A/N: Yay chapter 6! Once again thanks to the people who reviewed I love hearing from you and knowing you aren't hating this story completely! Before I get rambling let's move into the story and see the Frankenstein place become a little more homey shall we?
~Chapter 6~
After a few hours of peaceful sleep Collie's dreams shifted into a nightmare. She had just told Eddie she was pregnant but rather than reacting how he really had he'd turned around and walked away completely ignoring her as she followed trying to talk to him until they stood outside in pouring rain, she tried to follow him outside the gates but a pair of arms wrapped around her and kept her from doing so making her start sobbing and trying to get away as he started his motorcycle. The roar of the engine made her start awake gasping for breath as tears dampened her cheeks, the cold wetness from the rain vanished but the arms around her didn't making her look to see who was holding her. To her surprise it was Magenta and even in the dark she could tell the other woman was not happy as she leered at the window, lightning flashed outside illuminating the other woman's face making Collie flinch slightly seeing she was giving a death glare to the window.
"G-Genta what are you doing in here? Where's Eddie?"
Magenta looked down at her and at once her expression softened as she let her friend go so she could sit up but she didn't speak. The thunder rumbled outside and Collie's heart sank as the thing that woke her up became more and more real to her as tears washed down her cheeks again and she shook her head.
"No, no he didn't! He wouldn't!"
Magenta stayed silent but pulled her into a hug letting her sob on her shoulder as she rubbed her back finally speaking.
"If he isn't responsible enough to stay and own up to helping you raise this baby then you don't need someone like him in your lives. I'll help you as much as I can, I won't leave you on your own."
Collie managed a small thank you between sobs making Magenta gently rock her humming softly trying to calm her. Finally Collie cried herself to sleep and Magenta laid her back on the pillows before going to the window looking out through the thick curtains as it began to rain. She could faintly see the red dot of the motorcycle's tail light down the road before it vanished into the sheeting rain. Magenta stayed with Collie for the rest of the night until morning when she left to get dressed and make breakfast.
Collie woke up awhile later smelling bacon cooking and groaned as the scent made her stomach flip. She curled up in the bed trying to force the sickness away when she realized what had happened the night before, she'd woken from a nightmare of Eddie leaving her to find Magneta holding her giving a look that could kill the grim reaper to the window. Before she could even try to stop it biel rose in her throat making her jump from the bed to the bathroom where she was violently sick.
Once the spell passed she rinsed her mouth out and got dressed in a loose grey t-shirt and a pair of leggings before going down stairs to the kitchen. Magneta was just putting bacon on the last of three plates when Collie came in making her look away from her task to smile softly.
"Morning Collie."
"Morning Genta."
Collie leaned on the counter her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt.
"He really left didn't he?"
Magneta said nothing for a long moment as she poured a cup of coffee for her brother then sighed.
"Yeah he did, I could have killed him for it too. I heard the front door close just before the storm kicked up and hurried to see what was going on but by the time I got down to the second floor the motorbike started and I knew he was gone. I went to your room and found you tossing and turning from a nightmare and tried to wake you up but the bike's engine did that ."
Collie said nothing and didn't look up from the floor as a tear rolled down her cheek. Magenta set the plates aside and went to her gently wiping it away making her friend look up.
"You don't need that immature ass anyway, you've got me and Laura and Carol to look out for you no matter what."
This made Collie smile finally making Magenta nod then grab the plates again leading her to the dining room where she set the plates down.
"I should go get Riff up before we leave, go ahead and start eating."
Collie watched her leave before looking at her plate, eggs sunny side up, sausages bacon and toast that was a little burnt in the corners. Just smelling the bacon made her stomach churn so instead she nibbled at the toast and sipped her orange juice. When the siblings came down Riff looked half asleep still making her feel a little guilty, she knew Riff didn't sleep unless Magenta was with him, and Magenta gave her confused look seeing she'd only ate the toast.
"I didn't poison it Collie."
Collie shook her head looking at the other woman.
"It's not that Genta it's just even the smell of food right now makes me sick, toast was the only thing that didn't."
Magenta sat beside her brother and chuckled, normally the slightly burnt toast was the only part of the breakfast Collie wouldn't eat. After breakfast Riff went to check that the guest rooms were in order and the girls took the truck into town to the tv studio. They arrived in time to slip in the stage door and stand beside the bleachers the audience filled.
Looking at the stage they found the whole Dentonvale cast standing together with Nation saying that this was the last episode there would be of Dentonvale because the show was being dropped. The crowd had a mix of reactions, some cheered, some booed, other just sat there clapping and a few sat silently as the cast left the stage but not before Laura caught sight of the two of them and smiled gesturing for them to come back with them.
Sharing a look the pair snuck their way around the main set and caught up with the others quickly. Magenta smiled at Nation and hugged her kissing her cheek.
"I'm so happy for you Natty! You'll be an amazing mother!"
Nation chuckled and hugged her back before watching her cousin release her then hug Cosmo who looked at a complete loss as to what to do making them all laugh. Laura looked at Collie and put an arm over her shoulders.
"So how'd everything go last night?"
Collie's smile fell at once making Laura become worried and turn to face her cousin both hands on her shoulders.
"Columbia what happened? Did he hurt you?"
Collie shook her head for a second then stopped and nodded before tears rolled down her cheeks like mini rivers as Laura hugged her close looking at Magenta who mouthed 'left her'. Laura gave a low growl and held Collie closer looking down at her.
"If he couldn't stick around and help you take care of this baby then he doesn't deserve to be in its life anyway. You don't need him you've got the rest of us."
Collie nodded slowly calming down until she finally stopped crying. She wiped her eyes and watched as Magenta, Cosmo and Ricky went to get the bags leaving just Nation, Laura and herself in the hall. Looking at Nation Collie could see she was slightly bigger than herself.
"How far along are you Nation?"
Nation smiled putting a hand on her stomach.
"Four months now, I'm due in August, what about you?"
Collie smiled putting a hand to her own stomach.
"Two months so I'll be due in October then."
Laura looked between the two and crossed her arms.
"Did you two secretly plan things this way or is it just some weird coincidence?"
That made all three of them laugh as the others came back with the bags. Laura took her stuff and helped carry the rest out to the truck setting them in the back before looking at the others.
"There's 6 of us, which three are sitting in back?"
The others looked at each other before Cosmo spoke up.
"Nation, Columbia and Magenta should ride in the cab the rest of us can sit in back."
Nation looked a little annoyed at her brother for speaking for her but didn't argue as she and Collie got in the cab with Magenta while the other three got in the back settling in. The drive back to the castle was filled with the girls in the cab discussing anything from what the nurseries would look like to names for the babies.
Once they arrived Riff was waiting on the steps making Magenta smile and go to him, he wrapped his arms around her and lightly kissed her forehead. Collie helped Laura with her things despite her cousin's objections.
"I can carry a suitcase Lu, I'm pregnant not dying, besides I want to show you to your room."
Laura sighed but followed her with Ricky close behind. Collie led them up to the second floor and to the room across from the nursery opening the door and stepping aside to let them in. The room's dark hardwood floors had been mopped and polished, the single bed had been changed to a queen sized bed with cream colored sheets and a maroon comforter, the dark wood headboard had carved flowers along it, the window had been freed from the boards that kept it shut and now had deep maroon hangings in front of it.
"The closet over there is big enough for you and Ricky, the other door is your bathroom it's got a soaking tub and double vanities. Across the hall is my room and the nursery Nation and Cosmo are one floor up with Riffy and Genta. The window has a nice view of the garden but sometimes the dogs start barking and you can hear them."
Laura smiled setting her suitcase on the bed then went back hugging her cousin.
"It's perfect but just to clarify, how many dogs?"
Collie thought for a moment.
"6 but don't try to go near them, they only like Genta and will bite anyone else if she's not around."
Laura looked a little nervous as her eyes looked around her.
"Collie I know you've looked at this place as home for the past 5 years but don't you think it's a little...unsafe?"
Collie put her hands on her hips raising an eyebrow.
"Not really, it's definitely safer than a padded wing with insane inmates. But at any rate I can see what you mean, there are still things that need to be made a little more child friendly but we have plenty of time I mean the kids will practically live in their nurseries, which have already been child proofed, until they can walk so it's not like it all has to be done right now."
Laura felt herself smile slightly before they both looked at Ricky as he forced the window open.
"I don't think we'll need to worry about the dogs Lu, their kennel is in the far corner of the yard there's still lots of room out there for kids."
Collie smirked making Laura roll her eyes before looping her arm through Collie's.
"Alright then how about a tour?"
Collie laughed shaking her head but led her cousin from the room deciding to start with the nursery.
"It's not much now but eventually we'll paint in here and get it set up, Genta had this real pretty shade of lavender picked out but I told her that a purple room wouldn't do if I have a boy, then she laughed at me it's like she knows something I don't."
She crossed her arms pouting slightly but looked confused when Laura hid a giggle behind her hand.
"What's so funny?! What do you all know that I don't?"
Laura opened her mouth to speak but the voice that responded wasn't her own.
"It's a Transylvanian ability that all girls have, from the time a woman is two months pregnant they themselves or any other female, no matter the age after 16, can tell the gender of the baby so long as the mother knows she's pregnant. I think the lavender would do wonderfully for your little girl Columbia."
Collie opened and closed her mouth a couple times but nothing came out as the information sunk in until she smiled brightly.
"A little girl! Well this will make shopping soooooo much easier!"
She paused as her mind shifted back to the new information and smiled at Nation.
"So you know what you and Mac are having?!"
Nation nodded smiling softly.
"A girl as well."
There was a groan from Ricky making them all face him as he crossed his arms leaning on the wall.
"That means me, Mac and Riff Raff will be the only guys in this hen house. Lu if you ever get pregnant I seriously hope it's a boy."
Collie laughed leaning on Laura who wrapped her arm around her waist.
"Then you'd all be screwed,"
"Yeah three pregnant women in one house wouldn't be fun for any of you besides someone has to be with Magenta in not being pregnant."
The cousins started laughing leaning on each other, even Nation was chuckling behind her hand in agreement. Once she was able to stop laughing Collie looked around.
"Where did those three get to anyway, I haven't seen them since we got here."
Laura nodded her agreement before all eyes looked at Nation who shrugged.
"Magenta helped me settle in then went off to the kitchen and the boys went who knows where."
Collie smiled clapping her hands.
"I bet I know, they probably went down to the lab. Hmm I should go give Genta a hand with lunch, she tends to burn food when she's trying to do too much at once."
She went to the door turning and smiling back at the others.
"Feel free to have a look around the castle, the lift can take you up stairs or down to the lab. Laura if you go in my room leave my stuff alone I know what a neat freak you are."
Laura blushed crossing her arms making the other chuckle as Collie slipped from the room and skipped down the stairs in an oddly happy mood compared to earlier. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she looked around the entry hall listening to see if she could hear Magenta in the kitchen but her eyes caught something sitting on the table near the lift. Looking around she bit her lip and snuck over looking around again before looking at the object, it was a little silver locket shaped like an oval, it was worn and clearly old judging by the scratches and dents in the metal and by the fact it wouldn't open no matter how she tried.
"What are you doing?"
Collie let out a shriek and spun around hiding the locket behind her back as she found Magenta standing a few feet away one hand on her hip while the other held a tray with two plates and cups.
"Nothing! Nation was just wondering where Cosmo went and I thought I heard the lift."
Magenta looked her over, she didn't believe the lie one bit but she couldn't come up with another reason Collie would be poking around the lift since she hadn't set foot in the lab for over a year.
"He and Riff are in the lab working on something, lunch is ready when you and the others want to eat I'm just going to take this down to the guys."
Collie nodded slowly moving away from the table being sure to keep the locket hidden as she climbed the stairs pausing out of view listening to the lift rattle down to the lab. Once the sound had stopped she continued up stairs holding the locket in her hand as she looked around for the others. Nation had gone back to her and Cosmo's room and was sleeping on the bed, Ricky had found the library and was seated on the dust covered couch looking through some equally dusty novel so that left Laura. With a groan Collie went to her room but was surprised to see Laura wasn't there so she began crossing the hall to her cousin's room only to pause and find Laura in the nursery standing in front of one of the walls a pencil in her hand.
Collie leaned on the doorframe and watched smiling as Laura drew onto the wall pausing to look at her work before adding things to it. Laura had always been the creative one often drawing in notebooks or doodling in corners of papers so it wasn't a surprise for Collie to find her taking advantage of a large blank canvas. She leaned more into the frame to see if the other walls had the same drawings but when the wood squeaked in protest Laura spun around to face her and dropped the pencil.
"Collie! I thought you were down stairs!"
Collie chuckled shaking her head and tried to step into the room to get a better look only to have Laura stop her.
"Not yet, they're not done yet, I want them to be a surprise for you."
Collie pouted crossing her arms.
"We still need to paint in here Lu they'll get covered up."
Laura shook her head carefully pushing her out of the room.
"Not if I do the painting! You're not allowed in here until the painting is finished. No arguing!"
Collie growled putting her hands on her hips.
"You can't do that, it's my baby's nursery."
Laura chuckled kissing her forehead.
"I know it is so let me do this for you please."
Collie sighed but smiled.
"Okay fine but don't take too long I really want to see it!"
Laura chuckled then laughed as Collie started laughing. As the day went on Collie kept herself busy looking through an old magazine in her room listening to her record player thankful for the happy mood that came with Laura and the others moving in as it chased away the scared and hurt feelings in knowing Eddie had left her yet deep down she knew Laura and Magenta were right she'd have them and now knowing Nation was going to have a baby not long before herself she knew she wasn't going to have to go through it all alone.