"So how have you been?" Trixie asked with a smile as everyone rode on the bus.
The band was on their way driving though the country to pick up their final member, Ted. Trixie has spent half of the night catching up with everyone. Most of her night was spent with Tennessee, rekindling their romance.
"Lately?" Vivian asked. "Things have been great."
"You sure are big though, Viv", Trixie said as she looked at her belly. "I don't know why, but there's something so wonderful about it. Out of everything happening, something good will be coming into this world soon. What's it like knowing you're about to start a family? Out of all of us, you and Ted will be the first."
Vivian smiled as the other bears watched her, waiting for her to answer. They all wanted to know what it was like to be a parent. Before she could say anything, the bus engine started sputtering. Smoke started coming out from the back of the bus.
"Oh, come on, not now!" Roadie sighed.
He pulled over to the side of the road. Henry looked out the window to see a payphone.
"Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to give Ted a call", he said.
"Don't...!" Vivian gasped worried about what he would say.
Everyone looked at her like she had grown two heads. Why would Vivian not want Ted to know they were coming? If they were going to have a successful show, they needed their lead bear. It wasn't like Ted had anything else going on in his life, was there? Vivian sighed and settled back down into her seat.
"Just... don't tell him... about the cub, alright?" she looked up at Henry. "He needs to be told in person."
"That's for you to tell him anyway", Henry shrugged. "It's not my place to tell Ted he's going to be a father soon."
She looked at him and nodded with a sigh as he stepped off the bus, going to the payphone. Just the thought of seeing Ted again kept her on edge. Other than the baby, just the thought of those arguments made her nervous. Those moments Ted would get violent. Vivian was pulled out of her thoughts when Trixie laid her paw on top of hers.
"You worry too much", Trixie said. "It's been a long time since the two of you had a bad argument. Maybe Ted's calmed down over the years. You never know."
"How can I not worry when there's a kid involved in this..." Vivian muttered. "I don't want the cub to get hurt either."
The two bears looked at her belly understandingly.
"So, have you thought of any names for the young 'un?" Zeb asked as he sat by the window.
"I have", she nodded. "It is Ted's cub, so I at least want to give it his last name. If it's a boy, I want to name him Andy. If it's a girl, I want to name her Bianca."
"Andy Bedderhead and Bianca Bedderhead?" Tennessee asked hearing how the names sounded out.
"I'll have to run them by Ted and see how he likes them."
Everyone turned back to the door when they saw Henry and Beary stepping back onto the bus. They waited to hear what Ted's answer was about rejoining the band. The older bear smiled and nodded.
"He's in!"
"He'll join?" Fred asked with wide eyes.
Everyone almost felt relieved. No one thought Ted would come back so easily, given his attitude. They thought he would have a catch or something to join the band. Vivian smiled and rubbed her belly and laid her head back.
"Daddy's coming home..." she muttered to the baby.
