Seamus stretched and rolled over, smiling as he came nose to nose with his sleeping wife. He kissed her nose gently. Mary hummed and ducked her head back. She blinked sleepily at him.
"Good morning, My Lady."
"Good morning."
A quiet coo made them both turn. In the basket beside their bed, their tiny daughter had woken up. Seamus grinned and rolled out of bed. At three months old, Seauna had already recently started sleeping through the night and her parents were loving every second of it.
"And good morning to you too, My Little Princess," Seamus lifted her up and tucked her close to his chest, "You slept all night long again...aaand now you need a diaper change."
Mary chuckled and shook her head as she watched him bounce and sing to their daughter.
"I could take care of her this morning. It is Father's Day, after all."
"Nope. You carried her for seven months. Then I couldn't help as much when she was in the hospital because I had to work. Diapers are still my job. You can feed her and bathe her after."
She rolled her eyes and rolled out of bed, "Fine. I'm going to get dressed and make breakfast. Then we have to go see Daddy before-"
"Before we go see my dads for lunch, then your parents or a bit, THEN family dinner in the Forge with everyone. I know. We'll be down in just a minute."
Mary nodded and kissed his cheek before heading down to the kitchen. Jim was sitting at the counter, Petunia against his shoulder.
"Morning, Jim. Morning, Tuny."
"Morning, Mary."
Jim rubbed his eyes tiredly and bounced his daughter.
"Another rough night?"
Jim nodded without saying anything.
"You know you could come with us this morning," Mary offered, "You could say hi to Claire while TB and I talk to Daddy and Ralf."
"It's fine," Jim forced a smile, "Maybe we'll do that in the afternoon. We have breakfast with Abuelo this morning. Hopefully I'll feel a bit better by then."
"Jim," Mary sat beside her cousin, "No one can fault you for feeling bad. This is your first holiday without her. And anyone who makes you feel bad is an idiot who will face the wrath of all the rest of us."
"I know. I just want to try and keep positive. At least for today. For Petunia."
She sighed and nodded, "Alright. But if you do need someone to talk to, Seamus and I will be at the Library most of the day."
Jim nodded, "I'll remember that. Thanks, Mary."
She nodded and got to work on breakfast. Seamus and Seauna were down not long after and they ate their food quietly. Jim forced a smile and scooped up Petunia's bag.
"We gotta get going. See you three at dinner tonight."
"See you later, Slim Jim," Seamus waved happily.
As soon as the door closed behind the polymorphs Seamus frowned and turned, "He's forcing himself to be happy for Pet, isn't he."
Mary nodded.
"I wish we could get it through to him that it's ok to mourn her. That he can trust the rest of us to help him."
"It's just going to take him some time. Claire was everything to him. Maybe Javier can talk some sense into him or...or we can make him and Chitea talk it through. I know he misses Claire, too."
"Yeah. If they feel anything like I did my first Mother's Day without Mom, I can imagine they'll need each other more than anything. And, what's that Lord of the Rings quote? 'A parent should never have to bury their child'? I bet that's how both Javier and your grandfather feel right now."
Before Mary got a chance to answer, her phone rang.
"Hey, TB. Don't worry, we'll be leaving soon."
"Actually, I was calling to let you know that I'm not going to make it this morning. Could you tell Dad 'Hello' for me?"
"Sure but are you and Darcy ok?"
"Oh, yeah! We're fine. I'll explain better later."
"Well...ok then."
"Danke, Mary! Gotta go. See you at dinner tonight."
Mary looked down at her phone.
"Everything ok?" Seamus bounced Shauna.
"Toby's not going to make it today."
"What? Since when does he miss Father's Day?"
"I don't know. He said him and Darcy are fine, though. Maybe they just couldn't get the portal from Akoridian 5 to work. He said they'll be at dinner tonight." Mary put her phone away and tried to get her daughter to take her bottle.
"Hm...Ok. Let me guess, we get to tell Ralf."
Mary nodded.
"Then we should leave a little early."
She nodded again.
"Mary? You ok?"
"Yeah. Just...Something doesn't seem right. I feel like TB was leaving something out. Something important."
Seamus nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. Not knowing what to say always made him feel out of sorts. But his only sibling was still a baby and his dads tried to keep him in the loop when it came to how she was doing. Mary sighed and lifted Shauna to her shoulder for burping.
"Let's just finish getting her fed and head out. I'll grill him about it at dinner tonight."
"Alright. Be sure to get everything from him about it. Threaten to call Darcy if you have to."
She smiled and cleaned off Shauna's face with the wave of her hand. The baby fussed at the touch of the water, getting far more wet than she needed to and turning into a little mermaid. Seamus sighed.
"And this is why I waited until after she ate to get her dressed."
Mary giggled and made her way back to the bedroom.
LLB
After visiting the cemetery and introducing Shauna to her sleeping grandparents they made their way towards the canal. Mary kept the diaper bag over her shoulder and her other arm linked through Seamus'. He kept Shauna tucked gently against his shoulder.
"Oh, shoot. I forgot to grab us drinks for while we're there," Seamus hissed, "I'm just going to run into the convenience store real quick."
Mary held her hands out for Shauna. Seamus handed the baby to her mother with a kiss to the forehead and rushed back across the street. She may be ready to visit family that knew her condition, but a germ filled store was still too much for the tiny baby. He grabbed a couple of flavored waters and a bottle of sparkling grape juice then ran through the check out.
He ended up waiting for the cross walk with an older gentleman, Mary and Shauna waiting in the park across the street. The light turned green and they had almost made it across the street when the old man's foot and cane caught on the curb. Seamus lunged forward and grabbed the man's arm before he could hit the ground.
"Got ya!" he helped the man over the curb, "Are you alright, Sir?"
The man stared up at him.
"Sir?"
The man shook his head and smiled, "Yes. Yes, I'm fine. I just need to learn to pick up my feet."
"Heh…" Seamus felt his stomach turn, "I used to know someone who used to say that…"
He helped the man over the curb. Then he handed him back the fallen cane.
"And you're SURE you're ok?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
"Alright then. But, just in case you do go to Arcadia Oaks hospital," Seamus fished in his pocket and pulled out his card, "Ask for Dr. Strickler and Nurse Longhanon and tell them that Seamus Giladrigal sent you."
The old man frowned, "Giladri-"
"Seamus!"
He turned and saw Mary waving at him.
"We're going to be late. Shauna wants to see her grandpas."
"Coming, Mary! Have a good Father's Day, Sir."
With that he jogged back to his wife and daughter.
"Is my pup being impatient?"
Mary held the baby away from him, "Are you clean?"
He hastily set their drinks on the ground and sanitized his hands. Mary grinned and handed Shauna over. Seamus held her close to his chest and pressed a light kiss on her forehead. Then he offered his arm to Mary. She picked up the grocery bag, looped her arm with his, and they were off once more.
"Who was that man? The one you helped cross the street?"
Seamus shrugged, "I don't know. But I kind of felt like I'd met him somewhere before."
Mary nodded and lay her head on his shoulder.
LLB
Seamus hung Shauna's diaper bag on the back of Mary's chair in the Hero's Forge.
"Seamy!"
He whipped around just in time to catch Antonia.
"Oof! Hey, Toni."
She grabbed his face seriously, "Where's Baby Shauna?"
"Your sister took her to give her her medicine. They'll be back in just a moment."
Antonia nodded and looked around the room from her higher vantage point.
"Have you seen either of your brothers yet?"
She nodded again, "Yeah. Eli and Krel are over talking to Oma and Chitea."
"No Toby yet?"
"Nope. Oh! There's Sovana!"
She wriggled until he let her down, then transformed into a pretty aqua trolless and ran off to play with the other polymorph. Seamus chuckled and set off to find his brothers-in-law.
"Seamus! There you are!"
"Hey, Eli. Krel. Did you guys hear from Toby and Darcy before you left?"
"What's wrong with Toby and Darcy?" Morgana asked.
"He called this morning to say he wasn't going to make it to the cemetery today. He said he and Darcy were ok and that he would be here tonight but Toni said he didn't arrive with you two."
"No, we haven't heard from them," Krel shook his head, left arms around his husband.
"We tried to call them both before we went through the portal but neither answered their phone."
"TB's not here?"
Mary materialized at Seamus' side. He took Shauna and shook his head.
"And it appears that we lost contact with him just after your phone call this morning," Angor crossed his arms.
"Ok. Now I'm really worried. Maybe I SHOULD call Darcy."
"No good," Eli shook his head, "She wasn't answering either."
"Judging by all the concerned faces in this corner none of you have been able to reach Tobes either?" Jim glided over, Petunia against his shoulder.
The rest of them nodded. Jim hissed through his teeth.
"I hope Darcy's ok."
Mary shuttered, "Maybe Mama and Papa will know what's going on."
After a few more words with their grandparents, they made their way over to where Otto and Lenora were sitting at the long table in the center of the room.
"No, vve haven't heard from Barchen or Darcy yet."
All five stopped in their tracks.
"Trust me. We're just as worried as you are but worrying won't make us find out any faster," Lenora insisted, "We called Veravtos and he assured us that they were both fine when he called them last."
"Mama," Eli sighed, "That's great in theory but we all know that, for Popa Vex, that could mean that they were ok last night."
"I promise Darcy and I are alright."
They all whipped around to find Toby standing in the doorway. Jim flew over and punched his cousin hard in the arm.
"Toby you usluc! Why weren't you answering any of us!"
"I was a little busy!" He shoved the polymorph away, "And I can't stay long. I just came to tell Papa happy Vater Tag und to introduce you all to someone."
"TB what the heck are you talking about?"
Toby just grinned and led the way back to the table. He hugged his father and pulled out his phone.
"Sorry I'm late, Papa. But someone decided to wake Darcy and I up at the butcrack of dawn and not even show up until about a half an hour ago."
He laughed as his siblings, cousins, and in-laws slammed into his back. Lenora screamed and lammed a hand over her mouth. Otto slapped his arm.
"Warum hast su es uns heute Morgen nicht gesagt!"
"In my defense I was a little distracted this morning! And most of the day. Puberty may be easier on another planet but childbirth clearly was not."
"Don't leave us hanging!" Mary looked up at him, "What's his name!"
"Issac. Issac Luis Scaarbach."
"And Darcy's ok?" Jim looked down at him.
"Yeah. They're both just fine. They were sleeping when I left but I want to get back before Issac wakes up so he doesn't wake Darc."
"Of course." Lenora stood up and hugged him tight, "We'll be up to visit soon, though."
"Ja, Mama," He hugged her back.
"And if you need any advice or anything don't hesitate to call any of us," Seamus put a hand on his shoulder.
"I will. Thanks Seamus. I should get going before Toni finds me though. Or I'll never get out of here."
Mary latched onto her younger brother once more before watching him run off.
"Oh! And send us those picture's when you get the chance!"
He shot them a thumbs up before disappearing out of sight. Jim just chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm going to find Da. Let him know why Toby's not here and all."
He held Petunia closer to his chest and set off. Mary smiled and leaned against Seamus' shoulder.
