Author's note: Refer to earlier disclaimers. Also, "Living Together, Growing Together" is owned by Burt Bacharach and Phil Ramone. This is the final installment of the New Arrival fic, and it may be a little bit sappy, but relax and enjoy!
Rugrats Midlife: New Arrival
Chapter Six: Some Weeks Later
===Tommy===
"By the powers invested in me by Almighty God I christen thee Clementine Aiko Finster Pickles," Pastor Z said as he poured water on Clemmie (as we decided to call her). Z then turned to us, the proud parents, and read out, "Your daughter has been welcomed into the Christian faith. May you awaken in her this precious gift."
"Amen," we replied.
"This christening is ended," he announced. "Go forth in peace."
"Thanks be to God." And then that was over. Z then whisperde privately to the two for us, "If you can find it-she'll be a thorn in your side for the meanwhile!" The three of us shared a brief laugh before Chuckie and Tess (Z's wife) beckoned.
"Well, looks like we have to leave then," Kimi told the crewcut-sporting Lutheran preacher. "You can come with us, if you want."
"Now Kimster, while that may be, er, 'rock star,' as I used to say, Teresa and I have church business to attend to, hope both of you understand, 'kay?"
"Nah, it's all right," I replied. "Besides, you being the minister that both wed us and christened Clemmie is enough of a reward for us, no?"
"Hey," Phil interrupted as he grabbed both my and Z's shoulders, "I do believe the parents have to go now, eh? And Zed, how about we meet for a joint preaching sometime at my congregation?" Z just rolled his eyes and nodded as Phil released his grip on the both of us.
"Fine then," I said, "we'd better get going. Ta!" and we were off.
===Kimi===
"WHAT?! HAROLD, YOU MORON, THOSE VASES WERE EXPENSIVE!!!" Angelica screamed on her cellphone. After a meanwhile she changed volume, but had the same angry tone as a while ago when she said, "Not, from the bottom, of the stack!" If she were not enjoying herself she would have tossed the cellphone on the floor.
She, of course, was in our house, celebrating our child Clementine's christening. Seven months ago, we bought an empty lot on 15 Malarkey Road, just a short walk to our old house where we lived for awhile. Now, that lot has on it a two-storey, three-bedroom West Coast house with a balcony on the master bedroom (my idea) and a basement gym (Tommy's). Everybody, Rugrats, parents and friends, was here, chatting, eating, playing, or all of the above considering the kids.
"What now Ange, Harold klutzed up yet again?" Cal, as in Cal Gottwald, asked. He was Angelica's opposite, kind, calm, but was every bit as assertive and diplomatic as his wife, who was 2 years his junior. And by the way, he's a media tycoon's son.
"Yeah, he did. Can't believe I allowed myself to hire that fat SOB for a personal assistant. Imagine! Those vases were..." She was interrupted by Cal tapping her shoulder.
"Now, now, my dear, don't be so hard on him. Rasing your voice won't raise his work quality, okay?" Cal kissed her on her left cheek.
Skip to the rest of the folks now. Chuckie was now talking with Mr. Lebedenko on his cellphone about Eaglecom business in Russian (my brother's fluent in eight other languages), all the meanwhile pleading about something I don't know. Madie and Mom were talking about whatever Chuckie's saying (Mama knows Russian, I don't), which may be about deadlines for a report, Mom later calling out to Carlie not to touch the earthenware jars at the mirror. Meanwhile Phil was having a spirited conversation with Lil ("I will not be drawn into this childish argument-and I didn't do it, Lillian!" "Did too, Philip!") while Susie, Malcolm and Fred were getting some food for their children. Dil was now talking to his fiancée, Katrina Shalhoub, about their marriage plans-you should have seen him propose to her a month ago!-while Rupert, Stu and the Shalhoub parents were talking about how Pickles Technologies has been doing (Rupert is a major shareholder, while Katrina worked as marketing manager for PT in San Diego, where Dil met her). The kids, meanwhile, except Javier (he's too old) Mel and Clemmie (they're too young), were chasing each other in the garden outside. That leaves Tommy.
I found him slouched on the steel chair on the patio, watching Carlie, Jamal, Sara and Clara chase each other. That passes for entertainment now that everyone's busy. I took another chair, unfolded it, and sat down beside him.
"So, hun," I found myself asking.
"Yes?"
"Wanna go inside?"
"Later." The kids then went in after being called by their parents. We took the opportunity of loneliness (sort of) while the rest were celebrating inside. Clem, of course, was inside, under Mama's care. I gently laid my arm on his back while he held my other free hand. We were just looking out into space, if you ask me.
"So what now?" Tommy enquired.
"What's what?" I asked.
"What happens after all of this? Clem. We saw her face. That face will also look at us one day to say goodbye. You know what I mean?" I do.
"Yes, Tommy-kun, I know." Tears of sadness and joy were starting to drip on my face. His arm found its way onto my back. We shared an embrace as the hands we held were gripped tighter.
"But you know something, Kim?" he said as he looked at me, and I looked at him in return. "Even after that, even after our bodies grow old and sickly, I'll still be here for you! I've no doubt that we can weather this out, Kimi. We did well first, what, three, four, five weeks, maybe a month! More challenges will lie ahead, but as long as..." I felt the obligation to end this sentence for him.
"...As long as we stick in this together, we can push through, right?" I asked. His cheeks were streaked with tears as well, but he nodded just the same. I just felt I fell in love with him all over again.
"Oh Tommy, I..."
"I love you Kimi. And I'm convinced you love me too." As he was saying this, our lips met as they often did, and we shared a short, mildly passionate kiss.
Afterwards, Tommy straightened up, helped me up and said, "Kimi, looks like the gang wants us in."
I was nonplussed. "Like hell they are, leatherneck. Let's get a move on, shall we?" Phil and Susie had the karaoke to themselves, it seemed, singing another Bacharach tune.
"Sure thing, ma'am," he replied as we reentered the dining room, celebrating our Clemmie's christening, and more importantly, celebrating being a family.
Start with a man and you've got one
Add on a woman, and then you have two
Add on a child and what have you got?
You've got more than three
You've got what they call a family that's
Living together, growing together, just being together
That's how it starts,
Three loving hearts all
Pulling together, working together, just building together
That makes us strong,
If things go wrong, we'll
Still get along somehow,
Living and growing, together...
It takes some wood to build a house
Fill it with people and you have a home
Fill it with love, and people take root
It's just like a tree
Where each branch becomes a family that's
Living together, growing together, just being together
That's how it starts,
Three loving hearts all
Pulling together, working together, just building together
That makes us strong,
If things go wrong, we'll
Still get along somehow,
Living and growing, together...
Living together, growing together, just being together
That's how it starts,
Three loving hearts all
Pulling together, working together, just building together
That makes us strong,
If things go wrong, we'll
Still get along somehow,
Living and growing,
Just like we're doing now,
Together...
The End
P.S: Thanks for the positive reviews and reminders! Any plans for a sequel or different story will be shelved for now, though. Otherwise, Thanks!