Opening Statement: here's chapter 4, and just to make a point, I don't plan on too many time skips, the only reason I even did a jump of three months time was to allow for other future separate scenes to be made. Unless I feel the need for it later on, this story should have very few time jumps in it, as unlike the first story, this one isn't based in a different country. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the story part okay!
Disclaimer: Chapter 1, it's there for all to see... did you go and look? Good, then get reading!
(West Eastman, Sandra's POV)
I was a nervous wreck! Sure I knew Luke loved me, and since the first three months of our relationship, our bond to one another has only grown stronger. But how do you tell your boyfriend that you're carrying his offspring without him having a panic attack? Aunt Eleanor had been correct when she told me about the morning sickness kicking in, I woke up way earlier than normal and just puked my guts up into the bathroom sink, which was kinda a benefit as with my being mute, I don't really make much of a sound when stuff like this happens, so I didn't really alert anyone. Thankfully when I finished and cleaned up after myself, it was the normal time I got up anyway, so I just went through my usual morning routine of fixing my hair into a ponytail, brushing my teeth, brushing the fur on my tail... okay that last part was a recent addition, I noticed how Luke would stare at my tail and I wanted to make him want to keep doing it.
Back to the present, I was currently at my desk when I caught my reflection in a small mirror on Julie's desk, hopping over and silently gasping at what I saw, my brown fur looked much brighter in tone, and felt much softer when I poked at it, and then I saw my eyes, the hazel color nearly twice as intense. I face-palmed at this, Mom had mentioned to me this morning that I looked cuter and I had honestly never considered the effects pregnancy had on the body, I was already exhibiting my maternal glow, which for anyone with a brain and knowledge of chipmunk reproduction, was a way for feral chipmunks in the wild to show that they were not on the sexual menu... Damn it I was so stupid!
"Sandy? You okay dear?" I heard from behind me, silently yelping and spinning around to find my boyfriend- scratch that, mate behind me, his very image calming my nerves with a sense of peace... must be part of the maternal bond now growing within me, as I caught myself smiling gently before I gestured my response, "Luke, I have some news for you... and you might want to sit down for it." I explained, though I could tell by the look on his face that he was already thinking about what I was going to tell him, though I kindly let him sit before I continued my explanation, a silent sigh escaping my lips before I set my hands into the proper signs for him. "Luke... I'm pregnant," I said, those two simple words causing my green eyed mate to go stock still, his tail even shooting up and puffing out a bit, causing me to giggle silently at his reaction, "Wait... did I read that right? It almost looked like you said you were-" "Pregnant? I did say that, and you're the father... I don't expect you to treat me any differently for it, I kinda want to keep this under the radar for as long as possible." I explained, Luke's eyes widening before he glanced to my tummy, then back to my eyes... then slowly started to smile.
"I'll support you however I can Sandra, but to be fair we can only keep it secret until you start showing." Luke said, my smile widening before we both heard a cough from behind us, turning to find my older cousin Julian there, man for a bat nearly twice my size he was silent as death itself at times, and unlike his parents he could understand Sign Language completely, which made my heart drop into my stomach. "What's this about being pregnant Sandra? I thought Aunt Brittany told you not to do anything stupid with Luke?" Julian asked, causing me to silently sigh before gesturing my response, "Last night I gave myself to Luke... and we kinda got carried away, one thing lead to another and this morning I'm woke up with a desperate urge to vomit... please don't tell my Mom!" I replied, Luke noticing my hands shaking and taking them into his own, "It's okay Sandy, you have me here, and as long as I'm around, you have nothing to fear." Luke said, causing me to smile and kiss him on the cheek, "Yeah, nothing to fear... until Junior there starts to show more... I mean that as in I'm willing to keep this secret for you both, but how long do you really expect to keep something like this a secret?" Julian asked, Luke and I considering this and then groaning together, "Julian's right, last I checked chipmunks like us only gestate for a month, a month and a half tops! So eventually I'll start to get bigger and unless Mom and Dad forgot what pregnancy looks like, they're going to know... if they don't already know." I explained, Luke raising an eyebrow in confusion, before Julian rolled his eyes and pointed in my general direction, Luke soon noticing my glow and quickly catching on, "Ohhh... crap, that's a good indicator... what if we just say that you're using that lotion that mimics the glow-"
"You dolt! Brittany's smarter than that, though she'd never admit it publicly, she's got brains to match her looks, how do you think Sandra's so damn smart!?" Julian asked, causing me to chuckle silently to myself, I always loved my older cousin, he was funny with everything he did, to the point that he'd make anyone laugh just by being frustrated, though the look on my mate's face made me hold my proverbial tongue, it was a look of pure dread, as if he had just signed his own death certificate, before he let out a single soft chuckle, "Well, it's been nice knowing you all! I'm gonna be dead by the end of the day, and more than likely my tombstone will read, "Here lies Luke Stevenson, an absolute moron"." Luke started spouting out, causing me to roll my eyes and pull him into my arms, but that wasn't enough to shut up his ranting apparently, "And furthermore, my epitaph will read "A munk like no other, a love to last forever, and an insatiable lust for the daughters of celebrities-" I finally had enough and pulled Luke into a reassuring kiss, pulling back and offering a smile before I gestured out my response, "We're in this together, and despite how much my Mom and Dad will probably be pissed-"
"Understatement of the century," Julian cut in, receiving a glare from me before I continued with my small speech, "The point is that my parents will be mad, but they wouldn't want me to bring in a litter with no father... you're safe... I think." I explained, before the bell rang for first class, Luke sighing and letting out a brief chuckle, "Well, that's very reassuring... but I'll be with you through this... I promise." Luke said, before he kissed me and dashed off for his class, a small part of me feeling cold after he left, as if I had lost something precious... and for a while anyway, I had.
(first class, math, regular POV)
Sandra's hand shook slightly as she worked over the equations, trying her damnedest to not draw attention to herself... but it was hard to be away from Luke now. On her way to the class she'd caught herself trying to follow Luke into biology, and it had taken all her will power to force herself to the math room across the hall. "Sandra? You okay girl?" her friend Stephanie asked, one of the few other humans Sandra had befriended outside of Gwen and her brother Ryan, though the sound of her voice caused Sandra to yelp in silent surprise, dropping her pencil and shivering a bit before she nodded, "I'm fine Steph, thanks for asking," Sandra replied, before she retrieved her pencil and went back to work. Slowly Sandra managed to complete the math sheet, handing it in and about to return to her desk when her stomach made a flip, Sandra freezing before she fought back the wave of bile threatening to escape her stomach, "May I be excused please? I need to use the washroom." Sandra quickly signed, the teacher nodding before the voiceless chipette rushed out of the room and to the nearest restroom. Once there she leaped onto the counter and let loose a torrent of bile from her throat, the only sound heard being the splattering of her sickness landing into the sink bowl itself.
"Why am I getting this now! I thought this only happened in the mornings!" Sandra thought, before she released a final blast of vomit into the sink, spitting out the residue and turning the faucet to clean up, turning and freezing to see Ryan at a urinal behind her... in her panic Sandra had accidentally ran into the boys bathroom, and hadn't even noticed Ryan in there first, the blonde haired human boy glancing over his shoulder in shock, all while keeping his lower body thankfully pointed toward the urinal, "Sandra? Are you sick or something?" Ryan asked, Sandra shifting her eyes and then simply nodding, "Just a simple bug, nothing more than that," Sandra replied, before she took a bit of water and washed out her mouth, Ryan chuckling slightly before returning his gaze to his own problem, Sandra thankful that the jock wasn't too bright as she returned to class, only for the bell to ring for morning recess, allowing her to quickly grab her school bag and rush to the opposite door, waiting for Luke to exit and quickly taking his hand in hers, "Miss me that much sweetheart?" Luke asked, Sandra silently giggling before she felt her stomach rumble, wanting to be filled after having recently emptied itself.
(outside, picnic table near cherry tree)
Luke was in the branches of the tree, it being close to fall, the cherries were ripe for eating, and his mate Sandra had mentioned wanting some, "How many you want Sandy?" Luke asked, glancing down and seeing Sandra holding up five fingers to him, "Alright, let's see... ooh there's a good one." Luke said, reaching for a big black cherry before a feral squirrel grabbed it, holding onto it as if to taunt the green eyed chipmunk before it, "Alright, hand it over buddy," Luke said, the squirrel tilting it's head before taking the cherry into it's mouth and hopping away, though not before Luke could grab hold of it's tail, "You brainless goon! It's mine!" Luke said, before yanking the squirrel back reaching for the cherry, only to get slapped in the face by the feral's paws, Luke letting out a growl before he reached for it again, once again getting slapped.
This time, Luke pulled off and slapped the feral in the face, glaring at it, "Yeah, doesn't feel too good does it? Now hand over the freaking cherry or I'll-" Luke's threat was cut off by the squirrel smashing the large cherry over his head, chittering some sort of nonsense before hopping away to a different branch for easier food, Luke letting out a defeated sigh, "The things I'll go through to keep Sandra happy..." Luke said to himself, before pulling the cherry off and tossing it away. After a while, he managed to gather five cherries, hopping to the picnic table and handing the fruits to his mate, Sandra licking her lips and biting into one, silently purring at the taste in her mouth as she ate it, "Cravings kicking in this quickly... this might be a problem if they get too weird." Luke said, Sandra setting her cherry down and gesturing her response, "Well... it's what the babies want, and I don't want to risk them being like me..." Sandra suddenly fell backwards onto the table top, simply passing out for some reason and causing Luke to yelp in surprise. Luckily there were a couple of human students nearby and with their help Luke was able to get Sandra to the nurse's office.
(20 minutes later, school infirmary)
Sandra's eyes fluttered open and she slowly sat up, looking around and silently yelping upon noticing herself in the school nurse's office, Luke thankfully next to her... but unfortunately so were her parents, "Sandra! What happened to you? Luke told us you just passed out!" Brittany said, Sandra raising her hands and signing her words, "I don't know... I just remember eating a cherry and next thing I know I'm in here..." Sandra replied, when the nurse came in, "Well, she's perfectly healthy, it was most likely due to stress that she fainted like that." the nurse explained, even as Sandra got up and used Luke to support herself, the two about to make their way out of the room when the nurse continued speaking.
"Sandra, get plenty of rest, an expecting mother shouldn't be overexerting herself like you do." the nurse said, causing both Sandra and Luke to freeze and slowly turn to meet Alvin and Brittany's gaze, both of whom looked pissed beyond belief, though Alvin was a bit more shocked than anything, "Wait a minute! Nurse, please tell me you are joking... my daughter can't be pregnant she'd use protection for her first time... right Sandy?" Alvin asked, Sandra looking at her feet and offering a nervous smile before gesturing her response, "Uhhh... surprise?" Sandra replied, immediately regretting it as Alvin's eyes shot wide and he started to hyperventilate, Brittany noticing this and for once forgetting her anger to try and prevent what was going to happen, "Alvie, don't do it-"
"SAAAAANDRAAAAA!" Alvin shouted, Sandra and Luke covering their ears while Brittany rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Sandra... I'm not going to tell you that you can't keep them, you conceived them you're going to deal with them, I just want to know why you didn't wait for marriage-" "If you like Mrs. Seville I could propose, right here right now... SOMEBODY GET ME A RING!" Luke shouted, Alvin betraying his own resolve and letting out a laugh at that, "Look Luke, I'd be honored to call you a son... but I want you and Sandra to know each other better before that happens." Alvin said, Brittany spinning around with a look of disbelief on her face, "You can't be serious! You don't care if your first grand children are going to be bastards?" Brittany asked, Alvin shaking his head and placing his hands on Brittany's waist, "Dear, we are animals! We technically didn't need to be married to start a family, I just love you so much that I wanted to make it official and "put a ring on it" as Beyoncé once said, you know just as well as I do that when we mated that we weren't going to be split apart... I think the same thing is what made Sandra faint." Alvin replied, Brittany growling a bit before Alvin pulled his wife into a brief kiss, then glanced to Sandra with an expression between pride and anger, "I'm not impressed young lady... but I don't want to stress you with your delicate condition so I'll just leave it there for now... but this discussion is far from over." Alvin said, before he walked over and placed his hand on Luke's shoulder, the green eyed chipmunk stiffening under the grip and causing Alvin to chuckle before he gently shook the boy a bit to gain his attention.
"Luke, I was hoping to have more time with this but... what I mean to say is if my daughter is to give her trust, her love and her very soul to anyone else... I'm thankful that it's you she's giving it to." Alvin said, a single tear threatening to escape his eye, even while Luke offered a reassuring smile and mimicked Alvin's hand placement, "Don't worry Mr. Seville, your daughter is in good hands... and we made a very bad first impression on each other so let's start over for now. Hi, I'm Luke Stevenson." Luke offered, holding his hand out to Alvin, the red clad chipmunk smiling before he wiped his eyes and took Luke's hand, "I'm Alvin Seville... it's nice to finally meet you Luke." Alvin said, Brittany still angry with her daughter, until Sandra tapped her shoulder to gain her attention, "Mom... I know you aren't proud of me for getting pregnant while still in school, and to be honest I'd rather have waited to have children until I graduated but... these pups I'm carrying are going to need a Grandmother... and I'd prefer if it were you." Sandra said, Brittany's eyes widening at the word her daughter used, then they started to tear up before Brittany pulled her daughter into her arms, "Oh sweetheart, of course I'll be their Grandmother... why would you think otherwise... I'm still mad as Hell for you doing this but... what's done is done, and I'd rather die myself then tell you to undo the life within your body." Brittany replied, Sandra hugging Brittany close and nuzzling into her shoulder, she may be grown up, but in Brittany's eyes, Sandra was still the little pup that she had held in her arms that day they first came into the world.
(Seville house, Luke's POV)
I'm going to be a father... I know I should be panicking but for some reason the thought just brings me more peace than anything else. So long as I had Sandra at my side, I'd be able to do anything that I set my heart to, parenthood and anything it held with it. Oh why was I in the Seville's home? Well for two reasons, one being that Sandra was nearly inconsolable when she was away from me, so I decided to move into their house until the pups were born... or at least that was the plan, the other reason I was at the Seville house was because when I told my parents about my being a father now, they practically disowned me, and told me that I was no longer welcome in their home... humans could be so sensitive. Whatever, I'll still use my adoptive family name when I finally do decide to marry Sandra proper, I had offered to sleep on the couch or bunk up with Nathan's family, but Sandra was having none of that, "NO, YOU ARE SLEEPING WITH ME! DISCUSSION OVER!" Sandra had practically screamed at me, to which I simply had to agree to... no telling what Sandra would do to have me next to her. It was also apparently decided to temporarily pull Sandra out of school, Simon and Jeanette would resume home schooling until Sandra had given birth, and without hesitation I enrolled myself into their classes... what can I say, I'm just that much of a sweetheart when I'm with Sandra.
"Luke, you don't have to drop out of school-" "But that's the beauty of it Simon, technically I'm not dropping out, I'm just switching school systems... look Sandra told me about her first day of your classes, and how you had told her Dad that Sandra needed as little distractions as possible... how distracted do you think Sandra would be if I'm not there by her side?" I explained, Simon considering my words and then shaking his head, "Alright, it's your choice, but I'll warn you that when I'm in teacher mode, I'm stricter than Dr. Rubin herself." Simon told me, this info causing me to rethink my options for a moment, then nod my head, "And I'll abide by your rules... Dr. Seville," I replied, Simon grinning at the title, the certificate of his doctorate in school teaching hanging on the wall, Sandra had told me how both he and Jeanette had taken an online college course to officially certify themselves as proper teachers... in fact if they had chosen to they could have applied for jobs at West Eastman, but they didn't want make a cut in their music career.
I then feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to find Sandra smiling before she pulled me into a gentle kiss, then started to gesture while kissing me... one of the benefits of having no voice was the ability to talk with your mouth in use... she'd done it before with other things in the past, "Thanks for being such a sweet guy... I love you Luke," Sandra said, then pulled out of the kiss to let me respond, "Aww, I love you too sweetheart," I then knelt down and gently pressed my face against Sandra's currently flat belly, "And I love all of you in there too," I said, placing a kiss to Sandra's belly. I then heard a cough from behind me and saw Jeanette making a "split it up" motion with her hands, "As much as this scene is cute to watch, both Simon and I are diabetic if you catch our meaning," Jeanette said, causing me to chuckle, "Then you better get some insulin, as this kind of stuff will just keep happening." I said, Simon face-palming at my words.
(later that night, regular POV)
Luke was laying next to Sandra in their bed, the voiceless chipette currently fast asleep and snuggled into his side, a smile on her face as Luke watched her, "Gosh... you're so beautiful when you sleep," Luke said to himself, when the door to the room opened and Theodore walked into the room, "I'd like to say that I welcome you to our family, and that if Sandra starts having a nightmare rub her back gently, it's what I used to do when she was younger and I had to babysit, goodnight," Theodore said, Luke softly chuckling before he gave a thumbs up. A few minutes later, just as he was about to drift off, he felt Sandra shivering next to him, glancing over and immediately sensing that she was in the middle of a nightmare, so he did as Theodore had told him and started to rub Sandra's back, her body going still a moment before she let out a silent sigh in her sleep and smiled again, shifting herself so her head was resting on his chest, Luke feeling a warmth rise in his chest before he placed his arm protectively around her, kissing the top of her head before whispering in her ear, "Hey, to the Nightmares that are bothering my mate, BACK OFF! Or you'll deal with me... that's a promise." Luke said, Sandra's smile widening in her sleep even while Luke fell asleep himself.
And there's chapter 4... I know, there's no song at all, to be honest I couldn't think of any that would fit anywhere... though I did listen to Justin Bieber's song "Where Are U Now" and that's actually what I imagine being the theme of this chapter. Hope you enjoy and tell me what you think in the box below, PEACE!
And now, a random moment in the Seville home:
*Kevin and Danny in the kitchen with Amani*
Amani: I need to get my hair styled better.
Danny: *looks at Amani's hair* You're right, you do need better styling.
Kevin: I think she was hinting at you doing it.
Danny: I don't know how to style hair! You do it!
Kevin: Uh excuse me, I have my own looks to deal with.
Amani: I'll just go to my Mom...