Note: Some news are happier than others ... but how to tell the one you love? Read and find out ... and please pass by the feedback box? DB/CR
Seasons To Remember
Chapter 18: The First To Know
"Oh my, Mom was huge!" Trini exclaimed, peering more closely at a photograph of Kimberly and Kat, taken at the Red Dragon Dojo. It had caught her attention because both women were wearing headbands with floppy bunny ears and holding large baskets filled with colored eggs. "How close to giving birth was she here, anyway?"
Kat grinned; she remembered that Easter well. Tommy had taken a few days' time off from racing and had flown home, and the couples had participated in the Easter Bunny Treasure Hunt Rocky had organized. That had been fun!
"Hmm … Easter … around seven or eight months along, I think. I know I had just entered my fourth month of pregnancy – in fact, when I got home that night, I felt you move for the very first time, Oliver," she told her oldest son.
"That's right, you were pregnant around the same time," Lynne realized, doing some quick mental math with her husband and brother's birthdays. "Only four months apart, too." Jay and Oliver had been born in May and September 2007, respectively.
"Yes – actually, I rather enjoyed having Kim be my 'tester', so to speak," Kat laughed. "No matter what it was, she'd tried it before. I didn't have to worry about finding pre-natal classes, maternity shops, the best furniture bargains, where diapers and so on would be on sale … and of course, with five kids already Sarah was a fount of good advice, too."
"Neat."
"Actually … as luck would have it, instead of Jason, who should have been the very first person to learn about my pregnancy, it was Kim …"
~*~
Kimberly finally spied a free space on the crowded parking lot that wasn't too far away from the mall's entrance; the weather was dreary for once, typical for the end of February, and she'd forgotten her umbrella. It even was wide enough for her to be able to open the car's door almost all the way. Normally, that didn't present much of a problem for the petite woman, but at six months pregnant, a lot of things had changed – her belly size most of all. With a small groan, she swung her legs sideways and heaved herself out of her compact car.
I'll have to switch cars with Tommy soon, she reflected as she gathered her purse from the backseat. Mine's just getting a little too tight for comfort, and I still have three months to go, after all. Getting even bigger. Oh joy.
But this was one instance where Kimberly didn't mind gaining weight – rather the opposite. She absently patted her belly, and was rewarded by a gentle shifting inside of her. She smiled, as always absurdly pleased by this sign that her baby was alive and kicking.
Literally. Ow.
A tiny foot connected rather solidly with what used to be her waistline, then a shape – most likely the baby's head – moved from one side to the other, visibly lifting her shirt.
I should've known that a gymnastics AND karate background would lead to this, she groused with a smile to herself as she walked slowly towards the mall, her usual springy step transformed into what would become a waddle soon. Kicks and punches during the day, somersaults at night. And my bladder has become a trampoline. How fun!
Kim took care of her errands at a leisurely pace, spent an enjoyable quarter hour window shopping 'for later' (meaning as soon as she would fit into regular clothes instead of maternity frocks again), then made her way to a corridor off to the left of the second floor. She had saved the best (in her mind) for last – purchasing some baby paraphernalia now that they'd finished decorating the future nursery. On her last visit to the baby store, she'd seen an absolutely adorable off-white changing pad, decorated with dozens of the cutest tiny dragons in all colors of the rainbow. They also had matching sheets and pillow cases for the baby's cot.
"They better not have sold 'em," she muttered under her breath as she approached the store. Much to her relief, everything she wanted was still available, and Kim tucked the items into her shopping cart. Errand completed, she wandered over towards the checkout, then glanced at her watch.
"Oh, good – I still have ten minutes!"
Indulging herself, Kimberly wheeled her cart around and pushed it towards her favorite area – baby clothes. Grinning in anticipation, she turned a corner … and stopped dead in her tracks. For about halfway down the aisle stood a very familiar person, holding up both a pale pink bonnet and a bright blue shirt with an expression Kimberly had seen every day in her mirror ever since the rabbit had died.
Oh my!
Silently, she went nearer, thankful that the wheels of her cart didn't squeak on the carpeted floor. Only when she had come up right next to the display did she speak.
"The neutrals are in the next aisle over, on the left," Kim said, a happy smile in her eyes and voice.
"Eek!"
Kat looked up, startled out of her dreamy mood. "K-Kimberly?" she stammered. "What … what are you doing here?"
"Getting stuff for our baby, of course," Kim replied, giving her friend a quick but thorough once-over. Yep, it was as she'd immediately suspected – Kat was pregnant, too. Not that she was showing or anything, it was most likely very early stages yet, but if one knew what to look for, the signs were all there. Besides, the look in her eyes would have given her away just as much – there was a softness there now, the hint of a sweet secret … "Just like you – right?"
"You can see it already?" Kat blurted, then closed her eyes and groaned. "Oh no … I wanted Jason to be the first to know!"
Impulsively, Kimberly hugged her taller friend. "Don't worry – he's still going to be the first person you'll tell it to," she soothed. "After all, you didn't say anything to me; I just guessed correctly. It is correct, though, isn't it?"
A rueful chuckle escaped Katherine's lips. After giving herself away like that, and considering Kim's knowing look, how could she deny it? "Yes," she admitted, blushing a delicate pink with pleasure. "I've just come from my doctor, and she confirmed the home test I did last week."
Kim grinned understandingly. "And naturally, your first stop was here. Just like me!"
"Really?"
"Uh huh."
Blue eyes met brown, then both young women broke into giggles. Kim stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss against Kat's cheek. "Oh, I'm so happy for you guys! Jason's going to burst when he comes home tonight. Does he know you went to see your ob/gyn?"
"No – I didn't want to get his hopes up in case I was wrong," Kat replied. "I can't wait to tell him!"
"Just call me as soon as you have; I want to see Tommy's face!"
Kat smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. "Don't you think Jason will want to break the good news to Tommy himself?"
"Oh. Right. Blast." Kim's face fell momentarily with disappointment, then lit up again. "But tell you what, we definitely will have to get together soon to celebrate. When Tommy's home, of course, and provided I can still sit through a full dinner without running off to the restroom every five minutes!"
"Is that a problem?" Kat asked worriedly. She had gathered all sorts of information on pregnancies in general, but some things just had to be experienced.
"Not yet, but I bet it will soon," Kimberly grimaced. "Right now, I just have to get up a couple of times each night, but if Junior here continues to think my bladder's his personal trampoline, it might well happen." She patted her belly fondly.
"Junior? It's going to be a boy, then?"
"We don't know," the gymnast admitted. "My doctor offered to tell us, but Tommy and I want to be surprised. It's just a convenient name to call the baby by."
The two women wandered off, Kat casting longing glances at the baby clothes, either neatly folded on shelves or dangling from miniature hangers. The tiny garments were so adorable! Her fingers twitched to touch. But as long as she had no idea what gender her baby was going to be, choosing either pink or blue was a tad pointless. Grinning understandingly, Kim steered her into another aisle. Here, the same items were displayed, only in shades of pale yellow, mint green, beiges … even white, although that was probably going to be too impractical.
"Oh, look, here's something in red!"
Kim held up a small one-piece overall in bright scarlet. "If you guys are going to have a boy, it'd be perfect!"
"Yes, but I don't know that yet, either," Kat murmured, wistfully stroking the soft velour. There was a terminally cute bunny appliquéd to the front. "What if it's a girl?"
"Match it with a frilly white shirt, and it'll work," Kim said blithely, rummaging in the appropriate bin. "Aha!" She scooped up two shirts in white cotton. One was a plain t-shirt with snaps on the shoulders for easier dressing, the other had a back closure, puffed sleeves and a tiny ruffle around the throat. Quickly, she fitted the t-shirt into the overalls. "Isn't this adorable?"
"Oh, yes."
"Tell you what, I'll buy the overalls for you," Kimberly decided impulsively. "Consider it my first present to my Godbaby. You are going to ask Tommy or me, aren't you?" she wanted to know, suddenly anxious at possibly having presumed to much. "Or would you prefer Tanya?" To her relief, Kat smiled.
"Of course I want you, silly. Just as Tommy has already asked both David and Jason to stand for your baby. You and Tanya if it's a girl, Tommy and Billy if it's a boy," she promised. "Jase and I decided that when we first started trying."
"Goodie!"
Kat laughed, then reached for the shirts Kim was still holding. "Give me these; I'll take both," she declared, feeling a thrill as she said so. Her first-ever purchase for her baby! There would be more to come, she knew, more practical things … furniture, a pram, sheets like Kim had in her cart … but it felt right that this first thing was something pretty and maybe even frivolous. Babies needed both!
Kim hid an indulgent smile; she knew exactly what Kat was feeling. Her own first purchase had been a stuffed toy, soft and fluffy and already taking pride of place in the nursery.
Arm in arm, the two friends proceeded to the checkout.
~*~
"Of course I had to keep the frilly shirt until you were born, dear," Kat smiled at her daughter. "But Oliver wore the overalls for his first official photo shoot at Christmas!"
"Oh, I've seen that picture," Jasmine exclaimed. "You were right, they looked too cute on him!"
"I could still kill Grandma Helen for showing Jazz my baby pictures," Oliver muttered to his best friend. "And on the night we got engaged, too!"
"Even that one with you on the fake bearskin?" Jay smirked, watching with unholy glee as Oliver blushed as red as the Christmas candles. "The one where you wore nothing but a pacifier?"
"Shut up," his brother-in-law hissed. "Or I'll get Mom to dig up the one where you 'watered' our flower beds the summer we were three without benefit of a hose!"
Jay gulped, feeling his own ears starting to burn. "Uh, okay."
Trini snickered, having overheard the mumbled exchange. For once, though, she took pity on them – mostly because she knew there existed equally embarrassing photos of herself, if truth be told. To the best of her knowledge, Ramon hadn't seen them yet, and she preferred things to stay that way. Adroitly, she brought the conversation back on track.
"So, how did Uncle Jason react when you told him?" she asked curiously. "Ramon instantly doubled our monthly phone bill with each of my pregnancies …"
Kat smiled. "Oh, he was totally beside himself. Feeling equally joyful, proud, overwhelmed, happy, awed … even a little afraid."
"Afraid?" Jared wondered. "Why would Dad be afraid of having a baby?"
"You mean it hasn't hit you yet?" his brother interrupted. "Man, becoming a father is the absolute greatest feeling in the world, but … when we were expecting Brandon, I was terrified I wasn't going to measure up, that I couldn't be as good a father as I wanted to be …"
Ramon, Jay and Tommy nodded in confirmation, each having experienced exactly the same thing, and Jared suddenly looked very thoughtful.
Kat raised an eyebrow and agreed. "Jason told me that, later. However, his very first reaction was rather … enthusiastic," she said, her tone hinting at something more than just unbridled joy at becoming a father.
~*~
Back at home later that day, Kat went through her chores with a dreamy smile on her face, going frequently into the bedroom to touch and admire Kimberly's gift. Once or twice, she even posed sideways in front of her full-length mirror, trying to picture herself with a belly as big as Kim's. The image wouldn't quite form, but she consoled herself with the thought that it wouldn't take long before she started showing, too. Then, everybody would know she was going to have a baby.
However, first she had to find a way to tell Jason. Should she just lead him to the baby clothes? Hand him a book with baby names? Mention casually that the Lamaze class her doctor had recommended would meet Tuesday nights? Or should she make a dramatic, serious announcement?
She pondered this weighty question all the time she was busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner for her husband's return – a sliced-in-half French bread filled with a mixture of eggs, sour cream, cheese, bacon bits and tomatoes that would only need ten minutes to bake. Time enough for Jason to shower, and get comfortable after a day at the dojo.
Much sooner than she'd anticipated, though, she heard the key turn in the lock. Jason's unmistakeable step came down the hallway, and feeling suddenly jittery, she put her knife down and dried her hands as she slowly went to the kitchen door. That Jason would be pleased was not in doubt, but … how to find the right words to make it as memorable an occasion as this bit of good news deserved to be?
On entering his house, Jason dropped his gym bag in the hallway closet; he'd take his sweat-soaked gi to the clothes hamper upstairs later. First, he wanted a tall glass of iced tea, and greet his wife. Even after over a year of marriage, that was still his greatest pleasure when coming home. He'd gotten off early today because too many students in his last class were sick with the flu, and he was looking forward to a quiet, relaxing evening with Katherine.
Jason was just about to call her name, when she appeared in the hallway. She was dressed for comfort in pink leggings and a long-sleeved t-shirt, her hair falling loosely around her face the way he liked best, and Jason was about to make a teasing comment on her fluffy socks when he caught sight of her expression. It took his breath away.
To Jason's mind, Kat was beautiful no matter how, where, or when, but except for the first time they'd made love, or seeing her in her bridal finery, he'd never seen her more radiant. Her eyes had never seemed so deep a blue, her skin looked even softer than usual, and her mouth … the rosy lips surely had never been more inviting? Swallowing hard, Jason lost whatever he'd intended to say in the need to get close, to hold her …
His arms closed around Kat's back automatically, and he inhaled deeply of her subtle scent that was a mix of shampoo, soap and uniquely Kat. Looking deeply into the lambent eyes, Jason somehow managed to find his voice.
"Hello, love," he murmured huskily.
"Jason," Kat breathed, a whole world of love in the way she whispered his name.
He couldn't help himself, he bent and kissed her. And when he felt his wife simply melt into his embrace, all thought fled and only feeling remained.
They never made it into the bedroom.
~*~
A small eternity later, they lay closely entwined on the living room couch – a surface that was really much too narrow for the broad-shouldered martial artist and his tall, willowy wife. But it was so nice to be close like this, skin against skin, Kat's pale-gold hair splayed across his chest as her head rested snugly on his shoulder. Jason had draped an afghan over both of them, and under that light covering was drawing gentle circles on Kat's smooth back with one hand.
He lightly kissed her forehead, feeling pleasantly exhausted.
"Maybe I should come home earlier more often," he murmured. "I could get to like a welcome like this."
Kat laughed softly, brushing her lips against his chin. "Mmmm."
He chuckled. "My little cat," he teased. "Purring as if you've just lapped up a whole bowlful of cream."
In answer, Kat drew her nails across the broad chest in a not-quite-playful scratch and hissed softly in warning. She did not like cat jokes, and Jason only got away with it now because she was feeling altogether too wonderful to object.
"Claws, too!" Dark eyes shone with love and mirth as he used his free hand to tilt up her face and kiss her tenderly once more. It was the most effective 'apology' he could have found. When they could speak again, Jason traced a fingertip down a flushed cheek. "So, how about it? Can I expect more welcomes like this when I get off early the next time?"
Kat smiled at her husband, shifting her legs carefully. She had no wish to destroy their lassitude by tumbling them off the couch.
"That depends," she said dreamily, liking the feeling of being held securely in his arms.
"On what?"
"Whether I'll still fit," Kat explained. "In another two or three months, it might get difficult."
"Oh? Why would that be?" Jason asked.
"I'll probably get too big eventually …"
"Why? Are you planning on gaining weight?" Feeling the first stirrings of hunger, Jason began to wonder what Kat had planned for dinner, and whether he'd have long to wait.
"It's going to be inevitable, I think," Kat murmured, sounding not at all put out by the idea, although she usually was very weight-conscious. "It sort of comes with the territory."
"What territory?" Jason wanted to know, getting curious despite himself. There was something in Kat's voice … the same something he'd subliminally noticed in the way she'd looked at him when he'd come home … suddenly his pulse began to quicken as things clicked in his mind. For the past six months or so, they had stopped using protection – ever since Tommy and Kim had announced they were expecting.
Slowly, Jason raised himself up on an elbow. The afghan slipped, baring them both to the waist, but for once he wasn't distracted by his wife's nude beauty. Intently, he glanced into her glowing sapphire eyes.
"Kat …?" he breathed, his deep voice filled with hope, longing and wonder. "A-are you …"
"Yes," she replied simply, drawing him down again for a butterfly kiss. "We're going to have a baby."
Thus simply it was said.
"Oh man …" The awe and love in Jason's expression was everything and more Kat could have hoped for. "Really?!?"
"Yes, love," she smiled, feeling tears of happiness well up from deep within. "I went to see my doctor today, and she confirmed it. If I'm right about the timing, it'll be sometime in September …"
"Oh wow!"
Momentarily speechless with happiness, Jason let his gaze sweep down Kat's body, trying to imagine her still-smooth belly swollen with his child, a dark-haired head nursing hungrily at her breast … almost reverently, he placed his large, warm hand on the so-soft skin just below her navel.
"That … that's incredible."
"Yes," Kat agreed simply, feeling a sweet longing rise from her innermost core.
Jason finally tore his eyes away from where his fingers rested protectively over her womb and looked at Kat.
"Thank you," he whispered humbly. "Thank you so much …"
She tenderly touched his cheek, wiping away a drop of moisture. "Thank you," she replied very, very softly.
"I love you, Kat," Jason murmured as he bent towards her lips.
"Love you, too."
That was the last word either spoke for a long, long time. The couch wasn't all that narrow, after all.
~*~
"We, um … celebrated," Kat murmured, lost momentarily in the memory. "Nearly all night."
Around her, the four younger couples shared understanding, intimate glances as hands found each other, or quick, gentle kisses were exchanged. In this, there was no difference between the generations – probably hadn't been throughout all of history.
Clearing her throat to get rid of the emotional lump lodged there, Trini sought out her father's somewhat bemused eyes.
"What about you and Mom, Dad? How did you react when you learned you were expecting Jay? Was it as romantic as Uncle Jason and Aunt Kat?"
To everyone's surprise, Tommy grinned and shook his head.
"Actually … no. It was not one of your mother's finer moments. You see, I was still racing at the time, and Kim didn't want to tell me in a letter or over the phone; she wanted to surprise me when I got home. She did, but not the way she intended ...."
~*~
Tommy came in the door, tossing his bag off to one side of the living room. It was so good to be home at last! The team should have been home two weeks ago, but they'd run into some mechanical trouble. John had told him to fly home, but it was next to impossible – or financially feasible – to get a flight with all the holiday traffic, so Tommy stayed with his uncle until they could hit the road again.
Kim had not been happy about the delay. She hated him being on the road any more than he absolutely had to be. She hated being alone so much, and he hated leaving her alone, but it was a necessary evil. He made good money racing, and while he still yearned to be more than a part-time instructor at the dojo, the business couldn't yet support all three partners full time. Also, the dojo needed his racing income; there'd been times when his 'investment' in the firm was the only way they'd made ends meet. Someday he'd be able to join Rocky and Jason, but in the meantime, he'd do whatever he had to to make his dream come true.
He thought about calling out to Kim to let her know he was in, but it was pretty early yet, and since it was Saturday, she didn't need to be at work. All he wanted was his wife, a shower, a shave and his bed – not necessarily in that order. Kim would probably appreciate it if he cleaned up before snuggling in bed with her.
The thought of cuddling with Kim – and what it inevitably led to! – had him resolving to be unusually quick in the shower. He could hardly wait to show her exactly how much he'd missed her. However, as he silently padded down the hallway, he noticed that the bathroom light was on, but the door wasn't closed. He heard movement within. Kimberly was awake, probably getting ready to take a shower.
Tommy wasn't too disappointed not to find his wife in bed; after all, washing Kim's back could lead to as much fun as snuggling in bed with her. He had visions of walking in on her, catching her as she dropped her robe to the floor ... nothing underneath it except her gorgeous curves .... Oh, how he longed to feel her soft, silky skin under his hands ....
When he reached the bathroom door, he pulled up short. The sight that greeted him was not his naked wife preparing to step into the shower. Kimberly, dressed in her oldest, rattiest sleepwear, her hair uncombed and in a wild mess, was on her knees before the commode, leaving an offering at the altar of the porcelain god.
"Kim!" he yelped, concerned. "Are you okay?"
Slowly, she looked up at him, her face pale with dark circles under her eyes. She looked like death warmed over, and she was glaring at him as if he'd done something very, very wrong.
"Thomas James Oliver, if you miss the birth of our baby because of your stupid racing, I'll never forgive you!" she growled at him. Before she could say anything further, she had to turn back to the toilet to finish her morning's business.
Tommy stood there, simply staring at her, stunned. Did she just say 'baby'?
"Kim, did you just say baby?" he gulped. "Are you saying you're pregnant?"
"No, I'm hung over and have the flu," she groused. She climbed to her feet at last and reached for the handle to flush away breakfast number one. She had morning sickness in spades! When she thought she had composed herself to face her husband, she turned, but seeing Tommy's expression made tears well up in her eyes. It wasn't supposed to happen this way ....
"When ...? How ...?" he sputtered in joyous amazement. However, it slowly seeped in that his wife was not sharing his happiness. In fact, she was in tears. "Kim, what's wrong?"
"Everything! It's all wrong! You ruined it!" she shouted at him, her fury obviously baffling him, which only made her cry harder.
"You were supposed to be home by Thanksgiving. We were going to have a cozy dinner for two – I was going to dress up special for you – then we would have gone for a sunset walk in the park. The sky would be all pink and purple ... the water would have sparkled like golden champagne .... we'd have gone to our special spot ... you'd have taken me into your arms and kissed me ... forever, it'd have seemed like. Then, I'd have taken your hands, looked deep into your eyes and said, 'Tommy, I have the most wonderful news ... you're going to be a father ....' I'd have placed your hands on my tummy so you could feel this miracle we created together ...
"But no!" she snapped abruptly, pulling him out of the idyllic picture her words had painted. "It was supposed to be special ... romantic ... instead, you show up late ... you don't even call to tell me ... you just come in and find out about everything while I'm barfing!"
With a hysterical sob, Kim ran back to the bedroom, slammed the door then threw herself on their bed to cry her eyes out, leaving Tommy standing in the middle of the bathroom, shocked and surprised with a silly, stupid lopsided smile plastered on his face.
"I'm going to be a father," he mumbled in awe. "I'm going to be a dad! Kim ..."
He winced as he heard the door slam. It only then registered that he'd unintentionally messed up something important to Kim. As he headed to the bedroom to console his spouse, he wondered how long it was going to take him to get out of the dog house this time.
~*~
"So just how long did it take for Mom to forgive your for spoiling her surprise?" Jay snickered.
"Not until you were born," Tommy replied ruefully. Lord, had Kim been pissed over that!
"Did she save her romantic announcement for when she found out about Trini?" Jasmine wondered, recalling that special moment when she'd told Oliver about Brandon.
"No, she made sure I was there when she took the home pregnancy test
... when the doctor confirmed it ..." Tommy murmured. "I'd missed
out on so much when she was pregnant with Jay; Kim – and I – made sure
I didn't miss a thing the second time around."
To Be Continued ...