I wake up slowly, still nuzzled against Lizards rough chest, my eyelids heavy with sleep. I yawned against his throat and tried to wiggle out of his arms, succeeding and wobbling out of the room to the bathroom. Washing my hands after I relieved my swollen bladder I stared at my haggard expression. My eyes were swollen from crying after that horrible dream. I splashed some water on my face, shaking my hands free of water, and turned off the faucet, using a dusty towel to clean my face. I sneezed quickly, attempting to recover from the painful thing.
I wobbled into the hallway, my hands caressing my belly. It had gotten bigger since I had fallen asleep. Did sleep make it grow quicker? Hmm, a theory to test out, but not right now. I was wired from the few hours of sleep I got so I decided to wonder around the house, struggling to get down the stairs without busting my ass.
Big Brain was in the kitchen, talking to Mama quietly while she rubbed her eyes at the table. She looked up when she heard me, smiling tenderly. "It's late dear." She reminded me.
I nodded, sitting across from her. "I slept too long, I'm up now. What time is it?"
"Around three in the morning. Where is Lizard?" she sipped on something in a mug beside her elbow.
I drew circles on the table with my finger. "Sti-"
"Dizzay?"
"Behind me."
I turned around while Mama chuckled, pushing out of her seat. Lizard stood in the doorway, his icy eyes darting around the room in discomfort. He was digging his nails into his stomach, drawing a little blood from the half moons left behind. I frowned and reached out, pulling his hand away from his body. His eyes darted down to me, cautious and dangerous.
"What's wrong?" I asked, standing up slowly.
His rubbed his face, looking towards the front door. "Papa callin for everyone, said there was somethin we need ta take care of. Want everyone that's not a fighter to stay inside, even ruby's coming." He looked down at me.
Even Ruby was coming? What was going on out there that we couldn't be involved in? I wanted to know, but fuck if I was going to argue with him when his face was that hard. I nodded and let him go, watching him wander upstairs with a hunched back. I looked down, rubbing circles on my hard belly. I turned around and wandered back to my chair, plopping in it with a heavy sigh. I held my head in my hands, staring at the scarred table top.
"Something wrong child?"
I looked up at Big Mama, her worried eyes on me. "No…I'm not. Do you know what's going on?"
"Wha-wheez-t is goin on is no-hack-ne of ya business." Big Brain wheezed out, turning his chair to face me.
I glared. "Fuck off Big Brain, this is Lizards baby inside of me. I am a part of this family now so I deserve to know what's going."
He opened his mouth to speak, but Big Mama shut him up with a glare. He glared at her too but finally huffed and turned around, letting Big Mama talk to me. She looked at me with a sad look, scratching her shiny bald head.
"Rogue mutants are starting to come out of the wood work since Hades was killed. Theres no threat left in the desert, not one they really fear, so their deciding to take the desert for themselves. These are bad mutants, one's you don't want to run into no matter where you are."
A shiver licked up and down my spine, tasting the fear inside of me. More mutants? How many families were there out in the desert or were these all just random mutants that gathered together after hearing about Hades?
"So do we have anyone staying to protect us?"
Mama sighed, leaning her chin onto her chubby fist. "Nope, it's just us girls. Oh, and Big Brain and Cyst. But theres only so much Cyst can do. I think we can handle ourselves though. What do you think?"
I shrugged. "Oh hey Big Mama, I forgot to mention this but Missy wants to know if we could somehow get her baby out here?"
Mama blinked. "Well…as long as you went to Jeb's to get em I don't think it should be a problem."
I nodded, smiling. "Good, she'll be happy to hear about that."
"I don't think I could be away from any of my babies for as long as she's been without her one. How does she do it?" Mama wondered aloud.
I shrugged. "She said it was difficult, or that's the impression I got."
Mama sighed, taking a sip of the steaming liquid in her cup. "You thought of any baby names yet?"
"Well I've been thinking of names, Lizard and I haven't discussed it as parents yet."
"Well, me and you can talk about it and then you two can discuss when you're alone."
I thought for a moment. "Well if it's a girl…Joanna or maybe Clair? Hmm I like the name Dez. I don't remember where I heard that. And if it's a boy Jonathan maybe Cain, how about Zack?"
Mama smiled. "I never got to name a baby, I left that up to Jupiter. He was the baby namer, I was always passed out before I got the chance to name them."
I cocked my head. "You never got to name a single one of your babies?"
She shook her head. "Nope, always wanted to but with no sedatives or anything sleep is the first thing that comes to me after the babies out. You might be able to do something about, you may get to name your baby. You're stronger than I was when I had my first child."
"Nah, I'm not strong, not at all."
Mama chuckled. "Honey you are very strong not just anyone can deal with Lizard's attitude and stay with him, share his bed."
I stared down at my belly, rubbing circles against the veins I could see when I lifted my shirt up. I was strong? No, no Mama had to be wrong. I was just a clinger, Lizard was the one that was strong. He was the one that kept us together. I don't know how he has dealt with my mood swings all this time, since we learned I was pregnant. I just wish I was as strong as Mama in this, she popped out so many babies and she's still moving around like she was young.
I groaned and stood, popping my back the best I could. Mama watched me with wary eyes, worried that I would hurt myself or something. I did gasp out, but not from pain. From surprise. Mama jumped up and hurried to my side but I put a hand on her shoulder, steadying myself with wide eyes. My hand ran over my tummy, feeling those kicks hit my hand every once and awhile. Tears formed in my eyes, clouding my vision, but they weren't from pain, they were from pure and utter joy. I looked up at Mama, at her concerned face and reached out for her hand and took it in mine, guiding it along my tummy slowly. Her own eyes widened when she felt the kicks and I squealed in delight, letting Mama go so I could run both of my hands over my belly.
"Hi there baby…" I cooed. "I can't wait until you get you ass out of my belly."
