sister," Mama said.

She frowned. "A big sister?"

Mama nodded, "Yes, just like Agatha is your big sister, you will be one too-"

"How?"

"Well," Mama began then she looked at Papa again. Amelia crinkled her nose in confusion when he oddly put his hand over Mama's stomach. And Mama gave a small smile. "Amely, I'm going to have a baby- in a few months and you will be a wonderful big sister."

"A baby?" Her crinkled nose hadn't disappeared.

Mama nodded again, "Yes, my love. A baby. A baby who will need our love and care, but that doesn't mean we will love you any less."

She made a noise but still frowned. Things still weren't adding up. "When- when will it come?"

"Not for a while," Papa replied. He rubbed her knuckle. "Do you understand, Amely?"

She shrugged. "I guess…"

But when this baby-thing didn't show up soon after Mama and Papa told her, she had forgotten about it until now.

Belle sighed at overhearing her, "Agatha, don't be mean to your sister."

The older girl sat back. "I'm not being mean. I'm just telling her the truth."

She shook her head and continued with her work.

Amelia frowned again. She and her sister – especially her sister – quieted for a moment when Papa entered the common room. Then it was back to chatter – or rather, Agatha teasing her.

Gaston entered the kitchen and frowned himself when he noticed Belle was up and about. He went to her side and rested his hand on her back. "You shouldn't be overworking yourself. I can manage supper just fine."

She gave a weak sigh. "I know but-"

"Belle," he said sternly.

"I just feel useless doing nothing all day." And before he knew it she had whirled around, pointing a threatening finger at him. "And don't tell me I'm not doing nothing. I'm tired of hearing the same thing. First Lefou, then Papa, I do not need it from you."

"Belle-" he tried with an incredulous chuckle.

"That phrase comes out of your mouth, you will be sleeping on the floor for the rest of the week."

He shut his mouth. "Very well then. But you're to rest for the remainder of the day."

She wanted to put up a fight but her back was aching. She reluctantly relented and heaved a sigh then caught Agatha's mischievous grin. "Atha, what did I say about being mean to your sister?"

The girl pretended like she hadn't been caught red-handed. "I'm not! I'm just-" Then a flying paper swan so conveniently caught her attention and she bounded off.

Belle sat down heavily in the armchair and tried not to grumble at how useless she was becoming to everyone and everything. Her face cleared of disgruntled-ness when Amelia stepped up to her. She held out her hand. "Yes, my darling?" she asked softly.

"Atha said I'm not gonna be the baby anymore..."

"Agatha," Belle scolded with a glare.

But the teen, reaching high for the blue paper swan that Gilbert held, shrugged. "It's true. I'm only preparing her."

Amelia was insistent. "Mama?"

Belle sighed. "Papa and I told you this, my love, months ago. Do you not remember?"

She sort of nodded. "A little…"

"But?"

"But is Agatha telling the truth?"

She sighed again, "She's right.. but she's going about the wrong way of telling you."

"At least I'm telling her and not waiting until the last minute," the teenager with a smart mouth on her said sharply.

Belle glared at her and Gaston glanced over his shoulder. "Agatha, come help with supper," he intervened.

Amelia bit her lip. "Will you forget about me?"

"Oh, darling no," Belle soothed. "We could never, and we will never."

That seemed to satisfy the little girl. "When will it come?"

"In a few weeks, but we promise you will not be forgotten, alright? The baby will need our attention a lot but we will always love you and care about you, okay?"

"That's what they always say," Agatha slid in as she passed with plates in her hands.

Belle opened her mouth to scold her daughter yet again but Gaston had another job for her. "Agatha, go get Lefou away from Bessy. He knows his history with cows and I'd very much like to have Bessy see another winter."

"Papaaaaa," she whined.

"Now."

The teen rolled her eyes but scampered out of the house.

Amelia started to understand, "And- and you will love the baby too?"

Belle gave a comforting smile. "Yes, we will." She looked to her husband, "In fact we love the baby already. Isn't that right, dear?"

He turned and smiled tenderly. "Yes, my love. We most assuredly love the baby."

How can they? Amelia thought. "But we haven't met it yet."

"Strange, isn't it?" her older sister added ever so gracefully when she came back in with Lefou in tow.

Belle sighed in defeat. "Amely, go tell your brothers and sisters supper is ready. We can talk more later, alright?"

She nodded and Agatha scurried away too before Belle could scold her once more.

After supper, Belle sat by her husband… or rather, on her husband. She miscalculated the space next to him, the width of her hips, and the literal gravity of her situation. Thankfully, he made no complaint when she promptly squashed him.

He put his arm around her and pulled her back, kissing her temple when she finally leaned into him. He sighed and lightly caressed her full belly. "Are you feeling alright?"

She closed her eyes. "I'm tired is all."

"You shouldn't have been overexerting yourself," he scolded.

"I know."

They silently watched Amelia clamber up on the armchair (aka Thomas) with a book in hand. She handed it to him and settled herself, smiling widely when he started reading.

"Do you think Amely will handle it well? When the time comes?" he asked quietly.

"Yes."

He smiled, "You seem so sure."

"The girls handled it better than the boys," she mused, remembering.

"Isn't that right," he chuckled.


Heyy, so sorry if Belle's news-telling didn't sound quite nurturing or right.. yeah, that was all me and I don't know how to tell a kid they're gonna be a brother or sister xD But I tried my best!

Hope you liked it! :)