They spent many mornings like this, Alice staring down at their toilet as Francis rubbed the small of her back and tried to comfort her, which was nice but not really helpful to the person that actually had the morning sickness. She could already taste the spices coming back for their vengeance.
"Ugh...I blame the curry."
"You were craving it! You made me buy it!"
Alice sighed and finally leaned back, patting her mouth with a towel.
"That doesn't mean that it was the best idea…"
Alice sighed and leaned back against the wall of their bathroom, closing her eyes as she just tried to focus on the smell of nothing that was their bathroom. It was her one sanctuary, the place where she did not allow any candles, air fresheners or anything, all of these only served to make her even more ill. She even made sure that the bathroom was in plain whites, pale blues and soft lighting, just in case that had anything to do with her sickness. Finally after a moment of this she stood, holding her small rounded stomach as she did so.
"Well love, whats for breakfast?"
"You were just sick…"
Alice went to the sink and grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste, she had been carrying around mints for whenever she got sick at work, which was often considering how many people brought smelly food and wore perfume.
"Which means that I will have to replace those calories, yes?"
She glanced at her husband with a small smile before starting to brush her teeth, using plenty of toothpaste in order to get the aftertaste of last nights curry out of her mouth. With a slight shift behind her Alice knew he was going to fulfill her request for food and so she was able to hum as she brushed her teeth. After all, she had two little babies to feed, so why should she not eat?
Today was one of their days off and Alice planned on utilizing this time to simply rest, eat and repeat this process for the entirety of the day. It would be heaven.
After her morning routine Alice lingered in the hall, listening to the sound of Francis frying bacon, the smell of it wafting over to her. She didn't even have to ask, he already seemed to know just what she needed. Or rather, what the babies wanted, since for the past four days that was all they had wanted for breakfast. It was odd, she knew they were tiny, but she felt like she was getting the idea of who they were. Baby "A" was on her right side and Baby "B" was on her left side. The babies always wanted different foods throughout the day, all except for bacon, they always wanted bacon at some point in the day. Who was she to deprive them of this?
It was the middle of breakfast that a knock was heard at their door, Alice setting down her cup of decaf tea.
"If it's either of our bosses, we are hiding, or tell them they will have to deal with a cranky pregnant woman."
Francis nodded and Alice watched him open the door, that was when she heard it, the ever so subtle "cluck" that was unforgettable to anyone with half a brain.
"What in the…"
She stood, going to the doorway where there stood Alfred, proudly sporting a white chicken that sported brown speckles on its feathers. Her husband seemed to be in a state of slight shock as she went over to him, standing in front of the chicken. The creatures eyes whited out, it ruffled its feathers and then let out a loud squeak in her face.
"Heya sis! Look! I brought you some fresh meat! All natural, organic, and lean! Matthew said that's important for babies!"
Who else could have done this but Alfred? There he stood, smiling in front of her as he offered up the chicken to her, the bird looking around and kicking its orange legs.
"Alfred what the…"
"Look, I know its weird, but I just want what's best for them, you know?"
He shrugged with a happy smile, looking for all the world like the same little boy that had begged her to let him keep the "pet" snake and racoon. How could she refuse his gift? Those bloody eyes always worked on her, besides the chicken was almost cute.
"I mean this is pretty exciting, to have actual babies in the family! Oh here, I have to go! Bye!"
He dumped the chicken into her arms and then took off, hailing a taxi. Alice stared into the eyes of the chicken, the chicken staring back before she shut the door just as it let out another squak. Alice took it to the kitchen and gingerly set it down upon the floor. The couple stared at the chicken for a bit, the stupid bird blindly pecking at their hardwood floor as if trying to get food from the wood.
After a few minutes of this Francis dragged out a knife with a shrug.
"...You know Alice it's been awhile since i've made coq au vin."
"Francis no!"
Her husband stared at her as if she was crazy as she grabbed the chicken, holding it close to her even as it tried to peck at her loose hair for food.
"Alice it's a chicken, we've all hunted and killed our own meat before, what is the problem?"
She didn't know why, but she burst out into tears, holding the chicken close as she would a stuffed teddy bear, even as it furiously kicked its legs.
"They're a mum like me! They have little chicks too!...Or she will at least!"
Her husband gave her a startled look, after all it had been ages since he had seen her cry like this, he glanced about as he set down the knife, mumbling.
"Technically they're not chicks, they're just the byproducts of-"
"FRANCIS WE ARE NOT KILLING THIS CHICKEN!"
"AH! D'accord, d'accord!"
Alice nodded sternly and took the chicken outside, thankful for the fact that this house was fenced in. Her tears were quick to end now that her fellow mum was no longer in danger of being stewed in expensive wine and garlic.
"Chickens are illegal within city limits, aren't they?"
"Oui Alice, they are."
"Well then, we will just have to keep this a secret then, won't we?"
The air was getting chilly, but the chicken didn't seem to mind as it strutted around and pecked at their impeccably kept lawn. Perhaps this was a bad idea, but there was no way that Alice was going to kill that chicken.
The air was crisp and cool as they went to their next meeting, it was close to Christmas and their gift seemed to be that they finally knew the gender of their babies. The little buggers had finally moved so that they could properly tell on the ultrasound. The babies were to be two little girls, and they couldn't be more excited. The world needed more ladies and raising little boys….They were too old for that. This meeting was not an official business, but was supposed to be for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years and other such holidays, it was just a time for everyone to exchange gifts. Since it was supposed to be a "party" Francis had roped her into wearing an ugly sweater. It was truly hideous.
"Francis I feel ridiculous."
"But it is wonderful Alice!"
"No it's stupid."
Francis only shrugged as they walked on as he admired the sweater in question, her coat covered up some of its horridness, but not enough. One could still see the print that said "santa's little helper" and the large arrow that pointed to her well rounded stomach that now was quite obvious and stuck out,which only exaggerating the arrows purpose. Even with her coat open wide to allow the frosty air onto her thin, cheap, polyester sweater, Alice was still burning up. Already Francis was carrying her scarf, hat and gloves.
"Alice, you look wonderful!"
There was no time for a witty remark as he opened the door to the party, it was as if the door was holding it all in, stuffed to capacity for as soon as they opened the door the light, smell, and bodies came spilling out onto the snowy streets behind them. The room just felt...warm and bright, the heavy scent of cinnamon and nutmeg helping to make this feel like a safe place. There was a Christmas tree, a menorah, and more in different areas around the room.
"Hello, Merry Christmas!"
Oh thank God, one of their normal siblings/ former children/ who even knows greeted them at the door, Michelle. She wore her blue dress as usual, but to prep for the winter weather she had on a white sweater over it that she used for her trips to Europe.
"Ah hello love, how are you?"
"Wonderful! How are my nieces?"
Alice sighed as Francis gently took her coat and placed it beside the many others.
"They're alright, they started to kick-"
"THEY'RE KICKING?"
"...Bloody hell."
Alice watched as heads turned to them, a few people walking over with piping hot mugs of cider, and of course, questions.
"How long have they been kicking?!"
"Can we feel?!"
There was no stopping this, was there?
"Fine, fine! I will let you all know when the babies kick again, in the meantime I could use some cider if you don't mind, so please let me through."
"Don't worry about that, I'll get it."
It was such a soft voice that she almost missed it, but she knew that it had to be Matthews.
"Thank you love, now everyone please, I do believe that you're making my babies shy."
That finally got the crowd to break up as she went over to a chair by the window, opened it and then sat down to rest her aching back, feet, aching everything. The cool air felt good on her and so she opened the window more and turned to it, only to have to turn around again as her shoulder was tapped lightly.
"Ah Matthew, thank you….I hear you've been trying to help Alfred understand the babies?"
The easier to raise of her colonies sat down with a sheepish smile, someone had roped him into wearing reindeer antlers it seems as he now sported those, looking like some sort of woodland spirit.
"Ah yeah...You know how he is, he would have given you nothing but spam and chocolate if I had not stepped in."
Alice shrugged as she sipped her spiced cider that was just perfect, it tasted of warm and hearty orange, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and perhaps a smidge of allspice. Perhaps she could get Francis to recreate it for her later.
"Well I really do appreciate it love...Oh wait….Hmm, Matthew would you like to be the first to feel the baby's kicking?"
"Oh are they?! Yes of course!"
He leaned over and felt her stomach through the thin sweater, it only took a moment before Baby A kicked near where his hand was, making him chuckle.
"They're awake now, eh?"
"Ah yes, well I'll let you in on a secret love, babies can be woken up sometimes with cold drinks or in this case, hot cider. I know its an old wives tale, but it worked here, didn't it?"
"Yeah….Thank you for letting me feel!"
Alice shrugged, already halfway done with her mug of steaming cider, she would need a lot more in order to rouse the babies enough for the amount of people that would be wanting to feel them kick.
"Of course...You're their uncle just as much as Alfred is you know."
"Ah...yeah...I know. But I mean...I'm going to be the boring uncle eh?"
Alice frowned at that, setting down her mug onto the windowsill.
"Now Matthew I don't want to hear you saying that...I know you're older now but you still have to mind me, alright? Which means that you will be just as wonderful of an uncle as Alfred, or Feliciano, or anyone else, alright?"
He seemed to ponder this for a moment before finally he nodded with a small smile.
"Alright...Thank you."
"Good...Now then, go get Michelle and Monika. It's time the aunts got to know their nieces as well."
He walked off and Alice opened the window just a bit wider, it was still hot in there and she was roasting in her sweater. She let the cool air wash over her for a bit before she soon realized that it wouldn't be enough and so she took off her sweater so she was only wearing her turtleneck that was underneath. That was a lot better and so she set her sweater aside, at least she had an excuse to get rid of the horrid thing.
"Hello Alice, how are you today?"
That oddly stiff but proper tone could only belong to Monika, she wore her pink sweater but had on a white scarf, apparently Alice was the only one feeling hot in this room.
"I'm fine, and you?"
"I am well, thank you."
Alice nodded and gestured to her stomach.
"The baby is kicking."
Monika made no move, but smiled a bit more.
"That is wonderful."
"Ah...Thank you."
Monika nodded and left then, leaving behind Alice as she was still going to her stomach. They had never been very close after all, but at least Monika did seem genuinely pleased for her. Luckily Michelle was quick to come over and so Alice was able to save face.
"May I feel?"
"Yes of course love, just let me get them kicking again."
Alice sipped another mouthful of the hot cider, waited a moment and soon Baby B was kicking this time.
"Ah, there they are love. Go on."
Michelle didn't waste a second in touching her bump, she held her hands on her stomach until finally she felt it, a soft thud coming from Alice's left side.
"Oh wow…."
"Yes, oh wow. They're celebrating the fact that I took off that horrid sweater."
Michelle grinned up at her with a shining face, laughing at her little jest.
"I can already sense that this one will be a great surfer, you have to let me teach her!"
"Oh well….yes, of course you can. When they get older enough of course!"
"Yes, of course! Oh looks like Alfred heard…"
In order to preserve herself Michelle sidestepped out of the way as Alfred came barreling through, like a child at Christmas, Francis right behind him.
"Are my nieces finally up?!"
"Yes Alfred, they are."
Alfred waited for her to nod and then felt her stomach, groaning when they didn't immediately stir.
"Ah come on guys, i'm your uncle! Be nice to me and i'll get you a good Christmas gift next year, K?"
There was a pause and then Baby A kicked right beside his hand, Alfred's face lighting up.
"Hey, there you are! Hey little miss! Oh wait...Hmm...little bit? I'll come back to that later!"
He grinned excitedly and looked up at Alice with a wide excited smile, finally standing up.
"I got you something!"
With that he left to go retrieve what would hopefully not be another chicken, their coop was only big enough for the one, finally allowing Francis sit beside her and get to feel her bump again.
"Oh, they are quite active tonight aren't they?"
"It's the cider."
"Ah oui, that would be it….Have you ever seen Alfred this excited for something?"
Alice sighed, thinking about that. He was very excitable, so he got excited over the littlest of things, but this was different. Someone started to play light seasonal music over the stereo, masking their words from the others.
"Not since I got him his first rifle...Bloody hell what was I thinking when I did that?"
"Hmm, i'm not sure. But at any rate I haven't seen him this excited since I gave him the Statue of Liberty….You know why, yes?"
Did she know why? Well….She had an idea why. Alfred had always wanted a family, that was obvious enough. Even though he had declared independence from her he was still family, so he could still be the twins uncles. To see him so excited about that...Well it showed how much progress had been made over the years. Alice had to quit her pondering however as Alfred soon came back with the gift, once opened it was revealed to be some items for the girls, simply little socks, outfits and barrets for their hair.
"Oh Alfred this is lovely, thank you."
"Yeah you're welcome...Sorry it's not something in there for you, but you know I figured you already have all you could ever need, except for baby clothes!"
"Well Alfred you're right and really, this is all I could have needed, at least now you have a new idea, hmm?"
Alfred chuckled a bit nervous as he scratched the side of his chin.
"Yeah but I mean...You like tea…"
"I do, but I don't think anyone wants to get tea for every Christmas for an entire decade…."
Alfred waved her off shyly, Francis soon handing her some cake to make sure her mood wouldn't go sour.
"I try man! You're not the easiest to buy for you know!"
"Yes, I know…But the girls aren't hard to buy for, are they?"
"No, they're not…."
Alice nodded with a small hum as she rubbed her belly.
"Exactly, which is why you may buy gifts for them instead of me now, it really is better that way."
"Heh yeah, at least they can't complain!"
With that Alfred dashed off to probably go torment some other poor soul and Alice finally stood, beginning to mill around the party with Francis. People were chatting, drinking, and others were hiding in corners to avoid all of the hub. Even with how many people were crammed into the building, it never lost that peaceful feeling of a Christmas party, the utopia ones where no one was arguing about sports or politics. Those parties indeed were rare, and hard to achieve with their bunch, but everyone knew one word of politics and you would be "shunned," or in their case sent off to a corner to reflect upon your life choices.
The rest of the party passed by in a blur of red and green, gifts, cider and cake. Some people got drunk, and some like herself, got sick. At least she wasn't the only one vomiting at the party. Whatever the name was, morning sickness was not only in the morning, oh how she wished that was true. It was just that the overwhelming smells, heat and more got to her and so they ended up walking home early.
"Well Francis, that was a lovely party, hmm?"
"Oui, I feel as if we need a wheelbarrow to bring all of our gifts home however…"
Alice nodded silently, walking alongside him and humming softly as she walked, still not wearing her coat and chewing on a mint
"Hmm, perhaps….But if it's for the girls, then I wouldn't mind hauling around a wheelbarrow.,
They continued to walk, Alice breathing in the cold air as she rubbed her belly. Their babies would be born in a new year, and all she could do was hope that the next year would be better for them, however, all they could do was wait for now.