Three months flew by in a matter of minutes to Edie. In a blink of an eye, a bat of a lash, she was already four months pregnant. Her weight gain was apparent by her now round face and bloated belly...and it was at this moment when she had no other choice but to reveal the truth to Spike. Maybe more like the half truth when she considered it best just to notify him that she was, indeed, pregnant and nothing more. She had envisioned the reveal as a talk over tea. Edie imagined she'd tell him while he stuffed his face in the nutritious food that she bought out of pocket. He'd stick his nose in air and continue to scarf down food.
She was half right in her assumption of the sequence events but of course, Spike (just as Jet had said) never ceased to surprise her and never ceased to annoy her.
Edie, shirtless, modeled before the bathroom mirror. Her eyes followed the small pouch that now hung over her belly. She sighed and burrowed her brow. The creature she housed inside of her was now about the size of an avocado, an avocado with limbs and a functioning nervous system. Not quite full-fledged, according to the doc, but enough to have reflexes and the ability to form facial expressions. Edie could contest to the reflexes by its prodding and pokes to her stomach.
Edie clutched onto the sink and shook her head. She could smell Jet cooking some vegetable stir-fry and she was intoxicated by the aroma of steaming green peas. Her mouth watered. No wonder I'm getting fat, I'm eating as much as Spike! It was pegged as a constant mystery as to how Spike could eat a whole damn whale and not gain even one ounce. Her? If Edie so much as looked at the food, she'd gain five pounds on the spot. Which, once again, doc said it was normal, all a part of feeding and housing another life form.
She rubbed her lips together and she juggled her breasts. I can deal with bigger boobs. Edie twirled aside and admired her new figure. Big butt and bigger boobs? Pshh, why do women insist on getting work done? They just need to get knocked up. She posed in front of the mirror as if she were in photo shoot for next month's biggest issue, disregarding and ultimately, forgetting the unlocked door. The bathroom door swung open, exposing half naked, dancing Edie. Spike cleared his throat to grab her attention and Edie squealed, in response. His eyes roved her physique and smirked. Edie gasped and shielded herself with flailing arms.
"I'm not even gonna ask." His face unaffected but laughed at the heat creeping into Edie's cheeks. Edie slammed the door and exhaled, her flushed face growing stoic. "I'm gonna do it today. I have to."
Spike and Jet sat at the table already devouring their stir-fry when Edie strolled into the kitchen. Jet's eyes pursued Edie while Spike chomped on his food, content. She served herself a plate and joined the two men. The three sat in silence, savoring each bite of a new delicious meal. Edie had to give it to him, Jet had come a long way from burning green peppers. She vacuumed her meal, much like Spike usually did, and served herself a hearty portion of seconds. Jet's vision wandered from Edie to Spike as Spike pushed away his plate and rubbed at his satisfied gut.
"You sure have put on some weight." Piped Spike as he picked at pieces of broccoli and carrots stuck in his teeth. Edie clashed her fork against her plate and folded her arms in front of her. She threw him a deadly glare.
"This sure was a good recipe don't you guys think?" Jet stuffed another bite of vegetables in his mouth.
"Excuse me?" Edie disregarded Jet's question and went on to pursue Spike. The corner of her lip twitched.
"You heard me. You're getting fat." Spike bluntly dished, following his statement with a yawn and an exaggerated stretch.
Oh boy. "So who's got our next job?" Swallowing both his mouthful of food and his rising nerves.
"Shut up, Jet." Edie commanded and Jet waved his hands in surrender, turning his attention to his plate. "You're right I have gained weight." She threw Spike a smug smile.
"Ehh… we all can't stay young forever." He shrugged his shoulders and fished his pockets for a cigarette.
"Spike! You know there's no smoking in here!" Demanded Jet, changing his posture to where it mirrored that of Edie's.
"No smoking here, no smoking there. Suddenly I'm not allowed to smoke anywhere anymore, huh?" Spike mumbled with the cigarette still between his thin lips. He pushed his chair back and perched his long thin legs on the table, now feeling for his lighter. Jet stood and opened his mouth but closed it at seeing Edie click her nails against the tabletop in irritation. Instead, he picked up their dishes and carried them to sink, grumbling on on how no one respects him. Edie arose from her seat, her hands trembling, and neared Spike's lounging body. He paid her no mind but continued to finger his recovered lighter. Edie tugged away Spike's legs from the table causing him to lose his balance and topple to the kitchen floor.
"What the hell?" Spike griped as he retrieved his fallen cigarette and sat on the floor, trying to light it. Edie snatched the cigarette from Spike's pursed lips and tossed it, smudging the tobacco against floor with her shoe. "What is your deal? On your period or something?"
Edie inched closer to Spike's face and gripped his blazer. "No, even better, I'm pregnant." Dishes clattered in the sink and momentarily, Spike sat on the floor with his jaw hanging and blinked.
Spike recoiled from Edie's grasp and smoothed the creases of his collar. "Of course you are. Why am I not surprised?" He stood tall and scoured for another cigarette.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gnashed Edie, protruding her lips and narrowing her eyes. "Are you calling me a whore?"
"Well I'm not calling you the virgin Mary." Spike sassed as he lips weighed a new cigarette.
"You've got some nerve considering you've had a piece of this action." She motioned towards her body and rested her fist on her hip. Spike, visibly flustered by her words, fought the heat staining his face and neck. Not many things crawled beneath Spike's skin; he could call himself pretty tolerant, but this, this was not one of those things. His temple throbbed to no end.
"Knock it off, you too." Jet sternly interceded, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Stay out of this!" The two cried out in unison, peering at Jet and then switching their gaze to each other. Jet rolled his eyes and snorted at the pair before tending to the dishes in the sink. Spike's shoulders tensed and readied his tongue for something ugly. But nothing happened.
"I'm going out for a smoke." He casually turned, teething his cigarette, and exited the kitchen.
…
"Well, that could've gone better." Jet scrubbed at a plate and occupied himself with another. Edie slumped into one of the chairs and rested her forehead against the tabletop, deep into thought.
A low growl escaped her throat. "You think?"
