It's So Hard
Chapter Three: Simple Addition
A heavily pregnant Rachel McGinnis scooted closer to Terry as he settled himself in after another patrol.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, holding out his arms for her.
"Better," she replied, burrowing into the familiar comfort he offered. "This definitely has to be the last baby though."
Terry grinned. "We will have four when this little one arrives, won't we?"
"That's four too many," Rachel grumbled. "But I love them."
"That makes two of us," he chuckled. "They're adorable for little monsters."
"They are," Rachel agreed. "But we do need a name for this one."
"You can name him whatever you like, Rachel. I just want the baby to be healthy."
"The baby is a her," Rachel growled. "And I don't know who else to name her after. We have Robin Mary for your mother. Who else is there?"
"You," Terry said simply.
"I am not naming her Rachel. Terrance was the baby named for one of his parents. If there are two it makes us sound vain."
"Do you know how ridiculous that is?" Terry scoffed.
"It is not."
"Why do we have to name her for someone?"
"Because our family is full of great people and it makes people feel good to have someone named for them."
"Why don't we name her Kate?" Terry suggested, referring to Matt's wife.
"I don't think it sounds quite right."
"That's true," Terry agreed. "We'll think of something. Get some sleep, Rach, you need it."
"I do," she admitted. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Batman Beyond Batman Beyond Batman Beyond
"Congratulations, Mrs. McGinnis, you have a healthy baby girl!" her doctor announced.
"I told you she was a girl," Rachel said smugly to Terry.
Terry smiled sheepishly as a baby's cry rang out.
"Someone needs Mommy," the nurse cooed, holding out the baby to Rachel. Rachel took her new daughter happily and fed her, stroking the baby's obsidian curls.
"Mommy's new baby," she gushed. "Who's Mommy's new baby?"
"I'm going to tell everyone, alright?" Terry announced.
Rachel nodded and turned her attention back to the still nameless child cradled against her chest.
Terry burst into the waiting room only to find the Bruce and Max's son Michael climbing all over Kevin, Max's husband. Terrance was sitting in Matt and Matt's wife Kate, looking sulky.
Terry pulled his offspring off of Kevin and sat next to his mother, who kissed him on the cheek.
"How's Rachel?" Kevin wanted to know.
"Yeah, how's Rachel?" Max echoed, hands on her hips. Robin stood next to Max, mimicking her.
"She had the baby. It was a girl!"
"Congratulations!" Max cried, leaning to throw her arms around him. "You know, Kevin, I want a baby girl."
Kevin turned scarlet. "Can we talk about that later, Max?"
But she had already gone in to see Rachel.
Batman Beyond Batman Beyond Batman Beyond
"Oh she's adorable," Max cooed perching on the edge of the hospital bed and pulling on the rubber gloves the doctor had given her. She gently extracted the baby from Rachel's arms. "Have you picked a name, Rachel?"
"Not yet," she admitted, blushing faintly.
"What are you going to do, call her girl?" Max demanded.
"I am not going to call her girl," Rachel defended herself. "I just haven't picked a good name."
"Terry will probably have them come in soon," Max mused. "Everyone is here already, except Bruce of course…"
"Everyone?" Rachel echoed.
"Yes, everyone: Matt and Kate, your kids, Michael and Kevin and Mary. I think someone went to call Bruce."
The door opened, revealing Matt and Kate.
"OK, Max, you had your turn," Matt teased. "I want to see the baby."
"He's worse than a woman," Kate muttered, shaking her head. A few wisps of blond hair fell into her eyes.
"There are gloves on the little table," Max replied. "And yes, Kate, you're right."
Matt and Kate each took a pair of gloves as Max stalked from the room.
"She's precious, Rachel," Kate breathed.
"I still haven't picked a name for her," Rachel repeated for the tenth time. "I feel a little guilty."
"Oh, stop," Matt scoffed. "You'll think of something." He took his niece from Kate and tickled her. The baby wrinkled her tiny nose in disapproval.
The door opened again and in marched Robin, little Bruce, Mary, Kevin and Michael.
"Matt, let me see my new granddaughter," Mary insisted.
"But Mom, it's still my turn," Matt whined playfully. Kate hit him.
Mary smiled smugly at her younger son as she took the new baby in her arms. Kevin, who was standing next to Mary, hoisted Michael and little Bruce into his arms so they could see the new baby as well.
"Babies are boring," little Bruce and Michael proclaimed together, wriggling to get away from Kevin. He set them down and they both ran off into the waiting room to climb on couches.
Matt and Kate wandered out there as well, no doubt discussing having babies of their own. Kevin followed.
"Grandma, I want to see my new sister," Robin said.
"Alright, dear," Mary replied, placing the baby in Robin's arms. "Be careful to support her head."
"Mary?" Rachel inquired gently.
"Yes, Rachel? Can I get you something?"
"Where's Terrance?"
"Oh…I'm not sure where he went. I'll go find him."
"She's a pretty baby, Mom. I'm glad I have a baby sister instead of a new baby brother."
Rachel smiled. "Come here and sit with me, honey."
Robin did as she was told, perching on the edge of her mother's hospital bed.
"She doesn't have a name yet, huh?" Robin asked softly.
"No, she doesn't," Rachel replied. "But let's talk about you."
"About me? Did I do something bad?"
Rachel laughed in that light, melodious way she'd gotten from her mother. "No, Robin. I just wanted to tell you how much I love you."
"I love you too, Mom."
"Here he is!" Mary sang out, leading a sulking Terrance into Rachel's room.
"Thank you Mary," Rachel said, taking the nameless baby from Robin and gazing at the door. Mary caught the meaning.
"Come on, Robin, let's go find the baby her first teddy bear," Mary suggested.
"OK."
Robin followed her grandmother from the room, leaving Terrance, Rachel, and the baby.
"What's wrong Terrance?" Rachel probed gently. "You seem upset, sweetheart."
"I am upset," Terrance muttered, scowling.
"Why? Tell Mommy all about it."
"You promise you won't get mad?"
"I promise," Rachel said, holding up her pinky finger. "Now come sit with me."
Terrance climbed next to his mother, who put his baby sister in his lap.
"I don't want to hold her."
Rachel realized silently that she'd found the source of her son's problem. "Why not?"
"I don't like babies," he muttered.
"The only person in the whole world who doesn't like babies is your grandpa Bruce."
"There are two, Mommy, and it's me and grandpa."
"But she's a sweet baby. She wants her big brother Terrance to hold her."
"I don't want anything to do with her."
"Sweetheart…"
"She took you from me, Mommy!"
"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked kindly, wrapping her arms around his small shoulders.
"You're the only one who loves me. And now the baby took you away. No one will ever want me to play with them or anything…" Terrance's little voice trailed off uncertainly.
"Listen to me, Terrance Richard McGinnis," Rachel began, "I will always want to play with you, and I will never let another sibling take me away from you. You're my baby, Terrance, my son. And I am not the only one who loves you."
"Who else loves me?" Terrance demanded. "Bruce thinks I'm a copier and Robin thinks I'm just a big baby and Daddy is never home."
"That doesn't mean they don't love you. Because they do, sweetie. We're a family. And just be yourself, no one can accuse you of being a copier or a baby."
"You think Bruce will play blocks with me when we go home if I be myself, even if me and Bruce do want the same thing?" Terrance asked hopefully, green eyes blazing with excitement.
"Yes, I think Bruce will play blocks with you, Terrance," she answered. "Now, as you know, the baby doesn't have a name…"
"Your mommy's name was Kori, right?"
"Yes, she was named Kori…of course! We should name her Kori. Thank you Terrance. Can you get Daddy for me?"
"OK, Mommy. Just let me hug my new sister Kori first, alright?"
It warmed Rachel's heart to see her youngest son tenderly hug his new sister to him.
He held out the baby to Rachel, who beamed and cradled her in the crook of her arms.
Terry ambled in a minute later. "Terrance said you wanted to talk to me."
"We found a name: Kori."
"Kori McGinnis," Terry repeated. "Welcome to the world, Kori," he whispered. "Welcome to the world."