Finwë and Indis' driveway, October 1999…

A blue '82 Corolla, a complete banger of a car, skidded to a halt outside a comfortably large house situated in the 'good' side of town.

There were already many cars parked outside. And the silhouettes of many guests could be seen from outside the window.

Tyelko allowed 'Baby One More Time' to blare till the end, before turning off the engine, and turning to face Írissë, who stared into the distance, quiet, focused, as if she was about to compete in a race.

And then the panic hit Tyelko. He did not want to do this, not tonight. He wanted to drive as far away from this house as possible. He had absolutely no clue how to handle this…

How does one tell their entire family they are about to become a teenage parent, with their step cousin, months away from the Games of his life.

It was even worse for Írissë…

Írissë's Olympic dreams had been flushed down the drain. And Tyelko could not forgive himself.

'Hey…?' He called over, watching Írissë jump out of her daydream. 'We don't have to do this tonight, if you don't want to.'

Írissë shook her head 'No. We've waited long enough. It's only a matter of time before I begin to show.' She glanced down at her stomach, as though double checking it was still as flat as ever between her low waisted jeans and crop top. 'And besides, Finwë's birthday party is the only event our Dad's will both attend. And I have no wish to tell our news twice.'

'I know… ' Tyelko began '…but if we waited until New Year… just in case-…'

'FOR GOD'S SAKE TYELKO! Y2K IS NOT REAL!' Írissë snapped.

'Well, if it was, then the world would end before our child was born and there would be no need to endure this drama rollercoaster we are about to experience…'

'Sure you might as well not bother training if that is the case.' Írissë commented, catching Tyelko out.

'Training is not a life-threatening experience.' Tyelk argued.

'True' Írissë laughed, despite herself. 'We are going to get killed.'

'You will be fine.' Tyelko shook his head, petrified beyond measure. 'They can't touch you 'with child'. Me, on the other hand…'

'Atar, Finno and Turno are going to murder you.' Írissë admitted, unable to keep the smirk from her face as Tyelko visibly paled.. 'But Ammë…' Írissë began, and laughed when Tyelko appeared as though he was the one with morning sickness '…Ammë is going to hang, draw and quarter you…'

'So will my Ammë.' Tyelko said shakily, 'And Indis, and Findis and Lalwen… they're all fucking terrifying! Tell our child their father loved them… if I don't make it!'

'I will stand up for you.' Írissë promised 'I'm the one who forgot the pill after all…'

'No, I'm the one who insisted that condoms are for pussy's' Tyelko raked a hand through his hair in exasperation.

'Well… if you think about it…' Írissë began '…they literally are!'

Tyelko looked at her for a moment before copping the joke. Next thing, the two of them were laughing their asses off, nerves making their laughter even more hysterical.

'You have a filthy mind.' Tyelko exclaimed, as he leaned forward and kissed Írissë on the head. 'That's my girl.'

'Tyelko…?' Írissë began, suddenly feeling a pulse of confidence rushing through her veins. '..Call me crazy.. but… this is kinda exciting is it not?'

Tyelko grinned. 'I am going to raise him on the Vengaboys and Britney, just to annoy Kano!'

'Him?' Írissë exclaimed. 'Don't be so certain it is a him! I feel like it's a girl. I am going to go for little runs with her and buy her loads of cute Nike training gear!'

'He is gonna be a Liverpool F.C. fan from birth.'

'She is going to grow up with Baywatch. Hasselhoff will be her first crush.'

'Or Pamela?'

'I KNEW you had a thing for Pamela!'

'Írissë, I hate to break it to you, but everyone had a thing for Pamela. OWWW!'

Írissë shook her head as she cuffed Tyelko playfully across the head. She leaned across the seat, and onto his shoulder. 'Our Baby is gonna be amazing. So what if we're young? I love you, you love me. We are gonna be the best parents ever.'

Tyelko smiled a genuine smile, and leaned over, pressing a kiss to Írissë's belly.'This is another adventure for us, girl. You and me Íreth, against the world, all for Baby. She will blow us all away. And I already love her so much it hurts.'

'She? Her?' Írissë asked, pleasantly surprised.

'As much as I would like a Tyelko Jr, I have a feeling you are right. It's a she.' Tyelko replied, leaning in for a kiss.

They made out for no short amount of time, procrastinating.

Finally Írissë broke them apart.

'We should go in.' She muttered reluctantly. 'Get this over and done with. Rip off the bandaid.' She made to open the door.

'Wait!' Tyelkormo shouted, earning him a questioning look. 'Before you go in Írissë, I have something to tell you… It's related to something you could get asked in there… and… well you can think on it but just so you know all your options…'

'What is it, Tyelko?' Írissë wondered aloud.

'I got Curvo do research the small print Olympic rules.' He replied. 'And there is a way you will be able to qualify AND compete… Baby's due beginning of May… That gives you almost three months to get to peak… Now don't think you have to do it and of course, we have to factor in the exhaustion of childbirth and recovery from that… But, I just thought you should know… It would be difficult for you to compete in the Olympics after having a baby, but it is not impossible…

Írissë was silent in thought.

'I don't want you to burn yourself out though, Íreth. Your health and Baby's health is far more important than some race. And you're only seventeen! There's always 2004…?'

'I'm doing it.' Írissë turned to Tyelko, face set in pure determination. '2000 is my year, I know it. I am faster than anyone in the whole of Aman! A few months off may change that… but surely after three months I will be good enough to get past the heats at least. Maybe I won't get the medal I was hoping for… but I will be in Sydney this July, and when I finish my race, I am going to walk the track and just embrace the whole Olympic atmosphere, with my Baby in my arms...

SSSSsSSssSSsSSsSSss

Wow Írissë really showing the super competitive crazy streak of the House of Finwë here. I know if I gave birth I'd probably pull a Míriel for a year...

Of course Tyelko believes Y2k will result in the END...

A 'banger' of a car is a really worn down, old piece of shit basically (I think the term 'banger' is colloquial language of where I'm from)

I love Tyelko and Írissë planning all the cute things they gonna do with their kid.

Baby Siofra Aranya will feature next chapter. And don't worry, I will also be writing about what happened when Tyelko and Írissë went in and made their announcement, in the near future.

Hope ye like this,
SiofraMarina x