Chapter 23: Happy Adoption Anniversary!
Takes place before HTTYD3, after Small Bump, but before the pregnancy with Ruby.
(Eret's POV)
Today just so occurs to be Becky's 5th anniversary of when she was adopted by the Thorstons.
Her parents and siblings are planning on throwing a surprise party, and I've been told to keep it hush-hush.
I allow my angel to sleep in. It's been a week since we lost our baby, and I've been keeping a close watch on Becky to make sure she doesn't hurt herself again, even though she made the promise not to.
I believe her and all, but I'm still being cautious.
I hear sniffling coming from her side of the bed.
"My love? What is it? What can I do?"
"I just…just the cramps…"
"From losing our baby?"
She nods.
I sigh and begin to rub my wife's back.
I have half a mind to tell the twins to postpone the party…I know it's the fifth anniversary, but we just lost our baby! I know it's meant to be a surprise, but I hate keeping things from Becky.
"Honey, would you feel like celebrating the fifth anniversary of when you got adopted?"
"I don't know. It would be a nice distraction…but I just can't…I'm not ready for a party."
"It wouldn't have to be a party, love. It could just be our families and us together for a small gathering."
"Isn't that a party?"
"It doesn't have to be. I completely understand if you're not ready."
"Can…can we celebrate the life of our baby instead? Just us and our families?"
"Of course we can, darling. Of course we can."
~.~
Meanwhile…
Ruffnut and Tuffnut are setting up the last of the decorations in the Thorston house.
"You know, you two, they might not even come." Lily Thorston says.
"Why wouldn't they come? It's the fifth anniversary of when we adopted Becky."
"It's also just been a week since they lost their baby."
"Oh…we didn't think of that."
~.~
Becky lay against me, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Are you in pain, love?"
She shakes her head.
"No…the pain passed."
"That's good, right?"
"At least I'm feeling something to remember our baby by…"
She breaks down, sobbing into my chest.
"Shhh. You don't have to be in physical pain for you to remember our baby, my sweetheart."
Neither of us says anything for the next several minutes as I hold my girl close to me, letting her sob, and letting a few stray tears of my own slip down my cheeks.
We are soon interrupted by a knock on our door.
I carefully wrap the blanket around my wife as I help her up and we head downstairs, holding her close to me.
I open the door as Becky leans against me.
"Hey, sis. We…we were going to throw you a surprise adoption anniversary party…but then Mom reminded us about the baby." Tuffnut says.
"It's really sweet of you guys to want to do that…but emotionally, I'm just not up to it. I'm sorry. I bet you guys made all the decorations, too."
"Yeah…but it's not your fault you're not up to it…it's no one's fault." Ruffnut says.
"Becky was thinking…could we celebrate the life of our baby instead?" I ask.
"Of course. Why don't you guys stay here and we'll bring the decorations to you?"
Becky and I both nod.
After the twins leave, we sit down on our couch.
Soon, Becky's adoptive family, along with my father and sister, come over to our house and we celebrate the life of our baby, with a small celebration of Becky's adoption into the Thorston family on the side.
