Chapter 33

It was late summer and Harmione was outside in her bathing suit practicing her magic.

"Aqua Caligo!" She shouted. Our water hose sprung to life, using her powers of animation. She allowed herself to get drenched in the water. It was a very hot summer day and as promised we allowed her to play in the water. Harmione laughed as the water hit her. She floated upward and spun in the air, the water flying off her like rain. I came home from work for some lunch about that time. I stuck my head out the door and called to her.

"Harmione?!"

She waved swiftly and smiled brightly.

"Don't fly too high okay!"

"Okay Daddy!"

She floated back down and touched the grass. I smiled and went to the kitchen to make me a sandwich. There was a note on the counter written in cursive that read:

"Ben, I made cheese dip to go with your chips for lunch look in the fridge- love Hope."

I smirked and opened the fridge. The cheese dip was there just as she instructed. I ate lunch and watched some TV. I tried to keep a close eye on time. I normally had 30 to 45 minutes for lunch. Working at Mr. Smoothy wasn't the dream job but it helped pay some of the bills. Hope's job was more important but she only worked three days a week. It was done this way so that someone could watch Harmione. She's a bank-teller. It pays a little more than my job, but we've also been paid in small amounts over the past seven years for our hero work. Sometimes Mom and Dad help us out too, which is nice. Sometimes we struggle to make ends meet, but such is life. I cleaned up my lunch and tidied up the kitchen for her. Before heading back to work, I thought I'd give my woman a little kiss goodbye. I heard the dryer running in the laundry room. I thought she was in there doing laundry, but when I opened the door the room was empty.

I went to our room. She wasn't there either. Harmione brushed past me with a towel over her.

"Dry off baby." I said. "Put on some new clothes.

"I am Daddy."

I stopped as Harmione entered her room.

"Hey Har?" I called out. "Where's your Momma?"

I leaned on the door frame to her room as she began looking through her dresser.

"Washing clothes."

"I checked she's not there."

"Maybe she went to the bathroom."

"Maybe...thanks baby."

"Okay, now shut the door Daddy, I'm going to be nakie!" She exclaimed.

I laughed.

"Okay baby..okay."

I smiled from ear to ear as I shut the door and gave my six year old some privacy. I laughed to myself again and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Hope you in there, Angel?"

"Yes." Her voice came through the door. It sounded uncertain and nervous.

"Hope?" I questioned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

She still seemed anxious. I stared to enter and found the door locked. I sighed and placed my hands on my hips above my belt.

"Why is the door locked?"

"I...I just need a few minutes to myself."

"I respect that babe...but if you're hurt-"

"I'm fine...I'll see you when you get in from work."

"Okay...you sure?"

"Yes...I'm sure."

"Something's bothering you...come on open the door..."

"I can't right now..."

"Hope I..."

I paused and stood away from the door.

"Alright...darling, but you know I'm here for you...I'll keep my phone on at work...if you need me..."

"I'll call you." I heard her say abruptly.

"Okay...I...I love you."

There was a hesitation and a beat later she replied.

"Love you."

I sighed heavily and started to walk away.

"Okay... I'm going now."

I walked down the hall into the living room. I heard the bathroom door click and she stepped out. I stared deeply at her.

"What?"

She didn't respond.

"You okay...Hope?"

Without warning she walked over to me and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back.

"What's this about...what's going on?"

I heard her mumble a whimper. She was crying.

"Huh?" I said softly. "What's the matter?"

She sniffled into my chest. I placed my hand on the back of her head. She started crying louder.

"I don't know how to help you unless you talk to me..."

I rubbed her shoulders. Something had her really upset.

"Is it something about Harmione?"

She shook her head.

"Your job?"

She shook her head again.

"Me?"

She sniffled and placed her hands over her face.

"Hey..."

I pulled her hands down.

"Talk to me...what's going on?"

She breathed heavily and ran her fingers through her hair and quickly put her hair up in a ponytail. She sniffled a bit and wiped her tears away.

"It's not a problem I can't solve...whatever it is I'll fix it."

I kissed her cheek. She smiled shyly, teared up again and reached into her back pocket. She pulled out what looked like a white stick and held it to my face.

"I...I tested this thing three times...Ben, I'm pregnant."

I stood unsure what to do. I took the test from her.

"Um...ah...how...how do you know that?"

She pointed out to me two bright pink lines that indicated she was in fact expecting. I looked back at her and leaned in toward her.

"Uh...um...I don't..."

"We didn't use protection the last time...and I've been off the pill since I got out of the hospital...I'm so sorry I should have told you."

"No...no that's okay."

She began to cry again. I placed the test down and hugged her.

"Don't cry...it's alright...I mean I'd be happy to raise another baby with you... Don't worry about it."

"Ben...It's just..."

She paused.

"We've such a hard time with Harmione and I...I just don't want to bring more pain into your life...and money is as tight as it is...and it could have powers like me...we'd have to start all over again...maybe uproot our family...I just feel scared and terrible and-"

I kissed her to shut her up.

"It's okay...stop that...everything will be fine...I'm happy for us, really I am...and I...Don't cry please. It's fine okay.

"Really?"

"Really."

I hugged her tightly. Later, I met with Gwen to tell her the news. The conversation didn't start off well.

"It's not fine Gwen...I mean a new baby; we don't need this right now. We can hardly keep up with Harmione, and you guys have Genesis now, and I...I'm scared too! This can't be happening...I can't do this all over again...I don't have the strength...Harmione's powers are a enough to make me nervous and I-

"Ben!"

As she held Genesis she slapped me.

"I'm sorry but you were spiraling...Now comforting Hope the way you did was fine...that shows your loyalty, your courage, and your strength. Now, even after everything you both know you've got what it takes. But it was dishonest to show her that everything is okay when you, yourself are not okay...So...just relax...take a deep breath."

I did.

"Slower."

I did.

"It didn't work!" I shouted.

"Look Ben, Ghostfreak is in the null void, Hadara is in eternal sleep, Hex's is dead and even things that pertain to hero work have even gone quiet...and we all know if anyone needs anything, we're all right there as a family...you were right; things will be fine, you'll see...just try to make her feel comfortable right now...and remember...relax."

I breathed deeply.

I desperately wanted to believe her. We kept the news a secret for now. The next morning, Hope was lying in bed asleep and I picked up a dozen lilacs from a flower shop early that morning. They were bound together by a huge purple bow. I put them on my side if the bed for her to find when she woke up. I wanted her to feel happy about the new baby. When I returned home that same day, those flowers were in a vase on the dinning room table.

"Hope?!" I questioned from the door and took off my shoes. Hope entered from the hall. Her beautiful silver hair was in a braid to the side of her head.

"Hey..." She began. "How was work?"

I took her by the hand and lead her over to the couch. We sat down, and she placed her hand on my knee.

"Fine...How are you?"

She beamed a smile and looked up at me with her sparkling magenta eyes.

"Good." I responded quietly.

"Yeah...I...I was really freaked out yesterday but I think I'm alright now."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah..." She muttered breathlessly.

"Good." I replied again.

I smiled as I placed my hand on her face and kissed her sweetly. She pecked my lips back and stroked my knee. I felt her fingers curl inward toward my crotch. I could feel a certain part of my body heat up. I just promptly tucked it away and crossed my leg. Hope smirked at my gesture and continued to move her fingers closer and closer to my crotch. As we kissed I heard a small little girl's voice, but it wasn't Harmione's.

"Eww, that's gross!" She screamed.

Hope quickly stopped kissing me and we turned toward the voice. Hope cleared her throat and stood.

"Ben, this is Deanna, she's Harmione's friend from school...She's spending the night tonight."

"Oh...well...uh...nice to meet you Deanna." I replied.

"Come on Deanna, I found my crayons!" Harmione's voice echoed down the hall. Deanna quickly ran from the room, shouting;

"Your mommy and daddy were trying to eat each other's faces!"

Hope blushed, and crinkled her nose; as she often did when she felt embarrassed or smug. Sometimes because of her confidence it was hard to tell which one it was.

"I forgot to tell you that too, I'm so sorry sweetie...I..I don't know where my mind is Ben."

"Don't even worry about it."

I stood up and smiled at her, then kissed her cheek.

"Want to help me make dinner?" She asked.

"Yeah." I replied in a soft cheerful tone.

For Harmione's first sleepover Hope wanted to go a little nuts with the dinner and sleepover prep. As she was never invited to a sleepover herself. We made tacos, Spanish rice, and refried beans; with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. She even went a little over board and made chocolate cake for dessert. During the meal prep as she put the meat inside our tacos, she wanted me to get out the ice and fill a few glasses. I did, but I also wanted to have a little fun too. So, while she had her back turned to me I slipped an ice cube down the back of her shirt.

She squealed. I laughed.

"Benjamin Kirby!" She shouted. I laughed even harder. She picked up the towel hanging on the oven handle and rolled it in her fists; I knew what was coming next, and tried to dodge her as she popped it at me. We both laughed and returned our focus back to our tasks. Though I wasn't finished playing with her. Now, with the glasses full and my hands ice cold from placing them in the freezer, I was ready to try her again. As she put cheese in the tacos, I walked up behind her and placed my hands around her neck. She squealed again. Her neck was one of two of the most sensitive places on her body I knew of. She threw cheese back at me.

"Quit bothering me!" She screamed and waved her hand about shoving me away. I laughed. I wanted to spend just a few minutes playing with her before she went off to 'Girl World' for the rest of the night.

I knew she, Harmione, and Deanna would have a wonderful time together. I was very thankful Harmione had a friend. Truly thankful for that. After all we had been through she deserved that much. As I took a shower that night, the girls stayed in the living room watching a movie; I tried to find the right words to tell Harmione about a new, new friend. A new baby brother or sister. I'm not exactly sure how she'll react to it. Or even how I was to tell her. She's handled everything beautifully so far; which is starting to become more concerning to me. That maybe Harmione has feelings Hope and I don't know about or doesn't express. That she was hurting silently to herself, and I really hope she wasn't.