AN: Hoping this will be enough for my long absense. I had a little bit of struggle now that the story is winding down to an end. Believe me, you'll all be surprised at how this story turns out.
Isabelle was over at Kitt's parents' house with her 6-year-old son, Joshua, helping put on the finishing touches to the baby shower. "Yeah, you can put that platter over there," she directed Rogue. "Be careful," she called to her as she looked outside, "okay everyone, Peter should be coming with Kitty any minute, so take your places," Isabelle announced.
"I see them coming," Mikhail shouted out. When he had come to drop off Rogue, Illyana decided she'd much rather stay for the baby shower, and he stayed to help. Everyone scrambled to their hiding places. The doorknob started to turn . . .
"Quietly Isabelle whispered," Alright, on the count of three. One . . . two . . ."
"Surprise!" Came a cheerful voice as the door was opened.
Everyone looked around dazed and confused, thinking that Illyana had shouted out, then they saw the bubbly giggling Kitty and shameful looking Piotr stand in the door way. "Huh, what!" They all looked at the two that stood by the door.
Rogue walked up to Piotr and hit him, as hard she could, on the rm. "Piotr Rasputin, you are the worst secret keeper I know." She said, pretending to be angry.
"She wouldn't have come if I didn't tell her." He apologized.
"He's right, I made him tell. I wasn't feeling good earlier--" the minute she let this out, her mother hurried through the crowd. "Mom, I'm feeling better now," Kitty whined as her mom sat her down in a large cushioned rocking chair. Illyana walked over to Kitty holding Joshua's hand.
"Can we start the games now?"
Illyana looked so adorable. "Of course we can." Kitty looked over to her mom and she nodded as well. The only two guys, Piotr and Mikhail, were allowed to watch sports or whatever in Kitty's dad's room, Mikhail humbly took this offer, its just that Piotr made himself difficult. "Piotr I insist, you'll probably get bored if you stay out here, not to mention feel a bit awkward being the only guy." Kitty left her party guests just for a few moments, and walked him to her dad's room. "Now stay in here unless you have to use the restroom or are hungry." She shut the door on them and walked back.
All the women in the room were seated all around, as Kitty was seated at a place where everyone could see her. Kitty made herself comfortable in the big cushioned rocking chair and watched as her mother went around handing out pieces of paper, while Jean handed out the pencils and books to write on.
"Our first game is to see how much you all know about babies with a little word jumble. When I say go, you'll have a minute and a half to unscramble as many words you can that are associated with baby needs. Ready . . . go!" Everyone in the room began scratching their pens, pencils, whatever, on the paper. Even Illyana, though her lack of understanding of the English language, played along and did surprisingly well. "Okay, time's up," Mrs. Pryde went around to collect the papers, looking through each of them as a teacher would a student's work. Isabelle went away for a few seconds to get a large black trash bag, filled with the prizes. "Its looks as though a few of you got them all right, but only one of you finished in the fastest time." Mrs. Pryde looked down at the stack of papers, running her fingers through them once more and looking up at the crowd. She stood up carrying her eyes over to where Illyana was playing hand games with Joshua.
"Congratulations Ana, come and pick out your prize." Kitty bent down to her and took Illyana's hand leading her over to her mom, who was holding open the large black bag. Mrs. Pryde reached around inside the bag, feeling everything that she and Isabelle had filled it with. There were large gifts, small gifts, soft gifts, and fragile gifts. After a moment of rummaging through it, she extracted a beautifully crafted, ceramic painted horse statue.
"Ooo," Illyana said when Mrs. Pryde handed it to her. She thanked her and went back to Joshua, showing off her prize to him. All the women in the room laughed at her adorableness, saying things like, "She is such an adorable child," or "How wonderful it must be for her parents to have such a daughter." Kitty felt and uneasy pain as this was spoken. Illyana was only a little child and had already lost her parents. Here Kitty was having a celebration with her mother and close friends, while Illyana seemed to be all alone in the world, if it wasn't for Piotr and Mikhail that is.
For the next two hours, all the women had played other games, shared stories, and repeatedly came up to Kitty to feel her stomach. Now that the party was winding down to an end, the gifts were being opened , Piotr and Mikhail came out to watch, and also grab some of the food. Piotr was sitting right next to Kitty with Illyana on his lap as they watched her open her gifts.
"And this is from me," one of Kitty's friends said. The present was wrapped in a paper with Pooh Bear and Eyore, a very typical baby theme.
Kitty tore open the wrapping, clawing her way through it till she found the surface of the box and showed it to everyone."Why it's a Baby Einstein book! How wonderful," her mother exclaimed. Kitty passed it over to Piotr and he took a look at it.
"This something that will make the baby smart, Katya?" Kitty giggled.
"Of course silly." Then Piotr let Illyana hold it.
"I don't think that such a thing is needed with a mother as smart as you, they would be genius." Kitty giggled embarrassed, blushing uncontrollably. All the other women also laughed until the next gift was handed to her.
"Alright Peter, now you stop." Mrs. Pryde settle the other girls as she stepped forward. "Here you go sweety, this is from your father and I. Kitty took the package. The room became silent.
"Daddy?" Kitty looked at her mother surprised. She stared at the rectangular shape for a moment, then began ripping through the paper. Piotr looked in her lap and saw the large book with the title engraved 'My First Year' in gold painted letter and tiny booties below the word 'First'. Tears started to form in Kitty's eyes. "Mom I --" her mother interrupted.
"Now wait, there's something for the new aunt, uncle and father too." Jean walked over to the long table, which held the last of the gifts, and handed each one to Mrs. Pryde, who in turn, handed it to the respective person in turn.
Illyana was so alighted with joy, that once the gift had fallen into her hands she ripped through it. When she pulled out the gift, she exclaimed something out in Russian, and made Piotr and Mikhail laugh. Kitty looked at Piotr curiously. "She thanks you for the gift. Says it reminds her much of our farm back home."
Illyana got off of Piotr's lap and went down to the floor where Joshua was, and started to take the little pieces of her toy farm out.
Next Mikhail received his gift. It was not a large gift like Illyana's, but it wasn't small neither. Wrapped in a navy blue plain wrapping paper, Mikhail tore through it and lifted it up. "It is a book." He showed everyone the cover. "Learn English in 10 Days." He read the title. Piotr left Kitty's side for a moment, and flipped through the pages. He muttered something to his brother, and he turned to Mrs. Pryde. "Thank you, Mrs. Pryde." She smiled at him and then she got the last gift that was for Piotr.
Piotr took the gift and began and began to unwrap it. The room became suddenly quiet, all eyes turning to him and on the gift. To make the anticipation more unbearable he unwrapped the gift slowly, carefully taking off the tabs of tape. Kitty looked down at Illyana playing with her toys and it made her want to have a family of her own all the more. She rested her hands on her stomach, "Mrs. Pryde." Kitty lifted up her head, Piotr was holding some sort of clear block and gently walked over to have a closer looked at what he was holding.
"Oh mom," Kitty exasperated.
"You're welcome honey." Mrs. Pryde smiled warmly. All the other girls grew curious. "Well, what does it say?" Rogue asked impatient.
"We are one like the earth and sky. Tears of pain, and tears of joy, one thing no one can destroy, our love." Kitty recited. She went over and hugged her mother with eye full of tears. Mrs. Pryde patted her on the back ceasing the tears.
"I want you two to put that somewhere where you can always see it. Raising a family isn't all that easy, and comes with a few sacrifices--"
The from door just opened. "Honey, why are there all these cars out front?" Mr. Pryde walked into the living room having all the girls stare at him. It took a moment for him to register everything and at that moment his eyes fell on Kitty. Standing there next to his fie and daughter's boyfriend. Anger swept over him, but then, he looked at Kitty's face, how happy she was. She had grown so much and he wasn't there to see it happen. How foolish he felt for the way he'd been.
"Daddy don't get mad--"
"Mad? Sweety no, I was wrong to be mad in the first place. I should have realized Peter wouldn't do anything to harm you," he walked over to her and hugged her. With wide eyes and a big smile he said, "I'm gonna be a grandfather!"