"Girls, where are you two going?"
Margo and Agnes froze, the cart they dragged behind them stopped squeaking as the wheels stopped turning.
"Oh we're going to sell cookies again. It's going to be a bit longer than usually, while Edith's in the clinic. But we'll be back around 17 again!"
"Dhey're still collectin' money for charities. At dhe moment we're collectin' some to help preventin' dat dhe Sibirian Tigers wun't die out."
"And some goes to the refugee camps in Syria." explained Margo.
"I wanted to give the science some money so they'll be able to create real living unicorns." Admitted Agnes.
Lucy laughed at Agnes words and looked over to Gru, her hand covering her mouth.
"Alright kids, but don't come back too late !"
"Oh, can we have pizza tonight?"
"Pizza? ugh." Gru stuck out his tongue. "C'mon, I'm sure even Edith would like to have some Pizza."
Gru sighed. "Fine, fine. But only if we make dhem ourselves, okay?"
That was fair enough for them. And with a last goodbye, the kids vanished and Lucy and Gru started cleaning the kitchen. It was a weekend again, time for Gru to spend some time with his family. The news about Edith and her situation was hard to swallow for him - but Gru accepted it as a challenge to make sure Edith will feel better soon. Instead of school, Edith was brought to a group, where she was among other kids with ADHD, learning how to correctly behave. She loved it there. The kids were nice and she made a few friends already, something that has always seemed to be a huge problem for the middle child in the Gru household. And Lucy ad Gru had great plans for today. The baby was going to arrive in less than two months and Gru finally found a room, close to their bedroom and the girls room to be robins nursery - at least until she or he would be old enough to sleep in the same room with the girls.

Gru helped Lucy to put the dishes into the sink and couldn't stop smiling, It was a secret smile and he wasn't even sure if he should express his inner happiness about them both having a little baby together without bugging her. Instead, he just put his hand around her, stroking her belly gently, nuzzled his forehead into her hair and kissed her temple briefly.
"So vhat du we need...? Some Trashbags, some stuff for babies...vhat about wall paint? Yu and dhe kids culd help me paint dhe room!"
Lucy put a hand over his, stopping his stroking and just let it rest on the top. She was a bit nervous about going out, so she was grateful that he wanted to tag along. Last time, she had to explain for ten minutes to the cashier at the grocery store that she wasn't at all abandoned by the father to the three girls she was having along or the unborn baby, they just had a different family dynamic. In the end, the cashier had insisted that it's alright to walk out without your ring when your fingers are swollen, but maybe she should have had it in a necklace to not make people wonder.

"We need bags to throw things out, cleaning stuff if we're short in stock." She kissed his arm that was going over her, looking up in his face. "And some of those spatula-looking thingies to take off the tapestry! Paint would be wonderful. But no crib or anything like that Gru, it's jinxing it. I dunno why, it's something my gran told me. If you buy it when it's gonna be empty, it's gonna stay empty." Lucy stopped the water and turned around towards her boyfriend. "Wow...well that's dark." he commented on the story her grandma told her. "Well, we dun't want it to stay empty, hm?...So no crib for now." Stroking with his thumb over her knuckles, he gave a small sigh. "I'll be driving, okay? We gotta go to that hardware store and get anything we need, and then we pick up Edith."
"Are yu sure yu wanna drive?"
"Yes, i am." Lucy turned in his embrace and placed her hands on his cheeks. "I might be big but not incapable of anything."
"Of course, of course." they shared a kiss, before he let go of her, telling her to check on the little room upstairs again, just in case he hadn't checked enough - in fact, he really has had checked enough to know that it was perfectly fine for a nursery, and yet he probably just felt the need to fantasize that this was going to be another room for another child.

"Phew...dhis is goin' to be a lot of work." he mumbled, looking around. All the stuff neither he nor the girls used was stored here. Old weapons, Agnes' tricycle, some doll houses, barbies without any heads - Gru wondered why in heavens name they even bought half of the stuff when they weren't going to use it anyway. But granted, he didn't take any care of this room for years. Funny to think that he would spend a lot of time in that room in future. He closed the door, picked up his scarf and returned to Lucy.
"Well, I think dhe gurls have to make anodher yard sale once in a while..." He said to his girlfriend, bringing her to the car. "Oh that would be great! But they have to hurry, it's getting chilly outside." Lucy stared outside, the beautiful tree the neighbors on the other side of the street had in their frontyard started to turn orange and lost it's leafs already. Late fall had started, and Halloween was coming close. No way she was going to dress up as anything and run around houses for candy. That was the kids job!
Once inside the car, Lucy grabbed the wheel and smiled at Gru. "A'right sir." she spoke in Gru's accent. "Let's get dis over vith."
"Ha ha." Gru grimaced. "So funny."

As soon as they arrived the store, Gru jumped out of the car and helped Lucy to exit the Little blue vehicle. Noticing that standing up was a struggle now that she was that big already, he was always cautious and alert when she was having issues. Lucy gladly accepted his hand to pull herself up, closing the door behind her and locking it.
"Aright- vhat du yu think, which color shuld the room be? Light blue, yellow? Or jus' a simple white?"
He knew they should rather discuss that inside the store, but there was that certain excitement inside him that made him go a bit giddily. It made her laugh and she grabbed his hand. "I think yellow would be nice. You know, it fits with the rest of the house. Oh, and we could have black details! There's something about babies easier seeing simple symbols in black and white, but white is so... blank." She hated simple coloring's, she wanted colors, everywhere. Funny how things she hated in her own clothing style was exactly what she found so special with her boyfriend, he really fit in his greyscale wardrobe. Walking into the store, she at once looked up in the ceiling, looking for the sign telling them where the paint department was.
Gru followed her inside, holding her hand like he was demonstrating clearly that she belonged to him. Just a little matter of his attitude, but however, holding gently to her fingers, he led them through the store into the paint department, eyes roaming around the vats of wall paint.
"Yellow it is dhen..." He smiled at her, letting go of her hand to pick up the right color. He didn't expect it to be that heavy, but he grinned at her as if nothing was wrong. " Yu think dis one fits...?" He asked with a cramped voice. "Or shall we take dhe one vith dhe orange highlights?"
"That one is perfect", Lucy giggled. "But let me at least carry something. I can take the brushes!"

"Gru?" Lucy turned around to see a blonde woman. She had seen the lady before, after all, she lived just up the street and was the mother of one of Edith's classmates, but she had never been introduced to the woman. She walked up towards them, completely ignoring Lucy for the moment. Being the size she was in now, that was quite an accomplishment. "Gru, hiii!"- "Ugh!"
Lucy stared up at him and whispered. "You know her?"
"Yeah, unfortunately." Jillian jumped up to them, grinning like an idiot and Gru would have thrown the ten pounds heavy bucket at her to scare her away, but he decided to drop it for a second and to approach Lucy, placing his hand on her shoulder to pull her slightly in his direction. She didn't mean danger to her, but he wanted to avoid any complications."What a funny coincidence, you, here, in this store? How funny, you're here to buy new turf as well? Ahahha!" And then she let out that terrible, shrill laughter that made Gru cringe slightly.
"Ugh! Lucy, uh...dat is Jillian, my neighbor. Jillian, dis is Lucy, my-"
"Oh?" Jillian stopped right away with approaching them with eager happiness and stared at the redhead woman with the big belly, who apparently belonged to Gru. "Lucy, huh? Gru's new babysitter for the kids, hmm?"
"No, Jillian - she's my gurlfriend!"
"Girlfriend, huh...?" The sudden tone in her voice changed into a suspicious sound, eyeing Lucy skeptically.
"Well yeah, we've been dating for a year? You've seen me picking the girl up from school?" Lucy reached out a hand, which Jillian accepted with a weary eye. Lucy noticed that the hand was vague, not even grasping around her hand.
"Well yes, but I simply assumed you were babysitting his daughters." Lucy laughed from the misunderstanding.
"Madam, I am working above Gru at our office. I love the girls, but I'm not the stay at home-type."
"I see." The blonde woman looked down at the belly. "Pardon me for asking, but you used to be slimmer?" Lucy looked over at Gru before she answered, patting a hand over her belly. "Yeah. We're expecting. In just over two month in fact. We're here to get stuff for the nursery." The woman looked even more confused.
"Wow, Gru! I would never have thought! Congratulations!" She clung to his arm and Gru made a face that showed pure disgust, making Lucy smile. This woman must really be getting on his nerves. "So, when did you get married?"
"We're not."
"Beg your pardon?"
"We're not married. This all was a bit unexpected, so we're taking it one thing at a time." Lucy shifted her eyes towards her partner, afraid this was going to cause a scene. Jillian's smile that she tried to keep on her face all the time through vanished with Lucy's last words and Gru's hand traveled down to gently grab hers, so they could leave anytime. "Wow, uhm-I'm sorry but I think I am not really getting it yet." Jillian shook her head. "You two are having a baby - before you're married?"

"Jillian, we explained it often enough to yu, okay?" Gru answered back, bluntly. "O-oh, yes sure, uh-really no marriage? Not even a proposa-"
"NOT married!" Gru hissed back. He was really close about to snap, but he didn't want to make Lucy uncomfortable, she hated it when he was being snappy with people. "Ohh, well, ehehe." she chuckled nervously, trying to raise a new topic.
"I was just wondering, it's not...common...to see couples expecting without being married, ahah. You know, just think about if people start to gossip, that would be flagrant!" She gave both of them a brief glance, before again falling back into her always happy state she chuckled around and patted Gru's shoulders like they were good friends but Gru recoiled slightly, creasing his face.
"Good job, Papa! Ahaha!" - "Yeah..." he hissed between clenched teeth, narrowing his eyes.
"Aw anyway, that belly is gorgeous, Lucy! May Auntie Jillian give it a gentle little caress?"
And without waiting for permission, she already extended her arms. Still being quick on her feet, Lucy jumped to the side, away from the woman's hand. "N-No, I'd prefer not you know."
"Aw, come on, don't be such a bore." The woman reached out her hand again, but out of reaction, Lucy grabbed it, twisted her wrist so Jillian spun around, and backed away a second time.
"Ow! What the heck was that for!" Lucy felt her face stiffen, controlling herself to not shout.
"I don't like people touching me. My pregnant belly isn't a written invitation."
"Lucy, stop..." Gru dragged Lucy away from their neighbor.
"You know, most people are happy when they're pregnant and glad to share this gift with the rest around them." Lucy was just about to snap that she didn't want to be pregnant in the first place, but stopped herself. It would have caused more drama, and she didn't really know if she could trust this woman. "Well, the only ones allowed to touch me like that is my family and my doctor. You are neither. It was nice talking to you, but I need to go and get brushes now. Good day." With a quick glance at Gru, she walked away from the scene and started looking on the shelves for the roll-ons to waint walls with.

That last comment really got to her, but she bit her lip. She could break down at home when nobody but Gru and the girls were looking. Not here in the middle of the store. She wasn't like most pregnant women. She wasn't as happy about it as people expected, she wasn't as flamboyant about it. She simply wasn't that grateful about it because it wasn't something she had asked for in the first place. But this was the first time she actually felt like she didn't deserve it.
Watching as Lucy turned around to walk off, Gru looked after her, worried about her. About to follow, he cast a last dark glare at Jillian and hissed:
"I hope yu're happy now!"

Around the corner he found Lucy, looking for the roll-ons. She was mad. In any kind of way. And something told him that she wasn't simply sad because Jillian said these kind of words, after all Lucy was a confident girl and sticks and stones may break her bones, but words would never hurt her -right? "Wow, dat was more dhan awkward!" he hissed, joining Lucy and gently placing his hand on her shoulder. "Dun't feel bad, she deserved it. If yu wuldn't have done it, I wuld have. Hehe..." he chuckled, a bit nervously, hoping to soften her mood a bit. "...Lucy, uh...are yu a'right?"
Lucy didn't look at him. she felt horrible. She felt like the worst person on this earth.
"I'm fine", Lucy commented without looking him in the eye. She picked the roll-ons, a handle and the spatula-things and put them in a basket and walked on, not slowing down. She just wanted to get home now. "I just want to get this done, alright? I think I'm starting to get a headache." It was a darn straight lie and she didn't expect him to buy it, but if she told the truth, she would start crying. Still not looking up at her boyfriend, she picked the last pieces of sandpaper and base coloring and headed to the cashier.
"That should cover it. If we're being quick at the grocery shop, we'll escape the big rush of shoppers."
Gru nodded. He may had that lack of comprehension of others feelings, but he was certain that Lucy just quickly wanted to go home.
She was done...

They quickly payed and he carried the buckets back to the car, stuffing the rest into the cars trunk. He didn't speak a lot, mostly because she was probably irritated. It was hard to read her sometimes, because either she was simply mad with him or Jillian, or she was close about to break down.
Lucy already sat back in the car, her arms folded over her belly. Oddly, she was not on her actual side - apparently she wanted him to drive. Without questioning it, he sat down on the drivers side, closing the door to look at her. Oh gosh, her eyes were literally flooded with tears, ready to break and fall over her face.
"Honey..." he said, softly, placing his hand on her cheek.
"I feel so horrible." she sobbed, giving in to her tears. "I feel like the most horrible mother on this earth. I always act like...like i don't want this pregnancy, or this baby. You were right back then - you were right. I am ungrateful."
Gru did't say a word, he just pulled her close to his and hugged her tightly while she sobbed into his chest.
"I don't deserve your child. I don't- i don't deserve you. You are so nice and caring and lovingly to me and the baby, and - i see it as nothing i could ever love."
"Lucy..." he gently stroked her head. "Yu deserve yur baby. Yu deserve it so much." - "Gru, i-I love this child. I love it so much, because it's yours. There is no one on this earth i would rather have a baby with than you."
Gru brushed her tears away, tilting her head up to look at him. "And dhere is no one on dis earth i wuld radher have a baby vith dhan yu, Lucy."

They spend minutes, maybe hours in the car, holding each other, and she was so happy she had him by her side. She would be so helpless without him. She couldn't endure having a baby without its father. But he was there, he always was so patient with her - and he wasn't patient usually.
After a few moments of silence, Gru spoke again: "Dun't worry about vhat Jillian says, she's an ignorant person. She always had been...like dat."
Looking at her with slightly worried eyes, he smiled weakly. "She wun't ever bodher yu again, l'll make sure of dis...okay?"
"You know, a former villain saying that is kinda worrying." She burst out in laughter. "I'm teasing, just kidding!"
She felt a kick again. Gently, she took one of his hands and placed it on her belly. "I love you Gru, I love Margo, Edith and Agnes, and I love Robin. I don't love Robin any less just because of how it started, alright? I am just waiting to give birth now so the pregnant part is over and done with."
"Jus' two more months, honey. And dhen yu can hold yur baby."
"Our baby." she corrected and smiled at him.

...

"Come on now, lets get down to business, shall we?" He nodded towards the door. "Dhe nursery wun't clean out itself."
Gru held his hand out for her, and she took it, walking with him upstairs. He carried the bags and the paint, up to the room tha was gonna be Robin's nursery in future, stopping in front of the dark door.
"Jus' a warnin'- it's pretty full." and with that, he opened the little chamber.
Walking into the spare room, she was amazed at the mess. She couldn't even see the wall on the other side!
"Whoah, am I gonna find the Half Blood Prince's diary in here? Or maybe Narnia?" She looked over at her boyfriend with a grin. "I've lived here for half a year and I never knew of this! What's in here? Haven't you thrown away anything since the seventies?"Gru grinned at her. "Well, livin' vith three kids who like me to buy new stuff monthly but aren't fond of me throwin' away anythin' can become a problem sometimes." He shrugged, taking out some dollhouse that Agnes used but now she was tired of it. She reached up her arms to grab the tricycle. "You know, with a new coat of paint, this will be great for Robin in a few years. Lets put it in the attic, we don't need to sell it yet." - "Mhm-hm, good idea. How about we put all dhe stuff we dun't need anymore on one side and all dhe stuff we culd use someday on dhe odher? I'll take dhem out and yu decide, hm?"

"That sounds perfect." Lucy was already puffed out from taking the tricycle, and leaned against the doorframe for stability. She already saw things she wanted to trow out: Broken toys, stuffed animals that Kyle had ripped to pieces. But also things to keep. A bag contained all of Agnes clothes from her first year living with Gru, when she was just a toddler. They would fit perfect in a few years and just needed a place in the attic. Most of Edith's clothes were so torn they could cut them to pieces to use for repairing other clothes.
"Gru, are you planning on taking paternity leave?" she suddenly asked. something struck her mind - she was going to be stuck here for the next few months as well, with breastfeeding until the baby was ready to eat other food.
He dug through the stacks of toys and clothes and other supplies and sometimes he held something up, smiling at it, apparently indulging in memories...
"Gru, honey?"- "Hm? Oh..!" Gru quickly threw the bags of Ediths torn, dirty and bitten clothes outside on the stack of things they could likely throw out.
"I doubt dat Silas wuld be happy about leavin' both of his best agents on a hiatus, but yes, I am plannin' to! And as soon as yu feel ready to get back to work, I can take care of Robin."
"Y-You mean - you'll say home while I go to work, and on missions, and -"
Gru gave her a frown. "Well, not really missions, but - you know, work!"
"Well, yes i thought so." Not even saying a word, feeling like she was gonna burst from happiness, Lucy hugged him.
"Oh! This is gonna be great! I mean I'll stay at home until Robin won't need to eat all the time, and then I can get back to work! I miss solo missions, I really do. You won't mind staying at home then with all of the girls and Robin?"
A bit surprised over Lucy happiness and the sudden hug, he cringed, but his face lit up instantly when he saw her beaming at him. He hugged her back, softly stroking over her hair. "Nah!" he answered, shaking his head slowly after she let go of his lips. "Dhey barely see me anyway. And I guess after dat mission, I'll be jus' happy to be home...and as soon as robin is old enough, I'm gonna join yu on yur missions again?"
"Yes!" Lucy nodded eagerly, and they hugged once again.
"Lucy?" -"Yes?"
"Lucy, yu think...I mean...are yu sure yu really wanna stay here? Vith me and dhe gurls? I-I know yu kinda see us as our family already, and we're really happy to have yu here,but uh..." He shrugged. He couldn't remember he ever really asked her if she was happy here, with him and his kids...
Lucy smiled at him, resting her palm on his face.
"Oh Gru - I am happy here. And I want to stay. For us, for the girls, and for their little sibling they'll have soon. We might not be married Gru, but we are just as much together without any rings, and we've having a baby together. It's not just about me, it's about us as a family." Falling silent, she looked at him, his face being lit by the sunlight outside trough the window. His emotion-filled face expressions were so complicated and beautiful. She couldn't wait to see his eyes when he got to hold their baby for the first time. Gru glanced down on her belly, his palms resting on the bulge and once more he felt the life inside her moving an kicking gently and being so active it gave his heart a little sting. Looking back at her, he smiled warmly, cupping her cheek with one hand and nudging his forehead against hers. He didn't say anything for a long while but simply stared back into Lucy's precious green eyes. She gave up so much, just for him - her favorite activities, her freedom, her former life, even her own body. If there was anything he just could do to give it all back to her, to see her smile forever... They had hard times and good times and yet she stayed. Yet she saw him and the girls as her family. And they needed her just as much as she needed them.
He repressed some awkward words that swirled inside his head, he just moved closer, one hand gently rubbing over her belly, the other resting on her cheek and stroking his thumb gently over her freckles.

"I love yu..."
"Oh Gru, i love you too. To the moon and back?"
"To dhe moon and back."
The previous pain and tears were forgotten completely.